The Shrubs of Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea) Lands and their Biology.

1979 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 280 ◽  
Author(s):  
KC Hodgkinson
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Summer Period ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Hard Seeds ◽  
Average Rainfall ◽  
The Status ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Regenerative Ability ◽  
Eucalyptus Populnea

Of the 25 species of shrubs common in poplar box lands, 17 are considered to have reached the status of being a "woody weed" in New South Wales and/or Queensland. Thickening up of scrub in pastoral areas appears to have been episodic after periods of above-average rainfall. Germination of seed may occur at most times of the year if soil moisture is high. Fire promotes germination of species with hard seeds (some Acacia, Cassia and Dodonaea spp.). Increased shrub density usually follows soil disturbance if seed is present, and once established, the individuals of most apecies appear to be long-lived. Productivity of shrub communities is commensurate with rainfall. The species are well adapted to tolerate drought and they retain leaves under extreme water stress. Most species flower and set seed each year in the spring and summer period but in more arid parts of poplar box lands some species reproduce opportunistically after good rainfall. In favourable conditions most species produce copious quantities of seed. Dormancy is common in seed recently shed and loss of dormancy may occur within months or up to 3 years after seed shed. All species are subject to invertebrate and vertebrate predation and death of individuals or whole populations may sometimes result. A few species are moderately palatable to domestic livestock and native herbivores; the majority are rarely eaten even by starving animals. The regenerative ability of shrubs following fire or grazing differs amongst species and is affected by shrub size.

A scheme for preliminary study of soil fertility in a district

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (43) ◽  
pp. 196
Author(s):  
WM McArthur ◽  
K Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
New South ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Distribution Of Components ◽  
Edaphic Variables ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Field Plots

A scheme is proposed as a basis for soil fertility studies in areas where little information is available. The first stage consists of sampling the area on a grid and determining the patterns of variation in the status of those nutrient elements likely to be deficient. These patterns are then compared with intensity patterns of environmental (including edaphic) variables. Where the two sets of variables can be quantified, regression analysis may be used to estimate the closeness of the relationship ; otherwise the relationship must be assessed visually from the degree of conformity between patterns. Those environmental variables that relate, causally or otherwise, to the distribution of components of chemical fertility are identified by strong correlations. Information so gained may be used in subsequent agronomic studies, both as a guide to number and location of field plots and as a framework for studies in soil chemistry and pedology. The scheme is illustrated using data derived from studies on the Dorrigo Plateau of New South Wales. Factors relating closely to phosphorus, sulphur, molybdenum, and nitrogen distribution were identified. In no case could one factor be used to predict the adequacy of all nutrients.

Ecological attributes of the threatened fauna of New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney ◽  
A. L. Curtin ◽  
D. Fisher ◽  
D. Ayers ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Northeastern Region ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Threatened Fauna

The aims of this study were to identify common ecological patterns among threatened fauna in New South Wales, and to identify priority areas for research and management by determining which regions and habitats contain high numbers of threatened fauna. Threatened and non-threatened fauna were taken from the listings of Lunney et al. (1996, 1997). Species were categorized into weight classes, diet groups, habitats and regions and by level of knowledge available about them. All regions and habitats of the State contain threatened species. The northeastern region of New South Wales contains the greatest number of threatened species but the western region has suffered the most extinctions, especially of mammals. Species that historically inhabited a greater number of regions are less likely to be currently threatened or to be extinct than those with restricted distributions, and large species are more likely to be threatened than smaller species. The best predictors of a threatened mammals species were seeds and vegetation in the diet, heavier body weight, and ground-dwelling, burrowing, and rock pile/cave-dwelling habits. The Critical Weight Range (35?5 500g), although strongly associated with extinction of non-volant mammals, was not the most important predictor. Lord Howe Island held the highest proportion of threatened and extinct birds. Factors showing the strongest associations for threatened birds were carnivory, large size, and distribution in the southeastern region. The most poorly-known region for birds was the north-east, and the least known habitat was shrubland (including mallee, heath and chenopod shrubland). The status of reptiles was poorly known in all regions, especially the western region. Frogs were also poorly known in all regions. Frogs were most at risk if they were large, inhabited closed forest or occurred in the central or northeastern region. The study further revealed little association between particular ecological attributes and conservation status. This indicates that there are complex and pervasive threats affecting the status of New South Wales fauna. Research and management priority status could be argued for all regions and most habitats in the State, but the western or northeastern regions may face the most problems depending on the criteria used (e.g., past extinctions, number vs proportion of threatened species). Further, the conservation status of birds, reptiles and frogs is in particular need of attention from researchers.

Pastoral Management, Economics and Land Use Options in the Poplar Box (Eucalyptus populnea) Lands of New South Wales.

1979 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Condon
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Land Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Settlement Policies ◽  
Pastoral Management ◽  
Eucalyptus Populnea

This article describes how land settlement policies over a period of 100 years and shrub regeneration in parts of the poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) lands in New South Wales have had and will continue to have a major influence on the economics of grazing properties in the region. Choise of animals offers few options, but there are many methods of improving productivity which may be applicable to a particular property; their feasibility is being tested in a pilot rehabilitation scheme which is described. Choice of animals offers few options, but there are many methods of improving productivity which may be applicable to a particular property; their feasibility is being tested in a pilot rehabilitation scheme which is described.

Current Land Use in the Poplar Box (Eucalyptus Populnea) Lands.

