Sightability as a Factor in Aerial Survey of Bird Species and Communities

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
LS Broome
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Water Body ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Flying Height ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Bodies Of Water

Experimental aerial and ground censuses of waterbirds were conducted on three small, isolated bodies of water on the New England tablelands of New South Wales. The flying height at which sightability was optimized for the most common species was 30 m. Aerial and ground counts were significantly correlated for most species on the three watar bodies. Black swan, swamphen, coots, musk ducks and maned ducks were counted in equivalent or greater numbers from the air than from the ground on at least one water body. Other species were counted in lower numbers from the air than from the ground. A fairly high precision in the aerial-ground relationship for the most abundant species indicates that aerial survey can be a useful procedure for obtaining indices or estimates of the population sizes of these species. However, differences in sightability between species and between types of water body indicate that indices should be used and interpreted with caution. Other bird species from a variety of habitat types which are also amenable to aerial survey are discussed, and some recommendations for aerial surveys of birds are provided.

Bird communities in remnant woodland on the New England Tablelands, New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. S. Debus ◽  
H. A. Ford ◽  
D. Page
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Private Land ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
South Wales

We provide a geographic and landscape context for ongoing studies on bird communities in eucalypt woodland remnants on the New England Tablelands, New South Wales. We draw together several surveys that have not been published in the scientific literature, and integrate them with previously published material. A total of 142 woodland bird species, including 12 threatened species, was recorded in remnant woodland in the area above 900 m elevation from 50 km SSE to 100 km NNW of Armidals. There was a positive relationship between remnant size and bird species richness. Woodland reserves >300 ha supported significantly more species than remnants <100 ha on private land. Intensively surveyed reserves also had more species than remnants surveyed more casually. Threatened and other declining species occurred mainly in medium-sized (100-300 ha) and large reserves; foraging guilds of small to medium-sized, ground and above-ground insectivores were impoverished in degraded medium-sized and small remnants on private land. Almost the full range of woodland bird species was found at one or more sites, indicating their conservation value. However, some species were found in few sites or were only vagrants at a site. Active management will be needed to retain the current diversity of bird species in such heavily cleared landscapes.

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.

scholarly journals Small mammal populations of an agroecosystem in the Atlantic Forest domain, southeastern Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
PS. D’Andrea ◽  
R. Gentile ◽  
LS. Maroja ◽  
FA. Fernandes ◽  
R. Coura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Small Mammal Community ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Didelphis Aurita

This study reports 2 years of the population dynamics and reproduction of a small mammal community using the removal method. The study was conducted in a rural area of the Atlantic Forest, in Sumidouro, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The population sizes, age structure and reproduction were studied for the four most common species in the study area. The overall diversity was 1.67 and ranged between 0.8 to 1.67. The species richness was 13 considering the whole study. The most abundant species were the rodents Nectomys squamipes (n = 133), Akodon cursor (n = 74), Oligoryzomys nigripes (n = 25) and the marsupials Didelphis aurita (n = 58) and Philander frenatus (n = 50). Seven other rodents were captured once: Necromys lasiurus, Akodon montensis, Sooretamys angouya, Oecomys catherine, Oxymycterus judex, Euryzygomatomys spinosus and Trinomys iheringi. There were higher peaks for diversity and species richness during the winter (dry) months, probably due to higher food availability. The marsupials had a seasonal reproduction with highest population sizes at the end of the rainy seasons. Nectomys squamipes reproduced mostly during rainy periods. Akodon cursor reproduced predominantly in the winter with the highest population peaks occurring during this season. The analysis of the population dynamics of the rodent species indicated that no species behaved as an agricultural pest, probably due to the heterogeneous landscape of high rotativity of vegetable cultivation. Rodent populations were more susceptible to the removal procedure than marsupial ones.

Some potassium‐argon ages in New England, New South Wales

1963 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cooper ◽  
J. R. Richards ◽  
A. W. Webb
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales

Biology of four species of Whiting (Pisces: Sillaginidae) in Botany Bay, NSW

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Burchmore ◽  
DA Pollard ◽  
MJ Middleton ◽  
JD Bell ◽  
BC Pease
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Fish Size ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Gonadal Maturity ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
First Maturity ◽  
Spatial Habitat

Four species of whiting (Family Sillaginidae) were collected from Botany Bay, New South Wales, between 1977 and 1979: Sillago ciliata (sand whiting), S. maculata maculata (trumpeter whiting), S. robusta (stout whiting) and S. bassensis flindersi (eastern school whiting). Sillago ciliata was the most abundant species over-all. Sillago ciliata was caught in greatest numbers in Zostera seagrass and shallow sandy habitats, whereas S. m. maculata, S. robusta and S. b. flindersi were most abundant over deeper muddy and sandy habitats. Sillago ciliata and S. b. flindersi were present mainly as juveniles. Gonosomatic indices and gonadal maturity stages of S. ciliata and S. m. maculata peaked around February. These species probably spawn within the Bay. Length to caudal fork at first maturity was 24 cm for male and female S. ciliata, 19 cm for male and female S. m. maculata, 17 cm for male and 18 cm for female S. robusta, and 14 cm for male and female S. b. flindersi. Although all species fed mainly on polychaetes and crustaceans, there was little overlap in specific dietary items between species. Variations observed in diet were due to fish size and temporal and spatial habitat differences within and among species.

