Factors influencing natural regeneration of totara (Podocarpus totara D.Don) on grazed hill country grassland in Northland, New Zealand

Bergin, D. O.; Kimberley, Mark O.

doi:10.1186/s40490-014-0013-8

Cited by 11 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…This study revealed a low rate of natural regeneration of woody vegetation from pasture on Oashore Station of approximately 0.2% per year. This quantifies the more general findings regarding slow colonization of grassland by forest plants in similar locations (Reay & Norton 1999) and provides an overall rate of regeneration across an entire site that is lacking in other studies in temperate regions utilizing representative field plots (Mason et al 2013;Bergin & Kimberley 2014;Forbes et al 2021). The rate of regeneration is broadly comparable to international studies using remote sensing methods, with tree cover in tropical regions of Brazil (which typically experience faster growth) found to increase by 0.3% per year (Crouzeilles et al 2020;Borda-Niño et al 2021) and 0.4% per year (de Rezende et al 2015).…”

Section: Observed Rate Of Natural Regeneration Of Woody Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 63%

Forests from the grass: natural regeneration of woody vegetation in temperate marginal hill farmland under minimum interference management

Pedley

McWilliam

Doscher

2023

Restoration Ecology

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Marginal hill farmland is a key target for the restoration of temperate indigenous forest, which can help mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Reliance on natural regeneration and minimum interference management (MIM) is a low-cost restoration strategy for farmers, with the transition from pasture to woody scrub vegetation (whether indigenous or exotic) an important early successional phase. However, few studies have determined the key factors that influence the regeneration of woody vegetation on pastoral farmland, nor the rate at which regeneration occurs. Using a geospatial analysis of a New Zealand pastoral hill farm subject to variable grazing and MIM, this study found that only 3.8% of grassland experienced detectable regeneration of woody vegetation over 16 years. The key factor influencing natural regeneration was proximity to existing woody vegetation, with the probability of regeneration decreasing as distance increased. Cattle grazing had a significant negative impact, with regeneration more likely to occur in areas free from cattle. Sheep grazing exhibited no significant positive or negative relationship with regeneration. To support natural regeneration of woody vegetation, landowners should prioritize areas with a higher presence of existing woody vegetation and exclude cattle. To increase the rate of regeneration, landowners should consider active management regimes and supplemental restoration strategies, such as applied nucleation and the introduction of nurse species. Given the increased cost and complexity of such approaches, effective government incentive programmes may be needed to provide landowners with financial support and expertise.

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Section: Observed Rate Of Natural Regeneration Of Woody Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 63%

Forests from the grass: natural regeneration of woody vegetation in temperate marginal hill farmland under minimum interference management

Pedley

McWilliam

Doscher

2023

Restoration Ecology

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“…and Tōtara ( Podocarpus totara ; Smale et al . ; Bergin & Kimberley ), although successions through exotic species towards native dominance are also widespread (Wilson ; Sullivan et al . ).…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many successions are through native seral species such as K anuka (Kunzea spp.) and T otara (Podocarpus totara; Smale et al 1997;Bergin & Kimberley 2014), although successions through exotic species towards native dominance are also widespread (Wilson 1994;Sullivan et al 2007). While much of the focus in conservation is on protecting remnants of original ecosystems, regenerating vegetation also has important values and its protection should be a priority, both legal protection and protection of the successional processes.…”

Section: Active Regrowth Of Native Woody Vegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…by helicopter) need to be addressed before direct seeding can be used operationally. There is, however, scope to learn from the natural reversion that is occurring in many pastoral hill country sites, where native species such as M anuka (Leptospermum scoparium), K anuka and T otara are successfully regenerating, even in the presence of grazing (Smale et al 1997;Bergin & Kimberley 2014). The success of this regeneration suggests that direct seeding has considerable potential.…”

Section: Invest In New Technologies For Revegetationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Upscaling restoration of native biodiversity: A New Zealand perspective

Norton¹,

Butt²,

Bergin³

2018

Eco Management Restoration

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“…In contrast, P. totara is light demanding and has a rapid growth response to canopy opening (Ebbett & Ogden ). Podocarpus totara is known to regenerate most vigorously in high‐light environments such as large windthrow gaps and forest margins, among open scrub (McSweeney ), and even in grazed exotic grassland (Bergin & Kimberley ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial canopy gaps accelerate restoration within an exoticPinus radiataplantation

Forbes

Norton

Carswell

2015

Restoration Ecology

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We created small-scale artificial canopy gaps to accelerate the growth of mature indigenous forest canopy species for restoration of an 18-year-old exotic Pinus radiata plantation forest, in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Small and large circular gaps were formed by felling. Seedlings of two indigenous forest canopy species, Podocarpus totara (Podocarpaceae) and Beilschmiedia tawa (Lauraceae), were planted within artificial gaps and undisturbed plantation canopy. Seedling height growth, mortality, and occurrence of animal browse were monitored at approximately 6-month intervals over 17 months. Both P. totara and B. tawa differed significantly in height growth and in animal browse occurrence among artificial gap treatments. Growth of the light-demanding P. totara was better under large canopy gaps, whereas growth of the shade-tolerant B. tawa increased under gaps of any size but was most consistent under small gaps. For P. totara, any significant restoration benefit of gap formation on height growth was lost when browsed seedlings were taken into account. Animal browse significantly limited B. tawa height growth in large but not in small gaps. Small-scale canopy gap creation is an effective method of modifying light transmission to the plantation understorey and accelerating seedling growth rates. Canopy gap size can be used to optimize understorey illumination according to species-specific light requirements. The increased occurrence of animal browse in gaps requires consideration. Artificial canopy gaps within planted monocultures create structural heterogeneity that would otherwise take an extended period of time to develop. These results further support the role of plantations as indigenous forest restoration sites.

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Factors influencing natural regeneration of totara (Podocarpus totara D.Don) on grazed hill country grassland in Northland, New Zealand

Cited by 11 publications

References 11 publications

Forests from the grass: natural regeneration of woody vegetation in temperate marginal hill farmland under minimum interference management

Forests from the grass: natural regeneration of woody vegetation in temperate marginal hill farmland under minimum interference management

Upscaling restoration of native biodiversity: A New Zealand perspective

Artificial canopy gaps accelerate restoration within an exoticPinus radiataplantation

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