Patterns of Distribution of Acacia in Australia

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
BR Maslin ◽  
L Pedley
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Patterns Of Distribution ◽  
The North ◽  
Geographic Patterns ◽  
South West ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Semiarid Areas ◽  
The Tropics

Patterns of distribution are described for the three subgenera and nine sections that make up the Australian Acacia flora. Subgenus Phyllodineae (833 species) is widespread and contains 99% of the species; subgenus Acacia (six species) and subgenus Aculeiferum (one species) are poorly represented and virtually confined to the north of the continent. The geographic patterns of species-richness are strongly influenced by sections Phyllodineae (352 species), Juliflorae (219 species) and Plurinerves (178 species). Section Phyllodineae has centres of richness south of the Tropic of Capricorn in temperate and adjacent semiarid areas of eastern, south-eastern and south-western Australia. The section is poorly represented in the tropics. The closely related sections Juliflorae and Plurinerves predominate in the north of the continent, semiarid areas of the south-west, many rocky tablelands of the Arid Zone and along the Great Dividing Range and adjacent inland riverine lowland areas in eastern Australia. The remaining four sections contribute little to the overall patterns of species-richness. The principal speciespoor areas are sandy and fluvial lowland regions of the Arid Zone. In eastern Australia, sections Botrycephalae, Juliflorae, Phyllodineae and Plurinerves show discontinuous patterns of species-richness along the Great Dividing Range. All sections have species whose ranges terminate in the area of the McPherson-Macleay Overlap region.

Phytogeography of Acacia in Australia in Relation to Climate and Species-Richness

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
RJ Hnatiuk ◽  
BR Maslin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Significance ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Geographic Patterns ◽  
South West ◽  
Eastern Australia

This paper reports on the kinds of geographic patterns encountered in the distribution of Australian species of Acacia and on some climatic correlates of these patterns. The analyses were based on distribution data of 837 species mapped on a 1° x 1.5° grid. The area of highest density of species was the south-west corner of the continent, especially adjacent to the major boundary separating the Arid Zone from the more humid South West Botanical Province. The second major centre of richness occurred in eastern Australia south of the Tropic of Capricorn along the topographically heterogeneous Great Dividing Range. Secondary centres of species-richness occurred in northern and north-eastern Australia, a number of rocky tablelands of the Arid Zone and in western Victoria. The principal species-poor areas were located in sandy and some riverine areas of the Arid Zone, in temperate forests of Tasmania and in coastal areas of the north of the continent. The geographic patterns of each section of Acacia, when combined with those of species density, highlighted the tropical (section Juliflorae) v. temperate areas (sections Phyllodineae, Pulchellae, Botrycephalae and Alatae). The numerical classification of grids resulted in the recognition of eight major Acacia areas, arranged under four Acacia regions: (1) South-west; (2) Eastern, comprising a southern and a northern area; (3) Northern, comprising an eastern and a western area; (4) Central, comprising a south-east, a central and a north-west area. A discriminant function analysis indicated that precipitation was more important than temperature in distinguishing between areas. Discussion of the potential evolutionary significance of these findings and brief comparison with other biogeographic studies are given.

Owl survey of the Peel–Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham R. Fulton
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Black Rat ◽  
South West ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Ringtail Possum ◽  
Flying Fox

Little is known of owls in south-western Australia compared with the owls of southern and eastern Australia. Surveys of forest owls in the south-west are almost completely lacking. This study sought to determine the abundance and detectability of owls immediately around the Peel–Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia. The southern boobook (Ninox boobook) and the masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) were the only owls detected (n = 23 and n = 1 respectively), although the nocturnal tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) was detected from unelicited calls on three occasions. Southern boobooks were found to be common in this area though they are reported to be in decline in south-eastern and inland Australia. Their detectability was significantly greater in August (late winter) than at other times through unelicited calls; otherwise, there were no detections in winter. A variety of small mammals were detected during the surveys, including: a little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus), a western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), 19 southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus), 4 common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), 21 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a black rat (Rattus rattus), 2 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 22 microbats.

