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The Evolution of Vegetation from the Last Glacial Maximum Until the Present

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Landform Dynamics and Evolution in Romania

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Abstract

High-resolution records of past vegetation dynamics have been recently available from Romania. This chapter represents a compilation of up to date, high-resolution palaeoecological records (pollen, plant macrofossil and charcoal) from Romania and provides an overview of broad-scale vegetation dynamics and diversity from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the present. Specifically, we discuss: (i) temporal and spatial variations in the magnitude of vegetation responses to abrupt climate changes for the LGM and Lateglacial; (ii) pattern of changes in the Holocene tree species distribution and diversity with implication on their current status in the Romanian forests; and (iii) the imprint of various types of human activities (fire, pastoralism, agriculture) on the vegetation composition and dynamics. Finally, this synthesis provides an opportunity to reflect on the status of palaeovegetation research and to identify future critical research subjects in this region.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge financial support from the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI PN-II-RU-TE-2011-3-0145, PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-2445.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

    Angelica Feurdean

  2. Emil Racoviţă Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Angelica Feurdean

  3. Department of Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, M. Kogălniceanu, 1, 400084, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Ioan Tanţău

  4. Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

    Ioan Tanţău

Authors
  1. Angelica Feurdean
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  2. Ioan Tanţău
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Correspondence to Angelica Feurdean .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geography, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania

    Maria Radoane

  2. Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest Faculty of Geography, Bucharest, Romania

    Alfred Vespremeanu-Stroe

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Feurdean, A., Tanţău, I. (2017). The Evolution of Vegetation from the Last Glacial Maximum Until the Present. In: Radoane, M., Vespremeanu-Stroe, A. (eds) Landform Dynamics and Evolution in Romania. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32589-7_4

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