Using insect diversity for determining land restoration development: examining the influence of grazing history on ant assemblages in rehabilitated pasture

Williams, Elizabeth R., Mulligan, David R., Erskine, Peter D. and Plowman, Kristine P. (2012) Using insect diversity for determining land restoration development: examining the influence of grazing history on ant assemblages in rehabilitated pasture. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 163 : 54-60.


Author Williams, Elizabeth R.
Mulligan, David R.
Erskine, Peter D.
Plowman, Kristine P.
Title Using insect diversity for determining land restoration development: examining the influence of grazing history on ant assemblages in rehabilitated pasture
Journal name Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-12-01
Sub-type Article
Year available 2012
DOI 10.1016/j.agee.2012.02.017
Volume number 163
ISSN 0167-8809
1873-2305
Start page 54
End page 60
Total pages 7
Place of publication Amsterdam, Netherlands
Publisher Elsevier
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Formatted abstract Ant assemblages, used widely as bioindicators of land management practices, were sampled in rehabilitated pastures and surrounding habitats at Norwich Park Coal Mine in central Queensland, Australia. As the end-use goal of a number of rehabilitated mine sites in the region is sustainable pasture-land, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of varying grazing histories on ant fauna, to provide further understanding on the function of rehabilitated agroecosystems and multi-trophic interactions. Examination of seven study sites revealed three distinct ant assemblages, broadly reflecting mining and grazing history. Rehabilitated pastures where grazing had ceased 2 years prior to ant sampling contained low species richness with a basic ant composition, regardless of stocking rate, and was similar to ungrazed rehabilitated pasture. The rehabilitated pasture with continual low intensity grazing showed ant compositional similarities to the neighboring unmined pasture, although assemblage descriptors were intermediate between unmined and rehabilitated sites. Buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare, basionym Cenchrus ciliaris) and other stoloniferous or rhizomatous grasses were the principal influence on ant assemblages, with grazing reducing the ground dominance of such grasses and providing a more favorable habitat for a wider range of ant species.
Keyword Ants
Rehabilitation
Pasture
post-mined landscapes
Buffel Grass
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ
Additional Notes Special issue: Recent advances in restoration ecology: Examining the modern Australian agro-ecological and post-mining landscapes

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation Publications
Official 2013 Collection
 
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Created: Wed, 16 May 2012, 14:44:48 EST by Dr Elizabeth Williams on behalf of Centre For Mined Land Rehabilitation