Patterned Mulga near Alice Springs, central Australia, and the potential threat of firewood collection on this vegetation community

Patterned Mulga (Acacia aneura F. Muell.) has been described from the Hamilton Downs pastoral property in central Australia, approximately 50 km north-west of Alice Springs on the Burt Plain. Patterned Mulga in this region was found to consist of intergroves-runoff zones (sources), and groves-runon zones (sinks). These were found to exhibit a clear stepped topography, with concave-upward intergroves-operating on lower gradients-giving way to 'straighter' (not concave-upward) groves-operating on relatively steeper gradients. Alice Springs.. an expanding centre located in central Australia's arid-zone, has no natural gas reticulation system to domestic users and relies heavily on firewood as a fuel source. Both commercial and public firewood collection take place in the Alice Springs district, with native species (mainly Mulga) being harvested for fuel. Evidence suggests that maintaining full ecosystem function is imperative to the survival of patterned Mulga, with disturbance to individual components of this landscape (that act collectively to harness the maximum amount of resources available) possibly leading to ecosystem degradation, and, if severe, landscape dysfunction. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.