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Environmental relationships and ecological responses of some higher plant species on rock cliffs in northern Tasmania.

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-25, 22:46 authored by Coates, F, James KirkpatrickJames Kirkpatrick
Abstract Gravity, moisture availability and shade exert a major control over the distributions of vascular plant species on sandstone cliffs in the Great Western Tiers, northern Tasmania. The vegetation is dominated by ferns, some of which are almost always restricted to cliffs, with invasion of shrub and tree species where soil has been able to accumulate. Although it might be expected that species commonly found over a wide range of vegetation types could displace obligate cliff dwellers, this potential is rarely fulfilled. The vertical nature of the environment precludes the loss of cliff obligates, as soil-vegetation mats peel off in part of a truncated and cyclic successional process. Experimental work and field monitoring of growth and mortality in single species and mixed stands showed that the cliff obligate fern Blechnum uulcanicum (Blume) Kuhn is slower growing, more drought resistant and less responsive to fertilizer than its non-obligate associate, B. umttsii Tind.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Ecology

Volume

17

Article number

4

Number

4

Pagination

441-449

ISSN

0307-692X

Publication status

  • Published

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The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com ""

Repository Status

  • Restricted

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