Australian Journal of Botany最新文献

{"title":"A near-complete dataset of plant growth form, life history, and woodiness for all Australian plants","authors":"Elizabeth H. Wenk, David Coleman, Rachael V. Gallagher, Daniel S. Falster","doi":"10.1071/bt23111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23111","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tabular records of plant-trait data are essential for diverse research purposes. Here we present scorings for a trio of core plant traits, plant growth form, woodiness and life history, for nearly all (&gt;99%) accepted taxon concepts included in the Australian Plant Census (APC). This dataset is predominantly derived from Australia’s state and national floras, supplemented by the taxonomic literature and diverse web resources. In total, 29,993 species and infraspecific taxa were scored for plant growth form, 30,279 for woodiness and 30,056 for life history, with taxa scored as displaying a single or multiple trait values, as appropriate. We provide sample R code that shows how to access and interrogate the dataset. This resource will enable rapid assessment of plant responses to disturbance events and new biogeographic analyses of trait distributions, better understandings of evolutionary trajectories, and ecological strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141501036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The susceptibility of rare and threatened NSW species to the root-rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi: 2. The identification of species requiring protection or further research","authors":"Keith L. McDougall, Edward C. Y. Liew","doi":"10.1071/bt23106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23106","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>The response of most native plant species in New South Wales (NSW) to infection by the oomycete pathogen <i>Phytophthora cinnamomi</i> Rands is unknown, which makes decisions about disease management difficult.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We aim to improve knowledge about the potential threat from <i>P. cinnamomi</i> by testing a further 32 threatened species for their response to the pathogen and developing a method for prioritising management and susceptibility testing.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Susceptibility to infection and host response were evaluated in glasshouse experiments where the pathogen was introduced to pots containing the threatened species, and the results were compared with control uninoculated pots. Our prioritisation used modelled habitat suitability for <i>P. cinnamomi</i>, proximity to known <i>P. cinnamomi</i> occurrences, and numbers of plant species populations at least 1 km apart to rank 928 rare and threatened plant species native to NSW for either management or susceptibility testing.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p><i>Phytophthora cinnamomi</i> was re-isolated from the roots of 10 of the 32 species assessed, most of which also showed significant mortality or disease symptoms. <i>Darwinia peduncularis</i> B.G.Briggs, <i>Hibbertia circinata</i> K.L.McDougall &amp; G.T.Wright<i>, Isopogon fletcheri</i> F.Muell., <i>Phebalium speciosum</i> I.Telford<i>, Pultenaea baeuerlenii</i> F.Muell. and <i>Pultenaea parrisiae</i> J.D.Briggs &amp; Crisp were the most severely affected species. The effect of <i>P. cinnamomi</i> is known for only 63 rare and threatened species in NSW. The Greater Sydney region is a hotspot for rare and threatened plant species with a high priority for susceptibility testing.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>The prognosis in the wild for rare and threatened plant species affected by <i>P. cinnamomi</i> depends on (1) habitat suitability for the pathogen, with subalpine and arid-zone species unlikely to be affected, (2) the number of unaffected populations, with two severely affected species that occur only on infested sites (<i>Hibbertia circinata</i> and <i>Prostanthera marifolia</i> R.Br.) facing extinction in the near future and (3) climate, with some species (e.g. <i>Pomaderris delicata</i> N.G.Walsh &amp; Coates) apparently affected only in unusually wet years. Further susceptibility testing of rare and threatened species is required. This should be supported by taxonomic studies of genera (e.g. <i>Hibbertia</i>, <i>Pultenaea</i>) commonly affected by the pathogen.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Many more plant species in NSW are likely to be severely affected by <i>P. cinnamomi</i> than currently known, and may require active management of the disease for their long-term survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141192167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering of the morpho-physiological traits of two native grasses from Argentina with contrasting drought resistance strategies","authors":"Ana M. Cenzano, Idris Arslan, Ana Furlan, M. Celeste Varela, Mariana Reginato","doi":"10.1071/bt23103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23103","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Semiarid environments, such as the Patagonian shrublands, are characterised by having shrubby patches surrounded by grasses with different ecophysiological strategies to tolerate long dry periods.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We hypothesised that coexisting grasses of the Patagonian rangeland, already classified as drought-escaping or drought-tolerant, have different traits according to the season and the annual rainfall events.