Study of the current relationship between pollen and vegetation in the North of Chile, in the Pozo Almonte - Salar de Huasco transect (20°15’S/69º06’W)

Abstract

The plant diversity found in the Andean region of the Norte Grande area in Chile has been studied from different points of view
(floral, physiognomy, ethnobotanical, conservationists, etc.). Nevertheless, there has not been any research done from a palynological
point of view until now. Thus, this investigation’s objective is to contribute knowledge about the vegetation and its pollen signal in
the different altitudinal tiers of the Norte Grande area in Chile, and to help identify the main pollen types present here. This research
shows the relationship between pollen rain and current vegetation in the Pozo Almonte and Salar de Huasco altitudinal transect in the
north of Chile, together with pictures and descriptions of 12 pollen kind typically found in this area. The results of the vegetation’s
collection confirm the tendency of previous studies revealing the principal altitudinal tiers of vegetation (“piso prepuneño, puneño,
altoandino y subnival”). Likewise, the results of the pollen rain show an important relationship with the vegetation that produce it,
making it possible to discriminate the different altitudinal tiers from its pollen signal. Thus the results can be of great interest for fossil
pollen records understanding or for ecological studies.