Vegetation changes in the Lake Mamsin area, Saruwaged Plateau, New Guinea. American Museum novitates ; no. 2628

Abstract

"Fossil leaf remains in ca. 5700-year-old lake deposits in the glacial Lake Mamsin (Guam) on rhe Saruwaged Plateau of New Guinea are compared with the floras of present-day grass-heath and forest in the area. The fossil flora is dominated by a broadleaf podocarp of the type now occurring at least 500 m. below the elevation of the lake (3500 m.). Fires of native origin are the most likely cause of the replacement of the former forest by grass-heath around the lake, but subsequently there may have been a cold phase ending about 2600 years ago which depressed the potential upper limit of the podocarp forest"--P. [1].