Daihai Lake lies in the transitional area from semi-humid to semi-arid region, and also in the north margin of the East Asia monsoon. The analysis of 65 pollen samples from the surface sediment of Daihai Lake and alluvium of its in flow rivers revealed the characteristics of pollen distribution and different transport vectors. Most pollen grains in Daihai Lake come from its inflow rivers, although rain-out and wind are also important. Activities of insects, birds and humans may also carry pollen into the lake. The pollen assemblages are consistent with the regional vegetation in general. The variance of pollen assemblages in different parts of the lake reflects changes of local vegetation near the lakeshore. Pollen concentrations in the lake sediment surface are lower than that in fresh alluvium in its inflow rivers, and the highest percentages and concentrations of major pollen types mainly appear in the margin part of the lake. DCA demonstrated that there are more similarities between lake sediments and the inflow rivers than there are differences.

Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is one of the most sensitive areas to climate change of the earth, owing to its unique topographic features and ecosystem. Soil pollen analysis is an important component of palaeo- ecological research, while pollen preservation and the relationship between pollen and vegetation can influence the correct interpretation of fossil pollen spectra. In this paper, 36 pollen samples, which come from four meadows and two forest soil pollen profiles, have been analyzed to determine relationships between pollen and vegetation and pollen preservation on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The relationship between pollen and vegetation shows that the surface pollen assemblages can represent regional vegetation characteristics moderately, while Betula and Populus pollen is absent in the soil surface for Betula and Populus mixed forest. Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae, Ephedra, Pinus, Hippophae etc. are over-represented pollen taxa, Leguminosae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Gramineae etc. are under-represented pollen taxa. The study of pollen preservation indicates that pollen concentrations decrease with the increase of soil depths, more pollen taxa are present in surface soils than in deep levels, and more than 75% pollen grains will be lost from the surface soils to deep levels. Pollen sorting preservation function should be noticed. Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae can be preserved well and have higher pollen percentages in deeper levels. Cyperaceae and Populus are preserved worse, Populus pollen is absent and Cyperaceae has higher pollen percentages in the surface soil than in the deep levels. The high soil pH values are the most destructive factors for pollen preservation on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Pollen concentrations decrease sharply when the soil pH values are over 7.6. Downward leaching of pollen is unimportant in this study.

In order to investigate the indication of major pollen types to source plants, 39 surface pollen samples are collected from 39 plant communities. The results show that diversity of pollen assemblages presents in different communities. Chenopodiaceae pollen percentages are highest in Kalidium communities and Ceratoides communities (higher than 45%, average is 63.4%), but high Ephedra pollen percentages (higher than 3.3%, average is 16.5%) in Ceratoides communities make it distinguished from Kalidium communities. Artemisia pollen percentages (more than 50%) are much higher than Chenopodiaceae (less than 35%) in Artemisia Communities. Nitraria pollen percentages (higher than 2%, average is 13.6%) are highest in Nitraria communities compared with those in other community patterns. Tamariceae pollen percentages (higher than 2%, average is 8.6%) are highest both in Tetraena and Reaumuria communities compared with those in other community patterns. But in Reaumuria communities, Artemisia pollen percentages are higher than Chenopodiaceae with some other pollen types such as Gramineae, Compositae, Leguminosae; on the contrary, in Tetraena communities, Artemisia pollen percentages are less than Chenopodiaceae with few other pollen types. Calligonum pollen only appears in Calligonum communities (higher than 2%，average is 5%). The results of cluster analysis (CLA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) show that the pollen indication to source plants can be reflected by association indices (A), over-representation indices (O), under-representation indices (U), R-value, the average pollen percentages where parent plants are absent (Xa) and the average pollen percentages where parent plants are present (Xp). Zygophyllum, Calligonum, Tetraena, Tribulus and Tamariceae can indicate source plants very well, owing to high A scores. Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae and Gramineae have high R-values, and Nitraria, Cruciferae and sedum have high O scores, so they are over-represented types, but the higher Xp and the lower Xa values make that these pollen types can also indicate source plants moderately. Allium, Leguminosae, Roseceae, Pedicularis and Compositae have low A scores (less than 0.5), high O and/or U scores, so they cannot indicate source plants clearly. Some other pollen types, such as Pinus, Picea, Betula, Quercus, Ulmus, Ephedra, Elaegnaceae, Ranunculaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Polygonaceae, Saxifragaceae, only appear in pollen assemblages, so their indication cannot be decided. Just like the pollen percentage ratios of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae (A/C), the ratios of Ephedra and Artemisia (E/A), Nitraria and Ephedra (N/E) can also indicate the aridity of environment. In typical desert communities, A/C ratios are less than 0.5, E/A ratios are more than 0.1, and N/E ratios are less than 1. In steppe desert, A/C ratios are 0.5-2, E/A ratios are less than 0.1, and N/E ratios are more than 1.

