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The effects of rabbit grazing on regeneration of sheoaks, Allocasuarina verticilliata and saltwater ti‐trees, Melaleuca halmaturorum , in the Coorong National Park, South Australia
Author(s) -
COOKE B. D.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
australian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 0307-692X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1988.tb01414.x
Subject(s) - national park , regeneration (biology) , grazing , melaleuca , population , natural regeneration , biology , ecology , agroforestry , geography , demography , sociology , microbiology and biotechnology
Sheoaks and saltwater ti‐trees regenerate poorly within the Coorong National Park unless they are protected from grazing mammals. The age structure of these tree populations suggests that both species regenerated vigorously in the 1950s when myxomatosis kept rabbit numbers low. Experiments demonstrated that unprotected seedlings are quickly found and eaten by rabbits, particularly if alternative foods are scarce. Sufficient numbers of ti‐trees are presently recruited to ensure the persistence of that species, but a programme of rabbit control would be necessary to enable natural regeneration to perpetuate the sheoak population in the Coorong National Park.