Trends in Kangaroo Numbers in Western New South Wales and their relation to Rainfall

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Caughley ◽  
P Bayliss ◽  
J Giles
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Rate ◽  
New South ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
The West ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

Annual aerial counts of kangaroos within randomly selected blocks of the western plains of New South Wales showed that the numbers of kangaroos doubled between 1975-76 and 1982, and that the widespread drought of 1982 reduced the populations on average by 43%. Localized reductions of similar magnitude occurred after regional droughts in 1977 and 1980 within parts of the monitored area. The observed trends in kangaroo numbers, with eastern and western blocks treated separately, were correlated with annual rainfall with a time lag of 6 months in the response. The relationships show that kangaroos reach their maximum rate of increase following rainfall 100 mm above the annual average in the east and approximately 50 mm above the annual average in the west. At average annual rainfall kangaroos increase at 25% (greys) and 35% (reds) per annum in the east and at 25% (greys) and 30% (reds) per annum in the west. Rate of increase is zero when rainfall is 100 mm below average in the east and approximately 60 mm below average in the west. When rainfall is below these values, kangaroo numbers decline.

The relationship between average annual rainfall and exchangeable aluminium in soils of south-eastern New South Wales

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Conyers
Keyword(s):  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Aluminium Toxicity ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Neutral Salt ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
The Relationship

Surface soil samples (0-10 cm) from a range of soil types were collected in south-eastern New South Wales. Linear regression and analysis of variance were used to establish that, at a given pH (0.01M CaCl2), the amount of neutral salt exchangeable aluminium in surface soils tends to increase with increasing average annual rainfall. Where aluminium toxicity is a factor limiting plant growth, soils in higher rainfall areas will generally require higher pH for the removal of aluminium from the cation exchange complex.

Comparison of Wheel Point and Point Frame Methods for Plant Cover Measurement of Semiarid and Arid Rangeland Vegetation of New South Wales.

1994 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
H Arzani ◽  
GW King
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

Ground cover is frequently estimated in rangeland monitoring and it is an important intermediate measurement between biomass estimation and satellite imagery. As a preliminary phase in a longer term program, wheel point and point frame methods were used to measure vegetation cover on four permanent Soil Conservation Service transects at each of four land systems in western New South Wales, at Nyngan (410 mm average annual rainfall), at Cobar (364 mm average annual rainfall) and two at Fowlers Gap (200 mm average annual rainfall) north of Broken Hill. The majority of this work used 400 wheel point hits per transect and 100 point quadrats sub sampled 9 - 13 times along each of four transects. There was no statistically significant difference between these techniques for total foliage cover over a combined analysis of all sites under pre-drought conditions, and for pre-drought and post-drought at Cobar. However, there was a 10% difference estimated between the techniques for total foliage cover at Nyngan when it was analysed in isolation. There were no consistent differences in technique for cover estimation for more than 40 plant species including annual grasses and herbs, perennial grasses and saltbushes. Significant differences between techniques were found for Medicago sp. and Thyridolepis mitchelliana on one occasion. We believe that these differences were due to the problems of finding small plants in tall grass and identifying heavily grazed grasses during drought conditions at Cobar and, in the latter case, this was also associated with a significantly greater estimate of mean cover for all grasses and thus total foliage cover. Although there was generally no statistical difference between techniques our observations suggest that the point frame tends to give lower estimates of cover than the wheel point in the situations measured. This may be associated with the circumference of the marker pins on the wheel point or perhaps observer error but as this effect appeared to be more noticeable with grasses we suspect that the former is most likely. The wheel point is less time consuming, more convenient and simpler to use than the point frame, and will readily accommodate most temporal and spatial variation in sampling requirements in similar land forms in western New South Wales.

