Methodology of loess palynology

Basic climatic indexes for loess deposits may be determined by the floristic method of palaeoclimatic reconstruction. Spectra of loess pollen are selective, thus may or may not reflect adequately the original composition of the vegetation. Presence of a steppe may be unambiguously stated based on pollen of taxa characteristic for a steppe cenose or of taxa zonally restricted to steppes. Family ranked taxa may often not be regarded as indicating a steppe, because inferior taxa included may be of different cenotic requirements. In order to determine the vegetation and other conditions during the deposition of loess it is important to take into consideration the palaeofloristic data as well.