The relationships among eucalypt forest,grassland and rainforest in a highland area in north-eastern Tasmania

Changes in the vegetation of a highland area of north-eastern Tasmania are described and related to a change 150 years ago from Aboriginal to settled land use. Expansion of rainforest dominated by Nothofagus into areas previously dominated by Eucalyptus, and of Eucalyptus forest on to grassland that occupied former rain - forest areas is accounted for by local differences in frequency and severity of fires since about 1835. Successional relationships amongst 12 vegetation types are defined, and discussed in relation to three models of vegetational succession.