Abstract:

Pollen analysis was used to track recent changes in vegetation in the area surrounding Kelly Lake, Sudbury, Ontario. A high number of inputs coupled with the lack of vegetation on the landscape resulted in historically high sedimentation rates into the lake and a dilution of the amount of pollen present within the sediment. The presence of herbaceous pollen such as 'Ambrosia ' suggested the sediment was deposited more recently than the 1830's. CS137 dating and visually counting the amount of paired laminations within the sediment confirmed the 1 m of sediment represented deposition from within the last 100 years. The pollen record within Kelly Lake fell into two zones defined by subtle changes in the pollen of 'Pinus, Abies, Picea, Alnus, Ambrosia' and 'Lycopodium'; pre-1986 and post-1986 zone. Laminations, Cs137 and the changes in the delta suggested separation between the zones occurs at approximately 1986. Non-tree pollen was more abundant in pre-1986 which confirmed disturbance of the landscape while reclamation efforts were evident post-1986 with a decline in non-tree pollen and an increase in tree pollen.