Assessing seed longevity of the Invasive Weed Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), by artificial ageing
- Chadha, Aakansha, Florentine, Singarayer, Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham, Turville, Christopher
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer , Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham , Turville, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 24 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf. & Kukenth) is a significant agricultural and environmental weed found in tropical island countries including north Queensland, Australia. It is a prolific seed producer and consequently forms a high-density seedbank, and therefore understanding the longevity and persistence of the seeds can provide critical information required for the management of this species. A laboratory-controlled artificial ageing experiment was conducted where the seeds were exposed to a temperature of 45 °C and 60% relative humidity for 125 days. Seeds were removed at various times (1, 2, 5, 9, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100 and 125 days) and their viability determined through standard germination tests. It took 20 days in the artificial ageing environment for the seeds to decline to 50% viability which indicates that Navua sedge has relatively short-lived persistent seeds. These findings will assist in developing a better understanding of the seedbank dynamics of this invasive species, allowing managers to tactically implement control strategies and prepare budgets for ongoing treatments, and have implications for the duration and success of management programs. © 2022 by the authors.
Assessing seed longevity of the Invasive Weed Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), by artificial ageing
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer , Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham , Turville, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 24 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf. & Kukenth) is a significant agricultural and environmental weed found in tropical island countries including north Queensland, Australia. It is a prolific seed producer and consequently forms a high-density seedbank, and therefore understanding the longevity and persistence of the seeds can provide critical information required for the management of this species. A laboratory-controlled artificial ageing experiment was conducted where the seeds were exposed to a temperature of 45 °C and 60% relative humidity for 125 days. Seeds were removed at various times (1, 2, 5, 9, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100 and 125 days) and their viability determined through standard germination tests. It took 20 days in the artificial ageing environment for the seeds to decline to 50% viability which indicates that Navua sedge has relatively short-lived persistent seeds. These findings will assist in developing a better understanding of the seedbank dynamics of this invasive species, allowing managers to tactically implement control strategies and prepare budgets for ongoing treatments, and have implications for the duration and success of management programs. © 2022 by the authors.
Applications of Computed Tomography (CT) in environmental soil and plant sciences
- Zhang, Huan, He, Hailong, Gao, Yanjun, Mady, Ahmed, Filipović, Vilim, Dyck, Miles, Lv, Jialong, Liu, Yang
- Authors: Zhang, Huan , He, Hailong , Gao, Yanjun , Mady, Ahmed , Filipović, Vilim , Dyck, Miles , Lv, Jialong , Liu, Yang
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Soil and Tillage Research Vol. 226, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Computed tomography (CT) in combination with advanced image processing can be used to non-invasively and non-destructively visualize complex interiors of living and non-living media in 2 and 3-dimensional space. In addition to medical applications, CT has also been widely used in soil and plant science for visual and quantitative descriptions of physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes. The technique has been used successfully on numerous applications. However, with a rapidly evolving CT technologies and expanding applications, a renewed review is desirable. Only a few attempts have been made to collate and review examples of CT applications involving the integrated field of soil and plant research in recent years. Therefore, the objectives of this work were to: (1) briefly introduce the basic principles of CT and image processing; (2) identify the research status and hot spots of CT using bibliometric analysis based on Web of Science literature over the past three decades; (3) provide an overall review of CT applications in soil science for measuring soil properties (e.g., porous soil structure, soil components, soil biology, heat transfer, water flow, and solute transport); and (4) give an overview of applications of CT in plant science to detect morphological structures, plant material properties, and root-soil interaction. Moreover, the limitations of CT and image processing are discussed and future perspectives are given. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
- Bryden, Gabrielle, Browne, Matthew, Rockloff, Matthew, Unsworth, Carolyn
- Authors: Bryden, Gabrielle , Browne, Matthew , Rockloff, Matthew , Unsworth, Carolyn
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Vaccine Vol. 37, no. 32 (2019), p. 4525-4532
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The present study is the first to examine associations between area-level socio-demographic factors and uptake of vaccination among 5-year old children throughout Australia. A public-health focused ecological methodology was used that combined postcode-level socio-demographic variables from the 2016 Census with postcode-level vaccination data. Analyses included one-way analysis of variance and assessment of linear trends for each socio-demographic variable across five categories of vaccination rate; ranging from lowest (≤90%) to highest (96.1–100%), as well as using vaccination rate as a continuous variable. Multiple regression analysis was also conducted using select indicators to predict vaccination rates in postcodes from major cities. The results of the univariate analyses showed that communities with lower rates of vaccination had relatively less disadvantage, and had relatively greater education and occupation status, as measured by SEIFA (ABS [4]). When we looked at the ASGS Remoteness Areas, we saw that the vaccination rates were lowest in postcodes from the major cities of Australia, and vaccination rates increased as communities became more remote. When the community is further refined to postcodes located in the major cities, and to the target group of parents/partners in a family with children aged 4–7, we found that postcodes with lower vaccination rates were characterised as having a relatively greater proportion of people with: a high education level (bachelor degree level or higher); having white-collar jobs as managers; having no religion, having people in the older age category (50–54); and conversely being unemployed. © 2019
Conservation conundrums and the challenges of managing unexplained declines of multiple species
- Lindenmayer, David, Wood, Jeff, MacGregor, Christopher, Foster, Claire, Barton, Philip
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Wood, Jeff , MacGregor, Christopher , Foster, Claire , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 221, no. (2018), p. 279-292
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The conventional approach to conserving threatened biota is to identify drivers of decline, instigate actions to mitigate threatening processes, and monitor interventions to test their effectiveness and ensure target species recover. In Australia, predation by introduced predators is a threatening process for many native mammals. Here we report the results of a 15 year monitoring study in an iconic Australian reserve, Booderee National Park, where exotic Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations have been controlled through an intensive poison baiting program since 2003. Unexpectedly, we documented the collapse of native mammal fauna during this period, including fully arboreal species that should be largely unaffected by fox predation – such as the nationally Vulnerable Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) and Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). We used path analysis to explore potential causes of these unexpected declines. We found no compelling evidence to support hypotheses that competition with increasing native species, native predator release, or increases in native herbivores underpinned mammal declines. Beyond the path analysis, data from other studies completed both inside Booderee National Park and outside (where intensive fox baiting does not occur yet depleted fauna species remain), allowed us to rule out several drivers of change. The temporal declines we documented for arboreal marsupials were not anticipated nor explained by any clear mechanism. We propose the use of experimentally-guided reintroductions and translocations to: (1) restore empty niches such as the currently vacant apex mammal predator niche, (2) reconstruct the now depleted arboreal marsupial guild, and (3) further test key hypotheses associated with mammal decline. We also suggest that given the potential for perverse outcomes following large-scale management interventions (even those where there is high confidence of success), wildlife managers should consider maintaining reference areas (where there is no management intervention). Finally, as the declines we documented were unexpected and rapid, there is a clear need to develop more sensitive early warning signals to alert conservation managers to impending problems, allowing them to alter management regimes before major declines occur. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton is provided in this record**
