Dissertation
Assessing the Diversity and Conservation of Central Queensland Rainforest using DNA Barcoding
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00863
Abstract
Dry rainforests are less studied, more poorly conserved than mesic rainforests and are highly threatened by climate change and anthropogenic pressures worldwide. They are fragmented and typified by low mean annual rainfall, seasonality and the presence of deciduous species. The dry rainforest communities within Australia are no exception. The Central Queensland Coast region has a complex geological history and combined with a broad climatic variation, provide the foundation for a highly diverse landscape. The greatly fragmented dry and littoral rainforests of the Central Queensland Coast lie between adjoining regions of the northern Wet Tropics and Southeast Queensland subtropical rainforests. These regions are known to contain rainforest plant taxa of both Gondwanan and Indo−Malesian heritage which suggests that the Central Queensland Coast regions may be an area of overlap containing taxa of varying lineages. Little has been published about this region and our understanding of the diversity and distinctiveness of the rainforest plant assemblages found here, is lacking. Therefore, this study has focused on the highly fragmented coastal region of the Central Queensland Coast. The main objective was to assess community diversity and distinctiveness of the drier rainforest communities the Central Queensland Coast region to determine significant areas crucial for connectivity and conservation of rainforest biodiversity within it and along the east Australian Coast.
Details
- Title
- Assessing the Diversity and Conservation of Central Queensland Rainforest using DNA Barcoding
- Authors
- Marion Howard - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Contributors
- Alison Shapcott (Principal Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Bioinnovation
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00863
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991051594602621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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