1961–1967

Quantitative Pollen Analysis

Contemporary themes

During this period palynology coalesced around a quantitative framework for pollen data, enabling cross-basin vegetation and palaeogeographic reconstructions through integration with stratigraphy and marine palynology. Advances in microscopy, wall ultrastructure analysis, autofluorescence, and fluorescence-based techniques expanded taxonomic resolution and interpretation of diagenetic processes, while standardized sampling and counting procedures began bridging terrestrial and marine contexts across North America, the North Atlantic, and adjacent seas. The field matured into a self-reflective enterprise, openly examining limitations and pursuing methodological refinement, standardization, and interpretive clarity.

• Palynology integrates pollen and spore records with stratigraphy to reconstruct ancient vegetation and palaeogeography across North America and the Atlantic, bridging terrestrial and marine contexts[1][2][9][15][18][19].
• Advances in microscopy and imaging expanded palynology beyond morphology to wall ultrastructure, autofluorescence, and fluorescence-based analyses, enabling finer taxonomic resolution and diagenetic interpretation[4][5][11][13].
• Taxonomic frameworks rely on pollen and spore morphology and wall structure to delineate systematic palaeontology, supporting correlations across Devonian to recent floras and Permian-Triassic deposits[1][3][4][6].
• Marine palynology emerges as a core context, linking sedimentation and water movement with pollen assemblages and palaeoceanographic reconstruction across USSR seas and the northwestern Atlantic[14][15][18].
• The field's maturation is documented through reflections on modern palynology and its limitations, highlighting method development, standardization, and interpretive frameworks[15][16][17].

Influential works

Seminal developments in this window anchored the quantitative pollen-analysis approach as a practical, broadly applicable tool for climate and vegetation reconstructions. Foundational ideas formalized sampling, counting, and interpretation protocols that shaped subsequent palynology. Cross-regional studies of Paleocene to early Eocene flora and tropical pollen assemblages enabled correlations across basins, refined chronostratigraphy, and improved palaeoclimatic interpretations. The emphasis on surface and modern analogs supplied calibration standards for Quaternary records and hydrodynamic contexts, cementing palynology’s enduring role in reconstructing past environments.

• On the theory of pollen analysis (1963)[1] introduced a quantitative framework for pollen data—sampling, counting, and interpretation—laying the foundation for modern palynology and climate reconstructions.
• Palynology of the surface sediments of Great Bahama Bank, as related to water movement and sedimentation (1966)[13] linked pollen assemblages to hydrodynamics, improving paleoenvironmental interpretation and sedimentary basin studies.
• Paleocene flora of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains (1962)[3] documented widespread Paleocene pollen floras, enabling cross-basin correlations and informing interpretations of climate and vegetation after the dinosaurs.
• The Paleocene and lower Eocene pollen flora of Guyana (1966)[11] extended tropical palynology, characterizing diverse pollen assemblages and refining chronostratigraphy and tropical palaeoclimate understanding.
• The use of surface samples in quaternary pollen analysis (1967)[6] emphasized the value of modern surface pollen baselines for calibrating Quaternary records, shaping methodological standards and comparisons.

1968–1974

Quantitative Palynology for Stratigraphy

Contemporary themes

During this interval, palynology established itself as the primary tool for regional chronostratigraphy and palaeogeography, unifying Permian-Triassic through Keuper–Cretaceous stratigraphy across Europe and beyond through quantitative analyses and pollen-diagram driven correlations. The methodological core centered on quantitative palynology, pollen-diagram based palaeoecology, zonation schemes, and numerical modeling to interpret Quaternary to Cretaceous sequences, while ongoing advances in pollen wall morphology and ultrastructure sharpened systematic frameworks. Expansion into tropical palynology and sedimentary basins broadened reconstructive capabilities into tropical climates and Cenozoic transitions; marine and polar contexts further extended palynology to trace palaeoceanography and climate signals.

