Human+Connection+and+Aquatic+Ecology



THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE FOR HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THE INTERIOR REGION, BASED ON THE STRATIGRAPHIC SURVEY OF THE PAPENO’S VALLEY ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF TAHITI BY ORLIAC. THIS VALLEY IS TOPOGRAPHIC SIMILAR TO THE VAIHIRIA VALLEY. THE VALLEY ALLUVIAL RECORD THERE APPEARS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR FOREST DISTURBANCE BY BOTH CYCLONES AND HUMANS. THE PRESENCE OF CHARCOAL IN THE ALLUVIUM SUGGEST THAT HUMAN DISTURBANCE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE IMPORTANT FACTOR AND HAS PROVIDED RADIOCARBON DATES OF 580+/-60 YR BP AND 220+/- 80 YR BP. IT MIGHT ALSO BE NOTED THAT FOREST CLEARANCE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND MAY HAVE LED TO HIGHER RATES OF SOIL EROSION AND, IN TURN, TO ALLUVIATION IN COASTAL LAGOONS. THIS WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A COASTAL POPULATION WITH AREAS OF FLAT, FERTILE LAND, SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATION.