The anatomy and morphology of four Tasmanian cushion species

Gibson, Noah M.

doi:10.26749/rstpp.124.2.231

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Clearly the inhibition model does not hold since process of fragmentation and coalescence of cushions is occurring continuously across all quadrats. It has been argued elsewhere that significant resource partitioning is unlikely given the very close morphological convergence of the cushion species and the very poor nutrient status of these peats (Gibson 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of a Tasmanian cushion heath community

Gibson¹,

Kirkpatrick²

1992

J Vegetation Science

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. Little is known of the dynamics of the alpine cushion plant communities of Tasmania. The present study investigates the nature of the short (5 yr) and long (850 yr plus) term dynamics within one such community at Newdegate Pass, Tasmania. This involved observations of permanent plots, quadrat sampling of cushion heath in different stages of a secondary succesion and cuticular analysis of a core through the cushion peat. Data from the peat core showed the continued presence of the cushion heath community at this site for at least 850 yr, while the regeneration patterns indicated community composition was largely achieved by species accumulation rather than species replacement. Over a 5–yr period there was little or no change in total percentage cover yet a surprisingly high degree of interspecific competition for space in areas of complete plant cover. These observations best fit non equilibrium models of community succession and stability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While other shrubs could be expected to become incorporated into cushions peats from time to time, the proportion of this material would be very low given the very high shoot density of cushion species (ca. 100 000 / m 2 -Gibson 1990) and the very short internodes of cushion species (up to 40 leaves / mm of shoot; see Gibson 1989).…”

Section: Peat Corementioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of a Tasmanian cushion heath community

Gibson¹,

Kirkpatrick²

1992

J Vegetation Science

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“…Bolsters are a dense assemblage of cushion plant individuals that coalesce to form a single sub-hemispherical structure (Curtis 1963, Gibson 1991, Kirkpatrick 1997). Due to their compaction and extremely short internodes, bolsters have a smooth, hard surface that may extend up to one or more metres in diameter and can be composed of many individuals and species (Curtis 1963, Gibson 1991, Kirkpatrick 1997). Te Tasmanian endemic, Abrotanella forsteroides (Hook.f.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Efcient mechanisms for water uptake and a high absorption capacity, allow cushion bolsters to maintain a high water content (Gibson 1991). High water content and a smooth surface combine to make combustion rare (Kirkpatrick 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term recovery of cushion plant communities after fire on the central plateau, Tasmania

Harding¹,

Kirkpatrick²

2018

PPRST

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There is slow or no regeneration of many Tasmanian alpine plant species after fire. At the decades scale cushion plants recover well, but there are no data on their short-term recovery. We determine the recovery of individual cushion bolsters and bolster communities at three locations on the Central Plateau of Tasmania burned less than five years before our repeat photography. Most cushions were scorched at the surface and perimeter rather than deeply combusted. Except where the bolsters were most intensively burnt, they revegetated within two years of fire. Cushion species extended their cover on the burned bolster surfaces at greater than twice the rate of all other species. Cushion segments that appeared to be deeply combusted during fire did not recover vegetatively.

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“…Weiller et al 1994 included 34 species in a study of the epicuticular wax morphology. Betts (1919) studied the anatomy of D. pronum and Gibson (1991) that of…”

Section: Character Assessment and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Dracophyllum Labill. (Ericaceae)

Venter¹

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<p>In recent years the New Zealand biogeographic paradigm has shifted from 'Moa's Ark' (Bellamy et al. 1990) to the view that most biota has dispersed here in the lastÃ Ã Â± 10 My (Fleming 1975, Pole 1994, McGlone et al. 2001). Large and widely distributed genera on island archipelagos and oceanic islands are important elements for the investigation of evolutionary processes such as dispersal from continents to islands and back, adaptive radiation and in some cases extinction. The genus Dracophyllum (Ericaceae: Richeeae) occurs on the Australian continent and the New Zealand archipelago as well as on many oceanic islands in the region. With its wide distribution, ecological importance and apparent taxonomic complexity, a monograph and phylogenetic study of Dracophyllum will make a valuable contribution towards the understanding of the above- mentioned processes. There is still uncertainty about generic limits within tribe Richeeae (Dracophyllum Labill., Richea R. Br. and Sphenotoma R. Br. ex Sweet). Sphenotoma is geographically isolated (southwest Western Australia), monophyletic and forms a distinct evolutionary lineage that diverged early from Dracophyllum and Richea (Powell et al. 1996, Kron et al. 2002). The generic limits between Dracophyllum and Richea still need to be addressed, preferably by making use of DNA sequence data. There are two fundamental aims of systematics: a) to discover, describe and name all species and b) to document the changes on the branches that have occurred during evolution and to transform these into a predictive classification system that reflects evolution (Systematics 18 Agenda 2000). Systematics is therefore the study of the biological diversity that exists on earth today and its evolutionary history (Judd et al. 1999). Taxonomic revisions, especially of large groups, need to focus on groups that are monophyletic (i.e. comprising an ancestor and all of its descendents) and not constrained by geography. Generic delimitation can become problematic when the flora of a specific region is studied in isolation. Many important aspects of genotypic and phenotypic variation are then not taken into consideration, resulting in a skewed and unrealistic representation of the genus as a whole. The long list of synonyms in the southern hemisphere for the genus Veronica L. is a reflection of this situation: Paederota L., Hebe Comm. ex Juss., Derwentia Raf., Pygmaea Hook.f., Detzneria Schltr. ex Diels, Parahebe W.R.B.Oliv., Chionohebe B.G.Briggs & Ehrend., Leonohebe Heads, Heliohebe Garn.-Jones and Hebejeebie Heads.</p>

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The anatomy and morphology of four Tasmanian cushion species

Cited by 3 publications

References 4 publications

Dynamics of a Tasmanian cushion heath community

Dynamics of a Tasmanian cushion heath community

Short-term recovery of cushion plant communities after fire on the central plateau, Tasmania

A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Dracophyllum Labill. (Ericaceae)

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