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Monitoring inundation in flow-dependent floodplain wetlands is important for understanding the outcomes of environmental water deliveries that aim to inundate different floodplain wetland vegetation types. The most effective way to monitor inundation across large landscapes is with remote sensing. Spectral water indices are often used to detect water in the landscape, but there are challenges in using them to map inundation within the complex vegetated floodplain wetlands. The current method used for monitoring inundation in the large floodplain wetlands that are targets for environmental water delivery in the New South Wales portion of the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) in eastern Australia considers the complex mixing of water with vegetation and soil, but it is a time-consuming process focused on individual wetlands. In this study, we developed the automated inundation monitoring (AIM) method to enable an efficient process to map inundation in floodplain wetlands with a focus on the lower Lachlan floodplain utilising 25 Sentinel-2 image dates spanning from 2019 to 2023. A local adaptive thresholding (ATH) approach of a suite of spectral indices combined with best available DEM and a cropping layer were integrated into the AIM method. The resulting AIM maps were validated against high-resolution drone images, and vertical and oblique aerial images. Although instances of omission and commission errors were identified in dense vegetation and narrow creek lines, the AIM method showcased high mapping accuracy with overall accuracy of 0.8 measured. The AIM method could be adapted to other MDB wetlands that would further support the inundation monitoring across the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riparian areas can be highly biodiverse and provide critical ecosystem services. However, they are frequently subject to anthropogenic impacts such as land clearing, agricultural use, and urban development. Restoration of riparian areas via revegetation commonly improves the health of waterways and surrounding areas, but vegetation outcomes are rarely assessed. Our study compared 10 to 14‐year‐old revegetation to remnant vegetation in riparian areas of south‐eastern Australia to determine if species composition, vegetation structure, and ecosystem function (plant recruitment) differed. We also assessed if the amount of surrounding native vegetation, browsers (including deer, rabbits, and macropods), or soil characteristics influenced native woody plant recruitment at revegetated sites. While native and exotic woody species richness did not differ, native woody plants were less abundant and exotic woody plants twice as abundant at revegetated sites. The ground layer of revegetated sites was dominated by weeds, whereas remnant sites largely comprised native herbaceous plants and leaf litter. Tree heights and tree canopy cover were similar in revegetated and remnant areas, although shrubs and ferns were lacking in revegetation. Native woody plant recruitment was lower at revegetated sites and was negatively associated with browser presence. Our results suggest that while revegetation may have similar species richness and tree cover as remnant areas, weeds often dominate and important structural components such as shrubs and ferns, and ecological processes such as plant recruitment, are lacking. Better consideration of all vegetation strata, reduced browsing pressure and weed control are likely to achieve better revegetation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting outcomes is critical for conservation prioritisation. We predicted the areas that are likely to be impacted using a generalised estimating equation from a logistic regression and intersected our model with vegetation community mapping for Queensland, Australia. Under the assumption that areas with a high probability of clearing would eventually be cleared, we identified vegetation communities at risk of transitioning into a more vulnerable status, addressing a critical knowledge gap. Specifically, we identify: 1) areas within the study region's bioregions face the highest risk of forest cover loss; 2) communities may transition to more vulnerable according to their extent-based vulnerability status. Our analysis determined high-risk areas within the study region and vegetation communities vulnerable to changing status. Three clearing scenarios – low, moderate and high – were evaluated. In the low scenario, 0.3 per cent of vegetation communities experienced clearing, with 26 communities changing their status. The moderate scenario impacted 35 per cent of vegetation communities, with 103 communities at risk. In the high scenario (our most aggressive assumption), 45 per cent of vegetation communities overlapped with areas suitable for clearing, affecting the status of 158 communities. We emphaise the need to protect high-risk communities while implementing effective management strategies in areas where clearing poses minimal threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical infrastructure is one of the major causes of bushfire in Australia alongside arson and lightning strikes. The two main causes of electrical-infrastructure-initiated fires are asset failure and powerline vegetation interactions. In this paper, we focus on powerline–vegetation interactions that are caused by vegetation falling onto or blowing onto electrical infrastructure. Currently, there is very limited understanding of both the spatio-temporal variability of these events and their causative factors. Bridging this knowledge gap provides an opportunity for electricity utility companies to optimally allocate vegetation management resources and to understand the risk profile presented by vegetation fall-in initiated fires, thereby improving both operational planning and strategic resource allocation. To bridge this knowledge gap, we developed a statistical rare-event modelling and simulation framework based on Endeavour Energy's fire start and incident records from the last 10 years. The modelling framework consists of nested, rare-event-corrected, conditional probability models for vegetation events and consequent ignition events that provide an overall model for vegetation-initiated ignitions. Model performance was tested on an out-of-time test set to determine the predictive utility of the models. Predictive performance was reasonable with test set AUC values of 0.79 and 0.66 for the vegetation event and ignition event models, respectively. The modelling indicates that wind speed and vegetation features are strongly associated with vegetation events, and that Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) and soil type are strongly associated with ignition events. The framework can be used by energy utilities to optimize resource allocation and prepare future networks for climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cost‐effective way of undertaking comprehensive, continental‐scale, assessments of ecological condition is needed to support large‐scale conservation planning, monitoring, reporting, and decision‐making. Currently, cross‐jurisdictional inconsistency in assessment methods limits the capacity to scale‐up monitoring. Here we present a novel way to build a coherent continent‐wide site‐level ecological condition dataset, using cross‐calibration methods to integrate assessments from many observers. We focus on the use of condition assessments from individual expert observers, a currently untapped resource. Our approach has two components: (1) a simple online tool that captures expert assessments at specific locations; (2) a process of calibrating and rescaling disparate expert evaluations that can be applied to the data to provide a consistent dataset for use in conservation assessments. We describe a pilot study, involving 28 experts, who contributed 314 individual site condition assessments across a wide range of ecosystems and regions throughout continental Australia. A correction factor for each expert was used to rescale the contributed site condition assessment scores, based on a set of 77 photographic images, each scored for their condition by multiple experts, using a linear mixed model. Our approach shows strong promise for delivering the volumes of data required to develop continental‐scale reference libraries of site condition assessments. Although developed from expert elicitation, the approach could also be used to harmonize the collation of existing condition datasets. The process we demonstrate can also facilitate online citizen scientists to make site condition assessments that can be cross‐calibrated using contributed images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity analyses across continental extents are important in providing comprehensive information on patterns and likely drivers of diversity. For vascular plants in Australia, community‐level diversity analyses have been restricted by the lack of a consistent plot‐based survey dataset across the continent. To overcome these challenges, we collated and harmonised plot‐based vegetation survey data from the major data sources across Australia and used them as the basis for modelling species richness (α‐diversity) and community compositional dissimilarity (β‐diversity), standardised to 400 m2, with the aim of mapping diversity patterns and identifying potential environmental drivers. The harmonised Australian vegetation plot (HAVPlot) dataset includes 219 552 plots, of which we used 115 083 to analyse plant diversity. Models of species richness and compositional dissimilarity both explained approximately one‐third of the variation in plant diversity across Australia (D2 = 33.0% and 32.7%, respectively). The strongest environmental predictors for both aspects of diversity were a combination of temperature and precipitation, with soil texture and topographic heterogeneity also important. The fine‐resolution (≈ 90 m) spatial predictions of species richness and compositional dissimilarity identify areas expected to be of particular importance for plant diversity, including south‐western Australia, rainforests of eastern Australia and the Australian Alps. Arid areas of central and western Australia are predicted to support assemblages that are less speciose or unique; however, these areas are most in need of additional survey data to fill the spatial, environmental and taxonomic gaps in the HAVPlot dataset. The harmonised data and model predictions presented here provide new insight into plant diversity patterns across Australia, enabling a wide variety of future research, such as exploring changes in species abundances, linking compositional patterns to functional traits or undertaking conservation assessments for selected components of the flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertain graph management and analysis have attracted many research attentions. Among them, computing $k$ k -cores in uncertain graphs (aka, $(k,\eta)$ (k , η) -cores) is an important problem and has emerged in many applications such as community detection, protein-protein interaction network analysis and influence maximization. Given an uncertain graph, the $(k,\eta)$ (k , η) -cores can be derived by iteratively removing the vertex with an $\eta$ η -degree of less than $k$ k . However, the results heavily depend on the two input parameters $k$ k and $\eta$ η . The settings for these parameters are unique to the specific graph structure and the user's subjective requirements. In addition, computing and updating the $\eta$ η -degree for each vertex is the most costly component in the algorithm, and the cost is high. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose an index-based solution for computing $(k,\eta)$ (k , η) -cores. The size of the index is well bounded by $O(m)$ O (m) , where $m$ m is the number of edges in the graph. Based on the index, queries for any $k$ k and $\eta$ η can be answered in optimal time. We propose an algorithm for index construction with several different optimizations. We also propose a new algorithm for index construction in external memory. We conduct extensive experiments on eight real-world datasets to practically evaluate the performance of all proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduced rabbits are a continuing threat to native Australian flora and fauna. Three interventions using biological control agents, myxomatosis, European rabbit fleas, and rabbit hemorrhagic disease, have reduced rabbit abundance and kept numbers low over the last 70 years. We considered the benefits of biological control for native fauna to put the role of rabbits in influencing vegetation cover, food supply, and predation into better perspective. Numerous examples exist demonstrating increases in native vegetation and the expansion and recovery of native animal populations at landscape scales following intense rabbit suppression. Ongoing research on methods for supplementing the impact of biological control agents and managing introduced predators are needed to restore Australia's arid‐zone ecosystems. However, many biologists and rangeland managers first need to reevaluate the misconception that removing rabbits also introduces other serious and insurmountable problems such as prey‐switching by introduced cats and foxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat destruction is a key threatening process for amphibians. Modified or anthropogenic waterbodies can be used to compensate for habitat loss, with several amphibian species utilising created or modified waterbodies. We measured usage of anthropogenic/modified waterbodies by adult and tadpole frog species, including threatened species, in coastal wallum habitat in eastern Australia. Nine road trenches/ditches, 8 artificial 'lakes', 6 golf course waterbodies and 13 natural waterbodies were surveyed for frog adults and tadpoles during the summer/spring period 2011–2012. Additionally, we examined the relationship between frog assemblages and environmental factors (water chemistry, aquatic predators, vegetation types), focusing on Litoria olongburensis and Litoria fallax. Frog species richness differed between waterbody types, with two of three threatened frog species present in both natural and anthropogenic/modified waterbodies. The frog assemblage was influenced by pH, turbidity, salinity and percentage cover of certain vegetation types. Measured abundance of L. olongburensis adults and tadpoles were highest in natural waterbodies with high sedge density and low pH. The measured abundance of adult L. fallax was highest within artificial lakes. We conclude that differences in water chemistry and vegetation density can affect the amphibian assemblage within these environments. Therefore, effective conservation of all frog species would be enhanced by conserving a variety of waterbody types. However, natural waterbodies are more likely to be used by threatened species and the conservation of these waterbodies provides the best conservation outcomes. Where habitat offsets may be required, environmental managers should critically assess the quality of constructed habitat for specialist frog species including those associated with acidic, oligotrophic environments. Wallum frogs are unique as they occur in naturally acidic, oligotrophic waterbodies. These waterbodies and the habitat surrounding them are often influenced by human disturbances. This article looks at determining the suitability of anthropogenic waterbodies for wallum frogs. We found that naturally occurring waterbodies are most suited for wallum frogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil characteristics vary across land uses, and soil microbial communities are likely to respond to such variations. However, such responses are not well understood. In this study, we examined how specific changes in soil organic matter (SOM) and geochemical characteristics influenced the bacterial and fungal community composition and structure across land uses. Soil samples were collected from grazing, sugarcane, forest and banana land uses in the Johnstone River catchment (wet tropics), northeastern Australia. High‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS amplicons were employed to characterise soil bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Bacterial and fungal α‐diversity did not differ across land uses, whereas strong shifts in their community composition and structure were evident. Patterns in microbial community composition were strongly (p < 0.01) associated with changes in soil total organic carbon and nitrogen (TOC and TN), TOC:TN ratio, hot‐water extractable organic carbon (HWEOC) and soil geochemical characteristics (e.g., pH, Co, Mn, K, Mg and P contents). Distinct bacterial community composition was observed in forest soils, while fungal communities were similar in banana and forest soils compared with sugarcane and grazing. Overall, our results showed that SOM characteristics were the major driver on structuring soil microbial communities across land uses, while soil bacterial communities were more sensitive to variations in SOM and geochemical characteristics compared with fungi. Results from this study have implications for developing more targeted management practices across different land uses to improve soil health and ecosystem function in a wet tropical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed spatial and temporal dynamics in landscape and ecosystem resources are the net effects of natural processes and management activities. Monitoring the impact that humans have on these resources requires that these two sources of variability be partitioned, removing the natural variability to reveal variability due to management activities. Here, we present Compere, a relative benchmarking framework for monitoring the management‐driven impacts on ecosystem resources. The framework identifies locations in a region that share similar biophysical properties to a target location. Taking an attribute of interest, it then compares the value of the target location with those of all its biophysically equivalent locations, with any differences being attributed to variations in management. We provide an example application of Compere, using satellite‐derived vegetation cover data to examine the impact of hydrocarbon extraction activities on land condition (as described by vegetation cover) across the 490,000‐km2 Cooper Creek region in arid central Australia. Validation was performed by comparing land condition estimates to known disturbance patterns across the region. We found that the establishment of well sites was associated with between 12% and 41% decreases in land condition but that condition recovered to original levels by 6 years after establishment. We also found that fires had much larger and longer lasting effects on land condition across these landscapes, indicating that mining‐related activities that change fire patterns are likely to affect land condition most. Compere is a generic, flexible framework, providing a new capability for monitoring management impacts on multiple types of ecosystem resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-impedance faults are a challenging problem in power distribution systems. They often do not trigger protection devices and can result in serious hazards such as igniting fires when in contact with vegetation. The current research field dedicated to studying these faults is extensive but suffers from a constraining bottleneck of a lack of real experimental data. Many works set to detect and localize such faults rely on high-impedance fault low-fidelity models, and the lack of public data sets makes it impractical to have objective performance benchmarks. This letter describes and proposes a format for a data set of more than 900 vegetation high-impedance faults funded by the Victorian Government in Australia recorded in high-sampling resolution. The original data set is public, but it was made available through an obscure format that limits its accessibility. The presented format in this letter uses the standard hierarchical data format (HDF5), which makes it easily accessible in many languages such as MATLAB, Python, C++, and more. The data set compiler and visualizer script are also provided in the work repository1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High impedance faults through contact with vegetation are one of the main causes of electrically caused wildfires. While detecting these faults is challenging on its own, it is important to do so in the context of the risk of vegetation ignition, as disconnecting the power infrastructure can have unwarranted, damaging consequences during an emergency. Hence, we propose a methodology for prevention of wildfires, through the accurate prediction and early detection of the ignition risk resulting from high impedance faults. Our methodology uses a set of features derived from time- and frequency-domain analyses. To test our methodology, we use a large, publicly available experimental dataset. Our results demonstrate that the methodology allows the detection of ignition risk well before its onset with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the status and trends of biodiversity is critical for making informed