We respond to Neil Gibson's reply to our paper "Overview of plot-based classification approaches within Australia" where Gibson advised on the location of plot data held by the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA). Based on that advice we have tabulated the available vegetation plot data on DBCA's NatureMap site. NatureMap stores vegetation plot data as Excel files within data directories rather than in a unified database. We accessed 5,318 vegetation plots from 19 flora surveys sourced from NatureMap and a further 1144 from other government or university sources. In addition, we sourced a further 9,588 vegetation survey sites in a privately-held database. We updated the bioregional analyses of plots for WA, outlined in Gellie et al. 2018, using the combined plot data. It is likely additional data exists that would increase the plot density in Western Australian bioregions. Irrespective, our updated analysis of all the plots we located indicates the quantities are well below that required for either supervised or unsupervised vegetation classification, except for a few sub-bioregional areas. From a practical perspective, the plot data held by DCBA as Excel files are not readily available to external users. Few of the WA data are assigned cover or abundance scores with implications for statistical classification of vegetation types. Adopting a sampling protocol that conforms to a national standard would enhance plot data consistency for recording site and floristic attributes. WA DBCA data could more usefully be stored in a properly constructed centralised vegetation plot database containing government and non-government data maintained to agreed standards with protocols for ensuring plant taxonomy is maintained.

Plant diversity is threatened in many agricultural landscapes. Our understanding of patterns of plant diversity in these landscapes is mainly based on small-scale (<1000 m²) observations of species richness. However, such observations are insufficient for detecting the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation composition. In a case-study farm on the North-West Slopes of New SouthWales, Australia, we observed species richness at four scales (quadrat, patch, land use and landscape) across five land uses (grazed and ungrazed woodlands, native pastures, roadsides and crops). We applied two landscape ecological models to assess the contribution of these land uses to landscape species richness: (i) additive partitioning of diversity at multiple spatial scales, and (ii) a measure of habitat specificity - the effective number of species that a patch contributes to landscape species richness. Native pastures had less variation between patches than grazed and ungrazed woodlands, and hence were less species-rich at the landscape scale, despite having similar richness to woodlands at the quadrat and patch scale. Habitat specificity was significantly higher for ungrazed woodland patches than all other land uses. Our results showed that in this landscape, ungrazed woodland patches had a higher contribution than the grazed land uses to landscape species richness. These results have implications for the conservation management of this landscape, and highlighted the need for greater consensus on the influence of different land uses on landscape patterns of plant diversity.

Aims: To develop an interim classification of the vegetation of the Northern Territory at the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) division (level 4) and macrogroup (level 5) levels. These types are produced to assist in the development of an integrated nationwide plot and floristically based classification of Australia allowing integration within a global perspective. Study Area: The Northern Territory of Australia covers an area of 1.42 million square kilometres, almost 20% of Australia's land mass. It comprises three distinct climatic zones including tropical, subtropical and arid vegetation types. Methods: We used collated vegetation data held by two organisations: the Northern Territory Government, Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (a total of 45,710 plots used). We applied semi-supervised quantitative classification methods to define vegetation types at the IVC division and macrogroup levels. Analyses used kR-CLUSTER methods on presence/absence data. Macrogroups were characterised by taxa with the highest frequency of occurrence across plots. Additional analyses were conducted (cluster) to elucidate interrelationships between macrogroups and to assist in the assessment of division level typology. Results: We propose 21 macrogroups and place these within higher thematic levels of the IVC. Conclusions: We found that the IVC hierarchy and associated standard procedures and protocols provide a useful classification tool for Australian ecosystems. The divisions and macrogroups provide a valid framework for subsequent analysis of Northern Territory vegetation types at the detailed levels of the IVC. A consistent typology for the Northern Territory (and hopefully in future, for all of Australia) has numerous benefits, in that they can be used for various applications using a well-structured, systematic and authoritative description and classification that is placed in a continental and global context, readily enabling the one system to be used in studies from the local to global level.

