Palaeoecological potential of the marine organic deposits of Posidonia oceanica: A case study in the NE Iberian Peninsula

A high-resolution sedimentary sequence sampled from the Portlligat Bay (NE Iberian Peninsula) has been studied in order to assess its palaeoecological potential. This sedimentary sequence is considered a very particular one, as it is a peat-like deposit derived from the accumulation of the belowground dead parts of the marine phanerogam Posidonia oceanica through the last 1600 years. This study represents the first attempt to explore the palaeoecological potential of such deposits from a palynological point of view, and has allowed the reconstruction of the vegetation dynamics and changes, human impact and the palaeoclimatic characteristics, demonstrating the value of these sedimentary records in palaeopalynological studies.