Maintaining integrity compared with maintaining rare and threatened taxa in remnant bushland in subhumid Tasmania

Kirkpatrick, J. B.; Gilfedder, Louise

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(94)00122-7

Cited by 46 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In previous works and in the present study, the number or proportion of locally rare species may not be related to integrity (e.g., Kirkpatrick and Gilfedder 1995). This may be due to the fact that species that are rare in an archipelago scale may not be restricted to it, many even had been introduced from outside the region, or species that are abundant, may in fact be restricted to its pristine forests.…”

Section: Influence Of Disturbance In Community Parametersmentioning

confidence: 50%

Biotic integrity of the arthropod communities in the natural forests of Azores

2006

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The loss of biotic integrity in ecosystems due to human pressure has been receiving much attention from the scientific community. The primary aim of this study is to understand how the increasing human pressure on natural forests in the Azorean archipelago (North Atlantic) is affecting their epigean arthropod communities and which biological parameters it affects most. An expert team did fieldwork covering most of the natural forests (mainly inside nature reserves) of the archipelago using standardized pitfall trapping. To build a multimetric index we tested a number of taxonomic and ecological parameters that can potentially be influenced by disturbance. Sixteen of these were found to be significantly influenced by disturbance in forests. We retained seven metrics due to both, desirable scalability properties and relatively low correlation between them. These included the percentages of endemic and predator species richness and also predator abundance, which are inversely related to disturbance; and the percentages of native and saprophagous species richness and introduced and herbivore abundance, which are positively related to disturbance. All seven metrics were combined in an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) value. We then proceeded to understand which potential disturbance factors are influencing the biotic integrity of communities and how such influence is felt. Five disturbance factors were found to influence the IBI, although in different ways: the size and fragmentation of reserves, the distance of sites to the reserve borders, the invasion by alien plants and the density of human paths at the sites. Given that only percentages of taxonomical or ecological characteristics were chosen as metrics, we tested and found the scalability of the IBI to be possible, allowing the comparison of sites with different collecting effort or even the comparison of reserves with different areas and numbers of collecting sites in each. Finally, we propose a novel graphical representation for multimetric indices like the IBI, one which allows retaining much of the information that is usually lost in multimetric indices.

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Section: Influence Of Disturbance In Community Parametersmentioning

confidence: 50%

Biotic integrity of the arthropod communities in the natural forests of Azores

2006

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“…Consequently, the plan incorporated many small habitat fragments, slivers of landscape, and isolated planning units that included populations of rare proteas and vertebrates. The use of the extremely comprehensive protea data set enabled us to identify sites important for the conservation of rare taxa that were likely to be overlooked (Kirkpatrick and Gilfedder, 1995;Lombard et al, 2003). We also identified large tracts of intact habitat suitable for the conservation large mammals, but which also contributed, albeit not substantially, to target achievement for other features (Kerley et al, 2003).…”

Section: Assessment Of the Planning Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

A conservation plan for a global biodiversity hotspot—the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Cowling

Pressey

Rouget

et al. 2003

Biological Conservation

332

266

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We produced a conservation plan that achieved conservation targets for biodiversity pattern and process in the species-and endemic-rich Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Features given quantitative conservation targets were land classes, localities of Proteaceae and selected vertebrate (freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles) species, population sizes for medium-and large-sized mammals, and six types of spatial surrogates for ecological and evolutionary processes. The plan was developed in several stages using C-Plan, a decision support system linked to a geographic information system. Accepting the existing reserve system as part of the plan, we first selected spatially fixed surrogates for biodiversity processes; then we included those planning units that were essential for achieving targets for land classes, Proteaceae and vertebrate species; next we included areas required to accommodate population and design targets for large and medium-sized mammals; we then selected planning units required to conserve entire upland-lowland and macroclimatic gradients; and finally we resolved the options for achieving remaining targets while also consolidating the design of conservation areas. The result was a system of conservation areas, requiring, in addition to the existing reserve system, 52% of the remaining extant habitat in the planning domain, as well as restorable habitat, that will promote the persistence and continued diversification of much of the region's biota in the face of ongoing habitat loss and climate change. After describing the planning process, we discuss implementation priorities in relation to conservation value and vulnerability to habitat loss, as well as socio-economic, political and institutional constraints and opportunities. #

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“…Our results emphasize the importance of avoiding a total concentration on the condition of remnant vegetation in conservation planning (Kirkpatrick & Gilfedder 1995). Many threatened species of the grassy and riparian ecosystems of southeastern Australia may be in danger of extinction because of a lack of disturbance, as much as from its excess.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Conserving weedy natives: Two Tasmanian endangered herbs in the Brassicaceae

Kirkpatrick

Gilfedder

1998

Australian Journal of Ecology

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Two species of endangered Brassicaceae, Barbarea austratis and Lepidiuni iiyssopifolium, occur in a few small populations in Tasmania. The former species is associated with streams where it occurs in vegetation with numerous exotics. The latter species is usually found in the root zone of exotic large trees, usually on roadsides, and often in the absence of many other native species. Populations of both species have disappeared since European settlement, some in the last two decades. Both species are rapid and prolific producers of easily germinated seed. Both species are absent from places grazed moderately or intensively by sheep or cattle. The establishment of new individuals of Leptdiuni occurs only on relatively bare ground. The species is tolerant of root competition and intolerant of above ground competition. It will also establish from soil-stored seed after mechanical disturbance. Its future is linked to the survival of grazing-free locations where above ground competition from herbs and grasses is subdued. Barbarea is a ruderal that requires freedom from stock grazing for its persistence in Tasmanian riparian habitats. These results reinforce the importance of some degraded ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, and the critical role of disturbance regimes in influencing the survival or extinction of a subset of native plant species. In the fragmented and variegated landscapes of today, weedy natives cannot necessarily be expected to survive in non-weedy environments.

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Maintaining integrity compared with maintaining rare and threatened taxa in remnant bushland in subhumid Tasmania

Cited by 46 publications

References 5 publications

Biotic integrity of the arthropod communities in the natural forests of Azores

Biotic integrity of the arthropod communities in the natural forests of Azores

A conservation plan for a global biodiversity hotspot—the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa

Conserving weedy natives: Two Tasmanian endangered herbs in the Brassicaceae

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