Spatially Continuous Land-Cover Reconstructions Through the Holocene in Southern Sweden

Abstract Climate change and human activities influence the development of ecosystems, with demand ecosystem services altering both land use cover. Fossil pollen records provide time series vegetation characteristics, aim this study was to create spatially continuous reconstructions cover through Holocene in southern Sweden. The Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm (LRA) applied obtain quantitative pollen-based at local scales, accounting for production, dispersal, deposition mechanisms. Pollen-based estimates were produced from 41 fossil available region. A comparison 17 interpolation methods made evaluated by comparing current Simple kriging cokriging using elevation selected interpolate characteristics past cover, generate more detailed trends degree variability space than previous studies based on data representing regional scale. Since Mesolithic, two main processes have acted reshape Sweden, originally mostly covered broad-leaved forests. natural distribution limit coniferous forest has moved southward during periods colder climate retracted northward warmer periods, expansion area agrotechnological developments led a gradually open landscape, reaching maximum openness beginning 20th century. recent intensification agriculture abandonment less fertile agricultural fields afforestation conifer forest.