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Wood, Jeff , MacGregor, Christopher , Foster, Claire , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 221, no. (2018), p. 279-292
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The conventional approach to conserving threatened biota is to identify drivers of decline, instigate actions to mitigate threatening processes, and monitor interventions to test their effectiveness and ensure target species recover. In Australia, predation by introduced predators is a threatening process for many native mammals. Here we report the results of a 15 year monitoring study in an iconic Australian reserve, Booderee National Park, where exotic Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations have been controlled through an intensive poison baiting program since 2003. Unexpectedly, we documented the collapse of native mammal fauna during this period, including fully arboreal species that should be largely unaffected by fox predation – such as the nationally Vulnerable Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) and Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). We used path analysis to explore potential causes of these unexpected declines. We found no compelling evidence to support hypotheses that competition with increasing native species, native predator release, or increases in native herbivores underpinned mammal declines. Beyond the path analysis, data from other studies completed both inside Booderee National Park and outside (where intensive fox baiting does not occur yet depleted fauna species remain), allowed us to rule out several drivers of change. The temporal declines we documented for arboreal marsupials were not anticipated nor explained by any clear mechanism. We propose the use of experimentally-guided reintroductions and translocations to: (1) restore empty niches such as the currently vacant apex mammal predator niche, (2) reconstruct the now depleted arboreal marsupial guild, and (3) further test key hypotheses associated with mammal decline. We also suggest that given the potential for perverse outcomes following large-scale management interventions (even those where there is high confidence of success), wildlife managers should consider maintaining reference areas (where there is no management intervention). Finally, as the declines we documented were unexpected and rapid, there is a clear need to develop more sensitive early warning signals to alert conservation managers to impending problems, allowing them to alter management regimes before major declines occur. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton is provided in this record**
Conservation challenges for Victorian banksias: Workshop May 2020
- Muir, Annette, Heyes, Simon, Morgan, John, Hoebee, Susan, Enright, Neal, Whelan, Robert, Geschke, Andrew, Bennett, Andrew, Walsh, Sean, Weatherly, William, Milne, Robert
- Authors: Muir, Annette , Heyes, Simon , Morgan, John , Hoebee, Susan , Enright, Neal , Whelan, Robert , Geschke, Andrew , Bennett, Andrew , Walsh, Sean , Weatherly, William , Milne, Robert
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological management & restoration Vol. 23, no. 2 (2022), p. 199-202
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Banksias are iconic Australian plants, with a Gondwanan origin. Their specialised roots help survival on low-phosphorus soils, and many species have reproductive cycles adapted to fire. They are trophically important in many of Australia’s native forests, woodlands and heathlands, providing nectar, pollen and seeds for many species of birds, mammals and invertebrates. While legacies of land use have reduced the historic extent of some Banksia species, more recent declines have raised additional concerns about their persistence in some landscapes. A range of factors are considered to be impacting Banksia persistence (Lamont et al. 2007), including habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g. Miller et al. 2020), increased fire frequency (e.g. Bradstock et al. 1997) and climate change (e.g. Steel et al. 2019), but there is no consensus about how these interacting factors may be driving declines, and how widespread these declines may be. The challenges facing Banksia species conservation in the south-eastern state of Victoria were the focus of an online workshop in May 2020. The workshop brought together researchers and land managers from Victorian and interstate universities, Victorian government agencies and volunteer land management groups to share their knowledge of the threats facing banksias, and document ideas to reverse declines. It was organised by Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (Department Environment, Land, Water and Planning), La Trobe University (Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution) and Federation University (Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation). "From introduction"
- Chan, Kok Fei, Carolan, Louise, Druce, Julian, Chappell, Keith, Watterson, Daniel, Young, Paul, Korenkov, Daniil, Subbarao, Kanta, Barr, Ian, Laurie, Karen, Reading, Patrick
- Authors: Chan, Kok Fei , Carolan, Louise , Druce, Julian , Chappell, Keith , Watterson, Daniel , Young, Paul , Korenkov, Daniil , Subbarao, Kanta , Barr, Ian , Laurie, Karen , Reading, Patrick
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Virology Vol. 92, no. 4 (2018), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Small-animal models have been used to obtain many insights regarding the pathogenesis and immune responses induced following infection with human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV). Among those described to date, infections in cotton rats, mice, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and Syrian hamsters with hRSV strains Long and/or A2 have been well characterized, although clinical isolates have also been examined. Ferrets are also susceptible to hRSV infection, but the pathogenesis and immune responses elicited following infection have not been well characterized. Here, we describe the infection of adult ferrets with hRSV Long or A2 via the intranasal route and characterized virus replication, as well as cytokine induction, in the upper and lower airways. Virus replication and cytokine induction during the acute phase of infection (days 0 to 15 postinfection) were similar between the two strains, and both elicited high levels of F glycoprotein-specific binding and neutralizing antibodies following virus clearance (days 16 to 22 postinfection). Importantly, we demonstrate transmission from experimentally infected donor ferrets to cohoused naive recipients and have characterized virus replication and cytokine induction in the upper airways of infected contact animals. Together, these studies provide a direct comparison of the pathogenesis of hRSV Long and A2 in ferrets and highlight the potential of this animal model to study serological responses and examine interventions that limit transmission of hRSV. Ferrets have been widely used to study pathogenesis, immunity, and transmission following human influenza virus infections however, far less is known regarding the utility of the ferret model to study hRSV infections. Following intranasal infection of adult ferrets with the well-characterized Long or A2 strain of hRSV, we report virus replication and cytokine induction in the upper and lower airways, as well as the development of virus-specific humoral responses. Importantly, we demonstrate transmission of hRSV from experimentally infected donor ferrets to cohoused naive recipients. Together, these findings significantly enhance our understanding of the utility of the ferret as a small-animal model to investigate aspects of hRSV pathogenesis and immunity.
