Stability and Instability of Ecological Systems in New Zealand Mountains

O'Connor, K. F.

doi:10.2307/3673165

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…The seven treeline types, emerging from the cluster analysis of treeline metrics, aggregate into reasonably well-demarcated regions when mapped back onto the 230 landscape zones across the country. The biogeographic patterning of the seven treeline ecotypes appear to coincide, by and large, with known regional differences among New Zealand's mountain systems (Wardle, 1991;O'Connor, 1984), and their associated Nothofagus forest patterns (Wardle, 1984). This implies a strong spatial structuring of treeline features by abiotic mechanisms that relate, in turn, to strong geographic variation in mountain geology, geomorphology and climate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Using novel metrics to assess biogeographic patterns of abrupt treelines in relation to abiotic influences

Case

Hale

2015

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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Alpine treeline ecotones display spatial variability in a range of features that often reflect underlying abiotic variation and its control on the processes that form and maintain treelines. In this study, we explore treeline pattern–environment relationships for continuous, abrupt Nothofagus treelines in New Zealand across a seven degree latitudinal gradient (circa 39–46° S). Our main aims were: 1) to develop a set of metrics for characterising spatial variation in abrupt treelines at a landscape scale; 2) to relate these metrics to underlying abiotic variation in order to determine the relative roles of climate, substrate, topography and disturbance in structuring Nothofagus treeline patterns; and 3) to develop a possible biogeographic typology of Nothofagus treelines. A GIS-based approach was used to develop seven metrics describing different facets of landscape-scale treeline pattern. Regression modelling and variance partitioning were used to explore relationships among treeline pattern metrics and abiotic variation. Cluster analysis was used to characterise emergent treeline types and GIS was used to map their biogeographic distributions. The individual treeline metrics characterised unique patterns of treeline variation across New Zealand and, upon clustering, resulted in seven distinctive treeline types. Nothofagus treeline patterns in New Zealand are strongly structured by environmental gradients, with about half the landscape-scale variation in treelines being structured by patterns of abiotic variation. Gradients of climatic and disturbance were most influential in explaining landscape-scale variation of individual treeline metrics and of multivariate treeline patterns. The presented, metric-based approach offers a means to develop a comprehensive picture of continuous, landscape-scale treeline variation, bridging an existing research gap between studies at site and global scales. Our approach can enable the development biogeographic treeline typologies that could facilitate the comparison of treeline patterns across large areas and provide a basis for the generation of new hypotheses regarding treeline formation and dynamics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Using novel metrics to assess biogeographic patterns of abrupt treelines in relation to abiotic influences

Case

Hale

2015

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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“…Para superar el desequilibrio estacional de pastos se ha deforestado, aún se sigue haciendo, y abriendo claros en masas forestales de no pocas montañas de la Tierra (Mallet, 1978;Bencherifa, 1983;Metailié, 1984;O'Connor, 1984;Tucker, 1987;Mahat et al, 1987). Hay que recordar que el bosque tiene un reciclado lento, estabilizador, mientras que el pasto permite mantener una biomasa animal muy superior al acelerar los ciclos (Montserrat, 1972).…”

Section: Recursos Pascícolas Y Estrategias De Pastoreounclassified

Pastoreo en áreas de montaña: Estrategias e impactos en el territorio

Lasanta¹

2010

Estud. geogr.

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INTRODUCCIÓNLos sistemas ganaderos extensivos basados en el pastoreo afectan al 25% de la superficie de la tierra, produciendo el 10% de los alimentos consumidos por la población (FAO, 2001). Se distribuyen por ambientes naturales y culturales muy diversos, si bien las montañas constituyen áreas preferentes para su desarrollo.Según Montoya (1984) el estudio de la ganadería extensiva requiere integrar pastizales y pastoreo como una unidad indisoluble, como único método para mejorar la gestión y productividad del ganado pastante. A la integración de pastizal y pastoreo, en sentido amplio, se denomina pastoralismo, término que procede del inglés (pastoralism) y que ha tenido una buena aceptación entre los profesionales e investigadores de la ganadería extensiva, tanto en España como en los países hispanoamericanos (Ferrer et al., 2001). Sin embargo, la Real Academia Española (RAE) no admite el término pastoralismo, por lo que en este trabajo se empleará normalmente el término pastoreo: «acción y efecto de pastorear el ganado», siendo pastorear «llevar ganado al campo y cuidar del mismo mientras pace» (RAE). Aún con todo acudiremos

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“…Soils age rapidly in the wet climate. Recent soils probably develop through to gleyed or podzolised yellow-brown earths in 1000-2000 years, therefore well-developed soils are unlikely on landforms subject to continual intense erosion or deposition (Archer 1973;Williams et al 1976Williams et al ,1978O'Connor 1980O'Connor , 1984Basher et al 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the broad regional patterns (Mark 1969), the distribution of these grasses is largely related to complex gradients in soil nutrient status and climate. Soil nutrient status reflects parent material fertility (e.g., Bell 1973) and the stage of soil development, which is largely dependent on surface stability and surface age (e.g., Williams 1975;Williams et al 1976;O'Connor 1980O'Connor , 1984Sommerville etal. 1982;Basher etal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alpine tussockland communities and vegetation-landform-soil relationships, Wapiti Lake, Fiordland, New Zealand

Rose

Harrison

Platt

1988

New Zealand Journal of Botany

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Classification and ordination of 139 plots and 207 species in a 2 km 2 alpine area revealed nine tussockland communities within two broad community groups. The two community groups occupied different ends of a gradient in soil development, nutrient status, and drainage, indicating that soil factors were the dominant broad-scale influence on the vegetation. Within this pattern, the communities were mainly distributed along an elevational gradient.Each community and community group contained 1-12 "indicator species" seldom found in others. Of these, Chionochloa pallens and C. acicularis were the only snow tussocks. Although the distribution and abundance of different snow tussocks broadly reflected the soils and elevational gradients, many indicator species showed a markedly stronger response, being virtually restricted to one community group or community.The distribution of soils on the different landforms suggested large differences in surface age and stability, and was reflected in a close relationship between vegetation and landform. Information on landforms as broad indicators of the rate and intensity of soil disturbances should provide useful interpretive or stratifying information in Fiordland and probably other humid alpine areas. Interpretation of large catchment surveys should improve if rapidly obtained floristic and landform data are combined with the usual estimates of snow tussock abundance and indirect environmental factors.

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Stability and Instability of Ecological Systems in New Zealand Mountains

Cited by 15 publications

References 64 publications

Using novel metrics to assess biogeographic patterns of abrupt treelines in relation to abiotic influences

Using novel metrics to assess biogeographic patterns of abrupt treelines in relation to abiotic influences

Pastoreo en áreas de montaña: Estrategias e impactos en el territorio

Alpine tussockland communities and vegetation-landform-soil relationships, Wapiti Lake, Fiordland, New Zealand

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