Biological survey and setting priorities for flora conservation in Western Australia

Grant Wardell-Johnson provided data for the Tingle Mosaic and Natalia Huang prepared the map. We also acknowledge assistance from many taxonomists across Australia and thank the numerous volunteers who have helped in flora surveys over the last 20 years.

Anonymous (1992) ‘National forestry policy statement: a new focus for Australia’s forests.’ (Government Publishing Service: Canberra)

Beard JS (1980) A new phytogeographical map of Western Australia. Western Australian Herbarium Research Notes 3, 37–58.

Beard JS (1990) ‘Plant life of Western Australia.’ (Kangaroo Press: Sydney)

Beard JS, Chapman AR, Gioia P (2000) Species richness and endemism in the Western Australian flora. Journal of Biogeography 27, 1257–1268.
| Crossref |


Bedward M, Pressey RL, Keith DA (1992) A new approach for selecting fully representative reserve networks: addressing efficiency, reserve design and land suitability with an iterative analysis. Biological Conservation 62, 115–125.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Biological Survey Committee (1984) The biological survey of the eastern goldfields of Western Australia. Part 1. Introduction and methods. Records of the Western Australian Museum supplement 18, 1–19.

Bowker GC (2000) Mapping biodiversity. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 14, 739–754.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brandis A , Mitchell W (2000) Achieving a conservation reserve system in the Western Australian rangelands: a regional approach. In ‘Northern grassy landscapes conference: conference proceedings: Katherine, NT, 29–31 August 2000’. pp. 112–116. (Katherine NT Conference Coordinating Group) (Available on CD)

Burbidge AH, Boscacci LJ, Alford JJ, Keighery GJ (1996) A biological survey of Boonanarring Nature Reserve. CALMScience 2, 153–187.

Burbidge AH, Harvey MS, McKenzie NL (2000) Biodiversity of the southern Carnarvon Basin. Records of the Western Australian Museum 61(Supplement), 1–595.

Coates DJ (2000) Defining conservation units in a rich and fragmented flora: implications for the management of genetic resources and evolutionary processes in southwest Australian plants. Australian Journal of Botany 48, 329–339.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Coates DJ, Atkins KA (2001) Priority setting and conservation of Western Australia’s diverse and highly endemic flora. Biological Conservation 97, 251–263.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Conservation Through Reserves Committee (1974) Conservation reserves in Western Australia: report of the Conservation Through Reserves Committee to the Environmental Protection Authority. Department of Environmental Protection, Perth.

Desmet PG, Cowling RM, Ellis AG, Pressey RL (2002) Integrating biosystemic data into conservation planning: perspectives from southern Africa’s succulent karoo. Systematic Biology 51, 317–330.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Diels L (1906) ‘Die Pflanzenwelt von West Australien südlich des Wendekreises.’ (Vegetation der Erde VII: Leipzig)

English V, Keighery GJ, Blythe J (1996) Threatened plant communities of the Swan Coastal Plain. Landscope 12, 35–40.

Ferrier S (2002) Mapping spatial pattern in biodiversity for regional conservation planning: where to from here? Systematic Biology 51, 331–363.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Ferrier S , Watson G (1997) ‘An evaluation of the effectiveness of environmental surrogates and modelling techniques in predicting the distribution of biological diversity.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra)

Ferrier S, Watson G, Pearce J, Drielsma M (2002a) Extended statistical approaches to modelling spatial pattern in biodiversity in northeast New South Wales. I. Species-level modelling. Biodiversity and Conservation 11, 2275–2307.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ferrier S, Drielsma M, Manion G, Watson G (2002b) Extended statistical approaches to modelling spatial pattern in biodiversity in northeast New South Wales. II. Community-level modelling. Biodiversity and Conservation 11, 2309–2338.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gardner CA (1944) The vegetation of Western Australia with special reference to climate and soils; presidential address 1942. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 28, xi–lxxxvii.

