Modern pollen–vegetation and isopoll maps in southern Argentina

Abstract

Aim To study the relation between vegetation and pollen spectra as a basic information for the interpretation of Quaternary paleoenvironments. Location Southern Argentina between latitude 38–47° S and longitude 62–72° W. Methods Pollen analysis, statistical analysis, geographical information system (GIS). Results Results of cluster analysis of pollen surface samples show close relations between the dispersal and composition of pollen taxa in the spectra with the corresponding vegetation formations. First isopoll maps of this region presented here by using GIS, demonstrate the relation between the main pollen taxa, the vegetation and the mean annual precipitation. Main conclusions The results prove the usefulness of the method of ‘modern analogues’ for southern Argentina.