An ecological perspective on biodiversity investigations: Examples from Australian eucalypt forests

Australia is a large continent with a relatively small population, and government agencies and research institutions are devoting considerable resources to the development of nerv approaches anti tools For conserving and managing Australia's biodiversity. Issues of data duality, choice of analysis method, ecological theory, anti GIS (geographic information system) use are discussed using examples from recent Australian studies with emphasis on the scientific components. The problem of data quality is examined in terms of a suitable minimum data set and the need for a survey design for representative sampling using results from a survey of 24,000 km(2) in northeastern New South Wales. Examples of analytical tools for modeling species distribution, e.g., generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized additive models (GAM). are presented using data from a database of 9537 plots and 273 tree species for an area of 40,000 knit in southeastern New South Wales. The necessity for ecological theory, in particular continuum theory as opposed to community concepts, is examined in the contest of these results. The interface between ecological and evolutionary theory is discussed drawing on the results of statistical modeling (GLM) of species richness patterns of Eucalyptus subgenera in the same area. The predictive use of GIS in mapping; vegetation. using statistical modeling (GAM) and multivariate classification techniques. is demonstrated with an application to a comprehensive regional assessment (CRA) process for establishing a regional conservation plan. These methods and analytical tools have been collated into a package, BioRap, which also includes methods for the selection of priority areas fdr conservation. Rapid progress is being made in developing new tools. IIowever, theory for ecological. statistical, environmental, and evolutionary processes is urgently needed to ensure effective use of these emerging tools for investigating and managing biodiversity.