New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract
B97059Received 20 August 1997; accepted 26 November 1997
Fine resolution palynology of Gibsons' Swamp, central North Island, New
Zealand, since c. 13 000 B.P.
M. HORROCKS
J. OGDEN
School of Environmental and Marine Science
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92-019
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract Fine resolution pollen analysis shows that the
late-glacial (c. 13 000-10 700 B.P.) vegetation of the
Ohakune-Horopito area was dominated by
Prumnopitys taxifolia, indicating
a cooler and probably drier climate than the present. Around 10 700 B.P.,
Dacrydium cupressinum replaced
Prumnopitys taxifolia as the
forest dominant, and tree ferns and hardwood trees expanded, suggesting a
change to warmer or wetter conditions. Around 5800-6300 B.P.,
Dacrydium
cupressinum and tree ferns declined,
Prumnopitys taxifolia regained
some of its former dominance, and hardwood species continued to expand,
suggesting a change to more variable conditions. Immediately following the
Taupo Tephra eruption of 1718 B.P.,
Libocedrus bidwillii expanded at
Gibsons' Swamp. The eruption may have facilitated a regional expansion of this
species which was apparently already underway as a result of a climate change
to stormier and cooler conditions prior to the eruption. Extensive logging for
podocarps in Ohakune-Horopito after AD 1850 resulted in an increase in the
abundance of
Weinmannia racemosa.
Keywords palynology; late glacial; Holocene; Taupo Tephra
eruption; Libocedrus bidwillii; central North Island
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (780K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
This year's abstracts |Journal home page |All abstracts | Publishing home page
