Palynostratigraphy of the last glacial period in the volcanic region of Central Italy

The summarized pollen records From the crater lakes of Valle di Castiglione, Lagaccione, Lago di Vice and Stracciacappa, in the Lazio region, are presented and correlated with each other. They outline the history of the vegetation during the last glacial period. The local name 'Lazio Complex' is used to describe seven main fluctuations of trees during the Pleniglacial. The succession of the main forest and non-forest periods of the last climatic cycle is generally similar to what is known in central and northern Europe, but the floristic composition and the vegetational configurations seem much more complex and sensitive to climatic changes. The history of Zelkova, Abies, Picea, Corylus, Ulmus, Carpinus betulus, Tilia and Fagus in central Italy is outlined. (C) 1998 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.