Co-Occurrence of Vulpia Species on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Mcintyre ◽  
RDB Whalley
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Ecological Amplitude ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Site Characteristics

A survey of 100 sites on the northern tablelands, New South Wales (Australia) was conducted to determine the composition of Vulpia populations in ruderal and pasture habitats. Of the four species recorded, two were widespread and common [Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray and V. myuros (L.) Gmel.] and two were rare and newly recorded for the region [V. muralis (Kunth) Nees and V. ciliata (Pers.) Link]. Mixed stands of the two common species occurred at 88% of the sites sampled, although V. bromoides was more abundant with an average frequency of 61% compared with 38% for V. myuros. Two forms of V. myuros were present and these usually occurred in mixed stands, with forma myuros more widespread and abundant than forma megalura [V. megalura (Nutt.) Rydb.]. Relative frequencies were compared for a range of site characteristics: habitat type, parent material, latitude, aspect and altitude. However, variation in abundance of V. bromoides and V. myuros in relation to these factors was insignificant, suggesting that both species have a broad ecological amplitude. Although ecological differentiation between species could not be detected at the scale of this survey, it is likely that such differences may exist at a smaller spatial, or on a temporal scale.

Composition and Classification of Nothofagus moorei Communities in Northern New South Wales

1993 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
CL Bale ◽  
JB Williams
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Geological Factors ◽  
Topographic Gradients ◽  
Landscape Morphology

Nothofagus moorei (F. Muell.) Krasser occurs disjunctly in northern New South Wales from the Barrington Tops area to just beyond the New South Wales–Queensland Border. The main centres of occurrence are areas within the Barrington Tops–Gloucester Tops, the Upper Hastings, the escarpment of the Ebor–Dorrigo Plateau, and the Border Ranges–Lamington Plateau (McPherson Range). Minor but significant stands of N. moorei occur on the Comboyne Plateau, the East Dorrigo area, and in the western McPherson Range. Throughout this range, site characteristics vary considerably, both in landscape morphology and in parent material type. The altitudinal range of N. moorei is 1000 m. Such site variability makes the disjunctness of N. moorei more problematic. The floristic composition of these communities was investigated at 60 sites scattered throughout the geographic range. More than 400 species of vascular plants were found to occur with N. moorei, including at least 50 species of climbers and more than 40 species of epiphytes and lithophytes. Around half of this floristic richness may be attributable to mixed assemblages of cool temperate and cool subtropical species, particularly at low altitude sites and rather fertile mid altitude sites. Nevertheless, it is clear there is a distinctive temperate floristic group which characterises the principal domains of N. moorei. Floristic analyses based on ordination techniques produced site clusters which at a coarse level matched the disjunct geographic domains of N. moorei. Locally, topographic gradients, geological factors, and site histories contribute to floristic dissimilarities. There is little evidence of widespread species assemblages of high fidelity. Nevertheless, some species co-occur commonly enough to offer some support to intuitive floristic classifications.

Breeding habitat, nest-site characteristics and productivity of the little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) near Armidale, New South Wales

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 258
Author(s):  
Candice Larkin ◽  
Ross Jenkins ◽  
Paul G. McDonald ◽  
Stephen J. S. Debus
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Private Land ◽  
Foraging Habitat ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Occupied Territory ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Woodland Regeneration

We aimed to elucidate nesting requirements and nest success of the threatened little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides). Nest sites (n=12 active and 2–5 recent historical nests) near Armidale, New South Wales, were measured in 2017 at three scales: the nest tree, the nest woodland (≤25m from the nest tree), and (using GIS) the landscape scale (within 200-m and 2-km radii of the nest). The eagles typically nested ≥14m above ground in the canopy of emergent (>20m tall) living eucalypts in sheltered positions (midslope, with a north-easterly to southerly aspect), in woodland patches >5ha (mean 76ha), <200m (mean 78m) from the woodland edge, though ≥11m (mean 190m) from an agricultural edge, ≥38m (mean 485m) from the nearest rural dwelling, >1km from suburbia, and farther from sealed roads (mean 832m) than gravel roads (mean 490m) than minor tracks (mean 291m). Breeding productivity in 2017–18 (n=15 and 18 territories, respectively) was 0.91 young fledged per attempt (clutch laid) and 0.67 young fledged per occupied territory per year. Nest sites were used annually for at least 3–7 years. Nest abandonments or site shifts were associated with human disturbance (e.g. clearing, earthmoving, subdivision and construction in or beside the nest patch), death of the nest tree or nest stand (‘eucalypt dieback’ or rural tree decline), pindone baiting for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and displacement by wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax) and ravens (Corvus sp.). As most little eagle nests were located on private land, we recommend, inter alia, greater protection of breeding habitat, nest sites and foraging habitat, woodland regeneration (especially riparian), and a buffer around established nests of ≥1km from major developments such as urbanisation.

