Terrace types and vegetation dynamics on Macquarie Island

Macquarie Island's terraced landscapes reveal dynamic interactions between vegetation and terrain under current climatic conditions. A study of 38 non-windward terraced sites demonstrated that wind, moisture, slope stability, and vegetation collectively shape terrace forms, indicating an active process rather than a static one. This challenges the assumption that such features are relics of past environmental conditions, suggesting instead that they evolve in response to ongoing ecological and geological factors.

Selkirk, P., Adamson, D., & Seppelt, R. (1988). Terrace types and vegetation dynamics on Macquarie Island. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 122(1), 59–64. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.122.1.59