Bringing biodiversity back from the brink

Ongoing research into remnant vegetation management will contribute to the future viability of Australia's at-risk native vegetation.

Land clearing for agriculture and urban development has left its mark on the health of Australia 's native vegetation.

Vegetation has become fragmented, often only existing in small patches, or remnants, which may be exposed to numerous genetic and ecological threats. Without careful management the fitness of remnant vegetation can be greatly reduced.

Dr Linda Broadhurst and Dr Andrew Young from CSIRO Plant Industry, with Dr David Coates, Dr Margaret Byrne and Dr Colin Yeates from the Department of Conservation and Land Management, used a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the impact of genetic and demographic processes on remnant vegetation viability.

The team identified key problems facing remnant vegetation, including lower reproductive success, loss of genetic variation and increased hybridisation.

They also found that common species face the same threats as rare or endangered species and that in some species genes move between populations across several kilometres.

Recommendations based on these findings suggest approaching remnant management from a whole-landscape perspective, rather than thinking of populations as single elements.

New research is now examining the importance of gene flow and seed dispersal among populations to develop new landscape design guidelines based on inter-population processes.

This research is supported by Land & Water Australia.

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