Late Cenozoic pollen spectra from the Atherton Tableland, north-eastern Australia

A. P. Kershaw, I. R. Sluiter

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    Abstract

    Pollen analysis of samples from a short sediment sequence on the Atherton Tableland, of Late Tertiary or Early Pleistocene age, provides the first evidence of existing vegetation within the region prior to about 100, 000 years B.P. Comparison of fossil samples with modern pollen spectra suggests the presence of a submontane rainforest existing under a temperature regime some 3°C cooler than present. A number of ancient taxa including Nothofagus and several conifers, present in the fossil samples, no longer exists within the region. An attempt is made to explain their decline within an area that harbours a great diversity of rainforest species including many primitive angiosperms. Unfavourable climatic conditions combined with aspects of the dispersal ecology of the taxa would have been important contributing factors.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)279-295
    Number of pages17
    JournalAustralian Journal of Botany
    Volume30
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1982

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