The emergence as a pest of Aphodius tasmaniae Hope (Scarabaeidae) in pastrues in the lower south-east of South Australia.

1962 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Maelzer
Keyword(s):  
South Australia ◽  
Common Species ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Lower South

Aphodius tasmaniae Hope is an indigenous univoltine pest of improved pastures in South Australia. The species was rare, however, before European settlement and is still rare in areas which have not yet been developed agriculturally. Evidence is presented which suggests that A. tasmaniae is now a common species because man has supplied it with food and shelter on a vast scale.

Overview of The Status of Rock-wallabies in South Australia.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
P.B. Copley ◽  
P.J. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Census Data ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
The State ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
North West ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
The Status

The status of Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies (Petrogale xanthopus) and Black-footed Rock-wallabies (P. lateralis) in South Australia was assessed by comparing recent survey and census data with previously collated information about the distribution and relative abundance of each taxon. Petrogale xanthopus has maintained most of its known geographic range within the state; however, its relative abundance has declined significantly and 35 (or 15%) of a total of 229 recorded colonies have become extinct since European settlement. Eight of these colony extinctions have occurred over the past 25 years; three of them since 1981. As this species is continuing to decline it should be regarded as threatened within the state. Petrogale lateralis has at least two sub-species which occur in South Australia. Petrogale lateralis pearsoni is endemic to the state and occurs on offshore islands. Since 1960 its natural occurrence of about 3-500 individuals on North Pearson Island has been expanded to four other islands through translocations and the total population is now about 700-1100 animals. This subspecies, while not occurring in large numbers, is nonetheless relatively secure due to the additional populations established and the fact that these are on islands isolated from most mainland threats. The mainland subspecies, Petrogale lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race, by comparison has suffered a drastic reduction in both geographic range and abundance to the point where it is South Australia’s most critically endangered vertebrate taxon. It has declined from being a very common species in the state’s far north- west to only two known, widely separated, colonies which total less than 100 animals between them. Management and research recommendations are provided.

A survey of marine fungi on wood in South Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 469-478
Author(s):  
Sally C. Fryar ◽  
Kevin D. Hyde ◽  
David E. A. Catcheside
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Marine Fungi ◽  
New Records ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Substrate Type ◽  
Geographic Locations ◽  
Mangrove Wood ◽  
High Diversity

AbstractA survey of driftwood and mangrove wood in South Australia revealed a high diversity of marine fungi. Across eight sites there were 43 species of marine fungi, of which 42 are new records for South Australia, 11 new records for Australia and 12 taxa currently of uncertain status likely to be new species. Sites had distinctive species compositions with the largest difference attributable to substrate type (beach driftwood vs. mangrove wood). However, even between mangrove sites, species assemblages were distinctly different with only the more common species occurring at all mangrove sites. More intensive surveys across a broader range of habitats and geographic locations should reveal significantly more species.

The effect of temperature and moisture on the Immature Stages of Aphodius tasmaniae Hope (Scarabaeidae) in the lower South-east of South Australia.

1961 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Maelzer
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Water Content ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Lower South ◽  
Third Instar Larvae