The herpetofauna of Kioloa, New South Wales: baseline observational data collected 30 years ago and inspired by R. E. Barwick

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Henle ◽  
Will Osborne ◽  
Frank Lemckert
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Field Station ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Anthropogenic Habitat ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Frog Species

There is increasing concern about the global decline of amphibians and reptiles. One problem with documenting declines and identifying underlying causes is the absence of historical data to compare to current data. Here we provide historic data for Kioloa on the south-eastern coast of New South Wales. In this region considerable clearing of natural forest and woodland and creation of farmland ponds took place during the second half of the 20th century. The Australian National University has a field station at Kioloa and R.E. Barwick introduced us to the field station and what was known of the herpetofauna in the mid-1980s. We undertook detailed observational surveys of the herpetofauna at this time and we revisited the area at other times, focusing on the coastal habitats. We found 13 species of frogs and 11 species of reptiles. Three further frog species and one reptile species known to occur in the area in the 1980s were not detected by us. More recently, one further frog species and six reptile species were added to the list, raising the total to 17 frog and 18 reptile species. The number and composition was similar to other locations of coastal New South Wales, except for some of the rarely encountered species. No strictly forest-dependent species were observed in the partially cleared survey area and such species presumably had already disappeared from these areas already before we commenced our observations. The frog Pseudophryne bibronii was still common in tall open-forest but was uncommon in partially cleared areas. Six species of frogs and one species of reptile presumably benefited from the anthropogenic habitat modifications. No declines of common species of reptiles occurred between the mid-1980s and 1993 but all species of frogs were very rare in 1993 due to very dry conditions. Litoria aurea, a threatened species of frog that was widespread in the mid-1980s, survives (2012) only at one site in the area.

Diel and tidal abundance of fish larvae in a barrier-estuary channel in New South Wales

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Trnski
Keyword(s):  
Larval Fish ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Common Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Marine Source ◽  
Nursery Habitats ◽  
Current Flows ◽  
June July

In four 24-h series of ichthyoplankton sampling during winter (June–July) 1996 in Swansea Channel (which connects Lake Macquarie with coastal waters of central New South Wales, Australia) 3367 fish larvae representing at least 77 species were collected. The larval fish community clustered by sampling date and by diel phase. Diel phase had a stronger influence on abundance of more common taxa than did tide phase, and also most influence on community structure. For most taxa there was no difference in abundance between flood and ebb tides, regardless of the estuarine or marine source of the eggs and larvae. All but two of 16 common species were present in Swansea Channel throughout their entire larval stage. The sparids Acanthopagrus australis and Rhabdosargus sarbawere present in the channel only at settlement-competent sizes. These two species showed evidence of selective presence in the channel during a particular diel or tidal phase, with A. australis apparently preferring night-flood tides, which would aid migration to the estuarine nursery habitats in Lake Macquarie. The ability or inclination to escape the strong bi-directional flows in channels seems limited to only a few taxa that appear to respond to physical cues and tidal current flows.

