Abstract
Pollen analysis has provided important insights into various scientific disciplines since its inception 100 years ago. Recent advances in the basics of pollen analysis, such as the mechanisms and factors (e.g., pollen dispersal and production rates) that affect pollen-vegetation relationships, have led to a better understanding of the spatial scales of vegetation represented by fossil pollen. Increased use of scanning electron microscope has contributed greatly to pollen morphological studies, facilitating a better pollen identification and interpretation of pollen records. In addition, methodological and conceptual advances in the related fields, including sediment drilling and dating, use of molecular information, and computer technology, have further expanded the applicability of pollen-based reconstruction of vegetation history.
