Ecology of Allocasuarina Littoralis (salisb.) L. Johnson and A. Torulosa (ait.) L. Johnson in North Queensland

Abstract

Allocasuarina Littoralis and A.Torulosa occur in the woodlands of North Queensland in areas receiving between 1,000 and 2,000 mm annual rainfall. This thesis examines factors influencing their distributional patterns, and discusses the implication; of their comparative ecology for life .history modelling, tropical .revegetation programs and reconstruction of North Queensland's environmental history. The life-cycle is divided into sev·era1 stages: seed dispersal and losses, germination and early seedling .recruitment, the first year juvenile stage, and established juvenile stage to reproduction. Factors limiting survival in each stage of the life-cycle and progression to subsequent stages a.re identified. Seed-fail, post-dispersal seed losses, seedling germination and recruitment, growth .rate and mortality of juvenile and adult plants, and reproductive output we.re measured i:11 contiguous stands in Kirra.ma. State Forest. Seed germination, population structure and recovery from fire were measured for other North Queensland sites. The effects of fire. light and moisture conditions on ger.mi.J11ation and seedling survivorship, growth and competition were examined in the laboratory. Show more