Recruitment and survival in Atriplex vesicaria populations in semi‐arid western New South Wales, 1977–1987

The recruitment and survival of small and large shrubs of Atriplex vesicaria were examined for 21 periods from 1977 to 1987. Recruitment occurred in all seasons, including summer, and survival was independent of the size of the recruitment event. Recruitment was not related to the density of the large shrubs, suggesting that the available seed pool at this site was not limiting. Survival of both shrub components was only weakly correlated with rainfall (measured at a location between 6 and 30 km from the study transects) and with a ratio of rainfall and evaporation. Survival of small shrubs was constant over all cohorts, with half‐lives of only 7–8 months. Turnover of the population was substantial — an average of 60% of the individuals present at any one time were less than 24 months old.