Successional trends in vegetation following eucalypt harvesting in mature mixed forest on the Errinundra Plateau, East Gippsland.  I. O. Cook and A. N. Drinnan.  September 1984.  28 pp. (unpubl.)

SUMMARY

Early successional changes were assessed following clearfelling of mixed forest on the Errinundra Plateau in East Gippsland, by studying forest structure and composition in regrowth aged 4, 10 and 14 years since harvesting, and by comparing the flora in these regrowth forests with that in a mature and undisturbed Eucalyptus nitens (H. Deane & Maiden) Maiden (shining gum) mixed forest.

Species common in 4-year-old regrowth, for example Acacia frigescens J. H. Willis (montane wattle) and Senecio minimus Poir (fireweed), became less abundant with time since logging, and were uncommon or absent in the mature forest. Conversely, species common in mature forest, for example Atherosperma moschatum Labill. (southern sassafrass) and Polystichum proliferum (R. Br.) C. Presl. (mother shield-fern), were uncommon in 4-year-old regrowth and became more abundant with time since harvesting; thus, 14 years after harvesting, the species density and order of relative abundance of these common climax species were similar to those in mature forest. Common epiphytic ferns in the mature forest, such as Grammitis billardieri Willd. (finger fern), were rare or absent in regrowth forests.

Species diversity of woody plants in regrowth forests increased rapidly with time since logging, and except in 4-year-old regrowth was greater than in mature forest. Ground cover species diversity peaked in 10-year-old regrowth, and in all cases was about twice that of the mature forest.

The study suggests that, without further disturbance following harvesting, a rainforest understorey will ultimately develop that has a similar species composition to that of the mature mixed forest.