Vegetation of the Central Plateau

Jackson, WD

doi:10.26749/rstpp.106.1.61

Cited by 31 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The high abundance of Lomatia in mixed sites may reflect its ability to resprout from lignotubers after low and intermediate levels of burning, and its tendency to grow in semi-shaded environments (Dickinson and Kirkpatrick, 1987). Lomatia is also relatively unpalatable to non-native and native browsers (Jackson, 1972). The low abundance of Lomatia in burned sites may reflect heat-caused mortality of belowground biomass or loss of soil organic matter from fire-caused erosion, both of which would favor herbaceous colonization over resprouting shrubs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Central Plateau of Tasmania was extensively glaciated during the Pleistocene, and the present-day vegetation communities established at around 3000–4000 years ago (Dodson, 2001; Hopf et al, 2000; Stahle et al, 2016; Thomas and Hope, 1994). Modern vegetation is characterized by spatially heterogeneous patches of eucalypt woodlands at low elevations, coniferous forests and woodlands at higher elevations, and alpine heath above treeline (Jackson, 1972). Pure stands of Athrotaxis are characterized by low tree densities, with an understory of grass (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pure stands of Athrotaxis are characterized by low tree densities, with an understory of grass (e.g. Poa billardieri ) and Sphagnum (Jackson, 1972).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Athrotaxis is a slow-growing conifer with individual trees reaching 1000 years in age (Jackson, 1972). Mature trees are relatively resistant to frost, drought, and surface fire (Holz et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…sheep and rabbits), and frequent and sometimes severe fires. These land-use changes resulted in a widespread decline of conifer forest cover (Jackson, 1972). During the 1960 fire, three separate human ignitions burned 60% of the Central Plateau, resulting in Athrotaxis mortality over 30% of its native range (Corbett, 1996; Johnson and Marsden-Smedley, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modern pollen from small hollows reflects Athrotaxis cupressoides density across a wildfire gradient in subalpine forests of the Central Plateau, Tasmania, Australia

et al. 2017

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Pollen assemblages from 50 small hollows were used to resolve fire-caused vegetation patterns in a ~2-km 2 subalpine landscape on the Central Plateau of Tasmania, Australia. Sites were characterized by varying abundance of the dominant tree species, Athrotaxis cupressoides, reflecting mortality from a wildfire that occurred 53 years prior to sampling. Sites were classified a priori based on fire-related Athrotaxis mortality as burned (100% standing dead), unburned (<5% standing dead), and mixed (intermediate proportions). Non-parametric analysis of variance and discriminant analysis were used to quantify the variability in key pollen taxa and pollen ratios among burn classifications. The ratio of Athrotaxis to Poaceae pollen was the clearest metric distinguishing among burn classifications. When discriminant analysis was informed with data from the eight most dominant pollen data, samples were classified with high accuracy (0.96-0.98). Macroscopic charcoal concentrations varied widely among sites, but median values were consistent with inferred fire patterns, increasing in abundance from unburned to burned sites. The results support the use of small hollows to resolve fine-scale vegetation patterns (e.g. within 100 m of a site). The discriminant analysis function was also applied to five late-Holocene pollen samples from the study area, to test the potential of these methods to classify samples with unknown group assignments. The posterior probability of assigned group membership ranged from 0.85 to 0.99, demonstrating the similarity of the fossil pollen to the calibration dataset. Our calibration dataset provides a means to classify fossil samples from the region in terms of Athrotaxis cover and fire-caused mortality. This approach could be applied to other regions to quantify disturbance-related vegetation patterns or spatial heterogeneity over Holocene timescales.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pure stands of Athrotaxis are characterized by low tree densities, with an understory of grass (e.g. Poa billardieri ) and Sphagnum (Jackson, 1972).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modern pollen from small hollows reflects Athrotaxis cupressoides density across a wildfire gradient in subalpine forests of the Central Plateau, Tasmania, Australia

et al. 2017

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Protection from cold stress in a Eucalyptus shelterwood

Núñez

Sander

1982

J. Climatol.

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ABSTFWaNocturnal measurements of air temperature and longwave radiation were taken in a Eucalyptus delegatensis shelterwood and in a clearfelled control site. On average the shelterwood exhibited temperatures between 1°C and 2°C warmer. Longwave radiation correlated well with percentage sky view as determined from fish eye lens photographs. The shelterwood seems to decrease the radiation loss by an average figure of 21 per cent on a cloudless night. The Brunt cooling theory is used to relate the air temperature and radiation figures. KEY WORDS Longwave radiation Shelterwood Brunt cooling

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Informal camping on the margin of wild country: Early indicators of degradation and potential for some positive nature conservation outcomes

2023

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Wild areas provide a wide array of recreational opportunities in nature, including informal camping. We examined the potential for land degradation associated with informal campsites accessible by vehicle on the margins of the wild country on the Central Plateau of Tasmania, where alpine and sub‐alpine ecosystems with numerous glacial and periglacial wetlands sit within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. There were no integrated analyses of the biotic and abiotic effects of informal camping on the distinctive ecosystems of Tasmania's high mountains and no work looking specifically at flyfishers campsites from anywhere in the world. We hypothesised that the impacts of informal camping on the vegetation communities, soil properties and native animals would be deleterious. We assessed impacts by comparing trampled areas and fire pits in ten campsites with geomorphologically similar adjacent controls. We found that informal camping resulted in colonisation by different plant species, greater soil compaction, more acid soils and decreased volumetric water content than control areas. Soils in 16 illegal firepits had higher pH, electrical conductivity and lower water content than the adjacent unburned ground. Visual amenity was also reduced by litter. More positively, campsite vegetation had a higher coverage of native herbs and grasses than the controls and attracted native animals, including a threatened iconic carnivore, the Tasmania devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Informal camping may offset soil damage by helping endangered animals and plants at the current visitor rate. However, more informal campers may degrade world heritage values.

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Vegetation of the Central Plateau

Cited by 31 publications

References 3 publications

Modern pollen from small hollows reflects Athrotaxis cupressoides density across a wildfire gradient in subalpine forests of the Central Plateau, Tasmania, Australia

Modern pollen from small hollows reflects Athrotaxis cupressoides density across a wildfire gradient in subalpine forests of the Central Plateau, Tasmania, Australia

Protection from cold stress in a Eucalyptus shelterwood

Informal camping on the margin of wild country: Early indicators of degradation and potential for some positive nature conservation outcomes

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