Successional Mosaic (IMAGE)

PLOS

Successional Mosaic

Caption

Post-fire successional mosaic following repeated fires in a silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) dominated forest, central South Island New Zealand. Foreground shows manuka shrubs (Leptospermum scoparium) killed by recent fire and extensive seral bracken fern (Pteridium esculentum) cover. Hillside in distance shows secondary successional shrubs colonizing hillside and unburned silver beech forest patches (dark green) at treeline. This image illustrates the mosaic of vegetation associated with repeated fires following Polynesian arrival c. 750 yrs ago. – bracken and shrubs dominating drier settings experiencing repeated fires and unburned mature forest remnants persisting in wet drainages and higher elevations.

Credit

D. McWethy

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