TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE RECORDS OF THE LAST GLACIATION FROM WESTERN TASMANIA - DO THEY AGREE

No Neoglacial or Late Glacial readvances of ice are known from Tasmani a. The main phase of glaciation occurred after 25 ka BP and attained a maximum slightly before 19 ka BP. Most ice had decayed by 14 ka BP bu t some may have survived at high altitude to 10 ka BP. An early phase of ice advance prior to 47 ka BP is identified in the upper King Valle y. Pollen records of vegetation history show that herbaceous and alpin e-subalpine shrub vegetation communities were widespread in the lowlan ds during the Late Glacial Stage and indicate a cold climate. The Midd le Last Glacial Stage vegetation was comprised mainly of subalpine shr ub and woodland vegetation that suggests cool moist interstadial clima tic conditions. A marine pollen record from core SO36-7SL suggests her baceous and scrub vegetation development during Isotope Stage 4 preced ed by wet forest at the end of Stage 5.