• Palynology emerged as a primary tool for regional chronostratigraphy and palaeogeography, linking Permian-Triassic through Keuper–Cretaceous stratigraphy across Europe and beyond, using palynological data to constrain timelines and correlations[5][6][10][11][13].
• Methodological core centers on quantitative palynology and pollen-diagram-based palaeoecology, with zonation strategies and numerical modeling guiding interpretation of Quaternary to Cretaceous sequences[7][14].
• Advances in pollen wall morphology and ultrastructure underpin systematics, enabling taxonomic discrimination and insights into evolutionary relationships across angiosperms and gymnosperms[1][18][20].
• Research on tropical palynology and sedimentary basins expands palaeoenvironmental reconstruction into tropical climates and Cenozoic transitions, informing palaeobiology and stratigraphy in Sarawak, Gippsland, and southeast Australia[2][8][9][12].
• Palynology extends to marine and polar contexts, leveraging deep-sea cores, azonal palynomorphs, and polar sediments to trace palaeoceanography, regional biostratigraphy, and climate signals[15][16][17].

Influential works

• Differential Staining of Aborted and Nonaborted Pollen (1969) introduced a practical staining protocol that distinguishes aborted from viable pollen grains, enabling quantitative viability assessments and more reliable pollen-based reconstructions of past vegetation. Its approach became a foundational tool in palynology, shaping subsequent studies of pollen fertility and fossil assemblages.[1]
• Simple Method for Differential Staining of Paraffin Embedded Plant Material Using Toluidine Blue O (1973) provides a straightforward differential staining approach for paraffin-embedded plant sections, streamlining slide prep and improving contrast for palynological and microanatomical analyses. The method spread widely in plant sciences, supporting more consistent identifications.[6]
• PALYNOLOGY OF THE FIRST 30 METRES OF A 120 M DEEP SECTION IN NORTHERN GREECE (1969) delivered an intensive palynological stratigraphy of a deep Greek section, yielding detailed pollen/spore assemblages and establishing regional baselines for biostratigraphy and environmental reconstruction. The work helped define high-resolution palynology in stratigraphic contexts.[10]
• Key to the Quaternary pollen and spores of the Great Lakes region (1973) offered a comprehensive, region-wide dichotomous key for Quaternary pollen and spores, standardizing identifications and enabling cross-site correlations. Its practical framework accelerated synthesis and comparative studies across North American palynology.[9]

1975–1983

Quantitative Palynology and Stratigraphy

Contemporary themes

The period 1975-1983 marks a consolidation of palynology around quantitative methods and multivariate analysis as the central framework for deciphering pollen–vegetation relationships in Quaternary and Triassic contexts. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and mixture-discrimination approaches, together with correlation-based R-values and size-frequency separation, emerged as unifying tools to translate pollen spectra into palaeoenvironmental inferences, while palynostratigraphy and chronostratigraphic frameworks advanced through morphology-based taxonomy and mapping that tied local form-genus distributions to global Late Triassic schemata. Regional pollen diagrams and stratigraphic syntheses expanded palaeoenvironmental reconstructions across Nordic lakes, Greenland/UK, Ireland, and the NE Pacific, underscoring geography-driven vegetation histories and diachronic change. Taxonomic morphology and form-genus perspectives continued to sharpen taxa-level refinement, reinforcing a morphology-centric approach within broad stratigraphic aims.

• Quantitative palynology and multivariate analysis emerge as a unifying methodological thread, with several studies adopting R-values, size-frequency separation, PCA, and mixture-discrimination to extract pollen-vegetation relationships from Quaternary data and to improve palaeoenvironment inferences[2][4][12][16].
• Palynostratigraphy and chronostratigraphic frameworks across the Triassic and Rhaetian centuries are advanced by morphology-based taxonomy and stratigraphic mapping, linking form-genus Ovalipollis, Kendelbachgraben, and Hartford basin chronologies to global Late Triassic schemata[3][5][8][9][10][11].
• Regional palaeoenvironmental reconstructions through pollen diagrams span Nordic lakes, Greenland/UK, Ireland and NE Pacific, reflecting geography-driven vegetation histories and palaeogeographic inferences across multiple timescales[1][13][14][17][20].
• Taxonomic morphology and form-genus focused palynology highlights morphology-driven classification and stratigraphic distribution as a driver of late Triassic palynology, revealing a consistent emphasis on taxa-level refinement amidst broad stratigraphic aims[3][5][8][10].

