Appendix Two Table 3 (cont) Indigenous Vegetation and Landforms - Bryant Ecosystem Landform Components Geology Remnant Native Past and Potential Vegetation Native Vegetation 2. Strongly rolling to Patuki and Forest and Treeland Forest and Treeland moderately steep irregular Croisilles Rimu/hard beech-black Rimu/hard beech-black hummocky mid to upper melanges beech-lancewood forest. beech-lancewood forest. mountain slopes on Mountain beech-cedar-halls Mountain beech-cedar-halls serpentinitic rocks Halls totara-bog pine Halls totara-bog pine [earthflows a feature] treeland. treeland. 200 - 1214 m.a.s.l. Shrubland Shrubland Inaka-mineral belt shrub Inaka-mineral belt shrub daisy shrubland. daisy shrubland. Manuka shrubland. Manuka shrubland. A. The Physical Environment 1. Landforms/Geology Ultrabasic intrusives and serpentinitic melange (mineral belt). Includes iron and magnesium rich minerals, but also nickel, cobalt, manganese and chromium in concentrations toxic to many species. The ecosystem is centred on the Pelorus-Rai catchment portion of Nelson- Marlborough ultramafic belt. Summits along the Bryant Range are variously broad and undulating in south, to narrow and steep in the north. Upper slopes steep in the north and variable in the south with some very gentle topography. Midslope topography generally hummocky with gentle knolls and some narrow steep faces. Flights of alternating steep and gentle slopes. Mass earthflows producing extensive, gently-sloping ‘ramps’. Natural earthflow events due to predisposition of ultramafic rocks to structural failure. The source of earthflows often marked by bluffs. Occasional large outcrops of resistant rock. A cluster of lakelets (Dew Lakes) on the broad, flat crest of the Bryant Range. Internationally important geological features: Dun Mountain, large area of sheared and faulted ultramafic rocks, including dunite and olivine. Nationally important geological features: Patuki tectonic melange, consisting of blocks of various rock types in an ultramafic matrix. Regionally important geological features: 3 km long Alfred Stream earthflow. Moderate-sized watercourses with gentle to steep gradients depending on landforms, and with a parallel-linear arrangement. 2. Climate and Elevation Cool temperate to cold, moist to wet climate. Winter frosts typical especially on gentle slopes. Temperature inversion and cold air drainage into valleys very pronounced. Wide annual temperate range. No ameliorating effects from the sea. Mild summer temperatures. Droughts rare. Very high incidence of fog in Pelorus valley which extends up into ecosystem. App Two - 21