Effects of ecological restoration on soil microbial diversity in a temperate grassy woodland
- Hamonts, Kelly, Bissett, Andrew, Macdonald, Ben, Barton, Philip, Manning, Adrian, Young, Andrew
- Authors: Hamonts, Kelly , Bissett, Andrew , Macdonald, Ben , Barton, Philip , Manning, Adrian , Young, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Applied Soil Ecology Vol. 117-118, no. (2017), p. 117-128
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Soil microbial communities are often overlooked in the context of ecological restoration. Given their central role in a broad range of ecosystem processes, however, understanding their response to restoration activities is critical to predicting restoration trajectories. In this study, we quantified the response of soil bacterial and fungal communities to restoration treatments, variation in microhabitat elements and vegetation in a critically endangered Australian box-gum grassy woodland ecosystem. Restoration treatments included the addition of coarse woody debris (CWD) and reduced grazing pressure. Four years after applying restoration treatments, we found no significant effect of CWD addition on soil microbial diversity, while reduced grazing significantly affected composition of the fungal, but not the bacterial, communities. Both bacterial and fungal communities responded to microhabitat element (open ground vs. old logs and trees), overlying vegetation and soil edaphic properties, and strong aboveground-belowground linkages were observed. Plant alpha diversity was positively correlated to soil bacterial, but not fungal, alpha diversity and plant community composition was a good predictor of both soil bacterial and fungal beta diversity. Co-occurrence network analysis identified numerous complex, non-linear associations between soil bacteria, fungi, edaphic properties and overlying plants. Soil microbes affected by restoration treatments included fungal saprotrophs and Actinobacteria, likely involved in litter breakdown, as well as bacteria likely involved in soil N cycling. Although the directions of the observed plant-microbe relationships remain unclear, we demonstrated the possibility of inducing changes to soil microbial communities to enhance restoration outcomes in box-gum grassy woodland ecosystems. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Tests of predictions associated with temporal changes in Australian bird populations
- Lindenmayer, David, Lane, Peter, Westgate, Martin, Scheele, Ben, Barton, Philip
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Lane, Peter , Westgate, Martin , Scheele, Ben , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 222, no. (2018), p. 212-221
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Global biodiversity loss is the cumulative result of local species declines. To combat biodiversity loss, detailed information on the temporal trends of at-risk species at local scales is needed. Here we report the results of a 13-year study of temporal change in bird occupancy in one of the most heavily modified biomes worldwide; the temperate woodlands of south-eastern Australia. We sought to determine if temporal changes in bird species were different between three broad native vegetation types (old-growth woodland, regrowth woodland and restoration plantings) and between species traits (body size, migratory status, rarity, woodland dependency, or diet). We found evidence of decline for over a quarter of all bird species for which we had sufficient data for detailed analysis (30 out of 108 species). In contrast, only 14 species increased significantly. Temporal change of birds was linked to life-history attributes, with patterns often being habitat-dependent. Nectarivores and large-bodied birds declined across all vegetation types, whereas small-bodied species increased, particularly in restoration plantings. Contrasting with patterns documented elsewhere, resident but not migratory species declined, with this trend strongest in restoration plantings. Finally, our analyses showed that, as a group, common birds tended to decline whereas rare birds tended to increase, with effects for both most pronounced in restoration plantings. Our results highlight the benefit of targeted restoration planting for some species, but also demonstrate that many common species that have long-persisted in human-dominated landscapes are experiencing severe declines. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Lane, Peter , Westgate, Martin , Scheele, Ben , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 222, no. (2018), p. 212-221
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Global biodiversity loss is the cumulative result of local species declines. To combat biodiversity loss, detailed information on the temporal trends of at-risk species at local scales is needed. Here we report the results of a 13-year study of temporal change in bird occupancy in one of the most heavily modified biomes worldwide; the temperate woodlands of south-eastern Australia. We sought to determine if temporal changes in bird species were different between three broad native vegetation types (old-growth woodland, regrowth woodland and restoration plantings) and between species traits (body size, migratory status, rarity, woodland dependency, or diet). We found evidence of decline for over a quarter of all bird species for which we had sufficient data for detailed analysis (30 out of 108 species). In contrast, only 14 species increased significantly. Temporal change of birds was linked to life-history attributes, with patterns often being habitat-dependent. Nectarivores and large-bodied birds declined across all vegetation types, whereas small-bodied species increased, particularly in restoration plantings. Contrasting with patterns documented elsewhere, resident but not migratory species declined, with this trend strongest in restoration plantings. Finally, our analyses showed that, as a group, common birds tended to decline whereas rare birds tended to increase, with effects for both most pronounced in restoration plantings. Our results highlight the benefit of targeted restoration planting for some species, but also demonstrate that many common species that have long-persisted in human-dominated landscapes are experiencing severe declines. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton” is provided in this record**
Anti-vaccination and pro-CAM attitudes both reflect magical beliefs about health
- Bryden, Gabrielle, Browne, Matthew, Rockloff, Matthew, Unsworth, Carolyn
- Authors: Bryden, Gabrielle , Browne, Matthew , Rockloff, Matthew , Unsworth, Carolyn
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Vaccine Vol. 36, no. 9 (2018), p. 1227-1234
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: We examined the relationship between complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and vaccination scepticism; and specifically whether a person's more general health-related worldview might explain this relationship. A cross-sectional online survey of adult Australians (N = 2697) included demographic, CAM, and vaccination measures, as well as the holistic and magical health belief scales (HHB, MHB). HHB emphasises links between mind and body health, and the impact of general ‘wellness’ on specific ailments or resistance to disease, whilst MHB specifically taps ontological confusions and cognitive errors about health. CAM and anti-vaccination were found to be linked primarily at the attitudinal level (r = −0.437). We did not find evidence that this was due to CAM practitioners influencing their clients. Applying a path-analytic approach, we found that individuals’ health worldview (HHB and MHB) accounted for a significant proportion (43.1%) of the covariance between CAM and vaccination attitudes. MHB was by far the strongest predictor of both CAM and vaccination attitudes in regressions including demographic predictors. We conclude that vaccination scepticism reflects part of a broader health worldview that discounts scientific knowledge in favour of magical or superstitious thinking. Therefore, persuasive messages reflecting this worldview may be more effective than fact-based campaigns in influencing vaccine sceptics. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
Avian functional responses to landscape recovery
- Ikin, Karen, Barton, Philip, Blanchard, Wade, Crane, Mason, Stein, John, Lindenmayer, David
- Authors: Ikin, Karen , Barton, Philip , Blanchard, Wade , Crane, Mason , Stein, John , Lindenmayer, David
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Vol. 286, no. 1901 (2019), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Restoring native vegetation in agricultural landscapes can reverse biodiversity declines via species gains. Depending on whether the traits of colonizers are complementary or redundant to the assemblage, species gains can increase the efficiency or stability of ecological functions, yet detecting these processes is not straightforward.We propose a new conceptual model to identify potential changes to complementarity and redundancy in response to landscape change via relative changes in taxonomic and functional richness.We applied our model to a 14-year study of birds across an extensive agricultural region. We found compelling evidence that high levels of landscape-scale tree cover and patch-scale restoration were significant determinants of functional change in the overall bird assemblage. This was true for every one of the six traits investigated individually, indicating increased trait-specific functional complementarity and redundancy in the assemblage. Applying our conceptual model to species diversity data provided new insights into how the return of vertebrates to restored landscapes may affect ecological function. © 2019 The Author(s).
