Overview of Quaternary pollen records in Central and South America, Caribbean and Mexico

For over a decade the general impression of research on past and present pollen– vegetation relationships has been incomplete in most of the Neotropics. Continental-scale synoptic studies often missed out on the vast majority of potentially available studies and data. Here we present an inventory of palaeoecological research in Central and South America, Caribbean and Mexico, in terms of pollen records and modern rain samples. With a set of maps, we show that there are over 1400 cores and sections with palaeoecological data and more than 4800 modern samples. Some biomes and regions have a relatively high research density while the scarcity at others offer opportunities for future research. An increasing number of records are sustained by geochronological control points for age modelling, and multi-proxy studies are taking the lead over single proxy publications. This compilation of research shows the numerous innovative topics currently being explored to increase our understanding of palaeoenvironmental settings and modern vegetation-pollen relationships. To impulse divulgation and collaboration, we present the newly developed website and interactive map interface, where this inventory and corresponding reference database is publically available. Researchers and students are invited to pinpoint their new studies and publications, making interactive use of this platform for increased detectability and awareness on available publications.