Apline Ecology Research Group's (AERG) major research interests can be summarized in four major streams consisting of environmental change and human impacts, plant-interactions and strategies, physical/chemical pathways, and conservation and sustainable management in mountain ecosystems.
Welcome
AERG's major research interests can be summarized in four major streams consisting of environmental change and human impacts, plant-interactions and strategies, physical/chemical pathways, and conservation and sustainable management in mountain ecosystems.
Whilst its main focus is on studies in New Zealand Mountains, the group has particular interest in the application of research methods and theories in mountain ecosystems overseas. Long-term collaborations with colleagues from across the globe help understand natural processes across various temporal and spatial scales.
People
Professor Katharine J.M.Dickinson Coordinator AERG
Long-term trends in non-forest ecosystems incl. tussock grasslands, shrublands and alpine communities, plant-invertebrate interactions, epiphyte communities, wetland ecosystems, species diversity and community ecology in low to high alpine environments, urban ecology.
Dr Janice Lord
Plant evolution, plant reproductive strategies and pollination biology.
Emeritus Professor, Sir Alan Mark
Ecology, coservation and environmental management of indigenous vegetaton, especially of tussock grassland, forest, lakeshore, wetland and alpine ecosystems.
Past and present AERG collaborators
Research
The research activities of the AERG can be specified in four main categories:
- Environmental Change in the Mountains/Impacts of Human Disturbance
- Plant Interactions and Strategies
- Physical/Chemical Mountain Environment
- Conservation and Sustainable Management in Mountain Ecosystems
1. Environmental Change in the Mountains/Impacts of Human Disturbance
Snow insulates and protects alpine plants from the harshest conditions of winter. Reduction of winter snow cover in New Zealand will potentially greatly increase the severity of temperatures experienced by alpine plants. This overlooked aspect of global climate change in the alpine zone is likely to be a critical factor affecting plant survival and therefore may be the most important threat facing the conservation of alpine species and associated ecosystems.
A few projects AERG is involved in:
A. Predicting the impacts of experimental manipulation of snow cover using the frost tolerance and reproductive schedules of alpine plants
This project represents the first attempt internationally, that we are aware of, to experimentally reduce winter snow cover in a range of alpine areas. We are addressing the following questions: 1) Can morphological and physiological attributes of alpine vascular plant species predict how they will respond to reduced snow cover? 2) Are species which overwinter under snow, less physiologically tolerant than species that normally overwinter in relatively snow-free areas at a similar altitude? 3) How does the reduction of snow cover affect the overwinter survival of flower buds, and the timing of spring flowering? Four large snow traps have been established on the "Snowfarm", Pisa Range, Otago, with the aim of reducing snow cover in areas of natural alpine vegetation. A reciprocal transplant experiment involving large turfs of alpine vegetation, and lichen-encrusted rocks (Dr Knight) has been established in two snowbank complexes on the Rock and Pillar Range, Otago, and variations in plant phenology are being studied. In addition to these new manipulations, vegetation response to increased snow cover is being measured around a snowfence established in 1959 on the Old Man Range, Central Otago. This is possibly the oldest continuously monitored snow fence in the world. At all three sites, climate data has been collected throughout 2003, and changes to plant community structure and composition will be investigated annually. In addition, data on seasonal changes in frost tolerances and how this interacts with natural and induced levels of winter exposure, are being measured for selected Asteraceae on the Rock and Pillar Range (Professor Bannister and Tania Maegli)
B. Establishing and maintaining GLORIA sites in southern New Zealand
Two GLORIA sites have been established by Dr Halloy, Professor Mark and other members of AERG. One site was established in Febuary 2003 on the Pisa Range, Central Otago, at c. 1700 m. The other site was established in 2001/2002 on Mt Burns, in Fiordland National Park. GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) is a global observation and monitoring network which directly contributes to the Mountain Research Initiative of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme, and GTOS (Global Terrestrial Observing System) established by FAO, ICSU, UNEP, UNESCO and WMO. GLORIA uses standard, internationally recognised protocols to establish longterm climate and vegetation monitoring programmes in high mountain ecosystems.