- Authors: Ikin, Karen , Barton, Philip , Blanchard, Wade , Crane, Mason , Stein, John , Lindenmayer, David
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Vol. 286, no. 1901 (2019), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Restoring native vegetation in agricultural landscapes can reverse biodiversity declines via species gains. Depending on whether the traits of colonizers are complementary or redundant to the assemblage, species gains can increase the efficiency or stability of ecological functions, yet detecting these processes is not straightforward.We propose a new conceptual model to identify potential changes to complementarity and redundancy in response to landscape change via relative changes in taxonomic and functional richness.We applied our model to a 14-year study of birds across an extensive agricultural region. We found compelling evidence that high levels of landscape-scale tree cover and patch-scale restoration were significant determinants of functional change in the overall bird assemblage. This was true for every one of the six traits investigated individually, indicating increased trait-specific functional complementarity and redundancy in the assemblage. Applying our conceptual model to species diversity data provided new insights into how the return of vertebrates to restored landscapes may affect ecological function. © 2019 The Author(s).
Assessing seedbank longevity and seed persistence of the invasive tussock grass nassella trichotoma using in-field burial and laboratory-controlled ageing
- Humphries, Talia, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Humphries, Talia , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 18 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ability to produce highly dense and persistent seedbanks is a major contributor to the successful widespread establishment of invasive plants. This study seeks to identify seed persistence and seedbank longevity for the invasive tussock grass Nassella trichotoma (Nees.) Hack. ex Arechav in order to recommend management strategies for preventing re-emergence from the seedbank. To determine the seedbank longevity and persistence, two experiments were conducted: (i) seeds were buried at four depths (0, 1, 2, and 4 cm) and collected and assessed for viability, seed decay, and in-field germination after 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months of field burial; and (ii) seeds were exposed to artificial ageing conditions (60% RH and 45 °C) for 1, 2, 5, 9, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, and 120 days, and viability was determined through germination tests and tetrazolium tests. Less than 10% of the seeds collected after 12 months of in-field burial were viable. The artificial ageing treatment found germination declined to 50% after 5.8 days, further suggesting that N. trichotoma seeds are short lived. The results from both experiments indicate that N. trichotoma has a transient seedbank, with less than 10% of the seeds demonstrating short-term persistence. It is likely the persistent seeds beyond 12 months were exhibiting secondary dormancy as viable seeds did not germinate under optimal germination conditions. The “Best Practice Guidelines” recommend monitoring for seedbank recruitment for at least three years after treating N. trichotoma infestations. The results of this study support this recommendation as a small proportion of the seeds demonstrated short-term persistence. © 2022 by the authors.
- Authors: Humphries, Talia , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 18 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The ability to produce highly dense and persistent seedbanks is a major contributor to the successful widespread establishment of invasive plants. This study seeks to identify seed persistence and seedbank longevity for the invasive tussock grass Nassella trichotoma (Nees.) Hack. ex Arechav in order to recommend management strategies for preventing re-emergence from the seedbank. To determine the seedbank longevity and persistence, two experiments were conducted: (i) seeds were buried at four depths (0, 1, 2, and 4 cm) and collected and assessed for viability, seed decay, and in-field germination after 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months of field burial; and (ii) seeds were exposed to artificial ageing conditions (60% RH and 45 °C) for 1, 2, 5, 9, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, and 120 days, and viability was determined through germination tests and tetrazolium tests. Less than 10% of the seeds collected after 12 months of in-field burial were viable. The artificial ageing treatment found germination declined to 50% after 5.8 days, further suggesting that N. trichotoma seeds are short lived. The results from both experiments indicate that N. trichotoma has a transient seedbank, with less than 10% of the seeds demonstrating short-term persistence. It is likely the persistent seeds beyond 12 months were exhibiting secondary dormancy as viable seeds did not germinate under optimal germination conditions. The “Best Practice Guidelines” recommend monitoring for seedbank recruitment for at least three years after treating N. trichotoma infestations. The results of this study support this recommendation as a small proportion of the seeds demonstrated short-term persistence. © 2022 by the authors.
