TY - JOUR
T1 - Holocene palaeoecology of the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia, based on stick-nest rat (Leporillus spp.) middens
T2 - A preliminary overview
AU - McCarthy, Lynne
AU - Head, Lesley
AU - Quade, Jay
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding was provided by the Australian National University and the Quaternary Environments Research Centre, University of Wollon-gong. The continuing research is funded by the Australian Research Council. We thank R. Fullagar for assistance in the field. Plant material was identified by the Adelaide State Herbarium and the Royal Botanic Gardens Herbarium, Sydney. Animal macrofossils were identified by L. Gibson, Dr P. Colman, Dr T. Flannery, A. Greer (Australian Museum, Sydney) and B. Trigg. Insects were identified by P. Tap (University of Wollongong) and J. Lawrence (Australian National Insect Collection). P. Copley, G. Medlin, D. Kennett and D. Witter provided useful discussions.
PY - 1996/7
Y1 - 1996/7
N2 - Eight stick-nest rat (Leporillus spp.) middens from three locations in the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia provide a discontinuous palaeoecological record spanning the Holocene. Evidence from radiocarbon dates, pollen, plant macrofossils and animal macrofossils is presented. Both pollen and plant macrofossils show that in the early to mid- Holocene (c. 8.8-5.3 ka), woodlands with grassy understoreys were more widespread than present. This accords with other studies suggesting wetter conditions at this time. Samples dating to the Pleistocene Holocene transition (10.9-9 ka) are dominated by halophytes. It is not yet clear whether this is due to the continuation of Pleistocene aridity, changes in rainfall seasonality, or local influences on vegetation.
AB - Eight stick-nest rat (Leporillus spp.) middens from three locations in the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia provide a discontinuous palaeoecological record spanning the Holocene. Evidence from radiocarbon dates, pollen, plant macrofossils and animal macrofossils is presented. Both pollen and plant macrofossils show that in the early to mid- Holocene (c. 8.8-5.3 ka), woodlands with grassy understoreys were more widespread than present. This accords with other studies suggesting wetter conditions at this time. Samples dating to the Pleistocene Holocene transition (10.9-9 ka) are dominated by halophytes. It is not yet clear whether this is due to the continuation of Pleistocene aridity, changes in rainfall seasonality, or local influences on vegetation.
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U2 - 10.1016/0031-0182(96)01113-3
DO - 10.1016/0031-0182(96)01113-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0030176778
SN - 0031-0182
VL - 123
SP - 205
EP - 218
JO - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
JF - Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
IS - 1-4
ER -