scholarly journals Demography of feral camels in central Australia and its relevance to population control

2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Pople ◽  
S. R. McLeod
Keyword(s):  
Population Control ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Zero Growth ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Alternative Species

Since their release over 100 years ago, camels have spread across central Australia and increased in number. Increasingly, they are being seen as a pest, with observed impacts from overgrazing and damage to infrastructure such as fences. Irregular aerial surveys since 1983 and an interview-based survey in 1966 suggest that camels have been increasing at close to their maximum rate. A comparison of three models of population growth fitted to these, albeit limited, data suggests that the Northern Territory population has indeed been growing at an annual exponential rate of r = 0.074, or 8% per year, with little evidence of a density-dependent brake. A stage-structured model using life history data from a central Australian camel population suggests that this rate approximates the theoretical maximum. Elasticity analysis indicates that adult survival is by far the biggest influence on rate of increase and that a 9% reduction in survival from 96% is needed to stop the population growing. In contrast, at least 70% of mature females need to be sterilised to have a similar effect. In a benign environment, a population of large mammals such as camels is expected to grow exponentially until close to carrying capacity. This will frustrate control programs, because an ever-increasing number of animals will need to be removed for zero growth the longer that culling or harvesting effort is delayed. A population projection for 2008 suggests ~10 500 animals need to be harvested across the Northern Territory. Current harvests are well short of this. The ability of commercial harvesting to control camel populations in central Australia will depend on the value of animals, access to animals and the presence of alternative species to harvest when camels are at low density.

An intraspecific and interspecific comparison of raptor diets in the south-west of the Northern Territory, Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Aumann
Keyword(s):  
Northern Territory ◽  
Diet Overlap ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Interspecific Comparison ◽  
Important Food ◽  
The South ◽  
South West ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Competition For Food ◽  
Central Australia

Dietary information, collected during 1995–97 in the south-west of the Northern Territory, is presented for 11 raptor species. Unlike better-studied populations of these species in south-eastern and eastern Australia, most of the raptors in the arid inland were found to depend heavily on reptiles and birds, the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) being a particularly important food for many species during those periods when it was plentiful. Between-territory, between-year and seasonal differences in diet are quantified for most species. The raptor assemblages in central Australia included specialists on medium-sized to large mammals, small to medium-sized birds, and small reptiles/invertebrates, as well as several generalists. Indices of prey diversity and evenness were calculated for each species, and diet overlap between them was used to investigate aspects of interspecific competition for food. Overall, diet overlap was greatest among the bird specialists and between some of the generalists. It increased in 1997, a year of comparative plenty, possibly because several species exploited an abundance of some prey taxa and competitive pressure eased.

Population Control for Zero Growth in Singapore.

1981 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
T. E. Smith ◽  
Saw Swee-Hock
Keyword(s):  
Population Control ◽  
Zero Growth

Sustainable governance for small desert settlements: learning from the multi-settlement regionalism of Anmatjere Community Government Council

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Sanders ◽  
Sarah Holcombe
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
History Of ◽  
Basic Desert ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
The Many ◽  
Governance Arrangements

In light of some basic desert demography, this paper examines governance patterns for small desert settlements. It traces policy histories which led to the emergence of highly localised, single settlement governance arrangements during the 1970s and ’80s. It also identifies the many pushes since within the Northern Territory local government system for more regional, multi-settlement governance structures. The paper goes on to examine the history of one such regional, multi-settlement arrangement in central Australia, the Anmatjere Community Government Council established in 1993. The paper details our work with this Council over the last 4 years on ‘issues of importance or concern’ to them. The paper aims to learn from the ACGC experience in order to inform the more radical restructuring of Northern Territory local government currently underway towards larger multi-settlement regionalism. It concludes with four specific lessons, the most important of which is that regionalism must build on single settlement localism.

