Sequences of Holocene forest history in the Scandes, inferred from megafossil Pinus sylvestris

Kullman, Leif 1987 03 01: Sequences of Holocene forest history in the Scandes, inferred from megafossil Pinus sylvestris. Boreas , Vol. 16, pp. 21–26. Oslo. ISSN 0300–9483. Altogether 54 14 C‐datings of megafossil Pinus sylvestris L. from above the present tree‐limit in the southern Swedish Scandes were evaluated. The samples were discussed in relation to the present‐day tree‐limit of pine. Pine reached almost 200 m higher than at present shortly after deglaciation and remained at very high altitudes until at least 4,000–3,500 14 C years B.P. The conclusion was that the precise biological and climatological interpretation of these regionally sampled data is still obscure. It is impossible to judge whether clusters of megafossil pine represent periods relatively favourable for pine growth and reproduction or merely periods advantageous for production of dead wood and its long‐term preservation. In terms of climate, these alternatives reasonably implicate widely different conditions.