Effects of forestry activities (clearfelling) on stream macroinvertebrate fauna in south-western Australia

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 963 ◽  
Author(s):  
IO Growns ◽  
JA Davis
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Community ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Inorganic Solids ◽  
South West ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Stream Macroinvertebrate ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Fauna

The effects of forestry activities on macroinvertebrate community structure were examined in the headwaters of Carey Brook in the south-west of Australia. The fauna at four sites on an upland stream that ran through a logging coupe were compared, before and after clearfelling, with the fauna at four nearby undisturbed sites. Mean species richness and mean total abundance declined at the treatment sites relative to the control sites after the commencement of clearfelling activities. The composition of the macroinvertebrate fauna in the disturbed stream changed in comparison with that in the undisturbed sites after logging started but returned to the pre-logging composition after winter and spring rains had stopped. The observed changes in the macroinvertebrate fauna occurred during the periods of high loads of suspended inorganic solids at the treatment sites. The possible reasons for the observed results are discussed.

Phylogeographic structure of a freshwater crayfish (Decapoda:Parastacidae:Cherax preissii) in south-western Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Gouws ◽  
Barbara A. Stewart ◽  
Savel R. Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Molecular Dating ◽  
Phylogeographic Structure ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
The North ◽  
South West ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Freshwater Decapods ◽  
North Western

Although phylogeographic patterns of freshwater decapods elsewhere in Australia are well documented, little is known of the phylogeography and biogeography of the endemic freshwater fauna of south-western Australia. Here, the phylogeographic structure of a freshwater crayfish, Cherax preissii Erichson, 1846, was investigated to determine contemporary and historical patterns of gene flow and to examined evolutionary and biogeographical scenarios. Allozyme and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial DNA data were collected from 15 populations, sampled across the known C. preissii distribution. Both markers revealed a clear distinction and separation among populations occurring in the north-western and southern portions of the distribution. Inferences of allopatric fragmentation and molecular dating attributed the divergence of the aquatic fauna of these regions to periods of Pliocene–Pleistocene aridity. Connectivity appeared to be greater within each of these regions. Evidence suggested contemporary, but not ongoing, gene flow, particularly within the southern region. This was possibly facilitated by dispersal during pluvial Pleistocene periods or drainage connectivity during episodic marine regressions. The divergence and distributions of these lineages parallels patterns seen in other freshwater crayfish of the region. More explicit investigation of these and further fine-scale phylogeographic studies may contribute to the understanding of biogeography and evolution in the south-west, and may further refine currently recognised biogeographical regions.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic support for the Tropical Niche Conservatism Hypothesis despite the absence of a clear latitudinal species richness gradient in Yunnan's woody flora

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 7055-7077 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Tang ◽  
M. G. Zhang ◽  
C. Liu ◽  
Z. Zhou ◽  
W. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Latitudinal Gradient ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Niche Conservatism ◽  
The North ◽  
Related Plant ◽  
Species Richness Gradient ◽  
The Tropics

Abstract. The Tropical Niche Conservatism Hypothesis (TCH) tries to explain the generally observed latitudinal gradient of increasing species diversity towards the tropics. To date, few studies have used phylogenetic approaches to assess its validity, even though such methods are especially suited to detect changes in niche structure. We test the TCH using modeled distributions of 1898 woody species in Yunnan Province (southwest China) in combination with a family level phylogeny. Unlike predicted, species richness and phylogenetic diversity did not show a latitudinal gradient, but identified two high diversity zones, one in Northwest and one in South Yunnan. Despite this, the underlying residual phylogenetic diversity showed a clear decline away from the tropics, while the species composition became progressingly more phylogenetically clustered towards the North. These latitudinal changes were strongly associated with more extreme temperature variability and declining precipitation and soil water availability, especially during the dry season. Our results suggests that the climatically more extreme conditions outside the tropics require adaptations for successful colonization, most likely related to the plant hydraulic system, that have been acquired by only a limited number of phylogenetically closely related plant lineages. We emphasize the importance of phylogenetic approaches for testing the TCH.

