Ecosystem and landscape change in the ‘Top End’ of Australia during the past 35 kyr

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dc.contributor.authorSamuel, KMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorReynolds, Wen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMay, JHen_AU
dc.contributor.authorForbes, MSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorStromsoe, Nen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFletcher, MSen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCohen, Ten_AU
dc.contributor.authorMoss, PTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMazumder, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorGadd, PSen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-21T00:45:11Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-10-21T00:45:11Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2021-12-01en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-09-28en_AU
dc.descriptionThe attached PDF is the post print version of this article.en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe Indo-Australian Summer Monsoon (IASM) is the dominant climate feature of northern Australia, affecting rainfall/runoff patterns over a large portion of the continent and exerting a major control on the ecosystems of the Australia's Top End, including the viability of wetland ecosystems and the structure of the woody savanna, which characterises Northern Australia. We examined the behaviour the IASM from 35 ka using proxy data preserved in the sediments of Table Top Swamp, a small seasonal swamp in northern Australia. Elemental data, stable C and N isotopes, pollen and sedimentary data were combined to develop a picture of monsoon activity and ecosystem response. Results demonstrated that between 35 and 25 ka conditions were drier and more stable than present, with a more grass dominated savanna and limited wetland development, implying reduced IASM activity. After ~25 ka, there is evidence of increased moisture at the study site, but also increased IASM variability. However, despite evidence of at least periodic increases in moisture, including periods of wetland establishment, the IASM displayed a subdued response to peak precession insolation forcing by comparison to the other global monsoon systems. Instead, the greatest change occurred from ~10 ka when the continental shelf flooded, increasing moisture advection to the study site and resulting in establishment of a quasi-permeant wetland. Whereas the early Holocene was marked by both the onset of pollen preservation and a wetter vegetation mosaic, indicative of a consistently active IASM, the mid-late Holocene was marked by drier vegetation, increased fire, but also increased C3 vegetation and runoff, implying increased IASM variability. Holocene changes in ecosystem dynamics occur coincident with an expansion in human population, which likely also influenced vegetation and landscape response at the study site. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.en_AU
dc.identifier.articlenumber110659en_AU
dc.identifier.citationSamuel, K. M., Reynolds, W., May, J.-H., Forbes, M. S., Stromsoe, N., Fletcher, M.-S., Cohen, T., Moss, P., Mazumder, D. & Gadd, P. (2021).Ecosystem and landscape change in the ‘Top End’ of Australia during the past 35 kyr, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 583,110659. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110659en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0031-0182en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitlePalaeogeographyen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110659en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/12025en_AU
dc.identifier.volume583en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherElsevieren_AU
dc.subjectStable isotopesen_AU
dc.subjectPollenen_AU
dc.subjectWetlandsen_AU
dc.subjectFiresen_AU
dc.subjectEcosystemsen_AU
dc.subjectSea levelen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.titleEcosystem and landscape change in the ‘Top End’ of Australia during the past 35 kyren_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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