Passive brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland regeneration fails to recover floristic composition in an agricultural landscape
Article
Article Title | Passive brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland regeneration fails to recover floristic composition in an agricultural landscape |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 3204 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Le Brocque, Andrew F. (Author) and Wagner, Peter M. (Author) |
Journal Title | Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere |
Journal Citation | 43 (4), pp. 409-423 |
Number of Pages | 15 |
Year | 2018 |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
Place of Publication | Australia |
ISSN | 1442-9985 |
1442-9993 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.12578 |
Web Address (URL) | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1442-9993 |
Abstract | Regrowth (secondary) vegetation is increasingly seen as an important conservation alternative where there is inadequate cover of intact remnant, and more recently, the focus of potential biodiversity offsets. However, little is known of the functioning and dynamics of regrowth in comparison to remnant vegetation. This research tests whether the floristic composition and stand structure of brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) regrowth woodlands return to that of endangered brigalow remnant woodlands and the relationships of patterns in composition and structure to environmental drivers in the agricultural landscape of southern Queensland, Australia. Thirty-eight sites were sampled for species composition (frequency), stand structure (foliage projected cover of strata) and environmental variables (spatial/patch characteristics), encompassing ungrazed and grazed old-growth brigalow remnants and different aged brigalow regrowth (<20; 20–30; 30–40; >40 years since clearing). There was no difference in structure observed between grazed remnant and older regrowth (>40 years); however, ungrazed old-growth remnants were structurally different to older regrowth. Ungrazed and grazed old-growth remnants were compositionally different to all regrowth woodlands. The proportion of surrounding vegetation, landuse type, patch grazing intensity and soil properties, were highly correlated with patterns in composition and stand structure observed across the brigalow woodlands. While the stand structure of brigalow regrowth returns to that of remnant brigalow, the distinct floristic species composition of older regrowth may indicate a longer time period is needed for equivalence or a possible alternate stable state in these highly modified agricultural landscapes. To ensure the long-term persistence of brigalow communities, further investigation of the development trajectory of brigalow regrowth is required; however, it is critical that intact brigalow remnant vegetation remains a priority for conservation strategy and policy. |
Keywords | brigalow woodland, Acacia harpophylla, regrowth, remnant, floristic composition, stand structure |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 310302. Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) |
410401. Conservation and biodiversity | |
410206. Landscape ecology | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | School of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4907/passive-brigalow-acacia-harpophylla-woodland-regeneration-fails-to-recover-floristic-composition-in-an-agricultural-landscape
735
total views13
total downloads0
views this month0
downloads this month