• 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.
Alpine:
Habitat:
The alpine habitat consists of a number of the alliances, rock outcrops, eroded areas
and snow drift areas. The alliances in the alpine area include:
- Feldmark 1 - Epacris-Chionohebe alliance
- Feldmark 2 - Coprosma-Colobathus alliance
(Also includes areas of that are bare due to late-lying snow)
- Short Alpine Herbfield 1 - Plantago-Neopaxia alliance
- Tall Alpine Herbfield 2 - Celmisia-Poa alliance
(Also small areas of Brachycome-Danthonia (TAH) alliance)
(Areas of Poa-Danthonia sod tussock grassland alliance)
- Tall Alpine Herbfield 2 - Chionochloa frigida alliance
- Heath (short) - Kunzea muelleri alliance
- Heath (tall) - Oxylobium-Podocarpus alliance
(Costin et al., 1980, p. 4, 11, 12, 13)
Distribution:
The alpine area is distributed in 1800m or more in elevation and mainly above the tree line community. It includes the Main Range and other big peaks.
(Costin et al., 1980, p.11)
On long walk we will be above 1800m when we along the Valentine Trail and pass the Schlink Hilton.
Snow Gums (Euclayptus pauciflora) do grow to around 1830m and a small number will also grow up above the treeline.
Flowering season:
Late January-Early February:
Clemisia and members of the Craspedia species will be flowering.
The species Caltha introloba - Alpine marsh-marigold flowers earlier after the snow has melted.
(Costin et al., 1980, p. 48)
Climatic Influences:
Climate can cause a number of impacts for the Alpine area of the environment.
-snow cover duration
- low temperatures
- winds
- soil conditions
Responses to Fire:
- Heathlands and Grasslands will be largely affected by fires.
- Podocarpus lawerencei, Mountain Plum Pine: can be destroyed by and be sensitive to fire (Costin et al., 1980, p. 76, 111).
European Settlement:
A significant amount of the 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.
(NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, 2004, p. 255)
References:
Costin, A.B., Gray, M., Totterdell, C.J., & Wimbush, D.J. (1980). Kosciusko Alpine Flora. Australia: CSIRO/Collins.
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
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Grasslands
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Heathlands