The role of intra-specific diversity in maintaining species diversity and plant communities is not well understood however has significant implications for rangeland restoration because intraspecific genetic variation may reflect different scales of adaptation. Variation in quantitative traits among 28 wild populations of Austrodanthonia bipartita, A. caespitosa, A. eriantha, A. fulva and A. setaceacollected within central western New South Wales was examined using common-garden studies. Population effects were highly significant (P<0.001) for all characteristics (total biomass and flowering characteristics) suggesting local adaptation. A strong relationship between quantitative traits of A. caespitosa and both large-scale (spring rainfall and sunshine hours) and small-scale (shading) environmental variables strengthens this observation. ...
Anderson, L., van Klinken, R. D., and Shepherd, D. (2008). Aerially surveying Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in the Pilbara. In: 'A Climate of Change in the Rangelands. Proceedings of the 15th Australian Rangeland Society Biennial Conference'. (Ed. D. Orr) 4 pages. (Australian Rangeland Society: Australia).
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.