Af. Lebrocque, RICHNESS OF SPECIES AND GROWTH-FORMS WITHIN SCLEROPHYLL AND MESOPHYLLVEGETATION IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA, Australian journal of ecology, 23(2), 1998, pp. 168-176
The patterns in total species richness and in the richness of the domi
nant growth-forms of vegetation communities of coastal sclerophyll and
mesophyll vegetation in eastern Australia are examined. Plant species
richness data were obtained from two 500 m(2) quadrats from 50 sites
within a single geographical region north of Sydney, New South Wales.
Concentrically nested subquadrats within each quadrat enabled the dete
rmination of species-area relationships for total species richness and
its components. Three growth-forms were examined (trees, shrubs and g
round cover) and patterns in the richness of these components were com
pared to those exhibited by total species richness. Total species rich
ness was higher in sclerophyll communities on Hawkesbury Sandstone soi
ls than in adjacent mesophyll communities on Narrabeen shales and sand
stones. Significant patterns in total species richness within the two
soil types were also found. Shrub and ground cover species richness sh
owed strong correlations with total species richness, with higher rich
ness in the sclerophyll communities. However, tree species richness co
ntributed little to the patterns in total species richness. The result
s of this study suggest that differential patterns in the components o
f total species richness must be taken into account for effective mode
lling of natural areas based on species richness and diversity paramet
ers.