An early Pleistocene record of a giant koala (Phascolarctidae: Marsupialia) from western Victoria.

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
KJ Piper
Keyword(s):  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
New South ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Early Pliocene ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Western Victoria

THE pre Holocene-Late Pleistocene record of Phascolarctos in Australia is extremely meagre. There are at least two, possibly three extinct species of Phascolarctos in addition to the extant Phascolarctos cinereus (Black 1999). P. yorkensis (syn. Cundokoala yorkensis; Black and Archer 1997) is known from the Early Pliocene Curramulka Local Fauna, South Australia (SA), and the Late Pleistocene Wellington Caves Local Fauna, New South Wales (Archer et al. 1997; Pledge 1992). P. stirtoni occurs in the Late Pleistocene Cement Mills Local Fauna, Queensland, and is known only from a partial maxilla containing P3-M2 (Bartholomai 1968, 1977). Phascolarctos material from the mid- Pleistocene Victoria Fossil Cave and Spring Cave, Naracoorte, SA, have also been referred to P. cf. stirtoni but remain undescribed (Reed and Bourne 2000; Moriarty et al. 2000). P. maris is known from a single lower molar from the Early Pliocene Sunlands Local Fauna, SA (Pledge 1987). Black (1999) cast doubt on its validity, suggesting its features may fall within the intraspecific variation of P. stirtoni. If P. maris is referable to P. stirtoni it is another South Australian instance of this species, and extends its range back to the Early Pliocene. The new phascolarctid material documented here is from the early Pleistocene Nelson Bay Local Fauna, Portland, Victoria (141o 35? E; 38o 36? S). It is therefore an important additional southern occurrence of a species larger than the living P. cinereus, and is the only pre- Late Pleistocene record of the Phascolarctidae in Victoria.

Morphological analysis of the Grevillea ilicifolia complex (Proteaceae) and recognition of taxa

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trisha L. Downing ◽  
Marco F. Duretto ◽  
Pauline Y. Ladiges
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Spanning Trees ◽  
New South ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Minimum Spanning Trees ◽  
Leaf Form ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Lobed Leaf

A morphological study of herbarium and field-collected specimens, using phenetic techniques of agglomerative classification, ordination and minimum spanning trees, and covering the geographic range of the Holly Grevillea, G.�ilicifolia (R.Br.) R.Br. sensu lato, has resulted in the recognition of three species and four subspecies. The taxa are based on leaf form, noted by previous authors to be highly variable between populations. The taxa recognised here are G.�ilicifolia, G.�ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia (typical, kite-shaped leaf form), G.�ilicifolia subsp. lobata (F.Muell.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov. (oak-shaped leaf form), G.�dilatata (R.Br.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov. (fan-shaped leaf form), G.�angustiloba (F.Muell.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov., G.�angustiloba subsp. angustiloba (narrow-lobed leaf form) and G.�angustiloba subsp. wirregaensis T.L.Downing subsp. nov. (very narrow-lobed leaf form). The rank of subspecies is used where there are some intermediate plants between forms. Grevillea ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia is the most widespread taxon and occurs in South Australia, western Victoria and in two localities in New South Wales. Grevillea angustiloba subsp. wirregaensis has the most restricted range, occurring in semi-arid regions near Wirrega in South Australia. Grevillea dilatata is largely endemic to Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Population ranges of Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera) in south-eastern Australia

1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
PD Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Navigational Cues ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
South Eastern Australia

