The importance of recruitment patterns versus reproductive output in the persistence of a short-range endemic shrub in a highly fragmented landscape of south-western Australia
Neil Gibson A B , Colin Yates A , Margaret Byrne A , Margaret Langley A and Rujiporn Thavornkanlapachai A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, LMB 104 Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: Neil.Gibson@dec.wa.gov.au
Australian Journal of Botany 60(7) 643-649 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT12194
Submitted: 19 July 2012 Accepted: 16 September 2012 Published: 25 October 2012
Abstract
Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. teretifolius A.S.George & N.Gibson is a short-range endemic shrub whose habitat has been greatly reduced by clearing for agriculture. Reproductive output was high in all populations sampled, although there were large differences among populations in fruit set, the number of seeds per fruit and seed germination. These traits showed no relationship to population size, degree of isolation, or fragment size, which contrasts strongly with the patterns found in a widespread congener. Demographic studies in remnants with an intact understorey showed stable adult populations with continuous seedling recruitment. In contrast, there was consistent widespread failure of seedling and juvenile recruitment in degraded roadside remnants that also showed significant mortality of reproductive adults. In these degraded remnants, recruitment failure appears to be the primary cause of species decline.
References
Aguilar R, Quesada M, Ashworth L, Herrerias-Diego Y, Lobo J (2008) Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in plant populations: susceptible signals in plant traits and methodological approaches. Molecular Ecology 17, 5177–5188.| Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in plant populations: susceptible signals in plant traits and methodological approaches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bond WJ (1994) Do mutualisms matter? Assessing the impact of pollinator and disperser disruptions on plant extinction. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Biological Sciences 344, 83–90.
| Do mutualisms matter? Assessing the impact of pollinator and disperser disruptions on plant extinction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown EM, Burbidge AH, Dell J, Edinger D, Hopper SD, Wills RT (1997) ‘Pollination in Western Australia: a database of animals visiting flowers.’ (Western Australian Naturalist Club: Perth)
Bruna EM, Fiske IJ, Trager MD (2009) Habitat fragmentation and plant populations: is what we know demographically irrelevant? Journal of Vegetation Science 20, 569–576.
| Habitat fragmentation and plant populations: is what we know demographically irrelevant?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Byrne M, Elliott CP, Yates CJ, Coates DJ (2007) Extensive pollen dispersal in a bird-pollinated shrub, Calothamnus quadrifidus, in a fragmented landscape. Molecular Ecology 16, 1303–1314.
| Extensive pollen dispersal in a bird-pollinated shrub, Calothamnus quadrifidus, in a fragmented landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXkvVKruro%3D&md5=42614f4fa15c716b12d75ccf41611112CAS |
Coates DJ (2000) Defining conservation units in a rich and fragmented flora: implications for the management of genetic resources and evolutionary processes in south-west Australian plants. Australian Journal of Botany 48, 329–339.
| Defining conservation units in a rich and fragmented flora: implications for the management of genetic resources and evolutionary processes in south-west Australian plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coates DJ, Atkins KA (2001) Priority setting and the conservation of Western Australia’s diverse and highly endemic flora. Biological Conservation 97, 251–263.
| Priority setting and the conservation of Western Australia’s diverse and highly endemic flora.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coates DJ, Sampson JF, Yates CJ (2007) Plant mating systems and assessing population persistence in fragmented landscapes. Australian Journal of Botany 55, 239–249.
| Plant mating systems and assessing population persistence in fragmented landscapes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Collins B, Newland C, Briffa P (1984) Nectar utilization and pollination by Australian honeyeaters and insects visiting Calothamnus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Ecology 9, 353–365.
| Nectar utilization and pollination by Australian honeyeaters and insects visiting Calothamnus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dick CW (2001) Genetic rescue of remnant tropical trees by an alien pollinator. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 268, 2391–2396.
| Genetic rescue of remnant tropical trees by an alien pollinator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mnlt1OmtA%3D%3D&md5=a62203b33dee4612750329a0276dacdfCAS |
Gaston KJ, Kunin WE (1997) Rare-common differences: an overview. In ‘The biology of rarity: causes and consequences of rare-common differences’. (Eds WE Kunin, KJ Gaston) pp. 12–29. (Chapman & Hall: London)
George AS, Gibson N (2010) A revision of Calothamnus quadrifidus (Myrtaceae). Nuytsia 20, 57–77.
Gibson N, Keighery G, Keighery B (2000) Threatened plant communities of Western Australia. 1. The ironstone communities of the Swan and Scott Coastal Plains. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 83, 1–11.
Gibson N, Keighery GJ, Lyons MN, Webb A (2004) Terrestrial flora and vegetation of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Records of the Western Australian Museum 139–189.
