Pollen analytical reconnaissance of Post glacial deposits from subtropical zone in Nainital district, Kumaon Himalaya

H.P. Gupta

doi:10.54991/jop.1975.988

Authors

H.P. Gupta Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.1975.988

Abstract

The paper embodies the results of pollen analytical investigations of modern as well as Postglacial sediments from the Naini Tal District in subtropical zone of outer range of Kumaon Himalaya. The study of a series of moss cushions and surface samples from different altitudes in this region has demonstrated that approximately 50% of the total modern vegetation is represented in the pollen spectra. The peat profiles, one each from Naukuchiya Tal and Bhim Tal, have been studied. Based on the fluctuations in the forest plant com- munities it has been possible to recognize four vegetational stages during Holocene time and these are designated by the alphabetical letters as ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’ and ‘d’.

The vegetational history begins with the dominant chir pine woods during Stage ‘a’, which was gradually succeeded by broad-leaved forest constituents during stages ‘b’ and ‘c’ and again into the pine-woods during Stage ‘d’. The three-fold shift in the vegetation reflects on the three-fold climatic fluctuations, viz., cold-warm-cold. The hydrarch succession has also been studied.

The factors responsible for bringing out changes in the vegetational composition such as climatic, edaphic and biotic have been discussed. Efforts have been made to find out the influence of man and animal over the vegetation. The phytogeographical distribution of plant species has also been discussed in detail.

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