Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 2003 Floristics of the banksia woodlands on the Wallingup Plain in relation to environmental parameters Claire McCamish Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Environmental Monitoring Commons Recommended Citation McCamish, C. (2003). Floristics of the banksia woodlands on the Wallingup Plain in relation to environmental parameters. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/359 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/359 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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ABSTRACT An understanding of the underlying environmental factors contributing to the floristic composition of Banksia woodlands should improve the effective management of Banksia woodland communities of the Swan Coastal Plain. Although a number of studies have examined the vegetation on the Banksia woodlands on detail there have been few studies aimed at identifying the specific environmental parameters influencing the floristic gradients on the Swan Coastal Plain. A comprehensive local scale study was undertaken on the northern Swan Coastal Plain to detennine the environmental correlates influencing floristic communities in an area of Banks/a woodland known as the Wallingup Plain. Vegetation communities of the Wallingup Plain were defined on the basis of their floristic composition and it was found that these communities varied markedly between upland and damp!and areas. Floristic differences between ail communities on the Wallingup Plain were found to be related to a combination of geomorphic and edaphic parameters. In comparison, upland communities and floristic gradients were delineated largely by geomorphic and geographic factors, whilst dampland communities were determined by edaphic parameters, particularly soil moisture and nutrient levels. Management of the Banksia woodlands of the Wallingup Plain will require a consolidated understanding of the environmental parameters influencing floristic patterns. II Declaration I certifY that this thesis does not incorporate, without acknowledgment, any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; and that to the best of my knowledge and belief it does not contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text. Signature, ....•,- .... ~.-..................... Date ... J.j.3/4-:R.91 ................ 111 Acknowledgments I am indebted to my supetvisor, Dr Eddie van Etten, for allowing me the opportunity to discover the wonders of the Banksia woodlands and for his patience, encouragement and support throughout this study. To my two wonderful field volunteers, Cheyne and Lenny. Without you this project would not have been possible. Thankyou for the new discoveries, long hours, patience and laughs. I am grateful for all those who have gone out of their way for me this year. 1 would not have been in the position I am in now without them. Thanks to John and Verna for their company and dinners, and to Geoff and Jayne for their advice. Gratitude and thanks to Mrs E for her never ending encouragement, hugs and proofreading. Finally, I thank my fantastic mum for her love, care and wisdom over the past 10 months and for believing in me. iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT __________________;; DECLARATION iii ACKNOWLEGEMENTS iv TABLE OF CONTENTS v LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF FIGURES ix CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION ____________1 1 .1 Overview 1 1.2 Objectives of this study 3 1.3 Thesis structure 4 CHAPTER 2 : THE STUDY AREA- WALLINGUP PLAIN _____,5 2.1 Location of study area ____________5 2.2 Landform and soil characteristics of the Wallingup Plain __6 2.3 Climate 8 2.4 Vegetation characteristics 8 2.5 Disturbance history _____________,g 2.6 Conservation status 10 CHAPTER 3 : FLORISTIC COMMUNITIES OF THE WALLINGUP PLAIN_11 3.1 Introduction 11 3.2 Methods 13 3.2.1 Data collection 13 3.2.2 Floristic survey. ____________13 3.2.3 Data analysis 15 3.3 Results 18 3.3.1 Floristics of the Wallingup Plain 18 3.3.2 Floristic communities 19 3.3.3 Community characteristics 20 3.3.4 Floristic variability between communities 