Thresholds for burning vegetation communities in New South Wales (NSW) are based on plant species' responses to fire and do not consider other issues such as site attributes or fauna requirements. We investigated knowledge gaps concerning the impact of fire on habitat features of open forests and woodlands, and consider the adequacy of fire management based on the fire responses of flora. The consequences of managing fire at broader scales are complex and this study tests ideas concerning landscape attributes in relation to fire planning and biodiversity conservation. Habitat attributes of long unburnt vegetation were determined at sites with varying time since fire and fuel loads in these communities were measured. Time since fire was the most important variable for explaining the abundance of critical faunal habitat attributes. Tree and log hollows and fallen timber volume were markedly more abundant in long-unburnt vegetation, while fuel loads in open forests and woodlands unburnt for 100 or more years were low to moderate and similar to the hazard in recently burnt sites. Fire-interval thresholds based only on plant responses to fire compromises the achievement of optimal fauna habitat. Recommended upper thresholds are too low to cater for the habitat requirements of fauna. Consequently, long-unburnt vegetation should be identified as a threatened asset in fire planning and management and should be protected and actively promoted.

Recent advances in conceptual frameworks in vegetation classifications, such as the EcoVeg approach that underpins the International Vegetation Classification (IVC) developed by NatureServe staff and colleagues, offer opportunities to enhance national classification initiatives. National level initiatives provide an important stepping-stone between international units and subnational units. Australia has a long history of developing various vegetation typologies at local to regional scales, but ecologists recognise the need for an Australia-wide, plot-based vegetation classification system that incorporates the principles of the EcoVeg approach, and thereby helps build an international classification system. Using two case studies, we provide a comparison of various structures and criteria for relevant Australian classifications in the context of the IVC, and exemplify how Australian classifications of forest, shrublands, grasslands, and deserts could potentially link into the IVC hierarchy to illustrate the capacity of the IVC to summarise the full range of Australian vegetation at a broad formation (biome) scale. We then discuss how the IVC might inform future work towards an Australian vegetation classification system and, vice versa, the implications of an Australian vegetation classification for IVC development.

Tree hollow number is investigated across an altitudinal and climatic gradient in eastern Australia. The relationship between seasonal climate and local site factors to hollow number at a regional scale was investigated. Moisture retention, rainfall, and solar radiation during the summer period were the highest contributing factors to hollow number in the model presented. The relationship of hollow number with the significant variables was unimodal in nature with either extreme causing a decline within the region.The results indicate that increased seasonality of rainfall, solar radiation, and temperatures as predicted by anthropogenic climate change will cause a shift in the optimal location for hollow number. Change in tree hollows is reliant on taxonomic replacement through dispersal and establishment and subsequently time to allow individuals to mature. The reduction in this resource stimulated by changes in seasonality predicted within the ensuing decades is likely to cause a loss of hollows across the landscape with the resource not being replaced for hundreds of years. The number of hollows within a landscape may drastically reduce due to climate change alone irrespective of tree clearing rates.

Aims: Ecosystems nationally at risk in Australia are listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act), and many cross State jurisdictional boundaries. The determination of these ecosystems across the State boundaries are based on expert knowledge. The International Vegetation Classification has the potential to be useful as a cross-jurisdictional hierarchy which also gives global perspective to ecosystems. Study Area: All bioregions that include Eucalyptus populnea as a dominant or major component of woodlands across the species known distribution. Methods: We use plot-based data (455 plots) from two states (Queensland and New South Wales) in eastern Australia and quantitative classification methods to assess the definition and description for the Poplar Box Woodland ecosystem type (hereafter "ecological community" or "community") that is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act. Analyses were conducted using kR-CLUSTER methods to generate alliances. Within these alliances, analyses were undertaken to define associations using agglomerative hierarchical clustering and similarity profile testing (SIMPROF). We then explore how assigning this community into the IVC hierarchy may provide a mechanism for linking Australian communities, defined at the association and alliance levels, to international communities at risk. Results: We define three alliances and 23 associations based on the results of floristic analysis. Using the standard rule-set of the IVC system, we found that the IVC hierarchy was a useful instrument in correlating ecological communities across jurisdictional boundaries where different classification systems are used. It is potentially important in giving a broader understanding of communities that may be at risk continentally and globally. Conclusions: We conclude that the IVC hierarchy can incorporate Australian communities at the association level into useful units at higher levels, and provides a useful classification tool for Australian ecosystems.