- Ollerenshaw, Alison, Murphy, Angela, Walters, Judi, Robinson, Nathan, Thompson, Helen
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Murphy, Angela , Walters, Judi , Robinson, Nathan , Thompson, Helen
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural Systems Vol. 206, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: CONTEXT: Agriculture is experiencing rapid change with the widespread availability of industry-specific technological and digital innovations. One example of this is Online Farm Trials (OFT), a user-facing web portal that systematises on-farm and field-based cropping research trial data for Australia's grains industry. The portal delivers access to research data, including legacy data, from thousands of grains trials projects that have been supplied by industry contributors. The portal is well established, having been informed by regular stakeholder input that has guided and informed the continued improvement of the portal from its development and implementation to continued operations. OBJECTIVE: Research was conducted across three time-points to assess the usage and application of OFT, and to examine its perceived impact on users to facilitate access to information supporting on-farm decision making and practice change within the Australian grains industry. METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative data (portal usage and website analytics, surveys, in-depth interviews) were collected at three time points over 6 years with the aim of examining the usage and application of the portal. Portal users, data contributors, and other stakeholders from the grains and agriculture industries participated in this research. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Over the three time points, a total of 89 surveys were completed and 49 interviews were conducted. Portal usage data confirms consistency in the number of visitors over time; most users of the portal were from Australia, with many accessing the portal on multiple occasions. Survey and interview data demonstrate that OFT is valued, widely used, and that the data on the portal are being broadly applied. Access to information and data through the portal (including legacy data) is used to support knowledge and to make sector-relevant decisions, and is assisting portal users in their workplace and work practices. The availability of data and information through the portal is increasing connections between industry and stakeholders across the grains sector. However, the trust and quality of contributor data has been consistently raised as a point of discussion by some portal users. SIGNIFICANCE: This research demonstrates the contribution that this data portal has on usage, adoption and application within the Australian grains industry. The insights and learnings about the application of digital technology for data and information access for the grains sector may be applicable to other agricultural sectors. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
Cross-taxonomic surrogates for biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes – A multi-taxa approach
- Yong, Ding, Barton, Philip, Ikin, Karen, Evans, Maldwyn, Crane, Mason
- Authors: Yong, Ding , Barton, Philip , Ikin, Karen , Evans, Maldwyn , Crane, Mason
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 224, no. (2018), p. 336-346
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cross-taxonomic surrogates are often used in conservation planning because inventorying large suites of taxa is either not feasible or too costly. However, cross-taxonomic surrogates are seldom tested rigorously using both correlational and representation-based approaches at the spatial scales at which conservation management occurs. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of five ecologically contrasting taxa (birds, herpetofauna, wild bees, beetles, trees) as cross-taxonomic surrogates in native woodland patches within a heavily modified, farming and plantation-dominated landscape. We first compared species richness and compositional heterogeneity across taxa before testing for cross-taxonomic congruence using a correlative approach. We then quantified how well each taxon incidentally represented other taxa in their best patch sets, and the costs of doing so using a complementarity-based approach. We found significant pairwise associations between some taxa (birds, bees), but no single taxon was strongly correlated with all other taxa. Woodland patch sets prioritised for beetles represented other taxa best, followed by birds, but were the costliest and required the largest amount of woodland. This contrasted with patch sets prioritised for wild bees or herpetofauna, which achieved higher representation of other taxa at lower costs. Our study highlighted the influence of taxon-specific patterns of diversity and heterogeneity on how remnant vegetation patches should be prioritised for conservation, a consideration not immediately obvious in correlative analyses of surrogacy. Second, taxa that are not the most speciose (e.g. wild bees) can be efficient surrogates, achieving higher incidental representation for other taxa at lower costs. Thus, while species-rich taxa are ideal as surrogates for prioritising conservation, conservation planners should not overlook the potential of less speciose taxa such as bees, while considering the cost-effectiveness of surveying multiple different taxa. © 2018. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton" is provided in this record**
- Authors: Yong, Ding , Barton, Philip , Ikin, Karen , Evans, Maldwyn , Crane, Mason
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 224, no. (2018), p. 336-346
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cross-taxonomic surrogates are often used in conservation planning because inventorying large suites of taxa is either not feasible or too costly. However, cross-taxonomic surrogates are seldom tested rigorously using both correlational and representation-based approaches at the spatial scales at which conservation management occurs. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of five ecologically contrasting taxa (birds, herpetofauna, wild bees, beetles, trees) as cross-taxonomic surrogates in native woodland patches within a heavily modified, farming and plantation-dominated landscape. We first compared species richness and compositional heterogeneity across taxa before testing for cross-taxonomic congruence using a correlative approach. We then quantified how well each taxon incidentally represented other taxa in their best patch sets, and the costs of doing so using a complementarity-based approach. We found significant pairwise associations between some taxa (birds, bees), but no single taxon was strongly correlated with all other taxa. Woodland patch sets prioritised for beetles represented other taxa best, followed by birds, but were the costliest and required the largest amount of woodland. This contrasted with patch sets prioritised for wild bees or herpetofauna, which achieved higher representation of other taxa at lower costs. Our study highlighted the influence of taxon-specific patterns of diversity and heterogeneity on how remnant vegetation patches should be prioritised for conservation, a consideration not immediately obvious in correlative analyses of surrogacy. Second, taxa that are not the most speciose (e.g. wild bees) can be efficient surrogates, achieving higher incidental representation for other taxa at lower costs. Thus, while species-rich taxa are ideal as surrogates for prioritising conservation, conservation planners should not overlook the potential of less speciose taxa such as bees, while considering the cost-effectiveness of surveying multiple different taxa. © 2018. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton" is provided in this record**
Interactive effects of land use, grazing and environment on frogs in an agricultural landscape
- Pulsford, Stephanie, Barton, Philip, Driscoll, Don, Lindenmayer, David
- Authors: Pulsford, Stephanie , Barton, Philip , Driscoll, Don , Lindenmayer, David
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment Vol. 281, no. (2019), p. 25-34
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Improved management of human-modified landscapes must be part of global efforts to combat biodiversity loss. We aimed to identify which land management types and environmental factors influenced the use of grazing landscapes by frogs. We surveyed frog assemblages in remnant vegetation, four different paddock types (pasture, linear planting, coarse woody debris addition and fence), and two grazing regimes (continuous and rotational). Frogs were surveyed using pitfall and funnel traps in twelve grazing farms in south-eastern Australia. We found that grazed agricultural landscapes provide important habitats for a variety of species of frogs and that frog assemblages were influenced by both farm management type and environmental variables, and their interactions. Total frog abundance increased with proximity to water more strongly in remnants compared to paddocks. This difference in response may be due to different traits and behaviours of frogs in remnants compared to frogs in open paddocks. Rare frog species richness and abundance of a common species (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) increased with taller ground cover in remnants but no such relationship occurred in paddocks. Different types of predation risk in remnants compared to paddocks may result in greater ground cover shelter requirements in remnants, as vegetation structure can strongly influence predation. Total frog species richness increased more rapidly with higher rainfall in continuously grazed versus rotationally grazed farms. Higher rainfall was associated with taller ground cover. Continuously grazed farms had shorter average ground cover than rotationally grazed farms and the increased ground cover height associated with more rain may bring ground cover to a height better able to provide shelter and reduce desiccation risk for frogs. Our study highlights the importance of both land management practices and environmental conditions and their interaction in shaping frog assemblages. Improved frog biodiversity conservation may be achieved in grazing landscapes by retaining patches of remnant vegetation, maintaining water bodies such as farm dams, and maintaining tall ground cover within vegetation remnants. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Challenges inherent in controlling prickly pear species; a global review of the properties of Opuntia stricta, Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia monacantha
- Humphries, Talia, Campbell, Shane, Florentine, Singarayer
- Authors: Humphries, Talia , Campbell, Shane , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 23 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Opuntia species (prickly pear) were deliberately introduced to many countries around the world for fruit, cochineal dye production, living fencing or as ornamentals. They are now some of the world’s most significant weeds, particularly in regions with warm and or dry climates, as they pose threats to economic and environmental assets. In addition, they can cause considerable health issues for humans and animals. Opuntia spp. have prolific reproduction abilities, being able to reproduce both vegetatively and by seed. They have generalist pollination and dispersal requirements, which promotes their establishment and spread. Opuntia stricta, O. monacantha and O. ficus-indica are the most globally widespread of the Opuntia spp. In many countries, biological control agents, particularly the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) and various cochineal insects from the Dactylopius genus, have successfully reduced land-scape scale populations. On a smaller scale, controlling these weeds by either injecting or spraying the cladodes with herbicides can provide effective control. Care must be taken during herbicide treatments as any untreated areas will regenerate. While biological control is the most cost and time effective control method for landscape-scale infestations, further research into the combined efficacy of herbicides, fire, grubbing and pre-burial techniques would be beneficial for land managers to control small-scale and establishing populations. It would also be useful to have greater knowledge of the potential seedbank longevity and seed ecology of these species so that integrated management strategies can be developed to not only deal with initial populations but also the subsequent seedling regrowth. © 2022 by the authors.
