Effects of soil disturbance from roadworks on roadside shrubs in a fragmented agricultural landscape

Peter Spooner, Ian Lunt, Sue Briggs, David Freudenberger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigated how soil disturbance from roadworks affects the population structures of roadside shrubs in an agricultural landscape of southern New South Wales, Australia. Size structures of Acacia pycnantha, A. montana and A. decora were assessed, and a separate dendroecological study undertaken. On a regional scale, populations were expanding, but classification of structures showed distinct groups of colonising, stable and senescent populations. Soil disturbance from previous roadworks was recorded in 88% of populations, and there was a significant relationship between major recruitment and roadworks events in Acacia populations situated along bitumen roads. For Acacia species, soil disturbance from roadworks are analogous to periodic disturbance from a natural fire regime, which in conjunction with historical changes in grazing pressure, are suggested as the main causes of increased Acacia recruitment. Ongoing management of disturbance regimes in roadside environments may be critical to Acacia persistence and associated fauna habitat.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)393-406
Number of pages14
JournalBiological Conservation
Volume117
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

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