Characterisation and depositional pattern of the modern pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, India, and its implications for palaeoecology and palaeoherbivory analysis

This study documents the depositional pattern of modern pollen and fungal spores in relation to the different vegetation types and wildlife activities in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located in north-east India. The pollen data accurately matches the extant vegetation types and provides additional evidence on the representation and relative abundance of the major pollen taxa in the pollen assemblages. The forest habitat is characterised by the abundance of Bombax, Lagerstroemia, Barringtonia, and Albizia pollen in the pollen assemblage. The swamp habitat is characterised by Cyperaceae, Onagraceae, Nymphaea, and Potamogeton, while the grassland habitat is characterised by the dominance of non-cereal (Poaceae), Asteroideae, Cyperaceae, and Bombax pollen. Also, coprophilous fungal spores were observed and identified. Their presence varies in relation to the different vegetation types and level of wildlife activity in each habitat in the wildlife sanctuary. Rhododendron pollen in the palynoassemblages is indicative of seasonal flooding during periods of high rainfall in and around the study areas. Principal component analysis applied to the quantitative data obtained from the pollen frequency analyses revealed a significant variation that distinguished the three different vegetation types in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. This modern pollen and fungal spore data serves as a reliable baseline for the reconstruction of the palaeoecology and palaeoherbivory in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and to correlate the types of vegetation present in other parts of the tropical region of Indo-Burma.