Latest Pleistocene and Holocene vegetation and environmental history of the Western Plains of Victoria

Abstract

Major pollen taxa from 11 records constructed from the basaltic Western Plains of Victoria are examined to provide a regional picture of vegetation and environmental change through the latest Pleistocene and Holocene (i.e. the last 20,000 years). Analogue matching of recent and fossil pollen spectra is employed to determine the degree to which past vegetation is relatable to any communities present today and to make quantitative estimates of past rainfall. The plains were virtually devoid of trees during conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum but rainfall was lowest between about 14,000 and 12,000 years ago within the succeeding late glacial period. Woodland expansion is evident from about 12,000 years ago. There are marked differences between the western, northern and eastern parts of the plains in woodland composition and timing of development within the early Holocene, possibly due to an atmospheric circulation pattern different to that of today. Around 8000-7000 years ago, the vegetation cover present at the time of European arrival was established and, despite evidence for substantial changes in water levels within Western Plains lakes, the vegetation has remained resilient to apparent significant climate change. The pollen data reflect the major impact that recent land use changes have had on the landscape