Western Australia's natural "biodiversity museum" is at risk

Three-quarters of the biodiversity living on the iconic ironstone mountain range (known as the banded iron rock formation) in Western Australia’s central and western Australia may be difficult or impossible to quickly restore to its previous state after the landscape is mined.

The study, published in Ecology and Evolution, found that the plant ecosystem is well adapted to the characteristics of the area’s ancient and nutrient-deficient soil, and the very different characteristics of the mining landscape mean that many native species are unlikely to pass Recovered and recovered

The lead researcher, Dr.

"Unfortunately, Dr.

"The collection of these species has been accumulated for a long time, and the increasing pressure facing the mining industry is putting biodiversity at risk

"Biodiversity exists just like this, because in times when the climate is getting hotter and drier, their rocky and complex soil provide a cooler and wetter refuge for many species that cannot survive in the surrounding environment

"With climate change, the prospects for the central and western regions in the next few decades will be hotter and drier.

The research team investigated 538 species of plants in an area of ​​82,000 hectares in Western Australia, assessing their growth on different soil types throughout the region, and checking their potential tolerance to the chemical properties of the mined materials

Although many species have adapted to the acidic, nutrient-poor soils of BIF, the research team found that at least some people are tolerant to a variety of soil types and can serve as "pioneers" to help restore vegetation

Dr.

“The mining industry needs to consider the soil characteristics of the landform that needs restoration or ecological restoration, and the impact on the establishment of vegetation and the development of plant communities, at the earliest stage of planning or environmental impact assessment.

Journal Reference :

1. Adam T.