Wetland flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt

Lyons, M.N.; Gibson, Neil; Keighery, G. J.; Lyons, Scott

doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.67.2004.039-089

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Of the 682 terrestrial quad rats, 10 fell in Hopper's (1979) HRZ, 650 in the TRZ, and the remaining 22 occurred along the western edge of the Arid Zone. This paper reports on the biogeographical patterning of the terrestrial vegetation and flora, Lyons et al (2004) reports on the patterning of the wetland vegetation and flora. Quadrats on granite substrates (including granite pools) were included in the terrestrial dataset.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrestrial flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt

Gibson¹,

Keighery²,

Lyons³

et al. 2004

Rec West Aust Mus Sup

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-Six hundred and eightv-two quad rats were located ,.lCross the Western Australian wheatbelt and adjacent regions to cover as much of the geographical, edaphic and geomorphological variation of the terrestrial plant communities as possible. The study area covered 230,000 km' or 70% of the South West Botanical Province, one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots. It included all or part of the six biogeographical regions centred on the wheatbelt. The native vegetation in the study area is highly fragmented with 74'1., having been cleared for agriculture. Clearing has not been uniform; more extensive areas of bushland remain along the southern and western margins.A total of 2609 taxa of vascular plants in 103 families was recorded from the quad rats. The frequencv p,lttern followed a lognormal distribution. At a scale of 400 m', there \vas little difference in species richness between woodland, mallee and shrubl,lIld formations but those on duplex soils had lower species richness than those on deep sand, Iaterite and granik soils.Over 60';:, of taxa were recorded in fewer than five quad rats. These uncommon taxa were not randomlv distributed but concentrated at the periphery of the study area, particularly in the west and south. At least eight previously unrecognized taxa were collected for the first time. Further collections of 15 taxa listed as Declared Rare under the Wildlife Conservation Act, and 161 taxa on the Department of C'onservation and Land Management's priority flora list were made.'There was little congruence in phytogeographic patterning between lifeforms or taxonomic levels. This implies that analyses of only some components of the flora, or analyses at higher taxonomic levels will not elucidate the full phytogeographic pattern. Phytogeographic patterning in the quad rat classification, which included the 1022 most common species, was strong Iv related to climatic gradients and edaphic factors.Twenty-six assemblages were defined from the species classification, four were later combined with the total number of assL'mblages analyzed reduced to 23. Of these 20 formed natural groups that were consistent with the known distribution and habitat preferences of the component taxa. Species richness in these assemblages was modeled as a surrogate for composition using climatic and soil parameters, Explanatory power of the models ranged from 43,2 to 84.2%.'rill' present biogeogr,lphical regions and subregions defined for the studv area received little support from the ,malyses of either the quad rat classification or the assemblage patterning, !\ vailable structural vegetation mapping also showed little correlation with composition. Species pattL'rning across the studv area was primarily gradational along a northe,lst-southwL'st rainfall gradiL'nt and a north-south temperature gr,ldient, as well as a widespn'ad diffuse pattern associakd with specific grimite ,md saline associ a tions.

show abstract

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrestrial flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt

Gibson¹,

Keighery²,

Lyons³

et al. 2004

Rec West Aust Mus Sup

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…fully the region's aquatic invertebrate fauna, categorize wetlands on the basis of their invertebrate communities and relate the distribution of the fauna to environmental attribu tes, including secondary salinisation. Elsewhere in this volume, Lyons et al (2004) present a similar analysis of wetland flora examine conservation priorities for Wheatbelt wetlands in a combined analysis of waterbirds, aquatic invertebrates and wetland plants. In addition, Pinder et al (2000 recently examined particular components of the aquatic invertebrate fauna (those inhabiting granite outcrop pools and those restricted to salt lakes) apd Blinn et al (2004) compared distributional patterns of diatoms and microinvertebrates from a sub-set of the wetlands studied here.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Halse et al (1993) and Lyons et al (2004) have demonstrated that secondary salinisation also has significant effects on the aquatic and fringing vegetation of natural salt lakes. Acid salt lakes are an unusual but, in some cases, natural feature of the Wheatbelt (Bettenay et ai, 1964;Mann, 1983) and a few species occur predominantly in such conditions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic invertebrate assemblages of wetlands and rivers in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia

