Pollen assemblage differences of northern and central Greece grasslands: some notes on grazing

Vegetation and pollen trap data, obtained from ‘open’ areas and subalpine grasslands of Mts Pieria (north-central Greece) and Mt Tymfristos (central Greece), are compared. The highest achievable pollen taxonomic resolution is implemented in both pollen and vegetation taxa. Signs of previous intense human impact are still evident in both areas as indicated by the presence of various ruderal species. A number of local pollen taxa e.g. Daphne, Marrubium, Astragalus, Scleranthus, Eryngium, Herniaria, Centaurea jakea differentiate the pollen assemblages of Tymfristos traps from those of Pieria. The different dominant forest vegetation of the two sites diversifies further the pollen assemblages of their traps. Indicators of local (around the traps) grazing e.g. Ranunculus acris- type Crepistype, Cirsium/Carduus, Rubiaceae, are recorded in all traps. Other pollen types like Plantago lanceolata- type, Artemisia, Rumex acetosa, Urtica, Chenopodiaceae indicate human activity (forest clearings/human settlements and grazing) in a regional scale.