Life-class stages in coast daisy-bush (Olearia axillaris: Asteraceae) as a possible means of monitoring coastal dunes
Julie Hinchliffe A B and John G. Conran A CA Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, Environmental Biology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Darling Building DP418, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
B Spinifex Communications, 70 Chalfont Street, Salisbury, Qld 4107, Australia. Email: juliehinchliffe@bigpond.com
C Corresponding author. Email: john.conran@adelaide.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 53(2) 133-139 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT04042
Submitted: 17 March 2004 Accepted: 25 August 2004 Published: 31 March 2005
Abstract
Olearia axillaris (DC.) F.Muell. ex Benth.: Asteraceae) shrubs in the remnant coastal foredunes at Tennyson in suburban Adelaide, South Australia, were measured for height, width, largest trunk diameter, percentage stem reflexing, percentage procumbent stems and percentage dead stems. Cluster analysis grouped the plants into three distinct life classes: Juvenile, with erect trunks <1 m tall and main trunk <5 cm in diameter; Mature, at ~1.5 m tall and with numerous reflexed stems 8–12 cm in diameter; and Senescent, at ~2 m tall, trunk 8–12 cm in diameter, with numerous procumbent stems and dead branches. A survey of the site also found that although abundant, indicating continuing recruitment, juveniles were most common on the foredunes. Application of this life-classing technique to several burnt and unburnt sites in the Coorong, South Australia, confirmed its utility for assessing population structure, with recently burnt sites showing significantly fewer specimens from later life classes. The ability to life class O. axillaris permits rapid assessment of population structure in this dominant coastal foredune shrub, allowing dune health and recruitment to be monitored easily and managed more efficiently.
Acknowledgments
The 1991 survey was part of an Honours degree by J. H. within the then Department of Botany, now Discipline of Environmental Biology (EB/EES), The University of Adelaide, who are thanked for the provision of resources. The Coastal Management Section of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Hindmarsh Woodville Council are thanked for permission to undertake the research in the foreshore areas under their control. Ron Sandercock from DENR and the Tennyson Dunes Group are thanked for their ongoing support of the project and provision of resources and local expertise. Sue Carthew (EB/EES) is thanked for comments on the manuscript.
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