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Two dominant native grasses were selected: <i>Pappostipa speciosa</i> (evergreen) and <i>Poa ligularis</i> (deciduous). Samples were collected in the four seasons for the term of 1 year. Rainfall events and soil water content of each season were determined. Spring was the wettest season and autumn the driest. Physiological (relative water content, pigments, hormones), biochemical (polyphenols, antioxidant activity) and morphological traits were measured in the four seasons.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p><i>P. speciosa</i> was characterised by keeping evergreen leaves with high production of polyphenols as secondary metabolites with high antioxidant capacity during the dry autumn and winter seasons. <i>P. ligularis</i> was characterised by high contents of gibberellin (GA₁), auxin (IAA), total phenols, total flavonoids and tartaric acid esters, and high antioxidant capacity in roots during the autumn dry season. In addition, <i>P. ligularis</i> leaves had higher content of carotenoids and polyphenols than <i>P. speciosa</i> during the summer dry season.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>The major adaptive strategy to tolerate dry periods is the high activity of the secondary metabolism, mainly in leaves in <i>P. speciosa</i> (a drought-tolerant grass) and in roots in <i>P. ligularis</i> (a drought-escaping grass).</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Rainfall variations during a year can affect the phenological growth stages and the metabolism of two native grasses from Argentina characterised by different drought resistance mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141192068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating the risk to Australia’s flora from Phytophthora cinnamomi","authors":"K. McDougall, Sarah Barrett, Renate Velzeboer, David M. Cahill, T. Rudman","doi":"10.1071/bt23086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23086","url":null,"abstract":"Context Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is a destructive pathogen of Australian native vegetation, often causing permanent damage to ecosystems and threatening the survival of rare, susceptible species. Despite that, much information about the effects of P. cinnamomi on plant species remains unpublished and the risk of extinction to most species is unknown. Aims We aimed to classify the risk of extinction from P. cinnamomi to Australian native plants. Methods We used available data and personal knowledge about P. cinnamomi effects on plants, spatial data on plant species distribution and habitat suitability of P. cinnamomi to assign an extinction-risk category of low, moderate, high or very high. Key results There are currently 65 plant species at a very high risk of extinction in Australia as a result of P. cinnamomi infection. The genera Andersonia, Banksia, Darwinia, Daviesia, Epacris, Gastrolobium, Grevillea, Hibbertia, Isopogon, Lambertia, Latrobea, Leucopogon, Phebalium and Styphelia have multiple species at a very high risk of extinction, most of which occur in south-western Western Australia. Conclusions The available data confirmed the high risk to the Australian flora from P. cinnamomi and identified species in plant families not previously known to be affected, highlighting data gaps (e.g. lack of knowledge about effects and risk in orchids and grasses). Implications Much more work is required to fully understand the risk from P. cinnamomi (and other Phytophthora species) to the Australian flora.","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141107299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response of spiny cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum) and common cocklebur (X. strumarium) seed germination to environmental and soil factors","authors":"Amir Ahmadi, Faezeh Zaefarian, Mohammad Rezvani, Irandokht Mansouri, Brian M. Sindel","doi":"10.1071/bt23094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23094","url":null,"abstract":"Context Seed germination and seedling emergence are affected by many environmental factors. Knowledge regarding factors affecting seed germination of spiny cocklebur (Xanthium spinosum L.) and common cocklebur (X. strumarium L.) could help determine their potential distribution and control strategies. Aims The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of key environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur. Methods Seed germination of spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur was tested at various constant and alternating temperatures, pH, salinity and moisture stress. The effect of flooding height, burial depth and soil type on seedling emergence was also investigated. Key results The optimum constant temperature for germination of spiny cocklebur was 25°C, and 35°C and higher for common cocklebur. Under alternating temperature, maximal germination was at 25/15°C and 35/15°C for spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur, respectively. Maximum germination of both spiny cocklebur and common cocklebur was at neutral pH. Spiny cocklebur germination was not suppressed as much by lower and higher pH or by an increasing salinity as was common cocklebur germination. Conclusions Common cocklebur appears to be better adapted to warmer environments than is spiny cocklebur, but less so to a broad range of soil pH and salinity stress. Implications The different germination responses of common cocklebur and spiny cocklebur to the environmental factors of temperature, pH and salinity