Insect Herbivory in a Eucalyptus maculata Forest on the South Coast of New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Pook ◽  
A. M. Gill ◽  
P. H. R. Moore

In most years between 1977 and 1992, insect defoliation was negligible in a regrowth stand of E. maculata Hook. on the south coast of New South Wales. However, leaf consumption by winter–spring infestations of cup moth larvae accounted for c. 6%, 19% and 4% of the total leaf loss from the canopy in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92, respectively. During the most serious infestation of 1990, cup moth larvae produced 0.56 t ha–1 of frass, equivalent to the consumption of c. 0.8 t ha–1, or c. 0.5 m2 m–2 of eucalypt leaf (c. 12% of winter leaf area index). In early November 1990, shortly after the infestation, an assessment of insect defoliation in the crown of a dominant tree revealed that (i) 47% of the leaf population was damaged, (ii) a larger proportion of older than younger leaves was damaged, (iii) the proportion of damaged leaves increased down the tree-crown profile, and (iv) 13% of the potential leaf area was missing. In the absence of further insect attack, the process of canopy renewal (leaf production and leaf fall) reduced the proportion of damaged leaves to 23% by June 1991.

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Pook ◽  
A. M. Gill ◽  
P. H. R. Moore

Litter fall, canopy leaf area and environmental conditions were monitored in a regrowth stand of Eucalyptus maculata Hook. in Kioloa State Forest on the south coast of New South Wales, from spring 1977 to winter 1992. Litter fall during the first half of the study period was strongly influenced by two of the most serious droughts that had occurred in 100 years. Canopy renewal and, hence, leaf fall and changes of leaf area index (LAI), were also influenced by the flowering phenology of E. maculata. Total annual litter fall (including bark shed from lower boles) averaged 5.7 t ha-1 and ranged from 3.1 up to 7.5 t ha-1. The respective means (plus absolute ranges) of annual leaf, twig and bark fall were 2.8 (1.5–4.2), 0.9 (0.3–1.4) and 1.6 (0.5–3.1) t ha-1. Forest LAI varied between 0.7 and 5 m2 m-2. Leaves comprised 50% of the average annual litter fall; bark shed from lower boles of E. maculata contributed 0.63 t ha-1 to average annual bark fall. Flower buds were produced by a proportion of overstorey trees of E. maculata about every second year. Synchronous production and flowering of buds on all trees was observed only once in 15 years. Less than 15% of flower buds (overall) produced fruit.


2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Keith L. McDougall ◽  
Penelope J. Gullan ◽  
Phil Craven ◽  
Genevieve T. Wright ◽  
Lyn G. Cook

The association of an armoured scale insect (a diaspidid) with dieback of a population of a native cycad (Macrozamia communis L.A.S.Johnson) was investigated on the south coast of New South Wales. The diaspidid was found to be undescribed but morphologically similar to oleander scale – here we call it Aspidiotus cf. nerii. It is probably native to Australasia and its current known distribution is within Murramarang National Park (MNP). Aspidiotus cf. nerii has been abundant on symptomatic M. communis at MNP over at least the past decade and has spread to new parts of the park. In population studies of infested and uninfested areas we found that, although both areas had populations with reverse J curves showing dominance of seedlings, mortality of seedlings and caulescent plants was significantly higher in infested sites. Infested areas had been burnt less frequently than uninfested areas. Fire does not appear to eradicate the diaspidid but may reduce its effects enough for plants to recover. We recommend further research into the use of fire as a management tool. Although other factors may be contributing to the severity of the dieback, we suggest there is sufficient evidence for the diaspidid to be regarded as the primary cause of dieback in M. communis in MNP, regardless of its origin. Given the occurrence of similar diaspidids on cultivated plants in botanic gardens, translocation of threatened Macrozamia species using plants grown in nurseries should be undertaken with extreme caution.


1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Etheridge ◽  
D. M. Ransom ◽  
P. F. Williams ◽  
C. J. L. Wilson

1995 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.A. Neave ◽  
S.M. Davey ◽  
J.J. Russell-Smith ◽  
R.G. Florence

1965 ◽  
Vol 5 (16) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Daday

The performances of Hunter River and introduced varieties of lucerne were tested at Milton (south coast of N.S.W.). There were no significant differences in yield between any variety in spring or summer, but Hairy Peruvian, African, and Indian produced significantly more than Hunter River in winter. These introduced varieties could make a valuable contribution to the dairying industry of the south coast of N.S.W.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry Daly

ABSTRACT Aubrey Elliott (1910–1943), a passionate ‘bird-man’, lived in the suburb of Tapitallee on the south coast of New South Wales until 1940. During that period he and his brother, Arthur kept notes on the birds in the local area and devised a hide that was mounted on a utility that enabled them to take close-up photographs. To augment his observations Elliott interviewed local residents and collated information on the status of the area’s birds. In 1985 I purchased the property next to where Elliott lived and was given access to his notes. This paper presents a comparison of avifauna in the Tapitallee area between 1926–40 and 1985–2020. During that time there have been changes in the distribution and abundance of many birds. Fourteen species have become locally extinct while 28 have colonised/recolonised the area. Combining Aubrey’s and our data a total of 194 species of bird have been recorded in the area. Dams have been constructed and native vegetation has regrown on the steeper slopes. These actions have expanded the habitat for aquatic and forest dependant species but disadvantaged those that occupy grasslands. The Red Fox Vulpes vulpes colonised the area in 1907 and is implicated in the local extinction of the Bush Stone Curlew Burhinus grallarius. Wildfire in January 2020 burnt a relatively small portion of the Tapitallee area but these fires burnt an extensive area of southern NSW and Victoria. These fires were likely to be responsible for the decline in the numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters Caligavis chrysops and White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus migrating north in the autumn of that year.


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