Английская Википедия:Almorah Rock Forest
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use New Zealand English Шаблон:Infobox ecoregion
The Almorah Rock Forest (also known as the Epsom Rock Forest) is a lava rock forest located on the northeastern slope of Maungawhau / Mount Eden, in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] It is one of the few remaining lava rock forests in the region.[2]
Geography
The forest established itself upon lava fields surrounding Maungawhau/Mount Eden, which were formed 28,000 years ago.[2] These fields were formed through the movement of magma through the scoria base of Maungawhau/Mount Eden leading to lava flows down the slope of the volcano. This magma solidified to create deposits of basalt rock.[3]
The Almorah Rock Forest was once Шаблон:Convert in size, but has since been reduced to a Шаблон:Convert pocket of land making up 11% of the total lava rock forest coverage in Auckland.[4] The basalt forest floor contains very little soil, but accumulates leaf litter.[5]
Biodiversity
The Almorah Rock Forest hosts a variety of native and introduced flora and fauna.
Flora
The Almorah Rock Forest is a broadleaf forest.[2] A study by Smale and Gardner found that 40% of plant species identified in the forest were native. Large native trees found within the Almorah Rock Forest include; the Māhoe (Melicytus ramiflorous), Houpara (Pseudopanax lessonii) and Puka (Griselinia lucida). Beneath the upper canopy, native plants include; Kawakawa (Piper excelsum), Karamū (Coprosma robusta), and Houpara (Pseudopanax lessonii). A variety of ferns have also been noted on the forest floor, such as King Ferns (Ptisana salicina) [6] Additionally, a rare and native plant species known as Sickle Fern (Pellaea falcate), was found to have regenerated within the forest.[2]
The Almorah Rock Forest also contains various introduced weeds such as Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), Climbing Asparagus (Asparagus scandens) and Japanese Hill Cherry (Prunus serrulata).[6] In 2016, works were carried out in collaboration between Auckland Council and the Auckland Motorway Alliance to remove 40 invasive tree privets from the northeastern edge of the forest.[4][7]
Fauna
The Almorah Rock Forests provide a favorable habitat for native bird species including Kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), Pīwakawaka/Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) and Tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae).[8] Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) and Tauhou/Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) have also been spotted there.[9][10]
Auckland Council notes the presence of introduced mammals, particularly rodents and possums, within the rock forest. These pose a threat to native biodiversity by feeding on indigenous plants.[2]
History
Early history
Much of the native forest of the Auckland isthmus is believed to have been burned and repurposed for cultivation by Māori settlers starting in the 13th century.[1][11] This likely included portions of the Almorah Rock Forest due to its proximity to a pā site on Maungawhau/Mount Eden.[12] The pā was occupied by various iwi over time, such as Ngā Oho, before being occupied by Huakaiwaka, which was made up by various iwi and hapū. In 18th century, the pā site was left vacant as a result of warfare.[13]
Post 1840
The Almorah Rock Forest area was sought after by European settlers as a place of residence. In 1865, Rockwood House was constructed near the rock forest. In 1876, the house and its surrounding forest was depicted in a painting by Alfred Sharpe. Subdivision in the area continued until the 1980s, when it was halted due to ecological and architectural heritage concerns [1]
In 1948, the descendants of Algernon Thomas gifted the city a Шаблон:Convert block of land within the Almorah Rock Forest.[1] This land had belonged to Thomas during his lifetime.[11] Thomas was natural history scholar and became one of the first professors of the Auckland University College in 1883.[14] Thomas was a conservationist who called for the protection of native bird species in 1886.[15] This block of land is now called the Withiel Thomas Reserve and is available for public access.
In 2001, a Шаблон:Convert site of the Almorah Road Rock Forest was placed under the ownership of the Department of Conservation following public controversy over a resource consent application for a developer to construct a series of dwellings on the site. The decision was made following negotiations with the developer.[16][17]
In 2014, a landowner was fined $16,250 after felling vegetation and removing rock in breach of the Auckland Unitary Plan.[18]
Gallery
-
King Fern (Ptisana salicina) in the Almorah Rock Forest near the Auckland Southern Motorway
-
Withiel Thomas Reserve, with kawakawa (Piper excelsum) and houpara (Pseudopanax lessonii) in the foreground
-
Entrance to Withiel Thomas Reserve
References
- ↑ 1,0 1,1 1,2 1,3 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 2,0 2,1 2,2 2,3 2,4 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ 4,0 4,1 Шаблон:Cite report
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 6,0 6,1 Шаблон:Cite journal
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 11,0 11,1 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite journal
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite book
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite news
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
Шаблон:Albert-Eden Local Board Area Шаблон:Waitematā Local Board Area
- Страницы с неработающими файловыми ссылками
- Английская Википедия
- Albert-Eden Local Board Area
- Biogeography of New Zealand
- Environment of the Auckland Region
- Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests
- Waitematā Local Board Area
- Страницы, где используется шаблон "Навигационная таблица/Телепорт"
- Страницы с телепортом
- Википедия
- Статья из Википедии
- Статья из Английской Википедии
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
