Contributions to the Holocene vegetation history of the south Tyrol: Schnalstal-Val SenalesThis study presents pollen analyses from sediments of an alpine basin (2,434 m a.s.l.) at Schnalsta!, South Tyrol, that developed from a lake to a fen at the turn f

Abstract

This study presents pollen analyses from sediments of an alpine basin (2,434 m a.s.l.) at Schnalsta!, South Tyrol, that developed from a lake to a fen at the turn from Atlantic to Subboreal. Subalpine forest probably never reached this altitude, yet during Atlantic Pinus must have occupied extensive areas at little lower altitudes. Two main oscillations - known from adjacent Austrian Alps - may be recognized within the pollen diagrams: The late Atlantic "Rotmoos"-oscillation and the middle Subboreal "Löbben"-osciliation. The latter marks also the beginning of increasing anthropogenic influence. Since the beginning of Subatlantic the extensive pure Larixforests of Schnalstal have probably been favoured due to human activities.