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Gradient Analysis in Nature Reserve Design: A New Zealand Example
Author(s) -
DeVELICE ROBERT L.,
DeVELICE JEAN WARD,
PARK GEOFF N.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.1988.tb00171.x
Subject(s) - landform , nature reserve , geography , national park , altitude (triangle) , national nature reserve , gradient analysis , ecology , environmental science , ordination , cartography , archaeology , geometry , mathematics , biology
Direct and indirect gradient analysis methods were tested to assist in nature reserve design in New Zealand Graphic descriptions were made of community‐environment relationships. Environmental factors considered included altitude, solar radiation, geologic substrate, soil drainage, and landform Classification identified 21 lowland forest community types in the northwestern South Island study area. These community types and their composite species appear to be arranged along soil fertility, landform, and temperature gradients. Direct gradient analysis was particularly useful in portraying the relationship of the plant communities to perceived environmental gradients. Comprehensive gradient diagrams for an ecological district may be compared with gradient diagrams depicting the districts current reserves, if any. A representative reserve system may be achieved if “gaps” between the two diagrams are filled in by expanding the reserve system and/or modifying existing reserve boundaries. Based on this technique, a recommendation is made to incorporate a unique coastal forest remnant in a national park proposal for the study area.