A holocene pollen and sediment record of whangape harbour, far northern New Zealand

M. Horrocks, S. L. Nichol, M. R. Gregory, R. Creese, P. C. Augustinus

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The sediment record of Whangape Harbour shows that there were significant fluctuations in depositional energy in the harbour during the period from c >8000 cal yr B P to some time within the last millenium, and that fluvial influences increased as the harbour infilled The pollen record (highly discontinuous) from Whangape Harbour indicates that conifer‐hardwood forest covered the hills surrounding the harbour during this period The main canopy conifers were Dacrydium and Prumnopitys taxifolia, with some Libocedrus, Dacrycarpus, and Phyllocladus Agathis was also present Common canopy hardwoods were Metrosideros and, in the latter part of the period, Elaeocarpus Ascarina and Cyathea were abundant in the sub‐canopy Leptospermum grew on disturbed areas fringing the estuary Marsh or swamp environments probably never developed on a large scale in the harbour Avicennia, extremely under‐represented in the pollen flora, has been present on tidal flats in the harbour since at least c 2500 cal yr B P Large‐scale anthropogenic deforestation by burning commenced in the Whangape catchment some time during or since 700–430 cal yr B P The associated increase in erosion rates in the catchment resulted in a change towards a sandier sediment regime in the harbour which has continued to the present day Weinmannia and Ackama, previously rare in the catchment, expanded in remaining forest.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)411-424
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Holocene disturbance Northland
  • Palynology sedimentology

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