The Vegetation of Mount Piper, Central Victoria: A Study of A Continuum

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A graded sequence of local microclimates and soils occurs on Mt. Piper in relation to aspect, altitude and lithology. The 7 spp. of Eucalyptus [E. macrorrhyncha, E. polyanthemos, E. goniocalyx, E. dives, E. sideroxylon E. obliqua, E. melliodora] show overlapping distributions of importance value in response to these gradients. Sclerophyllous shrub understorys occur on the quartz-rich podzol soils of the cooler aspects and grassy-forb understorys of varying density on the more fertile soils of other aspects. Four computer-based groups of species can be recognized as associations. When communities are arranged along probable moisture gradients, the major species show patterns of distribution which suggest that the whole vegetation can be regarded as a continuum. The vegetation of dissected terrain in any climatic zone will probably consist of unit continua in response to the spectrum of aspects present. Such complexes may vary with rock type and other factors.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: