Not for Student Eyes!

Paleoclimates and Pollen Teacher’s Key : Battle Ground Lake, Washington Data

The table below explains the age of the sediment layers and the quantity of "pollen" (i.e., paper dots or confetti shapes) to be used to make up each sediment sample. The pollen types are coded to the Pollen Key in the student guide.

Before distributing the pollen to the sediment samples, you will need to decide which type of confetti represents which type of pollen.

The ages of sediment layers are given in "ybp" meaning "years before present". This table is intended for teacher use only. Distributing it to students would give them the answers to the activity.
Sediment Layer
Plant Species
Color or Shape Code
Number of dots or confetti needed
1
(4,500 ybp to present)
  • western cedar
  • western hemlock
  • Douglas fir
  • alder
  • G
  • A
  • B
  • D
  • 6
  • 5
  • 10
  • 4
2
(4,500 ybp to 9,500 ybp)
  • Douglas fir
  • oak
  • mixed meadow species
  • B
  • J
  • I
  • 3
  • 3
  • 19
3
(9,500 to 11,200 ybp)
  • Douglas fir
  • grand fir
  • alder
  • B
  • E
  • D
  • 7
  • 5
  • 13
4
(11,200 ybp to 15,000 ybp)
  • lodgepole pine
  • Engelmann spruce
  • grand fir
  • grasses & sedges
  • alpine sagebrush
  • H
  • F
  • E
  • C
  • K
  • 7
  • 3
  • 3
  • 9
  • 3
5
(15,000 ypb to 20,000 ybp)
  • grasses & sedges
  • alpine sagebrush
  • lodgepole pine
  • Engelmann spruce
  • C
  • K
  • H
  • F
  • 15
  • 4
  • 4
  • 2

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