In south-eastern Australia banding of M. schreibersii has been concentrated in four areas: north-eastern New South Wales, south-eastern New South Wales, south-eastern Victoria, and south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. The present paper analyses 2083 reported movements. Only 17 of these are from one of the four areas to another with the longest movement being 810 miles. Biologically and geographically separate populations of M. schreibersii are recognized in both north-eastern and south-eastern New South Wales. Each population has its basis in dependence upon a specific nursery site which is used annually by nearly all adult females in that population. Boundaries of population ranges in New South Wales are considered to be prominent features of physiography (i.e. divides). Bats move between population ranges less often than they move within population ranges. This cannot be explained solely in terms of the distances separating roosts. Available movement records from Victoria and South Australia are consistent with the pattern described for New South Wales. Two biologically recognizable populations (i.e, different birth periods) occur in south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia but these may have overlapping ranges. Only one nursery colony of M. schreibersii is known from south-eastern Victoria. On present evidence it remains possible that the apparent integrity of the population associated with this nursery is merely a consequence of distance from other areas of banding activity. Detailed analyses of movements in bats may provide direct evidence as to the kinds of cues by which a given species navigates. Thus the physiographic basis described for population ranges in New South Wales is consistent with the view that M. schreibersii may orientate to waterways or divides or both. The probability that there are area differences in the subtlety or nature of navigational cues is implied by the different physiographic circumstances of south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. It is suggested that knowledge of population range boundaries may aid planning of meaningful homing experiments.

Variation in Phebalium glandulosum subsp. glandulosum: morphometric and anatomical evidence (Rutaceae)

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Giles ◽  
Andrew N. Drinnan ◽  
Neville G. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Anatomical Variation ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
New Subspecies ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Climate Analysis ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
North Western

Specimens of Phebalium glandulosum Hook. subsp. glandulosum representing the entire geographic range of the subspecies were examined for morphological and anatomical variation. Phenetic patterns were identified with the pattern analysis package PATN, and three distinct groups were identified. One group consists of plants from inland areas of New South Wales, north-western Victoria, and the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas of South Australia; a second group consists of plants collected from alongside the Snowy River in eastern Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales; and a third group consists of plants from Queensland and northern New South Wales. The climate analysis program BIOCLIM was used to compare climate variables across the geographic range, and showed clear climatic separation in support of the phenetic analysis. The three groups are formally recognised here as distinct subspecies. Plants from Queensland and the Bourke region of northern New South Wales belong to the typical subspecies; plants from north-western Victoria, central New South Wales, and the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas of South Australia form a cohesive assemblage and are recognised as a new subspecies P. glandulosum subsp. macrocalyx; and plants from the Snowy River in far eastern Victoria and the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales form a distinct and isolated group recognised as a new subspecies P. glandulosum subsp. riparium. These new subspecies are formally described, and an identification key and summaries distinguishing all six subspecies of P. glandulosum are presented.

The Abundance of Kangaroos in Suboptimal Habitats: Wheat, Intensive Pastoral, and Mallee

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Short ◽  
GC Grigg
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Western Victoria

The densities of red and grey kangaroos in western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia were assessed by aerial survey. Much of the 133000-km2 area surveyed was farmed intensively for wheat and sheep but a significant proportion was largely unaltered mallee woodland or mallee heath. Of the total area, 85% had a density of less than one kangaroo per square kilometre, and 32% had a density of less than 0.01 km-2, values considerably lower than those reported for pastoral areas in New South Wales and South Australia. Low densities in settled areas are attributed to intensive agricultural practices, small landholdings and lack of tree cover. Low densities in mallee may be due to the lack of palatable grasses and the absence of permanent watering points.

Four new species of Telanepsia Turner (Lepidoptera : Oecophoridae) with larvae feeding on koala and possum scats

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 809 ◽  
Author(s):  
IFB Common ◽  
M Horak
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Australian Capital Territory ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Australian Capital ◽  
South Wales ◽  
New Synonym ◽  
Fourth Species ◽  
Western Victoria

Four species of Telanepsia Turner (Lepidoptera : Oecophoridae : Oecophorinae), T. stockeri, T: scatophila, T. tidbinbilla and T. coprobora, are described as new. The first three have been reared from larvae feeding and pupating within the scats of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus Goldfuss). Two of these (T. stockeri and T. scatophila) were discovered during a study of koala distribution in the Tantawangalo State Forest, south-eastern New South Wales, and larvae of T. tidbinbilla were collected in koala scats in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Australian Capital Territory. Larvae of the fourth species (T. coprobora) were found in western Victoria entering from the soil and feeding in the scats of possums (probably the brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr), finally pupating in the soil. Adults of this species have also been collected in southern Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Goniobela Turner is established as a new synonym of Telanepsia, and tornospila (Turner) as a new synonym of eucentra (Turner). Six lectotypes are designated and 12 new combinations established.

