The development of pasture woodland in the southwest Swiss Jura Mountains over 2000 years,based on three adjacent peat profiles

Abstract

The pollen content of three adjacent peat profiles has been analysed to study the development of pasture woodland in the small valley Combe des Amburnex (1300 m a.s.l.). Chronostratigraphy based on lowland pollen assemblages and radiocarbon dates was used to correlate and date the profiles. Forest and mire grazing occurred throughout at least the past two millennia. Before the ninth century the forest consisted of about equal parts of Abies, Fagus and Picea. Thereafter Picea increased and is today strongly dominant in the area, likely an effect of selective browsing. The central part of the valley obtained its modern structure of pastures and forests in the twelfth century, and the pasture woodland in general came into existence during the seventeenth century as an effect of extensive fire activity, possibly charcoal production. In the twentieth century grass and nutrient-demanding species increased relative to other herbs.