Modem pollen-rain data from South and Central America: a test of the feasibility of fíne-resolution lowland tropical palynology

Abstract

Modem pollcn rain data from a suite of sites in lowland South and Central America are analysed by means of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and two-way indicator species analvsis (TWINSPAN). and are shown to have discernible charaaeristics for major vegetation types: varzea. igapo, semi-deciduous, cerrado and ierra firme forest. Data analysis demonstrates the potential for detailed palaeoclimatic reconstructions of lowlahd tropical environments, but also demonstrates the danger of making geneydizations about palaeoecosystems based on few palaeoecological records.