Altitudinal variation in the response of the vegetation to Late-glacial climatic events in the northern French Alps.

Pollen and macroscopic plant remains were studied at eight neighbouring sites, in order to define Late-glacial vegetational history in the northern French Alps. Local pollen assemblage zones are described and indicate that the main elements of vegetational history combine the features of adjacent regions. Herb pollen assemblages are similar to those recorded in the Swiss Late-glacial, whereas the early occurrence of shrubs and trees is typical of the southern French Alps.