decisions about the conservation, management or restoration of species, habitats and ecosystems. Defining the reference state against which status and change are measured is essential. Typically, reference states describe historical conditions, yet historical conditions are challenging to quantify, may be difficult to falsify, and may no longer be an attainable target in a contemporary ecosystem. We have constructed a conceptual framework to help inform thinking and discussion around the philosophical underpinnings of reference states and guide their application. We characterize currently recognized historical reference states and describe them as Pre‐Human, Indigenous Cultural, Pre‐Intensification and Hybrid‐Historical. We extend the conceptual framework to include contemporary reference states as an alternative theoretical perspective. The contemporary reference state framework is a major conceptual shift that focuses on current ecological patterns and identifies areas with higher biodiversity values relative to other locations within the same ecosystem, regardless of the disturbance history. We acknowledge that past processes play an essential role in driving contemporary patterns of diversity. The specific context for which we design the contemporary conceptual frame is underpinned by an overarching goal—to maximize biodiversity conservation and restoration outcomes in existing ecosystems. The contemporary reference state framework can account for the inherent differences in the diversity of biodiversity values (e.g. native species richness, habitat complexity) across spatial scales, communities and ecosystems. In contrast to historical reference states, contemporary references states are measurable and falsifiable. This 'road map of reference states' offers perspective needed to define and assess the status and trends in biodiversity and habitats. We demonstrate the contemporary reference state concept with an example from south‐eastern Australia. Our framework provides a tractable way for policy‐makers and practitioners to navigate biodiversity assessments to maximize conservation and restoration outcomes in contemporary ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the strong El Niño event of 2015–2016 large‐scale dieback of mangrove forests was observed in the Gulf of Carpentaria region of northern Australia. These and other intertidal communities are also extensive along the 7,400 km coastline of north‐eastern Australia. Determination of their floristic composition, potential carbon (C) store and sequestration capacity, and vulnerability to climate extremes is required for their effective conservation management and was the aim of this study.Standardized, state‐wide quantitative classification methods identified five mangrove forest and three saltmarsh communities covering 2,604 km2 along this coastline.Estuarine and oceanic mangrove forests were mapped separately. Carbon storage and sequestration capacity of the intertidal communities and their vulnerability to strong El Niño events were estimated using published data and GIS analyses.An estimated potential 126.2 (± 27.3 SEM) Tg C and 8.3 (±0.4 SD) Tg C were stored in the mangrove forests and saltmarshes, respectively. Comparatively, the rainforests of the region stored an estimated equivalent amount of C but covered three times the area, and the most widespread woodlands (Eucalyptus tetrodonta) of the region stored an estimated 1.5 times the C but covered 16 times the area. The C stored in the intertidal communities was estimated as equivalent to 493.47 Tg of CO2, valued at AU$6.8 billion on the Australian carbon market in December 2018. Annual C sequestration potential was 0.18–0.34 Tg C/year, valued between AU$8.9 and $17 million.Approximately 360 ha of mangrove forest was estimated as lost because of dieback during the 2015–16 El Niño event. Three types of mangrove forest were identified as potentially vulnerable to dieback from El Niño‐driven climate events.This study highlights the national and global significance of these intertidal systems and our findings need to be incorporated in future conservation and development planning of northern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Murray–Darling Basin in south‐eastern Australia contains over 70,000 km2 of wetlands and floodplains, many of which are in poor condition. In response, Australian governments have committed to a major restoration program, the Murray–Darling Basin Plan that includes management of 2,750 Gl of environmental water to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems. The restoration is being undertaken within an adaptive management framework that includes monitoring the outcomes of environmental flows in seven river valleys. This paper provides an overview of the 5‐year monitoring project and some preliminary results. Monitoring design considered the Basin Plan's environmental objectives, conceptual models of ecosystem responses to flow, and an outcomes framework linking flow responses to the environmental objectives. Monitoring indicators includes ecosystem type, vegetation, river metabolism, and fish. Responses are evaluated to identify the contribution of environmental flows to Basin Plan environmental objectives and continual improvements in management. The program is unique in that it seeks to monitor long‐term outcomes of environmental flows at the river basin scale. Despite many challenges, the monitoring has become a key part of the adaptive management of environmental flows in the Murray–Darling Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floodplains and their associated wetlands are important features of semiarid and arid landscapes, providing habitat and refugia for native species as well as contributing to human needs for freshwater. Globally, floodplain habitats are some of the most modified ecological communities because of water resource development and land‐use changes. However, the hydrological changes that have occurred in highly variable semiarid and arid systems are rarely quantified in a way that helps us understand the consequences for different floodplain habitat types. This study investigated changes in floodplain‐river connectivity that have occurred because of water resource development on four floodplain habitat types in the Lachlan River Catchment, Australia: (a) temporary floodplain lakes, (b) intermittent river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) swamps, (c) intermittent black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) swamps, and (d) terminal wetlands (wetlands along distributary creeks). Changes to floodplain‐river connectivity characteristics were calculated using their commence to fill thresholds and flow scenarios derived from a river hydrology model, enabling comparison of long‐term data sets (120 years) encompassing a range of climate conditions. Connection regime metrics have changed significantly in all floodplain habitats except intermittent black box swamps. Temporary floodplain lakes have experienced the greatest reduction in number of connection events (60% reduction), followed by intermittent river red gum swamps (55% reduction). Intermittent black box swamps and terminal wetlands have experienced the least change in number of connection events (35% reduction). The nature of the change in connection suggests a change in vegetation communities will occur in response to long‐term hydrological change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping of groundwater‐dependent ecosystems (GDEs) relies largely on assumption‐laden evaporation models, and few global, direct, and real‐time monitoring techniques exist. We propose a new synthetic aperture radar imagery‐derived index, SARGDE, to identify and monitor these ecosystems across Australia. The index captures vegetation reliance on groundwater during dry periods by estimating the relative stability of foliage and branch structure from the vertical/horizontal cross‐polarized band and InSAR coherence. SARGDE is tested over two contrasting study sites in Australia. To build and verify the index, a total of 90 Sentinel‐1 interferometric wide images are processed and stacked in two data‐cubes. GDE response to the SAR signal is explored using a non‐linear dimension reduction algorithm. Relevant statistical parameters are derived from data‐cubes and combined to form the index. As the index relies on a 1‐year time series of globally, freely available, and cloud‐insensitive SAR imagery, SARGDE offers unprecedented capabilities for large‐scale, annual monitoring of GDEs. Such monitoring will aid reconciliation of human and ecosystem groundwater needs by acting as a systematic monitoring tool, helping policy makers to assure ecosystem sustainability where impacts related to mining, agriculture, or climate change may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Correlation analysis and generalized additive modeling are used to analyze the relationship between hydro-climatic factors and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the semi-arid Narran Lakes. • Soil moisture is the primary factor influencing NDVI in our wetland system. • Water availability factors, including soil moisture, precipitation and inflow, interact in a complex manner to affect NDVI. Vegetation in semi-arid wetlands often serve as a critical habitat and refuge for a wide range of species. In many wetlands, on-ground monitoring of vegetation is either not comprehensive or unavailable, which impedes our understanding of the system. However, basic data on climate and hydrological variables, as well as remote sensing data, can often be acquired. The Narran Lakes system in the Lower Balonne catchment in New South Wales, Australia, is a Ramsar-listed wetland and an exemplar in terms of possessing such basic data. For the Narran Lakes we conducted correlation analysis between the anomaly of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as response variable and various climatic and hydrological factors as explanatory variables taking into account different time-lag and accumulative time-averaged effects. The generalized additive model framework was used to identify the contribution of the individual variables to NDVI and examine the nonlinear interactions of the hydro-climatic, water availability factors (soil moisture, precipitation and inflow in the study) on NDVI change within the Narran Lakes. We also undertook various cross-validation exercises to appreciate uncertainties in the results. The results show that: (1) Soil moisture is the primary factor influencing NDVI; and (2) Water availability factors interact in a complex manner to affect NDVI and, more