Spatial distribution of species richness and endemism of the genus Acacia in Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos E. González-Orozco ◽  
Shawn W. Laffan ◽  
Joseph T. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Grid Cell ◽  
Grid Cells ◽  
The South ◽  
Cell Radius ◽  
South West ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Neighbourhood Analysis

The aim of this study is to identify and map the spatial distribution of species richness and endemism of the genus Acacia in Australia. A database of 171 758 geo-referenced herbarium records representing 1020 Acacia species was assembled and aggregated to a 0.25° grid cell resolution. A neighbourhood analysis of one-cell radius was applied to each of the grid cells to map the spatial patterns of species richness and endemism. The primary centres of species richness are in accordance with previous results, occurring in the South-West Botanical Province in Western Australia, the MacPherson-Macleay overlap and the Central Coast of the Sydney Sandstone region. We identify 21 centres of endemism, of which six were previously unrecognised. The primary centres of endemism are located in South-West Western Australia, the Kimberley District and the Wet Tropics in Queensland. The South-West Botanical Province in Western Australia contained the greatest number of regions with the highest number of endemic species of Acacia. A randomisation test showed that our 21 centres of endemism were significantly different from random. The majority of centres of Acacia endemism were incongruent with the centres of species richness, with only three grid cells in the top 1% for both measures. We also confirm that South-West Western Australia is a region of very high species richness and endemism, in accordance with its status as a global hotspot of biodiversity.

On Tapiolite in the Pilbara goldfield, Western Australia

1917 ◽  
Vol 18 (84) ◽  
pp. 107-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward S. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
The World ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Considerable Detail ◽  
Mineral Product

The Pilbara goldfield lies in the north-west division of Western Australia within the tropics, and has been described in considerable detail by A. Gibb Maitland in Bulletin 40 of the Geological Survey of Western Australia. Though the chief mineral product at present is gold, the district abounds in other economic minerals, notably ores of copper and tin, and has already become famous as being by far the most important producer of tantalum in the world, the chief source of supply of this metal being the manganotantalite of Wodgina.

The geographic variation of salt precipitated over Western Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
FJ Hingston ◽  
V Gailitis
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Salt Composition ◽  
The South ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
The North ◽  
South West ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Chloride Deposition

The amounts of Na+, Mg2 +, K+, Ca2 +, C1-, SO42-, HCO3- and dust precipitated in rainfall and as dry fallout into continuously open collection funnels are reported for 59 centres throughout Western Australia. Ionic accessions for 1973 were in the following ranges; Na+, 2-98 kg ha-1; Mg2+, 0.3-15 kg ha-1; Ca2+, 0.8-35 kg ha-1; K+, 0.3-14 kg ha-1; SO42-, 2-57 kg ha-1; C1-, 2-180 kg ha-1; HCO3-, 1-105 kg ha-1. Chloride deposition at the coast is approximately an order of magnitude greater in the south-west of the state than in the north. In each region the amount of chloride precipitated exhibited the usual decrease with distance inland. There were regional differences in rainwater salt composition. Excess of ions over the amounts attributed to oceanic aerosols are explained by the locations of sampling centres relative to other source areas. Perth, the largest city, had the highest excess sulphur and above average values were obtained at the larger mining and country centres. Industry and domestic fires are the probable sources of this sulphur. Excesses of all ions from terrestrial sources were indicated at many inland centres, and were greatest in the zone of salt lakes and occluded drainage in the south-west.

Studies in Australian Amphibia. 1. The genus Crinia Tschudi in South-western Australia and some species from south-eastern Australia.

1957 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
AR Main
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Life History Data ◽  
South West ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
A New Species

The Western Australian representatives of the genus Crinia Tschudi are reviewed. On the basis of field observations and data from in vitro crosses it is concluded that the following species occur in south-western Australia: Crinia rosea Harrison, C. leai Fletcher, C. georgiana Tschudi, C. glauerti Loveridge, C. insignifera Moore, and a new species. From in vitro crosses, Moore's (1954) conclusion that C. signifera Girard does not occur in the south-west of Australia is confirmed. C. glauerti is regarded as a western representative of the C. signifera super-species. Collections in eastern Australia revealed the presence of an undescribed species which is a representative of the C. insignifera super-species. Life history data are presented.

Variation in fire interval sequences has minimal effects on species richness and composition in fire-prone landscapes of south-west Western Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 261 (6) ◽  
pp. 965-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy S. Wittkuhn ◽  
Lachie McCaw ◽  
Allan J. Wills ◽  
Richard Robinson ◽  
Alan N. Andersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
South West ◽  
In Fire
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