Holocene Vegetation Dynamics And Its Environmental Implications Inferred From Pollen Record In Gimhae Area, Korea

Palynoflora from a core drilled on the Nakdong River Delta in the vicinity of Gimhae, reveals vegetation and environment changes during the Holocene. It suggests the development of a mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forest along with local distribution of herbs and ferns, and is represented by Pinus, Quercus subgenus Lepidobalanus, Alnus, Carpinus, Quercus subgenus Cyclobalanopsis and Gramineae. The decrease of boreal conifers and increase of evergreen broadleaved trees indicate a vegetation shift from a cool temperate mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forest during the early Holocene to a temperate mixed coniferous and deciduous broadleaved forest as a result of climatic amelioration during the Holocene climate optimum and submergence of the study area due to sea-level rise. Continuous decrease of conifers and increases of temperate deciduous broadleaved trees and of riparian taxa, herbs and Polypodiaceae represent the influence of delta plain vegetation in consequence of the development of the Nakdong River Delta along with the Holocene climate change.