Story: Alpine plants

Measuring timberline plots (2nd of 2)

Measuring timberline plots

Much of what is understood about the biology of trees at the timberline has come from the work of New Zealand plant ecologist Peter Wardle, seen here in one of his timberline plots on the Mataketake Range. He has noted that beech saplings are growing some 10–20 metres above the current timberline. This is probably due to the increase in mean annual temperature over the last century.

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Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua
Photograph by Janet Wilmshurst

© Copyright image. All rights reserved. Permission from Manaaki Whenua: Landcare Research New Zealand Limited must be obtained before the re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Hugh Wilson, 'Alpine plants - Alpine New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11026/measuring-timberline-plots (accessed 29 April 2024)

Story by Hugh Wilson, published 24 Sep 2007