Rj. Fensham, THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS OF VEGETATION PATTERN ON CHENIER BEACH RIDGES ON BATHURST ISLAND, NORTHERN-TERRITORY, Australian Journal of Botany, 41(3), 1993, pp. 275-291
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.