Influential works

• The Bases of Angiosperm Phylogeny: Palynology (1975)[14] introduced a framework to infer angiosperm relationships from pollen morphology and microfossil data, establishing palynology as a key tool in plant systematics. By synthesizing pollen character matrices and phylogenetic logic, it spurred subsequent cladistic analyses and cross-disciplinary integration in plant evolution.
• Grande Pile Peat Bog: A Continuous Pollen Record for the Last 140,000 Years (1978)[5] provided a continuous high-resolution pollen record across glacial cycles from Grande Pile, enabling detailed Quaternary climate and vegetation reconstructions; immediate: method showcased peat bogs as long-term archives; long-term: a standard reference for paleoenvironments.
• An atlas of past and present pollen maps for Europe, 0-13,000 years ago (1983)[2] created syntheses of pollen maps across Europe, tracing postglacial vegetation shifts; immediate: integrated regional data into a coherent atlas; long-term: foundational resource for pollen-based reconstructions and Holocene vegetation mapping.
• Methods of Melissopalynology (1978)[6] standardized methodology for pollen analysis in honey/bee products; introduced sample prep, counting, and pollen identification protocols; immediate: improved comparability and accuracy of melissopalynology; long-term: essential toolkit for honey authentication and palynology.
• A palaeoecological study of holocene peat bog sections in Germany and the Netherlands (1978)[9] provided a comprehensive palaeoecological study employing pollen, spores, and macro- and microfossils across Holocene peat bog sequences; immediate: multi-proxy approach refined peatland interpretation; long-term: influenced standard practice for peat bog palaeoecology.

1984–1990

Scale-Aware Quantitative Palynology

Contemporary themes

During 1984-1990, palynology moved toward scale-aware, quantitative synthesis across diverse pollen records, establishing a unified framework that links pollen rain to source-area size and basin effects, enabling cross-site comparability and more reliable vegetation reconstructions. The period also witnessed advances in taxonomic standardization for Paleozoic palynology, along with growth of palaeovegetation mapping, biogeography, and palaeogeographic reconstructions grounded in pollen data. In marine and aerosol contexts, palynology began to integrate transport processes and depositional settings, broadening interpretation of pollen signals in marine records. Local to regional palaeoecological reconstructions integrated stratigraphy and geoarchaeology to interpret late-glacial to Holocene vegetation change, including anthropogenic indicators in pollen diagrams.

• Quantitative methodologies and standardized frameworks unified pollen interpretation across diverse records, emphasizing dissimilarity metrics, modern analogs, and source-area concepts to enable cross-site comparability[5][7][12][14].
• Taxonomic systematics and naming conventions in Palaeozoic palynology advanced through flexible conifer naming, revisions of Walchiaceae and form-genera like Callipteris and Autunia, signaling a shift toward clearer taxonomic frameworks[1][3][15][16].
• Palaeovegetation mapping, biogeography, and palaeogeographic reconstruction were advanced by pollen-based maps, regional phytogeography during Permian-Triassic, and North China contexts, enabling large-scale visualization of vegetation change[8][9][17][18].
• Marine and aerosol palynology studies reveal how palynomorph distributions in aerosols and deep-sea/marine sediments record palaeoenvironmental signals and transport processes, informing interpretations of pollen signals in marine contexts[4][7][11][19].
• Local to regional palaeoecological reconstructions integrate stratigraphy, geoarchaeology, and palaeoecology to interpret late-glacial to Holocene vegetation changes, including anthropogenic indicators in pollen diagrams, highlighting human-environment interactions[2][9][10].

Influential works

The era cemented a quantitative paradigm in palynology, through pioneering methods such as dissimilarity coefficients and the modern-analogs approach, plus the unified theory of pollen representation, source area, and basin size. It emphasized the importance of scale, taphonomic filtering, and transport processes, enabling robust multi-site climate reconstructions and paving the way for long-term pollen-based paleoenvironment syntheses. The attention to dust transport and loess as pollen sources influenced Quaternary paleoenvironment studies and highlighted aeolian inputs as a critical factor in pollen interpretation. The period’s integrative approach laid the groundwork for subsequent multi-proxy and palaeoclimate syntheses.

• 'Pollen Representation, Source Area, and Basin Size: Toward a Unified Theory of Pollen Analysis' (1985)[1] introduced a unified framework linking pollen rain to source area and basin size, clarifying how scale- and taphonomic-filter effects shape pollen diagrams and enabling vegetation and landscape reconstructions across scales.
• 'Quantitative Interpretation of Fossil Pollen Spectra: Dissimilarity Coefficients and the Method of Modern Analogs' (1985)[2] introduced quantitative dissimilarity coefficients and the modern-analogs approach, enabling objective comparison of fossil pollen spectra and strengthening statistical palynology.
• 'Dust transport and the question of desert loess formation' (1987)[12] analyzed dust transport processes and loess formation, highlighting aeolian inputs as a key source of pollen and shaping interpretation of pollen signals, influencing broad Quaternary paleoenvironment studies.
• 'A 140,000-year continental climate reconstruction from two European pollen records' (1989)[6] demonstrates long-term climate histories from pollen data, showing millennial-scale variability and inspiring subsequent pollen-based paleoclimate syntheses and multi-proxy approaches.

