Pollen-vegetation/land use relationships in southeastern China: Complexity and applicability for paleoenvironmental reconstruction

•A new study on the modern pollen-vegetation relationships in southeastern China.•Pollen signals are compared with LUCC data in different categories and distances.•Hydrologic process plays a key role in pollen dispersal and deposition.•Human activities deeply impact the pollen-vegetation relationships in the YHRB.•The p/v ratios have potential value for the reconstruction study in the YHRB.