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The distribution and composition of vascular plant communities on Heard Island

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Summary

Six major higher plant communities are defined for sub-Antarctic Heard Island: tussock grassland, meadow, herbfield, pool complex, cushion-carpet, fellfield. The communities were mapped at a scale of 1:50000, using colour aerial photographs and field observations. The floristic composition of twelve vegetation transects and of thirty sample quadrats along these is used to describe the communities and identify dominant or indicator species. The vegetation is compared with that of other sub-Antarctic islands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Tasmania, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Jocelyne M. R. Hughes

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  1. Jocelyne M. R. Hughes
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Hughes, J.M.R. The distribution and composition of vascular plant communities on Heard Island. Polar Biol 7, 153–162 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00259203

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00259203

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