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Equifinality and uncertainty in the interpretation of pollen data: the Multiple Scenario Approach to reconstruction of past vegetation mosaics

Bunting, M. J.; Middleton, R.

Authors

R. Middleton



Abstract

The long-term goal of pollen analysis has always been the reconstruction of past vegetation mosaics. However, the pollen signal is spatially integrated, and ecologically distinct vegetation structures can produce identical pollen signals. This paper proposes an iterative approach to reconstruction, the Multiple Scenario Approach, which involves creating a large number of hypothetical landscapes using a combination of deterministic and probabilistic 'rules' for plant placement coupled with environmental parameters such as topography, simulating the pollen assemblage produced by each, and comparing them statistically with a sedimentary pollen signal to identify possible reconstructions. The method expressly aims to find multiple possible reconstructions, and also gives some insight into the spatial aspects of the vegetation being reconstructed in addition to its composition.

Citation

Bunting, M. J., & Middleton, R. (2009). Equifinality and uncertainty in the interpretation of pollen data: the Multiple Scenario Approach to reconstruction of past vegetation mosaics. Holocene, 19(5), 799-803. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609105304

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Jul 15, 2009
Publication Date Aug 1, 2009
Deposit Date Nov 13, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Holocene
Print ISSN 0959-6836
Electronic ISSN 1477-0911
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 19
Issue 5
Pages 799-803
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683609105304
Keywords Earth-Surface Processes; Archaeology; Ecology; Palaeontology; Global and Planetary Change
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/461666
Publisher URL http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0959683609105304