Farmer experience with perennial pastures in the mixed farming areas of southern New South Wales: on-farm participatory research investigating pasture establishment with cover-cropping

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 973 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Swan ◽  
M. B. Peoples ◽  
R. C. Hayes ◽  
G. D. Li ◽  
G. R. Casburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Cover Cropping ◽  
Mixed Farming ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall ◽  
On Farm

In 2009, 95 farmers in the mixed farming zone of southern New South Wales (NSW), average annual rainfall 450–700 mm, were surveyed about their use of perennial pasture species. Survey responses indicated that, on average, 52% of land was under crop, 29% contained perennial pasture and 19% annual pastures. The proportion of land sown to perennial pastures and the species used differed with rainfall. Farmers identified concerns about the cost of establishment and poor survival of perennial pasture species as constraints to wider adoption. The survey also revealed that cover-cropping (sowing pasture species under the final grain crop in a cropping phase) was the dominant method of pasture establishment. Large-scale, on-farm participatory experiments were sown with the farm machinery, three at Ariah Park and one at Brocklesby in southern NSW in 2009 (annual rainfall 100 mm less than long-term average), and a further two experiments (one at each location) commenced in 2010 (annual rainfall >200 mm above average). These experiments compared the effect of cereal cover-crop sowing rate (standard rates used by the collaborating farmer and half of the standard rate) on the establishment of the perennials lucerne (Medicago sativa), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and chicory (Cichorium intybus) sown in different mixes and rates with various annual legume species. The persistence and productivity of individual species were monitored for 2 years after sowing. Results indicated little or no effect of the presence of a cover-crop on the initial establishment of any of the perennials, but pasture species survival were severely affected by cover-crop sowing rates as low as half of the farmer practice (10 kg barley or 12 kg wheat ha–1) in 2009. Despite higher than average annual rainfall in 2010 and 2011, the residual effect of establishing pastures under a cover-crop in 2009 was poorer persistence and lower productivity by lucerne at the standard cover-cropping rate, and by phalaris, cocksfoot and chicory at all cover-crop rates, and an increased incidence of weeds. Similar responses to cover-cropping occurred between 2010 and 2012, even with the wetter establishment conditions in 2010, for phalaris, chicory and weeds, despite demonstration at Ariah Park that higher populations of individual perennial species could be achieved by doubling the sowing rate of pasture seed in 2010. Lucerne compensated for lower plant numbers by increasing herbage growth in response to rainfall, but phalaris could not and total pasture productivity over the first 2 years after establishment was greatly reduced by the use of cover-crops in both 2009 and 2010. Cover-cropping also reduced annual legume seedset, which could have implications for future pasture performance. Lucerne was the most consistently productive perennial pasture species evaluated regardless of establishment technique or climatic conditions.

Dynamics of the new south wales yellow-footed rock­wallaby population, in relation to rainfall patterns

2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sharp ◽  
M Norton
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Rate ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Numerical Response ◽  
Response Model ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
The Relationship

Yellow-footed rock-wallabies (Petrogale xanthopus) are listed as endangered in New South Wales (NSW). Annual helicopter surveys have been conducted, during winter, on the NSW population since 1980. Correlation analysis suggested that the exponential rate of increase (r) of the population was positively related to rainfall in the previous calender year. Ivlev's inverted exponential numerical response model was found to adequately represent the relationship between r and rainfall, though the fit was poor (R2 = 0.43). Examination of the fit of the numerical response model and the predictions for the consonants used in the model suggested that the lower end of the function was better approximated than the upper end. The predicted values for the maximum rate of decrease and the level of rainfall at which r would became positive could be intuitively explained given aspects of the wallabies' ecology. However, the estimated maximum rate of increase was far below theoretically predicted values, which suggested that the expected positive correlation between rainfall and recruitment was weak. This suggested that the NSW P. xanthopus population was not primarily regulated by absolute resource availability during the period of the study. Possible intrinsic and extrinsic factors that detrimentally influenced the population are proposed.

Surface soil acidity and fertility in the eastern Riverina and Western Slopes of southern New South Wales

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 949 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Scott ◽  
I. G. Fenton ◽  
A. G. Fanning ◽  
W. G. Schumann ◽  
L. J. C. Castleman
Keyword(s):  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Acidic Soils ◽  
The West ◽  
Surface Soils ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Subsurface Soil ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

