Vegetation of Australian riverine landscapes : biology, ecology and management / Samantha Capon, Cassandra James and Michael Reid (editors).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Vegetation communities in Australia's riverine landscapes are ecologically, economically and culturally significant. They are also among the most threatened ecosystems on the continent and have been dramatically altered as a result of human activities and climate change. Vegetation of Australian Riverine Landscapes brings together, for the first time, the results of the substantial amount of research that has been conducted over the last few decades into the biology, ecology and management of these important plant communities in Australia. The book is divided into four sections. The first section provides context with respect to the spatial and temporal dimensions of riverine landscapes in Australia. The second section examines key groups of riverine plants, while the third section provides an overview of riverine vegetation in five major regions of Australia, including patterns, significant threats and management. The final section explores critical issues associated with the conservation and management of riverine plants and vegetation, including water management, salinity, fire and restoration. Vegetation of Australian Riverine Landscapes highlights the incredible diversity and dynamic nature of riverine vegetation across Australia, and will be an excellent reference for researchers, academics and environmental consultants."-- Provided by publisher.

Cover -- Contents -- Foreword -- List of Contributors -- 1 Introduction -- Note from the Editors -- References -- Section 1 Australia's riverine vegscapes in space and time -- 2 The physical template of Australia's rivers -- Introduction -- The geological and climatic setting of Australia's river templates -- The hierarchical nature of river templates -- The hierarchical river template -- Associations between physical features and riverine vegetation -- Conclusions -- References -- 3 The physical template of Australia's floodplain landscapes -- Introduction -- What are floodplain landscapes? -- Elements of the floodplain physical template -- A framework for understanding the role of the physical template in floodplain ecosystems -- Conclusions -- References -- 4 A history of Australia's riverine habitats and vegetation -- Introduction -- Riverine vegetation of the late Pleistocene and last glacial maximum -- Riverine vegetation of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition -- Riverine vegetation of the Holocene -- Aboriginal influences on riverine vegetation -- Riverine vegetation since European settlement -- Conclusions -- References -- Section 2 Riverine plants -- 5 Macroalgae, charophytes and bryophytes -- Introduction -- Description -- Ecology -- Habitats -- Biogeography -- Diversity -- Ecosystem services -- Resilience -- Conclusions -- References -- 6 Aquatic vascular macrophytes of Australia's riverine systems -- Introduction -- Diversity -- Adaptations to life in water -- Distributions and dynamics -- Resources -- Conclusions -- References -- 7 Riparian herbs -- Introduction -- Riparian habitats: from a herb's perspective -- Plant diversity -- Plant traits -- Distributions and dynamics -- Ecosystem services -- Conclusions -- References -- 8 Riverine trees and shrubs -- Introduction -- Floristics and biogeography -- Woody plant traits.

Woody vegetation dynamics -- Ecosystem services -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Section 3 Riverine vegetation -- 9 Vegetation of coastal floodplains and wetlands in south-eastern Australia -- Introduction -- A primer on the hydrology of coastal floodplains and wetlands -- Vegetation communities of coastal floodplains and wetlands in south-eastern Australia -- Changes to coastal floodplain and wetland vegetation since European colonisation -- Threats to coastal floodplains and wetlands -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 10 Riverine vegetation of inland south-eastern Australia -- Introduction -- Riverine landscapes of inland south-eastern Australia -- Riverine plants of inland south-eastern Australia -- Spatial patterns in riparian vegetation -- Riverine habitats and plant traits: a whole-of-river framework -- Vegetation responses to changing flood regimes -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 11 Pattern and process in riparian vegetation of the treeless high country of Australia -- Introduction -- Riparian flora -- Riparian vegetation types -- Riparian ecosystem dynamics -- Conclusions -- References -- 12 Riparian vegetation of tropical northern Australia -- Introduction -- Biogeography of riverine plant communities in northern Australia -- Temporal and seasonal dynamics of riparian vegetation -- Status, threats and management of tropical riparian landscapes -- Conclusions -- References -- 13 Vegetation of Australia's desert river landscapes -- Introduction -- Desert river landscapes of Australia -- Plant diversity -- Vegetation ecology -- Management issues -- Conclusions -- References -- Section 4 Management concerns -- 14 Flow alteration and its effects on Australia's riverine vegetation -- Introduction -- Flow alteration in Australia -- Effects of flow alteration on riverine vegetation.

Environmental flow management -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 15 Salinisation and its impacts on Australia's riverine vegetation -- Introduction -- Primary and secondary salinisation in Australia -- Impacts of salinity on plant growth -- Management implications -- Conclusions -- References -- 16 Fire in Australia's riparian landscapes -- Introduction -- Fire regimes and fire behaviour in riparian zones -- Impacts of fire on riparian vegetation -- Interactions between fire and invasive species -- Fire management in the riparian zone -- Conclusions -- References -- 17 Grazing -- Introduction -- The occurrence of grazing in Australia's riverine landscapes -- The role of grazing in shaping vegetation -- Direct effects of grazing on plants: herbivory and trampling -- Indirect effects of grazing on vegetation -- Grazing management -- Conclusions -- References -- 18 Alien plant invasions in Australia's riparian zones -- Introduction -- tages and mechanisms of plant invasion -- Traits of invasive plants -- Ecological impacts of invasive plants -- Management of invasive plants -- Current knowledge gaps and future research directions -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 19 The ongoing challenge of restoring Australia's riparian zones -- Introduction -- The damage done -- Fixing the damage -- The big challenges -- A way forward -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 20 Monitoring and assessment of vegetation in Australian riverine landscapes -- Introduction -- The nature and purpose of monitoring and assessment -- Developing monitoring and assessment programs: general considerations and challenges -- Techniques -- Conclusions and future directions -- References -- 21 Climate change and the future of Australian riverine vegetation -- Introduction -- Australia's changing climate.

Climate change effects on riverine plants and vegetation -- Adaptive capacity of Australian riverine vegetation -- Managed adaptation -- Conclusions -- References -- Index.

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