Holocene pollen stratigraphy from a lake and small hollow in north‐central Wisconsin, USA

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Abstract
Comparison of pollen frequencies and accumulation rates derived from Wood Lake and a nearby small Sphagnum depression (Kellys Hollow) provides better resolution of the vegetational history in north‐central Wisconsin than is available from analysis of data from lacustrine sediments alone. This increase in resolution is a result of contrasting pollen collection properties of the two types of sedimentary basins. Four local assemblage zones were recognized from Wood Lake and Kellys Hollow. These are: (1) a basal Picea‐herb zone (ca. 13,000 to 10,000 yr B.P.), (2) a Pinus banksiana/resinosa‐Betula‐Ulmus zone (10,000 to 8,000 yr B.P.), (3) a Pinus strobus zone (8,000 to 3,500 yr B.P.), and (4) a Betula‐Pinus strobus‐Tsuga zone with an increase in the percentages of Ambrosia‐type pollen in the upper few cm. At 7,800 yr B.P., an increase in the pollen accumulation rate at Kellys Hollow indicates the time when the canopy closed over this site. White pine was a dominant component of the vegetation in north‐central Wisconsin from 8,000 to 3,500 yr B.P. in the forests near Kellys Hollow and probably over much of the surrounding area. At approximately 6,500 yr B.P. the forests seem to have become more open allowing sugar maple to grow in association with white pine.