1991–1997

Quantitative Multi-Proxy Palynology

Contemporary themes

The dominant paradigm during this interval centers on quantitative multi-proxy palynology, integrating pollen signals with spores, phytoplankton, and other proxies alongside stratigraphic and lake-level data to reconstruct vegetation dynamics and climate across Holocene to Late Quaternary times over multiple regions. Methodological advances emphasize standardization of diversity metrics via rarefaction, calibration against modern pollen rain baselines, and bias corrections to enable robust cross-regional comparisons and anthropogenic signal detection. These approaches unify pollen data with ecological context to interpret long-term environmental change.

• Global climate-vegetation reconstructions from pollen signal Holocene to Late Quaternary fluctuations across multiple regions; these studies utilize pollen proxies alongside lake-level data, stratigraphy, and ecological context to map vegetation dynamics over time[6][14][16][18][19].
• Deep-time palynology and palaeogeography across the Cretaceous-Permian interval, integrating pollen, spores, and associated phytoplankton to correlate strata and reconstruct ancient environments; exemplars span Yesomma Formation (Somalia)[3], Nonmarine Cretaceous correlations (Egypt/Sudan)[7], Lefipan formation (Argentina)[12], Bardawil palynomorphs (North Sinai)[13], and Sverdrup Basin palynostratigraphy[20].
• Quantitative palynology and methodological calibration for past reconstructions, foregrounding rarefaction analyses for palynological richness[15], and evaluating modern vs pre-European pollen datasets for quantitative reconstruction[11], complemented by modern tropical pollen-rain baselines[4].
• Human-mediated environmental change inferred from pollen data, including Roman landscape modification in northern England[10], and calibration against pre/post-European settlement baselines for Australia to quantify anthropogenic effects[11].
• Multi-proxy paleoenvironmental reconstructions combining pollen, spores and phytoplankton/diatoms to enhance interpretation; examples include pollen+phytoplankton in the Yesomma Formation[3] and epiphytic diatom flora in mosses from Strømness Bay, South Georgia[5].

Influential works

This period established foundational frameworks that shaped subsequent palynology, including the theoretical underpinnings of pollen-vegetation relationships, the concept of palynofacies linking organic facies to depositional environments, and the emphasis on multi-proxy integration. The introduction of standardized terminology, quantitative reconstruction methods, and robust protocols laid the groundwork for future cross-disciplinary palaeoenvironmental research.

• Palynology: Principles and Applications (1997)[1] delivered a comprehensive synthesis of pollen and spores analysis, unifying laboratory methods, data interpretation, and cross-disciplinary applications in archaeology, geology, and palaeoecology; it established standard terminology and methodological rigor, shaping both teaching and research for decades.
• Pollen Representation of Vegetation in Quaternary Sediments: Theory and Method in Patchy Vegetation (1994)[2] introduced the patchy vegetation concept and the theoretical framework for relating pollen spectra to heterogeneous vegetation, highlighting representation biases and proposing corrections and models that became foundational for interpreting pollen-vegetation relationships in Quaternary studies.
• The use of Rarefaction Analysis for Estimating Palynological Richness from Quaternary Pollen-Analytical Data (1992)[3] introduced rarefaction as a method to standardize palynological richness across samples with unequal counts, enabling robust comparisons of diversity through time and space and influencing subsequent biodiversity metrics in palynology.
• Sedimentary organic matter: organic facies and palynofacies (1995)[6] proposed palynofacies as a framework linking sedimentary organic matter types to depositional environments and palynomorph preservation, providing criteria to interpret assemblages within facies contexts and guiding palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

1998–2004

Pollen-Driven Climate Biogeography

Contemporary themes

The Palynology period from 1998 to 2004 catalyzed integration of pollen-based vegetation reconstructions with climate inference across multiple continents, emphasizing biome typing, standardized pollen proxies, and cross-regional signals of climate–vegetation coupling. Palynology also strengthened its role as a stratigraphic and chronological tool, weaving pollen data into stratigraphic frameworks to resolve timelines of postglacial and Holocene environmental shifts. Collectively, these approaches fostered a unifying paradigm where pollen records serve as the backbone for both biogeographic mapping and climate dynamics in palynological research.