Pinder¹,

Halse²,

McRae³

et al. 2004

Rec West Aust Mus Sup

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-A biological survey of wetlands in the Wheatbelt and adjacent coastal areas of south-west Western Australia was undertaken to document the extent and distribution of the region's aquatic invertebrate diversity. Two hundred and thirty samples were collected from 223 wetlands, including freshwater swamps and lakes, salinised wetlands, springs, rivers, artificial wetlands (farm dams and small reservoirs), saline playas and coastal salt lakes between 1997 and 2000. The number of aquatic invertebrates identified from the region has been increased five-fold to almost 1000 species, of which 10% are new and known to date only from the Wheatbelt, and another 7% (mostly rotifers and cladocerans) are recorded in Western Australia for the first time. The survey has provided further evidence of a significant radiation of microcrustaceans in south-west Western Australia. Comparison of the fauna with other regions suggests that saline playas and ephemeral pools on granite outcrop support most of the species likely to be restricted to the Wheatbelt. Most species were collected infrequently, but for many of the least common species the Wheatbelt is likely to be on the periphery of their range.Cluster analysis was used to identify 10 assemblages of species with similar patterns of occurrence. Richness of these assemblages was best predicted by salinity and climate variables, or by physical habitat characteristics (granite outcrop pools, flowing water), although the amount of variation explained by models was variable (RZ 0.36 to 0.79). Fourteen groups of wetlands were recognised from cluster analysis of sites based on community composition. Wetlands of these groups differed primarily in their physical habitat, salinity, degree of secondary salinisation, pH and their occurrence across geographic and climatic gradients. Some assemblages were closely associated with particular wetland groups but others occurred across a range of wetland types. Salinity was identified as the primary influence on the occurrence of aquatic invertebrates in the Wheatbelt, although other variables are important in particular situations.Secondary salinisation dramatically alters composition and richness of freshwater aquatic invertebrate communities, involving gradual replacement of salt sensitive species by a smaller set of salt tolerant and halophilic species as salinity increases. These altered communities are relatively homogeneous compared with those of freshwater or naturally saline wetlands. Communities of naturally saline wetlands are comprised of a heterogeneous array of halophilic species, but these communities and species are also threatened by altered hydrology and chemistry associated with dryland salinity.

show abstract

“…In southwestern Australia, the location of this case study, wetlands of the semiarid zone are often remnant systems within a landscape that has been radically transformed by agricultural development and dryland salinity (Lyons et al 2004). As in other parts of the world (e.g., Costanza et al 1997), the wildlife associated with wetlands in southwestern Australia is valued by people for many different reasons (Davis and Froend 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing natural resources for their human values

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Species composition and structure are important properties that can influence the extent to which people value a natural element. Hence these two properties can provide a means to directly manage natural elements to meet values-based goals. With this principle in mind, we studied soil seed bank assembly in two wetland vegetation elements recognized for their science/education, opportunity and system benefit values. Because seed banks drive the composition and structure associated with a vegetation element, which in turn influence human value satisfaction, variance partitioning modeling was used to determine which combination of filters best described patterns in the seed bank beta diversity. A combination of abiotic (soil permeability and soil salinity) and spatial filters with several interactions were the best descriptors of beta diversity, particularly for one vegetation element (wetland 1). Within the remaining vegetation element (wetland 2), a much greater diversity of weed species was observed. Based on the different patterns in diversity, including the links between these patterns, particular filters, and associated processes, we propose that the two vegetation elements, despite their close proximity to each other, are on diverging reassembly pathways. To manage the vegetation elements such that they maintain their values, we suggest hydrological processes are controlled to ensure that soil salinity does not increase dramatically. Dramatic increases in salinity will decrease element value by reducing vegetation diversity and plant community structure. We also stress the importance of understanding and managing processes that effect within-element dispersal and invasion by weeds. Here we demonstrate a general approach to inform the management of natural resources. It is important to identify, understand, and manage the filters (and associated processes) that restrict observable patterns in the properties that influence element value, sensu rules to manage the human valuation of natural elements.

show abstract

Wetland flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt

Cited by 13 publications

References 17 publications

Terrestrial flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt

Terrestrial flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt

Aquatic invertebrate assemblages of wetlands and rivers in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia

Managing natural resources for their human values

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About