Eucalypt forests as indicators of the gradients within the central Queensland serpentine landscape of Australia
Rebecca A. Hendry A C and Kevin Ray Wormington B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Central Queensland University, School of Medical and Applied Sciences, PO Box 1319, Gladstone,Qld 4680, Australia.
B Central Queensland University, School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Locked Bag 3333, Bundaberg, Qld 4670, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: r.hendry@cqu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 61(7) 544-551 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT12024
Submitted: 30 January 2013 Accepted: 18 November 2013 Published: 11 February 2014
Abstract
The eucalypt forests of the central Queensland serpentine landscape on the eastern coast of Australia are dominated by two overstorey species. These are Eucalyptus fibrosa F.Muell. subsp. fibrosa, the most dominant tree occurring throughout the landscape, and Corymbia xanthope A.R.Bean & Brooker, a serpentine endemic species which has a more restricted distribution. We hypothesised that the structure and foliage elements of the eucalypt forests could be used as biological indicators of the severity of the serpentine soils. This was tested by surveying 30 plots (50 × 20 m) within the upland landform patterns of the central Queensland serpentine landscape. The structure of the forests and abundance of the species were recorded and foliage samples from the dominant tree E. fibrosa subp. fibrosa were collected and analysed for metal and nutrient content. Soil samples from each site were collected and analysed for major cations, bio-available metals and fertility. Analysis of the data showed that there are significant correlations between the structure of the eucalypt forests and the landform patterns and soil chemistry. The relative basal area of C. xanthope is a useful measure of the severity of the serpentine soils and correlates to the soil Mg : Ca quotients. The tree E. fibrosa subsp. fibrosa was found to regulate its uptake of soil elements and cannot be used as an indicator of soil elements.
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