Luly, J.G., and Grindrod, J.F. (2005) Tropical peatlands of northern Australia. In: Steiner, G.M., (ed.) Moore von Sibieien bis Feuerland. Stapfia (85). Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum, Linz, Austria, pp. 417-419.

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Abstract

[Extract] The tropics of northern Australia, that is, areas north of the Tropic of Capricorn, are a climatically complex region dominated by summer rain deriving from monsoon related synoptic systems. Despite what might be expected, most of the area is arid; a substantial proportion is strongly seasonal (wet-dry) and only a small portion, principally those places geographically disposed to intercepting orographic rains brought by the southeast trades, can be considered perennially wet. Temperatures in most areas are high but outside the wet tropics, productivity of plant communities is restricted by seasonal drought and low nutrient soils, with high organic decomposition rates. Tropical Australia is, therefore, hardly an ideal setting for the development of peat dominated landscapes.Nonetheless, where conditions are right, peat accumulates and provides locally important windows into palaeoenvironments of the region. Many tropical peatlands in Australia are threatened by drainage works, reductions in groundwater pressure consequent on over-exploitation of artesian water supplies, increased rates of soil erosionand the exploitation of peat for commercial purposes. Their long term future in a "greenhouse" world is uncertain at best.

Item ID:	29082
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Other)
ISBN:	9783854741466
ISSN:	0252-192X
Additional Information:	Book title (English): Mires from Siberia to Tierra del Fuego
Date Deposited:	12 Sep 2013 00:34
FoR Codes:	04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience > 040607 Surface Processes @ 33% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0503 Soil Sciences > 050399 Soil Sciences not elsewhere classified @ 33% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060299 Ecology not elsewhere classified @ 34%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960810 Mountain and High Country Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9609 Land and Water Management > 960999 Land and Water Management of Environments not elsewhere classified @ 50%
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