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
EJ Weston ◽  
DF Thompson ◽  
BJ Scott
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
High Water ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Domestic Livestock

Poplar box (Eucalyptus populnee) woodlands mainly occuron duplex, clay and red earth soils between the 300 mm and 750 mm rainfall isohyets. The poplar box lands have been occupied for from 100 to 150 years and have been modified extensively through tree felling, ringbarking, clearing, cultivation, burning and grazing by domestic livestock. The current land use is described for six vegetation groups which together comprise the poplar box lands. The eastern areas of the poplar box lands are mainly used for intensive agriculture based on wheat. barley and grain sorghum, with small areas sown to c~ops of high water demand. Mixed farming involves dairying (in Queensland) and fat lambs (in New South Wales) and broad-acre cereal and fodder cropping. Sheep and cattle grazing replace intensive crop production as the rainfall decreases. In all areas used for cropping the stability and fertility of the soil are of paramount importance in maintainihg production. The use of woodlands in areas of lower rainfall can lead to deterioration of the resource and to the encroachment of woody native species into the grazing lands. Because cropping is unreliable the opportunity to use cultivation to control woody regrowth is reduced. In central areas much of the land can be sown to improved pastures, but in western areas diversification is limited by the low rainfall and land use is restricted to grazing, initially only by sheep but now by sheep and cattle. Particularly in western New South Wales the increase in unpalatable shrubs and the decrease in available forage has resulted in low stocking rates, and high grazing pressure, making reclamation and pasture improvement difficult. In consequence many enterprises are becoming uneconomic.

The distribution of net nitrogen mineralisation within surface soil. 1. Field studies under a wheat crop

Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erry Purnomo ◽  
A. S. Black ◽  
C. J. Smith ◽  
M. K. Conyers
Keyword(s):  
Soil Depth ◽  
New South ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
N Mineralisation ◽  
Total N ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Soil Temperature And Moisture

To test the hypothesis that net nitrogen (N) mineralisation is concentrated in the surface few centimetres following minimal soil disturbance for crop establishment, mineralisation was measured during the growth of wheat. The soil was a Red Kandosol located in southern New South Wales. Mineralisation was estimated usingin situ incubations inside capped PVC tubes, which were sampled every 3 weeks. Soil from the tubes was sampled at depth intervals of 2 cm to a depth of 10 cm and at 5-cm intervals from 10 to 20 cm. The results showed that net N mineralisation decreased with depth to 20 cm. Over the season, an average of 32% of the N mineralised in the top 20 cm of soil originated from the 0–2 cm layer, 72% was from the 0–6 cm layer, and only 13% was from soil below 10 cm. The decrease in N mineralisation with soil depth was highly correlated with decreases in the organic carbon (r2 = 0.84, P < 0.05) and total N (r2 = 0.83, P < 0.05) concentration. The soil's N-supplying ability is concentrated near the surface where it is susceptible to erosional loss. The N supply may also be inhibited by temperature and moisture extremes, which are common in the surface few centimetres of soil where mineralisation was concentrated. The PVC enclosures created artefacts in soil temperature and moisture, although it is argued that the effects on net N mineralisation were small in most sampling periods.

The status of Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
N Carlile ◽  
C Davey ◽  
P Fullagar
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Tree Island ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Marginal Improvement ◽  
Main Population ◽  
Cabbage Tree

Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, breeds only on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Annual surveys to estimate the size of the breeding population and the reproductive output were conducted between 1989 and 1992. Annual estimates of the total number of pairs breeding in the two gullies containing the main population were between 122 +/- 20 (s.e.) and 202 +/- 26. Breeding success was less than 20% between 1989 and 1991, but rose to 24.7% in 1992. This marginal improvement may be the result of management action undertaken to reduce mortality of breeding adults and fledglings. The total population is estimated to have declined from 2004 (95% confidence limits: 1464,3185) in 1970 to 1479 (1250,1815) in 1992, a decline of 26% in 22 years. The reasons for this decline are unclear.

The status of myxomatosis at Urana, New South Wales, from 1968 until 1971

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Williams ◽  
I Parer
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Latent Virus ◽  
Rabbit Population ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status

Epizootics of myxomatosis which occurred each year from 1968 until 1971 in a rabbit population inhabiting a 700-acre study site at Urana, N.S.W., were studied. Transmission was rapid in 1968 and 1969, Anopheles annulipes being the vector, and the peak of these epizootics occurred in early November. Transmission in 1970 was primarily by the flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi, and was slower, but the midpoint of the epizootic still occurred in early November. In 1971 the epizootic peaked in late December, transmission was rapid, and the vector was unknown. Each year, about 75% of the susceptible animals older than 3 months of age at the time of the epizootic contracted myxomatosis; of these, 60% recovered, and of the recoveries, 20% died between the time of recovery (early December) and 1 January. Fewer animals (16-55 %) under 3 months of age were seen with myxomatosis; of these, about 50% were seen to recover, and a large proportion (from 25 to 45%) of animals seen to recover died before 1 January each year. The great majority of animals not seen to contract myxomatosis probably died from other causes without being exposed to the disease. These data indicate that myxomatosis killed very few animals directly during these epizootics, and that other factors were responsible for the majority of deaths which occurred during the epizootic period. In 1968, 1969, and 1970, reactivation of latent virus in animals which had previously recovered from myxomatosis was probably the source of the virus which initiated the epizootics.

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