Use of growth characteristics for predicting plant age of three obligate-seeder Proteaceae species

Jenkins, ME; Morrison, DA; Auld, TD

Use of growth characteristics for predicting plant age of three obligate-seeder Proteaceae species

Jenkins, ME Morrison, DA Auld, TD

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Journal of Botany, 2005, 53 (2), pp. 101 - 108
Issue Date:: 2005-05-23

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Jenkins, ME	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Morrison, DA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Auld, TD	en_US
dc.date.issued	2005-05-23	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Journal of Botany, 2005, 53 (2), pp. 101 - 108	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0067-1924	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/3744
dc.description.abstract	We tested the ability to predict plant (and hence population) age for three fire-sensitive obligate-seeder Proteaceae species (Banksia ericifolia, Banksia marginata and Petrophile pulchella) in the heath and woodland vegetation of the Sydney region. To do this we sampled the number of growth whorls, as well as other growth characteristics (stem girth and height measurements, and canopy area and volume estimates), in areas of known time since last fire (TSLF). The average number of growth whorls was a very good predictor of plant age for both Banksia species (R2 = 98%, 99%), but this needed to be corrected for linear underestimation in P. pulchella (R2 = 92%). This technique could successfully be applied to these species in similar habitats across a large spatial scale, and so this information can be used to determine the age of a population in areas of unknown TSLF. A sample size of 15 plants was sufficient for accurate age estimates of all species; however, better estimates of TSLF for a particular plant community were obtained when estimates from two or more of the species were combined. We thus provide empirical evidence for the validity and accuracy of the growth-whorl technique for predicting plant age and hence TSLF This information will assist in informing the development of appropriate management strategies for plants in relation to fire. Of the other growth characteristics studied, stem girth was the most reliable predictor; however, in general these other characteristics had wide confidence intervals on the predictions for sites greater than 10 years TSLF, owing to a non-linear relationship with age. © CSIRO 2005.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Journal of Botany	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1071/BT04067	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Plant Biology & Botany	en_US
dc.title	Use of growth characteristics for predicting plant age of three obligate-seeder Proteaceae species	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	53	en_US
utslib.for	0607 Plant Biology	en_US
utslib.for	0602 Ecology	en_US
utslib.for	0605 Microbiology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Corporate Services)
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	53	en_US

Abstract:

We tested the ability to predict plant (and hence population) age for three fire-sensitive obligate-seeder Proteaceae species (Banksia ericifolia, Banksia marginata and Petrophile pulchella) in the heath and woodland vegetation of the Sydney region. To do this we sampled the number of growth whorls, as well as other growth characteristics (stem girth and height measurements, and canopy area and volume estimates), in areas of known time since last fire (TSLF). The average number of growth whorls was a very good predictor of plant age for both Banksia species (R2 = 98%, 99%), but this needed to be corrected for linear underestimation in P. pulchella (R2 = 92%). This technique could successfully be applied to these species in similar habitats across a large spatial scale, and so this information can be used to determine the age of a population in areas of unknown TSLF. A sample size of 15 plants was sufficient for accurate age estimates of all species; however, better estimates of TSLF for a particular plant community were obtained when estimates from two or more of the species were combined. We thus provide empirical evidence for the validity and accuracy of the growth-whorl technique for predicting plant age and hence TSLF This information will assist in informing the development of appropriate management strategies for plants in relation to fire. Of the other growth characteristics studied, stem girth was the most reliable predictor; however, in general these other characteristics had wide confidence intervals on the predictions for sites greater than 10 years TSLF, owing to a non-linear relationship with age. © CSIRO 2005.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/3744