TABLE OF CONTENTS Page SUMMARY a DECLARAT]ON ].TI ACKNOVILEDGEMENTS AV CHAPTER ] ]NTRODUCTION t CHAPTER II HISTORTCAL BACKGROUND 4 2.1. Introduction 4 2.2. Changes índependent of man b 2.3. Changes dependent on man I 2.4. Natur:e Conse::vation and the National- Pank Movement 1lt 2.5 National Panks in Austr.alia t7 CHAPTER IIT SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PARKS - A GENERAL REVIEIÍ 36 3.1. Intnoduction ('O 3.2. Influence of man 36 3.3. fnfl-uence of fi:re 38 3.4. Influence of fentil-ize::s 41 3.5. Influence of gr"azing 43 3.6. Othen Influences 45 3.7. Summany 46 CHAPTER TV REVTE}I OF TECHNIQUES AND METHODS 48 î. CHAPTER V RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODS '56 CHAPTER VI SANDY CREEK CONSERVATION PARK 62 6.1. Introduction 62 6.2. Histonical Backgnor-rrd 62 6.3. Clirnate 65 6.4. Physiogr:aphy and Dnainage 67 6.5. Geo-ì-ogy and SoiIs 6B 6.6. Vegetation 72 6.7 . Reseanch Objeetives 73 6.8. Research l{ethods 74 6 .9. Resul-ts 75 6.9.1. Intnoduction 75 6.9.2. The soil-plant nelationship 78 Page Chapten VI (Cont. ) 6.9. 3. Plant -topog::aphy nelat ionships 80 6 .9. 4. Pl-ant species fnte:r-nelations 81 6.9. 5. Intensive-study area B3 6.10. Summa::y 86 CHAPTER VIT KYEEMA CONSERVATTON PARK 89 7.L. Intnoduction B9 7.2. Historical Backgr:ound B9 7.3. Climate 92 7.4. Physiog::aphy and Dnainage 93 7 .5. Geology and Soils 94 7.6. Vegetation 95 7.7 . Reseanch Objectives 96 7.8. Reseanch Methods 97 7 .9. Results 98 7 .9.7. Introduction 98 7.9.2. The soil-plant nelationships 103 7. 9. 3. Plant-topog:raphi c nelationships 104 7.9. 4. Plant Species Inten-nelations 105 7.9.5 . Intensive-study anea - plant distnibutions 108 7 .to. Summany 770 CHAPTER V]I] BELAIR RECRXATION PARK 172 8.1. Intnoduction t12 8.2. Historical Backg::ound 712 8.3. Cl-imate 11s 8. 4. Physiography and Dr"aínage 11s 8.5. Geology and SoiL.s 115 B. ô. Vegetation 777 8.7. Reseanch Objectives 118 8. 8. Reseanch Methods !t9 8.9. Resu].ts 720 8.9. 1. Intnoduction 720 8.9,2. Soi J--p1ant nel-ationships 125 8.9.3. Plant -topog:raphi c nelat ionships I27 8. 9.4. Plant Species fnter"-::elations 728 8.9.5. Discussion of the Dens.ity Maps 133 8.10. Summany 135 CHAPTER IX NIXON-SKINNER CONSERVATIO},I PARK 138 9.1. fntroduction 138 9.2. Histonical Background 138 9. 3. Climate 139 9.4. Physiography and Drainage t47 9.5. ,,Geology and Soils t4t 9.6. Vegetation 7+2 Page Chapte:r IX ( Cont. ) 9.7 . Reseanch 0bjectives 143 9.8. Reseanch Methods 144 9. 9. Resul-ts 145 9.9.1. fntnoduction 145 9.9.2. The soil--plant nelationships 145 9.9.3. Plant-topo g:raphi c nelat ionships 150 qqtr Plant Species Inten-r"elations 151 9.9.5. Pl-ant Dist:ribution Patte::ns 153 9. 10. Summany 154 CHAPTER X THE KNOLL CONSERVATION PARK 155 10. 1 Intnoduction 155 10.2. Histoi:icat Backg:round 155 10.3. Cl-imate 157 10. 4. Physiography and Dnainage 157 10. 5. Geology and Soils 159 10. 6. Vegetation 159 10. 7, Reseanch Objectives 160 10. B. Reseanch Methods 162 10. 9. Results 163 10. 9. 1. Intnoduction 163 10. 9.2. Plant -topo g:naphi c nelationships 767 10. 9.3. Plant Species Inten-nelations 767 10. 9 .4. Plant Distribution Pattenns 167 70. 10. Summany 169 CHAPTER XI SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS VI TO X t70 CHAPTER XTI BELAIR RECREATION PARK - PYRIC 772 SUCCESSION STUDIES 72.r Intnoduction 172 72.2. Historical Backg:round 173 12.2.1. Histo:rical Backgnound of t73 Pittospo::um Valley 12.2.2. Histony of Senecio pterophotus 174 in South Austral-ia 12.2.3. History of Hgpericum perforatum 775 in South Austnalia 12.3. C]-imate !76 12.4. Physiog:raphy and Dnainage t77 12.5. GeoJ-ogy and Soils 177 1,2.6 . Vegetation 177 12.7. Resea:rch 0bjectives 178 72.8, Resea:rch Methods 779 12.9. Resu]-ts 180 Page Chapten Xff (Cont. ) t2. 9. 1. Intnoduction 180 72. 9.2. Frequency ResuÌts 180 72. 9. 3. Densities of Hgpericum pegforatwn ánd Senecio ptetophorus 183 12 9.4. Heights of Se¡ecjo pterophorus 186 72.!0. Sumrnany 187 CHAPTER XITI MOUNT BOLD ENCATCHMENT AREA _ CONTROLLED BURNÏNG STUDIES 189 13.1. fntr"oduction 189 !3.2. Histonical Backgnound 189 13. 3. Cl-imate 197 13.4. Physiog:raphy and Dr:ainage 192 13.5. Geolory and Soil-s 792 13.6 . Vegetation !92 73.7. Reseanch Objectives 194 13. 8. Reseanch Methods 195 13.9. Results 196 13.9.1 fntnoduction 196 t3 .9 ,2. Resul-ts for PTatgTobium obtusanguTum 797 13.9.3. Results fon Acacia pgcnantha 207 13.9.4. Resul-ts for Senecio ptetophorus 202 13. 9. 5. Resul-ts lon Hibbertia serícea 203 13. 