Appendix Two Table 4 Indigenous Vegetation and Landforms - Cook Strait Ecosystem Landform Components Geology Remnant Native Past and Potential Vegetation Native Vegetation 2. Very steep to precipitous Predominantly Shrubland Shrubland sea cliffs with extensive weakly to stronglyCook Strait kowhai Cook Strait kowhai rock outcr op developed shrubland. shrubland. 0-200 m. elevation Marlborough Schist; Taupata shrubland. Taupata shrubland. sedimentary rocks Herbfield and Rockland Herbfield and Rockland Sea blite-horokaka Sea blite-horokaka herbfield. herbfield. Herb-rockland. Herb-rockland. Tussockland Tussockland Silver tussockland. Silver tussockland. 3. Steep to very steep sinuous Predominantly Forest Forest headlands with extensive weakly to strongly Ngaio-taupata forest. Ngaio-taupata forest. rock outcrop, and very developed Kohekohe forest. Kohekohe forest. steep coastal hill and Marlborough Schist; Cook Strait mixed broadleaf Cook Strait mixed broadleaf mountain slopes sedimentary rocks forest. forest. 0-753 m. elevation Shrubland and Flaxland Shrubland and Flaxland Cook Strait shrublands. Cook Strait shrublands. Cook Strait kowhai Cook Strait kowhai shrubland. shrubland. Taupata-ngaio shrubland. Taupata-ngaio shrubland. Wharariki flaxland. Wharariki flaxland. Tauhiru Shrubland. Herbfield and Rockland Herbfield and Rockland Herb-rockland. Herb-rockland. 4. Precipitous stacks Predominantly Herbfield and Rockland Herbfield and Rockland 0-100 m. elevation weakly to strongly developed Marlborough Schist; sedimentary rocks A. The Physical Environment (Cook) 1. Landforms/Geology Weakly to strongly developed schists; sedimentary strata; minor igneous rocks. No alluvium and limited colluvium. Very steep landforms. A collection of jagged stacks and rocky islets, steep cliff bounded islands, steep and exposed sea cliffs, and headlands and peninsulas. Coastal landforms developed as a result of high wave energy. Soils shallow, stony, skeletal, moderately fertile. Cliffs and very steep slopes particularly erosion-prone. Regionally important geological features: Fighting Bay schist sea cliffs. Streams are usually steep with unstable beds and a lack of good pool-riffle structures. Distinct lack of low gradient stretches, stream flood plains or debris fans. 2. Climate and Elevation Dry, temperate climate; low rainfall: 800-1200 mm. Drought conditions common. No extremes of temperature. Frost-free. Very limited cold air drainage and ponding. Maritime influence is extreme. Salt spray is a major influence over the whole ecosystem. Large swells and storm surges typical. App Two - 25