Geological Survey of Western Australia (1990) ‘Geology and mineral resources of Western Australia.’ (Geological Survey of Western Australia: Perth)

Gibson N (2004a) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. Part 6, Mt Manning Range. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 87, 35–47.

Gibson N (2004b) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. Part 7, Middle and South Ironcap, Digger Rock and Hatter Hill. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 87, 49–62.

Gibson N, Keighery GJ (2000) Flora and Vegetation of the Byenup–Muir reserve system, south west Western Australia. CALMScience 3, 323–402.

Gibson N, Keighery GJ, Keighery BJ (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, Lyons MN (1998a) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. 2, Bremer Range. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 81, 107–117.

Gibson N, Lyons MN (1998b) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. 3, Parker Range. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 81, 119–129.

Gibson N, Lyons MN (2001a) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. Part 4, Highclere Hills. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 84, 71–81.

Gibson N, Lyons MN (2001b) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. Part 5, Hunt Range, Yendilberin and Watt Hills. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 84, 129–142.

Gibson N , Keighery BJ , Keighery GJ , Burbidge AH , Lyons MN (1994) A Floristic Survey of the southern Swan Coastal Plain. Report for the Australian Heritage Commission. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Gibson N, Lyons MN, Lepschi BJ (1997) Flora and vegetation of the eastern goldfields ranges. Part 1, Helena and Aurora Range. CALMScience 2, 231–246.

Gibson N, Keighery GJ, Lyons MN, Webb A (2004) Terrestrial flora and vegetation of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Records of the Western Australian Museum 67(Supplement), 139–189.

Government of Western Australia (2000) ‘Bush forever, vols. 1 & 2.’ (Western Australian Planning Commission: Perth)

Harris S , Kitchener A (2005) ‘From forest to Fjaeldmark: descriptions of Tasmania’s vegetation.’ (Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment: Hobart)

Higgins MA, Ruokolainen K (2004) Rapid tropical forest inventory: a comparison of techniques based on inventory data from western Amazonia. Conservation Biology 18, 799–811.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hobbs RJ, Mooney HA (1998) Broadening the extinction debate: population deletions and additions in California and Western Australia. Conservation Biology 12, 271–283.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hopkins AJM , Cocker J , Beetson GR , Bowen P , Harvey JM (1996) Conservation status of vegetation types throughout Western Australia. National Reserves System Co-operative Program, Project No. N703, Final Report. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Hopper SD (1992) Patterns of plant diversity at the population and species levels in south-west Australian mediterranean ecosystems. In ‘Biodiversity of Mediterranean Ecosystems in Australia’. (Ed. RJ Hobbs) pp. 27–46. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney)

Hopper SD, Gioia P (2004) The southwest Australian floristic region: evolution and conservation of a global hot spot of biodiversity. Annual review of ecology, evolution and systematics 35, 623–650.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Keighery GJ (1993) Re-discovery of Tetraria australiensis C.B.Clarke (Cyperaceae) Western Australian Naturalist 19, 268.

Keighery GJ (1999 a) Conservation status of vascular flora of the southern Swan Coastal Plain. ANCA National Reserve System Cooperative Program: Project N710. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Keighery GJ (1999b) A new species of Opercularia (Rubiaceae) from Western Australia. Nuytsia 13, 29–32.

Keighery GJ (2002) Taxonomic notes on the genus Stenopetalum (Brassicaceae) Nuytsia 14, 393–403.

Keighery GJ, Gibson NG (1993) Biogeography and composition of the flora of Cape Range Peninsula, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 45(Supplement), 51–85.

Keighery GJ, Keighery BJ (1996) Rediscovery of Schoenus natans (Cyperaceae). Western Australia Naturalist 21, 65–68.

Keighery GJ , Robinson AC , Downing BH (1987) Vegetation. In ‘A biological survey of the Nullarbor Region’ South and Western Australia in 1984’. (Eds NL McKenzie, AC Robinson) pp. 39–102. (South Australian Department of Environment and Planning: Adelaide)

Keighery GJ, Gibson N, Lyons MN, Burbidge AH (2000) Flora and vegetation of the southern Carnarvon Basin. Records Western Australian Museum 61(Supplement), 77–154.

