© A. Le Brocque, 2008

Peter Wagner (MSc. candidate):

Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments

 

Research Title:  Changes in ecological processes in Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) and related vegetation remnants, southern Queensland

Supervisors:       Dr Andy Le Brocque (Faculty of Sciences, USQ), Dr John Dearnaley (Faculty of Sciences, USQ)

Start Date:           July 2008

Description:

Acacia harpophylla (Brigalow) dominated ecosystems occur throughout Australia’s Brigalow Belt, spanning approximately 6 million hectares of much of inland and eastern Queensland to northern New South Wales.  Since European settlement, a large proportion of this landscape has been cleared and modified in order to utilise fertile soils for agricultural cropping and pasture.  Over-grazing, soil erosion, raised water table, and salinity, has further reduced the quality of much of the remaining habitat.  Brigalow landscapes have, as a result of this exploitation, been identified as endangered by the Queensland Herbarium (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008).  While state and national legislation is in place to restrict excessive clearing (e.g. Vegetation Management Act 1999) little is known in relation to the condition and status of remnant patches.  This research will examine changes in ecological processes operating within remnant Brigalow communities in southern Queensland.

This research will consist of both survey and experimental components that will determine patterns in the richness, composition and structure of Brigalow communities.  A broad survey, encompassing numerous Acacia harpophylla dominated communities, will assess determine patterns in floristic composition, structural diversity and condition.  The core of the research will assess differences in population structure in relation landscape factors, such as patch size and surrounding land use, and site factors, such as soil characteristics and altered disturbance regimes.  Analysis of soil chemistry will also be undertaken to further identify changes in ecological processes operating within isolated patches.

Specifically, the objectives of the project are to:

• Survey existing Acacia harpophylla dominated and related communities in the study area to determine the ecological patterns evident.

• Investigate changes in population structure, composition and richness of remnant and regrowth Brigalow and related communities.

• Relate vegetation patterns to a range of environmental and disturbance factors including soil chemistry, landscape context and historical and contemporary disturbance regimes.

Results from this research will aid natural resource managers in the application of conservation and restoration practices that will optimise the ecosystem quality and biodiversity.  

For more information contact:

Dr Andy Le Brocque,

Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments/Faculty of Sciences

University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350 AUSTRALIA

ph.: 07 4631 1529  |  email: lebrocq@usq.edu.au