The distribution and abundance of the univoltine species A. tasmaniae in the lower south-east of South Australia appears to be related to annual rainfall. The effects of moisture on the mortality rates of the immature stages were consequently studied and observations were made of the effects of variations in moisture in the field. Laboratory experiments and field observations suggested that variations in soil moisture have little effect on the eggs and the diapausing prepupae in the field. Eggs absorbed water and hatched normally within a pF range of 2.50-3.75 in a sand and in a clay loam. At pF 4.0 in both soils, eggs lost weight and did not hatch. The adults, however, tend to lay the eggs well within the pF range in which the eggs can develop, and soil samples suggested that eggs would develop with little mortality in the kinds of places in which they are usually laid. When prepupae enter diapause they have a water content of c. 77%. When desiccated in the laboratory, few prepupae died until their water content fell below 62%. The mortality rate then increased sharply, and it was estimated that 50% of the prepupae died when their water content dropped to 57%. Droughts of sufficient duration and intensity to kill 50% of the prepupae have never been recorded from the study area, and field observations suggested that few prepupae died of desiccation in summer. Unlike the two stages above, the first and third instar larvae may be markedly affected by variations in moisture in the field. The first instar larvae, after hatching, do not move to the surface of the soil and do not feed much until the soil is saturated with rain. As rainfall is variable at this time of the year, the larvae may be in dry soil for many weeks before they are stimulated to extend their burrows to the surface and search for food. Many larvae may die of starvation during this time, and the mortality rate of the larvae was related empirically to the length of the autumn "drought". Third instar larvae may be affected, on the other hand, by excessive water. In wet winters, vast numbers of larvae are drowned when extensive flooding occurs on the poorly-drained soils, and on well-drained soils a large proportion of larvae are killed by the entomophagous fungus Cordyceps aphodii. The above data have suggested that moisture is one of the major factors affecting the distribution and abundance of the species. Temperature has little effect on the rate of increase of the species.

Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) distribution has dramatically increased following sustained biological control of rabbits

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 321
Author(s):  
B. D. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Swamp Wallaby ◽  
Tiny Part

Swamp wallabies have dramatically extended their distribution through western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia over the last 40 years. Newspaper reports from 1875 onwards show that on European settlement, wallaby populations were confined to eastern Victoria, including the ranges around Melbourne, the Otway Ranges and Portland District of south-western Victoria, and a tiny part of south-eastern South Australia. Populations contracted further with intense hunting for the fur trade until the 1930s. In the late 1970s, however, wallabies began spreading into drier habitats than those initially recorded. Possible causes underlying this change in distribution are discussed; some seem unlikely but, because wallabies began spreading soon after the introduction of European rabbit fleas as vectors of myxomatosis, the cumulative effects of releases of biological agents to control rabbits appear important. A caution is given on assuming that thick vegetation in high-rainfall areas provides the only habitat suitable for swamp wallabies, but, most importantly, the study shows how native mammals may benefit if rabbit abundance is reduced.

Ease of calving, growth and carcass characteristics of crossbred calves in the lower South East of South Australia

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (122) ◽  
pp. 228 ◽  
Author(s):  
MPB Deland ◽  
RW Ponzoni ◽  
RW McNeil
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Slaughter Cattle ◽  
Calf Mortality ◽  
Lower South ◽  
Jersey Cows

Hereford, Charolais and Brahman sires were mated to Hereford, Shorthorn, Jersey and Friesian xshorthorn cows for four successive years from June 1969 at Struan Research Centre in South Australia. Assistance was given during 15 .9% of calvings resulting from Charolais sires, 6.8% resulting from Brahman sires and 2.1% from Hereford sires (differences statistically significant, P < 0 05). A greater percentage of Friesian x Shorthorn (13.8) than of Shorthorn (5.0) or Jersey (4 3) cows were assisted at birth (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences between the percentage of Hereford cows assisted (10.9) and that of any of the other dam breeds. There were no significant differences in calf mortality among sire breeds or among dam breeds. Charolais-sired calves were heavier at birth, 270,340 and 430 d old and had heavier (1 95 kg) carcasses with a smaller proportion of fat than Brahman- and Hereford-sired carcasses (180 and 167 kg respectively) at 430d old. Brahman-sired calves were heavier than Hereford-sired calves at birth, 370, 430 d old. However, they were significantly lighter at 270 d old. Hereford cows gave birth to significantly heavier calves than Shorthorn and Jersey cows but there were no clear differences due to dam breed in growth rates of calves, carcass weights or composition. It was concluded that the use of Charolais sires in the lower South East of South Australia can result in significant increases in the growth rate of slaughter cattle and in the production of leaner carcasses. Brahman sires did not exhibit clear advantages over Hereford sires. No definite conclusions could be drawn about the dam breeds examined in the study.

