Forest Succession on landslides above Lake Thomson, Fiordland

Abstract

Forest succession following landslides is described from an altitude of about 1.000 ft on a Steep northerly slope above Lake Thomson, west of Lake Te Anau, in Fiordland. Two distinct seral patterns are described from six adjacent stands, ranging in age from 15 years to mature forest. On the, denuded slip-faces the relatively drought tolerant Leptospermum scoparium is the principal seral species. On the, detritus of the debris-fans almost pure stands of Aristotelia serrata, followed by Fucbsia excorticata and possibly by Hoberia glabrata, intervene before the return of the climax forest dominated by Nothofagus menziesii. For each of the six stands, the structure and composition of the vegetation and a brief description of the soil is presented. © 1964, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.