Breeding-habitat and nest-site characteristics of Scarlet Robins and Eastern Yellow Robins near Armidale, New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. S. Debus
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Fledgling Survival ◽  
Lower Slope ◽  
Selection Of

I studied the selection of breeding habitat and nest microhabitat in Scarlet Robins Petroica multicolor and Eastern Yellow Robins Eopsaltria australis, in remnant woodland on the New England Tablelands of New South Wales in 2000?2002. Yellow Robins used breeding territories (n = 10) with significantly higher densities of rough-barked saplings, acacias and other (non-Acacia) shrubs than Scarlet Robin breeding territories (n = 10) and plots lacking Yellow Robins (n = 7). Yellow Robins nested mostly in gully and lower-slope positions, with a southerly aspect, >40 m from the woodland edge, whereas Scarlet Robins nested mostly on upper slopes and ridges, with no preferred minimum distance from the woodland edge. Most Yellow Robin nests (86% of 58) had overhead foliage within 1 m, shielding them from above, whereas over half (58% of 54) of Scarlet Robin nests were in unconcealed positions. Yellow Robin nests had significantly greater density of cover, and the surrounding habitat was more complex, than for Scarlet Robin nests, in 0.13-ha plots centred on the nest. Breeding success and fledgling survival in the Yellow Robin were positively related to the density of acacias, non-Acacia shrubs and rough-barked saplings (but not gum saplings) in breeding territories. Fledging success and juvenile survival in the Yellow Robin were also positively related to habitat complexity around nest-sites (but not distance to nearest cover, or items of cover within 20 m). Scarlet Robins had exposed nests and suffered high nest predation, with too few successful nests for comparison with unsuccessful nests. Habitat conservation for the Yellow Robin should address the complexity of the ground, shrub and sapling layer in woodland remnants; that for the Scarlet Robin may need to address foraging substrate and ecologically based control of nest predators.

Wheat crop surveys in southern New South Wales. 4. The response by grain yield and other wheat attributes to weeds

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Taylor ◽  
WJ Lill
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Nitrogen Yield ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Annual Grasses

Regular hand-weeding was undertaken in experiments located in 167 wheat crops in southern New South Wales from 1967 to 1970 to quantify the effect of weeds on 10 wheat attributes at flowering or maturity. Short annual grasses, skeleton weed, wild oats and annual legumes were the most widespread weeds, all of which tended to occur in mixed stands. At wheat flowering, over all sites, wheat DM, nitrogen concentration, nitrogen uptake, phosphorus uptake and number of ears were increased (P< 0.05) by 11.2, 3.3, 14.4, 13.6 and 7.8%, respectively by weeding; wheat phosphorus concentrations did not respond to weeding. At maturity, grain yield and nitrogen yield increased after weeding (P< 0.05) by 17.3 and 1 7.0%, respectively, but grain protein and kernel weight did not respond to weeding. Regression procedures were used to relate wheat responses to total weed DM and the DM of 8 weed classes. At flowering, for every 100 g of DM removed, wheat DM, nitrogen uptake, phosphorus uptake and ear number increased by 52.3 g m-2, 958 mg m-2, 92.6 mg m-2and 18.7 m-2, respectively. At maturity, grain yield and grain nitrogen yield increased by 31.9 g m-2 and 665 mg m-2, respectively, for every 100g m-2 of weed DM present at flowering. The regressions also showed that, at both flowering and maturity, fumitory, annual grasses and sundry weeds (a group made up of weeds not sufficiently widespread to consider separately) appeared to be the most aggressive weeds. Consideration of standardised responses of the wheat attributes increased by weeding showed that they all responded similarly when corrected for scale of measurement.

Digital mapping of pre-European soil carbon stocks and decline since clearing over New South Wales, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Gray ◽  
Thomas F. A. Bishop ◽  
Peter L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Piecewise Linear ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Carbon Accounting ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Over The Top

Digital soil models and maps have been developed for pre-European (pre-clearing) levels of soil organic carbon (SOC) over New South Wales, Australia. These provide a useful first estimate of natural, unaltered soil conditions before agricultural development, which are potentially important for many carbon-accounting schemes such as those prescribed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon-turnover models such as RothC, and soil-condition monitoring programs. The modelling approach adopted included multiple linear regression and Cubist piecewise linear decision trees. It used 1690 soil profiles from undisturbed or only lightly disturbed native vegetation sites across all of eastern Australia, together with a range of covariates representing key soil-forming factors. The digital soil maps of pre-clearing SOC (% and mass) over New South Wales provide a more sophisticated alternative to currently available, equivalent maps. Independent validation of the SOC mass predictions over the top 30 cm revealed a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.76, which was 13% higher than the currently used map. Total pre-clearing SOC stocks amount to 4.21 Gt in the top 30 cm, which compared with a current stock estimate of 3.68 Gt, suggesting a total SOC loss of ~0.53 Gt over the entire state. The extent of SOC decline in both absolute and relative terms was found to be highly dependent on the climate, parent material and land use regime, reaching a maximum decline of 44.3 t/ha or 50.0% relative loss in cooler (moist) conditions over mafic parent materials under regular cropping use. The models also provide valuable pedological insights into the factors controlling SOC levels under natural conditions.

