Recovery of subalpine grasslands from bushfire

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxana Bear ◽  
Catherine Marina Pickering
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Seed Sources ◽  
Subalpine Zone ◽  
Australian Alps ◽  
Subalpine Grasslands ◽  
Burnt Areas

In January–February 2003 bushfires burnt 1.75 million hectares of the Australian Alps, including >70% of the subalpine zone of Kosciuszko National Park. The recovery of subalpine grasslands 1 year after these fires was examined by comparing vegetation between paired unburnt and burnt plots at six subalpine grassland sites. Although the cover of vegetation at these sites had largely recovered, there were still differences between unburnt and burnt plots. For example, there were large areas of bare ground (19% v. <1%) in the burnt plots and less vegetative cover (56% v. 87%). The above-ground biomass of the recovering vegetation was much lower, 10% of that in unburnt plots, well below the levels required for adequate soil protection. Weeds did not appear to have spread post-fire, although this may not be the case in burnt areas adjacent to weed seed sources. Both cover and biomass of burnt areas will continue to increase provided there is limited disturbance in the future. Recovery will be uneven, owing to the inherent variability of subalpine grasslands, patchiness in the severity of the fire and differences in post-fire conditions.

scholarly journals Recovery of subalpine grasslands 15 years after landscape level fires

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brodie Verrall ◽  
Catherine Marina Pickering
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
National Park ◽  
Subalpine Zone ◽  
Australian Alps ◽  
Subalpine Grasslands ◽  
Distribution Structure ◽  
One Year ◽  
Landscape Level

As conditions warm, previously rare landscape level fires are more likely to affect vegetation in the Australian Alps including in subalpine grasslands. The recovery of this community was assessed using paired unburnt and burnt plots (30 × 20 m) at 10 sites 15 years after largescale fires that burnt &gt;70% of the subalpine zone in Kosciuszko National Park. There were few significant differences found: higher cover of shrubs (17.8% burnt vs 11.3% unburnt plots), and taller vegetation (22.6 vs 19 cm). However, vegetation cover (97%), species richness (38 taxa), composition and limited presence of invasive plants (10 species, 8.5% cover) were not significantly different. This differs from results six weeks and one year post-fire, when there were clear differences in the cover and composition of vegetation. These results indicate that subalpine grasslands recover from single fires, but with warmer and drier conditions becoming more common, and repeat fires in some areas, the distribution, structure and composition of this and other communities in the Australian Alps will change.

Long-Term Vegetation Change in Relation to Cattle Grazing in Sub-Alpine Grassland and Heathland on the Bogong High-Plains: an Analysis of Vegetation Records From 1945 to 1994

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 607 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHA Wahren ◽  
WA Papst ◽  
RJ Williams
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Australian Alps ◽  
Grazed Grassland ◽  
Ungrazed Plot

Changes in vegetation composition and structure are described for grassland and heathland communities on the Bogong High Plains, in the Victorian Alpine National Park. The data are based on long-term records collected from permanent reference plots over the period 1945 to 1994 from plots established in 1945, 1946 and 1979. In the Pretty Valley grassland plots, established in 1946, cattle grazing has prevented the large-scale regeneration of a number of tall, palatable forbs and short, palatable shrubs, while in the absence of grazing, the cover of these Life forms increased substantially. The amount of bare ground and loose litter was significantly greater on the grazed compared with the ungrazed plot. Between 1979 and 1994, there was little or no identifiable trend in the cover of Vegetation or bare ground at either the Pretty Valley grazed site, or two additional grazed grassland sites established nearby in 1979. The current condition of grazed grassland on the Bogong High Plains is interpreted as stable, yet degraded. Improvement in condition will occur in the absence of grazing. In the Rocky Valley open heathland plots, established in 1945, increases in shrub cover over the study period were due to growth of shrubs following the 1939 bushfires that burnt much of the Bogong High Plains. From 1945-1979 shorter-lived shrubs increased in cover; since 1979, these shrubs have senesced, and are being replaced mainly by grasses. On the grazed plot longer lived, taller shrubs have continued to increase in cover and are not senescing. Between 1979 and 1989, total shrub cover declined on the ungrazed plot, but increased on the grazed plot. There was no evidence that grazing has reduced shrub cover, and therefore potential fire risk, in open heathland. These findings have significant management implications for the Alpine National Park and are consistent with those from other regions in the Australian alps.

scholarly journals Keanekaragaman Jenis Tumbuhan Dan Simpanan Karbon Pada Berbagai Tipe Penggunaan Lahan Di Kabupaten Pesisir Barat Provinsi Lampung

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-174
Author(s):  
Dian Ariyanti ◽  
Nurheni Wijayanto ◽  
Iwan Hilwan
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Carbon Accumulation ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Vegetation Analysis ◽  
Coffee Plantation ◽  
Total Carbon Stock

