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To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-5871.2007.00474.x Byline: MICHAEL BEDWARD (1), CHRISTOPHER C. SIMPSON (1), MURRAY V. ELLIS (1), LISA M. METCALFE (1) Keywords: sheep-wheat belt; vegetation clearing history; logistic regression; spatial contagion Abstract: Abstract We consider the history of woodland clearing in central western New South Wales, Australia, which has led to the present highly cleared and fragmented landscape. A combined approach is used examining available historical land-use data and using regression analysis to relate the pattern of cleared and wooded areas in the recent landscape to environmental variables, taking into account the contagious nature of clearing. We also ask whether it would be possible to apply a simple simulation modelling approach to reconstruct a credible historical sequence of clearing in the study area. The historical data indicate that annual clearing rates have varied substantially in the study area and selective tree removal (ringbarking and thinning) has been common. These findings make it unlikely that a simple simulation approach would replicate the spatial and temporal sequence of woodland loss. Our regression results show that clearing patterns can be related to environmental variables, particularly annual rainfall and estimated pre-European vegetation type, but that patterns are dominated by contagion. Author Affiliation: (1)Biodiversity Conservation Science Section, Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. Article History: Received 12 February 2007; Revised 8 May 2007; Accepted 31 May 2007 Article note: (*) Corresponding author. Email: michael.bedward@environment.nsw.gov.au

We evaluated the restoration of native plant assemblages by topsoil translocation in the Hunter Valley, south-east Australia. Species' responses were characterized by defining nine plant functional types (PFTs) based on combinations of four response mechanisms (seed bank persistence, germination cues, resprouting mechanisms, and longevity) through which species were predicted to persist or decline following translocation. The effects of community type and delay in topsoil restoration on restoration outcomes were tested in an orthogonal experiment. Changes in species' frequency were detected using Bayesian statistics with prior probabilities derived from pre-clearing data. Few species failed to reestablish following translocation; these were offset by recruitment of other native species not detected prior to clearing. Compositional changes were more pronounced when topsoil was stockpiled (cf direct reinstatement), although there was no trend related to the period of stockpiling. The PFT response model correctly predicted the rank probability of decline in three of the nine PFTs, while a further three were correctly placed in the top ranks but in the incorrect order. Three PFTs were incorrectly ranked because the response model was incorrect. Resprouters declined more frequently than seeders; however, species with physical seed dormancy declined less frequently than those with either transient seed banks or physiological, morphological, or morpho-physiological dormancy, irrespective of resprouting ability. Species with short juvenile periods were more likely to increase. We conclude that PFTs based on fire-response traits represent a practical means of predicting species' responses to translocation and a basis for prioritizing species for supplementary planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]