specifically, these factors have a positive impact on NDVI, although the degree of impact differs; (3) The impact of the hydrological and climatic factors is highly variable between wet and dry resource states, both for the whole floodplain vegetation and its lignum community. Overall, the analysis improved our understanding of how the driving factors affect vegetation growth, thus supporting the monitoring and management of vegetation communities in the Narran Lakes. The methods can be applied to other wetlands with similar data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stormwater biofilters demonstrate promising treatment of faecal microorganisms, however performance can vary with design and operational conditions. This study investigated whether plants with significant documented antimicrobial activity could improve faecal bacterial treatment within biofilters. Laboratory-scale biofilters (n = 30) were dosed with synthetic stormwater containing faecal bacteria Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Campylobacter jejuni under south-eastern Australian climatic conditions. Systems vegetated with Melaleuca species, renowned for their in vitro antimicrobial activity, consistently enhanced removal of all tested culturable bacteria in total outflow and submerged zone water relative to other plant configurations. Within just 1-2 days of stormwater dosing, M. linariifolia submerged zones demonstrated significantly reduced bacterial concentrations compared to C. appressa (p = 0.023 and <0.001 for C. jejuni and E. coli, respectively), removing ∼1.47 log 10 MPN/100 mL E. coli, ∼1.14 log 10 MPN/100 mL E. faecalis and ∼0.81 log 10 MPN/L C. jejuni from inflow. These trends continued even after all but one M. linariifolia replicate perished during an extended drying period (p = 0.002 and 0.003 for C. jejuni and E. coli, respectively). Through a systematic process of elimination, these observations were attributed to enhanced bacterial attenuation with elevated plant inhibitory activity. Cumulative biofilter age reinforced plant-mediated bacterial treatment (p = 0.023 for E. faecalis), ostensibly due to increased plant size/growth and net biological activity. Notably, E. coli and E. faecalis attenuation improved with prolonged antecedent drying length (14 vs. 4 days; p < 0.0001 for both), while the converse was observed for C. jejuni (not significant). This study addresses significant knowledge gaps around plant-mediated faecal microbe treatment within biofilters, providing key direction for real-world system design to optimise stormwater pathogen treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To understand the long‐term drivers of biomass burning in the sclerophyll‐dominated forests of Australia. Location: Swallow Lagoon, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. Time period: Last ca. 8 kyr. Major taxa studied: Eucalyptus sensu lato, Leptospermum and Casuarinaceae. Methods: High‐resolution pollen and charcoal analyses were undertaken on a ca. 8 kyr sediment record and compared with an independent quantitative precipitation reconstruction inferred from leaf carbon isotopes from the same site. We performed Principal Component Analysis to extract the main vegetation trends around Swallow Lagoon. We then compared vegetation changes to local charcoal records to understand the climate‐vegetation‐fire relationships under different rainfall regimes. The trends in pollen, charcoal and rainfall were analysed using Generalized Additive Models and wavelet coherence. Results: Relatively high Casuarinaceae pollen abundance and high charcoal influx were found prior to 3.4 ka, during a phase of high rainfall. Between 3.4 and 1.5 ka there was an increase in Leptospermum‐type pollen abundance in concert with a decline in both rainfall and charcoal influx. After 1.5 ka low rainfall was generally maintained and a significant increase in Eucalyptus was detected, along with an increase in microscopic charcoal. Main conclusions: Our study, from a sclerophyll forest setting that is typical of ~30% of Australia's vegetation, provides a unique example of complex climate‐biomass‐fire feedbacks and highlights biomass limitation of fire activity. High rainfall at Swallow Lagoon is linked to dense Casuarinaceae‐dominated forests and high fire activity prior to 3.4 ka. Between 3.4 and 1.5 ka, a decline in rainfall leads to reduced biomass burning during a phase dominated by shrub communities. After 1.5 ka, a change in fuel type was related to a transition to an open eucalypt forest and greater microscopic charcoal influx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Australian Government has sanctioned development of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) abatement methodologies to meet international emissions reduction obligations. Savanna burning emissions abatement methodologies have been available since 2012, and there are currently 72 registered projects covering approximately 32 million ha. Abatement to date has exceeded 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2‐e) principally through the application of low intensity early dry season fire management to reduce the amount of biomass combusted in higher intensity late dry season (LDS) fires. Savanna burning projects can only be conducted on areas with eligible fire‐prone vegetation fuel types where implementing the improved fire management regime is considered ecologically appropriate. This study assesses the suitability of including tall Acacia shrublands (‘Pindan’) as a new eligible fuel type. These shrublands make up 12% (~2 million ha) of the Kimberley region, Western Australia, where, on average, 32% is fire affected annually, mostly in the LDS. A standard assessment protocol was applied to describe vegetation fuel type structural and pyrolysis characteristics. We show that Pindan (i) can be identified and mapped as a unique tall Acacia shrubland vegetation fuel type, (ii) characterised by a significantly greater shrubby fuel load biomass, and (iii) the conservation status of which would benefit from imposition of strategic prescribed burning programme. Savanna burning projects in the Pindan fuel type could potentially abate up to 24.43 t.CO2‐e/km2 per year, generating significant income and employment opportunities for predominantly Indigenous land managers in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding environment-vegetation relationships provides important ecological insights, and here we examined such relationships for the Hamersley Ranges of North West Australia. We were particularly interested to see if such relationships were similar to those of other mountainous deserts. We used direct gradient analyses of floristic and environmental variables (constrained ordination), supplemented by identification of environmental differences between plant communities, assessment of environment-vegetation associations and partitioning of the floristic variance between environmental, climatic and spatial variables. Most communities could be differentiated from others according to environmental variables, with slope, surface stone cover, topsoil phosphorus and pH particularly good at differentiating between plant communities. There was strong association between communities and classes of landform and/or geological substrate. Gradient analysis demonstrated the primary floristic gradient was linked to a complex of several topographic, edaphic and geomorphic variables. This was interpreted as floristic change along broad topo-sequences from mountain/ridge tops to valley floors over which gradients in key environmental variables occur. Gradient analyses of other mountainous deserts have reported similar findings. A key distinction in the complex gradient identified for the Hamersley Ranges is the inclusion of topsoil phosphorus (rather than nitrogen) and time since last fire. The second most important floristic gradient was linked to soil pH and conductivity, which reflects floristic variation due to differences in geological substrate throughout the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spaceborne laser altimetry waveform estimates of canopy Gap Fraction (GF) vary with respect to discrete return airborne equivalents due to their greater sensitivity to reflectance differences between canopy and ground surfaces resulting from differences in footprint size, energy thresholding, noise characteristics and sampling geometry. Applying scaling factors to either the ground or canopy portions of waveforms has successfully circumvented this issue, but not at large scales. This study develops a method to scale spaceborne altimeter waveforms by identifying which remotely-sensed vegetation, terrain and environmental attributes are best suited to predicting scaling factors based on an independent measure of importance. The most important attributes were identified as: soil phosphorus and nitrogen contents, vegetation height, MODIS vegetation continuous fields product and terrain slope. Unscaled and scaled estimates of GF are compared to corresponding ALS data for all available data and an optimized subset, where the latter produced most encouraging results (R² = 0.89, RMSE = 0.10). This methodology shows potential for successfully refining estimates of GF at large scales and identifies the most suitable attributes for deriving appropriate scaling factors. Large-scale active sensor estimates of GF can establish a baseline from which future monitoring investigations can be initiated via upcoming Earth Observation missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Previously described prognostic markers in right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) include vegetation size ≥1cm, fever for more than three weeks, cardiac failure and severe sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of medical therapy for vegetations ≥1cm and explore determinants of outcome in a representative population of intravenous drug users (IDUs) at a metropolitan Australian health service.Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive IDUs presenting to our institution with native-valve RSIE (by modified Duke criteria) over seven years (2005-2011). Data recorded included echocardiographic estimation of maximal vegetation diameter (classified as < or ≥1cm). Relationships between vegetation size and specified outcomes of death, septic shock, recurrence and relapse were examined by Chi-squared testing.Results: Of 49 episodes five (10%) were managed surgically and a further four (8%) were lost to follow-up and excluded from the analysis. Of the remaining 40 evaluable medically treated patients (median age 28, range 20-55), 37 (93%) cultured methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and all had tricuspid valve involvement. Of 24 with vegetations ≥1cm, three died (mortality 13%) compared with one (6%) in 16 medically treated patients with vegetations <1cm (p=0.63). A Pittsburgh (PITT) bacteraemia score of ≥4 at presentation was associated with a mortality of 24% (four of 17 patients died) compared with 0 in 23 patients with PITT scores <4 (p=0.026).Conclusion: Medical therapy alone can be effective for RSIE when large vegetations are present. However a high sepsis score at presentation may increase risk of death. Larger studies are required to determine optimal indications for early surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular biomarker-derived proxies in a marine sediment core from the eastern Timor Sea have been employed to track changes in the Australian–Indonesian monsoon system over the time period from the penultimate glacial to the last interglacial. The average chain length of n -alkanes originating from terrestrial higher plants reveals an expansion of woody plants during both Termination II and the last interglacial with respect to the penultimate glacial. This is consistent with previous reconstructions for the last glacial–interglacial cycle, indicating that water-stress conditions during dry seasons of southern Indonesia should have been relieved during interglacials and deglacials relative to glacials. However, in contrast to an only muted response during Heinrich Stadial 1, the vegetation composition showed a dramatic and prominent change during Heinrich Stadial 11. This was probably caused by a much more significant and longer duration iceberg discharge event to the northern North Atlantic during Heinrich Stadial 11 relative to Heinrich Stadial 1, which exerted a significant influence on the tropical hydrological cycle and monsoon rainfall seasonality. In addition, marine algae-derived biomarkers are used to reconstruct primary productivity variations, which are in agreement with previous studies from the same area. The precessional cyclicity of paleo-productivity variations is possibly induced by changes in the Australian–Indonesian winter monsoon intensity, showing a correlation with boreal winter insolation. However, this phase relationship is in contrast to the inference based on other lines of evidence, which suggests strong winter monsoon strength during boreal summer insolation maxima. New winter monsoon proxies are therefore required to clarify this discrepancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mabuyag (Mabuiag Island) is the smallest permanently occupied island in the Central Western Islands of Torres Strait. The island is formed on acid volcanic basement rocks and the landscape is rugged with low, shrubby windswept vegetation occupying numerous hillocks and knolls. Vegetation mapping and biodiversity planning was carried out by the authors between 2007 and 2012 for the Land and Sea Management Unit of the Torres Strait Regional Authority. A total of 21 vegetation communities, within 11 broad vegetation groups and 31 regional ecosystems occur on the island. These represent 17% of regional ecosystems recorded across the broader Torres Strait Island landscape. There are currently 434 flora species recorded on the island comprising 364 (94%) native species and 70 (16%) introduced species. Three plant species are significant at either federal or state level. A further 16 are considered to have significance at the regional and local level. A number of management issues affecting the integrity of the island's biodiversity values such as fire and invasive plant and animal species are described for each of the habitats identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a composite terrestrial pollen record of latest Eocene through Oligocene (35.5–23 Ma) vegetation and climate change from the Gippsland Basin of south-eastern Australia. Climates were overwhelmingly mesothermic through this time period, with mean annual temperature (MAT) varying between 13 and 18 °C, with an average of 16 °C. We provide evidence to support a cooling trend through the Eocene–Oligocene Transition (EOT), but also identify three subsequent warming cycles through the Oligocene, leading to more seasonal climates at the termination of the Epoch. One of the warming episodes in the Early Oligocene appears to have also occurred at two other southern hemisphere sites at the Drake Passage as well as off eastern Tasmania, based on recent research. Similarities with sea surface temperature records from modern high southern latitudes which also record similar cycles of warming and cooling, are presented and discussed. Annual precipitation varied between 1200 and 1700 mm/yr, with an average of 1470 mm/yr through the sequence. Notwithstanding the extinction of Nothofagus sg. Brassospora from Australia and some now microthermic humid restricted Podocarpaceae conifer taxa, the rainforest vegetation of lowland south-eastern Australia is reconstructed to have been similar to present day Australian Evergreen Notophyll Vine Forests existing under the sub-tropical Köppen-Geiger climate class Cfa (humid subtropical) for most of the sequence. Short periods of cooler climates, such as occurred through the EOT when MAT was ~ 13 °C, may have supported vegetation similar to modern day Evergreen Microphyll Fern Forest. Of potentially greater significance, however, was a warm period in the Early to early Late Oligocene (32–26 Ma) when MAT was 17–18 °C, accompanied by small but important increases in Araucariaceae pollen. At this time, Araucarian Notophyll/Microphyll Vine Forest likely occurred regionally. • Pollen record of latest Eocene through Oligocene vegetation and climate change, south-eastern Australia. • Climates were mostly mesothermic, with MAT varying between 13 and 18 °C, with an average of 16 °C. • Annual precipitation varied between 1200 and 1700 mm/yr, with an average of 1470 mm/yr across the sequence. • Three warming/cooling cycles occur during the Oligocene, with more seasonal climates at the termination of the Epoch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Swamps, bogs and fens are diverse wetland ecosystems found worldwide. Within each region, different ecological processes and species dominate them, yet water levels and saturation of sediments appear key to the maintenance of vegetation and the ecosystem as a whole. Consequently, understanding how vegetation responds to water levels in these ecosystems is critical to their future management. This paper describes the floristic patterns observed in an upland swamp on the Budderoo Plateau, Southern Highlands, NSW, and relates the distribution of the vegetation communities to groundwater depth, soil type and site attributes. Three distinct vegetation assemblages were identified associated with (1) the main swamp axis, (2) the swamp margin and (3) the adjacent hillslopes. Elevation above the central swamp axis was the variable most strongly related to vegetation structure. Relative changes in elevation create a drainage gradient that allows higher elevation areas (hillslope and swamp marginal zones) to drain more readily than areas in the main swamp axis. Variation in vegetation was also related to median groundwater depth. Finally, soil organic matter content was a contributing factor with the swamp axis and marginal zones mostly having fibric, highly organic soils in contrast to the sandy, loamy soils on the hillslopes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recreation activities and visitor use often have deleterious ecological impacts in protected areas. Management agencies then face the difficult task of providing recreation and tourism opportunities without compromising environmental values. This study assessed the success of efforts aimed at conserving alpine vegetation along the Mt Bogong Massif in Victoria, Australia, through controlling the use of horses. Vegetation condition was assessed in 2001 to coinciding with restrictions on the use of horse riding on trails and then resurveyed 10 years later. Sampling was undertaken in track plots that included the trail and surrounding vegetation, and control plots located away from the trail. There were significant differences in the amount of bare ground, the height of shrubs and ground layer vegetation, and shrub cover between track and control plots in 2001. Ten years later, track plots were recovering with reductions in bare ground and changes in vegetation, with improved ground layer vegetation height. Results show that vegetation condition has improved with restrictions of horse numbers. The indicators selected were sensitive to changes in vegetation condition and hence should be used for ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of this and similar management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of using vegetation greenness metrics as a proxy for transpiration variability over Australia is demonstrated. Several global evapotranspiration datasets, one of which provides transpiration data and is constructed independently of the vegetation greenness measurements, are compared to four satellite-based observations representative of the state of the vegetation over several regions in Australia. Further estimates of the transpiration are obtained by decomposing the evapotranspiration datasets using an ensemble of land surface model simulations. On monthly time scales, the greenness anomaly metrics show a near one-to-one relationship with the transpiration estimates when the time series are appropriately scaled by the mean. The authors demonstrate that anomalous vegetation greenness metrics, when properly scaled, provide a tool for evaluating transpiration variability simulated by land surface models and observation-based evapotranspiration datasets that include transpiration. These methods provide a new test to help constrain the dynamic behavior of the land surface in climate model simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus) occurs in the eucalypt forests of eastern and southern Australia and is currently threatened by habitat fragmentation, climate change, sexually transmitted diseases, and low genetic variability throughout most of its range. Using data collected during the Great Koala Count (a 1-day citizen science project in the state of South Australia), we developed generalized linear mixed-effects models to predict habitat suitability across South Australia accounting for potential errors associated with the dataset. We derived spatial environmental predictors for vegetation (based on dominant species of Eucalyptus or other vegetation), topographic