Annual Variation in the Distribution of Summer Snowdrifts in the Kosciuszko Alpine Area, Australia, and Its Effect on the Composition and Structure of Apline Vegetation

Annual variation in the distribution of summer snowdrifts in the Kosciuszko alpine area, Australia, was studied. Vegetation composition and structure among four classes that differed in the frequency of occurrence of persistent summer snowdrifts were compared. Mean cover and species richness of vascular plants declined significantly, and species composition varied significantly, as the frequency of summer snow persistence increased. Few vascular plant species appeared to be totally restricted to areas where summer snow occurred most frequently. Global warming was likely to have different impacts on plant diversity at different spatial scales. The results highlighted potential indicator species that could be monitored to assess the effects of global warming on Australian alpine environments.