The decline of the Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr 1798), in arid Australia.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Kerle ◽  
JN Foulkes ◽  
RG Kimber ◽  
D Papenfus
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Average Water ◽  
Cumulative Residual ◽  
Predator Pit

That the brushtail possum was once common and widespread in the arid zone is confirmed by a collation of historical information. Although possums were widespread, detailed records from the Northern Territory and South Australia show that they were most abundant in rocky ranges and outcrops and along watercourses. Possums are now rare in the arid zone. In considering the reasons for the decline of this apparently robust species we have further developed Morton's (1990) model for mammal decline in the arid zone. Our hypothesis is based on the premise that disturbance of refuge habitat patches critical for the survival of the species was occurring at the same time as the country was subjected to a below average water balance. During the period between 1920 and 1970 rainfall was either average or markedly below average with no exceptional rainfalls recorded. Analysis of the rainfall data using a cumulative residual mass curve suggests that sub-surface waters were probably not fully recharged, placing a natural stress on the refuge habitats. At the same time, possum populations were being affected by many disturbing factors introduced by European settlement. Once the populations were reduced, they fell into a 'predator- pit' through depredation by dingoes and introduced predators and were unable to increase in numbers even with the advent of improved conditions. In this paper we identify the need to accurately determine the refuge habitats of a species and then utilise tools such as the cumulative mass residual curve to predict when these habitats will be under most stress. Specific protection measures can then be developed in association with land managers in order to reduce disturbance at the most critical times.

A field study on the biology of the underground grass caterpillar, Oncopera Fasciculata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), in South Australia.

1954 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
PE Madge
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Light Stimulus ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Surface Growth ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Lower South

This paper describes field studies on the biology and behaviour of Oncopera fasciculata (Walker), an important insect pest of improved pastures in the lower south-east of South Australia and the central and western districts of Victoria. Moths fly at dusk during September-October and mate mainly on upright grasses during these flights. The onset of flights seems to be related to a light stimulus but no correlation could be found from the data collected. Eggs are laid on the ground under pasture, where the female shelters at night and during the day; most eggs are laid within 24 hr after mating. Larvae appear in from 3 to 5 wk and live for a short while in communities at the surface of the ground under silken webbing before building individual vertical tunnels in the soil. Larvae emerge from their tunnels along silken runways to feed on surface growth. Annual grasses and clovers are more susceptible to attack than perennials. Feeding continues from October to July and visible damage appears about May, depending upon seasonal conditions. Prepupae appear in July and pucae during July-September.

scholarly journals Freshwater cyclopoids and harpacticoids (Crustacea: Copepoda) from the Gnangara Mound region of Western Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2029 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANNY TANG ◽  
BRENTON KNOTT
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
National Park ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Unconfined Aquifer ◽  
Swan Coastal Plain ◽  
Freshwater Copepods ◽  
First Time