water features, rain, elevation, and temperature range. We also included predictors accounting for human disturbance based on transport infrastructure (sealed and unsealed roads). We generated random pseudo-absences to account for the high prevalence bias typical of citizen-collected data. We accounted for biased sampling effort along sealed and unsealed roads by including an offset for distance to transport infrastructures. The model with the highest statistical support ( wAIC c ~ 1) included all variables except rain, which was highly correlated with elevation. The same model also explained the highest deviance (61.6%), resulted in high R2( m) (76.4) and R2( c) (81.0), and had a good performance according to Cohen's κ (0.46). Cross-validation error was low (~ 0.1). Temperature range, elevation, and rain were the best predictors of koala occurrence. Our models predict high habitat suitability in Kangaroo Island, along the Mount Lofty Ranges, and at the tips of the Eyre, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas. In the highest-density region (5576 km2) of the Adelaide-Mount Lofty Ranges, a density-suitability relationship predicts a population of 113,704 (95% confidence interval: 27,685-199,723; average density = 5.0-35.8 km−2). We demonstrate the power of citizen science data for predicting species' distributions provided that the statistical approaches applied account for some uncertainties and potential biases. A future improvement to citizen science surveys to provide better data on search effort is that smartphone apps could be activated at the start of the search. The results of our models provide preliminary ranges of habitat suitability and population size for a species for which previous data have been difficult or impossible to gather otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pit lakes may form when open cut mining leaves a pit void behind that fills with ground and surface water. Often replacing terrestrial ecosystems that existed prior to mining, the pit lake may offer an alternative ecosystem with aquatic biodiversity values that can be realised through planned restoration. Restoration theory and mine closure regulatory requirements guides us toward restoring disturbed systems towards landscapes that are of regional value and relevance. However, how do we identify a restoration target for a novel aquatic habitat that did not exist prior to the new post-mining landscape? This paper presents a process of first identifying and then surveying local analogue aquatic systems to provide a direction for pit lake restoration efforts and achievement criteria for pit lake relinquishment. We illustrate this process using a case study from a sand mining operation located amongst wetlands in south western Australia. The company mines silica sands following mechanical removal of topsoil and then extraction of the ore from below the water table by dredging. Assessment of wetland and riparian vegetation in the surrounding area was completed through the establishment and measurement of temporary monitoring transects across five natural wetlands in the Kemerton area with several more visited and observations made. Distinct zonation of vegetation was found across each wetland, although typically wetland basins were unvegetated or filled with younger woody plants with patchy distributions. Fringing riparian vegetation consisted of few species (commonly Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and Lepidosperma longitudinale) but community composition and structure were variable between wetlands. The pattern of vegetation seen across natural wetlands was best explained by topography and soil chemistry with low lying areas more likely to experience regular flooding and accumulate organic matter and nutrients. We consider that, with good planning, rehabilitation, monitoring and management interventions to achieve a restoration trajectory, these new mining pit lakes can positively contribute to regional ecological values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Soil moisture is crucial in regulating vegetation productivity and controlling terrestrial carbon uptake. This study aims to quantify the impact of soil moisture on vegetation at large spatial and long-term temporal scales using independent satellite observations. We used a newly developed satellite-derived soil moisture product and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to investigate the impact of soil moisture on vegetation across mainland Australia between 1991 and 2009. Our approach relied on multiple statistical methods including: (i) windowed cross correlation; (ii) quantile regression; (iii) piecewise linear regression. We found a strong positive relationship between soil moisture and NDVI, with NDVI typically lagging behind soil moisture by one month. The temporal characteristics of this relation show substantial regional variability. Dry regions with low vegetation density are more sensitive to soil moisture for the high end of the distribution of NDVI than moist regions, suggesting that soil moisture enhances vegetation growth in dry regions and in the early stage in wet regions. Using piecewise linear regression, we detected three periods with different soil moisture trends over the 19years. The changes in NDVI trends are significant (p<0.01) with turning points of soil moisture in the beginning of 2000 and the end of 2002. Our findings illustrate the usefulness of the new soil moisture product by demonstrating the impacts of soil moisture on vegetation at various temporal scales. This analysis could be used as a benchmark for coupled vegetation climate models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The reflected radiance in topographically complex areas is severely affected by variations in topography; thus, topographic correction is considered a necessary pre-processing step when retrieving biophysical variables from these images. We assessed the performance of five topographic corrections: (i) C correction (C), (ii) Minnaert, (iii) Sun Canopy Sensor (SCS), (iv) SCS + C and (v) the Processing Scheme for Standardised Surface Reflectance (PSSSR) on the Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) reflectance in the context of prediction of Foliage Projective Cover (FPC) in hilly landscapes in north-eastern Australia. The performance of topographic corrections on the TM reflectance was assessed by (i) visual comparison and (ii) statistically comparing TM predicted FPC with ground measured FPC and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)-derived FPC estimates. In the majority of cases, the PSSSR method performed best in terms of eliminating topographic effects, providing the best relationship and lowest residual error when comparing ground measured FPC and LiDAR FPC with TM predicted FPC. The Minnaert, C and SCS + C showed the poorest performance. Finally, the use of TM surface reflectance, which includes atmospheric correction and broad Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) effects, seemed to account for most topographic variation when predicting biophysical variables, such as FPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new colour vegetation map for Western Australia has been developed at a level of detail appropriate for publishing at the 1:3,000,000 scale. This memoir accompanies the map, which is based on the statewide mapping carried out by John Beard. The published maps and reports have been valuable resources for biologists and planners for decades, and this information is now available as a spatial dataset, making it more accessible for a broader range of uses. This memoir explains how the data were derived and describes the units of vegetation shown on the map. The 1:3,000,000-scale vegetation map shows the distribution of 75 major categories of natural plant cover in Western Australia as they would have been at the time of European settlement, with 50 major vegetation types, five categories of bare and poorly-vegetated ground and 20 vegetation mosaics (combinations of vegetation types). This classification was carried out in 1996-97 and is influenced by the original framework developed by Beard for the earlier 1:3,000,000 map. Vegetation types range from tall forests of karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) in the high rainfall zone of the South West; through to the forests and woodlands dominated by eucalyptus, melaleuca, allocasuarina or acacia in the medium to low rainfall areas; the sclerophyllous shrublands of the South West; the saltbush, bluebush and samphire shrublands that occur on saline soils throughout the state; and the various grasslands of Triodia (spinifex) in central parts and Sorghum, Astrebla and Chrysopogon in northern parts of the state. These grasslands often have emergent tree cover of over 10% with density and are described as steppe or savanna. The map has been generated from a comprehensive, spatial database of the vegetation of the state, based mainly on the work of JS Beard carried out from 1964 to 1981. Almost 900 vegetation associations, derived from the 1:250,000- scale maps are included in the database. These were grouped into vegetation types based on physiognomy, floristics and, in some cases, ecological and regional attributes, and largely followed the framework developed by Beard. This work was carried out prior to the development of the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS; ESCAVI 2003). A subsequent reclassification of system associations (an intersection of Beard's vegetation associations with his vegetation systems) was described in six levels according to the NVIS, but is not described in this publication. The structure, composition, and general distribution of each of the vegetation types are described in this memoir . The memoir also includes details about the development and current delineation of the bioregions known as the IBRA (Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia). The description of vegetation types are referenced to these regions. The six most extensive vegetation types are: * low woodland, open low and sparse woodland dominated by Acacia aneura (mulga), which covers over 36 million ha and extends over eight IBRA regions; * a mosaic of open tree steppe and open shrub-steppe that covers over 25.5 million ha and dominates three desert IBRA regions; * shrub-steppe of hummock grassland dominated by Triodia spp. with scattered shrubs of Acacia spp. and Grevillea spp., mapped over nearly 25 million ha; * scrub, open scrub and sparse shrub of Acacia spp., Melaleuca spp. and other species, mapped widely over the state and that covers