Wells et al. (2001): Forest dynamics in Westland, New Zealand: the importance of large, infrequent earthquake-induced disturbance.

Wells, A.; Duncan, R.P.; Stewart, G.H. 2001. Forest dynamics in Westland, New Zealand: the importance of large, infrequent earthquake-induced disturbance. Journal of Ecology 89: 1006-1018.

A reconstruction of forest disturbance history in a Westland catchment over the last 700 years reveals that, during this period, the catchment was affected by four massive episodes of landslipping and flooding, with up to 50% of the forested area of the catchment destroyed in a single episode. These episodes dominate the disturbance regime and were triggered by earthquakes, the three largest (dated c. 1460, 1620 and 1717 AD) caused by the last three major movements of the Alpine Fault. Much of the present forest structure in Westland reflects the impact of these major earthquakes.