Human-Impact Gradients through Anthropogenic Pollen Indicators in a Mediterranean Mosaic Landscape (Balearic Islands)

Gabriel Servera-Vives (), Maurici Mus Amezquita, Grant Snitker (), Assunta Florenzano, Paola Torri, Maurici Ruiz and Anna Maria Mercuri
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Gabriel Servera-Vives: ArqueoUIB, Department of Historical Sciences and Theory of Art, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Maurici Mus Amezquita: Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Grant Snitker: Center for Applied Fire and Ecosystem Science, New Mexico Consortium 4200 W, Jemez Rd., Suite 301, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
Assunta Florenzano: Laboratory of Palynology and Paleobotany, Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Paola Torri: Laboratory of Palynology and Paleobotany, Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
Maurici Ruiz: Mediterranean Hydrological and Ecogeomorphological Connectivity Research Team, Department of Geography, University of the Balearic Islands, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Anna Maria Mercuri: Laboratory of Palynology and Paleobotany, Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: This paper proposes new anthropogenic pollen indicators for the Balearic Islands and attempts to assess gradients of human impact on vegetation in Mediterranean islands. A combination of modern pollen analogue studies, complemented by phytosociological descriptions and ordination techniques using quantitative and presence/absence data was used. Redundancy analysis allowed us to evaluate the relationships between pollen types and significant environmental variables and propose regional (e.g., Centaurea , Rubus, Plantago lanceolata -t) and local/microregional anthropogenic pollen indicators (e.g., Cerealia, Poygonum aviculare , Matricaria -t). Additionally, an anthropogenic index score (AIS) for each sampled location was calculated to correlate each pollen type to a specific degree of human impact: (a) low (e.g., Cerastium -t, Erica arborea -t, Cistus albidus ), (b) moderate (e.g, Sinapis -t, Sanguisorba minor -t, Plantago bellardii -t), (c) high (e.g., Papaveraceae undiff., Dipsacaceae, Secale -t). This paper contributes to a further understanding of land-use dynamics and to defining the degree of impact, which is especially necessary to assess colonization and anthropization rhythms in Mediterranean island environments.

Keywords: Mediterranean; anthropogenic pollen indicators; palynology; modern analogues; human impact gradients; mosaic landscape; islands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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