Pollen data: Influences of sea level changes and volcanic eruptions on Holocene vegetation in Tonga

Aim:
To investigate mid- to late-Holocene vegetation changes on low-lying coastal areas in Tonga and how changing sea level and recurrent volcanic eruptions have influenced vegetation dynamics on four islands of the Tongan Archipelago (South Pacific).
Methods:
To investigate past vegetation and environmental change at Ngofe Marsh (‘Uta Vava’u) we examined palynomorphs (pollen and spores), charcoal (fire), and sediment characteristics (volcanic activity) from a 6.7-m long sediment core. Radiocarbon dating indicated the sediments were deposited over the last 7700 years. We integrated the Ngofe Marsh data with similar previously published data from Avai’o’vuna Swamp on Pangaimotu Island, Lotofoa Swamp on Foa Island, and Finemui Swamp on Ha’afeva Island. Plant taxa were categorised as littoral, mangrove, rainforest, successional/ disturbance, and wetland groups and linear models were used to examine relationships between vegetation, relative sea-level change, and volcanic eruptions (tephra..., , , # Pollen data: Influences of sea level changes and volcanic eruptions on Holocene vegetation in Tonga

avai_pollen.csv is pollen count data from Avai'o'vuna Swamp

loto_pollen.csv is digitised pollen percentage data from Lotofoa Swamp

fine_pollen.csv is digitised pollen percentage data from Finemui Swamp

ngof_pollen.csv is pollen count data from Ngofe Marsh

Across the datasets, **Cal_yrs_BP** refers to the mean calibrated year before present (before 1950 CE) taken from the rbacon age-depth models. **Depth_cm** refers to the core depth from the top in centimeters. **Site** refers to the site the core was taken from. Other columns, e.g. *Alphitonia* and *Alternanthera* etc. are pollen names. Note that **NA values** within the **Cal_yrs_BP** column are because some pollen samples have no accociated date.

Publications:

FALL, P. L. 2005. Vegetation change in the coastal-lowland rainforest at Avai'o'vuna Swamp, Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga. Quaternary Research, 64, 451-459.

FLENLEY, J. R....