Native animals have many important roles in ecosystems, and all organisms that modify, maintain, create or destroy the abiotic environment have been termed ‘ecosystem engineers’ (Jones et al. 1994). Modifications resulting from these engineers can affect energy flows and the availability of resources to other organisms in the ecosystem, including positive feedback to the engineers themselves. Ecosystem engineers may also increase species richness, diversity and productivity by constructing and altering habitat (patches that differ in their availability of resources), enabling organisms of differing resource requirements to co-exist. ...
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.