Insect migration across Bass Strait during spring: a radar study

1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Drake ◽  
K. F. Helm ◽  
J. L. Readshaw ◽  
D. G. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Insect Flight ◽  
New South ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
South Australia ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Insect Migration ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Trap Catches ◽  
North Western

AbstractAn entomological radar was used to observe insect flight activity at a coastal locality in north-western Tasmania during the spring of 1973. Insects were regularly observed to take off at dusk, and local movements from nearby islands were detected on several occasions. Large-scale southward movements of insects across Bass Strait were also observed and were found to be associated with the warm anticyclonic airflows which occur ahead of a cold front. Light-trap catches indicated that the insects were noctuid moths, with Persectania ewingii (Westw.), Heliothis punctiger Wllgr. and Agrotis munda Wlk. dominant. The movements appear to have originated mainly in Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, but it is tentatively suggested that the ultimate source of the moths was in the region stretching westwards from north-western Victoria and south-western New South Wales towards the shores of the Spencer Gulf, South Australia.

A revision of Cassinia (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) in Australia. 7. Cassinia subgenus Achromolaena

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
A. E. Orchard
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Sister Species ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
New Name ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Western Victoria

The present paper completes a revision of the endemic Australian genus Cassinia R.Br. Cassinia subgenus Achromolaena comprises two sections, namely, section Achromolaena of seven species (C. laevis, C. arcuata, C. uncata, C. tenuifolia, C. collina, C. subtropica, and C. quinquefaria), and Cassinia section Siftonia, which contains two species (C. sifton and C. theodorii). Cassinia laevis is divided into western (C. laevis subsp. laevis) and eastern (C. laevis subsp. rosmarinifolia (A.Cunn.) Orchard, comb. et stat. nov.) taxa. Examination of the type of C. arcuata showed that this name is synonymous with C. paniculata, and applies to a relatively rare taxon with whitish capitula arranged in short erect compact panicles, and found in Western Australia, the midlands of South Australia, western Victoria and (formerly) south-western New South Wales. Furthermore, it belongs to section Achromolaena. The taxon with red to brown capitula, widespread throughout south-eastern Australia, which until now has been (incorrectly) known as C. arcuata (Sifton bush) is distinct, but lacks a published name. The name Cassinia sifton Orchard, sp. nov. is here proposed for this taxon. An unfortunate outcome of this discovery is that the sectional name Cassinia section Arcuatae, with C. arcuata as type, becomes synonymous with section Achromolaena. The new name Cassinia section Siftonia is proposed to accommodate Sifton bush (C. sifton) and its narrowly endemic sister species C. theodorii. A summary of the whole genus is provided, with keys to all taxa. Three former subspecies of C. macrocephala are raised to species rank (C. petrapendula (Orchard) Orchard, C. storyi (Orchard) Orchard, C. tenuis (Orchard) Orchard), and it is suggested that C. furtiva Orchard may be conspecific with C. straminea (Benth.) Orchard.

Populations of Barracouta, Thyrsites atun (Euphrasen), in Australian Waters.

1954 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Blackburn ◽  
PE Gartner
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
New South ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Australian Fish ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Different populations of barracouta (Scombriformes: Acinaceidae), the principal Australian fish of commerce, have been recognized by a study of differences in the following: spawning season; size composition of adult stock; and seasonal movements and annual fluctuations as revealed by records of catch and fishing effort. Tagging experiments gave little information because of the low rate of commercial exploitation of the populations. There are probably five populations in southern coastal waters, which make migrations to certain areas as follows: one in winter and spring to eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales, one from spring to autumn to Bass Strait and its western approaches, one in summer and autumn to eastern Tasmania, one in autumn and winter to South Australia and western Victoria, and one (possibly not distinct from the previous population) in autumn and winter to the south coast of Western Australia. Spawning and feeding take place in the course of these migrations. Little is known about the populations when they are not migrating, but the three first-mentioned groups all appear to seek the neighbourhood of eastern Bass Strait between the migratory seasons. The fish prefer waters of about 13-180C and tend to vacate areas when they become cooler or warmer than this. Only the Bass Strait and eastern Tasmanian populations are significantly fished and the size of the catches is generally governed by the demand. However, there have been occasional years of scarcity, such as 1950-51 and 1951-52 in Bass Strait and 1951-52 in eastern Tasmania. These represent natural fluctuations (there is no evidence of depletion of any population) and for the Bass Strait population they are probably fluctuations in availability in the fishing areas rather than in abundance of the whole population. It is considered that the combined Australian populations could yield 10 times as much as the present annual catch of 6,000,000 Ib (beheaded and cleaned) when fluctuations were not adverse.

