CSIRO PUBLISHING
Australian Journal of Botany https://doi.org/10.1071/BT20089
Turner Review No. 26
A threatened ecological community: research advances and priorities for Banksia woodlands Alison L. Ritchie A,B,K, Lauren N. Svejcar B,C, Bronwyn M. Ayre A,B, Julian Bolleter D, Aaron Brace E, Michael D. Craig A,C, Belinda Davis B, Robert A. Davis A,E, Eddie J. B. van Etten Joseph B. Fontaine C, William M. Fowler C,I, Ray H. Froend E, Christine Groom A, Giles E. S. J. Hardy C,F, Paula Hooper D, Anna J. M. Hopkins E, Michael Hughes C, Siegfried L. Krauss A,B, Matthias Leopold G, Ben P. Miller A,B,H, Russell G. Miller B,C,H, Cristina E. Ramalho A, Katinka X. Ruthrof C,H, Christopher ShawF, Jason C. Stevens A,B, Ryan Tangney B,J, Leonie E. Valentine A, Erik J. Veneklaas A,G and Richard J. Hobbs A
E
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A
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. B Kings Park Science, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 2 Kattidj Close, Kings Park, WA 6005, Australia. C Environmental and Conservation Sciences, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. D Australia Urban Design Research Centre, School of Design, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6005, Australia. E Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia. F Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia. G UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6005, Australia. H Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia. I Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 1266, Mandurah, WA 6210, Australia. J Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. K Corresponding author. Email: alison.ritchie@uwa.edu.au
Abstract. The rapid expansion of urban areas worldwide is leading to native habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation and degradation. Although the study of urbanisation’s impact on biodiversity is gaining increasing interest globally, there is still a disconnect between research recommendations and urbanisation strategies. Expansion of the Perth metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Australia, one of the world’s thirty-six biodiversity hotspots, continues to affect the Banksia Woodlands (BWs) ecosystem, a federally listed Threatened Ecological Community (TEC). Here, we utilise the framework of a 1989 review of the state of knowledge of BWs ecology and conservation to examine scientific advances made in understanding the composition, processes and functions of BWs and BWs’ species over the last 30 years. We highlight key advances in our understanding of the ecological function and role of mechanisms in BWs that are critical to the management of this ecosystem. The most encouraging change since 1989 is the integration of research between historically disparate ecological disciplines. We outline remaining ecological knowledge gaps and identify key research priorities to improve conservation efforts for this TEC. We promote a holistic consideration of BWs with our review providing a comprehensive document that researchers, planners and managers may reference. To effectively conserve ecosystems threatened by urban expansion, a range of stakeholders must be involved in the development and implementation of best practices to conserve and maintain both biodiversity and human wellbeing. Journal compilation CSIRO 2020 Open Access CC BY-NC
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