POLLEN ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENTS FROM THE ACHUGAO AREA OF SAIPAN, MARIANA ISLANDS

Pollen samples were collected stratigraphically from Zones A-E from
Trench 16 on the coastal plain of the leeward coast of Saipan. Trench 16 on
the Nansay property is a backhoe trench dug into the edge of a remnant
wetland immediately south of Punton Achugao. A single pollen sample was
analyzed from each stratum. In addition, Trench I was sampled at a later
date for pollen. This column was richer in preserved organics than Trench
16 and was located lower in the wetland toward the seaward edge of the wet
land against the berm. One or two samples were analyzed per stratum in this
column. Pollen analysis was undertaken to provide data concerning the past
vegetation in this area. Interpretation of the vegetation will contribute
to understanding the formation of this wetland and present marsh. A single
sample from Zone G at the Mac Homes property was also analyzed for pollen.

研究按地层学顺序采集了塞班岛背风海岸滨海平原16号探沟（Trench 16）A-E层位的花粉样品。位于南赛地块（Nansay property）的该16号探沟，是在彭顿·阿丘高（Punton Achugao）正南侧的残留湿地边缘开挖的反铲探沟，每个地层均采集单份花粉样品开展分析。
此外，研究团队后续对1号探沟（Trench I）开展了花粉采样：该探沟剖面的有机质保存丰度高于16号探沟，其处于湿地内部更靠下的位置，紧邻滩脊朝向湿地向海侧，每个地层均采集1至2份样品进行分析。
本次花粉分析旨在获取该区域古植被演化的相关数据，对古植被的解译将有助于理解该湿地与现代沼泽的形成过程。此外还对麦克霍姆斯地块（Mac Homes property）G层位的单份花粉样品开展了分析。