University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Alpine, sub-alpine and sub-Antarctic vegetation of Australia

chapter
posted on 2023-05-24, 04:39 authored by Venn, S, James KirkpatrickJames Kirkpatrick, McDougall, K, Walsh, N, Jennifer WhinamJennifer Whinam, Williams, RJ
The alpine and sub-alpine vegetation of Australia occupies habitat islands from Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory to the Southern Range of Tasmania. Macquarie and Heard Islands support Australia's sub-Antarctic vegetation. The high mountain environments on the mainland experience a continental climate, often accompanied by winter snow; whereas, the sub-Antarctic islands and the Tasmanian highlands have maritime climates in which prolonged snow cover on vegetation is restricted. The distributions of plant communities are influenced by water, snow, wind exposure and topography, soils, biotic factors and disturbance. Many plant species are endemic to Tasmania and the Australian mainland and a few endemic to the Australian sub-Antarctic islands. Many species are scleromorphic, hairy, or have cushion, rosette or tussock forms; characteristics that aid in cold cl imate survival. Some mainland Australian species have fast phenological cycles to make the most of short growing seasons. Cyclical and dynamic vegetation change, plant-plant interactions, recruitment biology and post-fire vegetation responses are well-documented. Current monitoring and research is focused on climate change, alien plant invasions, feral animals and fire.

History

Publication title

Australian Vegetation

Editors

DA Keith

Pagination

461-490

ISBN

978-1-107-11843-0

Department/School

School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Place of publication

Cambridge, UK

Extent

27

Rights statement

Copyright 2017 Cambridge University Press

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Other environmental management not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC