Waihi North Project: Assessment of Terrestrial Ecological Values & Effects 62138 WNP AEE 84 Appendix II. Detailed description of vegetation plots within SNA 166 at TSF3. PLOT1: Treefern dominant vegetation The vegetation within close proximity to the tailings storage area is seral vegetation with mamaku being the tallest dominant native species. Barberry (Berberis glaucocarpa), hangehange, patē, whekiponga (Dicksonia squarrosa), mamaku, and silver fern formed the canopy and subcanopy, while the understorey was comprised of hangehange, patē and kiokio (Parablechnum novae-zealandiae). Areas of gorse (Ulex europaeus) and multi-stemmed barberry were the main weed species within this area. PLOT2: Pine dominant area SNA 166, northeast of the tailings storage was predominantly comprised of regenerating broadleaf forest. Mature radiata pine (Pinus radiata) were scattered in the southern reaches of the SNA but increased in abundance north of the TSF3 project area. The canopy and subcanopy of the southern emergent pine area was dominated by rewarewa, tōwai and mamaku and the key understorey species included hangehange, silver fern, mamaku and rewarewa. Less common understorey species present included mingimingi (Leucopogon fasciculatus), prickly mingimingi (Leptecophylla juniperina subsp. juniperina), karamu (Coprosma lucida), pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea), kānuka, māpou and Japanese honeysuckle. The ground cover of the pine plot had the greatest species richness due to the higher light levels through the open canopy created by the emergent pines. Seedling regeneration from the species present in the other tiers was visible, however, the native grass (Oplismeus hirtellus subsp. hirtellus) was the most prolific species. PLOT3: Rewarewa-dominant 1 Rewarewa and towai were the canopy and subcanopy trees within this vegetation type, however, the largest diameters were recorded at only 24 cm and 25.8 cm, respectively, and their heights approximately 12m to 15 m. The average DBH for rewarewa within this plot was 8.5 cm making this stand roughly 10 years old (Bergin et al. 2012) though other environmental factors may have slowed growth. Rewarewa comprised over half the canopy with mamaku the next dominant species. The subcanopy included māhoe, hangehange, silver fern, rewarewa and barberry and the understorey hosted a broader range of specimens that not only included the aforementioned species but also lace fern (Paesia scaberula), māpou, kiokio, pigeonwood, shining spleenwort (Asplenium oblongifolium) and rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda). Thread fern (Icarus filiformis) had a noticeable presence as not only a ground cover but as an epiphyte. The rewarewa plots were the only plots to have epiphytes and other species included drooping spleenwort (Asplenium flaccidum) and supplejack (Ripogonum scandens). PLOT4: Rewarewa-dominant 2 Rewarewa 2 had a similar species diversity and age class to the Rewarewa 1 plot. The dominant trees within the plot were rewarewa and towai and the largest DBH’s for the respective tree species were recorded at 21.5 cm and 28.2 cm. The average DBH for rewarewa was 7.14 cm and towai had an average DBH of 15.14 cm. Only five species within the plot had diameters over 2.5 cm, however, out of the four plots, rewarewa 2 had the lowest genetic diversity. Like the rewarewa and pine plots, canopy species were limited to towai, mamaku and rewarewa and gully tree fern (Cyathea cunninghamii), hangehange (Geniostoma ligustrifolium var. ligustrilfolium) and wheki-ponga were additional species in the subcanopy. Silver fern was the dominant species in the understorey, however māpou, māhoe and kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile) were also additionally present. Seedling regeneration was limited and thread fern and (less so) small kiokio (Parablechnum procerum) were the primary ground cover species.
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