- Authors: Humphries, Talia , Campbell, Shane , Florentine, Singarayer
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 23 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Opuntia species (prickly pear) were deliberately introduced to many countries around the world for fruit, cochineal dye production, living fencing or as ornamentals. They are now some of the world’s most significant weeds, particularly in regions with warm and or dry climates, as they pose threats to economic and environmental assets. In addition, they can cause considerable health issues for humans and animals. Opuntia spp. have prolific reproduction abilities, being able to reproduce both vegetatively and by seed. They have generalist pollination and dispersal requirements, which promotes their establishment and spread. Opuntia stricta, O. monacantha and O. ficus-indica are the most globally widespread of the Opuntia spp. In many countries, biological control agents, particularly the cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) and various cochineal insects from the Dactylopius genus, have successfully reduced land-scape scale populations. On a smaller scale, controlling these weeds by either injecting or spraying the cladodes with herbicides can provide effective control. Care must be taken during herbicide treatments as any untreated areas will regenerate. While biological control is the most cost and time effective control method for landscape-scale infestations, further research into the combined efficacy of herbicides, fire, grubbing and pre-burial techniques would be beneficial for land managers to control small-scale and establishing populations. It would also be useful to have greater knowledge of the potential seedbank longevity and seed ecology of these species so that integrated management strategies can be developed to not only deal with initial populations but also the subsequent seedling regrowth. © 2022 by the authors.
Do temporal changes in vegetation structure additional to time since fire predict changes in bird occurrence?
- Lindenmayer, David, Candy, Steven, MacGregor, Christopher, Banks, Sam, Barton, Philip
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Candy, Steven , MacGregor, Christopher , Banks, Sam , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological Applications Vol. 26, no. 7 (2016), p. 2267-2279
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire is a major ecological process in ecosystems globally. Its impacts on fauna can be both direct (e.g., mortality) and indirect (e.g., altered habitat), resulting in population recovery being driven by several possible mechanisms. Separating direct from indirect impacts of fire on faunal population recovery can be valuable in guiding management of biodiversity in fire-prone environments. However, resolving the influence of direct and indirect processes remains a key challenge because many processes affecting fauna can change concomitantly with time since fire. We explore the mechanisms influencing bird response to fire by posing the question, can temporal changes in vegetation structure predict changes in bird occurrence on sites, and can these be separated from other temporal changes using the surrogate of time since fire? We conducted a 12-yr study of bird and vegetation responses to fire at 124 sites across six vegetation classes in Booderee National Park, Australia. Approximately half of these sites, established in 2002, were burned by a large (>3000 ha) wildfire in 2003. To disentangle collinear effects of temporal changes in vegetation and direct demographic effects on population recovery that are subsumed by time since fire, we incorporated both longitudinal and cross-sectional vegetation effects in addition to time since fire within logistic structural equation models. We identified temporal changes in vegetation structure and richness of plant and bird species that characterized burned and unburned sites in all vegetation classes. For nine bird species, a significant component of the year trend was driven by temporal trends in one of three vegetation variables (number of understory or midstory plant species, or midstory cover). By contrast, we could not separate temporal effects between time since fire and vegetation attributes for bird species richness, reporting rate, and the occurrence of 11 other bird species. Our findings help identify species for which indirect effects of vegetation dominate recovery and thus may benefit from vegetation management where conservation actions are required and, conversely, those species for which direct effects of time since fire drive recovery, where simply leaving a system to recover following the last disturbance will be sufficient. © 2016 by the Ecological Society of America.
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Candy, Steven , MacGregor, Christopher , Banks, Sam , Barton, Philip
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological Applications Vol. 26, no. 7 (2016), p. 2267-2279
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire is a major ecological process in ecosystems globally. Its impacts on fauna can be both direct (e.g., mortality) and indirect (e.g., altered habitat), resulting in population recovery being driven by several possible mechanisms. Separating direct from indirect impacts of fire on faunal population recovery can be valuable in guiding management of biodiversity in fire-prone environments. However, resolving the influence of direct and indirect processes remains a key challenge because many processes affecting fauna can change concomitantly with time since fire. We explore the mechanisms influencing bird response to fire by posing the question, can temporal changes in vegetation structure predict changes in bird occurrence on sites, and can these be separated from other temporal changes using the surrogate of time since fire? We conducted a 12-yr study of bird and vegetation responses to fire at 124 sites across six vegetation classes in Booderee National Park, Australia. Approximately half of these sites, established in 2002, were burned by a large (>3000 ha) wildfire in 2003. To disentangle collinear effects of temporal changes in vegetation and direct demographic effects on population recovery that are subsumed by time since fire, we incorporated both longitudinal and cross-sectional vegetation effects in addition to time since fire within logistic structural equation models. We identified temporal changes in vegetation structure and richness of plant and bird species that characterized burned and unburned sites in all vegetation classes. For nine bird species, a significant component of the year trend was driven by temporal trends in one of three vegetation variables (number of understory or midstory plant species, or midstory cover). By contrast, we could not separate temporal effects between time since fire and vegetation attributes for bird species richness, reporting rate, and the occurrence of 11 other bird species. Our findings help identify species for which indirect effects of vegetation dominate recovery and thus may benefit from vegetation management where conservation actions are required and, conversely, those species for which direct effects of time since fire drive recovery, where simply leaving a system to recover following the last disturbance will be sufficient. © 2016 by the Ecological Society of America.
