The distribution of cluster pine (Pinus pinaster) in Spain as derived frompalaeoecological data: relationships with phytosociological classification

New pollen-analytical data from the Navarres peatbog (Valencia, eastern Spa in) show a synchronous Late-Quaternary fluctuation of P. pinaster- (cluster pine) and Quercus- (oak) dominated assemblages. During glacial times, P, p inaster survived in refugia together with other trees such as Corylus, Frax inus Quercus, and a number of Mediterranean shrubs such as Arbutus, Erica a rborea, Olea, Phyllirea, Pistacia terebinthus, Myrtus communis and Viburnum tinus. These nuclei of vegetation expanded around c. 30 000-27 000 BP inva ding areas formerly occupied by pine forests. P. pinaster retreated conside rably during the last glacial maximum and the Younger Dryas event, but not as much as Quercus. During c. 10 000-6000 BP, a local pine forest resisted possible oak and P. pinaster invasion. Around 6000 BP, P. pinaster was invo lved in a post-fire change towards oak-dominated vegetation. This work supp orts the contention that P. pinaster is native to the Iberian Peninsula and that well-developed P. pinaster forests, particularly if mixed with oaks, are a natural feature of the landscape. The data presented here disagree wi th the floristic-phytosociological assumption that considers that the fores t patches of P. pinaster and other Mediterranean species of pines are incid ental and mainly derived from afforestation.