New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
Holocene vegetation and climate of Stewart Island, New Zealand
MATT S. MCGLONE
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research
P. O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
HUGH D. WILSON
Hinewai Reserve
Long Bay Road
R.D. 3
Akaroa, New Zealand
Abstract Stewart Island is the southernmost of the three main
New Zealand islands, and is largely covered with Dacrydium
cupressinum/hardwood forest. Pollen analyses from three Holocene sites and
a modern pollen rain survey are presented. Stewart Island had a hardwood forest
of Weinmannia racemosa, Metrosideros umbellata, and abundant tree
ferns from before 9000 BP to 5500-4500 BP when Dacrydium cupressinum and
Prumnopitys ferruginea rose to dominate the forest reducing the
abundance of Weinmannia racemosa and greatly restricting Metrosideros
umbellata. It is suggested that mild, cloudy climates during the early
Holocene may have inhibited regeneration of podocarp trees, and that a change
in climatic regime in the mid to late Holocene brought sunnier, less cloudy
conditions. Several woody species absent from the island but present on the
adjacent mainland (Phyllocladus alpinus, Nothofagus spp.,
Libocedrus bidwillii) probably never grew there, and their absence is
attributed to failure to disperse and the limited time that suitable habitats
have been available.
Keywords Holocene; Stewart Island; New Zealand; climate change;
Dacrydium cupressinum; Weinmannia racemosa; Metrosideros
umbellata; Nothofagus; pollen analysis
B95027
Received 26 June 1995; accepted 30 May 1996
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