Holocene palaeoenvironments of salt lakes in the Darling Anabranch region,south-western New South Wales, Australia

Aim Fossil pollen preserved within small salt lake basins in the Australian interior is used to reconstruct mid- to late Holocene vegetation. The stud y aims to identify the origin of problems such as woodland decline and sali nization within present ecosystems. Location Warrananga and Tooperoopna salt lakes, south-western New South Wal es, Australia. Methods Pollen, carbonized particle and sedimentological analyses of cores taken from salt lakes. Results Prior to c. 4500 years ago, the region supported a dense cover of C asuarinaceae woodlands. It is possible that the subhumid zone species Alloc asuarina luehmannii comprised some of the Casuarinaceae element. In the lat e Holocene, A. luehmannii disappeared from the record and chenopodiaceous l ow shrublands expanded. About 2000 years ago, Callitris representation decr eased. Woodland contraction also occurred after European settlement. Main conclusions Increasing aridity or greater seasonal variation in the cl imate during the late Holocene caused a contraction of woodland vegetation. Increased proportions of Chenopodiaceae may indicate soil salinization aro und the basins. A decrease in Callitris was possibly due to heightened seve rity or frequency of drought events after 2000 years ago. Decline in woodla nd pollen in the uppermost samples is explained by the preferential clearin g of Callitris glaucophylla, Callitris gracilis and Casuarina pauper for ti mber and their limited regeneration because of browsing by stock and rabbit s.