Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Differences in Establishment of Host and Parasite After One Decade Among Four Simultaneous Translocations of a Long-Lived Reptile","authors":"Carmen Hoffbeck,&nbsp;Scott Jarvie,&nbsp;Stephanie Godfrey,&nbsp;Susan Keall,&nbsp;Michael Taylor,&nbsp;Alison Cree,&nbsp;Nicola Nelson","doi":"10.1111/aec.70097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70097","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Translocations are increasingly used to restore populations, yet seldom are simultaneous over large climate gradients into different latitudes, and rarely consider both a host and its parasites. Tuatara (<i>Sphenodon punctatus</i>) is a long-lived reptile endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Once found throughout NZ, tuatara populations are now sustained on offshore islands and increased through translocation, including to pest-free sanctuaries. Here, we study the simultaneous translocations of adult tuatara to four mainland sanctuaries a decade following release, investigating populations established both north and south of the founding population that span nearly 1000 km in latitude. We compared changes in body condition and snout-vent length (SVL) of tuatara, and abundance of a host-specific, ectoparasitic tick for tuatara among sites, plus evidence for survival and emergence of the next generation of tuatara. We found a general increase in SVL and maintenance of body condition between release in 2012 and 2023 at all sites, with some differences between males and females. However, tuatara at some sites showed more growth and/or higher body condition by 2023, particularly correlating with site temperature. Although ticks persisted on founding tuatara, there were fewer ticks on the next generation and those at the southern site. Evidence for a second generation of tuatara was also weakest at the southern site. This study shows that long-distance translocations north and south of a source population can yield promising outcomes for survival and growth of a long-lived reptile in current climates, though with differences in outcomes among sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70097","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in Vegetation Cover and Their Effects on the Diversity of Fruit-Feeding Butterflies","authors":"Gabriela de Araújo Silva,&nbsp;Bianca Santana Dias Nascimento,&nbsp;Uriel de Jesus Araújo Pinto,&nbsp;Allana Lina Coutinho dos Santos,&nbsp;Marina do Vale Beirão,&nbsp;Jhonathan de Oliveira Silva","doi":"10.1111/aec.70095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70095","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tropical dry forests (TDFs) have been altered by anthropogenic disturbances, particularly deforestation for pastures creation, which impacts plant and animal composition, abundance, and ecological processes. This study examined the spatio-temporal variation of fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage along an environmental gradient (forest interior, transition zone, and pasture) in TDFs at “Serra da Jacobina”, a mountain range 220 km long in Brazil. Butterflies were collected using 234 baited traps across nine transects in both the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 1091 individuals belonging to 35 species of the Nymphalidae family were sampled. Butterfly composition did not differ between environments or seasons, but forests showed higher abundance and richness, which were positively related to tree density. Species richness peaked in the rainy season, though abundance remained consistent. Eight species served as habitat indicators, with <i>Hamadryas februa</i> being the strongest indicator of old-growth forests; showing highest abundance in the forest interior and decreasing towards the pasture. Conversely, two species (<i>Hamadryas feronia</i> and <i>Callicore sorana</i>) showed the opposite pattern, predominating in pastures. Changes in land cover and tree density were key factors influencing butterfly assemblages. Longer pasture rotation and the preservation of native and fruit trees can help maintain insect diversity and ecosystem services, including those provided by fruit-feeding butterflies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70095","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species Distribution Models to Help Integrate Community Ecology","authors":"Luíz Fernando Esser,&nbsp;Danilo Neves,&nbsp;João André Jarenkow","doi":"10.1111/aec.70091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70091","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Community ecology explores the organisation and functioning of species assemblages shaped by historical, environmental and biotic processes. This review introduces community distribution models (CDMs), which extend species distribution models (SDMs) to higher ecological levels. CDMs integrate three key processes: (1) dispersal constraints, (2) environmental filters and (3) biotic drivers, while also incorporating metacommunity paradigms to explain community patterns. The review synthesises factors influencing community composition and identifies how CDMs can improve biodiversity predictions. We highlight the importance of environmental variables, biotic interactions and species traits and critically assess current modelling limitations. Functional traits, rather than species alone, are proposed as a more effective basis for modelling community dynamics, particularly in the context of climate change and habitat degradation. Finally, we advocate for integrative approaches combining correlative and mechanistic models to better capture