The role of the river in the development of settlement in the Lower Hunter Valley

King, H. W. H.; Woolmington, Eric

doi:10.1080/00049186008702354

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…European settlement of the Hunter valley and its development for agriculture, grazing, viticulture and coal mining has been extensive (King and Woolmington, 1960). As a result, much of the original vegetation has been removed and only small remnants remain (Story, 1963).…”

Section: The Hunter Valleymentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Riparian Revegetation Trials on In‐Channel Benches in the Hunter Valley of Southeast Australia

Webb

Allwood²,

Erskine³

et al. 1999

Australian Geographical Studies

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Large-scale river training works have been carried out in the Hunter valley since 1955 in response to flood-driven channel changes. Vegetation was planted on in-channel benches induced by river training works to consolidate the deposits and to increase channel boundary roughness. Exotic species of vegetation such as willows and poplars were previously used. In 1983, ten trial sites were planted with various species of native vegetation. Survival rates were evaluated in 1987 and 1997. The most successful species planted was Eucalyptus camaldulensis with an overall survival rate of 77 per cent in 1997. The Acacia species were found to be short-lived, exhibiting a significant decline in survival rates between 1987 and 1997. Survival rates for most species were higher on sand-bed than on gravel-bed sites. This difference may be attributed to better drainage on benches at the sand-bed sites. Investigations of flood disturbance showed that between 1983 and 1997 the sites were flooded between four and 13 times. The survival rates of Grevillea robusta and Eucalyptus melliodora trees were negatively correlated with the total number of recorded floods at each site. Poor natural regeneration of planted species is attributed to a combination of periodic flooding, intensive weed growth, low light intensities at ground level and grazing disturbance. These trials were not well designed for statistical analysis but provide valuable long-term information on the suitability of various species for planting in riparian rehabilitation programs. Such information is of relevance not only to river and catchment management authorities, but also to community groups.

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Section: The Hunter Valleymentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Riparian Revegetation Trials on In‐Channel Benches in the Hunter Valley of Southeast Australia

Webb

Allwood²,

Erskine³

et al. 1999

Australian Geographical Studies

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“…In the months leading up to the four surveys periods used in this study, actual monthly rainfall tended to be consistent with the average monthly rainfall (based on 1950-2007 data Within the Upper Hunter catchment, European-affected change began with the arrival of settlers in the 1820s (Wood, 1972). This resulted in the clearing of vegetation from the riparian margin and adjoining floodplains to provide timber and for primary production (King and Wollmington, 1960). Hard engineering such as channelization aimed at reducing the risk of flooding through the removal of instream woody debris and channel straightening and alignment resulted (Erskine, 1992) in the further removal of vegetation from the riparian margin ( Figure 2).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional trait differences between extant exotic, native and extinct native plants in the Hunter River, NSW: a potential tool in riparian rehabilitation

Kyle

Leishman

2008

River Research & Apps

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Riparian and riverine systems around the world are subject to human mediated degradation. It is increasingly recognized that rehabilitation of these systems is important to retain biodiversity and important ecosystem services. Plant functional traits represent a potentially useful but underutilized tool in the restoration or rehabilitation of ecosystems such as riparian systems. This study uses a functional trait approach to provide insight into the changes in ecosystem function that have occurred with the loss of native plant species and their replacement by exotics. We examined the plant functional traits associated with extinct native, extant native and extant exotic species in the riparian margin of the Hunter River, New South Wales, Australia. Comparisons of 11 traits were conducted using univariate (analysis of variance and x 2 ) and multivariate (principal component analysis and analysis of similarity) methods. Both extant native and extant exotic species had traits associated with a short lived, ruderal strategy: high specific leaf area (SLA), soft leaves, herbaceous growth forms and therophyte life form. In contrast, extinct native species had traits such as low SLA, tough leaves, tree and shrub growth form and phanerophyte life form. This shift in plant trait assemblages associated with the transition from a native to predominately exotic flora has important implications for ecosystem processes in this riverine system. We suggest that such a functional trait approach can be integrated with knowledge of other ecosystem components to provide an understanding of ecosystem function that can be used to guide rehabilitation initiatives.

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“…Within the Upper Hunter catchment, the arrival of European settlers in the 1820s (Wood 1972) resulted in the clearing of vegetation from the riparian margin and adjoining floodplains to provide timber and to make way for primary production (King & Wollmington 1960). Willows ( Salix spp.)…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Does Restoration of Native Canopy Affect Understory Vegetation Composition? Evidence from Riparian Communities of the Hunter Valley Australia

Harris

Leishman

Fryirs

et al. 2011

Restoration Ecology

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Restoration of native vegetation often focuses on the canopy layer species, with the assumption that regeneration of the understory elements will occur as a consequence. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of canopy restoration on the composition and abundance of understory plant species assemblages along riparian margins in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia. We compared the floristic composition (richness, abundance, and diversity) of understory species between nonrevegetated (open) and canopy revegetated plots across five sites. A number of other factors that may also influence understory vegetation, including soil nutrients, proximity to main channel, and light availability, were also measured. We found that sites where the canopy had been restored had lower exotic species richness and abundance, as well as higher native species cover, but not native species richness, compared with open sites. Multivariate analysis of plots based on plant community composition showed that revegetated sites were associated with lower total species diversity, light availability, and exotic cover. This study has found that the restoration of the canopy layer does result in lower exotic species richness and cover, and higher native species cover and diversity in the understory, a desirable restoration outcome. Our results provide evidence that restoration of native canopy species may facilitate restoration of native understory species; however, other interventions to increase native species richness of the understory should also be considered as part of management practice.

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The role of the river in the development of settlement in the Lower Hunter Valley

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

Assessment of Riparian Revegetation Trials on In‐Channel Benches in the Hunter Valley of Southeast Australia

Assessment of Riparian Revegetation Trials on In‐Channel Benches in the Hunter Valley of Southeast Australia

Functional trait differences between extant exotic, native and extinct native plants in the Hunter River, NSW: a potential tool in riparian rehabilitation

How Does Restoration of Native Canopy Affect Understory Vegetation Composition? Evidence from Riparian Communities of the Hunter Valley Australia

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