Flood variability and spatial variation in plant community composition and structure on a large arid floodplain

Spatial variation in plant community composition and structure in relation to flood frequency was explored on a large hydrologically variable arid floodplain in central Australia. Flooding was found to have an overriding effect on species richness, total cover and cover amongst most major plant groups. At a landscape scale, frequently flooded sites were similar while rarely flooded sites were more divergent from each other, suggesting that local and regional impacts on diversity vary across the flooding gradient. Overall, the results indicate that variable flooding plays an important role in maintaining spatial heterogeneity in plant community composition and structure in this arid floodplain landscape.