Pine stumps have been found in discrete layers in peat deposits throughout western Europe and thus represent brief but distinct episodes of bog colonization by pine. Their occurrence implies conditions on the boa surface suitable for colonization, followed by inhospitable conditions for trees that nevertheless facilitated preservation of stumps. Thus, the (i)      of pine stumps can (ii)      climate change, by (iii)      the inference that bog surfaces had dried sufficiently to allow colonization and then became too wet to support the trees.