Area of Distribution, Movements, Age Composition and Mortality Rates of the Australian Salmon Population in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales

1978 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Stanley
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
South Australia ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Salmon Population ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Age Range

Two subspecies of the Australian salmon, a perciform fish, occur in eastern Australian waters. The western subspecies, Arripis trutta esper (Whitley), is found only in Tasmania and Victoria. In Tasmanian waters fish do not occur above an age of 2+ years. In Victoria about 300 000 fish (180 tonnes) of an age range from of to 5+ years are caught annually. The younger age groups are found in sheltered areas, and the older age groups along the open coastline, especially in western Victoria. Returns of tags from fish thought to be of the western subspecies indicate that movement towards Western Australia takes place via western Victoria and South Australia, rather than by a direct seawards movement. For the eastern subspecies, Arripis trutta marginata (Cuvier & Valenciennes), young fish from 0+ to 2+ years are found predominantly in Tasmania and Victoria, and older fish from 4+ years in New South Wales. Recaptures of tagged fish indicate that there is a continual movement at all stages of the life cycle from Tasmania to Victoria and then to New South Wales. Fish within New South Wales also show evidence of a movement southwards, which probably occurs only once, to the eastern Bass Strait area. Fish older than 5+ years move increasingly northwards in New South Wales waters. For the eastern subspecies estimates of M, the instantaneous annual natural mortality coefficient, range from 0.5 to 1.0, and estimates of F, the instantaneous annual fishing mortality coefficient, range from 0.3 to 0.7. It is suggested that in the present eastern subspecies fishery greater yields should result from increasing the fishing pressure up to about twice the present value.

Taxonomy and distribution of the grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus Shaw and Macropus Fuliginosus (Desmarest), and their subspecies (Marsupialia : Macropodidae)

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAW Kirsch ◽  
WE Poole
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Double Diffusion ◽  
Starch Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Species Overlap ◽  
Starch Gel ◽  
Western Victoria

Of all the Macropodidae, grey kangaroos cover the widest range in Australia. There is considerable geographical variation in morphology and opinions have differed as to the taxonomic status of the various kinds. This investigation supports a primary division of grey kangaroos into two species-eastern and western on the basis of serological, reproductive, and morphological distinctions. The eastern species, M. giganteus, is found in all eastern states, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, plus south-east South Australia, while the western species, M. fuliginosus, occurs in south-western Western Australia and southern South Australia including Kangaroo I., extending into western Victoria and south-western New South Wales, where the ranges of the two species overlap. Transferrin polymorphism was detected by starch-gel electrophoresis, revealing three phenotypes, A, AB, and B. Western populations possess all three phenotypes, but eastern populations have type A only. Western and eastern grey kangaroos also have characteristic antigens. Eastern animals when immunized with sera from western kangaroos produced antibodies which during double-diffusion analysis reacted with sera from western individuals. Likewise the reverse immunization acted as expected. Thus the origin of individuals, from western or eastern populations, could be determined. Hybrids were not found in the field, but matings between captive western males and eastern females the reverse mating never occurred produced hybrids whose antigens were characteristic of both parental types. In eastern grey kangaroos the mean length of oestrous'cycle, 45.6 days, and gestation period, 36.4 days, is longer than in western kangaroos, with mean lengths 34.9 and 30.6 days. Oestrous cycles of hybrid females and gestation periods of all hybrids are of intermediate length, 37.6 and 34.1 days respectively. The colour of eastern grey kangaroos ranges from light to dark grey while western kangaroos are brown. The history of the previously described taxa and the effect of the current findings on the nomenclature relating to grey kangaroos are discussed.

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