A survey of the regeneration of some problem shrubs and trees after wildfire in western New South Wales.

1979 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Natural Fires ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Survival ◽  
Cypress Pine

The regeneration of several shrub and tree species in western New South Wales was recorded after widespread natural fires in the summer of 1974175. At 25 locations, plots were established in the wake of the fires and observations were recorded of the rue damage, the regrowth of the plants and post-fire seedling establishment. Interest was centred on species regarded as woody weeds. Fourteen months after the fires, the average survival of seven of the most common species was: Callitris columellaris (white cypress pine) 275, Acac~a aneura (mulga) 16%, Dodonaea attenuafa (narrow-leaved hopbush) 26%, Cassia eremophila var. platvpoda (punty) 48%, Acacia homalophylla (yarran) 87%, Eremophila mitchell~i (budda) 88% and Eremophila sturtii (turpentine) 87%. These results are for plants whose leaves were totally scorched or burnt. For Dodonaea attenuafa and Cassia eremophila there was a large difference in recovery between locations, a difference which was not explicable in term of fire intensity or shrub size. Post-fue seedling establishment occurred with these two shrubs, particularly with D. attenuata, which had high seedling numbers on eight of the eleven locations.

Selenium concentration in the blood of ruminants grazing in Northern New South Wales. 2. Relationship with geological, pedological and other variables

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands ◽  
JE Bowles ◽  
AJ Smith ◽  
GE Donald
Keyword(s):  
Soil Type ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Low Concentrations

Selenium concentrations in blood from cattle from 794 farms in northern New South Wales were classified on the basis of underlying parent material, soil type, altitude and rainfall. Blood selenium concentrations declined from west to east, and with increasing rainfall and altitude; low concentrations were particularly evident on both acid and basic igneous rocks. There were significant differences between basalts in different locations and between particular plutonic bodies. Cattle grazing on soils with contrasting and gradational profiles generally had lower selenium concentrations than those grazing on soils with uniform profiles. Podzolic soils and chocolate-prairie and kraznozem-chocolate soil associations were present in areas with low blood selenium concentrations.

Assessing the Impacts of Logging on Reptiles and Frogs in the Montane Forests of Southern New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Goldingay ◽  
G Daly ◽  
F Lemckert
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Regional Survey ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
The Impact

This study describes an assessment of the medium-term effects of selection logging on the reptiles and frogs in the montane forests near Queanbeyan, New South Wales. A total of 15 reptile and two frog species was detected across 20 fixed-area plots that were selected according to broad forest type and logging history. Reptile species richness was not significantly different among the different habitat treatments. Total reptile abundance was significantly higher on logged plots, but was not influenced by forest moisture type. Individual analyses for five lizard species (accounting for 84% of all data) showed that several species (Eulamprus tympanum, E. heatwolei and Pseudemoia spenceri) had significantly greater abundances on the logged plots than on the unlogged plots, while two species (Nannoscincus maccoyi and Niveoscincus coventryi) did not differ significantly in their abundances across treatments. Thus, none of these species (which included arboreal, terrestrial and fossorial species) appeared to be adversely affected by past logging practices. Insufficient data on frogs were obtained for analysis. An additional 26 species (13 reptile and 13 frog species) were recorded during a regional survey involving 57 sites. Only two frog species were detected at more than 10 sites, illustrating the difficulty in obtaining data to determine whether logging has any impact on frog populations. Snakes are similarly difficult to assess: 13 snakes from six species were detected in this study. It is concluded that (i) the most abundant reptile species were not adversely affected by past logging, and (ii) many species of herpetofauna were patchy in their distribution across the study area, preventing resolution of the influence of habitat type or disturbance. The difficulty in collecting quantitative data on frogs and snakes confirms the importance of surveys that target endangered frog and snake species so that protective buffer zones can be delineated. Further research is required on these groups to assess the impact of forest management practices.

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