The Occurrence of Carpinus, Fagus, Tilia, and Quercus Pollen in Subrecent Spore–Pollen Spectra from the East European Plain: On the Possibility of Long-Distance Pollen Transfer

Abstract

Subrecent spore–pollen spectra have been analyzed for the occurrence Carpinus, Fagus, Tilia, and Quercus pollen in the East European Plain to evaluate the possibility of long-distance pollen transfer. Analysis was based on the material from the Russian Palynological Database on 250 points in different regions of European Russia and neighboring countries and on data from published sources. Pollen of oak, linden, and hornbeam has been found in surface samples taken within the natural ranges of these species and in regions of their introduction, with linden and oak pollen being transferred by air for several tens of kilometers, and hornbeam pollen, for about 200 km. Beech pollen can be transferred by wind for long distances, and its presence in spectra has been recorded farther than 1000 km from the species range boundaries. The proportion of components transferred from long distances increases in spore–pollen spectra from regions with sparse or poorly developed plant cover, and single occurrences of broadleaf tree pollen are also possible in such regions.