over 15 million ha; * the woodlands of the Avon Wheatbelt Bioregion, Coolgardie Bioregion, riverine areas and the Northern Kimberley Bioregion that cover nearly 13.5 million ha. These six vegetation types account for 55% of the state. The six most restricted vegetation types identified by the classification process are: * freshwater lakes, which total nearly 22,700 ha; * samphire with scattered trees or low trees, mapped over nearly 39,000 ha; * pockets of low forest of acacia, Rottnest cypress, coastal moort or mixed tropical forest (rain forest), which cover 55,600 ha; * sedgelands of the South West (59,000 ha); * thickets with medium open woodland or scattered trees (62,600 ha); * low woodland or open low woodlands over bluebush and/or saltbush (87,700 ha). Some of these could be incorporated into other units in future classifications. The 1:3,000,000-scale map gives a general impression of the vegetation of the state, as well as aspects of the geology, geomorphology and climate patterns. The vegetation database that underpins this map is currently being used for a wide range of research and planning purposes, including the on-going development of the terrestrial nature conservation reserve system. It is not ideal for this latter purpose as the scale of the mapping at 1:250,000 is relatively broad. More detailed vegetation datasets will be required to undertake more effective land use planning as conserving Western Australia's unique and fragile native vegetation communities becomes more challenging into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban drainage infrastructure is generally designed to rapidly export stormwater away from the urban environment to minimize flood risk created by extensive impervious surface cover. This deficit is resolved by importing high-quality potable water for irrigation. However, cities and towns at times face water restrictions in response to drought and water scarcity. This can exacerbate heating and drying, and promote the development of unfavourable urban climates. The combination of excessive heating driven by urban development, low water availability and future climate change impacts could compromise human health and amenity for urban dwellers. This paper draws on existing literature to demonstrate the potential of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to help improve outdoor human thermal comfort in urban areas and support Climate Sensitive Urban Design (CSUD) objectives within the Australian context. WSUD provides a mechanism for retaining water in the urban landscape through stormwater harvesting and reuse while also reducing urban temperatures through enhanced evapotranspiration and surface cooling. Research suggests that WSUD features are broadly capable of lowering temperatures and improving human thermal comfort, and when integrated with vegetation (especially trees) have potential to meet CSUD objectives. However, the degree of benefit (the intensity of cooling and improvements to human thermal comfort) depends on a multitude of factors including local environmental conditions, the design and placement of the systems, and the nature of the surrounding urban landscape. We suggest that WSUD can provide a source of water across Australian urban environments for landscape irrigation and soil moisture replenishment to maximize the urban climatic benefits of existing vegetation and green spaces. WSUD should be implemented strategically into the urban landscape, targeting areas of high heat exposure, with many distributed WSUD features at regular intervals to promote infiltration and evapotranspiration, and maintain tree health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stormwater biofilters have demonstrated promising yet variable removal of faecal microorganisms. Significant antimicrobial-producing plants have been proposed as an inexpensive, safe and easily adaptable component of biofilter design to enhance faecal pathogen treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether significant antimicrobial-producing plants improved faecal bacterial inactivation throughout the biofilter soil profile, focusing on four key treatment zones. These were specifically the top sediment/surface layer; the rhizosphere (soil directly attached to and influenced by plant roots); bulk soil (soil not directly associated with roots); and the submerged/saturated zone. Biofilters were configured with either: (1) no plant; (2) Carex appressa, the most highly recommended plant species in Australian biofilter adoption guidelines; or (3) one of two significant antimicrobial-producing Australian plant species, Melaleuca linariifolia or Melaleuca fulgens (n = 3 each). Following 16 months' maturation, systems were dosed with semi-synthetic stormwater containing faecal bacteria Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis to monitor their ensuing die-off within all major biofilter treatment zones. Bacterial inactivation was generally more rapid in M. fulgens and M. linariifolia than C. appressa biofilters, with E. faecalis demonstrating an overall enhanced resistance to inactivation. Top sediment tended to exhibit the highest inactivation rates, significantly correlated with sunlight exposure. Conversely, the rhizosphere supported comparatively prolonged faecal bacterial survival. The authors recommend further investigation of melaleucas and similar highly antimicrobial-producing plants for enhanced faecal pathogen treatment within biofilters and related treatment contexts., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Drought monitoring is important to analyse the influence of rainfall deficiency patterns on bushfire behaviour. Remote sensing provides tools for spatially explicit monitoring of drought across large areas. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of MODIS-based reflectance spectral indices to monitor drought across forest and woodland vegetation types in the fire prone Sydney Basin Bioregion, NSW, Australia. A time series of eight spectral indices were created from 2000 to 2009 to monitor inter-annual changes in drought and were compared to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), a precipitation deficit/surplus indicator. A pixel-to-weather station paired correlation approach was used to assess the relationship between SPI and the MODIS-based spectral indices at different time scales. Results show that the Normalised Difference Infrared Index—band 6 (NDIIb6) provided the most suitable indicator of drought for the high biomass vegetation types considered. The NDIIb6 had the highest sensitivity to drought intensity and was highly correlated with SPI at all time scales analysed (i.e., 1, 3 and 6-month SPI) suggesting that variations in precipitation patterns have a stronger influence on vegetation water content than vegetation greenness properties. Spatial similarities were also found between patterns of NDIIb6-based drought maps and SPI values distribution. NDIIb6 outperformed the spectral index currently in use for operational drought monitoring systems in the region (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) and its implementation in existing drought-monitoring systems is recommended. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A 2.9Ma stalagmite from the Nullarbor Plain, South Australia was analysed for organic components. In contrast to previously analysed stalagmites, no significant lipid record was recovered. However, qualitative TMAH thermochemolysis of the residual organic matter recovered a range of compounds, including a number of phenols previously associated with lignin. Comparison of this sample with a range of modern stalagmite samples from different environments indicated that the phenolic record in stalagmites can reflect the overlying vegetation regime, and has potential in investigating palaeoenvironmental change in this climatically important region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new technique in ecology to analyze spatial and temporal variability in environmental variables. By using simple statistics, we explore the relations between abiotic and biotic variables that influence animal distributions. However, spatial and temporal variability in rainfall, a key variable in ecological studies, can cause difficulties to any basic model including time evolution. The study was of a landscape scale (three million square kilometers in eastern Australia), mainly over the period of 1998-2004. We simultaneously considered qualitative spatial (soil and habitat types) and quantitative temporal (rainfall) variables in a Geographical Information System environment. In addition to some techniques commonly used in ecology, we applied a new method, Functional Principal Component Analysis, which proved to be very suitable for this case, as it explained more than 97% of the total variance of the rainfall data, providing us with substitute variables that are easier to manage and are even able to explain rainfall patterns. The main variable came from a habitat classification that showed strong correlations with rainfall values and soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The stability of many sand dunes and their interdunes is dependent on vegetation and surface crust cover. When this cover is removed, the sand can be activated and fine sediments deflated making the dunefields into sources of dust. This paper reports the impact of devegetation by wildfire on an interdune in the Simpson Desert, Australia. The fire occurred in 2001 and six years after the event pronounced differences between a pair of burnt and unburnt sites was clearly discernible. The variables examined included vegetation assemblage, cyanobacteria abundance and sediment aggregation, particle-size distribution and colour; but whether they apply to all such situations is uncertain. Rate of recovery has been slow and the differences are likely to have been sustained by a combination of negative feedback processes and climate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There is increasing public, industry and government interest in establishing green roofs in Australian cities due to their demonstrated environmental benefits. While a small number of green roofs have been constructed in Australia, most are roof gardens or intensive green roofs. Despite their potential as a climate change adaptation and mitigation tool and their widespread use in the northern hemisphere, there are very few examples of extensive green roofs in Australia. One of the major barriers to increasing the prevalence of extensive green roofs in Australia is the lack of scientific data available to evaluate their applicability