imply that the two species may occupy different niches across the landscape. Our knowledge of these responses can help in identifying potential areas for invasion for increased monitoring and management.","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140966810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seventy-five years of vegetation change after fire in Tasmanian alpine heathland","authors":"Ellen-Rose Sorensen, Jamie B. Kirkpatrick","doi":"10.1071/bt23069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23069","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Alpine ecosystems are threatened by warming and an associated increase in fire frequency. There is a gap in our knowledge of succession in Tasmanian alpine heath more than 50 years after fire. The literature suggests that the alpine successional progression usually involves decreasing rates of change, decreasing differences among fire ages, ongoing transitions among shrub species, ongoing transitions from some lifeforms/species to others, and that warming results in increases in species richness.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We test for these tendencies up to 75 years from fire in alpine vegetation on kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Tasmania, Australia.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>We documented the changes in vegetation structure and composition between 1998 and 2022 in plots on either side of an alpine fire boundary in the alpine heathland and used earlier data and observations to extend the record of change after fire to 75 years. We put these changes in the context of the only area of alpine vegetation that was not burnt in 1947 or later.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>The area last burnt in 1947 exhibited declines in all lifeform covers between 1998 and 2022. All lifeforms except tall shrubs and mat shrubs declined in cover in the area last burnt in 1962. By 2022, shrub cover in the 1962-burnt area had not attained equivalence with the area last burnt in 1947. Herbs had the most dramatic decline in both fire-age classes. There were few shrub seedlings in 2022. All but six taxa, three being exotic, were observed in both the plots and previous broader surveys. Increases in species richness caused by the upward migration of lower-elevation species were not observed. The long-unburnt patch lacked the major dominant of the 1947-burnt plots, namely <i>Orites acicularis</i>, and was dominated by a gymnosperm absent from most of the mountain.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>Succession follows the initial floristic composition model. The differences in trajectories from the 1947 and 1962 fires could possibly be due to desiccation or abrasion damage from increasing wind speeds and temperatures. There are strong indications of further potential change in the absence of fire.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>The slow rate of recovery and its on-going nature emphasise the importance of keeping fire out of this vegetation type.</p>","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140938316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitigation of disease and browsing impacts, and translocation, supports post-fire threatened flora recovery","authors":"Sarah Barrett, Colin J. Yates, Rebecca Dillon, Megan Dilly, Ben Varcoe, Darcy Martin, Bayley Castlehow, Carl R. Gosper","doi":"10.1071/bt23081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23081","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>For plant species that have evolved in fire-prone environments, declines after wildfires are often driven by the combination of fire and other threatening processes. Mitigating the impacts of these threatening processes can sometimes effectively support post-fire population recovery.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We test the effectiveness of: (1) phosphite application to mitigate <i>Phytophthora</i> dieback; (2) fencing to exclude browsing by mammalian herbivores; and (3) translocation to sites where threats can be practically managed, for conservation of threatened flora affected by wildfires in 2018 and 2019 in the Stirling Range (Koi Kyeunu-ruff), south-western Australia.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Survival of <i>Phytophthora</i>-susceptible flora was compared in repeatedly sampled plots from prior to and after wildfire and ± recurrent phosphite application. Survival and growth of browsing-susceptible flora was compared post-fire in fenced and control plots. Survival, growth and flowering was compared between wild populations recruiting after wildfire and translocated populations.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Phosphite application increased survival of most <i>Phytophthora</i>-susceptible flora. Fencing led to greater growth and often increased survival. Translocated populations, with supplemental water, had greater growth rates and earlier flowering than wild populations, and a non-significant trend for higher survival.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>These findings provide strong evidence supporting continuation of phosphite application, herbivore exclusion and translocation for post-fire recovery of the threatened flora of the Stirling Range.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>With increasing wildfire extent, frequency and impact across the globe, successful management of non-fire threats will be crucial for post-fire conservation of threatened flora, with the approaches proving effective in this study likely to have conservation value elsewhere.