The Twenty-Five-Year FDA Approval Controversy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Green
Keyword(s):  
Population Control ◽  
Obstetrics And Gynecology ◽  
Marketing Approval ◽  
Approval Process ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Drug Risk ◽  
Fda Approval ◽  
Political Controversy ◽  
Long Acting ◽  
Risk Acceptability

Judith Weisz's story of the politics of drug risk management shifts its focus to Depo-Provera's lengthy FDA marketing approval process. Here her story explores the scientific and political controversy over the FDA's assessment of the drug's risk and its policy judgments about the risk acceptability of its marketing approval. The controversy was dominated by the fear that the drug could cause breast, endometrial, and cervical cancer, and by Depo-Provera's uniqueness as a long-acting contraceptive and its use in international population control programs. The controversy began when the FDA relied on its Obstetrics and Gynecology Advisory Committee to grant the drug limited marketing approval in 1974, which it withdrew after congressional criticism, and then, following an intra-agency review, disapproved the drug for general contraceptive marketing which, once again, brought congressional scrutiny because of its impact on international family planning programs. An FDA Public Board of Inquiry, convened at Upjohn's request and chaired by Judith Weisz, conducted an intensive scientific assessment of the drug's animal and human studies at its 1983 hearings and then made a recommendation, accepted by the FDA in 1986, to disapprove the drug for general contraceptive marketing.

THE MEREENIE LEASE NEGOTIATIONS IN THE AMADEUS BASIN-AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
R. Liddle
Keyword(s):  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Joint Venture ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Land Rights ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Power Station ◽  
Channel Island ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Territory Government

Following the discovery of oil and gas, the Mereenie Joint Venture (MJV) applied for a production lease in November 1973. However, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act NT 1976 came into operation in January 1977 and the MJV was thereby required to negotiate with the Central Land Council in order to be granted the lease. The CLC was reluctant to proceed with negotiations because of the difficulty of identifying traditional owners. After 22 communications with the Council, the MJV grew impatient and the Northern Territory Government advised them to engage the author to assist in expediting the negotiations. After an intense period from March to November 1979 in which the traditional owners were identified and some violent exchanges occurred, agreement was reached on the financial terms. The Mereenie lease, which was the first petroleum lease on Aboriginal land, was granted on 18 November 1981. At present oil is piped to Brewer Estate in Alice Springs and then transported by rail to Port Stanvac in South Australia. Gas is transported to the Channel Island Power Station near Darwin via a 1,485 km pipeline. Aboriginal traditional owners receive royalty payments from all petroleum produced from Mereenie, in addition to sharing a 10% statutory royalty under the NT petroleum ordinance. The Mereenie agreement stands as a precursor to all agreements on Aboriginal land in central Australia.

The Chemical Composition of Some Surface Waters in Central Australia

1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 166 ◽  
Author(s):  
WD Williams ◽  
BD Siebert
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Ionic Composition ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Ionic Ratios ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Dissolved Salts

The surface waters of central Australia are briefly discussed. Analyses are presented of the ionic composition of some relatively non-saline and mostly permanent surface waters in the southern part of the Northern Territory. A brief note upon their fauna is included. Such waters are of interest because of their extreme isolation in so arid an area. They contain from 77 to 3735 p.p.m. total dissolved salts and their ionic ratios are variable. The ionic compositions are discussed.

The longevity and efficacy of 1080 meat baits used for dingo control in central Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie E. Twigg ◽  
Steve R. Eldridge ◽  
Glenn P. Edwards ◽  
Bernie J. Shakeshaft ◽  
Nicki D. dePreu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Bodies ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
The Third ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Considerable Period ◽  
Artificial Water

In central Australia, most 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) meat baits placed on soil in predator-proof cages remained toxic to dingoes, foxes and feral cats for at least 8 months regardless of whether they were protected from rain or not. Thus, untaken baits will remain a potential hazard to non-target species, particularly farm dogs, for a considerable period. However, when dingo-control programs were monitored (n = 3 stations), approximately 85% of meat baits were taken within 4 days. Dingo-control programs were undertaken on three stations by placing 1080 meat baits near water points (bores) with known dingo activity. Baiting was effective on two stations but not on the third. Where successful, dingo numbers were reduced by 50–70%. The failure on the third station was not due to the lack of bait-take as approximately 80% of these baits were taken within 4 days; it was probably caused by the presence of ephemeral water-bodies that could not be baited. However, this technique was effective in removing those dingoes that utilised the artificial water points, and hence were likely to be interacting with cattle. Such an outcome has benefits to both conservation and the pastoral industry, as problem dogs are removed without placing the long-term survival of dingoes at risk.

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