Water stress on native vegetation during the drought of 1965

1966 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
EW Pook ◽  
AB Costin ◽  
cWE Moore

During the first half of 1965 an unprecedented drought caused widespread wilting of native trees from southern Queensland to the New South Wales-Victorian border. The reaction of some of the native vegetation in parts of the Australian Capital Territory and Monaro Region has been studied. Rainfall from January 1 to June 30 was less than one-quarter of the normal, and by the end of March signs of water stress were apparent over a wide area. The communities most severely affected were dry sclerophyll forests, especially on shallow, stony soils on northerly and westerly aspects. The ability of Eucalyptus spp. to withstand sustained severe dehydration is shown by the fact that the relative moisture content of living leaves could be reduced to 40-45 %, and maintained at these levels for long periods. The prolonged period of dehydration caused general drying out of the trees, rather than leaf and twig desiccation only. In the most severe cases, shrinkage and fissuring of the bark of E. rossii, with ultimate separation at the cambium, was observed. It is suggested that so-called ineffective summer rain in south-eastern Australia is both effective and essential for the native communities on soils of low water-holding capacity. The role of drought in the distribution of native communities is discussed.

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 2400-2417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederieke J Kroon ◽  
Dean H Ansell

Coastal floodplains provide essential nursery habitat for a large number of fish and prawn species, many of which are commercially and recreationally important. Human activities in coastal floodplains, such as those associated with agriculture and (or) development, can have detrimental impacts on this nursery function. We examined the potential role of flood mitigation structures, in particular tidal floodgates, in depleting estuarine and inshore fisheries stocks in eastern Australia. We compared species assemblages (abundance and biomass) in reference and gated drainage systems in the Clarence River floodplain (New South Wales, Australia) over a 1-year period. We subsequently determined which environmental variables were associated with the observed patterns in species assemblages. Our results show that abundance, biomass, and assemblages of juvenile fishes and invertebrates differed significantly and consistently between drainage systems with and without floodgates. The major environmental variables of concern in systems with floodgates were (i) presence of a floodgate, (ii) elevated concentrations of nutrients, and (iii) abundance of aquatic weeds. We discuss our findings in light of potential strategies to improve coastal floodplain management for fisheries production purposes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren K Martin ◽  
David Eldridge ◽  
Patricia A Murray

Extensive loss and degradation of native vegetation in the agricultural landscape of inland south-eastern Australia has resulted in significant losses in bird diversity and abundance. Native vegetation continues to be lost through the attrition of paddock trees, which constitute a large component of the remaining vegetation. The planting of native trees and shrubs is being undertaken as a means of halting the loss of biodiversity. However, the effectiveness of revegetation activities is still being assessed. A study in the Wagga Wagga area of New South Wales was undertaken to examine the relative value of remnant vegetation, farm plantings, paddock trees, and pasture for bird diversity. Species richness was highest in remnant vegetation, and was similar in planted vegetation and paddock trees. Relative abundance was similar across these three vegetation types. Species composition differed among all vegetation types, with planted and paddock tree sites having predominantly different sub-sets of the bird assemblage characteristic of remnant vegetation. The protection of remnant vegetation is essential for the conservation of the region’s avifauna, but plantings and paddock trees also have important values for birds. However, plantings and paddock trees support different bird assemblages and complement each other. While important in their own right, the current plantings of native vegetation should not be considered as off-setting the continued loss of paddock trees. Retention of the avifauna of the Wagga Wagga area would be assisted if remnant vegetation and paddock trees were protected and integrated with appropriately designed revegetation.


1985 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Pickett ◽  
C. H. Thompson ◽  
R. A. Kelley ◽  
D. Roman

Thirty-nine species of scleractinian corals have been recovered from under a high dune on the western (mainland) side of North Stradbroke Island, eastern Australia. The corals are associated with thin intertidal sediments and their good condition implies burial in situ and preservation in a saturated zone. Most likely this occurred as the coast prograded and a large dune advanced into the littoral zone, burying intertidal sediments and coral. The species assemblage indicates a sheltered environment but one open to the ocean without wide fluctuations in salinity. Three species yielded a mean 230Th/234U age of 105,000 yr B.P. which is significantly younger than the nearest Pleistocene corals at Evans Head, New South Wales. The corals provide evidence of a sea stand near present sea level during isotope Stage 5c, which is considerably higher than previously suggested for this period. Their good condition implies that the overlying parabolic dune is of comparable age and formed during that high stand of sea level. Also, the isotope age provides a maximum period for the development of giant podzols in the podzol chronosequences on coastal dunes in southern Queensland.


