Author(s): XIAO Jiayi, LV Yan, QI Guoxiang, College of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing Normal University
Pages: 2157-2168
Year: 2014 Issue:  11
Journal: Geographical Research
Keyword:  muddy coast; salt marsh vegetation; Chenopodiaceae pollen; coastline; Eastern China;
Abstract: Taking the salt marsh vegetation zones in two muddy coasts in Yancheng Nature Reserve, Jiangsu province and Panjin Red Beach, Liaoning province, eastern China as the study areas, we investigated vegetation and analyzed surface pollen samples in the vegetation zones. Then, we discussed the relationship between percentages of Chenopodiaceae pollen and plant community of Suaeda. sp widespreading on supratidal zone, and the relationship between percentages of Chenopodiaceae pollen and coastline positions. The result shows that the sampling site could be near an ancient coastline(supratidal zone) when Chenopodiaceae pollen percentages in the pollen assemblages of coastal muddy ancient strata exceed 30%. When Chenopodiaceae pollen percentages are about 20%- 30% in pollen of Poaceae(or Gramineae),Cypeaceae and Artemisia are common in the pollen assemblages, it could be determined that the landscape around the sampling site was salt marsh vegetation and the ancient coastline was not far away from the sampling site. Some case studies reconstructing the ancient coastline changes during the Quaternary proved that reliability and applicability of Chenopodiaceae pollen can be taken as a proxy for studying ancient coastline in muddy coast. This study puts forward a new conception and method for ancient sea level research with pollen in China.