Fiordland ecology: Geological factors in Fiordland ecology

[First paragraphs...]
Geology influences forest ecology in two ways in Fiordland, depending on the steepness of slopes. In the area of steep glaciated mountains, variations of the soil-forming properties of the rocks cause variations in the depth of soil, to which the forest ecology is closely related. In the areas of low relief—coastal benches, glacial shelves, foothills and valley floors—the type of plant cover depends on ground-water levels, which are determined by the permeability and weathering properties of rock formations.
Only the broader effects of these factors can be considered in this account; precise information must await more detailed work.