C. Research database for the Rock and Pillar Range, Otago.
The Rock and Pillar Range, Central Otago, has been the site of much alpine ecological research over the last 50 years, but as this research has been carried out by different people in different Departments there are surprisingly no long-term datasets from the area. The Alpine Ecology Research Group is committed to ongoing monitoring of climate and vegetation at two sites, with the aim of examining alpine plant responses to climate change. This project will establish a permanent, accessible database of other sites on the Range for which species or climate data exists, and revisit a subset of those sites. The short-term benefit would be that visitors and collaborators could access this database, for example to establish an invertebrate diversity study in a site where climate is already being monitored. In the medium and long term, sites can be revisited and, if further funding is available, ongoing climate monitoring can be established at key sites. Having long-term data on climate, and species distributions and abundances in an alpine area, will be a valuable asset to alpine ecological research. In future the Rock and Pillar Range could become a focal site for alpine research along the lines of the Colorado University Mountain Research Station, Rocky Mountains, USA, and Finse Alpine Research Station, Norway.
2. Plant Interactions and Strategies
AERG is interested in plant-plant/plant-animal interactions and plant-environment relationships. We are investigating the impacts of environmental contraints on current plant strategies and interactions and aim to identify plant responses to changing environmental conditions. AERG also examines pollination processes, for instance, the role of color and flower physiognomy in alpine plant species in New Zealand.
- Community Dynamics of Alpine Cushion Plants: A biogeographical comparison
- Trans-Tasman comparison of plant strategies along localised snowmelt gradients
- Trait-mediated response of plants to altered snow cover
Chief Investigator: Dr John Morgan , La Trobe University, Australia
Co-investigators: Dr Susanna Venn, Ms Annika Korsten, Prof Alan Mark, Prof Katharine JM Dickinson
Background
A snow fence was erected in alpine vegetation at Old Man range, South Island, New Zealand to study how snow augmentation affects the structure and function of alpine ecosystems. While plant species composition change has been noted, the mechanism that underpins these responses are unclear. In plant community assembly theory, environmental filters are the abiotic conditions and resources that exclude species with unviable physiological limitations (defined by their functional traits) from entering or persisting in a community. As such, measures of functional trait diversity (and their shifts) can be used to determine community responses to current and future environmental filters. In alpine vegetation, growing season length is governed by timing of snowmelt. Hence, strong environmental filters operate over short spatial scales, and the strength of these filters is likely to change with global climate change. Understanding the plant traits that allow plants to increase, persist, or decline with environmental change would therefore seem like a profitable (but under-studied) avenue of research. Traits such as leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and specific leaf area (SLA) have all been proposed to be important indicators of plant response to environment and hence, may aid predictions about the types of plants that will establish in a given climate due to environmental changes. Hence, we use the strong snowmelt gradient that has been imposed at the Old Man Range snowfence to study whether trait-mediated plants responses help explain the vegetation change that has been observed there. We use the Old Man Range data as a replicate and match it with a snowfence experiment established in 1993 at Niwot Ridge, Colorado.
3. Physical/Chemical Mountain Environment
In collaboration with our colleague Kimberly Hageman (Chemistry Department, Otago University) our research focuses on the fate and transport of organic contaminants in the environment. One particular interest involves the atmospheric transport of contaminants to remote alpine ecosystems and their accumulation at such sites due to mountain cold trapping. In one project, we measured pesticides and other contaminants in air at Arthur's Pass National Park and developed an approach for determining their geographic sources. We are also measuring contaminants in snowmelt and assessing potential impacts on alpine stream macroinvertebrates (with Christoph Matthaei from the Zoology Department).
AERG is also interested in the texture and nutrient cycling of alpine soils. Soil components in the area of the 50year old snowfence at the Old Man Range as well as in adjacent snowbanks are currently under investigation.
4. Conservation and Sustainable Management in Mountain Ecosystems
The conservation and sustainable management of New Zealand's mountain ecosystems are both critical for the country's present and future welfare, given the important ecosystem services they provide for human welfare, particularly water production, soil conservation, indigenous biodiversity and ecotourism. Given the serious environmental degradation suffered throughout the South Island rain-shadow rangeland regions as a result of aggressive pastoral farming since European settlement combined with considerable ecological ignorance, and the unmanaged feral deer herds on the remaining regions, sympathetic conservative management will be necessary for the foreseeable future. Recent government policies of rangeland tenure review resulting in retirement of most uplands and the efficient commercial hunting of wild animals using helicopters in the more remote, now mostly conservation lands, are both strongly endorsed but newly introduced policies favouring the private covenanting of retired rangelandsand the establishment of a Game Animal [Management] Council, are likely to be retrogressive towards achieving sustainability and restoring indigenous biodiversity to these vulnerable mountain ecosystems..
