Pollen‐based quantitative reconstructions of Holocene regional vegetation cover (plant‐functional types and land‐cover types) in Europe suitable for climate modelling

Bibliographic Data

ID23367382
AuthorsAnna‐Kari Trondman (0000-0003-3865-8548, Linnaeus University, corresponding author), A-K Trondman (Department of Biology and Environmental Science Linnaeus University Barlastgatan 11 SE‐39182 Kalmar Sweden), M-J Gaillard (Department of Biology and Environmental Science Linnaeus University Barlastgatan 11 SE‐39182 Kalmar Sweden), Marie‐José Gaillard (0000-0002-2025-410X, Linnaeus University), Florence Mazier (0000-0003-2643-0925, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), S Sugita (0000-0002-3634-7095, Department of Biology and Environmental Science Linnaeus University Barlastgatan 11 SE‐39182 Kalmar Sweden), Ralph Fyfe (0000-0002-5676-008X, University of Plymouth), Anne Birgitta Nielsen (0000-0001-7854-353X, Lund University), C Twiddle (Department of Geography & Environment School of Geosciences University of Aberdeen Elphinstone Road Aberdeen AB24 3UF UK), C L Twiddle (University of Aberdeen), Phil Barratt (0000-0002-0484-8397, Queen's University Belfast), H J B Birks (0000-0002-5891-9859, Department of Biology and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research University of Bergen PO Box 7803 N‐5020 Bergen Norway), Anne E Bjune (0000-0002-4509-0148, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research), Leif Björkman, A Broström (0000-0002-2880-2852, Department of Geology Lund University Sölvegatan 12 SE‐22362 Lund Sweden), Chris Caseldine (University of Exeter), R David (Laboratoire Archéosciences UMR 6566 CReAAH Université de Rennes 1 Bâtiment 24, rdc, porte 003 Campus de Beaulieu 35042 RENNES Cedex France), John Dodson (0000-0002-0124-5910, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research), Walter Dörfler (0000-0001-6251-7185, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), Elske Fischer (0009-0001-1734-856X, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), Bas Van Geel (0000-0003-4432-320X, University of Amsterdam), Thomas Giesecke (0000-0002-5132-1061, University of Göttingen), Tove Hultberg (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), Laimdota Kalniņa (0000-0002-2802-7139, University of Latvia), Mihkel Kangur (Tallinn University), P Van Der Knaap (Institute of Plant Sciences University of Bern Altenbergrain 21 CH‐3013 Bern Switzerland), Tiiu Koff (Tallinn University), Nicolas Kühl (0000-0001-9605-8204, Charles University), P Kuneš (Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Benátská 2 128 01 Praha 2 Czech Republic), Per Lagerås (0000-0002-2804-8028, Swedish National Heritage Board), Małgorzata Latałowa (0000-0001-7594-5146, University of Gdańsk), Jutta Lechterbeck (0000-0003-3582-2605), Christophe Leroyer (0000-0002-7601-1692, Centre de Recherche en Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire), Michelle Leydet (0000-0003-1123-3427, Aix-Marseille Université), Matts Lindbladh (0000-0002-0577-0050, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), L Marquer (0000-0002-5772-3782, Department of Biology and Environmental Science Linnaeus University Barlastgatan 11 SE‐39182 Kalmar Sweden), Fraser Mitchell (0000-0002-9857-5632, Trinity College Dublin), F J G Mitchell (Botany Department Trinity College Dublin Dublin 2 Ireland), Bent Vad Odgaard (0000-0003-0434-5594, Aarhus University), Sylvia M Peglar (Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research), T Persson (Department of Geology Lund University Sölvegatan 12 SE‐22362 Lund Sweden), Anneli Poska (0000-0002-8778-1430, Tallinn University of Technology), Manfred Rösch (0000-0003-2021-2601), Heikki Seppä (0000-0003-2494-7955, University of Helsinki), Siim Veski (0000-0002-8297-2385, Tallinn University of Technology), Lucia Wick (0000-0003-2351-3151, University of Basel)
Year2015
Volume21
Issue2
Pages676-697
Publication date2015-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Change Biology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1354-1013 • E-ISSN: 1365-2486
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/gcb.12737
PMID25204435
OpenAlexW2147632058
LanguageEN
Citations received55
References cited71

We present quantitative reconstructions of regional vegetation cover in north‐western Europe, western Europe north of the Alps, and eastern Europe for five time windows in the Holocene [around 6k, 3k, 0.5k, 0.2k, and 0.05k calendar years before present ( bp )] at a 1° × 1° spatial scale with the objective of producing vegetation descriptions suitable for climate modelling. The REVEALS model was applied on 636 pollen records from lakes and bogs to reconstruct the past cover of 25 plant taxa grouped into 10 plant‐functional types and three land‐cover types [evergreen trees, summer‐green (deciduous) trees, and open land]. The model corrects for some of the biases in pollen percentages by using pollen productivity estimates and fall speeds of pollen, and by applying simple but robust models of pollen dispersal and deposition. The emerging patterns of tree migration and deforestation between 6k bp and modern time in the REVEALS estimates agree with our general understanding of the vegetation history of Europe based on pollen percentages. However, the degree of anthropogenic deforestation (i.e. cover of cultivated and grazing land) at 3k, 0.5k, and 0.2k bp is significantly higher than deduced from pollen percentages. This is also the case at 6k in some parts of Europe, in particular Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the relationship between summer‐green and evergreen trees, and between individual tree taxa, differs significantly when expressed as pollen percentages or as REVEALS estimates of tree cover. For instance, when Pinus is dominant over Picea as pollen percentages, Picea is dominant over Pinus as REVEALS estimates. These differences play a major role in the reconstruction of European landscapes and for the study of land cover–climate interactions, biodiversity and human resources.

Biology · Deciduous · Deforestation (computer science) · Ecosystem · Evergreen · Geography · Holocene · Land cover · Land use · Physical geography · Plant functional type · Pollen · Vegetation (pathology) · Woodland · Ecology · Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Tree-ring climate responses