Size/age distribution and vegetative recovery of Eucalyptus niphophila (snowgum, Myrtaceae) one year after fire in Kosciuszko National Park

Abstract

Size/age distribution and vegetative regeneration were examined for 50 Eucalyptus niphophila Maiden & Blakely trees in each of eight subalpine sites in Kosciuszko National Park 1 year after the January–February 2003 bushfires. Trees sampled were generally large and mature, with an average of 2.5 trunks, lignotuber diameter of 54 cm and largest trunk diameter of 18 cm, with a few larger trees at all sites. Converting the girth of largest trunk into rough age estimates by using an existing regression formula gave an approximate minimum (~29 years), maximum (~186 years), median (~58 years) and average age of ~64 years (error of ~15 years). For trees with trunks after fire, 96.5% had lost all existing leaves. Nearly all trees (95%) had shoots from the lignotuber, but only 4.25% of trees had also epicormic shoots on trunks and stems. Size/age were related to some but not all measures of regeneration. In the future, existing trunks could senesce, with nearly all regrowth from the lignotubers. This could result in a change from open woodlands with large/old trees with a few trunks to closed woodlands of lower-growing trees with a mallee form.