Tussock grassland communities in the Mackenzie Country, South Canterbury, New Zealand

Connor, H. E.; Vucetich, C. G.

doi:10.1080/0028825x.1964.10428730

Cited by 65 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This is also consistent with earlier studies in New Zealand non-forest vegetation (e.g. Barker 1953;Connor 1961Connor , 1964Moore et al 1976). It is important to note, however, that other sampling methods may be more appropriate for assessing long-term changes in composition and structure in non-forest vegetation (reviewed by Wiser & Rose 1997).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Expanding an existing classification of New Zealand vegetation to include non-forested vegetation

Wiser¹,

Thomson²,

Cáceres³

2016

NZ J Ecol

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Abstract:We produced the first national-scale quantitative classification of non-forest vegetation types, including shrubland, based on vegetation plot data from the National Vegetation Survey Databank. Semisupervised clustering with the fuzzy classification algorithm Noise Clustering was used to incorporate these new data into a pre-existing quantitative classification of New Zealand's woody vegetation. Fuzzy classification allows plots to be designated as transitional when they are similar to multiple vegetation types; the Noise Clustering algorithm allows plots having unique composition to be designated as outliers. We combined plot data collected using two different methods by transforming abundances to relative ranks and showed our classification results were robust to this. Of the 6362 plots analysed, 505 were assigned to previously defined woody vegetation types. Using the remaining 5857 plots, we defined vegetation types at two hierarchical levels comprising 25 alliances and 56 associations. Ten of the alliances are tussocklands, six are grasslands, four are stonefields or gravelfields, two are herbfields, one is rushland, and two are newly defined woody alliances. The classification defined compositional differences among well-known widely distributed short and tall tussock grasslands of the South Island. Notably it distinguished Chionochloa pallens, C. crassiuscula and C. oreophila tussocklands in wetter western regions from those dominated by C. rigida and C. macra in the east, and the domination of eastern South Island short tussock grasslands by Festuca novae-zelandiae and Poa colensoi. We demonstrate the distinctiveness of the vegetation of four naturally uncommon ecosystems -coastal turfs, northern gumlands, granite sand plains and braided riverbeds. Insufficient plot data precluded the definition of North Island Chionochloa rubra grassland types and many wetland and coastal communities. The 1846 plots designated as outliers mainly occur on warmer, wetter and less invaded sites than classified plots. Semi-supervised clustering allowed us to progress the development of an extendable, plot-based, quantitative classification of all New Zealand's vegetation despite data gaps.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Expanding an existing classification of New Zealand vegetation to include non-forested vegetation

Wiser¹,

Thomson²,

Cáceres³

2016

NZ J Ecol

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“…To date, however, quantitative investigations of Hieracium invasion in New Zealand have mainly focused on the effects of environment, disturbance, 108 New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1999, Vol. 37 and Hieracium life-history attributes on the rate and magnitude of spread (e.g., Scott et al 1988;Treskonova 1991;Connor 1992;Rose et al 1995;Fan & Harris 1996;Duncan et al 1997). The availability of propagules and the inherent invasibility of different tussock grassland communities to colonising Hieracium seedling populations have been implicated (Hunter et al 1992;Rose 1992;Duncan et al 1997;Rose et al 1998), but they have not been specifically studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A key component of such interactions is the availability of suitable microsites for seedling establishment ("safe sites" ;Grubb 1977;Harper 1977;Johnstone 1986;Hobbs 1989). The main attributes that have been suggested as increasing the vulnerability of tussock grasslands to Hieracium include high availability of bare ground, low vegetation stature, and low canopy cover-conditions that may reflect a long history of grazing and/or burning (e.g., Treskonova 1991;Connor 1992;Hunter et al 1992). It seems logical, therefore, that stand structural factors might affect the establishment of Hieracium seedlings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of microsite characteristics onHieraciumseedling establishment in tall‐ and short‐tussock grasslands, Marlborough, New Zealand

Rose

Frampton

1999

New Zealand Journal of Botany

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The distribution and density of Hieracium pilosella, H. caespitosum, and H. lepidulum seedlings were quantified at an early stage of invasion of a tall-tussock (Chionochloa) and a more open short-tussock (Festuca-Poa) grassland. Seedling and available (unoccupied) microsites were compared in 11 stands. Recorded variables included establishment substrate, overhanging cover, and proximity and height of neighbouring plants. Total Hieracium cover was <7% in both grasslands. Total Hieracium seedling densities averaged 126 per 100 m 2 in tall-tussock and 38 per 100 m 2 in shorttussock grassland. The three species showed wide overlap, but also some consistent differences, in microsite characteristics. All three had established on all substrates, over 60% of seedlings were among vegetation or litter, and establishment was not dependent on the availability of bare ground. The least favourable substrates were tall-tussock bases, largeherb patches, deep litter, and rock fragments.Shorter/more open vegetation, shallow litter, and soil were either highly favourable or had no detectable effect on establishment. The effects of overhanging cover and canopy-plant proximity and height were most consistently adverse for H. pilosella and most consistently favourable for H. lepidulum. Although biotic barriers to establishment were stronger in talltussock grassland, it had higher seedling densities probably because it was located closer to established Hieracium populations and was subjected to a greater seed rain. Management of tussock grassland structure provides a key strategy for controlling Hieracium invasion.

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“…These grasslands were dominated by fescue tussock growing about 30 cm tall; the inter-tussock vegetation was of introduced and native grasses, forbs, and small shrubs. Descriptions of these grasslands before hawkweeds became abundant were given by Connor (1964) and afterwards by Makepeace (1980). Mouse-ear invades and displaces the inter-tussock vegetation and at some sites subsequently displaces the fescue tussock and increases up to c. 80% ground cover.…”

Section: Introductiqnmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth, reproduction, and production biology of mouse-ear and king devil hawkweed in eastern South Island, New Zealand

Makepeace

1985

New Zealand Journal of Botany

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Tussock grassland communities in the Mackenzie Country, South Canterbury, New Zealand

Cited by 65 publications

References 9 publications

Expanding an existing classification of New Zealand vegetation to include non-forested vegetation

Expanding an existing classification of New Zealand vegetation to include non-forested vegetation

Effects of microsite characteristics onHieraciumseedling establishment in tall‐ and short‐tussock grasslands, Marlborough, New Zealand

Growth, reproduction, and production biology of mouse-ear and king devil hawkweed in eastern South Island, New Zealand

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