Integrated palaeoecological evidence for biodiversity at the floodplain-forest margin

This paper presents the results of a combined palynological and palaeoentom ological investigation into the changing diversity-of Holocene floodplain f orest biota at Pole Ings in the lower reaches of the River Trent. The aim i n combining the two techniques represents an attempt to overcome some of th e inherent differences of scale and resolution which characterize different types of fossil species data. The: two lines of ecofactual evidence, polle n and beetle remains indicate changes in the biodiversity of the floodplain , both in terms of the diversity and abundance of individual species, habit ats and ecosystem structure. The results of the study demonstrate the poten tial of this approach in tracing the decline in plant and entomofaunal dive rsity at the floodplain forest margin. Although there are recognized limita tions imposed by taphonomic uncertainties, taxonomic resolution and restric ted ecological data, the combined results provide added details of variatio ns in both species composition and structural diversity within the landscap e. The results emphasize the need for multidisciplinary research design in palaeoecological investigations of biodiversity.