Vegetation is one factor that can decrease carbon accumulation in the atmosphere. The diversity of plant species in each land use has different abilities to absorb carbon in the atmosphere. This research was conducted in Pesisir Barat Regency of Lampung Province on 4 (four) types of land use, namely: (1) natural forest in Balai Kencana Resort, Bukit Barisan National Park (2) oil palm plantation in Pekon Marang, (3) coffee plantation in Pekon Suka Mulya, and (4) agroforestry of repong damar in Pekon Pahmungan. This reserach aims to analyze the diversity of plant species and to calculate the potential of plant carbon stock and carbon sequestration (above ground biomass) using alometric equations in various types of land use in Pesisir Barat Regency. The research method was vegetation analysis to learn about the diversity of plant species and calculation of carbon stock using alometric equations. The results showed that the composition of plant species in Bukit Barisan NP found 83 plant species belonging to 37 families, in the palm plantation found 9 plant species belonging to 8 families, in the coffee garden found 17 plant species belonging to 11 families, and in agroforestry of repong damar found 73 plant species belonging to 33 families. The total carbon stock potential was 376.16 ton/ha and carbon sequestrated. 1 257.20 ton/ha with the highest carbon uptake available at repong damar agroforestry site of 901.11 ton/ha.Keywords: aboveground biomass, carbon, diversity, pesisir barat regency

March: Water Superheroes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Wohl
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Slow Motion ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Unpaved Road ◽  
Beaver Ponds ◽  
Standing Water ◽  
Air Pockets

By mid-March, daytime temperatures above freezing have left muddy puddles all over the unpaved road that runs above and beside the beaver meadow. This road extends to the national park trailhead farther upstream but is now closed for winter. I enter the beaver meadow on a lightly overcast day that is windy, as I expect March to be. Lack of recent snowfall and warm temperatures have caused the snowpack to shrink down, and I no longer break through into hidden pockets of air around the base of the bushy willows. I do break through the ice on my snowshoes, sinking in a slow motion that allows me to scramble and keep my feet dry . . . mostly. I sink in above the ankle at one point and the resulting icy ache makes me appreciate the ability of beavers to stay warm. The snow covering the higher peaks and the adjacent lateral moraines appears about the same, but numerous spots of bare ground have appeared along the creek banks. The remaining snow resembles a blanket draped over the undulating, grassy ground rather than an integral part of the landscape. I stand on the snowbank at the downstream end of one of the larger beaver ponds. The dam merges into a vegetated berm and appears to be intact, but I can hear water flowing swiftly somewhere beneath the snow. Most puzzling is that I can’t see where the water is going: the nearest downstream standing water has no apparent inflow or current. Mysterious, intricate plumbing surrounds me. The beaver meadow is on the move, flowing and changing, preparing for the season of birth and growth. Standing water is noticeably more abundant than a month ago. Interspersed among the ice and snow are big puddles and little ponds, some connected and draining, others isolated and still. The still pond waters have a shallow covering of meltwater underlain by ice with large, irregularly shaped air pockets trapped in the upper layer. These I can easily break with the tip of my ski pole. Thousands of tiny bubbles deeper in the ice look milky.

Impact of herbivory by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on patterns and processes in subalpine grasslands in the Swiss National Park

2003 ◽  
Vol 181 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 177-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schütz ◽  
Anita C Risch ◽  
Eliane Leuzinger ◽  
Bertil O Krüsi ◽  
Gérald Achermann
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
National Park ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Swiss National Park ◽  
Subalpine Grasslands ◽  
Patterns And Processes

A 10-year demographic study of a small mammal community in the Australian Alps

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 338 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. D. Happold
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Subalpine Zone ◽  
Australian Alps ◽  
Small Mammal Community ◽  
Rattus Fuscipes ◽  
Interannual Fluctuations ◽  
Population Numbers

This paper describes a 10-year study of the community of two species of small rodents (Mastacomys fuscus, Rattus fuscipes) and one species of dasyurid marsupial (Antechinus swainsonii) in the subalpine zone of the Australian Alps. Each species exhibited differing life-histories with respect to population numbers, intra- and interannual fluctuations in numbers, reproduction, proportion of young in the population, winter survival, immigration and longevity. Of the two species of rodents, M. fuscus had the lowest population numbers, was the least fecund, had the highest rate of survival, and the smallest fluctuations in numbers. A. swainsonii was the least numerous species, and the winter die-off of males and the high fecundity of females resulted in much greater fluctuations in numbers than for either rodent. For all species, there were interannual variations in most demographic parameters, suggesting considerable flexibility in response to annual variations in the environment. None of the three species is known to hibernate, nor is there any evidence of cyclicity, as shown by some species of subarctic and arctic small mammals. Comparisons are made with subalpine small mammals in other parts of the world and the influence of the subalpine environment in determining population numbers is considered.

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