A physiological case study of the genus Leptospermurn is used to highlight the importance of the historical effects of the dry Last Glacial (30 000-15 000 BP) on current plant distributions in Tasmania. The water relations of the endemic L. grandiforurn Lodd., which has a restricted distribution, is contrasted with three widespread taxa of this genus. The results suggest that L. grandifZorurn is better suited for survival in dry areas, to which its distribution is restricted, than the more widespread species. Leptosperrnurn grandtj7orurn is also shown to have a slower growth rate under moist conditions than the widespread taxa, which perhaps explains its apparent lack of dispersal during the moister interglacial. Thus, historical factors are likely to be the cause of the restricted distribution of this localised endemic to small areas of the east coast of Tasmania.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	ecophysiology
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Terrestrial Ecology
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences
UTAS Author:	Blake, J (Ms Julieanne Blake)
UTAS Author:	Jordan, GJ (Associate Professor Greg Jordan)
ID Code:	88887
Year Published:	1993
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2014-02-19
Last Modified:	2014-05-16
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