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The history and palaeoclimatic significance of subfossil remains of Pinus sylvestris in blanket peats from Scotland

The history and palaeoclimatic significance of subfossil remains of Pinus sylvestris in blanket peats from Scotland

Bridge, Martin C., Haggart, Bruce Andrew ORCID: 0000-0001-7047-1674 and Lowe, J. John (1990) The history and palaeoclimatic significance of subfossil remains of Pinus sylvestris in blanket peats from Scotland. Journal Of Ecology, 78 (1). pp. 77-99. ISSN 1365-2745 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2745)

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Abstract

(1) The results of pollen-stratigraphic, radiocarbon and tree-ring evidence from several sites in the Loch Tulla area, southern Rannoch Moor, western Scottish Highlands, indicate the following regional pine history: (i) major expansion of pine woodland at c. 6800-6600 B.P.; (ii) significant reduction in regional pine cover between 6600 and 4970 B.P.; (iii) a second expansion of pine wood and throughout the region at c. 4970-4660 B.P.; (iv) major differences between the sites in the representation of pine after c. 4660 B.P.

(2) These data are compared with evidence from Scotland as a whole for radiocarbon- dated pine macrofossils obtained from Holocene peat deposits and for 'pluvial' climatic episodes identified from previously published stable isotope studies.

(3) Collectively the available data indicate that the density and distribution of pine varied significantly in Scotland during the Holocene probably as a result of variations in precipitation levels. Stable isotope variations indicate particularly wet conditions at c. 7500, 6250-5800,4250-3870 and 3300 B.P.; histogram plots of radiocarbon dates of pine macrofossils from Scotland indicate significant troughs at 5700-5250, 3800-3500 and post-3250 B.P. A time-lag between climatic change and consequent pine reduction is indicated.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Vegetation history, Holocene, Pinus sylvestris, Blanket peat, Scotland, Rannoch Moor, Western Scottish Highlands
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Engineering & Science > School of Science (SCI)
Related URLs:
Last Modified: 17 Oct 2016 09:13
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/12506

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