Modern analogs for understanding pollen-vegetation dynamics in a Mediterranean mosaic landscape (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean)

This paper presents the study of modern pollen analogs from Balearic Islands. While similar studies have been largely applied to mainland areas, research focused on vegetation dynamics Mediterranean islands remains very rare. In this research, we combine surveys, analysis and multivariate statistics understand landscape composition. The main objectives are: (1) examine pollen-vegetation relationships in relation environmental land-use variables; (2) representation a mosaic structure; (3) propose indicators that characterize primary types Islands better interpret past records island environments. Pollen results Redundancy Analysis (RDA) distinguish three major groups: (a) Holm oak box formations; (b) maquis garrigues; (c) anthropogenic open habitats. Landscape form, mean decadal rainfall, temperature, fire activity, trampling, slope percentage, wet/flooded soil, saline distance agropastoral cells, gHM index, domestic herbivory presence, use, soil type are variables explaining assemblage variation our research. Poaceae undiff., Plantago sp., Apiaceae Cerealia-t, Cichorieae highly correlated human activities but should be interpreted cautiously when occurring low values. Quercus ilex-t, Hypericum, Buxus humid locations while Pistacia, Pinus, Juniperus-t, Olea high temperatures. Our indicates how powerful tools for characterizing landscape, with special focus