Tropical Wet Sclerophyll Forest and Bird Diversity in North-east Queensland, Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Chapman ◽  
Christopher P. Kofron
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Bird Diversity ◽  
North East ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Genus Eucalyptus

Wet sclerophyll forest (also called tall open forest) is unique to Australia, being dominated by tall trees of the genus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). In this paper, we refer to the wet sclerophyll forest in north-east Queensland as tropical wet sclerophyll forest. Tropical wet sclerophyll forest is a threatened ecosystem which is maintained by fire. Our study describes the community, relative abundance and trophic structure of birds using the tropical wet sclerophyll forest. We surveyed the birds and recorded 100 taxa, of which = 29% (n = 29) are endemic to north-east Queensland. The community is comprised predominantly of insect-eaters (58% of the species) and nectar-feeders (26%), along with smaller guilds of fruit-eaters (11%) and seed-eaters (5%). Despite comprising only a small geographic area (82 800 ha), tropical wet sclerophyll forest supports a high diversity of birds. We believe it is essential that the tropical wet sclerophyll forest be conserved and managed to maintain the full range of its biodiversity. Because the tropical wet sclerophyll forest is fire-adapted and fire-dependent, the use of prescribed fire as a modern management tool is imperative. Unless fire has a central role in managing tropical wet sclerophyll forest, then this forest type and its dependent species will cease to exist.

Dynamics in maturing Scots pine monoculture in north-east Belgium

1990 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Maddelein ◽  
N. Lust ◽  
S. Meyen ◽  
B. Muys
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Red Oak ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Deschampsia Flexuosa ◽  
North East ◽  
Stand Conversion ◽  
Pine Stands

The  State Forest Pijnven, created early this century by afforestation with Scots  pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) of  heathland areas is now characterised in most stands by an important ingrowth  of deciduous tree species. Ingrowth is dominated by red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), both  species originating from North America.  Deciduous ingrowth in the pine stands profoundly influences herbal  composition of the stand. Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin., abundant in all older pine stands, disappears when  deciduous trees settle and species diversity, already low in the pine stands,  further diminishes. Important oak and cherry regeneration is depending on the  presence of seed trees in the vicinity; when lacking, a new pine generation  manages to settle. A good red oak regeneration can be useful as a basis for  stand conversion towards a mixed, uneven-aged deciduous forest type, but in  many cases this possibility is hampered by massive invasion of black cherry,  preventing all other species to regenerate.

scholarly journals Malnutrition and morbidity trends in Somalia between 2007 and 2016: results from 291 cross-sectional surveys

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e033148
Author(s):  
Rocio Martin-Canavate ◽  
Estefania Custodio ◽  
Abukar Yusuf ◽  
Daniel Molla ◽  
Dominique Fasbender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Internally Displaced ◽  
North East ◽  
Continuous Complex ◽  
Morbidity Trends ◽  
Livelihood System

BackgroundMore than two decades of conflict and natural disasters in Somalia have resulted in one of the longest running humanitarian crises in the world. Nutrition data have been collected over the years despite challenges to inform programmatic action. This paper explores malnutrition and morbidity trends in Somalia during the last decade, disaggregated by geographical zone and livelihood system.MethodsWe used data from 291 cross-sectional surveys conducted in children aged 6–59 months between 2007 and 2016 in Somalia. Wasting, morbidity and stunting prevalences over time were analysed by geographic area, livelihood system and season. Logistic regressions were used to test trends.ResultsThe wasting trends show a striking peak in 2011, more marked in southern and central Somalia and coinciding with the famine declaration. The trend declines slightly thereafter although not consistently across all zones and livelihoods, and it raises again in 2016 especially among internally displaced persons (IDPs). Stunting declined for all groups and in all zones but with more consistent patterns in northern Somalia.Morbidity also showed a declining trend, although with multiple peaks depicting disease outbreaks.Pastoralist showed the lowest stunting estimates overall, while agrarian populations showed the lowest prevalence of wasting and morbidity. IDPs were the most affected by all outcomes. Seasonality affected the three outcomes differently by livelihood system. Stunting rates increased after the 2011 famine for all age groups within children under 5 years.ConclusionsDespite the continuous complex situation in Somalia, there has been a sustained decline in stunting and morbidity in the last decade. Wasting trends have remained at very high levels especially in north-east and the south zones of Somalia. The findings support the importance of performing trend analyses disaggregated by zone and livelihood groups within countries to better identify priorities for programme intervention.

