Another Vrsion

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Introduction

A feld study o the dry-sclerophyll orest and sub-tropical orest within DAguilar National Park

was recently undertaken to compare and contrast the abiotic actors and biotic communities

within each habitat. he abiotic actors which were measured were soil moisture! sunlight!

humidity and temperature.

Dry sclerophyll orests are typically nutrient defcient! with a lack o soil moisture present in

the en"ironment #N$%!&'( )*+),. hey generally lack species di"ersity and abundance

because the ecosystem cannot support a di"erse range o ora and auna. 'nly certain

plants can cope in these conditions #N$% &'(! )*+),.

'n the other hand sub-tropical orests generally support a larger di"ersity and abundance o

species largely due to the more nutrient dense en"ironment with greater soil moisture le"els

present #&$! )*+/,. he abiotic actors and biotic communities o ora and auna in this

e0periment were sur"eyed through belt transects along a gradient o ele"ation.

#Picture +! DAguilar National Park Dry-$clerophyll

1orest,

#Picture )! DAguilar National Park! $ub-tropical

1orest,

Aimo in"estigate the similarities and di2erences between a dry sclerophyll and sub-tropical orest in

relation to which abiotic actor has the greatest inuence on the biotic communities o each habitat. It

is predicted that the presence o certain abiotic actors will determine the similarities and di2erences

between the biotic communities in both orests.

3ypothesisIt is hypothesised that a relationship e0ists between soil moisture content and species

di"ersity and abundance. $oil moisture plays a crucial role in the transer o nutrients through

an ecosystem! as well as in the process o photosynthesis #IP44! +556,. It is e0pected that


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there will be higher le"els o soil moisture in the subtropical orest than in the dry sclerophyll

orest resulting in greater ora and auna species di"ersity and abundance.

7aterials 8 0 red marker cones

+ 0 +m ruler

+ 0 $oil moisture meter

+ 0 %eather station

+0 camera

+ 0 3and spade

9 0 $ample containers

7ethod Dependant "ariable : $oil moisture

Independent "ariable : $pecies di"ersity ; abundance

+. ime o day! the season and the strength o the wind were noted down.). emperature! humidity and air pressure were measured using a weather station/. he . Pictures o any plant species or in"ertebrates species within the "icinity o the


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Besults #Baw Data Data analysis,

ables + $ub-tropical orest #abiotic actors,Abiotic actors E+ E) E/ E8 E6 E= E> E9 Bange A"erage $tandar

d

De"iation$oil moisture #@, +/ +6 +) +) +> += +5 )* +)-+5 +8 6.6

emperature

#*4,

)) )/ )/ )+ )/ )+ )) )+ )+-)/ )) *.5

$un Fight #@, 6 +6 )* +* +* +6 )* +* 6-)* +/ 6.)3umidity #@, >8 >= 9* >) >9 >/ >6 >) >)-9* >6 ).5

able ) $ub-tropical orest #Abundance o biotic actors,iotic actors

#1auna,

E

+

E

)

E

/

E

8

E

6

E

=

E

>

E

9

Ban

ge

A"erage#rounded,

$D Proportion#1lora and

auna doneseparately,

$pider

#Gnidentifed,

+ + ) + / / ) / +-/ ) *.5 +=.=>@

Feech

#3irudinea,

* * + + ) + ) / *-/ + + 9.//@

Ants

#1ormicidae,

/ / / = 6 5 > 5 /-5 = ).= 6*@

4aterpillar

#Fycaenidae,

+ + ) + ) ) + ) +-) ) *.6 +=.=>@

7illipede

#ulidae,

+ * * * * + + + *-+ + *.6 9.//@

Flora % Ground coverHHor graphs! a scale o +*@:+plant will be used #eg. )*@ C )

plants,HH$ot 4orkwood

#4aldclu"ia,

)

*

* 8

*

* /

*

)

*

* /

*

*-8* +9 +6.

