New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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A post-fire succession in the northern Urewera forests North Island, New Zealand

I. J. PAYTON
R. B. ALLEN

Protection Forestry Division
Forest Research Institute
P.O. Box 31-011, Christchurch, New Zealand

J. E. KNOWLTON

New Zealand Forest Service
P.O. Box 1340, Rotorua, New Zealand

Abstract Where fire has destroyed podocarp- tawa forest in the northern Urewera Ranges, dense pole stands of Leptospermum ericoides are char- acteristic of the early stages of the succession. Although young Leptospermum stands contain many woody seedlings (< 50 cm) of Weinmannia racemosa, seedlings > 50 cm and saplings of spe- cies other than Leptospermum ericoides, are almost completely absent. Where fire occurred 60-80 years ago, however, Weinmannia racemosa is either the dominant canopy species or is co-dominant with Leptospermum ericoides. The understoreys in these stands are typically open, and woody seedlings (> 50 cm) and saplings are rare. Where localised mortality has occurred in Weinmannia stands, succession is similar to that on recent burn sites, with Leptospermum ericoides the dominant canopy species. Older stands of this type show no evidence of re-invasion by Weinmannia racemosa and few seedlings (> 50 cm) or saplings of other woody species. The absence of regeneration suggests suppression of Weinmannia within the study area has closely followed the introduction and estab- lishment of ungulates, principally red deer (Cervus elaphus). The localised Weinmannia mortality within these serai forests, which has been attrib- uted to browsing by brush-tailed possums {Tricho- surus vulpecula) is shown to have occurred before colonisation by possums.

Keywords Cervus elaphus; charcoal; fire; forest; Leptospermum ericoides; podocarp-tawa; succession; Trichosurus vulpecula; Urewera Ranges; Weinmannia racemosa

Received 13 October 1983; accepted 1 November 1983
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1984, Vol. 22: 207-222
0028-825X/84/2202-0207$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1984

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