Organic C and nutrients in surface soils from some primary rainforests, derived grasslands and secondary rainforests on the Atherton Tableland in North East Queensland

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Maggs ◽  
B Hewett
Keyword(s):  
Metamorphic Rock ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Organic C ◽  
North East ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Labile N

Some long term effects of (a) converting rainforest to grassland, and (b) rainforest regeneration on cleared land were investigated by comparing chemical properties of mineral soil (0-10 cm depth) from beneath primary rainforest, derived grassland and old secondary rainforest. Grasslands and secondary rainforest. were on land cleared at least 50 years ago. The study was undertaken on the Atherton Tableland in north east Queensland using soils formed on basalt, granite and metamorphic rocks. Organic C, kjeldahl N and labile N were 15-50% lower (P < 0.05) beneath grassland than primary rainforest for all soils, and were higher beneath secondary rainforest than grassland. Exchangeable Ca varied in a similar way in basaltic soils but did not differ between vegetation types in the other soils. Extractable Al was lower under grassland than either forest type for soils formed on granite and metamorphic rock. Total and organic P concentrations did not differ between primary forest and grassland, but were lowest under secondary rainforest for soils on metamorphic rock.

Habitat and fig characteristics influence the bird assemblage and network properties of fig trees from Xishuangbanna, South-West China

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sawat Sanitjan ◽  
Jin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Frugivorous Birds ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Canopy Volume ◽  
Frugivorous Bird ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Fig Trees ◽  
Individual Trees

Abstract:To understand how fruit tree characteristics and microhabitats shape the assemblage of birds on fig trees and the pattern of fig–bird interactions, we observed and recorded, over 96 d and 816 h, the frugivorous birds visiting 32 individual trees belonging to 14 species of Ficus that were distributed across four different sites. A total of 30 bird species were recorded as eating figs, comprising 66.7% of the total number of frugivorous bird species recorded at the four sites. Small passerine birds such as bulbuls were the dominant frugivores for fig species. The number of bird species visiting different fig trees was significantly influenced by the crop size and canopy volume. Fruit colour and fruit size did not significantly influence the number of bird species, whereas habitats appeared to influence the composition of visiting birds. The fig–frugivorous bird interaction was asymmetrically structured, and the degree of nestedness appeared to be influenced by the forest type and degree of disturbance: the degree of nestedness in non-limestone forest tended to be higher than limestone forest; forest with less disturbance tend to be more nested compared with the open forest with high disturbance.

scholarly journals Estimating Fuel Consumption for the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott L. Goodrick ◽  
Dan Shea ◽  
John Blake
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Continued Use

Abstract Recent changes in air quality regulations present a potential obstacle to continued use of prescribed fire as a land management tool. Lowering of the acceptable daily concentration of particulate matter from 65 to 35 μg/m3 will bring much closer scrutiny of prescribed burning practices from the air quality community. To work within this narrow window, land managers need simple tools to allow them to estimate their potential emissions and examine trade-offs between continued use of prescribed fire and other means of fuels management. A critical part of the emissions estimation process is determining the amount of fuel consumed during the burn. This study combines results from a number of studies along the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina to arrive at a simple means of estimating total fuel consumption on prescribed fires. The result is a simple linear relationship that determines the total fuel consumed as a function of the product of the preburn fuel load and the burning index of the National Fire Danger Rating System.

NEETs: a case study in addressing the issues relating to disengaged youth in East Cleveland

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
David William Stoten
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
North East ◽  
Executive Agencies ◽  
Support Programmes ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the challenges and approaches taken to address the issue of NEETs in North East England. The area around Redcar in East Cleveland has high levels of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. This paper compared actions taken in England in the support offered to disaffected youth and reports on the strategy pursued in East Cleveland. Design/methodology/approach – The research was primarily desk-based, interrogating Government publications as well as that generated by executive agencies and local educational institutions. A number of key figures were surveyed in addition to obtain a grounded insight into the challenges that confront those who work in this area. Findings – This study identified areas of good practice that could be considered elsewhere. Its conclusions emphasise that solutions to the NEETs problem are to be found in bespoke and individually focused programmes that value the contribution of young people to society and aim to build their self-esteem and confidence. It also highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation and joined up strategic planning. Research limitations/implications – This study would have benefited from the opportunity to survey the views of young people involved in support programmes. Given issues of confidentiality, this was not possible. Originality/value – This study adds to the literature generated by Government bodies and educational institutions on the issue of disaffected youth. Its value lies in its reference to a specific geographic area and its insight into the work of local professionals in tackling this complex social issue.

scholarly journals Changes in small mammal assemblage structure across a rain forest/open forest ecotone

