Abstract
Abstract On the southern slopes of Barrington Tops, N.S.W., an exploratory study was made of altitudinal gradation between subantarctic or temperate rain forest (at higher elevations) and subtropical rain forest. The former is dominated by Nothofagus moorei while the latter has no clear dominants and is floristically and structurally more complex. To sample the ecotone, a single 800 m line containing thirty‐seven 200 m 2 circular plots was placed on a S.S.W.‐facing slope between altitudes of 800 and 1040 m. The inclinations of the surfaces of individual plots ranged from 5° to 35°. Measurement and analysis were restricted to trees (including coppices), vines and tree ferns, with emphasis on density, basal area and importance values. Vertical extent of the ecotone is determined rather arbitrarily as being about 90 m. Floristically, the ecotone has elements both of a mosaic and of a gradual mix of species of the upper and lower rain forests. Its areal complexity is increased by the presence of small‐scale topographic features; the typical step‐and‐terrace sequence resulting from dissection of multiple basalt flows. There is a gradual dropping out of species of the subtropical rain forest upwards along the whole transect. The rate of drop‐out is greatest at the bases of any steep steps on the slope. Certain species, notably Doryphora sassafras, are shared by the two kinds of rain forest. In physiognomy too, there is further evidence for continuity: the size and density of vines as well as leaf sizes of trees and vines decrease gradually upwards. In terms of Webb's system of structural types of Australian rain forest there is sustained gradation from notophyll‐microphyll vinefern forest (at the bottom) to microphyll fern forest. There is strong evidence that Nothofagus moorei is not regenerating within most of the ecotone. Speculation is offered about ecotonal dynamics in terms of climatic change, fire frequency and the mode of reproduction of N. moorei.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The ecotone has floristic elements both of a mosaic and of a gradual mix of upper and lower rain forest species.
Verbatim
e1“Measurement and analysis were restricted to trees (including coppices), vines and tree ferns”
e2“Floristically, the ecotone has elements both of a mosaic and of a gradual mix of species of the upper and lower rain forests”
Claim · model-written summary
Subtropical rain forest species drop out gradually upwards along the transect.
Verbatim
e1“Measurement and analysis were restricted to trees (including coppices), vines and tree ferns”
e3“There is a gradual dropping out of species of the subtropical rain forest upwards along the whole transect”
Claim · model-written summary
The rate of species drop-out is greatest at the bases of steep steps on the slope.
Verbatim
e1“Measurement and analysis were restricted to trees (including coppices), vines and tree ferns”
e4“The rate of drop‐out is greatest at the bases of any steep steps on the slope”
Claim · model-written summary
Doryphora sassafras is shared by the subtropical and subantarctic rain forest kinds.
- Taxon
- Doryphora sassafras
Doryphora sassafrase5 - Outcome
- shared by the two kinds of rain foreste5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“Certain species, notably Doryphora sassafras, are shared by the two kinds of rain forest”
Claim · model-written summary
Vine size and density decrease gradually upwards along the altitudinal gradation.
Verbatim
e0“an exploratory study was made of altitudinal gradation between subantarctic or temperate rain forest (at higher elevations) and subtropical rain forest”
e6“the size and density of vines as well as leaf sizes of trees and vines decrease gradually upwards”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf sizes of trees and vines decrease gradually upwards along the altitudinal gradation.
Verbatim
e0“an exploratory study was made of altitudinal gradation between subantarctic or temperate rain forest (at higher elevations) and subtropical rain forest”
e6“the size and density of vines as well as leaf sizes of trees and vines decrease gradually upwards”
Claim · model-written summary
Nothofagus moorei is not regenerating within most of the ecotone, according to strong evidence.
- Taxon
- Nothofagus moorei
Nothofagus mooreie7 - Outcome
- not regeneratinge7
- Qualifier
- within most of the ecotonee7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“There is strong evidence that Nothofagus moorei is not regenerating within most of the ecotone”
Claim · model-written summary
The vertical extent of the ecotone is about 90 m.
Verbatim
e1“Measurement and analysis were restricted to trees (including coppices), vines and tree ferns”
e2“Vertical extent of the ecotone is determined rather arbitrarily as being about 90 m”
Claim · model-written summary
Vegetation shows sustained structural gradation from notophyll-microphyll vinefern forest to microphyll fern forest.
Verbatim
e1“Measurement and analysis were restricted to trees (including coppices), vines and tree ferns”
e2“there is sustained gradation from notophyll‐microphyll vinefern forest (at the bottom) to microphyll fern forest”