Analysis of pollen rain in a subandean forest fragment in Colombia

Abstract We carried out a modern pollen rain analysis and established its relationship with a Subandean forest fragment in the Cordillera Oriental of Colombia between 1,500 - 2,400 masl RAP transects were performed in order to identify plant species. In each transect, moss samples were collected randomly and processed at the laboratory in order to obtain pollen rain data. Based on pollen grains and vegetation identification and count, we developed pollen diagrams and diversity analysis, and determined the pollen rain and its relation with the vegetation. Cluster and Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were performed to determine altitude-associated ecological pollinic species assembly. A total of 66 palynomorphs were identified, being trees the dominant plant habit. The sites located at 2,100 and 2,400 m a.s.l. showed higher pollen diversity. Finally, the Cluster and the DCA show three main groups composed of species that generate a possible dividing line between the low and the high Subandean forest, resulting in new information that can be used for paleoecological interpretation.