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN E. WILLIAMS ◽  
HELENE MARSH
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Large Change ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
World Heritage Area ◽  
Forest Ecotone

The effect of the change in vegetation structure from closed rain forest to tall open forest on the small mammal assemblage was studied by live trapping at three sites where the ecotone was very narrow (> 20 m) near the southern end of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of Australia. Habitat heterogeneity was significantly higher in the mixed open forest/ecotone area than in the adjacent rain forest. There was a large change in the struture of the small mammal assemblage coincident with the vegetation discontinuity. Although the species richness of small mammals was relatively constant across the gradient, the evenness and diversity of the assemblage declined across the transition from open forest into rain forest and biomass increased, largely due to the high abundance of Rattus fuscipes in the rain forest. The results suggest that the species richness of the small mammal assemblage was not determined by the spatial heterogeneity of the vegetation struture. The species composition of the rain forest is probably related to the historical biogeography of the area whereas the species richness of the wet sclerophyll forest is probably due to a mass-area effect from the adjcant large areas of rain forest and dry sclerophyll forest. However, the evenness, and therefore the diversity of the assemblage, was strongly affected by habitat heterogeneity.

Tree mortality 6 years after burning a thinned Quercuschrysolepis stand

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2236-2241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Paysen ◽  
Marcia G. Narog
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Live Oak ◽  
San Bernardino ◽  
Favorable Conditions

Managers do not currently use prescribed fire in stands of canyon live oak (Quercuschrysolepis Liebm.) because it is highly susceptible to fire injury. A preliminary study investigating the effects of prescribed burning on this species was initiated on the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California. The purpose was to assess the feasibility of using thinning and prescribed burning to develop shaded fuel breaks in these stands. This paper addresses aboveground tree mortality inventoried 2 and 6 years after a prescribed burn. Aboveground tree stems were judged as live or dead (irrespective of root-zone sprouting). Fire caused approximately 50% mortality in DBH classes ≤15 cm and <10% in larger classes. Between the 2nd and 6th years after burning, tree mortality increased by only 3%. Our results suggest that prescribed fire can be used as a management tool in Q. chrysolepis stands and that tree mortality might be evaluated sooner than previously believed. More investigations are required to identify favorable conditions for prescribed burning in this species, as well as applicability for (i) degree of hazard reduction near the urban wildland interface, (ii) stand improvement by thinning small or crowded trees, and (iii) revitalizing wildlife habitat.

scholarly journals Effects of Fire on Mixed-Grass Plant Communities in Badlands National Park

1986 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
Steven Whisenant ◽  
Dan Uresk
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
National Park ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Important Goal ◽  
Mixed Grass Prairie ◽  
Mixed Grass ◽  
Badlands National Park

This research had the objective of determining the influence of fire on densities and standing crops of the major grass species of the Badlands National Park mixed-grass prairie. An important goal was to evaluate the potential of prescribed fire as a management tool for Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus).

scholarly journals Distribution of marine, benthic, shell bearing gastropods along the Norwegian coast

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tore Høisæter
Keyword(s):  
Continental Slope ◽  
Main Part ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Western Slope ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
The One

Based on literature data and my extensive material from along the coast, the distribution of shell bearing marine, benthic gastropods known from Norwegian waters, is outlined. The geographic area covered goes down to c. 1200 m on the continental slope, and extends from the Swedish border<br />in the south to the Russian border in the north-east. On the slope the distribution is restricted to an area east of 0°, and south of 72° N. Neither the North Sea nor the western ‘slope’ of the Norwegian Trench are included. Systematics and nomenclature follow Clemam (Check List of European Marine Mollusca) closely. The emphasis is on the distribution of each species within the designated area, but taxonomic and nomenclaturial problems are discussed wherever considered relevant. Altogether 365 species level taxa are included, of which 326 are considered as definitely belonging to the Norwegian fauna. The rest are recorded as doubtful, either because only empty shells have been found, or their confirmed distribution falls outside the limits here defined. Of the ‘species’ included, I consider at least 18 to be undescribed, while another 16 were described from Norwegian material after Høisæter (1986) was published. The northern distributional limit is extended for 47 species, while 11 species have received a new southern limit. Sixty six species have a generic name diferent from the one used in Høisæter (1986), while 35 species have another specific name. All changes are listed in the main part of the article, and references are given to the sources for the changes. Four faunal components are recognized: a slope component, species mainly found in negative temperatures on the continental slope, between 500 and 1200 m; an Arctic component, species in Norway almost exclusively found in East Finnmark; a group of species in Norway found only or mainly on the Skagerrak coast or in Oslofjorden; and finally the main group found along most of the coast.

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