9

)+.5@

Palm ree

#4ordyline,

* * * /

*

+

*

/

*

8

*

+

*

*-8* +6 += +9./@

(ine

#Apocynaceae,

+

*

/

*

)

*

+

*

)

*

+

*

+

*

)

*

+*-

/*

+= >.8 +5.6@

Fawyer "ine

#unidentifed,

)

*

+

*

* +

*

+

*

+

*

6 6 *-)* 5 6.9 +*.5@

Prickly tree1ern #", * * * * +* * 6 * *-+* ) /.> ).8@

1ungi * * * +

*

* 6 6 6 *-+* / /.> /.=@

7oss

#ryophyta,

* )

*

)

*

* +

*

)

*

)

*

)

*

*-)* +/ +*.

8

+6.5@

ellow ower * * * +

*

* 6 6 6 *-+* / /.> /.=@

road lea

plant #Arkania

Fucens,

* * +

*

* * 6 * +

*

*-+* / 8.= /.=@

$mall lilyplants

* * +*

* * * +*

6 *-+* / 8.= /.=@

able / $ub-tropical orest #Di"ersity,1actor E+ E) E/ E8 E6 E= E> E9 Bange A"erage $D


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1auna 8 / 8 8 8 6 6 6 /-6 8.)6 *.>1lora / / 6 6 = 9 9 5 /-5 6.99 )./

ables 8 Dry-$clerophyll orest #abiotic actors,Abiotic actors E+ E) E/ E8 E6 E= E> E9 Bange A"erag

e

$tandar

d

De"iati

on$oil moisture

#@,

J+

*

J+

*

J+

*

J+

*

J+

*

J+

*

J+

*

J+

*

J+*-

J+*

J+* *

emperature

#*4,

)8 )8 )6 )6 )6 )8 )8 )6 )8-)6 )6 *.6

$un Fight #@, 5* +** 9* 5* 5* 5* +** 5* 9*-+** 5) =.83umidity #@, >9 >9 9* >5 >5 >9 9* >5 >9-9* >5 *.9

able 6 Dry $clerophyll orest #Abundance o biotic actors,iotic actors

#1auna,

E

+

E

)

E

/

E

8

E

6

E

=

E

>

E

9

Bang

e

A"erage#rounded

,

$D Proportion#1lora and

1auna doneseparately,

Ants

#1ormicidae,

+/ 6 +) 8 6 8 +* +) 8-+/ 9 8 >).>@

4aterpillars

#Nymphalidae,

+ * * + * + * + *-+ + *.

6

5@

$piders

#Gnidentifed,

+ + ) ) ) ) + + +-) ) *.

6

+9@

Flora % Ground coverHHor graphs! a scale o +*@:+ plant will be used #eg. )*@ C )

plants,HH?ucalyptus tree

#7yrtaceae,

/* /* +* 6* +* * /* +* *-6* )+ += )=@

Dry &rass

#$arga

leiocladum,

=* /* /* /* 8* 9* +* >* +*-9* 8/ )/ 6/@

ree (ines * * * +* * * * +* *-+* / 8.

=

/.>@

$mall

tree#Gnidentife

d,

* +* * +* +* * * * *-+* 8 6.

)

8.5@

ellow ower * * 6 * + )* )* * *-)* = 5 >.8@horned plant * +* * * +* * * +* *-+* 8 6.

)

8.5@


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able = Dry sclerophyll orest #Di"ersity,1actor E+ E) E/ E8 E6 E= E> E9 Bange A"erage $D1auna / ) ) / ) / ) / )-/ ).6 *.61lora ) 8 / 8 6 ) / 8 )-6 /./9 +.+

