We examined species composition and diversity of vegetation and soil seed bank associated with different microhabitats in Mediterranean semiarid sand dune community, to identify which functional groups or species benefit from trampling, and to provide a basis for management. In this community microhabitats were found to significantly influence species abundance and biomass of dominant functional groups and dominant species. The open patches generally have the greatest species richness, diversity and productivity. The highest value of similarity occurred during June to September and the lowest value occurred in April when seedling emergence stopped but before new seeds dispersed. Shrubs did not benefit their understorey plant functional groups except for perennial forbs and Apiaceae due to their denser canopy and larger litter amount. Trampling decreased the species diversity of vegetation and did not facilitate the establishment of herbaceous plants, but was beneficial for some functional groups such as Apiaceae and Brassicaceae as well as some species such as Polycarpon succulentum. A positive relationship was found between productivity and diversity in this community and on the trail, but the relationship in the open area and shrub understorey was not significant. This work can provide a deeper understanding of smallscale vegetation processes and mosaic patterns of distribution.

Four 'Eleocharis' species exhibit habitat partitioning in both extant vegetation and in the soil seed bank of upland temporary wetlands on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Explanations for this partitioning were sought in seed-bank dynamics at three shore levels in two wetlands. Habitat partitioning (zonation) was explained in part by seedling recruitment but not by either persistence of seeds in the soil or by dormancy patterns. All four species recruited at wetland edges but only the deepwater species, 'Eleocharis sphacelata', recruited in deeper water. Viability of buried seeds was consistently high and species had very low decay rates and half-lives greater than 50 years. Two types of dormancy patterns with burial were shown. Most seeds of 'Eleocharis sphacelata' and 'E. pusilla' were non-dormant after a 3-month burial, whereas for 'E. acuta' and 'E. dietrichiana' seed germination percentages gradually increased over a number of years. These two dormancy patterns may contribute to coexistence, since coexistence is enhanced by a long-lived resistant phase in the life history of species and by temporal variability in germination. There were also spatial inconsistencies in patterns of dormant fractions. Burial in the deeper zones of the marsh-like Billybung Lagoon had an inhibitory effect both on germinability and on germination rates of 'E. acuta' and 'E. dietrichiana' seeds. All but 'E. acuta' showed some degree of seasonal dormancy, but this pattern was also not consistent in space. Explanations for zonation should concentrate on other life-history phases, such as dispersal and seedling survival.

1. The role of waterbirds as vectors of plants and invertebrates within and between arid-zone wetlands is poorly understood. We present the first detailed study of passive dispersal by nomadic birds in Australasia. We investigated the numbers and types of invertebrate and plant propagules within freshly collected faecal samples as well as their viability. We compared dispersal among Grey Teal ('Anas gracilis'), Eurasian Coot ('Fulica atra') and Black Swan ('Cygnus atratus') in the Macquarie Marshes, a complex of temporary to semi-permanent wetlands in New South Wales. 2. When faecal samples (n = 60) were inundated in the laboratory and monitored over 3 weeks, ciliates (75% of samples), nematodes (22%), ostracods (13%) and rotifers (5%) were recorded, with higher taxon richness in coot samples. Faecal samples (n = 71) were also sieved to quantify intact propagules, and ostracod eggs (70% of samples), large branchiopod eggs (31%) and bryozoan statoblasts (31%) were the most abundant invertebrates. Diaspores of 19 plant taxa were recorded, 14 of which were germinated in the laboratory or shown to be viable at the end of germination trials. The abundance and diversity of invertebrate propagules was highest in coot samples, whereas the abundance and diversity of diaspores was highest in teal samples. 3. One Australian Pelican ('Pelecanus conspicillatus') sample was obtained and found to contain more taxa and far more propagules than any sample from other waterbirds, suggesting that piscivorous birds might have an important role in the indirect dispersal of propagules ingested by fish. 4. Our results support a role for birds in explaining the distributions of cosmopolitan plant genera such as 'Lemna', 'Typha', 'Myriophyllum' and 'Nitella'. The alien plants 'Ranunculus sceleratus', 'Medicago polymorpha' and 'Polygonum arenastrum' were recorded, demonstrating the potential role of waterfowl in the spread of exotic species. As the frequency and duration of flooding of arid-zone wetlands decreases owing to human activities, the importance of waterbirds in facilitating recolonisation of temporary wetlands is likely to increase.

