RICHNESS OF SPECIES AND GROWTH-FORMS WITHIN SCLEROPHYLL AND MESOPHYLLVEGETATION IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

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.