Rainforest was formerly widespread on the Australian continent but underwent large-scale contraction to pockets on the east coast through the Miocene and Quaternary. This contraction was due to increasingly dry and seasonal climatic conditions across the continent, which reached greatest severity during the glacial cycles of the Pleistocene. Extensive areas of exposed, layered rock in the mesic areas of Australia provide similar microclimatic conditions to rainforest, in being cool, moist and largely sheltered from fire. These rock habitats are stable and relatively buffered from short- and long-term climatic changes. Therefore, rock habitats can act as refugia (litho-refugia) for the persistence of rainforest lineages in areas where rainforest is currently, or was historically, marginal or absent. Here we outline a number of examples of rainforest faunal groups, primarily from mid-eastern and northeastern Queensland, that exemplify the importance of rock landscapes in the persistence of rainforest lineages.
Adam, P. 1992. Australian Rainforests. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
,
Australian Rainforests
Archer, M. and Hand, S.J. 2006. The Australian marsupial radiation. Pp 575 - 646 in Evolution and Biogeography of Australian Vertebrates, edited by J.R. Merrick, M. Archer, G.M. Hickey and M.S.Y. Lee. Auscipub Pty Ltd., Sydney.
,
Evolution and Biogeography of Australian Vertebrates
(pg. 575
-646
) Bauer, A.M., Pauwels, O.S.G and Chanome, L. 2002. A new species of cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Thailand The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University 2(2): 19-29
A new species of cave-dwelling Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Thailand
, The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University
, vol. 2
(pg. 19
-29
) Bauer, A.M. 2003. Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 54(25): 463-498
Descriptions of seven new Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) with a key to the species of Myanmar (Burma)
, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences
, vol. 54
(pg. 463
-498
) Couper, P. J., Covacevich, J. A. and Moritz, C. 1993. A review of the leaf-tailed Geckos endemic to eastern Australia: a new genus, four new species, and other new data. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 34(1): 95-124.
A review of the leaf-tailed Geckos endemic to eastern Australia: a new genus, four new species, and other new data
, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
, vol. 34
(pg. 95
-124
) Couper, P.J., Hamley, B. and Hoskin, C.J. 2008a. A new species of Phyllurus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from the Kilkivan district of south-east Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 52(2): 99-107.
A new species of Phyllurus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from the Kilkivan district of south-east Queensland
, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
, vol. 52
(pg. 99
-107
) Couper, P.J., Schneider, C.J. and Covacevich, J.A. 1997. A new species of Saltuarius (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from granite-based, open forests of eastern Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 42(1): 91-96.
A new species of Saltuarius (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from granite-based, open forests of eastern Australia
, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
, vol. 42
(pg. 91
-96
) Couper, P.J., Schneider, C.J., Hoskin, C.J. and Covacevich, J.A. 2000. Australian leaf-tailed geckos: phylogeny, a new genus, two new species and other new data. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 45(2): 253-265.
Australian leaf-tailed geckos: phylogeny, a new genus, two new species and other new data
, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
, vol. 45
(pg. 253
-265
) Couper, P.J., Sadlier, R.A., Shea, G.M and Worthington Wilmer, J. 2008b. A reassessment of Saltuarius swaini (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) in south-eastern Queensland and New South Wales; two new taxa, phylogeny, phylogeography and conservation. Records of the Australian Museum 60 (1).
A reassessment of Saltuarius swaini (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) in south-eastern Queensland and New South Wales; two new taxa, phylogeny, phylogeography and conservation
, Records of the Australian Museum
, vol. 60
Davies, M. and McDonald, K.R. 1998. A new species of frog (Anura: Microhylidae) from Cape Melville, Queensland. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 122(4): 159-165.
A new species of frog (Anura: Microhylidae) from Cape Melville, Queensland
, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia
, vol. 122
(pg. 159
-165
) Donnellan, S.C. and Mahony, M.J. 2004. Allozyme, chromosomal and morphological variability in the Litoria lesueuri species group (Anura: Hylidae) including a description of a new species. Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 1-28.
Allozyme, chromosomal and morphological variability in the Litoria lesueuri species group (Anura: Hylidae) including a description of a new species
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 52
(pg. 1
-28
) Eberhard, S. and Humphreys, W.F. 2003. The crawling, creeping and swimming life of caves. Pp.127-147 in Beneath the Surface: a natural history of Australian caves, edited by B. Finlayson and E. Hamilton-Smith. UNSW Press, Sydney.
