Early holocene plant and animal remains from North-east Greenland

Aim The aim of this paper is to describe and interpret early Holocene flora s and faunas. Location The Boras and faunas come from various localities in North-east Gr eenland. Methods Sediment samples were wet sieved, and macrofossils picked out and d ated by the AMS radiocarbon-dating method. Results Sediments, dated to the first centuries after the last glacial stag e came to an abrupt end, contain a macroflora of bryophytes and a few herbs , and we suggest that these plant remains represent a pioneer vegetation en tirely without woody plants. The named species of herbs are either confined to the northern parts of Greenland at present, or they become increasingly more important towards the north. Crowberry is the oldest woody plant reco vered; it was present at 10.4 cal. ka sp, and it appears to have been commo n during the early Holocene in East Greenland. Main conclusions We suggest that the majority of the extant flora of vascul ar plants of East Greenland arrived by long distance dispersal during the H olocene. Some species may also have arrived during the late-glacial, and a few hardy species that are adapted to low summer temperatures may have surv ived the last glacial stage in nonglaciated areas. Some hardy animals may a lso have survived, but the majority of the fauna are considered Holocene im migrants. We suggest that migrating birds and storms, perhaps in combinatio n, are under-appreciated dispersal vectors.