Skip to main content
. 2013 Aug 26;8(8):e71797. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071797

Table 1. List of tree taxa for which fossil evidence (pollen, plant macrofossils, charcoal) exists for their survival at 18,000 cal yr BP north of 40°N.

Species Distance from southern refugia (km) to the present day limit Distance northern refugia (km) to the present day limit Time of arrival at northern limit (cal yr BP) References
Abies alba 1340 1100 11,500 [14]
Alnus (tree) 2450 1100 7000 [24]
Betula (tree) 2700 1300 13,000 [24]
Carpinus betulus 1850 1000 2000 [15]
Fagus sylvatica 2250 1500 1000 [16], [47]
Picea 2700 500 11,000 [24]
Pinus (tree) 2900 1550 10,000 [24]
Quercus (temperate) 2650 2000 6000 [5]

The distance (in km) from the perceived southern location and northern locations, respectively, and the time (calibrated years BP) when each species reached the present-day northern range limit is also given.

Cal yr BP  =  calibrated years before present (AD 1950).