to local conditions. Relying on European and North American experience and technology is problematic due to significant differences in climate, available substrates and plants. This paper examines green roofs in Australia, discusses the challenges to increasing their use and the major information gaps that need to be researched to progress the industry in Australia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Natural invertebrate enemies on farmland may respond to local vegetation adjacent to the farmland. This can encourage individual landholders to maintain vegetation even when there are costs in terms of a reduction in crop area as well as maintenance of the vegetation. Here we investigated abundance of natural enemies in 61 vineyards from south eastern Australia, with either adjacent woody vegetation consisting of remnant native forests or wooded margins planted after establishment of the crop, or lacking in adjacent vegetation. Invertebrates were sampled five times at monthly intervals using canopy sticky traps. There was an increase in abundance of different groups of natural enemies when woody vegetation was present although these increases depended on size. Small natural enemies tended to be influenced by local features, whereas larger potentially more mobile groups were not affected. Predation of eggs of a vineyard insect pest, Epiphyas postvittana, was relatively higher in vineyards with either adjacent remnant forest or planted woody vegetation. Various types of local vegetation may therefore encourage a range of predators and parasitoids, increasing predation and control of a common vineyard pest. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim Biological invasion is a major conservation problem that is of interest to ecological science. Understanding mechanisms of invasion is a high priority, heightened by the management imperative of acting quickly after species introduction. While information about invading species’ ecology is often unavailable, species distribution data can be collected near the onset of invasion. By examining distribution patterns of exotic and native plant species at multiple spatial scales, we aim to identify the scale (of those studied) that accounts for most variability in exotic species abundance, and infer likely drivers of invasion. Location River Murray wetlands, south-eastern Australia. Methods A nested, crossed survey design was used to determine the extent of variation in wetland plant abundance, grazing intensity and water depth at four spatial scales (reaches, wetland clumps, wetlands, wetland sections), and among three Depth-strata. We examined responses of exotic and native species groups (grouped into terrestrial and amphibious taxa), native weeds and 10 individual species using hierarchical ANOVA. Results As a group dominated by terrestrial taxa, exotic species cover varied at reach-, wetland- and section-scales. This likely reflects differences in abiotic characteristics and propagule pressure at these scales. Groups based on native species did not vary at any scale examined. Cover of 10 species mostly varied among and within wetlands (patterns unrelated to species’ origin or functional group), but species’ responses differed, despite individual plants being similar in size. While flora mostly varied among wetlands, exotic cover varied most among reaches (26%), which was attributed to hydrological modification and human activities. Main conclusions Multi-scale surveys can rapidly identify factors likely to affect species’ distributions and can indicate where future research should be directed. By highlighting disproportionate variation in exotic cover among reaches, this study suggests that flow regulation and human-mediated dispersal facilitate exotic plant invasion in River Murray wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We (Murphy et al., 2013; Clarke et al., 2015) have recently developed a framework to understand the spatial distribution of fire regimes and plant fire-response traits at large spatial scales. We integrated a range of data sources to create a continental-scale overview of Australian pyromes from which to infer pyrogeographic drivers. Gosper et al. (in press) have criticized our approach, based on our misclassification of a vegetation type (eucalypt woodland), with distinct fire regime, in the Coolgardie bioregion of Western Australia. We argue that the intention of our integrative approach was to develop and refine conceptual models of Australian pyrogeography, not to produce a predictive map of fire regimes, and certainly not to guide local-scale fire management. Like all models, continental-scale syntheses of pyromes are imperfect, yet they still represent powerful tools for understanding the drivers of the spatial distribution of fire regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major management decision in an ecological restoration or rehabilitation project is whether supplementary planting or natural vegetation regeneration is the better alternative or if a combination can be applied. Management decisions are further complicated when the project involves saltmarsh as tidal cycles, the effects of salinity and sea level rise add to the complexity of decisions. The ecological values of the saltmarsh community in Australia were only recognized relatively recently but the endangered ecological community listing in 1994 (under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) highlighted the need to protect, rehabilitate and restore saltmarsh. This project measured vegetation change after soil profile reconstruction in saltmarsh surrounding Sponsors Lagoon, Fingal Peninsula in north coastal New South Wales, Australia. Restored sites (planted and non-planted) were compared with nearby disturbed (control) and reference sites. The dominant species in the community to be restored were Saltwater Couch ( Sporobolus virginicus), Suaeda ( Suaeda australis), Sarcocornia ( Sarcocornia quinqueflora ssp. quinqueflora and Sea Rush ( Juncus kraussii ssp. australiensis). Changes in percentage cover of the species in the first three years after soil reconstruction work showed that the dominant Saltwater Couch established only from vegetative growth arising from remnant vegetation but there was strong seedling regeneration of several other species. It was concluded that planting is important for species that are less vagile, in larger, denuded parts of this site where their resilience is lower and natural regeneration potential is limited. An understanding of the biology of the individual species is therefore likely to be essential in saltmarsh restoration projects. A combination of techniques, incorporating planting of slower establishing species and encouragement of seed-germinated colonizers is useful for initial site stabilization and progressive ecological recovery at this site. The inclusion of migration zones in the planning phase will allow for the long-term viability of this restoration project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfire extent and their impacts are increasing around the world. Fire management agencies use fire behaviour simulation models operationally (during a wildfire event) or strategically for risk assessment and treatment. These models provide agencies with increased knowledge of fire potential to improve identification of the best strategies for reducing risk. One of the greatest areas of uncertainty in fire simulations is the data relating to fuel, which are usually based on simplified response trajectories with time since fire within vegetation communities. There is a clear need to better predict relevant fuel variables across landscapes to reduce uncertainties in fire simulations. In this study, we compare the performance of fuel hazard models based on environmental variables (environmental model) with those currently implemented based on a negative exponential relationship with time since fire (NEGEXP) using the state of Victoria in south-eastern Australia as an environmentally diverse case study. The models predicted similar broadscale patterns in fuel hazard but with considerable regional variation. The NEGEXP model was less accurate than the environmental model, which had 41–47% accuracy on an independent data set cf. 24–35% for NEGEXP. Model differences resulted in significant differences in the extent and spatial location of predicted fires with NEGEXP consistently predicting larger fires. Fuel is made up of the live and dead components of vegetation, both of which are influenced by a range of environmental factors. As our study highlights, ignoring environmental factors in simple fuel models based on broad vegetation types (like NEGEXP) will likely compromise the predictive accuracy of fire behaviour models. Only when environmental factors are accounted for can we more accurately predict fuels across landscapes and thereby improve the accuracy of fire behaviour predictions and the estimation of fire risks. • Wildfire simulations are commonly used to make high consequence decisions in operational and strategic settings. • It is vital that the underlying data are accurate to ensure the best quality predictions. • We compared the differences between existing and new environmental-based fuel models in fire behaviour predictions. • Environmental fuel models better predicted fuels and significantly altered predictions of fire behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent and intensity of European-induced changes to ecosystems in south-eastern Australia mean that remaining habitats, despite being degraded, are of high conservation value. Given the extinction of several species of native mammals in the last 160 years in the area, and conservation concerns regarding others, it is important to provide conservation managers with sufficient information to prevent further extinctions and maintain evolutionary potential of the species. A native, carnivorous marsupial, the Yellow-footed Antechinus ( Antechinus flavipes) exists within these massively altered landscapes. We present conceptual models, derived from the literature, of persistence of populations of Yellow-footed Antechinus both before European colonization and in the 21st century. We conclude that preservation of large trees, restoration of fallen-timber volumes, spring flooding of floodplains and presence of vegetation corridors between forests should be undertaken to prevent local extinctions of Yellow-footed Antechinus. From historic and current gene flow, we identify remnant woodland and forest groupings that we consider should be managed as coherent units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]