RECENT POLLEN SPECTRA OF HIGHLAND GUATEMALA

Data on modern pollen deposition are presented from highland Guatemala and their relation with modern vegetation is examined. Results are ba sed on pollen analysis of sixty-two moss samples collected between 280 0 and 4200 m elevation from alpine bunchgrassland, subalpine vegetatio n and fir forest. The modern pollen rain data were analyzed by classif ication (TWINSPAN) and ordination analysis (DCA) and association indic es. The degree of over-representation and under-representation of the pollen data with respect to the modern vegetation was established. The fir forest belt (2800-3400 m) shows highest percentages of Abies and Asteraceae, the subalpine forest belt (3400-4000 m) shows highest valu es of Juniperus, Buddleja and Poaceae. The alpine bunchgrassland (4000 -4200 m) is not characterized by an increased presence of any taxon Pi nus (up to 90%), Alnus (up to 40%), Quercus (up to 7%) and Hedyosmum ( up to 0.8%) pollen is recovered from all vegetation belts.