Past and Present Vegetation of Marshes Swamp in South-Eastern South Australia

Abstract

The swamp and sclerophyll vegetation of Marshes Swamp is discussed in terms of soils and water regimes. Two swamps, Mt. Burr Swamp and Blue Tea Tree Swamp, which form part of Marshes Swamp, are looked at in particular and their stratigraphy and history are reconstructed. Cores from the swamp were pollen-analysed and the vegetation history of the swamps is described in terms of plant succession and local climatic change. Four radiocarbon dates were obtained and these were used to date the major local vegetational history events following dune build-up and vulcanism. These also allowed some insight into the age of soil development in the swamp.