TY - JOUR
T1 - Science Through Time: Understanding the Archive at Rennix Gap Bog, a Sub-alpine Peatland in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, Australia
AU - Hope, Geoffrey
AU - Mooney, Scott
AU - Allen, Kathryn J.
AU - Baker, Patrick
AU - Keaney, Ben
AU - Kemp, Justine
AU - Martin, Len F.
AU - Pearson, Stuart G
AU - Stevenson, Janelle
AU - Zheng, Xianglin
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Rennix Gap Bog is a sub-alpine topogenic peatland that contains up to 2 m of organic-rich sediments
that have built up over the last approximately 12,000 years. This paper summarises the research and
teaching activities that have been undertaken at the site, which has included consideration of the sediment
stratigraphy, radiometric dating, palynology, charcoal analyses, dendrochronology and recently, the
testate amoebae community composition has been documented. Much of this work is unpublished but has
relevance for any future research and provides a long-term context for many contemporary environmental
issues, including for issues of relevance to the management of fire in this landscape and vegetation more
broadly. In the contemporary environment, the surface of the bog is vegetated with a complex mosaic of
Carex fen, sub-alpine Sphagnum shrub bog and Poa costiniana tussock grassland. Pollen analysis suggests
that this vegetation has been relatively stable for 10,000 years and prior to that the site was surrounded by
sparse vegetation, similar to the alpine herb-grass community of contemporary higher altitude ecosystems.
Charcoal analyses suggest that fire activity has varied through time but increased significantly in the historic
period. Rennix Gap Bog has not only attracted considerable research but has also been an invaluable,
accessible, site for field-based teaching and learning.
AB - Rennix Gap Bog is a sub-alpine topogenic peatland that contains up to 2 m of organic-rich sediments
that have built up over the last approximately 12,000 years. This paper summarises the research and
teaching activities that have been undertaken at the site, which has included consideration of the sediment
stratigraphy, radiometric dating, palynology, charcoal analyses, dendrochronology and recently, the
testate amoebae community composition has been documented. Much of this work is unpublished but has
relevance for any future research and provides a long-term context for many contemporary environmental
issues, including for issues of relevance to the management of fire in this landscape and vegetation more
broadly. In the contemporary environment, the surface of the bog is vegetated with a complex mosaic of
Carex fen, sub-alpine Sphagnum shrub bog and Poa costiniana tussock grassland. Pollen analysis suggests
that this vegetation has been relatively stable for 10,000 years and prior to that the site was surrounded by
sparse vegetation, similar to the alpine herb-grass community of contemporary higher altitude ecosystems.
Charcoal analyses suggest that fire activity has varied through time but increased significantly in the historic
period. Rennix Gap Bog has not only attracted considerable research but has also been an invaluable,
accessible, site for field-based teaching and learning.
M3 - Article
SN - 0370-047X
VL - 141
SP - 25
EP - 47
JO - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales
JF - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales
ER -