Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand

Coastal Dune Ecosystem Reference Database

Modern pollen‐vegetation relationships in Northland, New Zealand

Author
Elliot MB
Year
1999
Journal / Source
New Zealand Journal of Botany
Volume
37
Pages
131-148
Summary
The pollen and spores from surface samples consisting of moss polsters and soils collected from 15 sites in Northland and Rangitoto Island were analysed. Sample sites were chosen to be representative of differing plant communities in the Northland region. Major plant communities could be distinguished by their characteristic pollen spectra but minor associations were difficult to distinguish. Gymnosperms (anemophilous) are generally proportionately or over-represented compared with zoophilous taxa. A notable exception to this is Agathis australis which is typically grossly under-represented. Angiosperm elements of Northland forests are generally very poorly represented, the exception being Metrosideros spp. which are either well or over-represented. In contrast to reports from other parts of New Zealand, moderate to high values (>5%) of Nothofagus subgenus Fuscospora pollen in Northland spectra suggest local presence. Poaceae pollen records only low frequencies in forest spectra, but dominates grassland sites. Bracken (Pteridium esculentum) spores record low frequencies at most sites but are well represented where bracken is present on forest margins, or in surrounding open grassland/scrub.