ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6277-6942
Current Organisation
UNSW Sydney
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Publisher: FAO and IUSS
Date: 14-04-2021
DOI: 10.4060/CB4185EN
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-02-2020
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 12-10-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GEB.13522
Abstract: Eucalypts have a widespread global distribution owing to their popularity for agroforestry and as environmental plantings. Despite an abundance of site‐specific evidence that eucalypts modify soils and soil processes, we lack a quantitative synthesis of their overall effects at the global scale. This limits our capacity to assess the likely impacts of future introductions in any given region of the world. Global. 1986–2021. Eucalyptus , Angophora and Corymbia . We used a systematic search to derive a database of empirical data from 227 studies across 33 countries ( n effect size = 2,806) and tested three predictions about the effects of eucalypts on soil properties and whether these effects varied with plantation age and soil depth. Compared with (non‐eucalypt) native vegetation, eucalypts significantly reduced soil moisture, microbial abundance, nitrogen, cations and anions. Relative reductions in soil microbes and ions were stronger in older eucalypt plantations. A comparison of eucalypts with (non‐eucalypt) silvicultural and agropastoral systems revealed similar effects on most soil properties, although eucalypts tended to reduce potassium and enhance carbon to a greater extent than other managed systems. We found no consistent effects of eucalypts on soil pH. Our study provides the first extensive global meta‐analysis of the effects of eucalypts on soil properties and processes and demonstrates that effects are highly dependent on the community with which they are compared (i.e., natural or managed). In general, our findings reinforce the widely held belief that eucalypts deplete soil nutrients and dominate water resources. Understanding how eucalypts affect soils allows us to assess their global suitability for agroforestry, soil rehabilitation and soil carbon enhancement, while considering the potential environmental costs.
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 16-08-2023
Abstract: When a plant is introduced to a new ecosystem it may escape from some of its coevolved herbivores. Reduced herbivore damage, and the ability of introduced plants to allocate resources from defence to growth and reproduction can increase the success of introduced species. This mechanism is known as enemy release and is known to occur in some species and situations, but not in others. Understanding the conditions under which enemy release is most likely to occur is important, as this will help us to identify which species and habitats may be most at risk of invasion. We compared in situ measurements of herbivory on 16 plant species at 12 locations within their native European and introduced Australian ranges to quantify their level of enemy release and understand the relationship between enemy release and time, space and climate. Overall, plants experienced approximately seven times more herbivore damage in their native range than in their introduced range. We found no evidence that enemy release was related to time since introduction, introduced range size, temperature, precipitation, humidity or elevation. From here, we can explore whether traits, such as leaf defences or phylogenetic relatedness to neighbouring plants, are stronger indicators of enemy release across species.
Start Date: 2020
End Date: 2021
Funder: University of New South Wales
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2020
End Date: 2021
Funder: Ecological Society of Australia
View Funded Activity