Phenetic variation in the Eucalyptus gunnii-archeri complex

Abstract

A detailed study of phonetic variation in the Eucalyptus gunnii-archeri complex clearly indicates continuous variation between the taxa E. archeri Maiden and Blakely and E. gunnii Hook f. The complex comprises a multidimensional clinally varying series of highly differentiated populations. In part, population differentiation appears to result from the interaction of multicharacter clines paralleling at least two independent habit gradients. These gradients are associated with, firstly, variation in exposure to the alpine environment and, secondly, the transition in the sub-alpine region from the open woodland, ‘frost-hollow’ habitat to the mixed eucalypt/rainforest habitat. This multidimensional continuum is summarized by classification of populations into five main phonetic groups which are more or less geographically and ecologically defined and correspond well with the perception of the taxa in the literature.