The effects of browsing by feral and re-introduced native herbivores on seedling survivorship in the Australian rangelands

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dc.contributor.authorMunro, Nicola
dc.contributor.authorMoseby, K E
dc.contributor.authorRead, John
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-07T22:47:29Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.date.updated2015-12-07T11:51:51Z
dc.description.abstractBrowsing by introduced cattle (Bos taurus) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can limit the recruitment of some arid zone tree and shrub species. In a study conducted at the Arid Recovery Reserve, Roxby Downs, SA, we aimed to quantify initial recruitment changes in shrubs after the removal of cattle and rabbits and the re-introduction of locally extinct fauna. The presence and abundance of seedlings was measured at groves of seven native perennial shrubs over 6 years under four browsing treatments: (1) 'reserve-reintroductions' [re-introduced greater stick-nest rats (Leporillus conditor), burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) and greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis)], (2) 'reserve-no browsers', (3) 'pastoral-stocked' (rabbits and cattle), and (4) 'pastoral-destocked' (rabbits). Recruitment of mulga (Acacia aneura F.Muell. ex Benth.), silver cassia (Senna artemisioides subsp. petiolaris Randell) and sandhill wattle (Acacia ligulata A.Cunn. ex Benth.) was significantly greater in the two browsing regimes inside the Reserve than in the two pastoral regimes. The number of recruits of these three species declined at 'pastoral-destocked' and 'pastoral-stocked' sites but increased at 'reserve-reintroductions' and 'reserve-no browsers' sites from 2001 to 2006. Narrow-leaf hopbush (Dodonaea viscose (L.) Jacq.) showed a trend towards increased recruitment at sites in both browsing regimes inside the Reserve, but decreased recruitment at sites in both pastoral regimes. Native plum (Santalum lanceolatum R.Br.), native apricot (Pittosporum phylliraeoides orth. var. DC.) and bullock bush (Alectryon oleifolius (Desf.) S.T.Reynolds) exhibited no significant difference in recruitment between the four browsing regimes within the study timeframe. These results suggest that excluding rabbits and stock may benefit the germination and survival of mulga, silver cassia and sandhill wattle. To date, re-introduced native herbivores at low numbers have not been found to negatively affect the recruitment or growth rate of the seven perennial plant species studied.
dc.identifier.issn1036-9872
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/26085
dc.publisherAustralian Rangeland Society
dc.sourceThe Rangeland Journal
dc.titleThe effects of browsing by feral and re-introduced native herbivores on seedling survivorship in the Australian rangelands
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue4
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage426
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage417
local.contributor.affiliationMunro, Nicola, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationMoseby, K E, Arid Recovery
local.contributor.affiliationRead, John, Arid Recovery
local.contributor.authoremailu4095927@anu.edu.au
local.contributor.authoruidMunro, Nicola, u4095927
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor050104 - Landscape Ecology
local.identifier.absfor050202 - Conservation and Biodiversity
local.identifier.absfor050207 - Environmental Rehabilitation (excl. Bioremediation)
local.identifier.ariespublicationu4474437xPUB42
local.identifier.citationvolume31
local.identifier.doi10.1071/RJ08027
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-71949119677
local.identifier.thomsonID000272172900006
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByu4474437
local.type.statusPublished Version

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