Floristics and Biogeography of the Granitic Outcrop Flora of the New England Batholith of Eastern Australia

Abstract

This study investigates the distribution of richness and diversity within a continental insular environment and the processes and mechanisms that maintain them. The flora of the granitic outcrops of the New England Batholith of eastern Australia is used as the case study. The study region represents an area that is 400 km in length and 110 km in width. Within the batholith 24 aggregated granitic plutons are investigated. The general aims of the investigation were to reveal the nature of vascular plant biodiversity on the 'archipelagos' of granitic 'islands' (outcrops), and the factors associated with its development and maintenance, and to explore the implications of these findings for conservation of plant biodiversity generally.