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The occurrence of former heathland vegetation in the coastal areas of the south-east Baltic sea, in particular Lithuania: a review

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Abstract

Previously published pollen diagrams from the coastal area of the south-east Baltic Sea including parts of the Polish and Lithuanian peninsulas, Mierzeja Wilana (Frische Nehrung) and Kuršių Nerija (Courland Spit) respectively, document the former presence of heathland vegetation and an associated burning practice. This type of human influence can be dated back to ca. 1200 B.P. at the latest, and was maintained until the 18th century. It is suggested that this former Calluna-dominated vegetation belonged to the known west to north-west European heathland vegetation. Several dwarf shrub taxa, such as Genista spp. and Erica tetralix, normally connected to heathland vegetation, may have had a former wider distribution.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the late Knut Faegri, Malgorzata Latałowa, Vytautas Gudelis and J. Balevičienė, Dag Olav Øvstedal for literature research and floristic data; to Vaida Šeirienė, Eugenija Kudžmanienė (both of Vilnius), Solfrid M. Hjelmtvedt and Beate Ingvartsen for different kinds of technical support, to Sylvia Peglar and referees for valuable comments to an earlier draft of the manuscript, and Ann-Marie Robertsson and Sheila Hicks for both comments and linguistic advice. This review project has been possible through financial support from the Olaf Grolle Olsens Legat (University of Bergen).

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  1. Institute of Geography and Geology, T. Ševčenkos gatvė 13, 2600, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Nijolė Savukynienė

  2. Botanical Museum, University of Bergen, Allégaten 4 l, 5007 , Bergen, Norway

    Dagfinn Moe

  3. Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Vilnius University, Čiurlionio gatvė 21/27, 2009 , Vilnius, Lithuania

    Daiva Ūsaitytė

  4. Cedergrensvägen 18, 126 36 , Hägersten, Sweden

    Daiva Ūsaitytė

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  1. Nijolė Savukynienė
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Correspondence to Dagfinn Moe.

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Savukynienė, N., Moe, D. & Ūsaitytė, D. The occurrence of former heathland vegetation in the coastal areas of the south-east Baltic sea, in particular Lithuania: a review. Veget Hist Archaeobot 12, 165–175 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-003-0008-5

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