Late-Quaternary Vegetation in the Lake of Korea

영랑호, 월함지 및 방어진의 제4기 이후의 식피의 변천

Pollen analysis from lake districts, Youngnangho, Wolhamji and Bangeojin, revealed vegetational patterns in Korea. The pollen stratigraphy was divided into five zones, zone L, I, II, IIIa and IIIb for the past 15,000 years. During zone L (earlier than 10,500 yr BP), late-glacial period, Youngnangho was vegetated with a coniferous forest dominated by spruce, larch, haploxylon pine and fir with considerable amount of herbs. Zone I(10,500~7500 yr BP) was predominantly herbaceous vegetationj with significant amount of oak and diploxylon pine. It suggests that the overall environment became milder and drier than late-glacial period. Zone II(7,500~4,000 yr BP), hypsithermal period, showed significant warming condition, indicated by high pollen concentrations of oak, diploxylon pine and hornbeam, and by more diverse flora of deciduous broad-leaved trees than before. Herbs were not an important part of vegetation. Zone III$^a$(4,000~1,500 yr BP) had pine and oak as main elements. Birch increased slightly while hornbeam decreased in this time. It indicates cooling condition. Zone III$^b$(1,5000-present) which can be called pine period showed obvious human interference. Following forest clearance, agriculture was intensified. The beginning of logging and agriculture was discernible by a sudden decline of arboreal species and by considerable amount of rice, buckwheat, sorrel and plantain. Numerous charcoal fragments were observed in zone I and zone III$^b$.