Environmental monitoring and conservation evaluation in terrestrial habitats may be enhanced by the use of invertebrate inventories, but taxonomic logistic constraints frequently encountered during conventional treatment have greatly restricted their use. To overcome this problem we suggest that nonspecialists used to classify invertebrates morphospecies without compromising scientific accuracy. test proposition, large pitfall litter samples ants, beetles, spiders from four forest types were...

We investigated three procedures that may lead to rapid and accurate assessment of epigaeic arthropod biodiversity. They are: (1) the identification taxa whose diversity is correlated with others: (2) times methods sampling produce estimates representative more intensive sampling; (3) use morphospecies inventories generated by non‐specialists. Ants, beetles, spiders were sampled from four forest types, in seasons, using two collecting methods: pitfall trapping extraction litter. Specimens...

Inventories of vertebrate and flowering plants are frequently used as surrogates for estimates total biodiversity. This is in part because the inclusion invertebrates nonflowering perceived being too time‐consuming, costly, difficult shortage specialists. Estimates species richness field samples spiders, ants, polychaetes, mosses made by a biodiversity technician specialist taxonomists were compared. The received few hours training taxonomy each group separated specimens into recognizable...

Abstract: In many parts of the world there is an urgent need for landscape restoration to conserve biodiversity. Landscape not straightforward, however, because issues and processes must be understood effective action take place. attempt guide efforts biodiversity conservation, Lambeck (1997, 1999) developed a taxon-based surrogate scheme called focal-species approach. The approach involves identification suite species targeted management threatening vegetation-restoration efforts. Together,...

Summary Grazing is one of the most widespread forms intensive management on Earth and linked to reductions in soil health. However, little known about relative influence herbivore type, intensity site productivity This lack knowledge reduces our capacity manage landscapes where grazing a major land use. We used structural equation modelling assess effects recent (cattle, sheep, goats, kangaroos rabbit dung) historic sheep/goat livestock tracks) activity health at 451 sites across 0·5 M km 2...

Scientists have largely neglected the effects of grazing on soil microbial communities despite their importance as drivers ecosystem functions and services. We hypothesized that changes in properties resulting from regulate diversity microbes by releasing/suppressing subordinate taxa via competition. To test this, we examined how intensity vertebrate herbivores influences composition bacteria fungi at 216 samples 54 sites across four microsites. Increasing reduced carbon, suppressing...

Abstract The concept of taxonomic sufficiency (identifying organisms only to a level resolution sufficient satisfy the objectives study) has received little attention in ecological studies terrestrial invertebrate assemblages. Here we critically evaluate three approaches sufficiency: use morphospecies, genera and functional groups. objective was compare estimates richness (α diversity) turnover (β ant assemblages generated by these data with produced using for species. Ground‐active ants...

The design of a protected areas network that contains or represents as many species possible (maximum complementarity areas) is first step toward in situ conservation biodiversity. In the absence complete inventories, however, area selection must employ surrogate data such distribution plant vertebrate species. degree to which use these taxa results sites with maximum for others depends on levels assemblage fidelity among taxa. Assemblage defined here assemblages from different phylogenic...

Environmental surrogates (land classes) for the distribution of biodiversity are increasingly being used conservation planning. However, data that demonstrate coincident patterns in land classes and limited. We ask overall question, “Are systems effective spatial configuration planning?” we address three specific questions: (1) Do different represent biological assemblages? (2) assemblages on same system remain similar with increasing geographic separation? (3) isolation? Vascular plants,...

Abstract Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the most widespread land uses world‐wide, particularly in rangelands, where it co‐occurs with grazing wild herbivores. effects on plant diversity are likely to depend intensity grazing, herbivore type, co‐evolution plants and prevailing environmental conditions. We collected data climate, productivity, soil properties, we measured their species richness from 451 sites across 0.4 M km 2 semi‐arid rangelands eastern Australia. used structural...

Abstract Most ecologists are comfortable with the notion of habitats as recognizable entities and also situations where junction between two adjacent forms a discrete edge. Such edges form naturally because sharp changes in important edaphic, geomorphological, climatic or chemical properties to which plants, particular, respond. Less clear is effect such on assemblages mobile organisms, especially invertebrates that operate at relatively small spatial scales. The objective present study was...

We address the issue of adapting landscapes for improved insect biodiversity conservation in a changing climate by assessing importance additive (main) and synergistic (interaction) effects land cover use with climate. test hypotheses that ant richness (species genus), abundance diversity would vary according to intensity but these used 1000 m elevation gradient eastern Australia (as proxy gradient) sampled along this from sites variable use. Main revealed: higher genus) greater native woody...

Abstract Human activities such as vegetation removal and overgrazing that result in changes land cover have substantial impacts on ecosystem processes, including the infiltration of water. Different types (microsites) vary their capacity to conduct water, but extent which is affected by different herbivores or microsites largely unknown. We examined effects grazing microsite two extensive woodland communities semiarid eastern Australia current condition. Poor condition sites had lower...

Abstract Grazing by domestic livestock is sometimes promoted as a management tool to benefit biodiversity. In many situations, however, it can produce negative outcomes. Here, we examine the impacts of recent and historic grazing on bird communities in semi‐arid woodlands eastern Australia, testing notion that removes suppressive effect structurally complex vegetation miners, thereby reducing richness abundance small birds. We used time‐ area‐limited searches 108 sites varying history...

Abstract The role of climatic legacies in regulating community assembly above‐ and belowground species terrestrial ecosystems remains largely unexplored poorly understood. Here, we report on two separate regional continental empirical studies, including >500 locations, aiming to identify the relative importance (climatic anomaly over last 20,000 years) compared current climates predicting abundance ecological clusters formed by strongly co‐occurring within independent networks. Climatic...

To support the persistence of Australian eucalypt woodlands, conservation remnant vegetation must be augmented with ecological restoration degraded ecosystems. Certainty about effectiveness interventions is urgently required to consistently transition woodlands reference states. The aim this meta‐analysis was quantify improve plant and edaphic attributes in temperate semiarid Australia. Our structured literature search retrieved 35 studies that were suitable for analysis, which enabled...

Abstract: Paddock trees are a common feature in the agricultural landscapes of Australia. Recent studies have demonstrated value scattered paddock for soil fertility, native pasture plants and arboreal faunas; however, degree to which contribute conservation terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity within grazed remains unknown. We ask three questions: (i) Is there difference between assemblages found under compared with surrounding pastures? (ii) Can gradients litter variables from base...

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify a practical and defensible set ecosystem attributes form the basis natural variability benchmarks for resource managers needing determine status patch‐scale species‐level biodiversity within woodland forest ecosystems. We used multicriteria analysis (the analytic hierarchy process, AHP) record analyse knowledge opinions 31 Australian ecologists on those considered most important as surrogates, that were feasible assess. From pool 13 landscape...