Understanding ecosystem dynamics in South Australia’s arid lands: a framework to assist biodiversity conservation

Understanding ecosystem dynamics in South Australia’s arid lands: a framework to assist biodiversity conservation Journal Article

The Rangeland Journal

• Author(s): McIlwee, Allen P., Rogers, Daniel, Pisanu, Phil, Brandle, Robert, McDonald, John
• Published: 2013
• Volume: 35

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Abstract: Determining what level of investment is required, and where and how it is used, to maintain biodiversity across vast areas is difficult. In response to this challenge, the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources has developed an information framework known as the ‘Aridlands Landscape Assessment Framework’ (ALAF) to provide a systematic basis for identifying landscape-specific, coarse-filter priorities for conservation investment across the arid zone. The ALAF is an analytical and conceptual framework that seeks to define ecosystem components and ecological processes operating at a landscape level, and understand where these processes are not meeting the requirements of extant biodiversity. This requires a systematic process to identify plant communities that occur in distinct biophysical settings. The next step is to document the dynamic processes that drive change within these communities in space and time. When coupled with knowledge of the requirements of indicator flora and fauna, this understanding will allow identification of those components that are at greatest risk, where, and for what reasons. This paper provides an overview of each step in the ALAF process and outlines how the framework has been used thus far to inform conservation planning across Witjira National Park.

• Urls: http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/RJ12102