Effects of past and present livestock grazing on herpetofauna in a landscape-scale experiment
- Kay, Geoffrey, Mortelliti, Alessio, Tulloch, Ayesha, Barton, Philip, Florance, Daniel
- Authors: Kay, Geoffrey , Mortelliti, Alessio , Tulloch, Ayesha , Barton, Philip , Florance, Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Conservation Biology Vol. 31, no. 2 (2017), p. 446-458
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Livestock grazing is the most widespread land use on Earth and can have negative effects on biodiversity. Yet, many of the mechanisms by which grazing leads to changes in biodiversity remain unresolved. One reason is that conventional grazing studies often target broad treatments rather than specific parameters of grazing (e.g., intensity, duration, and frequency) or fail to account for historical grazing effects. We conducted a landscape-scale replicated grazing experiment (15,000 km2, 97 sites) to examine the impact of past grazing management and current grazing regimes (intensity, duration, and frequency) on a community of ground-dwelling herpetofauna (39 species). We analyzed community variables (species richness and composition) for all species and built multiseason patch-occupancy models to predict local colonization and extinction for the 7 most abundant species. Past grazing practices did not influence community richness but did affect community composition and patch colonization and extinction for 4 of 7 species. Present grazing parameters did not influence community richness or composition, but 6 of the 7 target species were affected by at least one grazing parameter. Grazing frequency had the most consistent influence, positively affecting 3 of 7 species (increased colonization or decreased extinction). Past grazing practice affected community composition and population dynamics in some species in different ways, which suggests that conservation planners should examine the different grazing histories of an area. Species responded differently to specific current grazing practices; thus, incentive programs that apply a diversity of approaches rather than focusing on a change such as reduced grazing intensity should be considered. Based on our findings, we suggest that determining fine-scale grazing attributes is essential for advancing grazing as a conservation strategy. © 2016 Society for Conservation Biology. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton” is provided in this record**
Temporal trends in mammal responses to fire reveals the complex effects of fire regime attributes
- Lindenmayer, David, Blanchard, Wade, MacGregor, Christopher, Barton, Philip, Banks, Sam
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Blanchard, Wade , MacGregor, Christopher , Barton, Philip , Banks, Sam
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological Applications Vol. 26, no. 2 (2016), p. 557-573
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire is a major ecological process in many ecosystems worldwide. We sought to identify which attributes of fire regimes affect temporal change in the presence and abundance of Australian native mammals. Our detailed study was underpinned by time series data on 11 mammal species at 97 long-term sites in southeastern Australia between 2003 and 2013. We explored how temporal aspects of fire regimes influenced the presence and conditional abundance of species. The key fire regime components examined were: (1) severity of a major fire in 2003, (2) interval between the last major fire (2003) and the fire prior to that, and (3) number of past fires. Our long-term data set enabled quantification of the interactions between survey year and each fire regime variable: an ecological relationship missing from temporally restricted studies. We found no evidence of any appreciable departures from the assumption of independence of the sites. Multiple aspects of fire regimes influenced temporal variation in the presence and abundance of mammals. The best models indicated that six of the 11 species responded to two or more fire regime variables, with two species influenced by all three fire regime attributes. Almost all species responded to time since fire, either as an interaction with survey year or as a main effect. Fire severity or its interaction with survey year was important for most terrestrial rodents. The number of fires at a site was significant for terrestrial rodents and several other species. Our findings contain evidence of the effects on native mammals of heterogeneity in fire regimes. Temporal response patterns of mammal species were influenced by multiple fire regime attributes, often in conjunction with survey year. This underscores the critical importance of long-term studies of biota that are coupled with data sets characterized by carefully documented fire history, severity, and frequency. Long-term studies are essential to predict animal responses to fires and guide management of when and where (prescribed) fire or, conversely, long-unburned vegetation is needed. The complexity of observed responses highlights the need for large reserves in which patterns of heterogeneity in fire regimes can be sustained in space and over time. © 2015 by the Ecological Society of America. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Blanchard, Wade , MacGregor, Christopher , Barton, Philip , Banks, Sam
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological Applications Vol. 26, no. 2 (2016), p. 557-573
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire is a major ecological process in many ecosystems worldwide. We sought to identify which attributes of fire regimes affect temporal change in the presence and abundance of Australian native mammals. Our detailed study was underpinned by time series data on 11 mammal species at 97 long-term sites in southeastern Australia between 2003 and 2013. We explored how temporal aspects of fire regimes influenced the presence and conditional abundance of species. The key fire regime components examined were: (1) severity of a major fire in 2003, (2) interval between the last major fire (2003) and the fire prior to that, and (3) number of past fires. Our long-term data set enabled quantification of the interactions between survey year and each fire regime variable: an ecological relationship missing from temporally restricted studies. We found no evidence of any appreciable departures from the assumption of independence of the sites. Multiple aspects of fire regimes influenced temporal variation in the presence and abundance of mammals. The best models indicated that six of the 11 species responded to two or more fire regime variables, with two species influenced by all three fire regime attributes. Almost all species responded to time since fire, either as an interaction with survey year or as a main effect. Fire severity or its interaction with survey year was important for most terrestrial rodents. The number of fires at a site was significant for terrestrial rodents and several other species. Our findings contain evidence of the effects on native mammals of heterogeneity in fire regimes. Temporal response patterns of mammal species were influenced by multiple fire regime attributes, often in conjunction with survey year. This underscores the critical importance of long-term studies of biota that are coupled with data sets characterized by carefully documented fire history, severity, and frequency. Long-term studies are essential to predict animal responses to fires and guide management of when and where (prescribed) fire or, conversely, long-unburned vegetation is needed. The complexity of observed responses highlights the need for large reserves in which patterns of heterogeneity in fire regimes can be sustained in space and over time. © 2015 by the Ecological Society of America. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton” is provided in this record**
Effect of Rhizome Fragment Length and Burial Depth on the emergence of a tropical invasive Weed Cyperus aromaticus (Navua Sedge)
- Chadha, Aakansha, Florentine, Singarayer, Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham, Turville, Christopher
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer , Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham , Turville, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 23 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge) is a problematic perennial weed in pastures and crops including sugarcane, banana, rice, and fruits and vegetables in tropical climates. It reproduces both via rhizomes and seeds. As a regenerative and storage organ, these rhizomes play an important part in the invasion, establishment, and persistence of this weed. To eliminate their regenerative ability, it is important to understand the regrowth potential with respect to rhizome fragment size and burial depth. This study evaluated the emergence of C. aromaticus from rhizomes in a controlled condition. Three different sizes of rhizome fragments were buried at seven depths of up to 20 cm in two soil types. The experimental measurements included (i) the time for tillers to emerge, (ii) the cumulative emergence of tillers, recorded weekly, and (iii) the number of underground emerging tillers. The cumulative shoot emergence and the number of underground tillers produced were found to be positively correlated with the initial length of the rhizome fragments and negatively correlated with the burial depth. The time for the emergence of the tillers was negatively correlated with the burial depth, and soil type had no significant effect on any of the parameters recorded. There was no emergence recorded from rhizomes buried at 15 cm depth and deeper, irrespective of their size. Our results indicate that the combination of the fragmentation of rhizomes into small pieces and a deep burial, below 15 cm, is an important aspect to control the regeneration of C. aromaticus from rhizomes, if tillage is carried out, and can therefore form a part of an integrated weed management strategy for this troublesome weed. © 2022 by the authors.
