New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract

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B96038

Received 3 July 1996; accepted 29 September 1997

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1998, Vol. 36: 91-111

0028-825X/98/3601-091 $7.00 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1998

Dryland Holocene vegetation history, Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin, South Island, New Zealand

M. S. MCGLONE
N. T. MOAR

Landcare Research
P. O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand

Abstract  Pollen and charcoal analyses are presented from three south-central South Island Holocene age deposits. A spring bog site in the Idaburn Valley records small-leaved Olearia scrub and grassland in its immediate vicinity from c. 7100 yr B.P., when peat growth began, to 5000 yr B.P. After that date the valley bottom vegetation became increasingly short and open, and the bog ceased growing, probably as a result of increasingly droughty summers. The adjacent hilly country supported a forest/scrub cover of Podocarpus hallii, Phyllocladus alpinus, Halocarpus bidwillii, and small-leaved shrubs. A site in the Mackenzie Basin near Lake Pukaki recorded near total dominance by Phyllocladus alpinus scrub from c. 8000 yr B.P. until 5000 yr B.P. after which time Halocarpus bidwillii, Aciphylla, and grassland became increasingly important in response to drought and local fires. At a third site, again in the Mackenzie Basin, Halocarpus bidwillii formed a complete scrub cover at the time of Maori settlement at about 800-600 yr B.P. but fire then rapidly reduced the scrub to grassland. On the evidence of these and other southern South Island vegetation history records, the early Holocene appears to have had a relatively stable climate with moist summers. From 5000 yr B.P. on, evidence for drought and fire point to drier summers and unstable, ENSO-affected climates.

Keywords  Phyllocladus alpinus; Halocarpus bidwillii; scrub; fire; charcoal; drought; climate change; Central Otago; Mackenzie Basin; Holocene

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