Previous research suggests that various arid zone woody plant species are destined for extinction due to selective elimination of their seedlings. In Acacia the absence of these seedlings is thought to be due to herbivory by introduced herbivores. A method whereby plant age is estimated from a relationship with plant dimensions was verified for A. aneura and shown to be transferable to other regions with similar soil and climate characteristics in northern South Australia. The method was used to develop age profiles for 81 populations of A. aneura. Correlation of age profiles with grazing history shows that sheep and cattle are the most significant herbivore affecting populations of A. aneura in northern and eastern South Australia. No effect was found for rabbits and other herbivores. Grazing management regimes in pastoral areas must be modified to prevent the decline of A. aneura populations.
August 21-24, 2000
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
ISSN 1323-6660
Full-text publications from the Australian Rangelands Society (ARS) Biennial Conference Proceedings (1997-), Rangeland Journal (ARS/CSIRO; 1976-), plus videos and other resources about the rangelands of Australia.