scholarly journals Genetics and ecology of plant species occurring on the Banded Iron Formations in the Yilgarn, Western Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
Margaret Byrne

Banded Iron Formations (BIFs) are a distinctive feature in the Yilgarn craton of southern Western Australia occurring as geographically isolated ranges within a mosaic of alluvial clay soils interspersed with sandplains and occasional granite outcrops. They are prominent features across a flat, highly weathered plateau, forming unique geologically stable components in an unglaciated landscape. The topographic complexity of BIFs provides areas of key environmental heterogeneity in a subdued landscape, offering a mosaic of habitats and abundance of niche microhabitats that support unique plant communities with high species diversity including many narrowly endemic species and those with distributions centred on these banded iron formations. Genetic and ecological studies have been undertaken on several species that are endemic to, or have distributions centred on, the banded iron formations of the Yilgarn. These studies provide a basis for understanding the diversity and evolutionary history of the plant communities that occur in these diverse environments. This Special Issue brings together studies on several these species to complement studies already published, and this overview provides a summary of the genetics and ecology of 21 species that are restricted to, or have distributions centred on, BIFs. Many of these species have conservation status under national and state legislation and understanding of genetics and ecology of these species assists with conservation strategies. A range of genetic patterns was identified among these species making generalisations difficult and indicating analysis of individual species is required in order to provide information for conservation and management decisions.

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddie J. B. van Etten

The majority of arid and semiarid land in the Western Australian pastoral zone has a long history of livestock grazing within an extensive network of predominantly family-held pastoral leases. A variety of different groups have purchased pastoral leases in the last five decades and, for many, making a profit from pastoralism is no longer a priority. For the central rangelands of Western Australia, these groups have included: government agencies, who have purchased some 9% of pastoral leases by area; private conservation organisations (<1% purchased); aboriginal communities and groups (~7%); and mining companies (~13%). The purchases of pastoral leases by government agencies was designed to improve the conservation status of arid-zone ecosystems, and is the first step in a process of changing land tenure to a conservation reserve. This paper summarises the extent and other characteristics of these changes in land tenure and ownership of pastoral leases, and explores the implications for land management and conservation, stemming from these changes. It demonstrates that large areas of contiguous land with no or reduced domestic stocking can now be found in many parts of these rangelands, particularly in the Coolgardie, Yalgoo and Pilbara bio-regions, with some leaseholders actively managing land for the conservation of biodiversity and restoring sites degraded through past over-grazing. In some bio-regions, such land covers considerable proportions of sub-catchments, suggesting that broad-scale conservation management and restoration objectives may be realised. It is argued that to fully realise these objectives requires effective communication and co-ordination between land managers, including sharing of ideas, view-points and resources. In particular, mining companies, now major holders of pastoral leases in Western Australia, can play an important role in contributing to and even facilitating such objectives.


2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 585-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Duuring ◽  
S. G. Hagemann ◽  
Y. Novikova ◽  
T. Cudahy ◽  
C. Laukamp

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