A classification of subantarctic Heard Island vegetation

Bergstrom, D. M., Whinam, J. and Belbin, L. (2002-05) A classification of subantarctic Heard Island vegetation. Arctic Antarctic And Alpine Research, 34 2: 169-177.

Document type:	Journal Article
Collections:	Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) - Collection School of Biological Sciences Publications

Author(s)	Bergstrom, D. M. Whinam, J. Belbin, L.
Title	A classification of subantarctic Heard Island vegetation
Journal name	Arctic Antarctic And Alpine Research
Publication date	2002-05
Sub-type	Article
Volume number	34
Issue number	2
ISSN	1523-0430
Start page	169
End page	177
Total pages	9
Place of publication	University Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
Publisher	Inst Arctic Alpine Research
Collection year	2002
Language	eng
Subject	C1 270703 Terrestrial Ecology 771103 Living resources (flora and fauna)
Abstract	The vascular and bryophyte floras of subantarctic Heard Island were classified using cluster analysis into six vegetation communities: Open Cushion Carpet, Mossy Feldmark, Wet Mixed Herbfield, Coastal Biotic Vegetation, Saltspray Vegetation, and Closed Cushion Carpet. Multidimensional scaling indicated that the vegetation communities were not well delineated but were continua. Discriminant analysis and a classification tree identified altitude, wind, peat depth, bryophyte cover and extent of bare ground, and particle size as discriminating variables. The combination of small area, glaciation, and harsh climate has resulted in reduced vegetation variety in comparison to those subantarctic islands north of the Antarctic Polar Front Zone. Some of the functional groups and vegetation communities found on warmer subantarctic islands are not present on Heard Island, notably ferns and sedges and fernbrakes and extensive mires, respectively.
Keyword(s)	Environmental Sciences Geography, Physical