Research Map
View Research Sites AERG New Zealand in a larger map
Publications
2011
Korsten, A.C. 2011. Life at the edge - plant responses to extreme alpine environements. MSc dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Ludwig, L. 2011. Marginal soralia and conidiomata in Icmadophila splachnirima (Icmadophilaceae) from southern New Zealand. Australasian Lichenology 68: 4-11 (download)
2010
Bee J.N., Wright D.M., Tanentzap, A.J., Lee W.G., Lavers R.B., Mills J.A., Mark A.F., Coomes D.A. 2010. Spatio-temporal feeding selection of red deer in a mountainous landscape. Austral Ecology 35 (7): 752-764
Campbell D., Bischoff M., Lord J.M., Robertson A.W. 2010. Flower colour influences insect visitation in alpine New Zealand. Ecology 91:2638 - 2649
Chague-Goff C., Mark A.F., Dickinson K.J.M. 2010. Hydrological processes and chemical characteristics of low-alpine patterned wetlands, south-central New Zealand. Journal of Hydrology 385: 105-119
Kirkpatrick J.B., Bridle K.L., Dickinson K.J.M. 2010. Decades-scale vegetation change in burned and unburned alpine coniferous heath. Australian Journal of Botany 58 (6): 453-462
Mark A.F., P.A. Whigham 2010. Disturbance-induced changes in a high-alpine cushionfield community, south-central New Zealand. Austral Ecology no-no
Michel P., Mathieu R., Mark A.F. 2010. Spatial analysis of oblique photo-point images for quantifying spatio-temporal changes in plant communities. Applied Vegetatiion Science 13(2):173-182
2008
Bischoff. M. 2008. Pollination ecology of the New Zealand alpine flora. PhD dissertation, Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germany
Grab, S.W. , K.J.M. Dickinson, A. F. Mark, et al. 2008. Ploughing boulders on the Rock and Pillar Range, south-central New Zealand: their geomorphology and alpine plant associations. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 38(1):51-70
Little, L. 2008. Frost tolerance of invasive species in the alpine region. BSc Hons thesis, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Lord J.M. 2008. A test for phylogenetic conservatism in plant-pollinator relationships in Australian and New Zealand alpine floras. New Zealand journal of Botany 46: 367 - 372
Mark A.F., K.J.M. Dickinson 2008. Maximizing water yield with indigenous non-forest vegetation: A New Zealand perspective. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 6: 25-34
Marshall, B. 2008. Impacts of changes in snow cover on the distribution of New Zealand alpine plants. Summer intern project, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University
Menna, M.E.D., S. Scott, M.B., K.J.M. Dickinson, B.I.P. Barratt, et al. 2008. Temperature and moisture trends in non-sorted earth hummocks and stripes on the Old Man Range, New Zealand. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 19(3):305-314
2007
Bannister,P. 2007. A touch of frost? Cold hardiness of plants in the southern hemisphere. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 45:1- 33
Brown, C.S., A.F. Mark, G.P. Kershaw, K.J.M. Dickinson 2007. Secondary Succession 24 Years after Disturbance of a New Zealand High- alpine Cushionfield. Arcitc, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 38(3): 325-334
Dickinson, K.J.M, D. Kelly, and A.F. Mark 2007. What limits a rare alpine plant species? Comparative demography of three endemic species of myosotis (Boraginaceae). Austral Ecology, 32(2):155-168
Dobert. T.F. 2007. Frugivory and seed dispersal by invertebrates: A case study of the mountain stone weta (Hemideina maori). P. G. Dip. Sc. dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Galbraith L.M. and C.W. Burns 2007. Linking land-use, water body type and water quality in southern New Zealand. Landscape Ecology, 22(2):231-241
Sayer T., B. P. Barratt, et al. 2007. Biodiversity of indigenous tussock grassland sites in Otago, Canterbury and the central North Island. v. penicilla and aspergilli. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 37(3):131-137
2006
Bannister P., J.M. Lord 2006. Comparative winter frost resistance of plant species from southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America grown in a common environment (Dunedin, New Zealand). New Zealand journal of Botany 44:109-119
Long, T. 2006. The role of an insect herbivore (Curculionidae: Irenimus posticalis) in determining alpine plant distributions.P. G. Dip. Sc. dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Mark, A.F. , K.J.M. Dickinson, T. Maegli, et al. 2006. Two Gloria long-term alpine monitoring sites established in New Zealand as part of a global network. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 36(3):111-128