1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
LW Braithwaite ◽  
M Maher ◽  
SV Briggs ◽  
BS Parker

Populations of waterfowl of three game species, the Pacific black duck Anus superciliosa, grey teal A. gibberifrons, and maned duck Chenonetta jubata, were assessed by aerial survey in October 1983 within a survey region of 2 697 000 km2 of eastern Australia. The numbers of each species were assessed on all surface waters of over 1 ha, and on a sample of smaller surface waters within 10 survey bands each 30 km wide and spaced at intervals of 2� latitude from 20�30' to 38�30'S. The area within the survey bands was 324 120 km2, which gave a sampling intensity of 12.0% of the land surface area. The area of features shown as wetlands or water impoundments within the survey bands on 1 : 2 500 000 topographic maps was 19 200 km2 or 11.2% of the total area of these features in the survey region. The area of surface waters surveyed was assessed at 465 300 ha. Assessments of populations of each species were tallied for wetlands by grid cells of 6 min of 1� longitude along the survey bands (258-309 km2 depending on latitude). Distributions were then mapped, with log*10 indices of populations in each cell. Distributions of the black duck and grey teal showed a pattern of intense aggregation in limited numbers of cells, that of the maned duck was more evenly distributed. The major concentrations of the Pacific black duck were recorded in northern New South Wales and the south-eastern, western, central eastern and central coastal regions of Queensland; those of the grey teal were in south-western, western and northern New South Wales and central-eastern Queensland; the maned duck was broadly distributed over inland New South Wales with the exception of the far west, inland southern Queensland, and central northern Victoria.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin C. Forster ◽  
Helen Proskurin ◽  
Brian Kelly ◽  
Melanie R. Lovell ◽  
Ralf Ilchef ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:People with a life-limiting physical illness experience high rates of significant psychological and psychiatric morbidity. Nevertheless, psychiatrists often report feeling ill-equipped to respond to the psychiatric needs of this population. Our aim was to explore psychiatry trainees’ views and educational needs regarding the care of patients with a life-limiting physical illness.Method:Using semistructured interviews, participants’ opinions were sought on the role of psychiatrists in the care of patients with a life-limiting illness and their caregivers, the challenges faced within the role, and the educational needs involved in providing care for these patients. Interviews were audiotaped, fully transcribed, and then subjected to thematic analysis.Results:A total of 17 psychiatry trainees were recruited through two large psychiatry training networks in New South Wales, Australia. There were contrasting views on the role of psychiatry in life-limiting illness. Some reported that a humanistic, supportive approach including elements of psychotherapy was helpful, even in the absence of a recognizable mental disorder. Those who reported a more biological and clinical stance (with a reliance on pharmacotherapy) tended to have a nihilistic view of psychiatric intervention in this setting. Trainees generally felt ill-prepared to talk to dying patients and felt there was an educational “famine” in this area of psychiatry. They expressed a desire for more training and thought that increased mentorship and case-based learning, including input from palliative care clinicians, would be most helpful.Significance of Results:Participants generally feel unprepared to care for patients with a life-limiting physical illness and have contrasting views on the role of psychiatry in this setting. Targeted education is required for psychiatry trainees in order to equip them to care for these patients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. L. Sutherland ◽  
I. T. Graham ◽  
R. E. Pogson ◽  
D. Schwarz ◽  
G. B. Webb ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Adam ◽  
Tony Auld ◽  
Doug Benson ◽  
Peter Catling ◽  
Chris Dickman ◽  
...  

Lim (1997) has recently presented a critique of aspects of the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSCA), and in particular of the role of the Scientific Committee established by the Act.


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