Exploring Holocene non-pollen palynomorph data from the Isle of Mull, Scottish Inner Hebrides: Ecological harmonisation and taphonomic complexity

This paper presents the first detailed, integrated analysis of pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) from a Scottish lake catchment using a sediment core from the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebridean archipelago. The sequence spans the early to mid-Holocene (c. 10,900–5470 cal. BP), encompassing the Mesolithic to early Neolithic transition. The core received palynomorphs from open-water, wetlands and terrestrial habitats. Pollen and NPP assemblages were analysed using standard palynological methods and explored through ordination (Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling), with taxa harmonised by inferred ecological affinity. Results show that NPP assemblages broadly track Local Pollen Assemblage Zones, indicating that both proxies respond to shared environmental drivers despite differing dispersal pathways. Persistent aquatic and fen-related NPPs reflect long-term continuity of wetland and open-water habitats, while fluctuations suggest changes in limnological conditions and basin infilling. Heathland, fire-related and coprophilous fungi provide evidence for episodic burning and limited grazing during the early Holocene, followed by increased grazing indicators coincident with woodland decline and the onset of Neolithic land use. Ordination results demonstrate that meaningful ecological structure can be extracted from taphonomically complex lake sediments.