The floristic composition and extent of 'Carex'-dominated fens in the New South Wales New England Tablelands Bioregion and Barrington Tops area (lat 28°41'S-31°55'S; long 151°23'E-152°05'E) together with outliers from the central west (Coonabarabran) are described from 81 full floristic survey sites. These fens contained 234 vascular plant taxa of which 27% were exotic. Then fens were dominated by herbaceous vegetation (96% of taxa). Cluster analysis of cover-abundance scores of vascular plant taxa from 81 pots placed within 71 separate 'Carex' fens revealed three alliances: 1) 'Carex appressa', 2) 'Scirpus polystachyus' - 'Carex tereticaulis' and 3) 'Carex gaudichaudiana' and seven communities: 1) 'Carex appressa' - 'Stellaria angustifolia' Fen 2) 'Carex appressa' Fen 3) 'Scirpus polystachyus' - 'Carex appressa' Fen 4) 'Carex tereticaulis' Fen 5) 'Carex gaudichaudiana' - 'Isachne globosa' Fen 6) 'Carex' sp. Bendemeer - 'Carex gaudichaudiana' Fen 7) 'Carex' gaudichaudiana' - ' Glyceria australis' Fen The distribution of alliances showed a pattern of east-west separation. The most easterly alliance shares many features with the 'Carex gaudichaudiana' Alliance of the Monaro Region of the southern NSW while the other alliances have no counterparts within the current literature. We estimate that up to 5 000ha of fen vegetation survive in the New England Bioregion of which 90% is on grazed land and only 0.2% is within conservation reserves. Seven outstanding examples of fens remain; most are examples of Community 5, with one representing Community 6 and none representing the other five communities. Many of these are not secured, and none of those within reserves are in their 'natural' state. We therefore strongly encourage measures to allow closure of drains, the opening of dams, and the rehabilitation of important fens such as Bishops, Racecourse and New Country Swamps.

The floristics of the montane bogs in east-flowing catchments of northern New England, north-eastern New South Wales (lat 28° 47'–31° 25' S; long 151° 50'–152° 30' E), are described from 62 full floristic survey sites (20 x 20 m in area). Eight vegetation communities are based on flexible UPGMA analysis of cover-abundance scores of vascular plant taxa. Shrub species make up 26% of the flora and herb species 69%, with the remaining taxa trees, climbers or vines. Shrub species were of little diagnostic value, as a few common dominants were shared across most communities. The herbaceous layer was found to be of better circumscriptive value. Communities described (based on dominant herbaceous species) are: (1) 'Themeda australis' – 'Gonocarpus micranthus', (2) 'Baumea articulata' – 'Baloskion stenocoleum', (3) 'Lepidosperma limicola' – 'Baloskion stenocoleum', (4) 'Baloskion fimbriatum' – 'Lomandra longifolia', (5) 'Lepyrodia scariosa' – 'Blandfordia grandiflora', (6) 'Lepidosperma gunnii' – 'Lepidosperma scariosa', (7) 'Baloskion stenocoleum' – 'Empodisma minus', (8) 'Lepidosperma limicola' – 'Xyris operculata'. The mean annual moisture index was found to account for 26% of the variation in species density. These montane bog systems are some of the richest in Australia, with a high number of rare and restricted taxa. They are vulnerable to both present land use practices and future changes in climate, are restricted in area, and need further conservation efforts to ensure their long-term survival.

The vegetation of montane lagoons of the New England Tablelands Bioregion, New South Wales is examined using flexible UPGMA analysis of frequency scores on all vascular plant taxa, charophytes and one liverworts. Seven communities are described- 1. 'Hydrocotyle tripartita' - 'Isotoma fluviatilis' - 'Ranunculus inundatus' - 'Lilaeopsis polyantha' herbfield; 2. 'Eleocharis sphacelata' - 'Potamogeton tricarinatus' sedgeland; 3. 'Eleocharis sphacelata' - 'Ultricularia australis' - 'Isolepis fluitans', herbfield; 4. 'Ultricularia australis' - 'Nitella sonderi' herbfield; 5. 'Eleocharis shacelata' - Ultricularia australis' - 'Ricciocarpus natans' sedgeland; 6. 'Carex gaudichaudiana' - 'Holcus lanatus' - 'Stellaria augustfolia' sedgeland; 7. 'Cyperus sphaeroides' - 'Eleocharis gracilis' - 'Schoenus apogon' - 'Carex gaudichaudiana' sedgeland. 58 lagoons were located and identified, only 28% of which are considered to be intact and in good condition. Two threatened species ('Aldovandra vesiculosa' and 'Arthaxon hispidus') and three RoTAP-listed taxa were encountered during the survey.

Seedling emergence and establishment was monitored in 3 microhabitats during growing seasons in a Mediterranean coastal sand dune community in Poleg Stream Nature Reserve, Israel. Seedling emergence varied temporally among the 3 microhabitats, with a delay in the timing of seedling emergence in shrub understoreys due to lower soil average temperatures and lower irradiance. In contrast, seedling emergence on trails was advanced because of more intense irradiance and higher soil temperatures on their more exposed soil surfaces. Microhabitats showed significant differences in individual densities, species diversity, and species richness of total seedlings (P < 0.0001). Open areas generally possessed significantly greater total seedling densities, species diversity, and species richness compared to shrub understoreys and trails. Twelve key species and 5 functional groups showed significant microhabitat preferences. Seedling patterns indicated that emergence responses could account for observed patterns of variation in the 5 functional groups and dominant species populations. In this semi-arid ecosystem, negative interactions between the shrub canopy species (white weeping broom) and its understorey occurred for seedling establishment because of lower seed densities in the seed bank, a larger amount of litter on the soil surface, and the dense woody canopy. On the trails, trampling decreased plant diversity and discouraged the establishment of most functional groups and key species except annual grasses and 'Polycarpon succulentum' and 'Cutandia philistaea'. The variability in seedling response patterns for the different microhabitats will assist in understanding the patchy regeneration strategies of this coastal sand dune community and provide a basis for vegetation management.