Plant ecology above timber line on Mt Ruapehu, North Island, New Zealand

Abstract

Growth of Celmisia spectabilis, Chionochloa rubra, Dracophyllum recurvum, Noiodanthonia setifolia, and Schoenus pauciflorus was measured at approximately monthly intervals on four or five sites during two growing seasons. Relationships between growth rates and simultaneous measurements of mean temperatures, maximum temperatures, exposed season maximum temperature, soil temperatures, soil moisture, wind, rain, and solar radiation were determined by path analysis.

The principal relationship was with temperature, and in four of the five species, with maximum temperatures rather than mean temperatures. Quantitative equations are given for each of the relationships.

Notes on the phenology of some of the species are given.