THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS OF VEGETATION PATTERN ON CHENIER BEACH RIDGES ON BATHURST ISLAND, NORTHERN-TERRITORY

Radiocarbon dates confirm a chronological sequence for late Holocene b each ridges at Wangiti Beach on Bathurst Island. The vegetation on the se beach ridges can be clearly related to topography and distance from the sea. Monsoon rainforest occurs on the fore-dunes where the nutrie nt levels of the young sediments are relatively high. The mid-dunes su pport woodland dominated by Melalueca viridiflora and have nutrient-po or acid soils. Vegetation with a high component of monsoon rainforest species occupies the rear dunes, which have a high concentration of se awater macronutrient cations despite their older age than more seaward dunes. The relatively low elevation of the rear dunes supports the su ggestion that soil nutrient levels are enriched by sea water or marine sediments during infrequent inundation events such as those during cy clones.