Abstract
Models of atmospheric dispersal of anemophilous pollen are important tools in Quaternary plant ecology for determining pollen-source areas and for applying distance-weightings to vegetation data in formal pollen-vegetation calibrations. The most widely applied model is Prentice’s model, which uses a modified form of Sutton’s equation for atmospheric diffusion to predict pollen-source areas from size of the depositional basin and a set of depositional parameters (deposition velocity of the pollen grains and mean wind speed) and atmospheric parameters (turbulence parameter, vertical diffusion coefficient). We review the physical theory underlying Sutton’s equation and Prentice’s model, explore the effects of different values of the depositional and atmospheric parameters on model predictions, and provide prescriptions for model application, parameter specification, and further research on pollen dispersal. Most applications of the models to pollen dispersal have assumed neutral atmospheric conditions. We argue that most pollen dispersal takes place in unstable atmospheric conditions, and prescribe appropriate values for the atmospheric parameters for unstable conditions. Our simulations using these parameters indicate more widespread pollen dispersal from a source than under neutral conditions. We review available data sets for sedimentation velocity of pollen grains, and compare the measured estimates with sedimentation velocities predicted from Stokes’s Law to assess validity of the data. Substantial variability exists among data sets, but several are suitable for application to pollen-dispersal models. Finally, we discuss aspects of release, dispersal, and deposition of anemophilous pollen that are in need of further theoretical and empirical study. Such studies will contribute not only to Quaternary plant ecology but also to understanding of pollination biology, population genetics, and functional morphology of pollen grains and pollen-bearing organs.
Zusammenfassung
Modelle für die atmosphärische Verteilung windverbreiteten Pollens sind wichtige Werkzeuge der Quartär-Pflanzenökologie zur Bestimmung von Polleneinzugsgebieten und um bei der mathematischen Kalibrierung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Pollen und Vegetation die Gewichtung von Entfernungen auf Vegetationsdaten anzuwenden. Das am häufigsten angewendente Modell ist das von Prentice, das eine angepaßte Form von Suttons Gleichung für atmosphärische Diffusion benutzt um Polleneinzugsgebiete auf Grundlage der Größe des Ablagerungsbeckens und einer Reihe von Ablagerungsparametern (Sinkgeschwindigkeit, vertikaler Diffusionskoeffizient) vorauszusagen. Wir besprechen die physikalische Theorie, die hinter Suttons und Prentices Modell steht, untersuchen, welchen Einfluß Ablagerungsparameter unterschiedler Größe sowie die atmosphärischen Parameter auf die Modellvorhersagen haben und geben Empfehlungen für die Anwendung der Modelle, Spezifizierung der Parameter und weiterführende Forschung zur Pollenverbreitung. Die meisten Anwendungen von Modellen zur Pollenausbreitung gehen von neutraler thermischer Schichtung aus. Wir erörtern, daßein Großteil der Pollenablagerung unter unstabilen Schichtungsverhältnissen stattfindet und beschreiben angemessene Werte für die atmosphärischen Parameter unter unstabilen Schichtungsverhältnissen. Unsere Simulationen, die diese Parameter benutzen, deuten darauf hin, daß eine weitere Pollenausbreitung von der Quelle aus stattfindet als bei neutraler Schichtung. Wir überprüfen verfügbare Datensätze zur Sinkgeschwindigkeit von Pollenkörnern und vergleichen die gemessenen Werte mit den Fallgeschwindigkeiten, die von Stokes Gesetz vorhergesagt werden, um die Richtigkeit der Daten zu beurteilen. Zwischen den Datensätzen bestehen beträchtlichte Unterschiede, aber einige sind für die Anwendung auf Pollenausbreitungs-Modelle geignet. Scließlich diskutieren wir die Aspekte der Freisetzung, Verbreitung und Ablagernug windverbreiteten Pollens, welche weitergehender theoretischer und empirischer Untersuchung bedürfen. Solche Untersuchungen werden nicht nur zur Quartär-Pflanzenökologie, sondern auch zum Verständnis von Bestäubungsbiologie, Populationsgenetik und funktioneller Morphologie von Pollenkörnern und pollentragenden Organen beitragen.
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Jackson, S.T., Lyford, M.E. Pollen dispersal models in Quaternary plant ecology: Assumptions, parameters, and prescriptions. Bot. Rev 65, 39–75 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02856557
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02856557