Recent vegetation trends at the Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve in Central Otago, New Zealand

Abstract

The vegetation of the Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve was described and compared with previous descriptions to elucidate recent vegetation changes. There has been substantial change in vegetation from 1975 to 1997 with an increase in introduced species. The vegetation communities described in 1975 could not be identified in the field during 1997. Five present‐day communities were subsequently described. Possible causes of vegetation changes are discussed, major species‐specific changes are highlighted, and the implications of these for the conservation of the Cromwell chafer are discussed.

Keywords:

• vegetation communities
• Central Otago
• Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve
• vegetation classification
• vegetation mapping
• comparison of plant communities