ECOLOGY OF KUNZEA-ERICOIDES (A RICH) THOMPSON,J. (KANUKA) IN EAST OTAGO, NEW-ZEALAND

The establishment, growth, and successional characteristics of Kunzea ericoides in stands 2-70 years old were studied near Dunedin, New Zealand. K. ericoides seedlings established readily on bare ground (mean density 3.2 m-2 after two years), but at a lower rate in grazed pasture (mean density 1.3 m-2 after at least 12 years). K. ericoides grew in dense stands (about 1 m-2 at 27-50 Years) that suppresssed growth of other tree species until substantial reduction of K. ericoides stem density after about 50 years. Species diversity of forest shrubs, ferns and herbs increased little with age of K ericoides stand. By 70 years podocarps were represented only by scattered seedlings, and succession through K. ericoides to mature podocarp-broadleaved forest had barely begun. Implications of the results for alternative models of succession are discussed, as are the implications of K ericoides ecology for firewood crop management.