RESEARCH: OUTCOMES, VIEWPOINTS & PERSPECTIVES

Palaeoecology suggests to re-interpret the role of cluster pine (Pinus pinaster) in floristic-phytosociological classifications

Pollen-analytical data from Spain have shown synchronous Late Quaternary fluctuations of P. pinaster, and Quercus-dominated assemblages. During glacial times, P. pinaster (cluster pine) survived in refugia together with other trees such as Corylus, Fraxinus, Quercus, and a number of Mediterranean shrubs such as Arbutus, Erica arborea, Olea, Phyllirea, Pistacia terebinthus, Myrtus communis, and Viburnum tinus. These nuclei of vegetation expanded around c. 30,000-27,000 BP invading areas occupied formerly by pine forests. The cluster pine retreated considerably during the last glacial maximum and the younger Dryas event but not as much as Quercus. In Navarrés, Valencia, during c. 10,000-6000 BP, a local pine forest resisted possible oak invasion and P. pinaster. Around 6000 BP, the cluster pine was involved in a post-fire change towards oak-dominated vegetation.
( SEE CLUSTER PINE POLLEN RECORD IN NAVARRÉS)
( SEE A POLLEN RECORD DOMINATED BY PINUS)

It is postulated the authochthonous character of P. pinaster in the Iberian Peninsula and the naturalness of well-developed cluster pine forests, particularly if mixed with oaks. Palaeoecological data disagree, thence, with the floristic-phytosociological assumption considering that the forest patches of P. pinaster and other Mediterranean species of pines are incidental and mainly derived from afforestations.

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CARRIÓN, J.S., NAVARRO, C., NAVARRO, J. & MUNUERA, M. 2000. The interpretation of cluster pine (Pinus pinaster) in floristic-phytosociological classifications from a palaeoecological perspective. The Holocene 10: 243-252

CARRIÓN, J.S., PARRA, I., NAVARRO, C. & MUNUERA, M. 2000. The past distribution and ecology of the cork oak (Quercus suber) in the Iberian Peninsula: a pollen-analytical approach. Diversity and Distributions 6: 29-44

CARRIÓN, J.S. & VAN GEEL, B. 1999. Fine-resolution Upper Weichselian and Holocene palynological record from Navarrés (Valencia, Spain) and a discussion about factors of Mediterranean forest succession. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 106:209-236

CARRIÓN, J.S., VAN GEEL, B., NAVARRO, C. & MUNUERA, M. 1999. Evidence of an unexpected abrupt event in eastern Spain challenges existing concepts of vegetation change. South African Journal of Science 95: 44-46