Climate changes in the central Mediterranean and Italian vegetation dynamics since the Pliocene

摘要: Abstract Pollen records and pollen-based climate reconstructions from the Italian peninsula (central Mediterranean) show clear signals of vegetation change linked to variations in water availability Mediterranean basin over past 5 million years. Profound changes occurred four major steps Pliocene present. The subtropical taxa that dominate assemblages declined then disappeared between 3–2.8 1.66 Ma (at around 2.8 Ma North later South), progressively being replaced by temperate Quercus forests at mid altitude. In south Italy, expanded more 1.4–1.3 Ma Fagus proportions increased after 0.5 Ma. Conifer forest (first mainly composed Tsuga Abies Picea) began expand 2.8 Ma, probably rather high altitude, beginning 2.8 Ma. Mediterranean-type forest, rare during Early Pleistocene, developed diversity Middle Pleistocene. Open landscapes, with higher abundances steppic taxa, became frequent extensive onset Glacial/Interglacial (G/I) cyclicity 2.6 Ma gradually marked glacials. Climate done on selected pollen southern Italy suggest a decline winter temperature annual precipitation early Pleistocene Holocene. Specifically, both interglacial maxima glacial minima 3–2.8 Ma, 2 Ma, 1.3–1.4 Ma This critical review provides evidence North–South gradient, drier conditions South, has been consistent feature since