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.

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.

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.

Multivariate Relationships between Floristic Composition and Stand Structure in Vegetation of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew F. Le Brocque ◽  
Rod T. Buckney
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
New South ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Procrustes Analysis ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
South Wales

The relationships between stand structure and floristic composition were examined from data collected from 100 quadrats on two soil types: Hawkesbury sandstone and Narrabeen group soils, occurring within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, New South Wales. Floristic composition was determined using the frequency of species occurring within nine concentric sub-quadrats of total area 500 m2. Stand structure was determined by a multivariate classification scheme utilising the foliage projective cover of eight strata within each quadrat. The patterns in floristic composition and stand structure were examined through multivariate analyses. Procrustes analysis of non-metric multidimensional scaling ordinations of both the stand structure and composition data showed floristic composition gradients to be well recovered by the structure data. Similar gradients were evident in both vegetation attributes, between and within the two soil types, with the rank order of community types across the ordinations being the same. However, some important differences were evident between the ordinations of floristic composition and stand structure between and within soil types. A number of floristically dissimilar communities exhibited very similar multivariate structural characteristics. In particular, two floristically distinct communities on different soil types were indistinguishable in terms of their structural characteristics. The multivariate analyses suggest a possible convergence of some compositionally distinct communities towards a common structural formation.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal distribution of Culicoides species in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia between 1990 and 2018

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249468
Author(s):  
Biniam T. Lakew ◽  
Adrian H. Nicholas ◽  
Stephen W. Walkden-Brown
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
Evenness Indices

Culicoides are one of the smallest hematophagous flies measuring 1–5 mm in size with only females seeking blood for egg development. The present study investigated spatio-temporal distribution of Culicoides species trapped between 1990 and 2018 at 13 sites in the New England region of NSW, Australia using automated light traps. Trapping locations were divided into three subregions (tablelands, slopes and plains). Nineteen Culicoides species were identified. Culicoides marksi and C. austropalpalis were the most abundant and widespread species. Culicoides brevitarsis, the principal vector of livestock diseases in New South Wales comprised 2.9% of the total catch and was detected in 12 of the 13 locations in the study. Abundance as determined by Log10 Culicoides count per trapping event for the eight most abundant species did not vary significantly with season but trended towards higher counts in summer for C. marksi (P = 0.09) and C. austropalpalis (P = 0.05). Significant geographic variation in abundance was observed for C. marksi, C. austropalpalis and C. dycei with counts decreasing with increasing altitude from the plains to the slopes and tablelands. Culicoides victoriae exhibited the reverse trend in abundance (P = 0.08). Greater abundance during the warmer seasons and at lower altitudes for C. marksi and C. austropalpalis was indicative of temperature and rainfall dependence in this region with moderate summer dominance in rainfall. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of species was higher on the tablelands (H = 1.59) than the slopes (H = 1.33) and plains (H = 1.08) with evenness indices of 0.62, 0.46 and 0.39 respectively. Culicoides species on the tablelands were more diverse than on the slopes and plains where C. marksi and C. austropalpalis dominated. The temporal and spatial variation in abundance, diversity and evenness of species reported in this diverse region of Australia provides additional insight into Culicoides as pests and disease vectors and may contribute to future modelling studies.

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.

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.

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.

Pasture Associations and Their Relation to Environment and Agronomy in the Goulburn District

1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
JB Robinson ◽  
DJ Munnich ◽  
PC Simpson ◽  
PW Orchard
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Numerical Classification ◽  
Species Association ◽  
South Wales

Pasture species form a variety of associations inn the cool temperate environment of the tablelands of New South Wales. Data from a survey of 65 paddocks on 34 farms in the Goulburn district of southern New South Wales were analysed using numerical classification methods to identify species associations. Of particular interest were the agronomic and environmental factors associated with the abundance of Danthonia spp. and Microlaena stipoides, which are persistent and useful native perennial grasses. The abundance of Danthonia spp. was negatively correlated with the abundance of exotic sown grasses (many species) and annual grass species (chiefly Vulpia spp.). M. stipoides abundance was similarly correlated with sown grass species, but had no correlation with annual grasses. It had a significant negative correlation with legume species abundance (chiefly Trifolium spp.). Sites with M. stipoides associations (n = 19 sites) had particular clearing and cultivation histories and low pH. Sites (n = 12) with a Danthonia spp. association also had particular clearing and cultivation histories, and occurred predominantly on soils derived from sedimentary parent material (11/12 sites). This association also had significantly higher annual average and total superphosphate usage. Probable mechanisms by which the concurrent environmental and agronomic factors may have determined the observed associations are discussed. It is concluded that the numerical classification system employed here revealed useful species association-site grouping units and contributed significantly to the interpretation of these data.

Variation in flowering times and agronomic characteristics of Medicago laciniata (L.) Miller collected from diverse locations in New South Wales

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
RR Young ◽  
PH Croft ◽  
GA Sandral
Keyword(s):  
Flowering Time ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Genotypic Difference ◽  
South Wales

Thirty-two accessions of Medicago laciniata (L.) Miller collected from throughout western New South Wales and 1 from southern Queensland, 4 accessions of M. minima (L.) Bartalini, 1 of M. polymorpha L., and 3 cultivars of M. truncatula Gaertner were grown in rows at Condobolin over 2 years. There were no significant differences between the M. laciniata accessions for flowering time, dry matter score, seed yield, pod weight, and seed weight in either year. No differences were detected in plant or pod morphology. This lack of variation means that any accession may be used as parent material for a breeding program to reduce pod spine and potential to contaminate wool. Should absence of phenotypic variation be indicative of no genotypic difference, it follows that all the M. laciniata accessions had a common origin.

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