New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Ecology of Kunzea ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thompson (kanuka) in east Otago, New Zealand
R. B. ALLEN
DSIR Land Resources
Private Bag
Dunedin, New Zealand
T. R. PARTRIDGE
DSIR Land Resources
Private Bag
Christchurch, New Zealand
W.G.LEE
M.EFFORD
DSIR Land Resources
Private Bag
Dunedin, New Zealand
Abstract The establishment, growth, and
successional characteristics of Kunzea ericoides in
stands 2-70 years old were studied near Dunedin,
New Zealand. K. ericoides seedlings established
readily on bare ground (mean density 3.2 nr2 after
two years), but at a lower rate in grazed pasture
(mean density 1.3 m~2 after at least 12 years). K.
ericoides grew in dense stands (about 1 nr2 at 27-
50 years) that suppressed growth of other tree species
until substantial reduction of K. ericoides stem
density after about 50 years. Species diversity of
forest shrubs, fems and herbs increased little with
age of K. ericoides stand. By 70 years podocarps
were represented only by scattered seedlings, and
succession through K. ericoides to mature podocarp-
broadleaved forest had barely begun. Implications
of the results for alternative models of succession
are discussed, as are the implications of K. ericoides
ecology for firewood crop management.
Keywords Kunzea ericoides; kanuka; succession;
Dunedin Ecological District; New Zealand
B91043 ;
Received 30 September 1991; accepted 11 March 1992
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1992, Vol. 30: 135-149
0028-825X/92/3002-0135 $2.50/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 1992
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1037K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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