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Our Climate Change Threatened Alpine Species
The species that compose Tasmania's alpine forests are special and ancient in their own right, generally having origins on the supercontinent Gondwana, and having changed little since then. There are many, many more than listed here, but these are some of the most iconic and climate change threatened examples.
King Billy Pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides)
A well known species with a reputation for its durable and attractive timber, a history of exploitation, fire, and land disturbance has left this species with a fragmented and generally alpine distribution. Large stands of stark silver trunks often line otherwise barren hills where stands of these relicts used to grow. King Billy pines can be incredibly long lived, and it is a privilege for hikers to stumble across an ancient stand. King Billy pines can grow up to 30 meters in height and can live for thousands of years. Like the rest of Tasmania's conifers, this species is not a true pine, and is instead related to the giant sequoias of Northern America.
Fagus or Tanglefoot Beech (Nothofagus gunnii)
Fagus, also known as tanglefoot or deciduous beech is arguably Tasmania's most iconic plant species. As a deciduous tree, its leaves turn beautiful shades of orange, red, and yellow when temperatures begin to drop in the Autumn, where they proceed to fall in Winter. Native deciduous trees are a rare occurrence in Australia. This plant is typically found above 800 meters of elevation on the western mountains of Tasmania, and is endemic to our island. Like most of our relict species, Fagus is slow growing, long lived, and very vulnerable to fire, heat, drought, and land disturbance
Pencil Pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides)
A close relative of the King Billy pine, Pencil pines are an iconic sight in the high alpine areas of the Tasmanian wilderness. Often found growing on the shores of tarns (small alpine lakes) or as stunning and ancient krummholtz in alpine marshes, these often ancient trees are tough survivors of harsh cold, strong winds, and the passage of time. However, like the rest of the relict flora of Tasmania, the threats of fire and drought pose a threat that may be too much for these survivors to weather.
Myrtle Beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii)
Like its cousin Fagus, Myrtle beech is another key species in Tasmania's relict forests. While related, it could not be more different in its growth, where Fagus is a slow growing, typically small deciduous tree, Myrtle beech is a fast growing and forest forming large evergreen tree. Myrtle beech forests are some of the most unique relict ecosystems in Australia. While these forests are definitely vulnerable to a changing climate and fire regime, due to their fast growth and high rate of reproduction, this species is one of the few relict species capable of recolonising areas after fire or other disturbance. Also produces a nice timber with a rose colour as well as attractive burls. Evolutionarily, this is a younger species than its cousin, and is arguably not a relict in its own right, it's still often part of these communities, and is subject to the same threats.
Pencil Pine (Athrotaxus cupressoides)
A close relative of the King Billy pine, Pencil pines are an iconic sight in the high alpine areas of the Tasmanian wilderness. Often found growing on the shores of tarns (small alpine lakes) or as stunning and ancient krummholtz in alpine marshes, these often ancient trees are tough survivors of harsh cold, strong winds, and the passage of time. However, like the rest of the relict flora of Tasmania, the threats of fire and drought pose a threat that may be too much for these survivors to weather.
Dwarf/Cheshunt Pine (Diselma archeri)
Often simply known as Diselma, or more accurately described as a cypress, Cheshunt pine is another iconic Gondwanan relict conifer endemic to Tasmania western mountains. It is often found growing alongside all the aforementioned species around the edges of tarns and creeks, or near the summits of Tasmania's iconic mountains.
Summit Cedar/Intermediate Pine (Athrotaxus laxifolia)
As its name suggests, the intermediate pine is a naturally occurring hybrid between the Pencil pine and the King Billy pine that has been found to reproduce on its own. It is very similar to both of its parent species, having qualities in between them regarding its foliage and growth. Due to both the threats posed by a changing climate, land disturbance, and that fact that it is being genetically diluted by back breeding with the other two Athrotaxus species, the Intermediate pine is considered endangered by the IUCN.