• Theme 1: Pollen-based palaeovegetation reconstructions and biome mapping across continents (Europe, China, Japan, Beringia, Amazon) reveal broad climate–vegetation couplings and historical biogeographic affinities inferred from pollen records[3][4][6][8][10][12][16].
• Theme 2: Methodological paradigms for climate inference from pollen—biome typing, steppe biome delineation, and climate dynamics interpretation using pollen data as a standardized proxy across regions[2][3][4].
• Theme 3: Palynology as stratigraphic and chrono- logical tool—palynostratigraphy and integration of pollen data with stratigraphic frameworks to resolve timelines and environmental shifts (including K–T boundary contexts)[11][13][16].
• Theme 4: Biogeography and regional floras via pollen—case studies of South China–Australia affinity, Northern Australia flora, Egypt nascent angiosperm pollen, and Mongolia vascular plants illustrating pollen-driven geographic plant geography[1][5][14][20].
• Theme 5: Postglacial to Holocene vegetation dynamics and climate change—regional pollen records document postglacial vegetation shifts and climate-driven forest/succession changes in Navarrés, Amazon, Caquetá, Beringia and Fennoscandia[9][10][16][17][19].

Influential works

Breakthroughs include harmonized methods for melissopalynology that enabled cross-laboratory comparability of pollen data from honey, alongside quantitative Holocene temperature reconstructions derived from pollen records that anchored regional climate histories. Multi-proxy palynology demonstrated how high-resolution pollen, charcoal, and geochemical evidence separate climate signals from human impact, notably in sensitive margins like the Lateglacial to Holocene transitions. Pollen-based reconstructions of Neogene vegetation in monsoon-influenced corridors expanded the temporal scope of palynology, establishing a durable framework linking botanical history with regional climate evolution.

• Harmonized methods of melissopalynology (2004)[11] established standardized pollen-analysis protocols for honey, enabling cross-study comparability, quality control, and reliable palynological data across laboratories and time.
• The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data (2003)[8] demonstrated pollen-based quantitative climate reconstruction, anchoring Holocene temperature histories and guiding regional paleoenvironmental syntheses.
• Evidence of Lateglacial and Holocene climatic change and human impact in eastern Anatolia: high-resolution pollen, charcoal, isotopic and geochemical records from Lake Van, Turkey (2003)[13] showcased multi-proxy palynology to distinguish climate signals from human influence.
• Palynological evidence for vegetation development and climatic change in the Sub-Himalayan Zone (Neogene, Central Nepal) (2000)[12] reveals long-term vegetational dynamics in a mountainous corridor, illustrating Neogene pollen-based reconstructions in monsoon-affected Asia.
• Starch granules: structure and biosynthesis (1998)[4] expanded palynology by detailing starch grain morphology and formation, broadening microfossil proxies used in archaeology and paleoenvironmental reconstructions.

2005–2011

Quantitative Palynology Calibration

Contemporary themes

Palynology between 2005 and 2011 integrated pollen data across marine and terrestrial realms to reconstruct palaeogeography and palaeoclimate over broad timescales. It advanced quantitative pollen–vegetation relationships, enabling robust vegetation histories and cross-regional comparisons. It also emphasized stratigraphic and palynofacies approaches in coal-bearing sequences and promoted the use of pollen databases to contextualize palynofloras across deserts, basins, and margins.

• Palynology is used to reconstruct palaeogeography and palaeoclimate across broad timescales, synthesizing marine and terrestrial records and cross-regional data to map past landscapes and climatic shifts[1][4][8][9][14][19].
• Quantitative pollen–vegetation relationships enable calibration and inference of vegetation histories from pollen diagrams across diverse settings, enabling robust reconstructions and cross-regional comparisons[5][18][9][14].
• Palynology informs stratigraphy and biostratigraphy of Carboniferous–Permian coal-bearing sequences through pollen biozones, palynofacies, and radiometric correlations, helping to delineate environmental transitions[1][16][13][15][10].
• Regional to global pollen source representation and databases underpin interpretation of fossil pollen, enabling cross-environment comparisons and better contextualization of palynofloras across deserts, basins, and margins[3][14][19][20].