Temporal and spatial variability in the community structure of the fauna of four sandy beaches in south-eastern New South Wales.

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Dexter
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Faunal Composition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Four intertidal sandy beaches with different exposures, La Perouse, Ocean Beach, Dolls Point, and Towra Point, were studied for temporal and spatial changes in faunal composition and community structure. Each of these beaches was sampled from 6 to 12 times between July 1980 and July 1981 using a 500 �m sieve. A stratified random sampling procedure across the intertidal zone isolated 40 660 individuals representing 85 species. Distribution and abundance of species were strongly influenced by tidal level. Densities changed during the year but no seasonal changes in intertidal zonation patterns were found. Changes in density were correlated with the reproductive activities of the abundant species, especially Pseudolana concinna and Exoediceros maculosus at La Perouse, and Spio pacifica at Dolls Point and Towra Point. The number of species increased from high to low tide, and also increased with decreasing exposure to wave action. Crustaceans dominated the fauna in the most exposed site and decreased in abundance with increasing protection. Ocean Beach experienced the least fluctuation in physical factors such as wave action, salinity, and temperature, and its fauna exhibited the highest diversity index (H') and evenness (J'), the most stable density, and the greatest stability in faunal composition through time. The highest densities and the most species were found at Towra Point, which also was the most protected site.

scholarly journals How many bird extinctions have we prevented?

Oryx ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart H.M. Butchart ◽  
Alison J. Stattersfield ◽  
Nigel J. Collar
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Principal Actions

Considerable resources and efforts have been directed at biodiversity conservation in recent years, but measures of the success of conservation programmes have been limited. Based on information on population sizes, trends, threatening processes and the nature and intensity of conservation actions implemented during 1994–2004, we assessed that 16 bird species would have probably become extinct during this period if conservation programmes for them had not been undertaken. The mean minimum population size of these 16 species increased from 34 to 147 breeding individuals during 1994–2004. In 1994, 63% of them had declining populations but by 2004, 81% were increasing. Most of these species (63%) are found on islands. The principal threats that led to their decline were habitat loss and degradation (88%), invasive species (50%) and exploitation (38%), a pattern similar to that for other threatened species, but with exploitation and invasive species being relatively more important. The principal actions carried out were habitat protection and management (75% of species), control of invasive species (50%), and captive breeding and release (33%). The 16 species represent only 8.9% of those currently classified as Critically Endangered, and 1.3% of those threatened with extinction. Many of these additional species slipped closer to extinction during 1994–2004, including 164 that deteriorated in status sufficiently to be uplisted to higher categories of extinction risk on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2006). Efforts need to be considerably scaled up to prevent many more extinctions in the coming decades. The knowledge and tools to achieve this are available, but we need to mobilize the resources and political will to apply them.

An Aerial Survey of 3 Game Species of Waterfowl (Family Anatidae) Populations in Eastern Australia

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
LW Braithwaite ◽  
M Maher ◽  
SV Briggs ◽  
BS Parker
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Game Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Black Duck ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Central Eastern

Populations of waterfowl of three game species, the Pacific black duck Anus superciliosa, grey teal A. gibberifrons, and maned duck Chenonetta jubata, were assessed by aerial survey in October 1983 within a survey region of 2 697 000 km2 of eastern Australia. The numbers of each species were assessed on all surface waters of over 1 ha, and on a sample of smaller surface waters within 10 survey bands each 30 km wide and spaced at intervals of 2� latitude from 20�30' to 38�30'S. The area within the survey bands was 324 120 km2, which gave a sampling intensity of 12.0% of the land surface area. The area of features shown as wetlands or water impoundments within the survey bands on 1 : 2 500 000 topographic maps was 19 200 km2 or 11.2% of the total area of these features in the survey region. The area of surface waters surveyed was assessed at 465 300 ha. Assessments of populations of each species were tallied for wetlands by grid cells of 6 min of 1� longitude along the survey bands (258-309 km2 depending on latitude). Distributions were then mapped, with log*10 indices of populations in each cell. Distributions of the black duck and grey teal showed a pattern of intense aggregation in limited numbers of cells, that of the maned duck was more evenly distributed. The major concentrations of the Pacific black duck were recorded in northern New South Wales and the south-eastern, western, central eastern and central coastal regions of Queensland; those of the grey teal were in south-western, western and northern New South Wales and central-eastern Queensland; the maned duck was broadly distributed over inland New South Wales with the exception of the far west, inland southern Queensland, and central northern Victoria.

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