The late-Holocene decline of Casuarinaceae in southeast Australia

Abstract

In a seminal paper, Crowley (1994a) attributed the decline of Casuarinaceae in Australia during the period of European contact to soil salinization, itself the product of vegetation clearance and raised groundwater levels. However, the post-contact Casuarinaceae decline in the New England area of northeast New South Wales was not associated with salinization. Instead, there is strong evidence that the decline was caused by the preferential use and clearance of these trees by European settlers. Direct human impact must therefore be added to the list of causes of the late-Holocene diminution of Casuarinaceae in Australia.