New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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VEGETATION STUDIES ON SECRETARY ISLAND, FIORDLAND
PART 4. COMPOSITION OF THE BEECH-PODOCARP FOREST

G. T. S. Baylis and A. F. Mark*

Botany Department, University of Otago

Abstract Unmodified beech-podocarp forest was sampled by the quarter method near sea level and al an elevation of 1,000-1,300 ft. These samples indicated that: (a) there were about 250 trees per acre near sea level and 400 trees per acre at 1.000-1,300 ft. (b) about half the total tree population was kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa). (c) adult podocarps approximately equalled adult beeches in numbers at both altitudes. (d) totara (Podocarpus ballii) was the least important of the adult podocarps near sea level, but replaced rimu (Dacrydium cnpressiintm) substantially and miro (Podocarpus jerrugineus) completely at 1,000-1,300 ft. (e) at both altitudes two-thirds or more of the adult beech trees were mountain beech (Nothofagns solandri var. dijfortioides) and the remainder were si ver beech (N. menziesii). (f) fata (Meirowderoi iimbtlLitti) was rare near sea level and less important than either beeches or podocarps at 1,000-1,300 ft. (g) totara was smaller in diameter at 1,000 1,300 ft than near sea level but siiver beech and kamahi were larger. (h) at both elevations there were over 500 young trees (exceeding 3 ft high but below 4 in. d.b.h.) per acre. Excluding kamahi these were predominantly podocarps near sea level but predominantly beeches at 1,000-1,300 ft. (i) there were approximately 3,250 shrubs per acre near sea level and 4,500 at 1,000-1,300 ft. Coprosma spp. predominated, with araliads next in importance. It appears that podocarps may be gaining some ground from beeches near sea level but that a reverse tendency may operate above 1,000 ft. It also appears that silver beech may be an increasing species throughout, its gains at lower levels being at the experse of mountain beech.

N.Z. J. Bot. 1 : 203-07
(Received For publication. 28 Febuary 1963)

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