Pattern and process of vegetation change (succession) on two northern New Zealand island volcanoes
Pattern and process of vegetation change (succession) were compared on two northern North Island volcanoes: Whakaari (White Island) and Rangitoto Island where the endemic woody tree Metrosideros excelsa is the primary colonizer of raw volcanic substrates. Quantitative data from our previous publications (see References) and the references therein illustrate sequences of vegetation succession following significant volcanic eruptions. New information on Rangitoto Island M. excelsa patch dynamics and updated vascular species statistics for Whakaari have also been included. We also draw on supporting data from M. excelsa forest on the mainland and long-inactive volcanic islands in the Bay of Plenty, to provide a context for understanding the vegetation dynamics on Whakaari and Rangitoto Island. Species facilitation, light availability, humidity, substrate and disturbance history are all key determinants of vegetation succession across these volcanic landscapes.