The regeneration ecology of Kunzea ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thompson at Coranderrk Reserve, Healesville

The spatial structure, age structure and population dynamics of the shrub K unzea ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thompson were investigated at Coranderrk Rese rve, near Healesville, Victoria, Australia. The shrub is known to be invasi ve in many areas and, although indigenous to the reserve, has greatly incre ased its population size and distribution within the reserve in the past 30 years. Dendrochronology showed a constant relationship between age and ste m diameter for K. ericoides in the reserve. The spatial structure of the va riable stem diameter was investigated by the use of spatial correlograms an d results suggested that K. ericoides is spreading via the formation of dis crete clumps and gap-phase regeneration. The two main populations in the re serve recruited continuously in time but patchily in space. A simple statis tical model for size-frequency data showed that K. ericoides is expanding f aster in some areas of the reserve than others. The trend of expansion of K . ericoides may be irreversible. Intensive management of Coranderrk Reserve will be required if K. ericoides is to be controlled and the conservation value of the reserve maintained.