Population size, breeding habitat and nest site distribution of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) on Montague Island, New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke S. Weerheim ◽  
Nicholas I. Klomp ◽  
Arend M. H. Brunsting ◽  
Jan Komdeur
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Nest Distribution ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Landing Sites ◽  
Little Penguin

The distribution of little penguin nest sites on Montague Island, New South Wales, was examined in relation to vegetation type, distance to landing sites and local footpaths. Nest site density was negatively correlated with distance to landing sites and positively correlated with distance to footpaths. The latter may be related to disturbance. Comparisons with the transect data of previous years showed a significant shift in nest distribution away from areas dominated by dense kikuyu grass. In October 2000, the little penguin population on Montague Island was estimated at 5000 breeding pairs. However, repeat surveys in November and December showed that single counts underestimate the actual size of the breeding population. This study has demonstrated the value of line transects to examine the relationship between little penguins and their breeding habitat. Transect surveys on Montague Island should continue in future years to monitor the effects of ongoing vegetation changes on nest distribution and population size.

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.

Effects of predation on the size structure of the gastropod Salinator solida (Martens) populations at Towra Point, NSW, Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 779 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Roach
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Mangrove Forest ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pulmonate Gastropod

The pulmonate gastropod Salinator solida inhabits intertidal mangrove and saltmarsh communities throughout New South Wales. Studies at Towra Point and elsewhere have consistently found that the mean size and range of size/age classes increases with height on shore. Afield experiment was undertaken to test the hypothesis that predation was responsible for reductions in the mean size of individuals inS. solida populations in the upper mangrove forest. Twelve months after the establishment of fenced plots, there were significantly more individuals in the fenced plots than in unfenced or partially fenced control plots; the number of snails in the 4.1–8.0 mm and > 8.1 mm size classes had increased in the fenced plots but not in the control plots. The results suggest that predation is a major factor determining variation in population size structure by acting to significantly reduce the abundance of adults in the upper mangrove forest.

Benthic studies of waterfowl breeding habitat in south-western New South Wales. I. The fauna

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Maher
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Benthic Fauna ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Chironomid Larvae ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Biomass

Murrumbidgil Swamp and Lake Menimajeel are shallow waterbodies associated with the Lachlan River and are typical of waterfowl breeding habitat offered by the Murray-Darling Rivers system. Chironomid larvae dominated the benthic fauna of mud, stick and plant substrata at both sites, numerically accounting for 96% and 49% of all animals sampled from mud in Murrumbidgil Swamp and Lake Memmajeel, respectively, 91% and 96% of animals sampled from sticks, and 96% of animals sampled from plants (Lake Memmajeel only). Lurnbriculus variegatus and ceratopogonid larvae were also important in the fauna of mud. Mud supported higher densities of animals than did sticks or plants. Over the whole study, average biomass of animals from mud of Murrumbidgil Swamp was 3600 (2860 excluding shells) mg dry wt m-2 and Lake Memmajeel 3230 (2970) mg dry wt m-2, with annual differences occurring within each waterbody and associated with stages of the wetting-drying cycle.

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.

Cryptic genetic variability in Swainsona sericea (A. Lee) H. Eichler (Fabaceae): lessons for restoration

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. Broadhurst ◽  
Brian G. Murray ◽  
Robert Forrester ◽  
Andrew G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Natural Grasslands ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Grassland Communities ◽  
Shoot Weight

Grassland communities worldwide have been extensively modified or lost following broadscale agricultural expansion. In south-eastern Australia few natural grasslands remain, with most now being small, isolated and degraded. Conservation and restoration of grassland communities requires an understanding of the impacts of fragmentation on genetic and demographic processes. Swainsona sericea is a perennial grassland herb with conservation listing in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Reproductive output, progeny fitness and genetic diversity were assessed in nine S. sericea populations occupying fragmented grasslands across the southern tablelands of New South Wales. Unexpectedly, four chromosome classes were observed among the populations (2n = 4x = 32, 2n = 10x = 80, 2n = 14x = 112, 2n = 16x = 128), suggesting a more complex taxonomy than is currently recognised. There was no association between reproductive output and population size or ploidy level whereas population size influenced the number of alleles and percentage of polymorphic loci while ploidy influenced effective alleles and expected heterozygosity. Restricted maximum likelihood analyses of progeny growth indicated that ploidy had a significant influence on height, shoot weight, shoot to root ratio and days to germination. The cytological complexity in S. sericea requires clarification, including delineating the cytological boundaries to enable land managers to include this in their conservation and management plans.

Benthic studies of waterfowl breeding habitat in south-western New South Wales. II. Chironomid populations

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Maher ◽  
SM Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Major Species ◽  
Polypedilum Nubifer

The dynamics of chironomid populations in waterfowl breeding habitat were investigated. Of 12 species recorded, Chironomus 'alternans a', C. tepperi, Kieflerulus intertinctus, Polypedilum nubifer and Procladius villosimanus were common in the mud habitats. C. 'alternans a' was the most commonly recorded species over the whole study, and C. tepperi dominated the faunas afier flooding. Dicrotendipes conjunctus and Dicrotendipes sp. 2 were the major species occurring on stick substrata, and Dicrotendipes sp. 2 and Polypedilum nubifer were dominant on plant substrata. Production of chironomids was high in the first 2 years following an extensive flood but thereafter fell rapidly. Correlative evidence is presented that suggests a relationship between abundance of C. tepperi larvae and breeding by waterfowl.

scholarly journals Taking fright: the decline of Australian Pied Oystercatchers Haematopus longirostris at South Ballina Beach, New South Wales

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Totterman
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
North Coast ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Human Recreation

ABSTRACTThis study reviewed data from the Richmond River Area Pied Oystercatcher Protection Program 1997–2013 and Richmond River Area Shorebird Protection Program 2014–2018, on the far north coast of New South Wales, Australia. The Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris breeding population size for South Ballina Beach has decreased from 15–16 pairs in 1994–1996 to 7–9 pairs in 2016–2018 even though control of the European Red Fox Vulpes vulpes has been successful in reducing predation of eggs and chicks and > 208 oystercatchers have fledged from beaches in the Richmond River area between 1997–2018. The population for Bombing Range Beach has increased from 4–5 pairs in 2002–2004 to 8–9 pairs in 2016–2018. Vehicle-based recreation has increased strongly at South Ballina during the past decade versus Bombing Range is closed to the public. It is concluded that human recreation disturbance is preventing recruitment into the South Ballina oystercatcher breeding population. Without strong protection of habitat from such disturbance, the NSW oystercatcher breeding population size will continue to decrease in the next two decades.

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