Murray, T.J., K. J. M. Dickinson, and B. I. P. Barratt 2006. Associations between weevils (coleoptera: Curculionidae) and plants, and conservation values in two tussock grasslands, Otago, New Zealand. Biodiversity and Conservation, 15(1):123-137
Scott M.B. 2006. Fine-scale ecology of alpine patterned ground, Old Man Range, central Otago, New Zealand. PhD dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
2005
Bannister P., T. Maegli, K.J.M. Dickinson, S.R.P. Halloy, A. Knight, J.M. Lord, A.F. Mark, K.L. Spencer 2005. Will loss of snow cover during climatic warming expose New Zealand alpine plants to increased frost damage? Oecologia 144: 245-256
Bannister,P. 2005. Frost resistance of the New Zealand narrow-leaved snow tussock grass, chinocloa rigida. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 43:425-430
Barratt, B.I.P., C. M. Ferguson, R. A. S. Logan, et al. 2005. Biodiversity of indigenous tussock grassland sites in Otago, Canterbury and the central North Island I. The macroinvertebrate fauna. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 35(3):287- 301
Derraik, J.G.B. , C.G. Rufaut, G. P. Closs, et al. 2005. Ground invertebrate fauna associated with native shrubs and exotic pasture in a modified rural landscape, Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 29(1):129-135
Long, T.L. 2005. The role of an insect herbivore (curculionidae: Irenimus posticalis) in determining alpine plant distributions. P. G. Dip. Sc. dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Rate, S. R.: 2005. Invertebrate diversity and vegetation heterogeneity: plant-invertebrate relationships in indigenous New Zealand grasslands. PhD dissertation, University of Otago, New Zealand
Sarathchandra, S.U., G. Burch, S. T. Sayer, et al. 2005. Biodiversity of indigenous tussock grassland sites in Otago, Canterbury and the central North Island of New Zealand III. soil microorganisms. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 35(3):321- 337
Spencer, K. L. 2005. Climate change and alpine Celmisia species : impacts of reduced snow cover on flowering, growth and desiccation tolerance MSc dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
2003
Halloy, S.R.P. and A.F. Mark 2003. Climate-change effects on alpine plant biodiversity: a New Zealand perspective on quantifying the threat. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 35:248-254
Mark, A.F. and K.J.M. Dickinson 2003. Temporal responses over 30 years to removal of grazing from a mid-altitude snow tussock grassland reserve, Lammerlaw Ecological Region, New Zealand. NZ Journal ofBotany 41: 655-668
2002
Derraik, J.G.B., Dickinson, K.J.M., Closs, G.P, Sirvid, P., Barratt, B.I.P., and Patrick, B.H. 2002. Arthropod Morphospecies vs. Taxonomic Species: A Comparative Field Study with Araneae, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Conservation Biology 16(4): 1015-1023
Dickinson, K.J.M., Chagu-Goff, C., Mark, A.F. and Cullen, L. 2002. Ecological processes and trophic status of two low-alpine patterned mires, south-central South Island, New Zealand. Austral Ecology 27(4): 369-384
2001
Derraik, J. G. B., Barratt, B., Sirvid, P., Patrick, B., MacFarlane, R. P., Early, J., Eyles, A., Johns, P. M., Fraser, P., Barker, G., Harvey, M. S., Fenwick, G., Dickinson, K. J. M. and Closs, G. 2001. Invertebrate records from a summer/autumn collection in a Brookdale covenant shrubland, Rock and Pillar Range, Otago, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 28: 273-290
Hofstede, R.G.M., Dickinson, K.J.M. and Mark, A.F. 2001. Distribution of lianoid/epiphytic communities within three host trees in a New Zealand lowland mixed beech (Nothofagus)-podocarp rain forest: tropical affinities. Journal of Biogeography 28: 1033- 1049
Mark, A.F. and K.J.M. Dickinson 2001. Deschampsia cespitosa subalpine tussockland on the Green Lake landslide, Hunter Mountains, Fiord Ecological Region, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 39: 577-585
Mark, A.F., K.J.M. Dickinson, J. Allen, R. Smith, and C.J. West 2001. Vegetation patterns, plant distribution and life forms across the alpine zone in southern Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Austral Ecology 26: 423-440
Sinclair B.J., J.M. Lord, C.M. Thompson 2001. Microhabitat selection and seasonality of alpine invertebrates.Pedobiologia 45: 107- 120
2000
Mark, A.F., K.J.M. Dickinson,and R.G.M. Hofstede 2000. Alpine vegetation, plant distribution, life forms,and environments in a perhumid New Zealand region: Oceanic and tropical high mountain affinities.Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 32 (3): 240- 254