Biodiversity management in dryland ecosystems

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Biodiversity management in dryland ecosystems

• Grant NorburyJames SmithAndrea ByromRoger Pech

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Diverse, but threatened, indigenous biodiversity
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Two major ecological issues

1. Complex food webs
2. Successional vegetation

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Exotic invaders
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Short grass
Tall grass
Tall grass Shrub
Shrub succession
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Conservation management in drylands

1. Predator control
2. Rabbit control
3. Weed control
4. Land retirement

Land development
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Predator control Mesic
Top predators
Invertebrates
Lizards
Pasture/seed/fruit
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Predator control Dryland
Top predators
Mesopredators
Invertebrates
Lizards
Pasture/seed/fruit
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Rabbit control
Top predators
Mesopredators
Herbivores
Invertebrates
Lizards
?
Pasture/seed/fruit
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Weed control
Top predators
Mesopredators
Herbivores
Invertebrates
Lizards
?
Pasture/seed/fruit
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Land retirement
Top predators
Mesopredators
Herbivores
Invertebrates
Lizards
?
Pasture/seed/fruit
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Land use intensification
Short grass
Tall grass
Tall grass Shrub
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Land use intensification
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1990
5 km
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Conclusions

• Ecosystem complexity leads to uncertain outcomes
• Changes in land use can have profound effects on
  food webs, and therefore on biodiversity
• Scale of management is critical

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• Thankyou
• Foundation for Research, Science Technology
• Department of Conservation