The Gnangara Mound is a 2,200 km 2 unconfined aquifer located in the Swan Coastal Plain of Western Australia. This aquifer is one of the most important ground water resources for the Perth Region and supports a number of groundwaterdependent ecosystems, such as the springs of Ellen Brook and root mat communities of the Yanchep Caves. Although freshwater copepods have been documented previously from those caves and springs, their specific identity were hitherto unknown. The current work formally identifies copepod samples collected from 23 sites (12 cave, three bore, five spring and three surface water localities) within the Gnangara Mound region. Fifteen species were documented in this study: the cyclopoids Australoeucyclops sp., Eucyclops edytae sp. nov., Macrocyclops albidus (Jurine, 1820), Mesocyclops brooksi Pesce, De Laurentiis & Humphreys, 1996, Metacyclops arnaudi (G. O. Sars, 1908), Mixocyclops mortoni sp. nov., Paracyclops chiltoni (Thomson, 1882), Paracyclops intermedius sp. nov. and Tropocyclops confinis (Kiefer, 1930), and the harpacticoids Attheyella (Chappuisiella) hirsuta Chappuis, 1951, Australocamptus hamondi Karanovic, 2004, Elaphoidella bidens (Schmeil, 1894), Kinnecaris eberhardi (Karanovic, 2005), Nitocra lacustris pacifica Yeatman, 1983 and Paranitocrella bastiani gen. et sp. nov. Tropocyclops confinis is recorded from Australia for the first time and A. (Ch.) hirsuta and E. bidens are newly recorded for Western Australia. The only copepod taxa endemic to the Gnangara Mound region are E. edytae sp. nov. (occurs primarily in springs and rarely in the Yanchep National Park Caves) and P. bastiani gen. et sp. nov. (confined to the Yanchep National Park Caves containing tuart root mats). Paracyclops chiltoni was the most common species, whilst T. confinis and N. l. pacifica were rarely encountered. Metacyclops arnaudi was the only taxon absent from ground waters. The copepod fauna recorded in the caves and springs of the Gnangara Mound region are comparable, with respect to species richness, endemicity and the varying degrees of dependency on ground water, to those reported from similar habitats in South Australia and Western Australia. Restoring the root mats and maintaining permanent water flow within the Yanchep Caves, as well as minimising urban development near the Ellen Brook Springs, are essential to protect the copepod species, particularly the endemic P. bastiani gen. et sp. nov. and E. edytae sp. nov., inhabiting these unique ground water environments.

The current and future projected distribution of Solanum hoplopetalum (Solanaceae): an indigenous weed of the south-western Australian grain belt

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pippa J. Michael ◽  
Paul B. Yeoh ◽  
John K. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Current Distribution ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Management Options ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Lower South ◽  
Significant Match ◽  
Western Australian

The factors determining the distribution of the Western Australian endemic Solanum hoplopetalum Bitter & Summerh. (Solanaceae) were assessed because it was identified as a potential weed risk to Australian cropping regions, including under climate change scenarios. Incubation at constant temperatures determined daily plant growth rates and plants required 1380 degree-days above a threshold of 12.4°C to complete growth to flowering. From this and published information on the plant’s biology, we developed a mechanistic niche model using CLIMEX. The model projection for current climates produced a highly significant match to known distribution records. Spatially, the lower south-west and areas eastwards to South Australia, western New South Wales and southern parts of the Northern Territory were climatically suitable for growth of S. hoplopetalum. However, by 2070 the area under risk decreases, with the projected distribution under climate change contracting southwards. We hypothesise that climatic extremes and edaphic factors, possibly high soil pH, may be major factors determining the current distribution of S. hoplopetalum. Containment on the southern edge of the current distribution, interstate quarantine and local eradication in new areas of invasion are recommended as management options to combat the potential for this native weed to spread.

scholarly journals Potential Effects of the Loss of Native Grasses on Grassland Invertebrate Diversity in Southeastern Australia

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Edgcumbe Clay
Keyword(s):  
South Australia ◽  
Grass Cover ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Grass ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Grassland Community ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Southeastern Australia ◽  
Invertebrate Diversity ◽  
Invertebrate Biodiversity

Reduction in area of the southeastern temperate grasslands of Australia since European settlement has been accompanied by degradation of remaining remnants by various factors, including the replacement of native plant species by introduced ones. There are suggestions that these replacements have had deleterious effects on the invertebrate grassland community, but there is little evidence to support these suggestions. In the eastern Adelaide Hills of South Australia, four grassland invertebrate sampling areas, in close proximity, were chosen to be as similar as possible except for the visible amount of native grass they contained. Sample areas were surveyed in four periods (summer, winter, spring, and a repeat summer) using pitfall traps and sweep-netting. A vegetation cover survey was conducted in spring. Morphospecies richness and Fisher’s alpha were compared and showed significant differences between sample areas, mainly in the summer periods. Regression analyses between morphospecies richness and various features of the groundcover/surface showed a strong positive and logical association between native grass cover and morphospecies richness. Two other associations with richness were less strong and lacked a logical explanation. If the suggested direct effect of native grass cover on invertebrate diversity is true, it has serious implications for the conservation of invertebrate biodiversity.

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