RESEARCH: OUTCOMES, VIEWPOINTS & PERSPECTIVES

Investigating the taphonomy of modern pollen assemblages from dung and surface sediments in arid environments of Spain

Coastal plant communities in arid southeastern Spain are characterized by insect-pollinated scrub species, which fail to occur in Quaternary pollen sequences from valleys, marshlands and marine cores. We investigate pollen-vegetation relationships in samples from soil surfaces, animal dung, and sediments in depressions or basins that, in theory, should have pollen spectra that are comparable to those from sedimentary basins elsewhere. Pollen spectra from basins or depressions are very susceptible to long-distance wind and water transport. This can mask representation of pollen from the surrounding insect-pollinated vegetation, as can over-representation of basin-margin halophilous and hydrophilous pollen. Pollen spectra from biogenic materials of animal origin are the best analogues of local and regional vegetation, and show the best analytical potential in terms of pollen concentration and taxon diversity. Pollination properties of the species studied indicate they will rarely be found in most conventional pollen records. It cannot be stressed too strongly that insight into Quaternary vegetation of arid regions demands complementary pollen analysis of coprolites, urine-cemented deposits, and cave sediments with preserved biotic remains, in addition to water-lain sediments.

More in...

CARRIÓN, J.S. 2002. A taphonomic study of modern pollen assemblages from dung and surface sediments in arid environments of Spain. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 120: 217-232

NAVARRO, C., CARRIÓN, J.S, MUNUERA, M. & PRIETO, A.R. 2001. Cave surface pollen and the palynological potential of karstic cave sediments in palaeoecology. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 117: 245-265

NAVARRO, C., CARRIÓN, J.S., NAVARRO, J., MUNUERA, M. & PRIETO, A.R. 2000. An experimental approach to the palynology of cave deposits. Journal of Quaternary Science 15: 603-619