Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research

Draft Proposals

Collaborative Projects Using Continent-wide Datasets

Eucalyptus

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Colin BALE/John WILLIAMS
Telephone: 067 733235
Fax: 067 733283
Email: -

1. Relate species distributions to geographic and site factors, particularly parent materials, climate and topographic attributes.
2. Test the fidelity of phytosociological groupings.
3. Identify key site attributes of local endemics.

Species cohabitance and distributions in NE NSW. Site attributes: lat/long; altitude; parent material/soil; local topographic features.

1. Access dataset records of selected species.
2. Supplement records with local data as necessary.
3. Link species distributions with regional/site attributes, possibly incorporating soil properties where known.
4. Apply ordination techniques to investigate phytosociological groupings.

Predictive model of species/site relationships.

Relevant to conservation and forestry interests.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

F. Bullen
Telephone: (02) 6250 0371
Fax: (02) 6250 0360
Email: frank@erin.gov.au

1. Derive multi-temporal `greenness' signatures for key Eucalyptus species/alliances (most common ones to some more localised).
2. Compare these with climatic data.
3. Use these data in association with BIOCLIM to obtain, if possible, more precise `predictions' of species/alliance distribution.

1. Multi-temporal (at least 2-monthly) NOVI (`Greenness' Index) from AVHRR (1 km resolution) for 1991-1994 (& 5-10 km resolution 1981-1990 average NOVI data).
2. Climatic data at equivalent resolution (BIOCLIM/ESOCLIM).
3. Digital elevation model.
4. Eucalyptus Point records.

1. Devise, by a combination of GIS/Image analysis classificatory methods, multi-temporal greenness signatures (ie. phenological growth or `greenness' curves along the course of an `average' year).
2. Link these with climatic data.
3. Merge these into a BIOCLIM-type modelling process.

1. A better understanding of the phytogeography & ecology of eucalypts.
2. A better mapping of the floristics of eucalypt-dominated vegetation associations.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Mark BURGMAN
Telephone: (053) 452 405
Fax: (053) 451 094
Email: -

To develop and test mathematical techniques for identifying change in patterns in collections, and from these changes, infer changes in conservation status of individual taxa, and identify landscape scale changes in processes that may affect conservation status.

x,y co-ordinates of collections, taxonomic determination, date of collection.

Pass collection records through a filter of equations that will detect changes in collection patterns and interactions between collection patterns and geographic location. Evalutate the efficacy of the equations by comparing the results with current estimates of conservation status, and with evaluations of status supplied by botanists familiar with the genus. Modify the equations to work, given the vagaries of collection processes and develop software that will interface with existing data bases, so that botanists may put reasonable questions and be provided with reliable answers.

Software that will allow the inference of conservation status of species in museum and herbSarium databases, and the inference of the conservation status of biota within prescribed geographic regions.

Most of the information that we have at our disposal for most taxa is in the form of museum and herbarium collections. There is an urgent need to develop methods that will allow the inference of conservation values for prioritisation of conservation effort.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Arthur CHAPMAN
Telephone: (02) 6250 0376
Fax: (02) 6250 0360
Email: arthur@erin.gov.au

To use a large dataset to test methods of automatic error detection and reporting and to use this information to improve data quality assurance methodologies.

Eucalyptus data at ERIN. BIOCLIM & GARP.

Use data validation & quality assurance procedures developed at ERIN to validate the Eucalyptus datasets & to analyse the efficiency of this and other methods of data validation. The method uses climate as a surrogate to detect outliers in distribution patterns.

An improved method for validating point-based Biological Records by automatic outlier detection.

Has major implication for data management and quality assurance with biological data in Australia.

Project title:

Sub Project coordinator:

F. CROME
Telephone: 070-918827
Fax: 070-913245
Email: Frances@trofis.tfrc.csiro.au

The overall project aim is to assess and model the environmental costs/benefits of changing demography and lifestyle patterns in Australia. This subproject targets biodiversity and aims to produce suitable modelling & sampling procedures, and appropriate biodiversity indicators for use in population/environment analysis.

1. Distribution of eucalypts.
2. Conservation status of species.

1. Obtain or develop meassures of conservation status.
2. Analyse congruence of spp. diversity patterns, rare species distribution patterns and conservation status patterns with areas of human population expansion.
3. Relate conservation threats to eucalypts to critical aspects of demography/lifestyle, eg. agriculture.
4. Determine if a sampling approach based on SLA's, LGA's or LCD's is superior to a continent-wide GIS approach to link demography to eucalypt biodiversity conservation.

1. Determine ways of linking demography/lifestyle to eucalypt biodiversity conservation.
2. Identify critical areas of Australia where human population expansion is particularly threatening to Eucalyptus.
3. Determine if sampling procedure can be used in population/environment analyses.

In all official consideration of E.S.D. population has been ignored. This study will be a major contribution to establishing a carrying capacity for Australia.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

A.M. GILL (I. BROOKER, L. BELBIN)
Telephone: 02 6246 5116
Fax: 02 6246 5249
Email: malcolm@pican.pi.csiro.au

Identification and explanation of distributional patterns of eucalypt characters and taxa in Australia.

