Late holocene changes in the vegetation of Western Taranaki investigated by soil palynology : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University

Lees, Cynthia M

Late holocene changes in the vegetation of Western Taranaki investigated by soil palynology : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University

dc.contributor.author	Lees, Cynthia M
dc.date.accessioned	2012-05-22T03:30:12Z
dc.date.available	2012-05-22T03:30:12Z
dc.date.issued	1987
dc.description	Volume 2 has been redigitised at a higher resolution to make the data more legible. Please use the zoom button in your browser as required. Individual graphs or pages can be supplied upon request to Massey Library.	en
dc.description.abstract	The study area in western Taranaki is dominated by the andesitic volcano, Mount Egmont.Palynological study of 22 fossil pollen sites from a vide range of sediments has produced evidence of change in vegetation over last 4000 years.The resilience of the indigenous vegetation ensured survival of temperate lowland forests until the arrival of European settlers about 150 years ago.Within this period,deforestation of the lowlands has been almost complete.Surviving forest is protected within Egmont National Park. There is little evidence of pre-European deforestation,but indications of earlier fires are thought to be due to an increase in the Maori diet of Pteridium rhizomes,dictated by a change of climate about 400yr B.P. Information has been gained in general terms about the effects of older tephras and in detail about damage and recovery after tephras deposited within the last 400 years.A revised tephrochronology for the last 400 years is offered. Palynological evidence suggests that an equable climate existed between 4000-1400yr B.P. A decline of Ascarina from very high values at this time to low values at 400yr B.P. has been interpreted as due to a prevalence of droughts.Since 400yr B.P. the climate has been wetter and cooler.This, together with the availability of newly exposed sites due to volcanic activity,has resulted in a dominance of Weinmannia in the Mount Egmont forests. Such dominance is not seen in pollen profiles of older sites over the last 4000 years.	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10179/3378
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.publisher	Massey University	en_US
dc.rights	The Author	en_US
dc.subject	Vegetation dynamics	en
dc.subject	Palynology	en
dc.subject	Late Holocene	en
dc.subject	Western Taranaki	en
dc.subject	New Zealand	en
dc.subject	Holocene
dc.title	Late holocene changes in the vegetation of Western Taranaki investigated by soil palynology : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University	en
dc.type	Thesis	en
massey.contributor.author	Lees, Cynthia M	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Soil Science	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Massey University	en
thesis.degree.level	Doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)	en