'Naree' and 'Yantabulla' stations (31,990 ha) are found 60 km south-east of Hungerford and 112 km north-west of Bourke, New South Wales (lat. 29° 55'S; long. 150°37'N). The properties occur on the Cuttaburra Creek within the Mulga Lands Bioregion. We describe the vegetation assemblages found on these properties within three hierarchical levels (Group, Alliance & Association). Vegetation levels are defined based on flexible UPGMA analysis of coverabundance scores of all vascular plant taxa. These vegetation units are mapped based on extensive ground truthing, SPOT5 imagery interpretation and substrate. Three 'Group' level vegetation types are described: Mulga Complex, Shrublands Complex and Floodplain Wetlands Complex. Within these Groups nine 'Alliances' are described: Rat's tail Couch - Lovegrass Grasslands, Canegrass Grasslands, Lignum - Glinus Shrublands, Coolibah - Black Box Woodlands, Turpentine - Button Grass - Windmill Grass Shrublands, Turpentine - Hop Bush - Kerosene Grass shrublands and Mulga Shrublands. Sixteen 'Associations' are described 1) Mulga - Poplar Box Shrubland, 2) Mulga - Poplar Box - Bastard Mulga Shrubland, 3) Turpentine - Hop Bush - Senna Shrubland, 4) Turpentine - Elegant Wattle - Boobialla Shrubland, 5) Turpentine - Hop Bush - Daisy Bush Shrubland, 5) Belah - Rosewood - Turpentine Bush Shrubland, 6) Belah - Rosewood - Turpentine Bush Shrubland, 7) Ironwood - Leopardwood - Supplejack Shrubland, 8) Yapunyah - Black Box - River Cooba Woodland, 9) Coolibah - River Cooba - Yapunyah Woodland, 10) Rat's tail Couch - Lovegrass - Fairy Grass Grassland and Herbfield, 11) Rat's tail Couch - Lovegrass - Purslane Grassland and Herbfield, 12) Darling Pratia - Rat's tail Couch - Spike Rush Herbfield, 13) Canegrass Grassland, 14) Glinus - Groundsel - Lignum Herbfield, 15) Poplar Box - Mulga - Coolibah Woodland and 16) Black Box Woodland. In total 355 vascular plant taxa were found of which 6% were considered exotic in origin. A population of 'Dentella minutissima'; a species listed as threatened (endangered) under the New South Wales 'Threatened Species Conservation Act' 1995 was found. A summary of select structural and habitat attributes within Alliances is also presented.

A survey of the population of the parasitic herb 'Thesium australe' R.Br. (family Santalaceae) in Booroolong Nature Reserve, northwest of Armidale, found it was restricted to an eastern facing lower slope on metasediments, within regenerating grassy woodland of 'Eucalyptus nova-anglica' H.Deane & Maiden (New England Peppermint) and a predominantly 'Themeda triandra' Forssk. (Kangaroo Grass) and 'Sorghum leiocladum' (Hack.) C.E.Hubb. (Native Sorghum) understorey. The population is in two clusters over a total area approximately 260 m long by 40 m wide and was estimated to be about 800 individuals at the time of survey (May 2014). Current threats include a maintenance trail, erosion of creek bank, stray cattle and sheep, rabbits and 'Rubus anglocandicans' A.Newton (Blackberry) invasion. It is recommended that further searches be conducted and that monitoring occur on a regular basis using the permanently marked sites and methodology used in this survey.

Three co-occurring temperate montane non-riparian freshwater wetland communities of the New England Batholith of eastern Australia were chosen to test differences in resource allocation to select functional traits. Each of the wetlands was tested against inferred gradients of nutrient availability, fire and disturbance frequency. Collated functional trait data on 563 native vascular plant taxa known to occur in bogs, fens and lagoons were used against a centrally weighted means redundancy analysis. Traits included life form, plant height, leaf area, fruit size, seed size, mono- or polycarpy, storage organs, fruit type, vegetative spread and geographic range size. Where disturbances were moderate to low in frequency and habitats persistent, tolerance and in-situ permanence traits were favoured. With high nutrient availability and a low disturbance regime polycarpic species with large leaves that allow for larger fruit development were more common. Under low nutrient availability and a moderate disturbance regime, persistence was shifted to a longer lived polycarpic life history that includes woody taxa with increased seed size and a greater diversity of fruit types. In frequently inundated habitats, with shifting windows of available habitats, avoidance was the best strategy. Here persistence shifts to long-lived soil stored diaspores and a monocarpic life history with rapid vegetative growth to capture above ground spatial resource within temporary habitats.