This study, in southern New South Wales (NSW), examined the chemical properties of ~4700 surface soils in agricultural paddocks and recorded lime and gypsum inputs. The area was bounded approximately by Cootamundra in the north, the NSW/Victorian border in the south, extending to Tumbarumba in the east and to near Berrigan in the west. The long-term average annual rainfall ranged from ~420 mm in the west to a maximum of 1175 mm in the east. The data, collected between 1997 and 2003, were for the surface 20 cm of soil, in two 10-cm layers. The data were generated from a soil testing program conducted with farmers in the region. We grouped the soils into three zones based on a GPS location taken at the time of sampling. These zones were 1 (lower rainfall mixed farming), 2 (higher rainfall mixed farming) and 3 (long-term pasture). Acidic soils occurred across all three zones; however, the soils in zone 1 appeared to be less acidic than soils in the other two zones. We found that surface soils (0–10 cm) with soil pH in 1 : 5 soil : 0.01 mol/L calcium chloride (pHCa) ≤4.5 represented 27%, 57% and 54% for zones 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In addition, zone 1 had 74% of surface soils with a pHCa ≤ 5.0, and this was more acidic than previously reported. However, the surface soils in zone 1 had relatively low exchangeable aluminium (Alex) and had less acidic subsurface soils (10–20 cm), so that responses to lime application by pastures and crops may be less frequent or smaller than the surface soil pHCa alone may indicate. There was a higher frequency of acidic soils (pHCa ≤ 4.5) in the subsurface soils than in the surface soils in zones 2 (62 cf. 57%) and 3 (64 cf. 54%), suggesting that the acidity problem at this depth was a major problem. Low pHCa in the subsurface soil is known to be a constraint on crop yield. We found no evidence of the amendment of this soil depth when lime was applied and incorporated into the 0–10 cm depth, and economic amendment of acidity in the 10–20 cm depth remains unresolved. Increased adoption of liming occurred in the late 1990s, and by 1997 the percentage of paddocks limed was 14.3%, 21.3% and 13.6% in zones 1 to 3, respectively. Soil pH buffering and long-term pHCa decline after liming were similar to rates reported in field experiments. The total quantities of lime applied were insufficient for soil amendment and maintenance of soil pHCa, particularly in the long-term pasture areas. The rate of soil acidification in the 0–20 cm depth in the average annual rainfall range of 525–625 mm was estimated to be 1.52 kmol H+/ha.year. This would require 76 kg lime/ha.year to neutralise. Sodic and saline soils occurred mainly in the lower rainfall cropping areas, and were more frequent in an area around the township of Lockhart. Half the gypsum applications were at low rates (≤0.5 t/ha), and were probably for sulfur application to canola. Some of the sodic soils were acidic (34% ≤ pHCa 4.5) so that the application of lime/gypsum mixes could be appropriate in the amendment of these soils. Soils in the pasture system had mean organic carbon content (OC%) of 2.42, compared to the cropping zones at 1.65 and 1.75%. OC% was related to annual average rainfall; the increase in OC% was 0.19% and 0.08% for each 100 mm of average annual rainfall for the surface and subsurface soil, respectively. A group of soils in the cropping areas had surface OC% ≤ 1.25% OC (zone 1, 12%; zone 2, 20%) and this could be the result of intensive cropping. Most soils (55–63%) were of moderate P status (P(Colwell), 21–60 µg/g). However, there was still a substantial group of soils (31–43%) of low P status (P ≤ 20 µg/g). Most surface soils in all zones (72–80%) were low to marginal in sulfur status (KCl 40, ≤10 mg S/kg). Sulfur deficiency has been identified in canola, and current practice in the cropping areas is for inputs of gypsum at low rates.

scholarly journals The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-241
Author(s):  
Volker W. Framenau ◽  
Barbara C. Baehr
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wolf Spider ◽  
Coastal Environments ◽  
Australian Capital Territory ◽  
The West ◽  
Australian Capital ◽  
Nomen Dubium ◽  
South Wales ◽  
East And West

