Use of bioclimatic analysis to direct survey effort for the long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes), a rare forest-dwelling rat-kangaroo

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Claridge
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
New Records ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Survey Effort

The long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) is one of the rarest and most elusive forest-dwelling mammals in Australia. Survey effort for the species over the past decade or so in south-eastern New South Wales has been driven, primarily, by predictions derived from climatic analyses using BIOCLIM. These predictions were based on known locality records of the long-footed potoroo from adjacent East Gippsland, Victoria. While they have proven useful in confirming the occurrence of the species in New South Wales, recent fortuitous records of the species from north-eastern Victoria fall well outside of the range predicted earlier by BIOCLIM. Using these new records a revised predicted range is calculated, enlarging considerably the potential geographic extent of climatically suitable habitat for the species. The results presented here highlight the limitations of BIOCLIM when given locality records of a species from only a portion of its true geographic range. I argue that less emphasis might be based on this approach to direct survey effort for the species in the future. Instead, a range of other environmental variables might be used in combination with BIOCLIM-derived outputs when selecting survey sites. In this way a more representative picture of the distribution of the species may be obtained.

Models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales in relation to environmental variables

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt ◽  
R. I. Forrester
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
A Site

Statistical models are presented of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in eucalypt forests in relation to environmental variables within an area of approximately 24 000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales. Environmental variables are defined as climatic or topographic variables that may be useful to map the distribution of fauna. The environmental variables examined were season, temperature, rainfall, elevation, lithology, steepness of slope, position on slope, aspect and landform profile. The probability of recording some species was higher in spring than autumn and many species were in highest abundance in areas of low temperature (high elevation). Although aspect was a significant variable in a number of models, no species was absent from any aspect category. Mid-slopes down to and including creeks and drainage lines were particularly important for many species, as were areas with flatter terrain. Although we have modelled environmental variables only there will no doubt be longer-term interactions between habitat and environmental variables. Fundamentally, environmental variables will determine the type of habitat present at a site, and the distribution of canopy communities, at least, can be predicted from environmental variables. However, other studies have shown for ground-dwelling mammals that environmental variables contribute little and it is the state of the habitat locally, and particularly the understorey, that determines their presence and abundance at a site. The results are discussed in relation to similar models using habitat variables and in relation to the use of such models in the management of ground-dwelling fauna in forests.

New records of Hastings River mouse Pseudomys oralis from State Forest of New South Wales pre-logging surveys.

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
PD Meek ◽  
K McCray ◽  
B Cann
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Patchy Distribution ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Water Courses ◽  
New Evidence

THE Hastings River mouse Pseudomys oralis is one of the rarest of the pseudomyines and is patchily distributed across New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, although it is believed to have been more common in the past (Watts and Aslin 1981). It is currently listed as ‘endangered’ at both State (NSW) and Commonwealth levels and there have only been three ecological studies of the species (Townley 2000; Keating 2000; Meek 2002a). One interesting aspect of Pseudomys ecology is their patchy distribution across the landscape (Watts and Aslin 1981), even where habitat appears unaltered and undisturbed. Historically, P. oralis was believed to be widely dispersed, preferring creek and gully habitats dominated by Cyperaceae and Juncaceae species (Read 1993a; Pyke and Read 2002). New evidence indicates that water courses are not as important as previously believed with animals being trapped across a range of topography and habitat types (Townley 2000; Meek 2002a).

Habitat preference, diet and demography of the smoky mouse, Pseudomys fumeus (Rodentia : Muridae), in south-eastern New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Ford ◽  
Andrew Cockburn ◽  
Linda Broome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Dietary Preference ◽  
Winter Diet ◽  
South Wales ◽  
High Level

The smoky mouse, Pseudomys fumeus, is an endangered rodent for which ecological information is lacking across much of its range. This paper provides the first detailed study of the local diet and habitat preference of P. fumeus since 1980, conducted on the recently discovered Nullica population in New South Wales. Diet and trap-revealed movements were examined in conjunction with 18 characteristics of habitat to determine the factors influencing habitat choice. Multiple logistic regression of habitat variables and capture locations revealed a floristically determined preference for heath habitat characterised by Epacris impressa, Monotoca scoparia, Leptospermum trinervium, Xanthorrhoea spp. and a variety of legumes. Hypogeal fungi and seeds were the most common food items in the diet of P. fumeus. Fungi were most abundant in winter diet, while seeds and fruit became dominant in late spring and summer. The spring and summer preference for ridge-top heath habitats observed in this study is probably the result of this dietary preference. Resident females constituted 71% of the population in early spring. However, there was a severe decline in numbers of female mice during early spring, and resident males also disappeared from the population. Causes of the decline were unclear. Five of eleven males captured during this study were transient, while no transient females were caught. The sudden decline in the study population, combined with the patchy distribution of suitable habitat and high level of male transience, suggests that P. fumeus form a metapopulation in the Nullica region.

Effectiveness of protected areas in north-eastern New South Wales: recent trends in six measures

2002 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L Pressey ◽  
G.L Whish ◽  
T.W Barrett ◽  
M.E Watts
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Recent Trends

scholarly journals Modeling Methane Emission from Wetlands in North-Eastern New South Wales, Australia Using Landsat ETM+

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 1378-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement E. Akumu ◽  
Sumith Pathirana ◽  
Serwan Baban ◽  
Daniel Bucher
Keyword(s):  
Methane Emission ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern

Dragonflies (Odonata) of coastal sand-dune fresh waters of South-eastren Queensland and North-eastern New South Wales

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
AH Arthington ◽  
JAL Watson
Keyword(s):  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Coastal Sand Dune ◽  
Freshwater Streams ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Coastal Sand

The Odonata and physicochemical properties of freshwater streams, lakes, ponds and bogs in the sand-dune systems of Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands and Cooloola, Queensland: and Wooli, New South Wales, are described. The odonate faunas of these dune masses show some differences from those of nearby areas, and there are close associations between some species and particular types of dune fresh water. Although no physicochemical characteristics were identified that might limit these dune dragonflies to their specific habitats, the lake-dwellers in particular may be useful indicators of environmental change.

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