Keighery GJ , Keighery BJ , Gibson N , Gunness A (2001) ‘The vegetation and flora of Quairading Nature Reserve, Shire of Quairading.’ (Western Australian Wildflower Society: Perth)

Keighery GJ, Alford JJ, Longman V (2002) A vegetation survey of the islands of the turquoise coast from Dongara to Lancelin, south-western Australia. Conservation Science Western Australia 4, 13–62.

Keighery GJ, Halse SA, Harvey MS, McKenzie NL (2004) A biodiversity survey of the Western Australian agricultural zone. Records Western Australian Museum 67(Supplement), 1–384.

Keith D (2004) ‘Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT.’ (Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW): Sydney)

Kenneally KF , Keighery GJ , Hyland BF (1991) Floristics and phytogeography of Kimberley rainforests Western Australia. In ‘Kimberley rainforests of Australia’. (Eds NL McKenzie, RB Johnston, PG Kendrick) pp. 93–131. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney)

Kirkpatrick JB (1983) An iterative method for establishing priorities for the selection of nature reserves: an example from Tasmania. Biological Conservation 25, 127–134.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Knight AT, Driver A, Cowling RM, Maze K, Desmet PG, Lombard AT, Rouget M, Botha MA, Boshoff AF, Castley JG, Goodman PS, MacKinnon K, Pierce SM, Sims-Castley R, Stewart WI, Von Hase A (2006) Designing systematic conservation assessments that promote effective implementation: best practice from South Africa. Conservation Biology 20, 739–750.
| Crossref | PubMed |


Lambeck RJ (1997) Focal species: a multi-species umbrella for nature conservation. Conservation Biology 11, 849–856.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lyons MN, Keighery GJ, Gibson N, Wardell-Johnson G (2000) The vascular flora of the Warren bioregion, south-west Western Australia: composition, reservation status and endemism. CALMScience 3, 181–250.

Lyons MN, Gibson N, Keighery GJ, Lyons SD (2004) Wetland flora and vegetation of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Records Western Australian Museum 67(Supplement), 39–89.

Markey A (1997) ‘Floristic survey of the northern Darling Scarp.’ (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth)

Mattiske EM , Havel JJ (1998). ‘Regional Forest Agreement vegetation complexes—Scale 1 : 250 000.’ (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth)

May JE , McKenzie NL (2003) ‘A biodiversity audit of Western Australia’s biogeographical subregions in 2002.’ (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth)

McKenzie NL (1984) Biological surveys for nature conservation by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries and Wildlife—a current view. In ‘Survey methods for nature conservation’. Proceedings of a workshop held at Adelaide University in 1983. (Eds K Myer, CR Margules, I Musto) pp. 88–117. (CSIRO Division of Water Land Resources: Canberra)

McKenzie NL, Burbidge AA (1979) The wildlife of some existing and proposed nature reserves in the Gibson, Little and Great Sandy Deserts, Western Australia. Wildlife Research Bulletin, Western Australia 8, 1–36.

McKenzie NL , Johnston RB , Kendrick PG (Eds) (1991) ‘Kimberley rainforests of Australia.’ (Surrey Beatty: Sydney)

McKenzie NL, Keighery GJ, Gibson N, Rolfe JK (2000a) Patterns in the biodiversity of terrestrial environments in the southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 61(Supplement), 511–546.

McKenzie NL, Halse SA, Gibson N (2000b) Some gaps in the reserve system of the southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 61(Supplement), 547–567.

McKenzie NL, Gibson N, Keighery GJ, Rolfe JK (2004) Patterns in the biodiversity of terrestrial environments in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Records of the Western Australian Museum 67(Supplement), 293–335.

Miles JM, Burbidge AA (1975) A biological survey of the Prince Regent River Reserve, north-west Kimberley, Western Australia. Wildlife Research Bulletin, Western Australia 3, 1–116.

