LATE-GLACIAL TO HOLOCENE VEGETATION AND CLIMATE-CHANGE IN THE EASTERNTAKITIMU MOUNTAINS, WESTERN SOUTHLAND, NEW-ZEALAND

Pollen analysis of a core from a raised bog has provided a late glacia l and Holocene vegetation record for the Takitimu Mountains in western Southland, New Zealand. The record shows a change from alpine grassla nd-shrubland at 12 600 yr BP to a low broadleaf bushland by 9800 yr BP . The bushland was succeeded by tall podocarp forest after 9400 yr BP which was replaced by cool montane mixed temperate forest dominated by Nothofagus menziesii after 4000 yr BP. Since 4000 yr BP, the only maj or changes in vegetation have been a slow increase in the values of No thofagus fusca type pollen. An increase in Pteridium together with an increase in charcoal within the last 600 years may record Polynesian b urning, and the later appearance of Abies and Pinus, together with an increase in grassland, records European influences. Comparison with ot her pollen profiles from southern New Zealand shows that many of the c hanges in vegetation associations are broadly synchronous and may be r elated directly to climate change. Differences in the timing of some f loristic changes may reflect the combined effects of local climates an d other local environmental factors, including the proximity of vegeta tion refugia to individual sites. Changes in the pattern of atmospheri c circulation of southern New Zealand inferred in earlier published st udies are consistent with the results of these findings.