community assembly across scales. CDMs hold great potential to address key ecological challenges, such as climate change impacts and conservation prioritisation. By advancing methodological frameworks and incorporating metacommunity theory, CDMs can provide deeper insights into emergent community properties and guide effective conservation strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70091","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144589951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological Niche Modelling of Microendemic Species: Understanding the Distribution of Montane Frogs in the Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest","authors":"C. Daniel Rivadeneira,&nbsp;Andreas Schwarz Meyer,&nbsp;Marcos R. Bornschein,&nbsp;Luiz F. Ribeiro,&nbsp;Marcio R. Pie","doi":"10.1111/aec.70085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70085","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Modelling the distribution of microendemic species presents significant challenges due to limited occurrence records and the coarse resolution of available bioclimatic data. This is particularly true for montane regions, which harbour high levels of endemism and environmental heterogeneity. In this study, we modelled the potential distribution of <i>Brachycephalus pernix</i> group toadlets to assess their range and identify key environmental drivers of their ecological niches. We applied two correlative modelling approaches—model-selection procedures using MaxEnt and Ensemble Small Models—incorporating a broad suite of environmental predictors beyond traditional bioclimatic variables. Our results highlight that Ensemble Small Models outperformed model-selection procedures (MaxEnt) in predicting suitable habitats for these microendemic species, yielding more spatially precise predictions centred in highland, montane and submontane regions. Suitability was strongly associated with environmental variables related to precipitation and moisture, which play a critical role in shaping the realised niche of the <i>B. pernix</i> group. The species exhibited niche conservatism, likely reflecting the retention of ancestral ecological preferences that facilitate persistence in montane environments. This supports the hypothesis that mountain ranges act as long-term refugia during climatic fluctuations. Importantly, models incorporating heterogeneous environmental data outperformed those using only bioclimatic variables, highlighting the value of accounting for topographic and climatic complexity when modelling narrow-range taxa. Despite identifying additional suitable habitats, many of these areas remain unprotected and are increasingly threatened by deforestation and land-use change. Our findings provide new insights into the ecological requirements and distribution dynamics of the <i>B. pernix</i> group and emphasise the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts to safeguard their specialised habitats and ensure long-term persistence.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70085","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144574143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using Scale Pattern Variation to Identify Individuals in the Long-Lived Reptile, Egernia rugosa","authors":"Stephen Peck,&nbsp;Jon-Paul Emery,&nbsp;Peter J. Murray,&nbsp;Benjamin L. Allen","doi":"10.1111/aec.70093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70093","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Effective population monitoring programmes rely on identifying individual animals accurately and ethically without negatively impacting their natural behaviour and survival. This study aimed to determine if the chin scale patterns of the threatened yakka skink (<i>Egernia rugosa</i>) could be used to consistently identify individual skinks. We examined the pattern uniqueness by monitoring (1) juveniles within the same aggregation, (2) juveniles across aggregations and (3) all ages caught across all years. Finally, we trialled the utility of the process by testing 14 experienced and 14 inexperienced people to see if they could correctly identify recaptured lizards from different age cohorts and aggregations, and the timeliness of undertaking manual identification. We identified 377 individual skinks over the length of the study using their unique chin patterns. Juvenile skinks both from the same and different aggregations had unique chin patterns allowing individuals to be correctly identified. A total of 190 skinks (50.4%) were recaptured. Chin pattern stability was confirmed by the recapture of 76 sub-adult skinks between 2021 and 2023 during a period where the skinks had undergone a substantial increase in body size. Pattern stability was also recorded in 43 mature skinks that were recaptured over an extended period of 1–15 years (mean 4.9 years). Experienced and inexperienced volunteers successfully identified known individuals 96.5% and 97.6% of the time, respectively, and importantly, the level of experience did not influence the time required by participants to make an accurate identification. Natural chin scale pattern variation was shown to be an effective and efficient means to identify individuals of this species. Natural pattern variation should be considered a reliable alternative to more invasive reptile marking procedures (e.g., toe clipping) and for use with other reptiles with natural and stable scale pattern variation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70093","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144574142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tracing Waterbirds in Water: A Pilot Study on the Utility of eDNA Monitoring for Inland Australian Waterbirds","authors":"Skye Davis,&nbsp;Anthony Chariton,&nbsp;Kate J. Brandis,&nbsp;Natalie Hejl,&nbsp;Adam J. Stow","doi":"10.1111/aec.70094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70094","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Australia's vast network of inland wetlands attracts thousands of waterbirds to congregate and breed during ‘boom’ periods of rainfall and productivity. Monitoring waterbird biodiversity predominantly relies on annual aerial and ground-based surveys, which may miss rare or elusive species of conservation importance. