Modern pollen rain deposition pattern in Lashoda Tal, Raebareli District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The pollen analysis of 10 surface samples from Lashoda Tal (Lake) surroundings, Raebareli District, Uttar Pradesh deals with the pollen rain-vegetation relationship. The investigation reveals the dominance of non-arboreals and relatively low frequencies of arboreals. Acacia nilotica (av.10%), Holoptelea integrifolia (av. 3.9%), Syzygium cumini (av. 2.2%) and Madhuca indica (av. 1.7%) are the major components among the trees, representing av. 18.8% pollen. The rest of the trees, viz. Prosopis juliflora, Terminalia sp., Moringa oleifera, Shorea robusta, etc. which occur commonly are meagre. The under-representation of all these taxa could be inferred to their low pollen production owing entomophilly as well as selective preservation of pollen in the sediments. In all, the trees constitute av. 24.2% fraction of the pollen rain. The representation of grasses, sedges, Cheno/Am, Caryophyllaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, etc. in the pollen rain substantiates their actual composition in the ground flora, constituting the chunk of av. 71.4%. The frequent encounter of Cerealia and culture pollen taxa depicts the proximity of cultivated land. The study also furnishes information concerning the prominent pollen/spores in the local milieu, which get deposited on the ground along with rains/dews. Their relative abundance assists in ascertaining the specific common pollen/spores in the aerospora relevant to allergic diseases.