scholarly journals Arthropods in coarse woody debris in jarrah forest and rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Koch ◽  
Andrew H. Grigg ◽  
Ross K. Gordon ◽  
Jonathan D. Majer
2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley Christie ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Vicki L. Stokes ◽  
Richard J. Hobbs

Context The value of animal reintroduction as a conservation tool is debated. This is largely because the limited quantity of research that has been conducted on animal reintroductions has shown varying degrees of success in establishing new populations. The reasons why some reintroductions are successful, whereas others are not, are often not clear. Aims The present research aims to determine whether reptile reintroduction into restored mine pits is a potential management technique for managing and conserving reptile populations within a mined landscape. Methods Twelve Napoleon’s skinks were trapped then fitted with 0.9-g transmitters. Half were reintroduced into 5-year-old restored mine pits and the other half into unmined forest. Bodyweights, movement patterns and macro-habitat selection were recorded weekly during November and then monthly until March. Key results Skinks reintroduced into restored sites quickly moved into unmined forest. Both groups of skinks moved large distances, but those reintroduced into restored sites travelled further than did control skinks and took longer to reduce their distances travelled, showing possible stress as a result of release into unsuitable habitat. Eventually, almost all skinks found suitable habitat in unmined forest and settled into these areas while continuing to gain weight. Conclusions Reintroduction was an ineffective technique for facilitating colonisation of restored minesites by Napoleon’s skink. Lack of suitable micro-habitats within restoration areas, such as ground logs and coarse, woody debris piles, is likely limiting the use of these areas by Napoleon’s skinks and is likely to be the cause of their failure to remain or settle in restored sites after reintroduction. Implications Determining the habitat requirements of skinks and replicating this in restoration sites would seem the more appropriate management option than is reintroduction, and this may be the case for other reptiles and habitat specialists.


2008 ◽  
Vol 255 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Glen ◽  
N.L. Bougher ◽  
I.J. Colquhoun ◽  
S. Vlahos ◽  
W.A. Loneragan ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl D. Grant ◽  
John Koch

Twenty-three orchid species were recorded in Alcoa's permanent vegetation-monitoring plots in unmined and rehabilitated jarrah forest. Of these, 22 were identified in the unmined jarrah forest and 20 were recorded in rehabilitated areas of between 1 and 31 years old. Three species (Cyrtostylis ovata, Lyperanthus serratus and Prasophyllum elatum) were only recorded in the unmined forest and one species was only recorded in rehabilitated areas (Diuris carinata). The overall density of native orchids in the forest was 13 755 plants ha–1, 10 times greater than the density in rehabilitated areas (1381 plants ha–1). The most abundant species in the forest were Cyrtostylis robusta, Caladenia flava, Pterostylis nana and Thelymitra crinita, all with densities greater than 1000 plants ha–1. The most abundant species in the rehabilitated areas were Microtis media, Disa bracteata (an introduced species), Caladenia flava, Pterostylis nana, Diuris longifolia and Pterostylis vittata, all with densities greater than 60 plants ha–1. In rehabilitation older than 10 years, the density of orchids increased to 2685 plants ha–1. Burning in rehabilitated areas resulted in large increases in orchid densities. It is believed that orchid colonisation of rehabilitated bauxite mines is dependent on symbiotic mycorrhiza, which are in turn dependent on development of an organic litter component in the soil.


2014 ◽  
Vol 318 ◽  
pp. 142-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Andrew H. Grigg ◽  
Richard J. Hobbs ◽  
Giles E. St. J. Hardy

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