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Re-envisioning the structure of last glacial vegetation in New Zealand using beetle fossils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Philip I. Burge  and
James Shulmeister
Philip I. Burge*
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
James Shulmeister
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author.E-mail address:p.burge@geol.canterbury.ac.nz (P.I. Burge)
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Abstract

A series of 18 fossil beetle assemblages are used to reconstruct the paleoenvironment of the northwest West Coast, New Zealand, over the period of the last interstadial–stadial transition (ca. 37,000–21,300 cal yr BP). The samples were recovered from an in-filled hollow within a dune field ca. 9 km south west of Westport (41°47′S, 171°30′E). This fossil beetle reconstruction is compared to an existing palynological reconstruction from the same site. The beetle assemblages indicate an environment of marshy shrubland interspersed with closed canopy coastal vegetation prior to glacial onset, and a mosaic of closed canopy patches and open tussock grassland during full glacial conditions. These interpretations, contrast with the palynologically based interpretation which indicates subalpine shrubland prior to glacial onset and widespread grassland with little woody vegetation during the period of maximum glacial cooling. This study is consistent with other non-pollen studies in New Zealand and indicates that the palynological interpretation of the paleoenvironment of the Westport region downplays the importance of closed canopy vegetation in the area during the transition from interstadial to full glacial (stadial) conditions. It challenges the interpretation of open vegetation at low elevations during glacial periods from pollen studies.

Keywords

Beetle fossilsGlacial environmentLast glacial maximumNew ZealandPollen records
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 68 , Issue 1 , July 2007 , pp. 121 - 132
Copyright
University of Washington

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