Native vegetation of the west coast region of Tasmania

Abstract

The n ative vegetation of the West Coast consists of alpine heaths and herbfields , closed-forests dominated mainly by No thofagus and Athro taxis , open communities dominated by Euca lyptus , and scrub , heath , sedgeland and herbland in wh ich the main species belong to the Myrtaceae , Epacridaceae , Cyperaceae and Restionaceae. The species composition of the alpine and closed-forest communities is strongly influenced by fire history , as is the relative distribution of the closed-forest and more fire­ resistant communities. Edaphic conditions , particularly drainage , play an important role in the spatial differentiation of the vegetation of the region .