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Vegetation theme research report FINAL 26-06-2019.pdf (1.69 MB)

Murray-Darling Basin Environmental Water Knowledge and Research Project: Vegetation Theme Research Report

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Version 5 2020-09-02, 00:09
Version 4 2020-05-01, 11:00
Version 3 2019-07-17, 07:13
Version 2 2019-07-17, 04:49
Version 1 2019-07-10, 02:34
journal contribution
posted on 2020-05-01, 11:00 authored by Cherie Campbell, Samantha Capon, Susan Gehrig, Cassandra James, Kaylene Morris, Jason Nicol, Daryl Nielsen, Rachael Thomas, Centre for Freshwater EcosystemsCentre for Freshwater Ecosystems
The EWKR vegetation theme sought to:
1. Provide a framework and guiding principles to help define the process of ‘what are we watering for and why?’ to help refine objectives, define function and value, and select indicators across a range of spatial and temporal scales, given the myriad of potential vegetation outcomes; and
2. Improve predictive capacity and the underlying knowledge base by determining drivers of responses to watering actions, for:
a. Existing understory communities
b. Seed bank diversity
c. Woody seedling establishment
d. Lignum structure
The EWKR vegetation theme shows that there is incredible variation in local plant communities and associated seed banks in space and time. This is even though many wetland and floodplain species have wide distributions, are largely cosmopolitan species and are rarely considered endemic. The vegetation theme looked at what causes this variation and how to predict it, and we are beginning to be able to determine community assembly rules. We’re starting to be able to: i) identify what the significant drivers are; ii) determine their relative importance; and iii) understand their interactions.

Funding

Department of Environment and Energy, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office

History

Collaborating Institutions

Griffith University, Flora Fauna Floodplains, James Cook University, Arthur Rylah Institute, South Australian Research Development Institute, CSIRO, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

Research Contact

Cherie Campbell