Surface pollen spectra from southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Analyses of surface samples of 84 sites from southern Vancouver Island were used to characterize pollen and spore spectra of modern vegetation types. Xeric Quercus garryana Dougl. and grassland associations can be identified by Quercus pollen and abundant nonarboreal pollen, respectively. Coastal Do uglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) forests are distinguished by high proportions of Pseudotsuga and low Pseudotsuga to Ts uga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. ratios. Coastal Western Hemlock zone forests have abundant Tsuga heterophylla pollen. Dry Coastal Western Hemlock subzon es have diagnostically abundant Pseudotsuga and Tsuga heterophylla pollen, and intermediate Pseudotsuga to Tsuga heterophylla ratios. Moist Coastal We stern Hemlock variants are characterised by little or no Pseudotsuga pollen and high Pseudotsuga to Tsuga heterophylla ratios. The Mountain Hemlock zo ne exhibits abundant Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr. pollen percentages and notable nonarboreal pollen and spore values. Relatively high Alnus values are not necessarily indicators of dominant alder stands, especially when ob tained from open communities. Pseudotsuga to Tsuga heterophylla ratios are useful as a proxy measure of mean annual precipitation between 700 and 2700 mm.