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Abstract
An isolated stand of Nothofagus menziesii with a population size of 1015 stems originated from long-distance dispersal of seed over at least 6 km. The stand reveals a more or less concentric arrangement of successively younger trees around a large rotten stump, presumed to represent a pioneer tree, which established between 1570 and 1690. Cored and dated trees indicate that periods of regeneration in 1790–1822and 1868–1886 alternated with times of apparent regeneration failure in 1823–1867 and 1887–1907. The latter time span is also characterised by below average radial increment of the sample trees and coincides with a documented period of low summer temperatures in New Zealand. Although located at the edge of its present geographical range, local growth rates of N. menziesii are comparable to similar sites elsewhere in New Zealand. Marginal spread of N. menziesii into adjoining montane podocarp-broadleaved forest has occurred at a rate of approximately 10 m per century which appears to be representative for N. menziesii in vasion of comparable vegetation types in the South Island.
