Open AccessThe Holocene vegetation history of the Arfon Platform, North Wales, UK
Author(s) -
WATKINS RUTH,
SCOURSE JAMES D.,
ALLEN JUDY R. M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2007.tb01190.x
Subject(s) - holocene , woodland , pollen , charcoal , radiocarbon dating , vegetation (pathology) , physical geography , geology , holocene climatic optimum , deforestation (computer science) , chronology , tilia , palynology , mediterranean climate , geography , ecology , archaeology , paleontology , medicine , materials science , pathology , computer science , programming language , metallurgy , biology
Detailed pollen, charcoal and loss on ignition profiles were analysed from Llyn Cororion, North Wales, UK. The chronology was based on 11 radiocarbon dates. This site is particularly important for this region because its high‐resolution record improves the spatial and temporal resolution of records of Holocene vegetation change in an area characterized by a highly variable environment. An early Holocene phase of Juniperus‐Betula scrub was succeeded by Betula‐Corylus woodland. Quercus and Ulmus were established by c . 8600 14 C yr BP, with Pinus dominating at c . 8430 14 C yr BP. Local disturbance then allowed the spread of Alnus; Tilia was a common component of the forest by 5650 14 C yr BP. Charcoal and pollen records suggest that by c . 2600 14 C yr BP there was progressive deforestation, increased use of fire and spread of grassland; the first cereal grain was recorded at c . 2900 14 C yr BP. Compared with data from upland Snowdonia, the results show that within a topographically diverse region there were significant local variations in forest composition. These variations developed as a response to interactions between many environmental parameters and were further complicated by the influence of human activity. In an area such as North Wales it is therefore unlikely that one site can be representative of regional Holocene vegetational development. The site is additionally important because it contributes to the data available for meta‐analyses of environmental change in the North Atlantic region, particularly as detailed pollen diagrams from coastal lake sites around western Europe are rare.