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Ecosystem dynamics of disturbed and undisturbed sites in north Queensland wet tropical rain forest. I. Floristic composition, climate and soil chemistry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Robert A. Congdon  and
John L. Herbohn
Robert A. Congdon
Affiliation:
Botany Department, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
John L. Herbohn
Affiliation:
Botany Department, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
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Abstract

This paper introduces studies of nutrient cycling in disturbed and undisturbed rain forest plots in the upper catchment of Birthday Creek, near Paluma, North Queensland. The catchment is underlain by granite and has soils of comparatively low fertility. Differences between unlogged plots and plots disturbed 25 years previously by selective logging are still apparent. Disturbed plots have soils with higher bulk densities and pH, lower CEC, kjeldahl nitrogen and available phosphorus concentrations, and changed species composition. The data suggest that recovery from selective logging is dependent on soil fertility and intensity of disturbance.

Keywords

Australiaclimatedisturbancefloristicsnorth Queenslandselective loggingsoil compactionsoil nutrientstropical rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , August 1993 , pp. 349 - 363
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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