Backcountry Huts as Introduction Points for Invasion by Non-native Species into Subalpine Vegetation

Figures & data

Figure 1 Mean soil compaction (±1 SE), measured as bulk density, at 0, 50, and 100 m from backcountry huts located in the Alpine National Park, Victoria. Different letters represent significant difference between group means.

Figure 2 Mean (n  =  25) proportion of vegetation in seven height classes along a 100 m transect from backcountry huts (0 m) into native vegetation.

Figure 3 Mean abundance of ground cover classes along a 100 m transect running from near backcountry huts (0 m) into native vegetation.

Table 1 Frequency of non-native species recorded at backcountry huts (n  =  25), within the study landscape (FIS database, n ≈ 1300 quadrats and point localities) and ranked abundance as per McDougall et al. (2005). The “residence time” of non-native species was assessed by reference to Johnston and Pickering (2001b), which contains a listing of the period that non-native species were first recorded in the Australian Alps between 1898 and 1998. Life/growth form: AH  =  annual herb, PH  =  perennial herb, AG  =  annual grass, PG  =  perennial grass, PS  =  perennial sedge, S  =  shrub, T  =  tree. Mode of dispersal: A  =  ant; B  =  animal; H  =  water; V  =  vegetative; W  =  wind.

Figure 4 Total number of non-native species observed at huts that had been either burnt (▪) or unburnt (□) by wildfire in 2003.

Figure 5 Mean (±1 SE) total hut flora (%) constituted by non-native species at 0, 50, and 100 m from hut. Different letters represent significant difference between group means.

Figure 6 The relationship between non-native species richness around backcountry huts and altitude in the Australian Alps.

McDougall, K. L. , J. W. Morgan , N. G. Walsh , and R. J. Williams . 2005. Plant invasions in treeless vegetation of the Australian Alps. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Systematics and Evolution 7:159–171.

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Johnston, F. M. and C. M. Pickering . 2001b. Alien plants in the Australian Alps. Annex: Table 4. Mountain Research and Development 21.3:A1–A5.

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