Molina R, Marcot BG, Lesher R (2006) Protecting rare, old-growth, forest-associated species under Survey and Manage Program guidelines of the Northwest Forest Plan. Conservation Biology 20, 306–318.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

Muir BG (1977) Biological survey of the Western Australian wheatbelt Part 2: Vegetation and habitat of Bendering Reserve. Records of the Western Australian Museum 3(Supplement), 1–142.

Nicholls AO, Margules CR (1993) An upgrade reserve selection algorithm. Biological Conservation 64, 165–169.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Noss RF (1987) From plant communities to landscapes in conservation inventories: a look at the Nature Conservancy (USA). Biological Conservation 41, 11–37.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Noss RF (1990) Indicators for measuring biodiversity: a hierarchical approach. Conservation Biology 4, 355–364.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Patrick SJ (2001) ‘Declared rare and poorly known flora in the Geraldton District. Western Australia. Western Australian Wildlife Management Program no. 26.’ (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth)

Patrick SJ (2002) Flora and vegetation of Burnerbinmah Station: a study of the plant communities in the mulga shrublands of the Murchison region, Western Australia. Conservation Science Western Australia 4, 72–93.

Patrick SJ , Brown AP (2001) ‘Declared rare and poorly known flora in the Moora District. Western Australian Wildlife Management Program no. 28.’ (Department of Conservation and Land Management: Perth)

Polomka L , Patrick SJ , Coates DJ (2000) Conservation status of rare and poorly known Western Australian flora: project no. ESU 000012807: final report submitted to the Commonwealth Threatened Species and Communities Section, Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Prance GT (1994) A comparison of the efficacy of higher taxa and species numbers in the assessment of biodiversity in the Neotropics. Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society of London Series B 345, 89–99.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pressey RL, Humphries CJ, Margules CR, Vane-Wright RI, Williams PH (1993) Beyond opportunism: key principles for systematic reserve selection. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 8, 124–128.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pressey RL, Johnson IR, Wilson PD (1994) Shades of irreplaceability: towards a measure of the contribution of sites to a reservation goal. Biodiversity and Conservation 3, 242–262.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reyers B, van Jaarsveld AS, Krüger M (2000) Complementarity as a biodiversity indicator strategy. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 267, 505–513.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reyers B, Fairbanks DHK, van Jaarsveld AS (2001) Priority areas for the conservation of South African vegetation: a coarse-filter approach. Diversity & Distributions 7, 79–95.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sawyer JO , Keeler-Wolf T (1995) ‘A manual of California vegetation.’ (California Native Plant Society: Sacramento, CA)

Schoknecht N , Tille P , Purdie B (2004) Soil-landscape mapping in south-western Australia. Overview of methodology and outputs. Resource Management Technical Bulletin 280, 1–60.

Thackway C , Creswell ID (Eds) (1995) ‘An Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia: a framework for establishing the national system of reserves.’ (Australian Nature Conservation Agency: Canberra)

Valencia R, Balslev H, Paz G (1994) High tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian Ecuador. Biodiversity and Conservation 3, 21–28.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Van Leeuwen S (2002) Biological survey of the south-western Little Sandy Desert: National Reserve System Project N709: final report, June 2002. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Van Leeuwen S , Bromilow B (1998) Flora. In ‘Biological survey of the Barlee Range Nature Reserve’. (Ed. S Van Leeuwen). Report for Australian Heritage Commission. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Van Leeuwen S , Bromilow B (2002) Botanical survey of Hamersley Range uplands: National Reserve System Project N709: final report, May 2002. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Perth.

Van Vreeswyk AME, Payne AL, Leighton KA, Hennig P (2004) An inventory and condition of the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Technical Bulletin 92, 1–424.

Wardell-Johnson G, Williams M (1996) A floristic survey of the tingle mosaic, south-western Australia: applications in land use planning and management. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 79, 249–276.