scholarly journals The Improvers' Legacy: Environmental Studies of the Hawkesbury

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Suzanne Cumming
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Environmental Studies ◽  
River System ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales

Since European settlement began on the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system in New South Wales, two centuries of exploitation has led to various environmental problems. Despite these problems, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River is one of Australia's most scenic waterways. To maintain and restore the river system for future generations requires a combination of an historic perspective with appropriate scientific knowledge.

Habitat use and density of numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) reintroduced in an area of mallee vegetation, New South Wales

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Vieira ◽  
G.R. Finlayson ◽  
C.R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Transect Sampling ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Future Management

The distribution of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) has been dramatically reduced since European settlement, with remnant populations now occurring naturally only in the south west of Western Australia. In recent years a number of reintroductions have led to the reestablishment of this species in parts of its former range. In this study we investigated the density and habitat use of the numbat within a 4,000 ha feral - free site on Scotia Sanctuary in western New South Wales. Numbats had been reintroduced to this site in 1999 and 2000. During transect sampling 500 km were driven and 10 numbats were observed. An additional 14 sightings were made incidentally during the survey period. We estimated the density of numbats at Scotia to be 1.24 individuals/100 ha (SE = 0.56). Numbats were located randomly throughout the four major vegetation communities within the reintroduction site. At a finer scale, numbats selected for areas with less spinifex and less bare ground, although visibility using this sampling technique in areas with less spinifex cover may be increased. This study provides information on the habitats used and selected for by numbats at a local scale, and suggests that the species is capable of re-inhabiting areas within its former range where essential resources such as food and shelter are still available at adequate levels, and introduced predators are absent. This, in turn, has implications for future management decisions about how and where to reintroduce this species to other parts of its former range.

The genetic diversity and distinctiveness of the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus (Gray, 1854) in New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Pope ◽  
Andy Sharp ◽  
Craig Moritz
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Habitat Disturbance ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Feral Animals ◽  
Species Being

Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies (YFRW) Petrogale xanthopus have declined in numbers since European settlement from past hunting for skins, habitat disturbance and predation and competition with feral animals (Gordon et al. 1978, 1993; Copley 1983; Henzell 1990). This has led to the species being classed as potentially vulnerable to extinction in Australia (Kennedy 1992), and endangered in New South Wales (Schedule 1, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995).

Patterns of waterbird use in wetlands of the Paroo, A river system of inland Australia.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
MT Maher ◽  
LW Braithwaite
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Flood Event ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Inland Wetlands ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Waterbird Species ◽  
North Western

The significance of inland wetlands to Australian waterbirds has been overlooked until recently. One important area identified from regular aerial survey centres on the Paroo River in north-western New South Wales. Between April 1983 and December 1985, a period covering a major flood, waterbird populations were estimated on five wetland systems associated with the Paroo during 14 trips. Fifty- three waterbird species were recorded with the anatids, Anas gibberifrons and Malacorhynchus membranaceus, accounting for 75 per cent of total estimated populations. Most breeding events were observed in those wetlands dominated by Muehlenbeckia florulenta (lignum). Breeding accounted for shifts in waterbird populations between wetland systems. A model of waterbird usage of the five wetland systems in relation to a complete flood event is described. The importance for waterbird conservation of wetlands used for breeding and maintenance of populations between flood events, and threats to the integrity of these wetlands are discussed.

The contribution of the community to defining the distribution of a vulnerable species, the spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Field Survey ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Vulnerable Species ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Survey Techniques ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Port Stephens

Community-based wildlife postal surveys, which included the spotted-tailed quoll, were undertaken in Eden, Port Stephens, Bellingen and Iluka. This resulted in 68 records for spotted-tailed quolls for Eden, 40 for Port Stephens, 39 for Bellingen and 7 for Iluka. Such a high number of records from coastal New South Wales, with many on private lands, identifies postal surveys as a major source of previously overlooked sightings. Spotted-tailed quolls have declined in range by as much as 50–90% since European settlement, which has seen them listed as a nationally vulnerable species. There have been few surveys of spotted-tailed quolls in New South Wales due to their difficulty of detection using standard field survey techniques, such as cage trapping and hair tube sampling. Their unique appearance makes them an ideal species to include in community-based surveys. Future use of these surveys has the potential to contribute significantly to conservation programs of spotted-tailed quolls that involve private lands and local support.

