Late-glacial and postglacial plant macrofossils from Gillis Lake, Richmond County, Nova Scotia

An analysis of plant macrofossils in a deposit from Gillis Lake is compared with the pollen analysis from the same deposit. The macrofossils belong to aquatic or lake-shore genera or to trees with wind-borne seeds. Zones containing a variety of macrofossils from aquatic plants and lacking those from lake-margin species in other zones are interpreted to reflect a drier climate. Of the 2 birch species represented, a larger number or exclusive presence of Betula lutea seeds suggests a milder climate, whereas a larger representation of B. papyrifera suggests cooler conditions. Using these criteria, the macrofossil record largely supports the conclusions made from the pollen analysis. The water milfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum is identified from fossil seeds. This species is presumably extinct in the present flora of Nova Scotia.