Vegetation - Mt Buller

The Summit Nature Walk
Level: Easy to Intermediate
Distance: 3.6 kilometres return
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Welcome to the Summit Nature
Walk. This brochure has been
designed to complement
interpretive signs along the
Summit Nature Walk, providing
more detailed information about
the plants and animals that you
might see along the way.
Colour photographs are provided
to help you identify some of the
main species.
The high country occupies 11,500
square kilometers – about 0.15%
of Australia. In such a large, flat,
dry continent the mountains are
truly rare and valuable. Remember
to take the time to stop and
appreciate this beautiful and
unique environment.
More than 45 birds, 20 mammals,
5 reptiles and several frogs
are found here. In addition, there
are thousands of invertebrates
that are relatively unknown. It is
estimated that there are about
900 species of invertebrates in
alpine areas.
Mt Buller
Species diversity in
the alpine zone is
quite low, probably
due to the extreme
weather conditions.
It is higher in the
sub-alpine and
montane zones,
where trees and
shrubs moderate
strong winds, precipitation
and cold,
providing a more
complex floristic
structure and greater
habitat diversity.
Summer is the best
time to spot animals.
Many birds leave for
winter. Other animals
aren’t able to leave
and deal with winter
in different ways.
Pygmy-possums
hibernate, Bush
Rats and Antechinus
remain
Animals
active in the subnivean
space and
Wombats go about
their lives in much
the same way.
Reptiles
The White-lipped
Snake (Drysdalia
coronoides) and
the Highlands Copperhead
(Austrelaps
ramsayi) should be
treated with
Photo:Raymond Hoser
caution. Although the
Highlands Copperhead
is venomous
and dangerous to humans,
it is reportedly
docile and reluctant
to bite. The Whitelipped
Snake, also
venomous, is quite
small and not dangerous
to humans.
Both of these animals
should be treated
with caution. Do not
approach or
handle
them.
Many lizards are also
found at Mt Buller,
mostly skinks such
as the Mountain Log
Skink (Pseudemoia
entrecasteauxii).
Mammals
Bush Rats (Rattus
fuscipes) and Brown
and Dusky Antechinus
(Antechinus
stuartii and A. swainsonii)
are common
on the mountain.
Possums, wallabies,
echidna, wombats
and bats inhabit the
lower regions. The
Mountain Pygmypossum
(Burramys
parvys) is a rare and
protected species
that inhabits the
upper parts of the
mountain.
Birds
Over 45 species of
bird are known to
occur in the subalpine
environment,
with at least half of
these also present
above the treeline.
Richard’s Pipit (Anthusnovaeseelandiae),
Flame Robin
(Petroica phoenicea),
Gang-gang Cockatoo
(Callocephalon
fimbriatum),
Alpine
Copperhead
Little Raven (Corvus
mellori) and Pied
Currawong (Strepera
graculina) are the
most common. The
Australian Kestrel
(Falco cenchroides)
is a magnificent
predatory bird that
can sometimes be
seen. Cockatoos,
Rosellas, Honeyeaters,
Wattlebirds,
Robins, Fantails,
Thornbills, Magpies
and Lyrebirds also
occur at Mt Buller.
Invertebrates
Small and often overlooked,
but extremely
important in alpine
ecosystems, are
invertebrates such
as insects, worms,
snails and slugs, centipedes,
millipedes,
spiders and ticks and
mites. They pollinate
native plants, break
down leaf litter and
are a food source for
higher predators.
The olive green
and yellow spotted
Mountain Spotted
Grasshopper
Dusky Antechinus
foot tracks
at actual size
(Monistria concinna)
can eat more than its
own weight in Mintbush
leaves daily.
The Mountain Grasshopper
(Acripeza
reticulata), displays
bright red and blue
warning bands when
disturbed. The Alpine
Thermocolour Grasshopper
(Kosciuscola
tristis) regulates its
internal body temperature
by changing
colour.
Wolf spiders and
funnel-webs both
occur at Mt Buller.
These large spiders
live in burrows in the
ground and should
not be handled
as they are
dangerous.
Mountain Pygmy-possum
Treeline
A ‘treeline’ is simply
the highest altitude
at which trees can
grow. The treeline
cuts across the
mountainside at the
point where the Snow
Gum reaches the upper
limit of its range.
It coincides with an
average midsummer
temperature of about
10˚c. Above this point
plants are unable to
get enough energy to
make woody tissue.
Subnivean
Space
The Subnivean Space
is the gap between
the ground and the
layer of snow, where
the temperature rarely
falls beneath -2˚c.
Black
Shouldered
Kite
The
Arlberg
Hotel
To
Village
Pied Currawong
Funnel
Web Spider
South Side Chairlift
Bull Run Chairlift
Shakey Knees T Bar
Skyline T Bar
Picnic
Shelter
Federation Chairlift
Sun
Valley
Dam
Blue Bullet Chairlift
Tyrol T Bar
Mountain
Log Skink
Horse Hill Chairlift
Little Raven
Wombat front
foot track at
half actual size
Wombat Chairlift
Summit
Boardwalk
Spurs
Restaurant
Road
Burnt Hut
Reservoir
Burnt Hut Chairlift
Howqua Chairlift
Snowgum
Woodlands
Koflers T Bar
Summit
Car Park
Boggy Creek T Bar
Mostly
The Mountain
Pygmy Possum
The Mountain Pygmypossum
(Burramys parvus)
is the only native mammal
known to live above the
treeline, generally over
1400m.
Fossilized Burramys
remains have been
found in Jenolan
and Buchan Caves,
indicating that it had
a larger range in the
last glacial period.
As the continent
warmed over the
last 10,000 years
Burramys migrated
up the mountains.
If global warming
predictions are
correct, the Mountain
Pygmy-possum will
have nowhere to go
and may become
extinct.
Of the five species
of Pygmy-possum,
the Mountain Pygmy-
Summit Chairlift
Steep
section
Short section
possum is the largest,
weighing about
45 grams and measuring
about 28cm,
including a 16cm tail.
It is the longest-lived
mammal of its size,
living to 12 years of
age. In spring, males
move uphill to mate
with females. After
breeding they migrate
downhill, leaving the
habitat with the most
food and shelter for
the females and their
young. Females give
birth in November to
3 or 4 young, which
remain in the pouch
until late December.
Dingo front foot track
at half actual size
Grimus Chairlift
N
Summit
1805m
All Mt Buller walking, biking
and ski trails are graded to
one of the following levels.
Easy
Flat gradients, short
distances, smooth surfaces.
Intermediate
Moderate gradients, longer
distances, rough surfaces.
Advanced
Steep slopes, long distances,
rough, rocky surfaces.
Typical habitat for
Burramys is rock
scree covered by
Mountain Plum-pine
(Podocarpus lawrencei).
At Mt Buller this
occurs near Federation
Valley and the
steep slopes of the
summit. This habitat
provides excellent
protection for Burramys,
nesting far
beneath the surface
in the gaps between
boulders. Dense
thickets of Mountain
Plum-pine protect
animals foraging on
the surface.
In winter the Mountain
Pygmy-possum
hibernates, living off
stored body fat and
occasionally awakening
to feed on seeds
stockpiled nearby.
Bogong Moths are an
important component
of Burramys’ diet in
summer, rich in fat
and vitamins, enabling
them to build
up enough body fat
to survive through
winter.
Dingo rear foot track
at half actual size