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Restricted plant species on sub-Antarctic Macquarie and Heard Islands

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Abstract

The recent distributional history of two Macquarie Island vascular plant species, Carex trifida, Poa litorosa, and the Heard Island vascular plant, Ranunculus crassipes is examined. C. trifida is known from only one small population on the north west coast of Macquarie Island. Four populations of P. litorosa were first recorded in the 1980s; we believe however, that it was first observed, but misidentified in the 1950s. R. crassipes was first discovered on Heard Island in the late 1980s. We argue that all three species are indigenous and arrived on their respective islands within the last 200 years by natural processes, most likely from warmer neighbouring islands, where these species have more extensive distributions. There have been small-scale changes in distribution of all species, mainly expansion. Further expansion of all three species is expected as a response to warming climate. Feral rabbit grazing is having a confounding negative influence on populations of P. litorosa.

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Acknowledgements

Paul Boland directed the surveying of P. litorosa in March 2003. His expertise and assistance is greatly appreciated. Martin Schulz kindly surveyed the P. litorosa population in the Caroline Cove amphitheatre for us in May 2003. We thank the following people from their respective herbaria for their time and assistance in chasing historic records and collections: M. Breach, D. Glenny, I. Schonberger (CHR), N. Walsh (MEL), CANB, S. Whittaker (WELT), K. Hill, L. Cave (HO), A. Downing and P. Selkirk. Harvey Marchant provided valuable comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by the Australian Antarctic Program, under projects 1015 and 1181. Permission to visit Macquarie Island was granted by Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife. The study is part of the international RiSCC program.

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Author notes

  1. Perpetua A. M. Turner

    Present address: School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

  2. Justine Shaw

    Present address: Nature Conservation Branch, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, GPO Box 44, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Antarctic Division, Channel Highway, 7150, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia

    Dana M. Bergstrom, Perpetua A. M. Turner & Justine Shaw

  2. School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 78, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Jenny Scott

  3. Nature Conservation Branch, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, GPO Box 44, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Geoff Copson

Authors
  1. Dana M. Bergstrom
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  2. Perpetua A. M. Turner
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  3. Jenny Scott
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  4. Geoff Copson
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  5. Justine Shaw
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Correspondence to Dana M. Bergstrom.

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Bergstrom, D.M., Turner, P.A.M., Scott, J. et al. Restricted plant species on sub-Antarctic Macquarie and Heard Islands. Polar Biol 29, 532–539 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0085-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0085-2

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