</p>","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140938317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Severely degraded high mountain vegetation recovers under different levels of wild herbivore grazing pressure, 1991–2021","authors":"Jamie B. Kirkpatrick, Kerry L. Bridle","doi":"10.1071/bt23085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23085","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>It is important to understand the way in which wild herbivore grazing affects decadal vegetation dynamics after cessation of unnatural disturbances, especially in a context of climate change.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We investigated the decadal effects of different grazing regimes on treeless subalpine vegetation recovery from stock grazing and burning, on sites of different environmental character and initial state.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>At each of four sites, two fenced areas that excluded mammalian herbivores, two that allowed in only rabbits and two grazed control plots were monitored every 5 years between 1991 and 2021. General linear models were developed to explain variation in change over the 30 years in different cover types. The years in which peak and trough values occurred were also determined, as were the incidence and direction of differences between treatments in sites and years.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>There was marked variation in change over 30 years between the sites and lifeforms. Exclusion of mammalian herbivores increased the slow rate of revegetation. There was little effect from rabbits by themselves. Unexpectedly, the cover of both short and tall herbs was not promoted by grazing exclusion. Short term climatic variation affected some cover types, with many peaks and troughs in the dry year of 2001, but it was not possible to disentangle decades scale climate change effects from the process of recovery after disturbance.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>The slight increase in revegetation rates in the absence of native herbivores and rabbits does not justify culling. Restoration interventions appear to be unnecessary. The prospect of increasing fire incidence and deer numbers suggests that it is desirable to continue monitoring the plots.</p>","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140938714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awn length variation in Australia’s most widespread grass, Themeda triandra, across its distribution","authors":"Annette M. Cavanagh, R. Godfree, John W. Morgan","doi":"10.1071/bt23083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23083","url":null,"abstract":"Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass) is the most widespread plant species in Australia. Using herbarium specimens, we quantified awn-length variation across its distribution in relation to climate. We found that awn lengths were shortest around the eastern and southern coast of Australia (with short awns also concentrated in the Pilbara), increasing in length progressively inland and towards the north. There was a significant positive relationship between awn length and mean annual temperature. Further research is needed to understand why awn lengths vary, and how awn-length variation affects seed and seedling fitness in natural habitats.","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140221418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The leaf micromorphology and anatomy of gamba grass, Andropogon gayanus Kunth (Poaceae: Panicoideae)","authors":"J. Farr, S. Krisantini, Melodina D. Fabillo","doi":"10.1071/bt23104","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/bt23104","url":null,"abstract":"Context Andropogon gayanus, commonly known as gamba grass, is one of the declared weeds of national significance in Australia. Past studies have focused on gross morphology of root structures, biogeochemical behaviour, and ecology, but there has been limited work on comparative descriptions of leaf micromorphology and anatomy. Aims We investigated and described its leaf micromorphology and anatomy to understand weed biology and ecophysiology. Methods Optical and scanning electron microscope examination of the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of A. gayanus was carried out. We identified and generated a list of morphological characters that were used to compare several dried herbarium specimens of A. gayanus. Key results The leaf characters were consistent across all specimens examined, with minor differences in leaf pubescence, indicating this could be a plastic trait. Conclusions Andropogon gayanus leaves are well adapted to wet and dry tropical conditions. Plasticity in leaf surface pubescence possibly enhances its adaptability, increasing its success as a weed in Australian ecosystems. The success of A. gayanus in Australia could be because the environment compares favourably with the native environment of the species in Africa, where it has adapted to extremes of wet and dry conditions over a large geographical range. Implications Plant morphological and taxonomic studies of A. gayanus focused on describing characters of spikelets and caryopses are recommended to understand how reproductive structures aid in its successful proliferation.","PeriodicalId":8607,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Botany","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140221862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}