Alpine, sub-alpine and sub-Antarctic vegetation of Australia

• Main Authors: Venn, S, Kirkpatrick, JB, McDougall, K, Walsh, N, Whinam, J, Williams, RJ
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2017
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Ecology; Terrestrial Ecology; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://ecite.utas.edu.au/120188

The alpine and sub-alpine vegetation of Australia occupies habitat islands from Namadgi National Park in the Australian Capital Territory to the Southern Range of Tasmania. Macquarie and Heard Islands support Australia's sub-Antarctic vegetation. The high mountain environments on the mainland experience a continental climate, often accompanied by winter snow; whereas, the sub-Antarctic islands and the Tasmanian highlands have maritime climates in which prolonged snow cover on vegetation is restricted. The distributions of plant communities are influenced by water, snow, wind exposure and topography, soils, biotic factors and disturbance. Many plant species are endemic to Tasmania and the Australian mainland and a few endemic to the Australian sub-Antarctic islands. Many species are scleromorphic, hairy, or have cushion, rosette or tussock forms; characteristics that aid in cold cl imate survival. Some mainland Australian species have fast phenological cycles to make the most of short growing seasons. Cyclical and dynamic vegetation change, plant-plant interactions, recruitment biology and post-fire vegetation responses are well-documented. Current monitoring and research is focused on climate change, alien plant invasions, feral animals and fire.