,
Beneath the Surface: a natural history of Australian caves
(pg. 127
-147
) Forster, R.R., Platnick, N.I. and Gray, M.R. 1987. A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 185: 1-116.
A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae)
, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History
, vol. 185
(pg. 1
-116
) Greenwood, D. R. and Christophel, D. C. 2005. The origins and Tertiary history of Australian “tropical” rainforests. Pp. 336-373 in Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future, edited by E. Bermingham, C. W. Dick, C. W. and C. Moritz. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
,
Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future
(pg. 336
-373
) Hill, K.D. 2003. The Wollemi Pine, another living fossil? Acta Horticulturae 165: 157-164.
The Wollemi Pine, another living fossil?
, Acta Horticulturae
, vol. 165
(pg. 157
-164
) Hocknull, S.A., Zhao, J., Feng, Y. and Webb, G.E. 2007. Responses of Quaternary rainforest vertebrates to climate change in Australia. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 264: 317-331.
Responses of Quaternary rainforest vertebrates to climate change in Australia
, Earth and Planetary Science Letters
, vol. 264
(pg. 317
-331
) Hoskin, C. J., Couper, P. J. and Schneider, C. J. 2003. A new species of Phyllurus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) and a revised phylogeny and key for the Australian leaf-tailed geckos. Australian Journal of Zoology 51: 153-164.
A new species of Phyllurus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) and a revised phylogeny and key for the Australian leaf-tailed geckos
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 51
(pg. 153
-164
) Hoskin, C. J. 2004. Australian microhylid frogs (Cophixalus and Austrochaperina) phylogeny, taxonomy, calls, distributions and breeding biology. Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 237-269.
Australian microhylid frogs (Cophixalus and Austrochaperina) phylogeny, taxonomy, calls, distributions and breeding biology
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 52
(pg. 237
-269
) Jones, W.G., Hill K.D. and Allen, J.M. 1995. Wollemia nobilis, a new living Australian genus and species in the Araucariaceae. Telopea 6: 173-176.
Wollemia nobilis, a new living Australian genus and species in the Araucariaceae
, Telopea
, vol. 6
(pg. 173
-176
) Kershaw, A.P. 1994. Pleistocene vegetation of the humid tropics of northeastern Queensland, Australia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 109: 399-412.
Pleistocene vegetation of the humid tropics of northeastern Queensland, Australia
, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
, vol. 109
(pg. 399
-412
) Kershaw, P., Moss, P. and Wild, R. 2005. Quaternary climate history of the Australian Wet Tropics. Pp. 374-400 in Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future, edited by E. Bermingham, C. Dick and C. Moritz. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
,
Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future
(pg. 374
-400
) Kerle, J.A. and Winter, J.W. 1995. Rock Ringtail Possum. Pp. 242-243 in The Mammals of Australia, edited by R. Strahan. Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW.
,
The Mammals of Australia
(pg. 242
-243
) Kraus, F. and Allison, A. 2006. A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa 1247: 59-68.
A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea
, Zootaxa
, vol. 1247
(pg. 59
-68
) McDonald, K.R. 1997. A new stream-dwelling Litoria from the Melville Range, Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 42(1): 307-309.
A new stream-dwelling Litoria from the Melville Range, Queensland, Australia
, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
, vol. 42
(pg. 307
-309
) Merrick, J.R., Archer, M., Hickey, G.M. and Lee, M.S.Y. (Eds) 2006. Evolution and biogeography of Australian vertebrates. Auscipub Pty Ltd., Sydney. Frontispiece table.
,
Evolution and biogeography of Australian vertebrates
Moritz, C., Hoskin, C., Graham, C.H., Hugall, A. and Moussalli, A. 2005. Historical biogeography, diversity and conservation of Australia's tropical rainforest herpetofauna. Pp. 243-264 in Phylogeny and conservation, edited by A. Purvis, J.L. Gittleman and T. Brooks. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
,
Phylogeny and conservation
(pg. 243
-264
) Raven, R.J., Stumkat, K. and Gray, M.R. 2001. Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: I. Amauropelma gen. nov. (Araneomorphae: Ctenidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No. 64: 187-227.
Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: I. Amauropelma gen. nov. (Araneomorphae: Ctenidae)
, Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No
, vol. 64
(pg. 187
-227
) Richards, A.M. 1987. Distribution and relationships of the Australian Rhaphidophoridae (Orthoptera): pointers to past climatic changes. Pp. 438-449 in Evolutionary Biology of Orthopteroid insects, edited by B.M. Baccetti. Ellis Horwood Ltd., England.
