Aspen Bibliography
Modern pollen spectra and vegetation in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, U.S.A.
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Arctic and Alpine Research
Volume
26
Issue
4
First Page
383
Last Page
392
Publication Date
1994
Abstract
Modern pollen spectra provide a picture of vegetation communities in the Wind River Range. The broad valleys of western Wyoming, which are covered by big sagebrush steppe, are dominated by Artemisia pollen (averaging 75%) with lesser amounts of Pinus, Tubuliflorae, Gramineae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthus, and Ambrosia pollen. The majority of the pollen deposited in the Artemisia steppe comes from local plants. Although all the forests in the Wind River Range are dominated by Pinus contorta-type pollen, each forest type has a unique palynological signature. Populus tremuloides forest stands produce up to 5% Populus pollen. Pseudotsuga menziesii is not widespread in the southern part of the range, and its pollen is most abundant (1%) near where the trees grow. Pinus contorta-type pollen (over 80%) dominates Pinus contorta forest stands. Picea and Abies trees in the mixed conifer forest are represented by low, but significant pollen percentages, 3 and 0.5%, respectively. The Pinus albicaulis parkland represents a transitional forest community between the mixed conifer forest and alpine tundra. Palynologically it is indistinct from alpine tundra. While over 50% of the pollen deposited in alpine tundra comes from lower elevations, tundra can be characterized by its relatively high frequency of herbaceous pollen (17%) and significant amounts of Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Tubuliflorae, Salix, and Bistorta pollen from local plants.
Recommended Citation
Fall, Patricia L. 1994. Modern pollen spectra and vegetation in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, U.S.A.. Arctic and Alpine Research 26 (4): 383-392.