&raphs #N'?: 1or ora! a scale o +*@ : + plant is used,Pie charts #fgures +-8,

18%

11%

52%

14%5%

Fauna Abundance/ Diversity in the Subtropical Rainorest !Fi"ure 1#

$pider

3irudinea

1ormicidaeFycaenidae

ulidae

21%

18%

1$%

1%)@4%

15%

8@8@8@

Flora Abundance/Diversity in the Subtropical Rainorest !Fi"ure 2#

4aldclu"ia 4ordyline

Apocynaceae Fawyer (ine

4yathea

leichhardtiana

1ungi

.ryo phyta Ie llow 1lo we r

Arkania Fucens $mall Fily


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5&%

44%

Abundance o Flora and Fauna in the Subtropical Rainorest !Fi"ure '#

Animals

Plants

&(%

''%

Diversity o Flora and Fauna in the Sub)tropical Rainorest !Fi"ure 4#

Plants

Animals


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Pie 4harts#fgure 6-9,

2&%

5'%

'%

6@

9@6@

Flora Abundance/ Diversity in the Sclerophyll Forest !Fi"ure 5#

7yrtaceae

$arga leiocladum

ree "ines

#unidentifed,

$mall tree

#unidentifed,

Iellow o wers

horned "ines;p lants

#unidentifed,

8%

5%

15%

Fauna Abundance / Diversity in the Sclerophyll Forest !Fi"ure

1ormicidae

Nymphalidae

$piders #unidentifed,


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5$%

41%

Flora and Fauna Abundance in the Subtropical Rainorest !Fi"ure (#

Animals

Plants

4%

&%

Flora and Fauna Diversity in the Sclerophyll Forest !Fi"ure 8#

Animals

Plants


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3istograms

$ubtropical $clerophyll*

)

8

=

9

+*

+)

+8

+=

he $pecies Di"ersity in the $ub-tropical and $clerophyll forests #1igure 5,

Di"ersity


+

)

/

8

6

=

he 1auna $pecies Di"ersity in the $ub-tropical and $clerophyll forests #1igure +*,

Di"ersity


)

8

=

9

+*

+)

he 1lora $pecies Di"ersity in the $ub-tropical and $clerophyll forests #1igure ++,

Di"ersity


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$ubtropical $clerophyll+/*

+/6

+8*

+86

+6*

+66

+=*

he otal $pecies Abundance in the $ub-tropical and $clerophyll forests #1igure +),

$um of abundance in all

99

95

he otal 1auna $pecies Abundance in the $ub-tropical and $clerophyll orests #1igure +/,

$um o abundance in all *

9*

he otal 1 lora $pecies Abundance in the $ub-tropical and $clerophyll orests #1igure +8,

sum o abundance in all


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i-"ariant Plots

6 = > 9 5 +* ++ +) +/ +8 +6*

6

+*

+6

)*

)6

f#0, C * .9)0 >.=

BK C *.9

he Belationship etween $oil 7oisture and $pecies Di"erstiy In the $ubtropical Bainforest #1igure +6,

Di"ersity

$oil 7oisture #@,

+* +) +8 += +9 )* )) )8 )= )9 /**

6

+*

+6

)*

)6

f#0, C *./=0 9.=)

BK C *.9

he Belationship etween $oil 7oisture and $pecies Abundance in the $ubtropical Bainforest #1igure +=,

Abundance

$oil moisture #@,

L


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DiscussionThe aim of this study was to investigate the similarities and differences between a dry sclerophyll and sub-tropical

forest to determine which abiotic factor has a distinct influence on the biotic communities of each habitat. In this

experiment several abiotic factors were measured, however it was concluded immediately that the only abiotic factor

which was clearly different across the two environments, as per research and data analysis, was soil moisture. So this

was the only abiotic factor that was graphed in relation to the biotic communities.

The average soil moisture in the sub-tropical forest was 14 !" or # $.$% while the dry-sclerophyll forest had &less

than 1' !soil moisture%. ( more accurate reading for the dry sclerophyll forest could not be achieved because thee)uipment could not measure below 1'. *owever it was noted, that the soil in the sclerophyll forest was very dry to

the touch and loose.

+ie-charts were an effective means of illustrating the relative proportions of species in terms of their abundance and

diversity. ( similarity between the two habitats can be seen in figures 4 and , which show that in both places flora

species diversity taes up a larger proportion of the total species diversity. (nother similarity observed , is in figure 1

and which show that in both habitats 1 species !Formicidae% generally dominates !over $' of total abundance% the

habitats. This is more obvious in figure , and surprisingly in figure 1 despite the greater diversity. The differences

in proportions can be seen in figures / and $, where in the sclerophyll forest the abundance of plant species is largely

dominated by the Sarga Leiocladum, while in the sub-tropical forest the greater proportion of flora is spread across $

species !Caldcluvia, Cordyline, Apocynaceae, Lawyer Vine and Cyathea leichhardtiana).

