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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 31(1)

Can bare ground cover server as a surrogate for plant biodiversity in grazed tropical woodlands?

Juliana McCosker A D , John Rolfe B and Rod Fensham C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Environmental Protection Agency, PO Box 906 Emerald, Qld 4720, Australia.

B Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld 4701, Australia.

C Queensland Herbarium, Environmental Protection Agency, Mt Coot-tha Road Toowong, Qld 4066, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: juliana.mccosker@epa.qld.gov.au

The Rangeland Journal 31(1) 103-109 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ08041
Submitted: 9 September 2008  Accepted: 17 February 2009   Published: 26 March 2009

Abstract

A bare ground index derived by remote sensing would provide a rapid methodology for assessing the biodiversity condition of an ecosystem, providing that ground cover is a satisfactory correlate with key biodiversity attributes. The relationship between plant species richness and the abundance of individual species was examined in relation to ground cover within silver-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus melanophloia F. Muell.) woodlands in the Desert Uplands bioregion of north-eastern Australia. There was significant correlation between the bare ground index and ground cover and biomass measurements. Twenty-four species, including the perennial grasses Sehima nervosum (Rottler) Stapf, Themeda triandra Forssk. and Bothriocloa ewartiana (Domin) C.E. Hubb., were significantly and negatively correlated with bare ground. Scleroleana birchii (F. Muell.) Domin and Sida fibulifera Lindl.displayed significant positive relationships with increasing bare ground, and where abundant indicate heavy grazing in this land type. The study suggests that satellite-derived data does provide a meaningful methodology for assessing vegetation condition although it is strongly associated with seasonal conditions, but is only useful in relation to the regional average for a land type. The findings suggest that plant diversity is maintained at a relatively high level throughout most of these woodlands in the Desert Uplands.

Additional keywords: bare ground index, biodiversity condition, grazing, plant composition, silver-leaved ironbark.


Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people who assisted with fieldwork: Joe Halloran, John Augusteyn, Samantha Evans, Cameron James, Karen Aitchison and Tim Murphy. Many thanks to all the property owners who allowed us access to the sites. Thank you also to two anonymous reviewers and Dr A.J. Pressland for useful comments that helped to improve this manuscript.


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Appendix 1. Significant relationships with bare ground are listed

For 25 species with no significant relationships are listed with their frequency in parenthesis. Perennial grasses: Aristida jerichoensis (282), Sporobolus carolii (14), Eragrostis lacunaria (169), Eriachne mucronata (217), Chloris ventricosa (17), Eragrostis spartinoides (10), Heteropogon contortus (60), Digitaria brownii (171), Eulalia aurea (14), Enneapogon lindeyanus (85), Digitaria ammophila (38), Chloris divaricata (13), Panicum effusum (268), Cymbopogon bombycinus (14), Cymbopogon refractus (7), Schizachyrium fragile (26), Enneapogon virens (329), Triodia pungens (393), Tragus australianus (10), Paraneurachne meulleri (16), Cenchrus ciliaris (106), Perennial forbs: Scleroleana muricata (70), Scleroleana convexula (28), Sida rohlenae (139), Cynodon dactylon (10), Hibiscus burtonii (74), Sida atherophora (115), Senna artemisioides subsp. filifolia (14), Abutilon sp. (38), Phyllanthus sp. (13), Indigofera linifolia (84), Desmodium varians (8), Hybanthus enneaspermus (21), Spermacoce brachystemma (9), Tephrosia leptoclada (7), Wultheria indica (16), Chaemasyce drummondii (33), Calotis xanthosioidea (33), Boerhavia pubescens (88), Alternanthera nana (30), Cheilanthes sieberi subsp. sieberi (13), Peripleura hispidula (17), Rostellularia adscendens (14), Gossypium australe (6), Corchorus aestuans (82), Solanum ellipticum (46), Tricoryne elatoir (13), Zornia muriculata (63), Evolvulus alsinoides subsp. decumdens (209), Annual grasses: Aristida holathera (147), Perotis rara (7), Dactyloctenium radulans (23), Annual forbs: Gomphrena celosioides (6), Portulaca oleracea (12), Portulaca pilosa (41), Oldenlandia mitrasacmoides (45), Heliotropium tanythrix (21), Alternanthera denticulata (20), Oldenlandia corymbosa (26), Trees and shrubs: Canthium oleifolium (33), Acacia melleodora (10), Acacia tenuissima (34), Opuntia stricta (16), Carissa ovata (52), Acacia coriacea subsp. sericophylla (107), Stylosanthes scabra (66), Petalostigma pubescens (15)


Appendix 1
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