- Title
- Differing habitat defines two metapopulations of a threatened Hunter Valley eucalypt: Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens
- Creator
- Bell, Stephen A. J.
- Relation
- Cunninghamia Vol. 22, Issue June 2022, p. 11-25
- Relation
- https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/our-science/publications/cunninghamia
- Publisher
- National Herbarium of New South Wales * Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- A review of existing records and analysis of occupied habitat was undertaken for the vulnerable tree Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens (Myrtaceae). This taxon is endemic to the lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, where it occurs principally in two discrete metapopulations on the Tomago Sandbeds and in the Cessnock area. Fortunately, many areas supporting this taxon and its habitat occur on public lands, with part of both metapopulations contained within Werakata National Park and State Conservation Area or Tilligerry State Conservation Area. Despite this, existing and continuing threats to the taxon include development, high frequency fire, rubbish dumping and weed invasion. Multivariate cluster analysis and non-metric dimensional scaling were performed on full floristic sample data to formally define occupied habitat. Five floristic groups were identified which differ across metapopulations and consequently increase the conservation significance of both. Differences in environmental variables (geology, soil, rainfall) were also identified and support floristic delineations. Previous estimates of between 15 000 and 25 000 individuals spread across the two metapopulations should now be refined and considered separately for conservation management purposes. Furthermore, applying phylogeographic principles suggests that both metapopulations should be managed as separate evolutionarily significant units to maintain the adaptive capacity of each genotype.
- Subject
- Eucalyptus parramattensis subsp. decadens (Myrtaceae); habitat; conservation; envrionmental variables
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1482751
- Identifier
- uon:51013
- Identifier
- ISSN:0727-9620
- Language
- eng
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