Validation of relative pollen productivities for major tropical plant taxa: An empirical test using the REVEALS model in Hainan, China

The reliability of estimates tropical lowland vegetation cover based on lacustrine pollen records has long been debated. Here, we assess the relative productivity (RPPs) obtained in Hainan island using surface assemblages from six reservoirs and Regional Estimates Vegetation Abundance Large Sites (REVEALS) model. resulting REVEALS are compared to observations coverin studied region percentages. for most taxa including Poaceae, Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Mallotus/Macaranga, Castanopsis/Lithocarpus, were more similar observed than simple percentages, suggesting that previously reported RPPs reliable. some (i.e. Rubiaceae Anacardiaceae) comparable those but these difficult evaluate. However, percentages Asteraceae Papilionaceae agree better with corrections, implying either there problems corresponding or is bias data used validation. We suggest plant areas depends strongly their abundance data: high implies vice versa. groups consistently agreed well cover, model can be applied even regions if individual species grouped, which may useful when reconstructing historical landscape changes Asia.