A5046794594- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Forest Management and Policy
- Forest ecology and management
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Coal and Its By-products
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Mining and Resource Management
Queensland Department of Environment and Science
1997-2024
State Herbarium of South Australia
1995-2024
Santa Fe Institute
2023
Queensland Government
2016-2021
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
2001
Australian National University
1995
The biodiversity-productivity relationship (BPR) is foundational to our understanding of the global extinction crisis and its impacts on ecosystem functioning. Understanding BPR critical for accurate valuation effective conservation biodiversity. Using ground-sourced data from 777,126 permanent plots, spanning 44 countries most terrestrial biomes, we reveal a globally consistent positive concave-down BPR, showing that continued biodiversity loss would result in an accelerating decline forest...
With large wildfires becoming more frequent1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is discover interactions among fire-regime components, drought land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented3,4 2019–2020 Australian burnt than 10 million hectares5, prompting major investment in monitoring. Collated data include responses of 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity quantify affect...
Abstract Aim Megafire events generate immediate concern for wildlife and human well‐being, but their broader ecological impacts likely extend beyond individual species single fire events. In the first mechanistic study of effects focussed on ecosystems, we aimed to assess sensitivity exposure ecosystems multiple fire‐related threats, placing in context changing regimes interactions with other threats. Location Southern eastern Australia. Time period 2019–2020. Major studied Australian...
Post‐mining landscape reconstruction on open‐cut coal mines aims to support restoration of self‐sustaining native vegetation ecosystems that in perpetuity require no extra inputs relative unmined analogs. Little is known about the soil moisture retention capacity limited layer topsoil replaced (often <30 cm deep), impacts deep ripping profile, and combined these plant available water during mine process. We examined changes parameters (soil potential, Ψ, content, Θ) daily using automated...
Vegetation classification, survey and mapping provide key information underpinning the implementation of statewide vegetation management legislation associated policies in Queensland. This paper summarises: (i) Queensland Herbarium methods land classification system its role legislation; and, (ii) current extent rate clearing by bioregion, sub-region Broad Group; (iii) amount protected under legislated bioregional regional ecosystem thresholds. Information also is provided on pre-clearing 18...
Open‐cut mining severely disrupts landforms and soils, preventing or impeding the restoration of preexisting functional ecosystems because essential properties original soils cannot immediately easily be reinstated. We examined soil physicochemical bacterial characteristics 21 coal‐mined sites in subtropical Queensland, Australia, 3–23 years after establishment native plant species relative to nonmined analogue sites. Soil disturbance significantly decreased total nitrogen, nitrate...
Soil disruption from open‐cut mining practices can adversely impact microbial communities and the ecosystem services that they mediate. Despite this, assessment of impacts soil disruption, subsequent recovery is rarely studied. Monitoring ecological restoration success on mine sites has traditionally focused vegetation; however, most plants rely, at least in part, associations with fungi for enhanced nutrient water acquisition. Here, we used high‐throughput phylogenetic marker gene...
This study assesses the use of pyroelectric infrared sensors combined with digital cameras to document visitor patterns on a Horse Trail Network within an area D'Aguilar National Park; peri-urban bushland reserved for range purposes and used by several user-groups. Data were obtained from four comprised 7000 photographs over 1000 days. Forty-five percent false triggers attributable environmental factors 42% confirmed users. An exercise aimed at assessing camera success revealed that in this...
Summary A quantitative ‘scorecard’ is essential to provide both mine regulators and managers with a robust way of assessing what ‘good’ vegetation rehabilitation whether it adequate satisfy the regulatory legal requirements closure criteria community expectations. The BioCondition framework (Eyre et al . 2011a, http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/ecosystems/biodiversity/biocondition.html ) was applied as scorecard evaluate using largely locally native species at Meandu coal in Southeast Queensland....
This paper provides a detailed review of the major vegetation classification and mapping systems used by management agencies with primary responsibilities for forested land in Australia. It focuses on clarification units methodologies used. The also comparison different nomenclatures against simplified standard to show how relate each other. In Australia, classifying describing forest have been developed various suit their own situations. Most reviewed are similar using floristics structure...
Climatic changes at Coringa-Herald National Nature Reserve (CHNNR) in the last 82 yr include a 0.7°C rise mean minimum winter temperatures and increases drought duration frequency. Between 1991 2002, plague of scale insects Pulvinaria urbicola (Cockerell), together with attendant ants destroyed Pisonia grandis R.Br, rain forest South-West Coringa Islet. Scale insect damage P. has also been recorded North-East Herald Cay. This study explored reasons for vegetation dieback during current...
Australia's energy future is at the crossroads and role of renewable sources in focus. Biomass from sustainably managed forests provide a significant opportunity for electricity heat generation production liquid fuels. Australia has extensive native which proportion are on private land. However, there limited knowledge potential capacity this resource to contribute expansion biomass bioenergy industry. In addition, concerns how reconcile harvesting with environmental protection. We used...
Summary The establishment success of woody plant species at 56 revegetation sites, four to 26 years old, across the Meandu open‐cut coal mine in south‐east Queensland was assessed. process involved returning stockpiled topsoil, deep ripping and mechanical sowing a mix native seeds. Blakes Wattle ( Acacia blakei ) less often Black A. leiocalyx ), both primarily derived from respread topsoil seed, dominate vegetation canopy 59% 20% respectively. additional seeds many tree shrub within sites...
Abstract Aim Recent progress in island biogeography indicates that classical alone cannot encapsulate the complex and dynamic nature of biogeographical processes. Factors such as habitat complexity connectivity, face Anthropocene, human disturbance invasive species, may influence insular communities. The relative importance these factors, however, differ among groups biota. Here we employed an information theoretic approach to investigate factors likely explain patterns species richness...
Summary Reinstatement of a ‘self‐sustaining native ecosystem’ is an increasingly common revegetation goal for open‐cut mines in Australia. This usually applied as regulatory requirement mine closure, with some aiming high standard ‘ecological restoration’. There growing appreciation that ecological restoration outcomes rehabilitation are unachievable within the life and assessment methodologies subjective inadequate to provide degree confidence needed closure. Here we elaborate on...
Options for a new definition of, and key for, rainforest in Australia are provided. The definitions take national perspective, based on the ecological characteristics of species some structural floristic characteristics. Rainforest plant defined as those adapted to regenerating under low-light conditions experienced closed canopy or localised gaps caused by recurring disturbances which part natural ecosystem, not dependent fire successful regeneration. Three provided differ extent inclusion...
Access trails that traverse native vegetation expose these ecosystems to potential invasion by non-native plant species, facilitated a multitude of vectors utilise trails. This study examined the diversity and distribution patterns species occurring adjacent forest are also designated for horse riding use in National Parks southeast Queensland. A total 39 were recorded within 20 m trail edge. Observed varied among with 21 at Bellthorpe 16 D'Aguilar, compared one or two rest parks. There was...
Vegetation classification systems form a base for conservation management and the ecological exploration of patterns drivers species’ distributions. A standardised system crossing administrative geographical boundaries is widely recognised as most useful broad-scale management. The Queensland Government, recognising this, uses Regional Ecosystem (RE) accompanying mapping state-wide vegetation system. This informs legislation policy at local, state national levels, underpinning decisions that...
The timing of vegetation sampling in highly seasonal environments is one the critical factors determining proportion flora captured a single sampling. Four sites were located within 20 km radius Mareeba, north Queensland and sampled every three months for years. variety eucalypt communities across an altitudinal range from 380 to 840 m above sea level. In these experiencing rainfall typical tropical savannas, early dry season (May) maximises diversity recorded. ANOVA analysis showed...