The histograms from figure 0 to 14 compare the abundance and diversity of flora and fauna between the two

environments. They clearly reveal that the subtropical rain forest, in general, supported a greater abundance and

diversity of species in comparison to the dry-sclerophyll forest, as expected. The total flora abundance and species

diversity between the two forests was notably different as can be seen in figure 11 and 14. This indicated that the

subtropical habitat had ample soil moisture to support a variety of flora species. ( similar study done by ar.2

3rew !/''1%found that changes in soil moisture content between environments influence the plant biomass

aboveground. hanfeng 5iu !/''6%, also doing a similar experiment concluded that in comparison to wet forests and

rainforests, the soil moisture levels of arid and semi arid areas were an important factor limiting plant biodiversity

!hanfeng liu, /''6%. (n explanation for this relationship is provided by the I+77 !/'1/%, which concluded that soil

moisture is a ey ingredient for photosynthesis and naturally in most cases plants will thrive in environments with

greater levels of it. (lso graphs 1' and 18 demonstrate that the subtropical forest is a more attractive9suitable

environment for fauna than the dry-sclerophyll forest. This can be explained through the fact that plant density anddiversity directly affects animal density and diversity in most given habitats !(brahamson,100%. :auna diversity and

abundance is reliant on food )uantity and )uality. Therefore the more plants that fulfill an animal;s re)uirements the

more animals there can be. Therefore, soil moisture determines plant diversity and abundance, which in turn

determines fauna diversity and abundance that can be supported in the ecosystem.

The hypothesis was further supported through the bi-variant plot showing the relationship between soil moisture and

total species diversity and abundance over a gradient in the sub tropical forest. ( bi-variant plot could not be done for

the dry sclerophyll forest since all soil moisture readings only showed &1'. (s can be seen, figure 1$ has an obvious

upward trend, which leads to the statement that as soil moisture increased, total species abundance proportionally

increased. The ine, 7yathea leichhardtiana, :ungi, 2ryophyta, ?ellow flower, (rania 5ucens and Small lily

plant. @ther specific flora and fauna in table $ which need to be recognised as having high variation are the

yrtaceae, Tree vines, Smaller trees !unidentified%, yellow flower !unidentified%, thorned plant !unidentified%.

Therefore graphs which may be unreliable are figure /, figure $, figure 1/, figure 14 and figure 1. In order to

minimise the standard deviation in the calculations, more measurements must be taen. This is because a more

representative and accurate sample will be ac)uired, therefore ensuring variation is minimal. Ahen doing multiple

measurements it would be best to go at 8 different times of day !morning, afternoon and night% and maybe go bac in

different seasons. It is also ey that a better soil moisture meter, which can measure larger ranges of soil moisture

content, is re)uired, for more accurate results. (nother flaw which has affected the results is the scale that was used


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for flora abundance. Since flora was measured as a percentage of ground cover there was no way to combine the data

of flora abundance and fauna abundance. *owever a scale of 1' B 1 plant was used, this however is not very reliable

and accurate. This will have affected the graphs in figure 8, figure 6, figure 1/, figure 1 and figure 14 because

unreliable measurements will have been graphed. To solve this problem it is best to use a raning system to assess the

abundance of plants in a )uadrat and then graph flora separately to fauna, instead of together in one graph.

7onclusionB Cvidence has been found which supports the hypothesis thatthe soil moisture le"els will be the

defning actor that distinguish the two orests biotic communities. here were cleardi2erences in soil moisture le"els between the two habitats and there were also cleardi2erences in biotic communities. A relati"ely strong relationship was established betweensoil moisture o"er a gradient and the abundance and di"ersity o ora and auna! in the sub-tropical orest. his relationship pro"ides strong e"idence on the inuence! not only on a largescale #two di2erent habitats,! but also on a smaller scale #between


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New $outh %ales &o"ernment. #)*+)-)*+8,. Dry-Sclerophyll Forest inormation. Betrie"ed

rom ?n"ironment.N$%.&'(:

http:;;www.en"ironment.nsw.go".au;threatenedspeciesapp;(eg1ormation.asp0

ormationNameCDrysclerophyllorests#shrub;grasssub-ormation,


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Appendi0 #sketches attached,

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