Saltmarsh archives of vegetation and land use change from Big River Marsh, SW Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract Pollen and plant macrofossils are often well-preserved in coastal sediments, providing a palaeoenvironmental record of sea-level landscape change. In this study, we examine the pollen macrofossil assemblages well-dated saltmarsh sediment core from southwest Newfoundland, Canada, to establish recent vegetation land use change, increase knowledge anthropogenic activities area develop chronozones for reconstructing marsh accumulation rates representation remains wetland profile. Grouping into upland allows local events related hydrological change be separated landscape-scale changes. The records indicate general acceleration rise ca. ad 1700. sedge attest multiple phases rhizome encroachment during inferred periods marine regression. Two identified profile; first associated with settlement St. George’s Bay 1800, signalled by increases Plantago lanceolata Ambrosia pollen; second permanent Port au peninsula 1850, indicated increased P. Rumex pollen. Comparison profiles highlights underrepresentation grass preserved sediments need further analysis zonation, dispersal species saltmarshes.