MODERN POLLEN SPECTRA FROM COSTA-RICA

We analyzed pollen spectra preserved in surface lake and mire sediment s and soils to provide information on modern pollen rain across a rang e of vegetation types in Costa Rica. We collected samples at 29 sites located within ten principal vegetation types: mangrove, tropical dry forest, derived savanna, tropical moist forest, tropical wet forest, l owland freshwater swamp, premontane rain forest, montane rain forest, montane bog, and paramo. Samples from sites with similar vegetation ge nerally had similar pollen assemblages and clustered together in detre nded correspondence analysis. Results indicate that major vegetation t ypes in Costa Rica have distinct pollen spectra.