Presence/absence. Flowering?

We already have the software in place for use of the data base; the software includes mapping at a 1:250,000 scale, and the use of climatic data.

1. The Data Patterns in collection by time and space. Resolution of the data (scale-related pattern?). Distribution of the `collection index'; location of poorly searched areas.
2. Species richness patterns in relation to climate, subgenus, topographic variation and soils.
3. Zonations of distribution (areas with similar species compositions), endemism (statical?) and rarity (statistical?).
4. Convergance, adaptation and the distribution of morphological characteristics especially form, fruit dimensions, leaf dimensions and bark type. Previous work suggests that the stress-index approach of Grime has relevance here.
5. Previously we have not given careful consideration to the use of flowering data because it was considered biased towards the unusual occurrence rather than the usual. However this needs to be reconsidered.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Dr S.D. Hopper
Director
Kings Park & Botanic Garden
West Perth WA 6005
Telephone: 09 321 5065
Fax: 09 322 5064
Email: -

Reconstruction of the acquisition of geographical and systematic knowledge of eucalypts and to document how this has impacted upon recent conservation classifications.

Taxon/lat.long./collector/date of collection.

Chronological/geographical/systematic/collector data summaries from main data base, analysed and interpreted using appropriate statistical and graphical approaches.

A review paper on the history of eucalypt collections, systematic concepts and assessment of conservation status. Recommendations for effective future priorities in these areas.

The availability of specimen data in digital form provides a new opportunity for rigorous historical investigation. The review will help target future collections and conservation activity.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Dr Tony Norton (in collaboration with Dr Jann Williams)
Telephone: 249 4758
Fax: 249 0757
Email: norton@cres.anu.edu.au

1. To determine if taxonomic and functional characters of certain eucalypts can be related to various derived environmental gradients or environmental units.
2. To assess the affects of scale on the reliability and utility of such analyses for land-use planning.

Geo-coded point-based presence data of selected eucalypt taxa.

1. Couple selected aggregates of eucalypt samples to environmental data sets held at CRES, ANU.
2. Assess quantitative relationships between taxa in environmental and geographic space.

A more sophisticated and enhanced horizontal-resolution quantitative assessment of the relationship between eucalypt taxa and assemblages of taxa (based on taxonomic and functional attributes) in relation to various environmental attributes, from sub-catchment to continental scale.

To develop an improved understanding of the environmental factors influencing biological patterns. This understanding can then be used, for example, to:

i) identify fundamental and strategic research needs, and
ii) inform regional assessment processes of governments and potential nature conservation priorities.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Ian Noble
Ecosystem Dynamics, RSBS
ANU 0200
Canberra ACT
Telephone: (02) 6249 5092
Fax: (02) 6249 5095
Email: noble@RSBS-CENTRAL.anu.edu.au

To extend the initial literature survey (Aust.J.Bot. 37, 207-24 1989) of the ecological characteristics of the monocalyptus & symphyomyrtus subgenera. In particular, seek syndromes (suites of correlated traits) associated with the subgenera.

1. Species by character databases.
2. Species distribution (lat-long & habitat) data.

Multi-variate analyses of subgenera x character x distribution (habitat) data sets, supported by experimental data from literature and own work.

Greater insight into the ecological characteristics of the subgenera, possibly leading to insights into their phylogeny.

Practical applications in predicting best species selections; impacts of global change.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

David Goldney
Tel: (063) 384 386
Fax: (063) 384 649
Email: dgoldney@csu.edu.au

Contact:
Brian Stone
Tel: (063) 384 825
Email: bstone@csu.edu.au

To characterise and map the distribution of vegetation alliances/associations within remnant woodlands and native forests in the central western region, NSW - to facilitate the conservation of the remnant matrix in particular and biodiversity and ecological services in general.

Taxon, Latitude, Longitude (Eastings, Northings if available?), G/cde Determination?, Geocode Precision, Altitude, Alt. Precision, Specimen Type, Data Quality, Locality, Date Collected, (possibly Institution, Institution Specimen Id, Collector).

1. Map distribution of identified vegetation Alliances/Associations - (Carried out with NPWS "Broad vegetation" coverage, using GIS's). 2. Mapping of a "conservation ratings" (CR) coverage for all remnants of each vegetation community type within the selected map sheets. (The CR's integrate a number of site attributes which score the vegetation health, habitat quality and degree of human impacts on the communities.)
2. Model predicted distributions of communities with ERMS using our own & appropriate data from the continent-wide datasets and other coverages generated from climate models (eg. BIOCLIM), geology, soils, topographic (or digital terrain) and other data. Map these within the domain of the extant vegetation coverage. Field truthing and refining of the model.

Vegetation Maps of selected 1:100,000 map sheets showing the distribution of Alliances/Associations at a landscape scale (delineating small remnants - down to about 5 hectares in area). Associated Statistical data. Maps of Predicted Vegetation Alliances/Associations at various scales covering the CWR (eventually).

