Structure and dynamics of grazed woodlands in North-eastern Australia
Data from 75 permanent belt transect sites were utilised for an analysis of the
floristics and temporal dynamics of the woody vegetation of the grazed woodlands
of Queensland, Australia. Woody species abundance, composition and structure
were described based on over 42, 000 individual recorded plants and.Detrended
Correspondence Analysis was used to divide the transects into seven community
types based on floristic similarity. The time between first and last recording varied
between sites, with 17 years between initial and final recording for the oldest site
and three years or less for the 39 remaining sites were recorded. Between first and
last recording events mortality was 2.6% of initial woody plant density per year
while recruitment was 6.796, resulting in an overall increase in woody plant
numbers of 17% of initial density. The woodlands experienced a decrease in basal
area of 0.7% of initial basal area per year despite the increase in density, reflecting
that many the majority of recruits were small plants with minimal basal area.
Despite fluctuation in basal area and density, species composition remained largely
unchanged over time. Size class distributions remained unchanged over time and
followed a reverse-J pattern for most woodland types. Ordination analysis revealed
that a range of environmental factors including temperature, geographic location,
soil type and topography were important in influencing the distribution of
community types. Linear models revealed that that dynamics patterns within the
woodlands were poorly correlated with those environmental factors utilised.
History
Editor
Citizen JStart Page
1End Page
282Number of Pages
282Location
Central Queensland UnversityPublisher
Central Queensland UniversityPlace of Publication
Rockhampton, QueenslandOpen Access
- Yes
Era Eligible
- No
Supervisor
Kerry Walsh ; Bill BurrowsThesis Type
- Master's by Research Thesis
Thesis Format
- By publication