Pollen Analysis of Forest Surface Samples in Kunming Area

Pollen analysis of surface samples is one of the major means in study of pollen representation. The results of palynolopical study on 46 surface samples collected from plots with different vegetation types show that pollen assemblages in surface samples do not reflect major characteristics of vegetation within 20m radius of the surface samples, which is commonly accepted in forest surface sample studies. This is due to general low vegetation cover and broad distribution of pine forest in the study area. In order to avoid possible effects of large amounts of pollen from outside plots, it is considered necessary to test whether pollen in surface samples is mostly from within plots unler consideration or to choose areas with relatively evenly distributed vegetation before calculation of quantitative correction factors is attempted.