<I>Chionochloa rigida</I>

The Black Rock Scientific Reserve has been set aside to preserve an area of low altitude snow tussock grassland. The reserve consists of gently rolling ridges covered in a narrow-leaved snow tussock (Chionochloa rigida) association, substantially intact or in various stages of degradation, and shallow gullies containing Sphagnum bog and minor grassland communities. To enable changes in the snow tussock association to be studied, four one hectare permanent quadrats have been established and sampled by Scott's height frequency method.

Soil conditions, vegetation features and soil fauna were recorded in montane tall tussock grassland dominated by narrow- leaved snow tussock Chionochloa rigida ssp. rigida up to 30 months after a spring fire. Burning reduced the stature of tussocks and the size and density of tillers in the first growing season. After two growing seasons, tussock canopy development and tiller size remained below those found in the unburnt grassland nearby. New tillers and tussocks established following the prolific fire-induced flowering one year after burning.