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The spread of Abies throughout Europe since the last glacial period: combined macrofossil and pollen data

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Abstract

In this paper we reconstruct the location of the last glacial refugia and postglacial spread of Abies throughout Europe based on combined pollen and macrofossil data. More than 208 pollen sequences available in the European Pollen Database (EPD) and 38 macrofossil sites are used to produce distribution maps encompassing a time span between 38000 and 5500 years B.P. The investigation excludes more recent periods, because these could be strongly influenced by human impact. The pollen data presented here confirm long-lasting refugial areas such as southern Italy and Greece already described in previous studies. The combined pollen/macrofossil dataset identifies the Pyrenees as a further important refugium. In addition the pollen data indicate potential refugia in south-east France and north-west Italy. Possible migration tracks of Abies are discussed by comparing the palaeobotanical evidence with isozyme studies on gene markers of recent fir populations.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the EU-project FOSSILVA (Dynamics of forest tree biodiversity: linking genetic, palaeogenetic and plant historical approaches, EVK2–1999–00244) and by a grant from the German Research Council (DFG) within the scope of the Research Training Group “Evolution and Biodiversity in Space and Time”. The contribution of pollen data to the EPD produced by individual pollen analysts is greatfully acknowledged, as is the facility afforded by the EPD. The synthetic interpretation of these data, however, is that of the present authors. We also thank all the contributors macrofossil data which have been used in this study, particularly M. Latałowa for helpful discussion of the Polish sites as well as to W. O. van der Knaap (ALPADABA) for useful information on the occurrence of macrofossils in the Alpine region.

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  1. Institute of Palaeontology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Ruth Terhürne-Berson & Thomas Litt

  2. Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution (UMR CNRS 5554), Université Montpellier II, pl. E. Bataillon, case postale 61, 34095 , Montpellier cedex 05, France

    Rachid Cheddadi

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  1. Ruth Terhürne-Berson
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Terhürne-Berson, R., Litt, T. & Cheddadi, R. The spread of Abies throughout Europe since the last glacial period: combined macrofossil and pollen data. Veget Hist Archaeobot 13, 257–268 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-004-0049-4

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