Factors influencing the loss of an endangered ecosystem in an urbanising landscape: a case study of native grasslands from Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the decline and destruction of native grasslands in Australian cities has intensified. In Melbourne, large remnants of this endangered vegetation type have been subdivided and destroyed by urban development while linear reserves are being degraded by changes to management practices. To analyse fragmentation patterns we developed a temporal dataset spanning the period 1985-2000 that recorded the extent and distribution of native grassland patches in western Melbourne. Of the 7230 ha of native grassland present in 1985, 1670 ha (23%) were destroyed by development and 1469 ha (21%) were degraded to non-native grassland by 2000. There were fewer patches and greater dis..