The distribution and composition of vascular plant communities on Heard Island

Climate and climate change

“…Additionally, the west should rarely experience Föhn winds (which are not uncommon on the east), and could have a different pattern of cloud cover (Schulze 1971 Frenot et al 1998). On Heard Island, large differences in climate are observed between the eastern and western sectors, with the eastern slopes experiencing faster and more variable winds (due to the formation of Von Karman vortices in the lee of the island; Beggs et al 2004), and lower cloud cover and precipitation (Hughes 1987). By contrast, temperature does not differ between the eastern and the western sides of Macquarie and Kerguelen Islands (Frenot et al 1998;Davies & Melbourne 1999; wind speed also does not differ between the eastern and western sectors on Macquarie Island; Davies & Melbourne 1999).…”

Ecology of Heard Island Diptera

“…The Wrst was during the summer of 1987-1988 at Atlas Cove when data on the distribution and abundance of species in Wve of the six major terrestrial invertebrate habitats distinguished by Hughes (1987) were collected ( Table 1). The second was during the year 1992-1993 when the activity of the surfaceactive fauna was documented at Spit Bay at regular intervals for 12 months in the same Wve vegetation types as in 1987-1988.…”

“…The vegetation was originally classiWed by Hughes (1987) and reanalysed more recently by Scott and Bergstrom (2006). Eleven Xowering plant species have been recorded (Scott 1990).…”

The Prince Edward Islands: Land-Sea Interactions in a Changing Ecosystem

“…For example, annual precipitation differs more than four-fold between the eastern and western parts of Kerguelen Island (due to a pronounced Föhn effect; Frenot et al 1998). On Heard Island, large differences in climate are observed between the eastern and western sectors, with the eastern slopes experiencing faster and more variable winds (due to the formation of Von Karman vortices in the lee of the island; Beggs et al 2004), and lower cloud cover and precipitation (Hughes 1987). By contrast, temperature does not differ between the eastern and the western sides of Macquarie and Kerguelen Islands (Frenot et al 1998;Davies & Melbourne 1999; wind speed also does not differ between the eastern and western sectors on Macquarie Island; Davies & Melbourne 1999).…”

“…Few vascular plants extend above 600 m altitude Vegetation ecologists have avoided using the term polar desert when describing a vegetation type on sub-Antarctic islands, all of which are at mid-latitudes and receive substantial rainfall. (Taylor 1955;Hughes 1987;Bergstrom 1998) or included with fellfield in a Fellfield Formation (Lewis Smith 1993). However, fellfield (Fjaeldmark, Felsenfluren or Felsentundra) was originally used to describe vegetation in which vascular plants, especially cushion-forming ones, are dominant.…”