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Biogeography of Australian saltmarsh plants
Saintilan, Neil
Saintilan, Neil
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Abstract
The paper seeks to define patterns in the distribution of Australian saltmarsh plants over a continental scale, and test for associations with environmental variables. The distribution of 93 species of Australian saltmarsh plants was documented from the records of the Australian Virtual Herbarium and published reports. The Interim Bioregionalisation of Australia provided a spatial unit for the analysis of patterns of diversity. Saltmarsh diversity was shown to be strongly correlated with latitude and temperature. Multivariate routines including cluster analysis demonstrated consistent geographic patterns in species assemblages. The primary distinction was found to be a north‐south divide dissecting the continent at the latitude of 23° south, separating a species‐rich southern flora from a species‐poor northern flora. Subsequent dissimilarities were defined between coastlines of contrasting orientation. Mean minimum temperature was found to explain nearly 80% of variability in saltmarsh species diversity between bioregions, with diversity inversely related to temperature.
Keywords
bioregion, distribution, flora, saltmarsh, temperature
Date
2009
Type
Journal article
Journal
Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere
Book
Volume
34
Issue
8
Page Range
929-937
Article Number
ACU Department
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Controlled