Term

What types of pollen diagrams exist?

Definition

1. Percentage (relative) diagrams 2. Absolute pollen diagram 3. Pollen influx diagram

Term

What is a percentage (relative) diagram? And the problems?

Definition

Shows each pollen as a percentage of the pollensum. You can choose what to include in the pollensum. Over-represented taxa may be excluded Problem: percentages are interdependent. If one type increases other may appear to decrease even if their actual numbers haven't changed

Term

What is an absolute pollen diagram? And the problems?

Definition

Shows the number of pollen grains per unit volume of sediment. A known quantity of exotic pollen is assed as a spike to calculate pollen concentration. Problem: sediment accumulation rates vary, affecting concentration values.