Pollen analyses of sediments from the summit of the Praděd range in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts (Eastern Sudetes).

Pollen diagrams, based on sediments from four small mires on the eastern summits of the Jeseníky Mts (the Praděd-Altvater group) in the Sudetes, the Czech Republic, show the development of vegetation in the area since the Subboreal period (ca 4700 B.P.). Stands of Corylus avellana with Picea abies and some Tilia cf. platyphyllos covered the eastern summits of the Jeseníky Mts between ca 5000 and 3000 B.P. Corylus avellana probably played the same role as Pinus mugo, common at similar altitudes in other Sudetes ranges. Between ca 3000 and 500–400 B.P. Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba dominated the natural precultural forests at the present alpine forest limit. An admixture of Acer (cf. pseudoplatanus) and Ulmus (cf. glabra) is very probable. Human impact (mountain summer grazing, hay making, selective beech cutting) influenced the summit vegetation and lowered the natural forest line from the beginning of the 17th century. The planting of spruce started at the beginning of the 19th century and is well expressed in the pollen diagrams. No traces of Pinus mugo, documented by Pinus sylvestris type of pollen or macroscopic material, were found.