Management of the ecological value of roadside vegetation
Date
1991
Authors
Wilson, Timothy John
Editors
Advisors
Taylor, Sandra
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Abstract
Seventy-one roadside corridors, four patch edges adjacent to roads and one patch core within the Coranda Environmental Association wers sampled using line transects to examine changes in species composition and cover with distance from edge. The sites were placed into one of 32 groups based on edge age; disturbance type; disn¡rbance age; corridor width and transect location. Analysis was undertaken within groups to identify edge and core communities. It was anticipated that there would be variation in the degree of edge effect commensurate with the age of the edge, time since disturbance and corridor width. Consequently intergroup analysis was undertaken to determine whether any of these variables individually affected species composition and cover. Native species did not exhibit any response which could be interpreted as edge effect. Exotic species were regarded as an indicator of edge disturbance and were present in 28 of the 32 goups. The variation in location and extent of exotic invasion suggested that edge width could be as narrow as one metre or as wide as 500 m. None of the variables accounted for all the variation in exotic or native species cover and it was concluded that this was probably due to variation in factors such as soil nutrient status, cover of native vegetation and litter. The overall trend suggested that senescent stands were most likely to become edge communities. Consequently it is suggested that the major threat to the long term conservation value of roadside vegetation is lack of a natural disturbance regime. Management methods should focus on maintenance of species richness and cover through the use of prescribed burning every 20-30 years. Other management issues to address are the use of roadsides as borrowpits and the invasion of bridal creeper.
School/Discipline
Department of Geography
Dissertation Note
Thesis (MA) -- University of Adelaide, Department of Geography, 1993
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