The subalpine and alpine vegetation on the Central Sedimentary Belt of Paleozoic rocks in north-west Nelson, New Zealand

Abstract

Thirty-four vegetation units, derived subjectively from qualitative field notes, are described from above c. 1200 m on nine ranges or parts of ranges comprising the Central Sedimentary Belt of Paleozoic rocks in northwest Nelson. From northwest to southeast they are: Haupiri Range, Douglas Range, Anatoki Range, Devil Range, Snowden Range, Lockett Range, Peel Range, southern Arthur Range, and an area known as Turks Cap. They cover an area of c. 1200 km 2 and are geologically complex volcanics and sedimentary deposits including limestones. The ranges have a high rainfall varying from 5600 mm in the northwest to 2800 mm in the northeast and south. Cloud cover probably varies similarly. Because of the distribution of the major geological lithologies, rainfall is generally higher (>4000 mm) on soils formed from volcanic parent materials than those formed from calcareous parent materials «4000 mm). Nothofagus forest predominates throughout the subalpine zone with the exception of one valley where beech is absent and where Hoheria lyallii-Griselinia littoralis forest forms the upper forest. Scrub communities are dominated by Dracophyllum uniflorum, Brachyglottis bidwillii, and Olea ria colensoi, while Hebe topiaria, Olearia avicenniifolia, and Hebe taxon 1 (CHR 469400) are more abundant in the south. Tussock grassland are mainly C. pallens subsp. pallens with some C. rubra subsp. occulta and C. australis. C. flavescens subsp. lupeola is abundant on calcareous rocks in the south B92039

Pollen–climate reconstruction from northern South Island, New Zealand (41°S), reveals varying high‐ and low‐latitude teleconnections over the last 16 000 years

“…The average regional treeline elevation is about 1350 m, 30–100 m above the elevation of Adelaide Tarn. However, because of the rugged regional topography the treeline may descend to 1200 m in steep bedrock gullies or steep slopes with thin soils (such as at Adelaide Tarn), or ascend to 1500 m in rocky well‐drained slopes and ridges (Williams, ). In addition, goats, sheep and several other grazing animals introduced since 1850 have had significant browsing impacts in the alpine vegetation of Northwest Nelson.…”

The influence of natural flow and temperature and introduced brown trout on the temporal variation in native fish abundance in a “reference” stream

“…• subalpine and alpine plant communities on old sedimentary and volcanic rocks in the western ranges (Williams 1993);…”