The forests and shrublands of the Seaward Kaikoura Range

Abstract

The forests and shrublands of the Seaward Kaikoura Range are classified into eight associations: coastal scrub-hardwood forest. mixed podocarp forest. Hall's totara forest. sub-alpine scrub, beech forest. mixed scrub-hardwood forest, LeplOspermum forest and scrub, and bluff scrub. The composition, structure, and habitat of each are described, and an indication is given of how each is being modified by the introduced mammals (red deer, goats, chamois, and opossums).Distribution of the first four of these associations is related mainly to changes in altitude. Coastal scrub-hardwood forest occurs below 1,000 ft altitude. Mixed podoearp forest forms a belt above it, and in tum gives way to Hall's totara forest. Hall's totara forms a fire-modified timberline between 3,000 and 3,400 ft. The sub-alpine scrub above timberline has been severely modified by fire and discontinuous patches of it occur up to 4,500 ft.Beech forest is most important at the northern and southern ends of the range. It occupies a wide altitudinal range from 200 to 3,000 ft and may be dominated by mountain beech, red beech, or black beech. The mixed scrubhardwood and Leptospcrmllm associations are usually seral. The scrub-hardwood occurs on eroded sites and the Leptospcrmum on old fire scars and terraces. The bluff association occnpies only very steep slopes but at a wide range of altitude. Several of the physiognomic species in it are endemic to the vicinity of the Seaward Kaikoura Range.The two scrub-hardwood associations arc undergoing major changcs in composition as a result of browsing by introduced mammals. The physiognomic species in each arc favoured fodder and very susceptible to damage by browsing. The mixed scrub-hardwood forest is unlikely to regenerate if animal pressure is maintained at the present level.

Vegetation and flora of the Ben More — Chalk Range area of southern Marlborough South Island

“…The vegetation, including the coastal forest of Woodside Creek, has been briefly described by Martin (1932). The forests and scrub on the lower Mesozoic rocks of the Seaward Kaikoura Range (Wardle 1971) are similar to those of the study area c. 30 km to the north.…”

“…The vegetation units described, therefore, range from lowland communities in mesic environments, e.g., Dacrydium cupressinum/ Nothofagus solandri forest (A.8) to montane communities in much drier environments, e.g., Coprosma -(Discaria toumatou) scrub and shrublands 03.2). They encompass almost the full spectrum of regional vegetation types, similar to many communities on the Seaward Kaikoura Range (Wardle 1971) and the Inland Kaikoura Range (Williams 1989). In addition, the different geologieal strata add a further element of complexity.…”

“…3). The present vegetation patterns are highly fragmented because of a long history of geological disturbances and fire, as on the Seaward Kaikoura Range (Wardle 1971). These fragments suggest that the prePolynesian vegetation on hillslopes would have been extensive lowland podocarp-hardwood forest, with Nothofagus spp.…”

Surface soil chemistry at an alpine procellariid breeding colony in New Zealand, and comparison with a lowland site

“…The Seaward Kaikoura Range is a fire-modified landscape, formerly forested to c. 1100 m with patches of alpine scrub to c. 1400 m; annual rainfall is c. 1300 mm (Wardle 1971). In the region where Hutton's shearwaters maintain their breeding colonies, the underlying rock is Torlesse Group greywacke and argillite of Mesozoic age (Lensen 1962).…”

“…A complication is that the Hutton's shearwater study site is in soil that probably supported shrubland prior to burning by Polynesian and European settlers (Wardle 1971); soil C and N cycling is affected by past vegetation types and land uses (Parfitt et al 2003). Studies at other Hutton's shearwater colonies, some of which are under tall shrubs, would be helpful in identifying vegetation community effects.…”