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Bridging Wallace's line : the environmental and cultural history and dynamics of the SE-Asian-Australian region Peter Kershaw [et al.] Published by Catena Verlag (2002) |
Book description
Bridging Wallace's line reviews and assembles recent research on aspects of the environmental and cultural history and dynamics of Southeast Asia and Australia. It incorporates a different approach to Wallace's Line by focusing on geographical continuities rather than differences. Taking the view that a seam can be approached from either side, Wallace's line symbolises a conceptual unification of regional variation into matters of global interest. These themes are cemented by the exclusion of that component which emphasizes difference across the Line and other nearby biogeographic demarcations, the fauna.
Bridging Wallace's line contains three Sections. The first provides contextual information for later contributions focused on the Quaternary. It includes essential background reviews on geology and plant biogeography, and also on the climate dynamics of the Maritime Continent, an area of increasing importance in understanding global climate change. The second Section presents new research on Quaternary environmental change in the Southeast Asia-Pacific region. Pollen records offer evidence of transformations in vegetation patterning in relation to climate change, sea level fluctuations, biomass burning and the effects of mountain glaciers. These environmental dynamics provide a framework for the colonisation and adaptation of Homo erectus and H. sapiens across the region, explored in Section three. This volume challenges long-held assumptions of essential difference across the Southeast Asia-Australia divide, bridging Wallace's Line for a fuller exploration of regional dynamics with global implications.
The cover photo 'Tracing the Wallace Line: wing leaf and land' is taken from a water colour painting by the well known, British-born Australian painter, John Wolseley. The painting is from a recent Wolseley exhibition that examines and illustrates Wallace's Line from various perspectives. Wolseley's fascination with Wallace's Line, well captured in this artwork, is indicative of his passion and general concerns for the landforms and biotas of the region.
About the Author
Professor Peter Kershaw is Director of the Centre for Palynology and Palaeoecology, Faculty of Arts, Monash University.
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