Local and regional Holocene vegetation dynamics at two sites in eastern Latvia

The study compares the local and regional Holocene vegetation dynamics of two sites in eastern Latvia. Both sites show similar trends in vegetation change. Differences were found in local abundances of Betula, Pinus and Picea. Lower amounts of Betula at the local site suggest stronger regional pollen influx into the regional site. The continuous presence of conifer stomata indicates the development of a stand-scale conifer forest at the local site since 5000 cal yr BP. Similar presence and dynamics in thermophilous tree species at both sites suggest that the pollen values of the regional site may truly show the local presence of thermophilous tree taxa. Apart from general vegetation succession, the strongest cause for the vegetation differences at both sites were water-level changes, as shown by the peat decomposition rate.