• Include details on habit, distribution, flowering season, climatic influences, response to fire, and impact of European settlement on each of the species for each of the three environments
Kunzea muelleri
Yellow Kunzea
Habitat:
This species makes dwarf heaths.
In the areas of Oxylobium – Podocarpus heath. In the windly areas of Epacris – Chionohebe feldmark. It can also be found in the wet bog heaths of Epacris – Kunzea. In Costin et al. (1980) stated that the low heaths they form are extensive and they have conspicuous flowers [214].
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (n.d.) explained that the Kunzea appears in patches in glasslands of the high plains (p. 219).
Distribution:
The Kunzea muelleri is found in the areas of Alpine, Subalpine and Montane environments in the Australian Alps and associated ranges.
Flowering season:
The Yellow kunzea, as it defined has yellow flowers.
According to The Australian Alps (2015) the Yellow Kunzea was in flower this January just past.
Climatic Influences:
This species is found in a range of different areas that wet, windy and of high altitude.
Responses to Fire:
Walsh & McDougall (2004) research into the fire in 2003 in the Kosciusko areas and found that the Yellow kunzea doesn’t cope all too well (p. 442).
European Settlement:
A significant amount of the Kosciusko area was grazed of the time when snow leases were established. This caused a loss of topsoils and this caused a vegetation difference with the feldmark community colonisong to cover a significant amount of areas. This may have included the Yellow kunzea.
(NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 2004, p. 255).
Podocarpus lawrencei
Mountain plum-pine
Habitat:
This is the only alpine conifer in the Australian mainland. It is important to the Oxylobium – Podocarpus heath and it occurly mainly in rocky areas,, particularly rock faces, screes and moraines. Costin et al. (1980) believe the Mountain plum-pine may have been a ‘pioneer’ and colonised the species after the glacial involvements (p. 118). It grows trees in lower elevations in Gippsland.
Distribution:
The Mountain plum-pine can be found in the Australian Alps and its surrounding ranges from the Brindabella Range, ACT to Lake Mountain and Baw Baw in Vitoria and the high mountains of Tasmania.
Flowering Season:
The Australian Alps (2015) also stated that the Mountain plum-pine was in flower in January.
Climatic Influences:
Costin et al. (1980) explain that the Mountain plum-pine can fix atmospheric nitrogen in their roots and this assisted in colonising species after the glacial periods (p. 118).
Responses to Fire:
Can be destroyed by fire and if they're not affected the live for hundreds of years. (Costin et al., 1980, p. 76)
Walsh and McDougall (2004) found that some Podocarpus shrubs survived through the fires and this possibly because cover of these shrubs being amongst the rocky scree (p. 443).
European Settlement:
Some of the species of the Mountain plum-pine is quite old, Walsh and McDougall (2004) explained that some of pine found after the 2003 fire was approximately 200 years old (p. 443). That makes it evident that European Steelement didn’t place much threat to this species.
Microseries laneolata
Native Dandelion
Habitat:
The alpine version of the Native Dandelion is more robust and sturdy than other version. The yellow flower tends to be bigger and more yellow in lower elevations.
Distribution:
The distribution for the Native Dandelion is widely spread. It is found in western North America, western South America, temperate Australia and New Zealand (Costin et al., 1980, p. 380).
Flowering Season:
Costin et al. (1980) noted that the Native Dandelion flowers later than most alpine species, around February –March (p. 380)
Climatic Influences:
- the sturdiness of this species may because it’s adaptated to the alpine environment such as lower temperatures, soil conditions, winds etc.
It previously mentioned it is more lively and brighter in lower elevations.
Responses to Fire:
Walsh and McDougall (2004) included findings that there are a quota of 20 of the dandelion before the fie and that quota dropped to 18 after the fire (p. 447).
European Settlement:
As previously mentioned European Settlement involved burning, grazing and also clearing of land. This species is quite wide spread so it’s probable that some of those action affected the quota of this species.
References:
Costin, A.B., Gray, M., Totterdell, C.J., & Wimbush, D.J. (1980). Kosciusko Alpine Flora. Sydney: CSIRO/Collins.
The Australian Alps. (2015). Alps in Flower – Kosciuszko NP Main Range – January 2015. Retrieved from
https://theaustralianalps.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/alps-in-flower-kosciuszko-np-main-range-january-2015/
Neville G. Walsh, N.G., and McDougall, K.L. (2004).Progress in the recovery of the flora of treeless subalpine vegetation in Kosciuszko National Park after the 2003 fires. Cunninghamia, 8(4), 439–452. Retrieved from
http://rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/58937/Cun8Wal439.pdf
NSW Office of environment and Heritage. (n.d.). Chapter 17: The Australian Alps Bioregion. Retrieved from
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/australianAlps.pdf
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. (2004). ISC: An Assessment of Values of Kosciuszko National Park. Retrieved from
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/ISCValuesOfKosciuszkoNP.pdf