Hobbs RJ, Yates CJ (2003) Turner Review No. 7. Impacts of ecosystem fragmentation on plant populations generalizing the idiosyncratic. Australian Journal of Botany 51, 471–488.
| Turner Review No. 7. Impacts of ecosystem fragmentation on plant populations generalizing the idiosyncratic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hopper SD (2009) OCBIL theory: towards an integrated understanding of the evolution, ecology and conservation of biodiversity on old, climatically-buffered, infertile landscapes. Plant and Soil 322, 49–86.
| OCBIL theory: towards an integrated understanding of the evolution, ecology and conservation of biodiversity on old, climatically-buffered, infertile landscapes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhtVWisrnN&md5=0ddaa20008ecd3933f64e5823433a91fCAS |
Hopper SD, Moran GD (1981) Bird pollination and the mating system of Eucalyptus stoatei. Australian Journal of Botany 29, 625–638.
| Bird pollination and the mating system of Eucalyptus stoatei.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jarvis NT (1979) ‘Western Australia. An atlas of human endeavour 1829–1979.’ (Government Printer: Perth)
Kendrick GW, Wyrwoll K, Barney J, Szabo BJ (1991) Pliocene–Pleistocene coastal events and history along the western margin of Australia. Quaternary Science Reviews 10, 419–439.
| Pliocene–Pleistocene coastal events and history along the western margin of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krebs CJ (1999) ‘Ecological methodology.’ (Addison-Wesley Longman: Menlo Park, CA)
Lande R (1988) Genetics and demography in biological conservation. Science 241, 1455–1460.
| Genetics and demography in biological conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL1czjs1yktA%3D%3D&md5=759de0ff85823ee95228ce3ec82bb929CAS |
Lavergne S, Thompson JD, Garnier E, Debussche M (2004) The biology and ecology of narrow range endemic and widespread plants: a comparative study of trait variation in 20 congeneric pairs. Oikos 107, 505–518.
| The biology and ecology of narrow range endemic and widespread plants: a comparative study of trait variation in 20 congeneric pairs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meissner R, English V (2005). ‘Interim Recovery Plan No. 215; Shrubland Association on Southern Swan Coastal Plain Ironstone (Busselton Area) (Southern Ironstone Association) Interim Recovery Plan 2005–2010.’ (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth)
Murray BR, Thrall PH, Gill AM, Nicotra AB (2002) How plant life-history and ecological traits relate to species rarity and commonness at varying spatial scales. Austral Ecology 27, 291–310.
| How plant life-history and ecological traits relate to species rarity and commonness at varying spatial scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Phillips RD, Hopper SD, Dixon KW (2010) Pollination ecology and the possible impacts of environmental change in the southwest Australian biodiversity hotspot. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 365, 517–528.
| Pollination ecology and the possible impacts of environmental change in the southwest Australian biodiversity hotspot.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poot P, Lambers H (2003) Are trade-offs in allocation patern and root morphology related to species abundance? A congeneric comparison between rare and common species in the south-western Australian flora. Journal of Ecology 91, 58–67.
| Are trade-offs in allocation patern and root morphology related to species abundance? A congeneric comparison between rare and common species in the south-western Australian flora.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poot P, Lambers H (2008) Shallow-soil endemics: adaptive advantages and constraints of a specialised root-system morphology. New Phytologist 178, 371–381.
| Shallow-soil endemics: adaptive advantages and constraints of a specialised root-system morphology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tille P, Lantzke N (1990) Busselton–Margaret River–Augusta land capability study; methodology and results. Division of Resource Management Technical Report 109. Vols 1 and 2. Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Perth.
Yates CJ, Broadhurst LM (2002) Assessing limitations on population growth in two critically endangered Acacia taxa. Biological Conservation 108, 13–26.
| Assessing limitations on population growth in two critically endangered Acacia taxa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates CJ, Ladd PG (2004) Breeding system, pollination and demography in the rare granite endemic shrub Verticordia staminosa ssp. staminosa in south-west Western Australia. Austral Ecology 29, 189–200.
| Breeding system, pollination and demography in the rare granite endemic shrub Verticordia staminosa ssp. staminosa in south-west Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates CJ, Ladd PG (2005) Relative importance of reproductive biology and establishment ecology for persistence of a rare shrub in a fragmented landscape. Conservation Biology 19, 239–249.
| Relative importance of reproductive biology and establishment ecology for persistence of a rare shrub in a fragmented landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates CJ, Coates DJ, Byrne M, Elliott C (2007a) Composition of the pollinator community, pollination and the mating system for a shrub in fragments of species rich kwongan in south-west Western Australia. Biodiversity and Conservation 16, 1379–1395.
| Composition of the pollinator community, pollination and the mating system for a shrub in fragments of species rich kwongan in south-west Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates CJ, Elliott C, Byrne M, Coates DJ, Fairman R (2007b) Seed production, germinability and seedling growth for a bird-pollinated shrub in fragments of kwongan in south-west Australia. Biological Conservation 136, 306–314.
| Seed production, germinability and seedling growth for a bird-pollinated shrub in fragments of kwongan in south-west Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates CJ, Elith J, Latimer AM, le Maitre D, Midgley GF, Schurr FM, West AG (2010) Projecting climate change impacts on species distributions in megadiverse South African cape and southwest Australian floristic regions: opportunities and challenges. Austral Ecology 35, 374–391.
| Projecting climate change impacts on species distributions in megadiverse South African cape and southwest Australian floristic regions: opportunities and challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
