Effects of long-term vegetation management on remnant grassy forests and anthropogenic native grasslands in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

The effect of long-term vegetation management on grassy forest remnants in Gippsland, south-eastern Australia, was examined by comparing the floristic composition of rarely burnt, intermittently grazed, grassy forest remnants with frequently burnt, ungrazed sites (anthropogenic grasslands). Management history was the dominant factor controlling composition, and all frequently burnt sites supported a distinctly different flora from rarely burnt forest remnants. Frequently burnt sites contained many species that were uncommon or absent from the unburnt forest sites, and vice versa. Both vegetation types are assumed to be derived from an original grassy forest flora which contained all recorded native species. It is hypothesised that the imposition of divergent management regimes in different sites has led to an ecological segregation of native species according to their tolerance to prevailing management. The two vegetation types now make important contributions to regional diversity, thereby illustrating the need to maintain a diversity of ecosystem processes to conserve species diversity at a regional level.