ABSTRACT

Understanding the mechanisms behind landscape diversity changes on islands, particularly due to historicalhuman interventions, remains a critical challenge in paleoecology. This study addresses this gap by utilizing over160 pollen samples combined with multi-proxy data and historical records to reconstruct the late-Holoceneecological and environmental dynamics ofWeizhouIsland, China, over the last 1400 years. Our analysesreveal the evolution of ecosystem diversity and vegetation succession amid climatic fluctuations and anthropogenicpressures, identifying four distinct phases of transformation: (1) A warm and dry climate from 1400 to850calyrBP fostering a savanna ecosystem; (2) A shift to a North subtropical seasonal rainforest under a morehumid climate between 850 and 210calyrBP, with increased vegetation diversity; (3) The initiation of agricultureand aquaculture, along with a cooler climate from 210calyrBP to 1970 CE, marked by human-inducedlandscape alterations; and (4) A significant transformation from a once-diverse ecosystem to artificial protectiveforests from 1970 CE to the present. By correlating environmental indicators with historical accounts across eightChinese dynasties, our study provides detailed insights into the climatic and human factors shaping the island’shistory. The findings demonstrate that while climatic shifts are primary drivers of biodiversity changes,anthropogenic disturbances also play a significant role. This research underscores the resilience of ecosystems toboth climatic and human pressures and emphasizes the importance of integrating historical context into environmentalstudies.