Explanations for palaeoecological changes on the northern plains of Guadalcanal,Solomon Islands: the last 3200 years

The first records of wetland development and vegetation change from the northern grassland plains of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, are presented. Changes in sedimentation and vegetation over the last 3200 years, inferred from pollen and sediment analysis from two inland swamp sites, suggest human activity may have played a role in changing vegetation patterns on the northern plains of Guadalcanal. Catastrophic events, such as tectonic activity, cyclones and volcanic eruptions, have also contributed to disturbance of the forest communities and to erosion. Both sites show evidence for increases in carbonized particles coincident with greater representation of second-growth forest taxa, beginning some time between 3200 and 2100 BP. The change is believed to be associated with early agricultural activity in the inland regions of Guadalcanal, a finding that is in close accordance with the archaeological record. The role of interannual climatic variability in vegetation change is also considered.