Mid-Holocene vegetation diversity in eastern Cumbria

The concept of biodiversity can operate at several different ecological lev els from that of the Global ecosystem to the genetic diversity of a single species. This paper focuses on the beta-type diversity of vegetation commun ities at the intra and inter-regional scale, using five mid-Holocene (Neoli thic) pollen diagrams from eastern Cumbria (c. 500 km(2) centred on the Ede n valley). The sites were selected in order to include the variation in bot h soil/rock type and altitude within the study area, ranging from the Eden valley and southern limestone plateau to the foothills and summits of the w estern edge of the Pennines. The local pollen component which is dominant i n these small sites, is used to determine intraregional vegetation diversit y for a time-slice in the Neolithic. Simple statistical methods are used to compare sites and as a measure of intra-regional vegetation-type diversity . This is compared with estimates of the community diversity for the: Briti sh Isles during the same period. The results suggest that the intra-regiona l vegetation diversity is comparable to that of Northern England, and it is related to variation in both altitude and soil type. There are some differ ences, for example the steepness of the western face of the Pennines is pro bably responsible for a lack of the pine dominated zone, and pedological co nstraints probably prevented the full development of woodland on the limest one plateau at the south of the study area. The open landscape of the limes tone plateau acted as a refuge for late glacial herbaceous taxa prior to th eir re-expansion into the wider landscape after widespread deforestation an d arable cultivation. The results have implications for both the mapping of past vegetation at the national scale and for landscape archaeology.