• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2005

The Quaternary palynoflora from Cheongsu core, drilled on the western part of the Jeju Island, consists mainly of deciduous broad-leaved angiosperms and herbs. Dominant taxa are Pinaceae, Alnus, Castanea/Castanopsis, Ulmus/Zelkova, Chenopodiaceae and Compositae. Based on palynofloral composition, two palynostratigraphic zones are recognized. Zone I is characterized by a predominance of Alnus and Chenopodiaceae, and by the abundance of herbs. Zone II is dominated by conifers and deciduous broad-leaved angiosperms, including Abies, Taxodiaceae-Cupressaceae-Taxaceae, Ulmus/Zelkova and Gramineae. The Cheongsu palynoflora can be correlated with Alnipollenites(Alnus)-Chenopodipollis(Chenopodiaceae)-Compositae Assemblage Zone of the East China Sea and is assigned to the Pleistocene in age. Ecology of main taxa and comparison with the present vegetation of Korea suggest a cool temperate climate and a low relief in the Jeju Island during the deposition of the Cheongsu core sediments.