A comparative analysis of three remnant tōtara dune forest patches in the peri-urban fringe of Waihōpai / Invercargill, Murihiku / Southland, Aotearoa / New Zealand

The tōtara (Podocarpus totara G.Benn. ex D.Don var. totara) dune forests on the fringe of Waihōpai / Invercargill are one of the largest remaining tracts of this threatened forest association. Their proximity to an urban centre exposes the forest to threats, but there is also the potential for restoration through community participation. Effective restoration requires informed knowledge of the ecological characteristics of nearby sites of reference. This study compares vascular plant communities across three sites: two intact tōtara dune forest sites managed by Invercargill City Council, and a site under a restoration management regime where stock grazing was recently ended. Four plots at each site were surveyed to compare plant assemblages to infer successional pathways and patch resilience. The two reference sites, while having similar elevation, slope, aspect and canopy species, held differences in mid-canopy woody species, indicating that dune age and forest condition could drive below-canopy species assemblages. Six species were identified as widespread within the intact patches but absent in the degraded site, suggesting potential target restoration plantings for tōtara dune forests in the region.