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is being increasingly used as a tool for rapid biodiversity assessments across a wide range of ecosystems. Before eDNA can be routinely applied to new ecosystems, assays need to be optimised to address several challenges, including primer bias, reference database limitations, and data curation strategies. Here, we used an eDNA assay to detect avian species at four inland wetlands in south-eastern Australia. We assessed the impact of filtering strategies on waterbird detection probabilities and compared results against historical observational survey records. Our eDNA assay identified up to 40% of waterbirds historically recorded at the sites. Waterbirds detected with eDNA included the elusive and endangered Australasian bittern, migratory species such as gull-billed tern and whiskered tern, and an introduced feral goose not previously recorded. Community composition varied with filtering and detection approaches, highlighting the importance of assessing the impact of data curation on species detection with respect to historical species records. This study demonstrates the potential for eDNA to be incorporated into waterbird monitoring programmes. Future research should prioritise improving reference databases and optimising field sampling protocols for these ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70094","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal Dynamics of a Neotropical Plant-Hummingbird Interaction Network","authors":"Steffani N. P. Queiroz,&nbsp;Marsal D. Amorim,&nbsp;Sabrina A. Lopes,&nbsp;Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni,&nbsp;Leonardo Ré Jorge,&nbsp;Jeff Ollerton,&nbsp;Thiago Santos,&nbsp;André R. Rech","doi":"10.1111/aec.70089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70089","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Species interaction networks are expected to vary following temporal changes in the environment and the composition of the local community. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge about temporal variation in networks in tropical areas, where less variable climates are expected to produce more stable community structures over time. Here we describe a plant-hummingbird network in the Brazilian Campo Rupestre ecosystem and investigate multiscale temporal variation of interactions in this community as well as the possible mechanisms underlying the frequencies of species interactions. Plants visited by hummingbirds were observed monthly for a year and each species had morphology, phenology and nectar traits measured. During 624 h of observation we recorded nine hummingbird species visiting 47 plant species, amounting to 9015 visits to flowers. Most plants (28 species) were endemic to the Campo Rupestre and mostly visited by the also endemic hummingbird <i>Augastes scutatus</i> (the Hyacinth Visorbearer). The annual network was not nested but presented high modularity and intermediate specialisation. While the overall (annual) frequencies of interaction were primarily defined by morphological matching and phenological overlap, we found a remarkable temporal change in community structure over the year, with different processes underlying interactions among plants and hummingbirds at different seasons. The interaction pattern during the rainy season was more similar to the annual network than the dry season (when nectar sugar content and plant phenology were also important), with more links per species and lower specialisation. The higher importance of morphology to predict interactions during the rainy season suggests higher niche partitioning when more hummingbird species are present in the community. Our results exemplify the importance of considering the temporal dynamics of the community to advance the understanding of the processes defining species interactions over time in the tropics.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70089","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New Records and Invasion Risk of the Non-Native Piranha Serrasalmus maculatus (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) in the Merin Lagoon Basin","authors":"Nicolás Vidal,&nbsp;Marcelo Dias de Mattos Burns,&nbsp;José Carlos Guerrero,&nbsp;Marcelo Loureiro","doi":"10.1111/aec.70090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70090","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Serrasalmus maculatus</i> (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) is a piranha native to the Río de la Plata and Amazon basins. Recently, it was recorded in the Patos Lagoon basin. Patos and Merin lagoons are connected by the São Gonçalo channel. Based on information provided by local artisanal and recreational fishermen we report the presence of <i>S. maculatus</i> in several locations of the Merin Lagoon and São Gonçalo channel basin. This represents an important change in the distribution range of the species, previously restricted to the Patos Lagoon basin. Using species distribution models we found a high favourability and risk of expansion of <i>S. maculatus</i> population in the Merin Lagoon basin. In addition, the natural environment of the lagoon, i.e., lentic and vegetated waters, and low diversity of natural predators are favourable conditions for piranha proliferation. Due to their top predator role, piranhas are capable to disrupting food webs and biodiversity, as well as negatively impacting fisheries and recreational activities. Our results highlight the need to implement control actions and the monitoring of piranha populations and the whole ecosystem to elaborate appropriate mitigation measures.