Studies on the Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus Gray (Marsupialia : Macropodidae) I. Distribution in South Australia

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
PB Copley
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Introduced Herbivores ◽  
Flinders Ranges ◽  
South Wales

Petrogale xanthopus still occurs over most of its former range in South Australia. It is widespread in the Flinders Ranges, where almost 200 colonies are now known, and is locally common in areas of both the Rinders Ranges and Olary Hills. Six colonies are currently known in the western Gawler Ranges with an outlying population on Carriewerloo Station only 50 km west of Port Augusta. Seven colonies have been found in the Olary Hills, to the north and north-west of Olary. The species has suffered a major decline in abundance since European settlement, having become extinct locally throughout this range. Hunting for skins, competition with introduced herbivores for food and shelter, and predation by foxes seem to be the main reasons for this decline. However, it is still not possible to say whether the species currently has a decreasing population and is at risk, is in equilibrium, or is increasing. Information published in this paper and current studies in South Australia and New South Wales should soon determine this.

Ecological attributes and conservation of native rodents in New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Dickman ◽  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
New South ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Research Management ◽  
North East ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales

In New South Wales, at least 28 species of native rodents have been recorded since European settlement. Four of these are extinct nationally, six are extinct in the State, six are vulnerable and four are endangered; only eight remain non-threatened. Declines and losses have been greatest in central and western New South Wales and least in the State’s north-east. Neither body weight nor habit are associated with status, but taxa such as Rattus species with broad diets and habitat preferences remain generally less threatened than ecological specialists. Threatening processes affect all vulnerable and endangered species, with predation from introduced carnivores, grazing from livestock, clearance of vegetation and changed fire regimes being among the most severe. No species occur entirely on reserved land, while two endangered species have no secure land tenure. A program of survey, research, management and education is proposed to help achieve recovery.

SHIFTING USE OF POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS: NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, 1979–2010

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (01) ◽  
pp. 1450006 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOUISA MAMOUNEY
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Policy Instrument ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Policy System ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Advanced Economies

It is generally accepted that choice and use of environmental policy instruments has changed over recent decades, however this has rarely been investigated empirically. A quantitative analysis of 505 policy instruments to address environmental problems between 1979–2010 in New South Wales, Australia, was undertaken to explore this further, in a jurisdiction reasonably typical of advanced economies. The data do show a shift in the use of instrument types, with the most common type of policy instrument being regulation. However, there was no trend away from regulation as a way of delivering policy outcomes, but a relative strengthening in the importance of newer policy instrument types such as strategy, education, incentives and schemes, compared with foundation policy types including regulation and land reservation. Foundation policies dominated the earlier years and provided significant structural elements of the policy system, including setting up organisations, assigning roles and responsibilities and prescribing rules. The political party holding government at the time does not drive the selection of policy instruments. The methods in this paper could be applied in other jurisdictions or to other policy areas.

scholarly journals Comparative Angler Catches of Australian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) in Three Major River Systems in New South Wales, Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. VAN DER WALT ◽  
R. A. FARAGHER ◽  
J. HARRIS
Keyword(s):  
Time Series Data ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Catch Rates

A joint program between New South Wales Fisheries and three fishing clubs was initiated in 1988 with the aim of collecting standardised catch and effort data during biannual fishing competitions on three major rivers in New South Wales. This paper examines the data to determine trends in the catch of the target species, Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) and to evaluate whether the data can be used to assess Australian bass populations over time. Distinct trends in Australian bass mean length in each river system were evident but catch rates were more variable. Median catch per unit effort was similar (mostly between 0.5 and 1.5 Australian bass·h-1 ) in the Nepean and Williams Rivers although catch rates in the Manning River were nearly always zero. There was an increasing trend in the mean length of Australian bass in all three rivers, possibly representing a recovery in fish populations following severe drought from 1979 to 1983. Low or zero catch rates were continually recorded in the Manning River and size composition data indicated a lack of recruitment through most of the study period. The standardised format of the data collection program provided qualitative and reliable time series data allowing the determination of long-term trends in the population structure of Australian bass which can be used for monitoring and management purposes.

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