Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Ecology and biogeography in 3D: The case of the Australian Proteaceae

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Pausas, J.
    Lamont, Byron
    Date
    2018
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Pausas, J. and Lamont, B. 2018. Ecology and biogeography in 3D: The case of the Australian Proteaceae. Journal of Biogeography. 45 (7): pp. 1469-1477.
    Source Title
    Journal of Biogeography
    DOI
    10.1111/jbi.13348
    ISSN
    0305-0270
    School
    School of Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS)
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69719
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The key biophysical pressures shaping the ecology and evolution of species can be broadly aggregated into three dimensions: environmental conditions, disturbance regimes and biotic interactions. The relative importance of each dimension varies over time and space, and in most cases multiple dimensions need to be addressed to adequately understand the habitat and functional traits of species at broad spatial and phylogenetic scales. However, it is currently common to consider only one or two selective pressures even when studying large clades. We illustrate the importance of the all-inclusive multidimensional approach with reference to the large and iconic plant family, Proteaceae: we review life-history traits related to these three dimensions for the 46 genera occurring in Australia and show that this family can be considered the product of a long history of harsh environments, recurrent fires and strong faunal interactions. Because most Proteaceae species occur in fire-prone ecosystems and possess fire-adaptive traits that are both ancient and essential for their survival, disturbance by fire is likely to explain much of this family's ecology, evolution and distribution. Approaches that only examine prevailing environmental variables may fail to identify the mechanisms that drive a taxon's biogeography; they need to consider the likely mechanisms of adaptation and accept or reject plausible alternative hypotheses as the evidence allows. As multidisciplinary teams that consider all aspects of a taxon's ecology are assembled, and databases and numerical tools become increasingly available, studies on the ecology, biogeography and diversity of organisms at broader spatial and phylogenetic scales will arrive at more realistic conclusions.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Conservation biology of the rare and threatened Dryandra ionthocarpa, D. mimica and D. serra
      Monks, Leonie T. (1999)
      The genus Dryandra, in the family Proteaceae, is endemic to south-western Australia. It consists of 92 named species and is an important component of some kwongan communities. Various aspects of the ecology of three ...
    • Landscape age and soil fertility, climatic stability, and fire regime predictability: beyond the OCBIL framework
      Mucina, Ladislav; Wardell-Johnson, Grant (2011)
      Hopper (Plant Soil 322:49–86, 2009) introduced landscape age, climate buffering, and soil nutrient status as descriptors for a continuum between old, climatically buffered landscapes characterised by low soil fertility ...
    • Fire impacts on restored shrublands following mining for heavy minerals near Eneabba, southwestern Australia
      Herath, Dulana Nilupul (2008)
      Following mineral-sand mining in the northern sandplains near Eneabba, southwestern Australia, rehabilitation managers have the difficult task of restoring shrubland communities of exceptional plant species richness. ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.