New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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New Zealand timberlines. 1. Growth and survival of native and introduced tree species in the Craigiebum Range, Canterbury

P. WARDLE

Botany Division, DSIR
Private Bag, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract Experiments in the Craigiebum Range compare germination, growth, and survival of mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffor- tioides) and exotic timberline species through an altitudinal range of 900-1780 m and three levels of shade. All species germinate at all altitudes but growth rates are inversely related to altitude. In unshaded plots, beech seedlings survive only at or below 1300 m. Shaded beech seedlings at 1600 m had heavy initial mortality, and eventually died because of repeated frosting and winter die-back of shoots. Even at 1300 m plants tend to die back once they grow above surrounding shelter, thereby forming krummholz. Unshaded seedlings of Picea engelmannii are severely damaged by early summer frosts; and from 1450 m upwards, this prevents them from growing taller than surrounding shelter. Pinus contorta grows best in full sunlight, and there are vigorous seed- lings at 1780 m; however, wind-exposed plants at 1600 m are developing krummholz forms, because of winter death of their taller shoots. The tropical- subalpine P. hartwegii is surviving up to 1450 m. Saplings of Eucalyptus pauciflora and E. coccifera are growing vigorously at 1300 m and seedlings will probably survive at 1450 m, but not exceed the height of surrounding shelter.

Keywords timberline; mountain beech; Picea engelmannii; Pinus contorta; Eucalyptus pauci- flora; shade; winter die-back; krummholz

Received 25 May 1984; accepted 21 September 1984
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1985, Vol. 23 : 219-234
OO28-825X/85/23O2-O219$2.5O/O © Crown copyright 1985

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (4138K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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