The wolf spider (Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833) genusArtoriaThorell, 1877 is revised for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia, to include 34 species, 21 of which are new to science:A.albopilata(Urquhart, 1893),A.altaFramenau 2004,A.beaurysp. n.,A.barringtonensissp. n.,A.belfordensissp. n.,A.berenice(L. Koch, 1877),A.bondisp. n.,A.boodereesp. n.,A.comleroisp. n.,A.corowasp. n.,A.equipalussp. n.,A.extraordinariasp. n.,A.flavimanaSimon, 1909,A.gloriosa(Rainbow, 1920),A.grahammilledgeisp. n.,A.helensmithaesp. n.,A.howquaensisFramenau, 2002,A.kanangrasp. n.,A.kerewongsp. n.,A.lineata(L. Koch, 1877),A.marootasp. n.,A.mckayiFramenau, 2002,A.mungosp. n.,A.munmorahsp. n.,A.myallensissp. n.,A.quadrataFramenau, 2002,A.slatyerisp. n.,A.streperasp. n.,A.taeniiferaSimon, 1909,A.teraniasp. n.,A.triangularisFramenau, 2002,A.ulrichiFramenau, 2002,A.victoriensisFramenau, Gotch & Austin, 2006, andA.wilkieisp. n.LycosapruinosaL. Koch, 1877, currently listed inArtoria, is considered a nomen dubium.Artoriaare largely forest dwellers, although some species have preferences for more open areas such as riparian or coastal environments or grasslands. Consequently, the genus mainly occurs east and west along the Great Dividing Range, although some species can be found into the Riverina, Cobar Peneplain and Darling Riverine Plains IBRA regions to the west.

Wheat for fodder and grain on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD FitzGerald ◽  
ML Curll ◽  
EW Heap
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Wheat Varieties ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Wales

Thirty varieties of wheat originating from Australia, UK, USA, Ukraine, and France were evaluated over 3 years as dual-purpose wheats for the high rainfall environment of the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales (mean annual rainfall 851 mm). Mean grain yields (1.9-4.3 t/ha) compared favourably with record yields in the traditional Australian wheatbelt, but were much poorer than average yields of 6.5 t/ha reported for UK crops. A 6-week delay in sowing time halved grain yield in 1983; cutting in spring reduced yield by 40% in 1986. Grazing during winter did not significantly reduce yields. Results indicate that the development of wheat varieties adapted to the higher rainfall tablelands and suited to Australian marketing requirements might help to provide a useful alternative enterprise for tableland livestock producers.

Predation of Red Kangaroos, Macropus rufus, by the Dingo, Canis familiaris dingo (Blumenbach) in North-Western New South Wales

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
NC Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Pathological Finding ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Daily Rate ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Border Fence ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Difference ◽  
North Western

Over 7 weeks a group of five dingoes killed 83 red kangaroos within 150 m of a watering point in north-western New South Wales. All except three of these kangaroos were juveniles. Detailed autopsies were performed on 17 of the dead kangaroos: primary predation was the only significant gross pathological finding; the dingoes had eaten portions from about half the kangaroos killed. The daily rate of killing was estimated to be about 0.38 kg prey per kg predator. The rate of killing and the selection for juvenile kangaroos suggested that dingoes could have a direct effect on kangaroo densities by limiting rate of increase. The significance of this finding is discussed with reference to the difference in abundance of kangaroos between the New South Wales and Queensland sides of the border fence.

Gastro-intestinal parasites in sheep in an arid environment

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Gray ◽  
JP Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Anthelmintic Treatment ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Nematode Parasites ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
South Wales

Internal parasitism and its effects on survival, wool growth and liveweight gain of weaner sheep were studied over 3 years from 1977 to 1979 at Fowlers Gap Research Station, Broken Hill, New South Wales. During this period, annual rainfall was 33, 152 and 141 % respectively, of the annual mean of 195 mm. Worm burdens and production of sheep given anthelmintic treatment at approximately monthly intervals were compared with those in untreated sheep. Total worm counts in untreated sheep were low, ranging from 1 5 to 3750. Nematodirus spp. were the most common nematode parasites recovered. lnfections with Trichostrongylus spp, were recorded in 2 of the 3 years; T. rugatus was the only species represented when species identification was made in 1979. Infections of Haemonchus contortus were only detected in the last year. Tapeworms (Moniezia spp.) were occasionally recovered. Anthelmintic treatment reduced worm burdens to a very low level but had no significant effect on survival rate, liveweight gain, or wool production. We concluded that in the arid areas of western New South Wales, worm infection would not limit production or cause mortality in young sheep, except in unusually wet years.

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