The conservation of ecosystem/landscape diversity - identification of poorly conserved communities ("Gap Analysis") & critical wildlife habitats, mapping of habitat connectivity. Data for Conservation Management Prescriptions and sustainable agriculture.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Kevin Thiele
Suzanne Prober
Telephone: 02 6246 5108
Fax: 02 6246 5249
Email: -

To attempt to define natural region (areas of endemism) for eucalypts in Australia by an automated search for congruent distributional edges, and to use these as a basis for analysis of patterns of distribution.

Point locality data.

1. Generalise point locality data into a distribution envelope for each species, using a computer-based expert system.
2. Generate a distributional edge for each species, and automatically search these for congruent edges, thus defining natural regions (areas of endemism).
3. Compare patterns of rarity within and between such natural regions, if it proves possible to delimit them.

1. An expert system for defining a distributional edge from point locality data.
2. A set of natural regions for Australia based on congruent distributional edges.

Possibly significant for phytogeography (a new method for delimiting natural regions) and cladistic biogeography (ditto areas of endemism), possibly enabling a better understanding of patterns of rarity.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Trevor Whiffin
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:

Aim: To use distributional data to investigate floristic regions and floristic elements in Victorian Eucalypts; and to compare these with those produced with other taxa or other methods.

Data required: Distributional data (latitude, longitude and altitude) over their entire range for all eucalypts that have a natural occurrence within Victoria.

General methods: The detailed distribution of eucalypts within Victoria will be used to generate floristic regions - areas that are similar due to possession of many species in common. These regions will be compared with the floristic regions produced in other ways, most notably with those produced by Barry Conn in the Flora of Victoria. The detailed distribution of the Victorian species over their entire range will be used to generate floristic elements - groups of species related in that they share similar distribution patterns. These elements can be related to climate, ecology and past (pre-) historical events.

Significance:

Biological - evolution in relation to historical biographic changes.

Project title:

Project coordinator:

Kristen Williams
PhD Student (since April 1991),
Dept. Plant Science, University of Tasmania,
GPO Box 252C, Hobart 7001
Telephone: 002 202647
Fax: 002 202698
Email: kristen.williams@plant.utas.edu.au

Prof. J.B. Reid (Supervisor, Dept. of Plant Science, University of Tasmania)
Dr. M.J. Brown (Associate Supervisor, Forestry Commission, Tasmania)
Dr. M.P. Austin (Associate Supervisor, CSIRO, Wildlife and Ecology, Canberra)

Dept. Plant Science, University of Tasmania: Dr. B.M. Potts, Dr. M. Battaglia, Dr. N. Davidson, Dr. R. Wiltshire

Dept. Mathematics, University of Tasmania: Mr. G. McPherson, Mr. S. Young

Forestry Commission, Tasmania: Mr. F. Duncan, Mr. S. Orr.

1. To describe the distribution of eucalypts in Tasmania.
2. To investigate correlations between the macro-environment and eucalypt distributions.
3. To describe patterns of distribution and environment at different taxonomic levels of Eucalyptus in Tasmania, and compare these trends with similar observations Australia-wide.
4. Examine issues of rarity, diversity and endemism in the context of the macro-environment.

1. Access to records of Tasmanian eucalypts to further develop the Tasmania-wide data set.
2. The present Tasmanian-wide data will be analysed with permission of the relevant Tasmanian Government authorities and contributing individuals.

1. Distribution maps: Data for eucalypts in Tasmania were obtained from the published literature, the field notebooks of individuals and existing data bases managed by the Tasmanian Department of Environment and Land Management and the Forestry Commission, Tasmania. The final data base comprises nearly 50 000 records which are being checked for obvious errors and duplication.
2. Distributional ecology, diversity and endemism: Initial descriptive investigations using univariate and bivariate response curves, followed by exploratory multivariate and classificatory analyses and generalised linear modelling.
3. Field validation: Ecotypes of three endemic species have been planted in experimental gardens to test the usefulness of databases and models, based on macro-environmental variables, for predicting species distribution.

1. Maps of the distribution of eucalypts in Tasmania.
2. A description of the phytogeography of eucalypts in Tasmania.
3. A comparison of the ecological traits of eucalypts in Tasmania at different taxonomic levels.
4. A comment on issues of rarity, diversity and endemism for eucalypts in Tasmania.

1. Provides a cool-temperate context for continent-wide comparison of the distribution and ecology of Eucalyptus species.
2. Maps of the distribution of Tasmanian eucalypts are made available in the public domain as a basis for discussion and improvement, and for determining the field survey needs and funding priorities in poorly-known regions and localities.
3. The distributional ecology improves our understanding of eucalypts and their potential response to environmental change as mediated by climatic uncertainty or land management practices such as fuel reduction burning and native forest harvesting.
4. An understanding of the nature of rarity among Tasmanian eucalypts of restricted distribution.

Return to the
Eucalyptus Collabrative Datasets Page

---

Updated 15 November, 1999 by Andrew Lyne

---