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dc.contributor.authorLaidlaw, Melinda
dc.contributor.authorKitching, Roger
dc.contributor.authorGoodall, Kylie
dc.contributor.authorSmall, Andrew
dc.contributor.authorStork, Nigel
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T12:46:28Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T12:46:28Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.date.modified2009-09-15T07:38:19Z
dc.identifier.issn1442-9985
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1442-9993.2007.01739.x
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/18662
dc.description.abstractThis study describes the floristics and structure of a 0.95-ha lowland tropical rainforest plot at the Australian Canopy Crane Research Facility at Cape Tribulation, Queensland. Five years of post-cyclonic change in forest floristics and structure following the passage of Tropical Cyclone 'Rona' in February 1999 are examined. Local and regional variation in tropical rainforest is examined in comparison with other lowland plots established nearby and mid-elevation plots located elsewhere in north Queensland at Eungella, Paluma and the Atherton Tablelands. These plots are placed in a broader Australasian context along with lowland rainforest plots at Baitabag and Oomsis, Papua New Guinea. The 2005 survey found 680 stems of 82 species =10 cm d.b.h. on the crane plot, an increase of 30.3% in stems and 16.4% of species in the 5 years since the previous survey. The most abundant families were Meliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Apocynaceae and the most abundant species were Cleistanthus myrianthus, Alstonia scholaris, Myristica insipida, Normanbya normanbyi and Rockinghamia angustifolia. Temporal floristic and structural variation suggests that the crane site remains in an active stage of post-cyclonic recovery. Local spatial variability in floristics and structure at Cape Tribulation exceeded the variation exhibited by a single plot over a period of 5 years, despite the impact of Cyclone Rona. This finding suggests a high degree of temporal stability within this stand of rainforest despite frequent catastrophic disturbances. The rainforests of Cape Tribulation constitute a relatively unique floristic community when observed in an Australasian context. Variation in rainforest community composition across the region shows the importance of biogeographical connections, the impacts of local topography, environmental conditions and disturbance history.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherBlackwell Publishing Inc.
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.publisher.urihttp://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1442-9985
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom10
dc.relation.ispartofpageto20
dc.relation.ispartofissue1
dc.relation.ispartofjournalAustral Ecology
dc.relation.ispartofvolume32
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEnvironmental sciences
dc.subject.fieldofresearchBiological sciences
dc.subject.fieldofresearchHistory, heritage and archaeology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode41
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode31
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode43
dc.titleTemporal and spatial variation in an Australian tropical rainforest
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.date.issued2007
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorKitching, Roger L.
gro.griffith.authorStork, Nigel E.


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