Tenaghi Philippon, N.E. Greece - A 1.35 million Year Pollen Sequence

 Ruins from Philippi on the Aegean

The longest continuous European pollen record comes from the site of Philippi, in eastern Macedonia, N.E. Greece, established by Philip II in 356 B.C. but abandoned in the 14th Century after the Ottoman conquest.  It is now a UNESCO site for its Greek and Roman ruins.  Evaluation of the original age model using calibration based on vegetation changes and March and June perihelion configurations  suggests that the base of the pollen extends back to 1.35 million years.  

The pollen sequence from the Philippi basin provides the opportunity to examine long-term vegetation and individual taxa trends within the context of global climate changes.  Interestingly although this pollen sequence shows no changes in the magnitude of interglacial tree populations after the Mid-Brunhes climatic event around 430,000 years before present.  Instead the Tenaghi Philippon pollen sequence suggests major vegetation shifts in the composition of  interglacial cycles after MIS 16, which was a strong amplitude glacial which resulted in reduced diversity and a more 'modern' appearance of subsequent vegetation distributions.  


Carbon dioxide levels are below 180 parts per million by volume (p.p.m.v.) for a period of 3,000 yr during Marine Isotope Stage 16, possibly reflecting more pronounced oceanic carbon storage. We report the lowest carbon dioxide concentration measured in an ice core, which extends the pre-industrial range of carbon dioxide concentrations during the late Quaternary by about 10 p.p.m.v. to 172–300 p.p.m.v.  Luthi (2008)    

Although species of oak managed to persist in the region, there were many extinctions, including Tsuga (Hemlock), Liriodendrum (Tulip Tree), Parthenocissus (Climbing Grape), Parottia (Persian Ironwood), Cedrus (Cedar), Carya and Eucommia (now native to China) that largely disappeared from the record after MIS 16 which was 650,000 years ago. Tzedakis (2006)

Persian Ironwood that disappeared from Philippi  650,000 years ago

Examples of some tree taxa that went extinct in Europe, and are now only found in S. E. Asia or North America:

Prior to Northern Hemisphere Glaciation, there were many more tropical taxa now only found in S. E. Asia and North America such as  Persimmon (Diospyros), Epipremnum (now only found in tropical forests), Snowbell or Snowdrop tree (Halesca), Karwinskia (Flowering Buckthorn -  Rhamnaceae family), Meliosma, Golden Larch (Pseudo Larix), Stewartia (flowering shrub related to camellia), Actinidia, Magnolia, Prosperpinaca, Fagus (Beech).  

The disappearance of the hardy magnolia from Europe is thought to be related to being out-competed by faster growing and more robust trees during the climate fluctuations of the last 2 million years rather than extinction due to Northern Hemisphere glaciation. Magnolia is a very old plant, considered an evolutionary relict that formerly had widespread distribution and early forms we but today is only found in North America (26 species) and S. E. Asia (80 species).  

As the climate warms, some species will do better:  for example, the horn growth of the endangered Alpine ibex is affected by European springtime temperatures between March and May - with earlier snow melts with more lush alpine grasses and herbs more favorable for the animal's vitality Buntgen (2013).  

Regrettably many other cold loving species will not be so fortunate....