A study of the vegetational history of Dubh Lochan - A small loch near to Loch Lomond

Walker, Agnes (1975) A study of the vegetational history of Dubh Lochan - A small loch near to Loch Lomond. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

A pollen diagram has been prepared from Dubh Lochan - a small loch close to Loch Lomond in an area of semi-natural oak forest. The site selected is near to the edge of the loch, in fen carr, with Myrica as the dominant plant at the actual sampling site. A complementary diagram of macro-fossil remains has also been drawn up, and together these diagrams give one a regional, and at the same time, local vegetational history of an area which is within the region covered by glacial ice at tine time of the Loch Lomond Re-advance. The diagram has been divided into local pollen assemblage zones, and this zonation has been confirmed by statistical analyses of the results. The sediment at the base of the core is fine silt containing no pollen. Above this there is a short zone where plants typical of cold climatic conditions, immature soils and open habitats flourished. Corylus pollan values rise very sharply at the end of this zone, and Quercus, Ulmus and Pinus must have immigrated into the area shortly after this. There is a brief period when Pinus values indicate local occurrence. Just after the maximum for Pinus there is a very sharp rise in values for Alnus pollen, and this is followed by a further expansion of mixed oak forest. Later, after the decline in Ulmus, pollen of plants typical of open forest, said of plants normally associated with the presence of man, became important members of the pollen spectra. Comparison has been made with other pollen diagrams from sites in Western and North-Western Scotland and North-Western England. Similarities have been noted and tentative reasons given to explain differences from these.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: J Dickson
• Keywords: Paleoecology
• Date of Award: 1975
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1975-72843
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• Last Modified: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72843