Trends in vegetation cover in the grassland community on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria.

Abstract

Cover and luxuriance of plant species in the alpine grassland community were measured. Four grassland sites were monitored regularly from 1979 to 1984; three are grazed during summer months by free-ranging cattle, the other has not been grazed since 1974. Data are presented for cover of major species at another grazed site monitored since 1947. Three classes of total vegetation cover were defined in relation to the susceptibility of a site toerosion. Results show that there have been no trends in vegetation cover and luxuriance. Species composition and total vegetation cover varied between sites but there were no dis- cernible trends in these characteristics.