Preliminary Investigation of the Geobotanical Evolution of Provincetown Peninsula

摘要

The Provincetown Peninsula, situated at the outer tip of Cape Cod, is an excellent example of a large coastal landmass created by marine and eolian (wind) processes. Though most of Cape Cod is composed of glacial sediments in the form of terminal moraines and outwash plains, the Provincetown Peninsula was formed by deposition of sediments eroded from these glacial deposits. The sediments were moved by longshore currents and wave action and were subsequently reworked and shaped by the wind to form coastal dunes. The origin of the Provincetown Peninsula was investigated by utilizing both botanical and geological techniques. Vegetation mapping of the Province Lands was used to delineate the present plant communities of the interdunal swale areas.