9.6. Results fon Hibbertia stricta 205 73.9 .7 . Results lor Hibbertia exutiacies 207 13.9.8. Discussion of Results 208 13.10. Summany 213 CHAPTER XIV SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS X]I AI.TD X]II 215 CHAPTER XV FINAI, D]SCUSS]ON 217 15.1. Intnoduction 2t7 !5,2. Management Pnoblems ín national panks 277 15. 3. Future p::ospects fon the national- pa::ksin South Austnalia 223 15 .4. Concl-usions 224 BTBLÏOGRAPHY 227 APPENDTX I 243 APPENDIX II 270 l- SUMMARY The f]onistic and stnuctu:raI changes in native vegetation nesu-lting fnom mants infl-uence were given detailed examination in five South Australian Panks. The histo::ical backgnound of eaeh park was investigated and r:ecorded. The prevairing physical and cl_imatic conditions \^Iere al-so documented. These factons vrelle considened as possible detenminants of the existing vegetation in the panks. Population studies r^rene carnied out on the pnemise that man has infl-uenced the composition and st::uctune of the native prant communities. The vegetation was studied using incidencc data (anatysed by association analysis) and density data. This thesis incruded the dístr.ibution maps of the species sampled, so pnoviding hithento unavailabl-e information on thein abundance and spatial pattenns which is of val-ue fon pank managenìent. The nesults penmit the clean delineation and seg:regation of those patterns determined by manfs activities, fnom those induced by soil and topognaphic features. Funthen, the systernatic sunveys pnovide the basis fon both tine studies (if so desired by the park authorities) and biogeographic wonk on the species conce:rned. rn the par.ks studied., the rnajority of the plant species we::e examined to gain optimal_ information from each sunvey. Particuran attention was given to the nesponse of Eucargptus obTiqua dry screnophyll forest to contr,olled bu:rning, in autumn ancl spning, as the use of fire in management is neceiving increasing attention in south Austr"atia. An expeniment r.¡as can:ried out in conjunction with the South Austr"al-ian Depantment of !{oods and For"ests rl_ Summary (Cont. ) The variation in l?esponse of diffenent species to the contnolled burn emphasized the complexity of this communityts reaction to such tneatment. Funthen attention was given to the neaction of alien species to the contnolled bunning. Although the pnoblems of intnoduced plant specíes have been given particuJ-a:: attention in agnícultural situations in Austnalia, in uncultivated aneas studies on these alien species have been largely neglected so leading to an inadequacy of information. To bnidge this gap in information, a pynic succession study was undentaken to dete:rmine the nesponse of al"ien species following a wild fine. As with the othen studies neponted in this thesis the pynic successional situations have pnovided quantitative info:rmation which can be used as a basis fon management decisions. l-l_r DECLARATTON This thesis contains no matenial_ which has been accepted fon the award of any othen degnee on diploma in any Univensity. To the best of my knowledge and belief this thesis contains no mat- enial pneviously published o:: ¡rnitten by anothen person, except whene due nefenence is made in the text. E1ízabeth Mary HeddJ-e l_v. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS r would like to expness my sincene. thanks to the numerous .hrays people who have assisted me in many with this thesis : to the National- Panks Commission (now the National parks and lÍ:'-l.dl-ife Service, a Division of the Depantment of Envi::onment and Consenvation) who pnovided finance for. the r"esearch work. to ny supe::vison, Dn. R.T. Lange of the Botany Depantment fon his assistance and guidanee in sonting out pr"actical and acaclernic pnoblems. to M::. R.G. Lyons (Nationai Panks and I,lil-dlife Senvice) and Dn. R.C. Shea::en (Depantment of Envinonment and Consenvation). to the South Australian Depantment of !ùoods and Forests, in panticulan to Mn. D.R. Douglas, Mn. R.S. Bungey and Mn. A. Gnay. to the Buneau of Meteonology, the South Austnalian Depa::tment of Lands and the South Austnalian Depantment of Agricultune fon. inforrnation. to lan Nobl-e and Trevo:r Matti.ske fon thein assistance in the analytical side of the thesis. to Timothy Fatchen for his herpfu]- criticism of the r:eseanch wonk and thesis. to the staff of the Computing Centne of the Univer:sity of Ade1aide. to Mns. R.B. Heddl-e for her assistance in the fiefd work and in the sonting of the herbanium matenial.