Regeneration of Athrotaxis selaginoides and other rainforest tree species on landslide faces in Tasmania

Abstract

Seedling surveys indicated that landslide faces provide opportunities for Athrotaxis selaginoides and Nothofagus cunninghamii to regenerate in thamnic and high altitude callidendrous rainforest. The spatial distribution of mature A.selaginoides stems at some sites suggests that they have originated on past landslides. Leptospermum scoparium and Eucalyptus vernicosa seedlings were also present at some of the sites investigated. Therefore, landslides may provide regeneration opportunities for these species in rainforest communities in the absence of fire. The physical attributes of A. selaginoides suggest that the species would be advantaged by canopy disturbance of the scale caused by landslides as opposed to smaller treefall gaps. The cooler climate, higher levels of slope instability, avalanches and snowstorms during the last glacial would have been well suited to this species.