DH99a sediment core recovered at the center of Daihai Lake in north-central China was analyzed at 4-cm intervals for pollen assemblage and concentration. The pollen record spanning the last ca 10000 yr revealed a detailed history of vegetation and climate changes over the Daihai Lake region during the Holocene. From ca 10250 to 7900 cal yr BP, arid herbs and shrubs dominated the lake basin in company with patches of mixed pine and broadleaved forests, indicating a mild and dry climatic condition. Over this period, the woody plants displayed an increasing trend, which may suggest a gradual increase in warmth and humidity. The period between ca 7900 and 4450 cal yr BP exhibits large-scale covers of mixed coniferous and broadleaved forests, marking a warm and humid climate. Changes in the composition of the forests indicate that both temperature and precipitation displayed obvious fluctuations during this period, i.e., cool and humid ca 7900-7250 cal yr BP, warm and slightly humid ca 7250-6050 cal yr BP, warm and humid between ca 6050 and 5100 cal yr BP, mild and slightly humid ca 5100-4800 cal yr BP, and mild and humid ca 4800-4450 cal yr BP. The period can be viewed as the Holocene optimum (characterized by a warm and moist climate) of north-central China, with the maximum (dominated both by warmest temperatures and by richest precipitations) occurring from ca 6050 to 5100 cal yr BP. During the period of ca 4450-2900 cal yr BP, the woody plants declined, and the climate generally became cooler and drier than the preceding period. This period is characterized by a cold, dry episode from ca 4450 to 3950 cal yr BP, a warm, slightly humid interval between ca 3950 and 3500 cal yr BP and a mild, slightly dry episode from ca 3500 to 2900 cal yr BP, and appears to be a transition from warm and humid to cold and dry climatic conditions. Since ca 2900 cal yr ago, the forests disappeared and the vegetation density decreased, reflecting a cool and dry climate. However, a relative recovery of the woody plants occurring between ca 1700 and 1350 cal yr BP may denote an increase both in temperature and in precipitation. Fluctuations in the climatic condition of the Daihai Lake region were not only related to changes in the seasonal distribution of solar insolation and in the axis and intensity of the ocean current in the western North Pacific but were also closely linked to variations in the position and strength of polar high-pressure systems and in the pattern and intensity of the Westerly winds.

Mordern alluvial pollen varies with geomorphic setting and depositional facies in sediments of the Yellow, Hutuo, and Luan rivers and in Baiyangdian and Hengshuihu lakes. Most of the arboreal pollen is derived from the mountains, whereas most of the nonarboreal pollen is derived from the plain itself. Alluvium dominated by Pinus pollen and Selaginella spores was deposited during a flood. Hydrodynamic sorting of alluvial pollen exists in the sediments of floodplain, central bar, natural levees, and point bar. In reconstructing the ancient vegetation and past climate based on pollen in alluvium, it is important to consider sedimentary facies and geomorphologic setting.