While not endangered, small butterflies in the genus Lycaena are common. The endemic dune snail ( Succinea archeyi) occurs in this habitat. Threatened plants include the nationally critical Sebaea ovata, the declining Gunnera arenaria, sand tussock ( Poa billardierei ) and sand daphne ( Pimelea villosa ) and also the naturally uncommon Chatham Island geranium ( Geranium traversii ). Dune deflation hollows can be the most species rich sites within the larger sand dune system.
Initially the hollows are colonised by small plants such as sand sedge ( Carex pumila ), Zoysia pauciflora, and remuremu ( Selliera radicans ) and then by progressively taller plants over time such as knobby club rush ( Ficinia nodosa ).This system may grade into damp sand plains where the water table is permanently near the surface.
HOW TO BUILD WORLDWORKSGAMES HINTERLAND CLIFFS SERIES
They often form between a series of sand dunes and when the dunes move further inland they enlarge the terminal deflation hollow behind. Dune deflation hollow at Tiwai Point, Southland (Rowan Buxton)ĭune deflation hollows are where wind has removed sand down to a level where a layer of particles too heavy for the wind to move (an armoured surface) stabilises the sand and prevents the surface being lowered further.