Holocene environments and vegetational change on four Polynesian islands
The specific research objectives of this study are: to look at environmental changes that have occurred on several Pacific island systems from the pre- to post-settlement periods; to see whether the observed changes are natural or anthropogenic; to test the latest Polynesian settlement theory; and to contribute to the understanding of the vegetation history on these islands. This study reports the results of stratigraphic investigations from four Polynesian sediment sequences. The sediments of Lakes Lanoto'o (Upolu), Roto (Atiu), Temae (Mo'orea) and Vaihiria (Tahiti) have revealed a history of environmental and vegetational change during the Holocene, which include long-term climatic variations affecting broad scale vegetation changes on Upolu and Atiu; long term sea-level change influencing the local environment and vegetation on Atiu; localised disruption of vegetation in the Vaihiria basin of Tahiti resulting from natural landslides; and finally, major changes in local environment due to human activity, evident on all of the islands. Records from Lake Lanoto'o and Lake Roto extend into the early Holocene and span both pre- and post-settlement periods, with the latter providing a continuous vegetation record
Parkes, Annette
Archaeology ; Ecology  ; Geography
Holocene environments and vegetational change on four Polynesian islands. The specific research objectives of this study are: to look at environmental changes that have occurred on several Pacific island systems from the pre- to post-settlement periods; to see whether the observed changes are natural or anthropogenic; to test the latest Polynesian settlement theory; and to contribute to the understanding of the vegetation history on these islands. This study reports the results of stratigraphic investigations from four Polynesian sediment sequences. The sediments of Lakes Lanoto'o (Upolu), Roto (Atiu), Temae (Mo'orea) and Vaihiria (Tahiti) have revealed a history of environmental and vegetational change during the Holocene, which include long-term climatic variations affecting broad scale vegetation changes on Upolu and Atiu; long term sea-level change influencing the local environment and vegetation on Atiu; localised disruption of vegetation in the Vaihiria basin of Tahiti resulting from natural landslides; and finally, major changes in local environment due to human activity, evident on all of the islands. Records from Lake Lanoto'o and Lake Roto extend into the early Holocene and span both pre- and post-settlement periods, with the latter providing a continuous vegetation record
holocene environment vegetational change island specific_objective study_look environmental_change occur several island system pre__post settlement period see_whether observed change natural anthropogenic test late settlement theory contribute vegetation history island study_report stratigraphic investigation sediment sequence sediment reveal history environmental vegetational change holocene include long_term climatic variation affect broad scale vegetation_change long_term sea_level change influence_local environment vegetation localise disruption vegetation basin result natural landslide finally major_change local_environment due human_activity evident island records lake lake extend early holocene span pre__post settlement period latter provide continuous vegetation record