Wallum is widespread on coastal dunefields, beach ridge plains and associated sandy flats in northern NSW and southern Queensland. These sand masses contain large aquifers, and the wallum ecosystem is considered to be generally groundwater-dependent. This study describes the floristic composition and environmental relations of wallum on a Pleistocene barrier system at Nabiac (32°09'S 152°26'E), on the lower North Coast of NSW. Despite their minimal elevation and degraded relief, the Nabiac barriers maintain floristic patterns related to topography and hence groundwater relations. Comparative analyses identified the Nabiac wallum as representative of the ecosystem throughout large parts of its range in eastern Australia. The Nabiac wallum and nearby estuarine and alluvial vegetation supports species and communities of conservation significance. A borefield is proposed for development on the Nabiac barriers, thereby providing a valuable opportunity for research into mechanisms of groundwater utilisation by the wallum ecosystem.

Wallum heathland is extensive on coastal sand masses in north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Here the climate is subtropical, although monthly rainfall is highly variable and unreliable. We examined the influence of fire and rainfall on seedling recruitment in bradysporous dry-heathland ['Banksia aemula' R.Br., 'Melaleuca nodosa' (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Sm.] and wet-heathland ['Banksia oblongifolia' Cav., 'B. ericifolia' L.f. subsp. 'macrantha' (A.S.George) A.S.George, 'Leptospermum liversidgei' R.T.Baker and H.G. Sm.] species. Two specific questions were addressed: (1) do elevated levels of soil moisture facilitate seedling recruitment; (2) is the post-fire environment superior for seedling recruitment? Field experiments demonstrated that heathland species studied here are capable of successful recruitment in atypical habitat, and this proceeds irrespective of fire and unreliable rainfall. Conditions for growth and reproduction were found to be adequate if not more favourable in dry heathland, and this outcome included species usually associated with wet heathland. Spatial and temporal trends in seedling emergence and survival were examined in relation to post-fire predation and plant resource availability. Existing ideas about wallum management and conservation are evaluated, in particular the role of fire.

Wallum is the regionally distinct vegetation on coastal dunefields, beach ridge plains and sandy backbarrier flats in subtropical northern NSW and southern Queensland (22°S to 33°s). This study examined floristic patterns in the wallum and allied vegetation along 400km of coastline in north-eastern NSW. Floristic and environmental data were compiled for 494 quadrats allocated on the basis of air photo pattern and latitude. A phytosociological classification displayed strong congruence with an initial classification based upon photo pattern, especially for single stratum vegetation, thereby suggesting that API (air photo interpretation) is a valuable technique for the recognition of floristic assemblages. The utility of API for depicting the spatial distribution of tallest stratum species in multi-stratum vegetation was also confirmed. Nonetheless, photo signatures of the tallest stratum are less satisfactory as surrogates for identifying noda for the full complement of species in multi-stratum vegetation. Ordination supported the numerical classification, and reinforced the value of API for capturing meaningful biological and environmental data. Plant-environment relationships were examined for a range of variables. The consistent trend to emerge was a comparatively strong correlation between floristic composition and topographic position, and in some instances also between floristic composition and geology. Mean species richness at the 25m² scale was lower in wetter habitats, although differences were not consistently significant.

The floristic composition and environmental relations of wetland vegetation in the Wallis Lake catchment (32° 09'S; 152° 20'E), area 1292 km², on the lower North Coast of NSW are described. The catchment supports wetlands listed as Endangered Ecological Communities (NSW 'Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995') and plant species of high conservation value. A methodology of air photo interpretation, site-based sampling (114 quadrats) and landscape differentiation was developed. A total of 393 vascular plant taxa were recorded (including 10% exotics). Wetland vegetation formations and subformations including mangrove forest, swamp sclerophyll forest, wet heathland, chenopod shrubland, tussock grassland, sedgeland and rushland are described using numerical classification. 31 plant species of national or regional conservation significance are identified. Four Endangered Ecological Communities are discussed - Coastal Saltmarsh, Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest, Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains, and Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains. A key recommendation is the completion of reliable wetland vegetation and soil landscape mapping for all land tenures in the catchment - to assess wetland condition and conservation significance, and representation in formal conservation reserve, thereby directing future priorities for the protection of wetland biodiversity on both public and private lands. The methodology developed can be applied to the survey and conservation of wetland biodiversity in other parts of coastal NSW.

The east Australian coastline supports regionally distinct heathlands and allied structural formations, and of particular interest is the vegetation on Quaternary dunefields and beach ridge plains containing aquifers. Groundwater is abstracted from these aquifers for domestic, industrial and agricultural consumption, and this abstraction proceeds without a sound understanding of plant–water relations. This study examined relationships between the vegetation and a range of simple and complex environmental variables. Aspects of intra-habitat and micro-site environmental heterogeneity were also explored. Watertable depth varied spatially and temporally relative to vegetation type, although differences were not consistently significant. Differences in watertable depth were significant for vegetation samples grouped by topographic position. Plant roots were invariably present at the upper boundary of the aquifer and these were observed at depths of up to 10.5 m. Groundwater was found to have the chemical composition of dilute seawater. Soil properties for the A1 horizon (total phosphorus, total nitrogen and organic matter content) varied with vegetation type and topography, and although mean values were generally higher in wetter habitats, differences were not consistently significant. Ordination identified topography as the more important determinant of vegetation pattern. Intra-habitat and micro-site differences in soil and groundwater properties were detected, and the likely causes of this variation are discussed.