,
Evolutionary Biology of Orthopteroid insects
(pg. 438
-449
) Roberts, K.K., Archer, M., Hand, S. J. and Godthelp, H. 2007. New Genus and Species of Extinct Miocene Ringtail Possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae). Novitates of the American Museum of Natural History 3560: 1-15
New Genus and Species of Extinct Miocene Ringtail Possums (Marsupialia: Pseudocheiridae)
, Novitates of the American Museum of Natural History
, vol. 3560
(pg. 1
-15
) Rösler, H., Richards, S.J. and Gunther, R. 2007. Remarks on morphology and taxonomyof geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827, occurring east of Wallacea,with descriptions of two new species (Reptilia: Sauna: Gekkonidae). Salamandra 43: 193-230.
Remarks on morphology and taxonomyof geckos of the genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827, occurring east of Wallacea,with descriptions of two new species (Reptilia: Sauna: Gekkonidae)
, Salamandra
, vol. 43
(pg. 193
-230
) Schneider, C.J., Cunningham, M. and Moritz, C. 1998. Comparative phylogeography and the history of endemic vertebrates in the Wet Tropics rainforests of Australia. Molecular Ecology 7: 487-498
Comparative phylogeography and the history of endemic vertebrates in the Wet Tropics rainforests of Australia
, Molecular Ecology
, vol. 7
(pg. 487
-498
) Schneider, C.J. and Williams, S.E. 2005. Effects of Quaternary Climate Change on rainforest diversity: insights from spatial analyses of species and genes in Australia's Wet Tropics. Pp. 401-424 in Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future, edited by E. Bermingham, C. W. Dick, C. W. and C. Moritz. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
,
Tropical Rainforests: Past, Present and Future
Schuster, M.N. 1981. Relict lizards and rainforest refugia in eastern Australia: an eco-historical interpretation. Queensland Geographical Journal 6: 49-56.
Relict lizards and rainforest refugia in eastern Australia: an eco-historical interpretation
, Queensland Geographical Journal
, vol. 6
(pg. 49
-56
) Stanisic, J. 2005. A karst of thousands: land snails of the Chillagoe limestones. Wildlife Australia Magazine 42 (4): 40-41.
A karst of thousands: land snails of the Chillagoe limestones
, Wildlife Australia Magazine
, vol. 42
(pg. 40
-41
) Stanisic, J. 2006. A karst of thousands: land snails of the Chillagoe limestones (part two). Wildlife Australia Magazine 43 (1): 36-37.
A karst of thousands: land snails of the Chillagoe limestones (part two)
, Wildlife Australia Magazine
, vol. 43
(pg. 36
-37
) Stuart-Fox, D.M., Schneider, C.J., Moritz, C. and Couper, P.J. 2001. Comparative phylogeography of three rainforest- restricted lizards from mid-east Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology 49: 119-127.
Comparative phylogeography of three rainforest- restricted lizards from mid-east Queensland
, Australian Journal of Zoology
, vol. 49
(pg. 119
-127
) Truswell, E. 1993. Vegetation changes in the Australian Tertiary in response to climatic and phytogeographic forcing factors. Australian Systematic Botany 6: 533-557.
Vegetation changes in the Australian Tertiary in response to climatic and phytogeographic forcing factors
, Australian Systematic Botany
, vol. 6
(pg. 533
-557
) Webb, L.J. and Tracey, J.G. 1981. Australian rainforests: Patterns and Change. Pp. 605-694 in Ecological biogeography of Australia, edited by J.A. Keast. Dr. W. Junk, The Hague.
Wells, R.W. and Wellington, C.R. 1984. A synopsis of class Reptilia in Australia. - Australian Journal of Herpetology 1(3-4): 73-129.
A synopsis of class Reptilia in Australia
, Australian Journal of Herpetology
, vol. 1
(pg. 73
-129
) Wilson, S. 2005. A field guide to reptiles of Queensland. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
,
A field guide to reptiles of Queensland
Winter, J.W. and Goudberg, N.J. 1995. Green Ringtail Possum. Pp. 244-246 in The Mammals of Australia, edited by R. Strahan. Reed Books, Chatswood, NSW).
,
The Mammals of Australia
(pg. 244
-246
)
This content is only available as a PDF.