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer , Dhileepan, Kunjithapatham , Turville, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Plants Vol. 11, no. 23 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge) is a problematic perennial weed in pastures and crops including sugarcane, banana, rice, and fruits and vegetables in tropical climates. It reproduces both via rhizomes and seeds. As a regenerative and storage organ, these rhizomes play an important part in the invasion, establishment, and persistence of this weed. To eliminate their regenerative ability, it is important to understand the regrowth potential with respect to rhizome fragment size and burial depth. This study evaluated the emergence of C. aromaticus from rhizomes in a controlled condition. Three different sizes of rhizome fragments were buried at seven depths of up to 20 cm in two soil types. The experimental measurements included (i) the time for tillers to emerge, (ii) the cumulative emergence of tillers, recorded weekly, and (iii) the number of underground emerging tillers. The cumulative shoot emergence and the number of underground tillers produced were found to be positively correlated with the initial length of the rhizome fragments and negatively correlated with the burial depth. The time for the emergence of the tillers was negatively correlated with the burial depth, and soil type had no significant effect on any of the parameters recorded. There was no emergence recorded from rhizomes buried at 15 cm depth and deeper, irrespective of their size. Our results indicate that the combination of the fragmentation of rhizomes into small pieces and a deep burial, below 15 cm, is an important aspect to control the regeneration of C. aromaticus from rhizomes, if tillage is carried out, and can therefore form a part of an integrated weed management strategy for this troublesome weed. © 2022 by the authors.
Effects of a large wildfire on vegetation structure in a variable fire mosaic
- Foster, Claire, Barton, Philip, Robinson, Natasha, MacGregor, Christopher, Lindenmayer, David
- Authors: Foster, Claire , Barton, Philip , Robinson, Natasha , MacGregor, Christopher , Lindenmayer, David
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological Applications Vol. 27, no. 8 (2017), p. 2369-2381
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Management guidelines for many fire-prone ecosystems highlight the importance of maintaining a variable mosaic of fire histories for biodiversity conservation. Managers are encouraged to aim for fire mosaics that are temporally and spatially dynamic, include all successional states of vegetation, and also include variation in the underlying "invisible mosaic" of past fire frequencies, severities, and fire return intervals. However, establishing and maintaining variable mosaics in contemporary landscapes is subject to many challenges, one of which is deciding how the fire mosaic should be managed following the occurrence of large, unplanned wildfires. A key consideration for this decision is the extent to which the effects of previous fire history on vegetation and habitats persist after major wildfires, but this topic has rarely been investigated empirically. In this study, we tested to what extent a large wildfire interacted with previous fire history to affect the structure of forest, woodland, and heath vegetation in Booderee National Park in southeastern Australia. In 2003, a summer wildfire burned 49.5% of the park, increasing the extent of recently burned vegetation (<10 yr post-fire) to more than 72% of the park area. We tracked the recovery of vegetation structure for nine years following the wildfire and found that the strength and persistence of fire effects differed substantially between vegetation types. Vegetation structure was modified by wildfire in forest, woodland, and heath vegetation, but among-site variability in vegetation structure was reduced only by severe fire in woodland vegetation. There also were persistent legacy effects of the previous fire regime on some attributes of vegetation structure including forest ground and understorey cover, and woodland midstorey and overstorey cover. For example, woodland midstorey cover was greater on sites with higher fire frequency, irrespective of the severity of the 2003 wildfire. Our results show that even after a large, severe wildfire, underlying fire histories can contribute substantially to variation in vegetation structure. This highlights the importance of ensuring that efforts to reinstate variation in vegetation fire age after large wildfires do not inadvertently reduce variation in vegetation structure generated by the underlying invisible mosaic. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America.
- Authors: Foster, Claire , Barton, Philip , Robinson, Natasha , MacGregor, Christopher , Lindenmayer, David
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ecological Applications Vol. 27, no. 8 (2017), p. 2369-2381
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Management guidelines for many fire-prone ecosystems highlight the importance of maintaining a variable mosaic of fire histories for biodiversity conservation. Managers are encouraged to aim for fire mosaics that are temporally and spatially dynamic, include all successional states of vegetation, and also include variation in the underlying "invisible mosaic" of past fire frequencies, severities, and fire return intervals. However, establishing and maintaining variable mosaics in contemporary landscapes is subject to many challenges, one of which is deciding how the fire mosaic should be managed following the occurrence of large, unplanned wildfires. A key consideration for this decision is the extent to which the effects of previous fire history on vegetation and habitats persist after major wildfires, but this topic has rarely been investigated empirically. In this study, we tested to what extent a large wildfire interacted with previous fire history to affect the structure of forest, woodland, and heath vegetation in Booderee National Park in southeastern Australia. In 2003, a summer wildfire burned 49.5% of the park, increasing the extent of recently burned vegetation (<10 yr post-fire) to more than 72% of the park area. We tracked the recovery of vegetation structure for nine years following the wildfire and found that the strength and persistence of fire effects differed substantially between vegetation types. Vegetation structure was modified by wildfire in forest, woodland, and heath vegetation, but among-site variability in vegetation structure was reduced only by severe fire in woodland vegetation. There also were persistent legacy effects of the previous fire regime on some attributes of vegetation structure including forest ground and understorey cover, and woodland midstorey and overstorey cover. For example, woodland midstorey cover was greater on sites with higher fire frequency, irrespective of the severity of the 2003 wildfire. Our results show that even after a large, severe wildfire, underlying fire histories can contribute substantially to variation in vegetation structure. This highlights the importance of ensuring that efforts to reinstate variation in vegetation fire age after large wildfires do not inadvertently reduce variation in vegetation structure generated by the underlying invisible mosaic. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America.
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