A COMPARISON OF RESULTS FROM 2 DESIGNS OF SEDIMENTATION POLLEN TRAP

Two different types of sedimentation pollen traps (Tauber and Cundill designs) were tested together in a grassy glade within a pine forest i n east Fife, Scotland over the period 1992-1995. The results from 1992 and 1993 are presented and demonstrate close similarities between the quantities of pollen of the major taxa captured by the two traps. Dif ferences between the pollen values of Poaceae from the two traps may b e attributed to localised release of pollen although variations in Pin us pollen are less easy to explain. Problems were encountered in the u se of the Tauber trap because it acted as a pitfall trap for insects, amphibians and small mammals and this led to some samples from 1994 an d 1995 being discarded. In general both the traps operated with the sa me level of efficiency although the Tauber trap requires the addition of a mesh or bactericide/preservative to counteract its tendency to ac t as a pitfall trap.