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Explaining a sharp transition from sedgeland to alpine vegetation on Mount Sprent, southwest Tasmania
Version 2 2023-06-23, 10:52
Version 1 2023-05-25, 22:35
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-23, 10:52 authored by James KirkpatrickJames Kirkpatrick, Manuel NunezManuel Nunez, Kerry BridleKerry Bridle, MA ChladilRegular altitudinal sampling of the vascular plant species composition of treeless vegetation on Mount Sprent, Tasmania revealed gradual change between 510 and 820 m, and between 930 and 1050 m, but steep change between 830 and 920 m. The zone of sharp change was the boundary between lowland sedgeland dominated by Gynmoschoenus sphaeroceplalus and alpine vegetation. Edaphic and topographic conditions varied relatively little along the transect. Two years of temperature and precipitation data were obtained from sites on either side of the boundary, a site near the summit and a site near the lower limit of the sedgeland. These data indicate that the phytosociological zone of change is coincident with a sharp change in mean temperature conditions between the two central sites. Variation in precipitation appears largely unrelated to phytosociological conditions at this scale. This climatic break appears to be consistent in its characteristics with a frequent subsidence inversion layer, and could explain the similar sharp boundaries found elsewhere on Tasmanian mountains. The phenomenon may be widespread in maritime mountains.
History
Publication title
Journal of Vegetation ScienceVolume
7Issue
5Article number
5Number
5Pagination
763-768Department/School
Geography, Planning and Spatial SciencesPublisher
Opulus Press Uppsala AbPublication status
- Published
Repository Status
- Open