Pollen records are present
from the Ludhamian to the Cromerian interglacials and
are backed by macrofossil fruit remains. Records are frequent
in the Hoxnian and there are fruit identifications in
areas where the pollen percentage increases. The fruit
is very durable and therefore is a frequent macrofossil
(Godwin, 1975). Hornbeam has been present in each interglacial
but only at low frequencies; it did not become noticeable
as a
forest component until the later stage of the Holocene
cycle, when it saw an explosive expansion in central and
western Europe.
During the last glaciation it is unlikely that it would
have survived past the north of the Alps, and would have
been partially devastated in periods of intensive settlement
due to the fertility of occupied habitats. One of the
reasons why hornbeam is present today as one of the main
components of oak woodlands is due to its ability to regenerate
in comparatively short time scales.
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