Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators

Understanding trends in assemblage composition of key invertebrate groups can provide important insight into the ‘condition’ of, or changes in, the environment. Species density, abundance and composition of Hemiptera (true bugs) were assessed in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest and a chronoseque...

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Main Authors: Orabi, Gamal, Moir, Melinda, Majer, Jonathan
Format: Journal Article
Published: CSIRO Publishing 2010
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47309
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author Orabi, Gamal
Moir, Melinda
Majer, Jonathan
author_facet Orabi, Gamal
Moir, Melinda
Majer, Jonathan
author_sort Orabi, Gamal
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Understanding trends in assemblage composition of key invertebrate groups can provide important insight into the ‘condition’ of, or changes in, the environment. Species density, abundance and composition of Hemiptera (true bugs) were assessed in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest and a chronosequence of restored bauxite mine pits near Boddington, Western Australia, in order to evaluate how restoration was progressing. A significant difference was uncovered for hemipteran species density between the youngest restored treatment and forest. In contrast, hemipteran composition was distinct between the forest and all restored treatments. Hemipteran composition was associated with the presence of the plant species Conostylis setigera and Trichocline spathulata, and plant structure between 160–180 cm and 260–280, plus soil pH. Restoration was successful in returning Hemiptera with respect to species density, but restoration was yet to attain a similar composition of Hemiptera to that of unmined forest, despite some of the restored sites being almost 20 years old. These results are similar to those of other studies that have assessed the response of Hemiptera to disturbance, and highlight the need to wait for considerable periods in order to achieve restoration goals. This study also confirms the utility of Hemiptera as bioindicators of environmental ‘condition’ and change.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-473092017-09-13T14:14:26Z Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators Orabi, Gamal Moir, Melinda Majer, Jonathan Understanding trends in assemblage composition of key invertebrate groups can provide important insight into the ‘condition’ of, or changes in, the environment. Species density, abundance and composition of Hemiptera (true bugs) were assessed in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest and a chronosequence of restored bauxite mine pits near Boddington, Western Australia, in order to evaluate how restoration was progressing. A significant difference was uncovered for hemipteran species density between the youngest restored treatment and forest. In contrast, hemipteran composition was distinct between the forest and all restored treatments. Hemipteran composition was associated with the presence of the plant species Conostylis setigera and Trichocline spathulata, and plant structure between 160–180 cm and 260–280, plus soil pH. Restoration was successful in returning Hemiptera with respect to species density, but restoration was yet to attain a similar composition of Hemiptera to that of unmined forest, despite some of the restored sites being almost 20 years old. These results are similar to those of other studies that have assessed the response of Hemiptera to disturbance, and highlight the need to wait for considerable periods in order to achieve restoration goals. This study also confirms the utility of Hemiptera as bioindicators of environmental ‘condition’ and change. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47309 10.1071/ZO10033 CSIRO Publishing restricted
spellingShingle Orabi, Gamal
Moir, Melinda
Majer, Jonathan
Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators
title Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators
title_full Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators
title_fullStr Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators
title_short Assessing the success of mine restoration using Hemiptera as indicators
title_sort assessing the success of mine restoration using hemiptera as indicators
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/47309