New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Etiology of forest dieback areas within the Kaimai Range, North Island, New Zealand

G. T. JANE

N.Z. Forest Service, P.O. Box 25022
Christchurch, New Zealand

T. G. A. GREEN

Department of Biological Sciences
University of Waikato
Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract Severe forest decline exists in upland areas of the Kaimai Range, North Island, New Zealand. Stand structure of major affected vege- tation types is described. As stand dominants are well represented in induced serai vegetation, the overall species composition of the upland forests is not likely to change following decline. Within the decline zone a considerable range of forest damage is found. Characteristic damage types are described including effects on seedling vigour, root system development, and shoot phenology. The decline appears to result from a sequence of natural phe- nomena. High fog occurrence coincides with the decline zone producing soil waterlogging and generally poor growth conditions. This predisposes the forests to periodic drought damage.

Keywords forest decline; forest dieback; soil waterlogging; symptoms; roots; stand structure; phenology; fog

Received 27 February 1985; accepted 24 April 1986
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1986, Vol. 24: 513-527
0028-82 5X/86/2404-0513$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1986

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2447K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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