Influential works

Groundbreaking syntheses standardized pollen-based continental climate reconstructions at key intervals, establishing benchmarks for cross-study comparability and enabling integration of palynology with climate science. Foundational regional flora expansions and modern calibration models spurred region-specific interpretations and broader applicability. High-resolution regional pollen sequences demonstrated rapid climate-vegetation shifts and methodological refinements in sampling and interpretation, underpinning enduring best practices.

• This global synthesis standardizes pollen-based continental climate reconstructions at 6 ka and 21 ka, detailing calibration, uncertainties, and regional patterns; it established benchmarks for cross-study comparability and catalyzed integration of palynology with climate science[8].
• Expands the Northwest European pollen flora with updated taxonomy, distribution, and identifications for 70 taxa, providing a foundational reference that underpins robust pollen–vegetation inferences and cross-study comparability in Quaternary palynology[9].
• Introduces a quantitative calibration between modern vegetation and pollen spectra in northern China, offering models to translate pollen assemblages into vegetation and climate signals; it spurred region-specific calibration and improved interpretation of East Asian palynology[7].
• Presents high-resolution pollen sequences from Avrig, revealing late-glacial to Holocene vegetation dynamics in SE Europe and illustrating how pollen data track rapid climate-vegetation shifts; a cornerstone for regional palynology in the Carpathians[1].
• Provides a detailed peat-profile palynology study with refined sampling, preservation, and interpretation of pollen assemblages, enriching baseline data for Central European late Quaternary vegetation and informing methodological best practices[15].

2012–2022

Quantitative Pollen-Based Climate Reconstruction

Contemporary themes

During 2012–2022, palynology emphasized rigorous calibration of fossil pollen interpretations against modern baselines and quantitative reconstructions, enabling robust climate–vegetation inferences across regions. Palynostratigraphy and pollen indicators anchored major turnovers in Earth's history, strengthening stratigraphic frameworks and reconstructions of paleoecology. Regional vegetation history and climate dynamics from Miocene to Eocene across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas revealed shifts in forests and habitats, while cross-regional data synthesis and climate-model integration promoted standardization and data accessibility.

• Calibration of fossil pollen interpretations through modern baselines and quantitative reconstructions, enabling robust climate–vegetation inferences across regions[1][3][7][8].
• Palynostratigraphy and pollen indicators across major turnovers (Permian–Triassic, Triassic–Jurassic, Cretaceous) to anchor stratigraphic frameworks and reconstruct paleoecology[6][9][11][12][16][20].
• Regional vegetation history and climate dynamics revealed by palynology from Miocene to Eocene across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, highlighting shifts in forests and habitats[7][10][14][18][19].
• Cross‑regional data synthesis and climate‑modelling integration in palynology, emphasizing standardization and datasets enabling palaeoenvironmental reconstructions[5][8][10][19].

Influential works

The period produced pivotal advances that turned pollen data into quantitative, model-ready evidence. Integrated cross-period syntheses established pollen evidence as a core method for tracing domestication and agricultural origins; large-scale pollen databases linked modern vegetation with climate to calibrate past inferences; standardized Holocene reconstructions enabled climate-model integration; regional forest dynamics across Europe provided a long-term perspective on climate impacts and human-vegetation interactions across continents.

• Domestication of plants in the Old World: the origin and spread of domesticated plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin[1] synthesizes pollen evidence to trace the origin and spread of domesticated crops across Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean, establishing pollen-based archaeology as a core method for studying early agriculture.
• East Asian pollen database: modern pollen distribution and its quantitative relationship with vegetation and climate[3] creates a large-scale database linking modern pollen spectra to current vegetation and climate, enabling robust calibration of pollen-based inferences in past East Asia.
• Pollen-based quantitative reconstructions of Holocene regional vegetation cover (plant-functional types and land-cover types) in Europe suitable for climate modelling[11] standardizes quantitative pollen-based reconstructions, providing data compatible with climate models and advancing paleoecological interpretation.
• Europe’s lost forests: a pollen-based synthesis for the last 11,000 years[5] integrates pollen data to reconstruct long-term forest dynamics across Europe, highlighting regional variation and climate impacts, shaping later paleoecological syntheses and conservation perspectives.