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144339619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating Above-Ground Liana Biomass in Disturbed Australian Tropical Forests","authors":"Emma J. Mackintosh,&nbsp;Catherine E. Waite,&nbsp;Marion Pfeifer,&nbsp;Francis E. Putz,&nbsp;Andrew R. Marshall","doi":"10.1111/aec.70050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lianas (woody vines) contribute substantially to tropical forest functioning, including carbon cycling, which makes accurate estimates of their biomass essential. Here, we aimed to quantify the contribution of lianas to biomass and stem density in disturbed Australian tropical forests. First, we destructively sampled lianas from the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of northeast Queensland to develop an allometric equation to estimate liana above-ground biomass (AGB) from stem diameter. We then compared the accuracy of this equation for estimating liana AGB to previously published equations developed elsewhere. Using data from 17 vegetation plots (20 × 20 m) across the Cassowary Coast Region, we calculated liana contribution to biomass using our new equation. Based on RMSE and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), our allometric equation performed better than those previously published (RMSE = 5.46, CCC = 0.94). Liana AGB estimates using our equation were lower than those based on previously published equations by at least 14%, suggesting that lianas have a lower AGB per unit stem diameter in our study region. Frequent cyclones and past logging may have led to numerous liana stems that are damaged, deformed, or stunted due to a lack of tall trees. We found that lianas contributed ~10% of woody biomass and 36.5% of woody stem density, which rose to 58% if climbing monocots were also included. When compared to liana studies conducted elsewhere, these forests are at the upper end of the range for documented liana densities worldwide. Our findings highlight the importance of developing regional allometric equations for estimating liana biomass. This work also underscores the need for continued measurement and monitoring of lianas to better understand how tropical forests respond to disturbance and global changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144339621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"More Resistant Than Resilient: Effect of 15 Years Conservation Management on Ground-Layer Vegetation Composition in Temperate Woodland and Forest","authors":"Sue McIntyre,&nbsp;Jon Lewis,&nbsp;Anthony O. Nicholls","doi":"10.1111/aec.70079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70079","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We monitored ground-layer vegetation in permanently marked plots in a temperate grassy woodland/sclerophyll forest mosaic, after the removal of sheep, but with continuing macropod grazing. Data collection over 15 years encompassed extremes of drought and high rainfall. Plots were stratified to sample 13 subhabitats reflecting variations in vegetation type and landscape position. Species composition varied with: (i) site productivity (grassy vs sclerophyll forest), (ii) soil moisture (landscape position) and (iii) presence of tree canopies in open grassland. After 15 years, most subhabitats retained their distinctiveness, with net changes suggestive of nutrient decline under tree canopies and increasingly mesic conditions on higher slope positions. Analysis of species richness of 18 origin and life-form groups over time revealed three types of responses: (i) stable, (ii) linear increase and (iii) a quadratic response. The latter was identified for native and exotic species in all habitats, specifically for annuals and short tussocks. There were sustained linear increases in the species richness of three native life forms (geophytes, subshrubs and leafy herbs) suggesting improvements in conservation status, while most native perennial groups were stable. Large perennial native grasses (<i>Themeda triandra</i>, <i>Rytidosperma pallidum</i>, <i>Poa sieberiana</i> and <i>Aristida ramosa</i>) maintained their initial dominance, while that of <i>Lomandra filiformis</i> and <i>Melichrus urceolatus</i> increased. The level of dominance of exotics was largely sustained, although exotic annuals fluctuated in response to seasonal conditions. The frequency of exotic perennial dicots increased slightly, despite intensive control efforts. We attribute the persistence of biomass under severe drought to the high dry matter content of many ground-layer dominants, which served to protect soil and provide refuge to palatable geophytes and native herbs. Our findings are consistent with ecological models that predict that cessation of fertiliser inputs and heavy livestock grazing will promote vegetation with ecosystem attributes resistant to climate extremes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70079","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144332008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}