The pristine myth: markers of the Anthropocene in montane peatlands of south-eastern Australia

Abstract

The footprint of humankind has left an indelible mark on natural ecosystems. The scale of this impact has led to the recognition of humans as a dominant geological force affecting all aspects of the environment. This has fuelled proposals that we have exited the Holocene epoch and entered the Anthropocene. The idea of the Anthropocene coincides with the ‘Pristine Myth’, which suggests that landscapes that are considered to be untouched by human activity may have been subjected to past and current human impacts. Although not formally recognised as a geological epoch, the Anthropocene is most commonly proposed to have begun in the mid-20th century (from the 1950s; Chapter 2), marked by peak radionuclide fallout from nuclear testing. Peatlands develop through the progressive accumulation of partially decomposed plant material in saturated environments and, in Australia, have a restricted distribution covering approximately 2.3 million hectares. This thesis explores whether markers of the proposed Anthropocene exist and persist in these landscapes, how these systems have formed and changed over time, and the future outlook for montane peatlands as we transition into the proposed Anthropocene.

The legacy of human activities is evident across natural environments globally. Landscapes perceived as ‘pristine’ may in fact be impacted, with these signatures detectable in our most fragile ecosystems. Under projected climatic change, peatlands face an uncertain future, with the risk of widespread degradation a key concern (Chapter 9). Ongoing research is needed to better understand past and current changes to support the conservation of these valuable ecosystems. Enhancing knowledge of these risks is essential to help to navigate the transition into the proposed Anthropocene, and to ensure that the worth of these unique environments is recognised and their ecological functioning maintained for the future.

Date of Thesis submission	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Sponsors	Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
Supervisor	Jason K Reynolds (Supervisor)