Norton et al. - Ranunculus lyallii population outlier

New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

Short communication

Ecology of a Ranunculus lyallii population at its dryland distributional limit in Canterbury, New Zealand

David A. Norton

Yvette Dickinson

School of Forestry
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
david.norton@canterbury.ac.nz

Marcel Van Leeuwen

Selwyn Plantation Board Ltd
PO Box 48
Darfield 7541, New Zealand

Abstract Monitoring of a major eastern outlier of the large alpine herb Ranunculus lyallii in the Rockwood Range, Canterbury, found little change in either population structure or reproductive effort over four growing seasons despite this period including some of the driest and warmest conditions of the last 10 years. The population structure suggests ongoing recruitment in recent years, possibly as a result of the removal of grazing pressure. It is suggested that the presence of this species under substantially lower rainfalls and higher soil moisture deficits than it normally experiences is facilitated by local site conditions.

Keywords Ranunculus lyallii; Ranunculaceae; distributional limit; monitoring; Canterbury; Whitecliffs Ecological District; New Zealand flora

B06013; Online publication date 27 February 2007; Received 1 May 2006; accepted 4 December 2006

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