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.