31 v 3.3.4.1 Variability between all floristic communities_31 3.3.4.2 Variability between upland communities_32 3.3.4.3 Variability between dampland communities_34 3.3.5 Floristic variability within communities 36 3.4 Discussion, _________________37 3.4.1 Overview 37 3.4.2 Compari~on with other studies 39 3.4.3 Summary 40 CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF FLORISTIC PATTERNS ON THE WALLINGUP PLAIN, __________-41 4.1 Introduction 41 4.2 Methods 43 4.2.1 Overview 43 4.2.2 Soil Survey 43 4.2.2.1 Field Survey 43 4.2.2.1 Laboratory analysis of soil samples 43 4.2.3 Geographical Survey ___________-45 4.2.4 Data analysis_ 45 4.3 Results 47 4.3.1 Dune position of communities 47 4.3.2 Environmental correlates between communities of the Wallingup Plain ____________;48 4.3.3 Correlations between environmental and floristic g~~~ ~ 4.3.3.1 All communities 57 4.3.3.2 Upland communities, ________.63 4.3.3.3 Dampland communities 65 4.4 Discussion 67 4.4.1 Environmental correlates of floristic patterns 67 4.4.2 Geomorphic association of floristic patterns _68 4.4.3 Edaphic associations determining floristic patterns_69 4.4.4 Exotic species invasions in relation to environmental conditions ______________70 4.4.5 Fire effects on floristics 71 4.4.6 Summary 71 vi CHAPTER 5: MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BANKS/A WOODLANDS OF THE WALLINGUP PLAIN 73 5.1 Overview 73 5.2 Significant flora of the Wallingup Plain 74 5.3 Significant communities of the Wallingup Plain 75 5.4 Exotic species of the Wallingup Plain _________?? 5.5 Potential of species to invade the Wallingup Plain 79 5.6 F;re on the Wallingup Plain 79 5.7 Disease on the Wallingup Plain 81 5.8 Management directions for the Banksia woodlands of the Wallingup Plain 82 REFERENCES 84 APPENDIX 1 : FLORA LIST FOR THE WALLINGUP PLAIN APPENDIX 2 :SITE LOCATION FOR COMMUNITIES IDENTIFIED ON THE WALLINGUP PLAIN APPENDIX 3 : SIMPER ANALYSIS WITHIN AND BETWEEN COMMUNITIES vii List of Tables Table 3.1 : Braun- Blanquet Cover Scale 14 Table 3.2 : Genera best represented in the study area. 18 Table 3.3 : Species composition of communities within tlte Wallingup Plain Study Area based on CLUSTER analysis 26- 29 Table 3.4: Average dissimilarity betweenjlodstic communities ofthe Wallingup Plain. 32 Table 3.5 :Species distinguishing Communities A and B 33 Table 3.6: Species distinguishing Communities C and D, C and E, D and E 35 Table 3.7 :Average similarity offloristic commzmities found on the Wallingup P/ain'----------------------~36 Table 4.1 : Soil texture classification scale 44 Table 4.2: Community types and their associated landform ________;47 Table 4.3: One-way ANOVAs of mean differences between the five community Types for environmental variables measured within the Wallingup Plain 48 Table 4.4: P values of multiple comparisons ofedaphicfactors between Community C and other communities 49 Table 4.5 :Environmental variables linked to floristic communities ofthe Wallingup Plain with level of Spearman rank correlation 57 Table 4.6 : Environmental variables linked to floristic variability ofupland Communities within the Wallingup Plain with level ofSpearman rank correlation_63 Table 4. 7 :Environmental indicators offloristic variation in damp/and Communities on the Wallingup Plain with level ofSpearman rank correlation __65 Table 5.1 : Species to be monitored for presence and abundance within the Banksia woodlands ofthe Wallingup Plain SO Table 5.2: Plant genera ofthe Wallingup Plain with species known to be affected by Phytopthora cinnamomi ____________81 viii List of Figures Figure 2.1 :Location ofthe Wal/ingup Plain study area, _________5 Figure 2.2: Landforms and soils ofthe Wallingup Plain 7 Figure 2.3 : Climate data for the Wallingup Plain 8 Figure 2.4: Fire history ofthe Wallingup Plain study area 10 Figure 3.1 : Classification of communities using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis_19 Figure 3.2: Typical floristic composition ofCommunity A 20 Figure 3.3: Typical floristic composition of Community B 21 Figure 3.4: Typical floristic composition ofCommwzity C 22 Figure 3.5: Typical floristic composition of Community D 23 Figure 3.6 : Typical floristic