SALINITY IMPACTS UPPER SOUTH EAST Survey

To investigate the effect of rising groundwater and salinity on the health of low-lying vegetatin in the Bunbury-Taunta area, 14 vegetation survey sites were conducted in 1992.Survey site methodology was the Biological Survey of SA,  with quadrats generally being 30 x 30 m but some were 5 x 50 m. The study's objectives were to map and describe the different health classes and extent of vegetation degradation, describe the process and timing of vegetation decline, and predict future decline in vegetation health. At each site, species presence and abundance data was collected, samples of soil, groundwater and surface water were collected for salinity readings and a general description of the area was made. Photopoints were also established. The data was then analysed subjectively to determine the typical characteristics for each health class.
The report resulting from the study is: Webb, L (1993), An investigation into the environmental effects of rising groundwater and salinity on native vegetation in the Bunbury-Taunata area (including the proposed Lesron Conservation Park) in the Upper South East of South Australia. The SALINITY IMPACTS UPPER SOUTH EAST Survey is part of the Biological Survey of South Australia Program which is a series of systematic surveys conducted across the state between 1971 and the present with the broad aim of providing a baseline inventory of South Australia's flora and fauna biodiversity.

Tags: Agrostis sp., Aira cupaniana Guss., Anagallis arvensis L., Angianthus preissianus (Steetz) Benth., Anthosachne scabra (R.Br.) Nevski, Apium prostratum Labill. ex Vent. var. prostratum, Apium prostratum var. filiforme, Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns, Austrostipa mollis group, Austrostipa sp., Avena barbata Pott ex Link, Baumea juncea (R.Br.) Palla, Billardiera cymosa subsp. cymosa, Brachyscome lineariloba (DC.) Druce, Briza minor L., Bromus rubens L., Bulbine bulbosa (R.Br.) Haw., Burchardia umbellata R.Br., Centaurium erythraea Rafn, Centrolepis polygyna (R.Br.) Hieron., Centrolepis strigosa (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult. subsp. strigosa, Comesperma volubile Labill., Cynosurus echinatus L., Darwinia micropetala (F.Muell.) Benth., Daucus carota L., Daucus glochidiatus (Labill.) Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Ave-Lall., Dillwynia glaberrima Sm., Distichlis distichophylla (Labill.) Fassett, Disturbance, Drosera peltata Thunb., Drosera pygmaea DC., Enchylaena tomentosa var. glabra, Epilobium billardiereanum Ser. subsp. billardiereanum, Eucalyptus incrassata Labill., Fauna, Flora, Gahnia filum (Labill.) F.Muell., Hordeum glaucum Steud., Hordeum marinum Huds., Hydrocotyle callicarpa Bunge, Hypochaeris glabra L., Hypolaena fastigiata R.Br., Isolepis sp., Juncus bufonius L., Lachnagrostis billardierei (R.Br.) Trin. subsp. billardierei, Lagurus ovatus L., Landscape, Lawrencia squamata Nees, Lepidosperma viscidum R.Br., Linum marginale A.Cunn., Lithology, Lolium perenne L., Maireana brevifolia (R.Br.) Paul G.Wilson, Maireana oppositifolia (F.Muell.) Paul G.Wilson, Melaleuca brevifolia Turcz., Melaleuca halmaturorum F.Muell. ex Miq., Melaleuca lanceolata Otto, Microtis unifolia (G.Forst.) Rchb.f., Parapholis incurva (L.) C.E.Hubb., Poa sp., Rhagodia candolleana subsp. argentea, Rhagodia preissii Moq. subsp. preissii, Rytidosperma geniculatum (J.M.Black) Connor & Edgar, Rytidosperma sp., Sagina apetala Ard., Samolus repens (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Pers., Sarcocornia blackiana (Ulbr.) A.J.Scott, Sarcocornia quinqueflora (Bunge ex Ung.-Sternb.) A.J.Scott, Sarcocornia sp., Schenkia australis (R.Br.) G.Mans., Schenkia clementii -- Schenkia australis, Schismus barbatus (Loefl. ex L.) Thell., Schoenus carsei Cheeseman, Sebaea ovata (Labill.) R.Br., Soil, Solanum nigrum L., Sonchus oleraceus L., Species Presence/Abundance, Spergularia media (L.) C.Presl, Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth, Suaeda australis (R.Br.) Moq., Tecticornia arbuscula (R.Br.) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, Tecticornia halocnemoides (Nees) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson subsp. halocnemoides, Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens, Tecticornia indica subsp. leiostachya (Benth.) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, Tecticornia pterygosperma (J.M.Black) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson subsp. pterygosperma, Tecticornia sp., Tecticornia syncarpa (Paul G. Wilson) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, Thomasia petalocalyx F.Muell., Thysanotus exfimbriatus Sirisena, Conran & T.D.Macfarl., Trifolium arvense L. var. arvense, Trifolium campestre Schreb., Triglochin mucronata R.Br., Vegetation Structure, Vulpia sp., Wilsonia backhousei Hook.f., Wilsonia humilis R.Br.
Organization: Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network's Data Discovery