fine-resolution palaeoecology and palaeoclimatology from south-eastern Australia

(1) This study attempts to bridge the gap in time-scale that has separated sedimentary pollen records from modern ecological and meteorological data. (2) Two pollen records were obtained, both at yearly intervals: a pollen-rain history (1975-84) and a record of past (1950-75) pollen accumulation, based on detailed14C analyses of bomb carbon from finely-sectioned peat deposits. By matching these data with instrumental rainfall records at yearly intervals, recent pollen production and accumulation changes are related to short-term fluctuations in precipitation and fire occurrence. (3) The modern pollen-rain study demonstrates a close relationship between rainfall and the pollen production and accumulation of several taxa. (4) Comparisons between sedimentary pollen records and meteorological data show that the vegetation response, through pollen production and accumulation, was sufficiently sensitive to register short-term, low-amplitude changes in precipitation in the swamp sedimentary record. (5) Related studies include charcoal particle analyses, fire scar surveys, and process modelling. (6) The combined results provide a basis for recognizing short-term, low-amplitude changes in vegetation and precipitation, not only from contemporary sediments, but also from finely datable sediments of Holocene and late Pleistocene origin.