Using repeat citizen science surveys of koalas to assess their population trend in the north-west of New South Wales: scale matters

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Predavec ◽  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Ian Shannon ◽  
John Lemon ◽  
Indrie Sonawane ◽  
...  

Scale matters when assessing population trends. Whereas traditional field-based ecological surveys are generally restricted to small temporal and spatial scales, community (citizen science) surveys allow wider consideration of population trends. We used repeat community surveys (completed in 2006 and 2015) to assess population change in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) across an area of 36 900 km2 in the north-west of New South Wales. In both community surveys we asked respondents to record the location of their koala sightings as well as those of eight other common species. We further asked respondents about their perceptions of population change. Through three different measures (likelihood of koala occurrence, number of koalas observed per respondent, and the perception of population change), we found that koala numbers were declining across the region during the study period. The timing and broad and consistent geographic spread of the decline suggests that broad-scale environmental factors, such as weather, are important drivers of this change. This information will allow managers to place conservation efforts into an appropriate spatial context. While such information sourced from the community can provide critical information on threatened species, including the koala, this study highlights the limits of such information.

1851 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 239-240
Author(s):  
Thomas Anderson

About thirty years ago a species of manna, obtained from the Eucalyptus Mannifera, was brought from New South Wales, and was examined by Dr Thomas Thomson, and afterwards by Professor Johnston, both of whom ascertained it to contain a new species of sugar, different from the mannite which exists in ordinary manna. The author had, through the kindness of Mr Sheriff Cay, an opportunity of examining a very different species of manna, remarkable both from its chemical constitution, and from its possessing a definitely organised structure. This substance was discovered by Mr Robert Cay in 1844, in the interior of Australia Felix, to the north and north-west of Melbourne, where it occurs at certain seasons on the leaves of the Mallee plant, Eucalyptus Dumosa, and is known to the natives by the name of Lerp.


1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Lodge

Emergence and survival of the seedlings of warm-season native perennial grasses Aristida ramosa R.Br., Bothriochloa macra (Steud.) S . T. Blake, Dichanthium sericeum (R.Br.) Camus, Sporobolus elongatus R.Br., Eragvostis leptostachya Steud. and Chloris truncata R.Br. and the cool-season species Stipa variabilis Hughes and Danthonia linkii Kunth were studied in both native pastures and sown monospecific plots on the north- west slopes of New South Wales. The most favourable period for the successful emergence and establishment of warm-season grasses was from mid summer to early autumn. Cool-season native perennial grasses established best from seedlings that appeared from mid autumn to late winter. Few seedlings were observed to germinate in spring, probably as a result of large variations in temperature, low minimum temperatures or intra and interspecific competition. Seedlings growing in native pasture spent long periods in the vegetative phase compared to the early flowering of seedlings in the sown plots. In the pasture studied only two seedlings flowered over 700 days after emergence, and many others after persisting for up to 2 years died without producing seed. These findings indicate that the seedlings in these native pastures were under considerable stress and that the adult populations of the species examined were relatively stable and little recruitment occurred.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-72
Author(s):  
Neil Argent

Background   In the contemporary academic literature, rural population decline has generally been regarded as a long-running and almost natural phenomenon. Aims   This paper examines the complex temporal, spatial and cultural dynamics of the population of an inland, largely agriculturally-dependent rural region, the New South Wales New England & North West Statistical Division (SD), from the late 1990s to the 2016 Census. It investigates the key demographic processes that have driven the region’s spatially and temporally-uneven experiences of population change – including decline – over this tumultuous period, using these as portents of the regional population’s likely future trajectories. Data and methods   The analysis draws on Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data for the SD’s population as a whole, and for the non-Indigenous and Indigenous segments of the population. Results   The analysis identifies that a profound ageing process is underway across the entire region, is becoming more severe with the passing years, and leading to natural decrease for some Shires. However, the SD’s Indigenous population presents a striking contrast to the non-indigenous one, growing rapidly, increasing its share of the population and is a force for demographic rejuvenation. Conclusions   The analysis reveals that a profound ageing process is underway across the entire SD and is becoming more severe with the passing years. The SD’s Indigenous population presents a striking contrast to the non-Indigenous, growing rapidly, increasing its share of the population – particularly in the western-most LGAs – and is a force for demographic rejuvenation.


1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
PB Copley

Petrogale xanthopus still occurs over most of its former range in South Australia. It is widespread in the Flinders Ranges, where almost 200 colonies are now known, and is locally common in areas of both the Rinders Ranges and Olary Hills. Six colonies are currently known in the western Gawler Ranges with an outlying population on Carriewerloo Station only 50 km west of Port Augusta. Seven colonies have been found in the Olary Hills, to the north and north-west of Olary. The species has suffered a major decline in abundance since European settlement, having become extinct locally throughout this range. Hunting for skins, competition with introduced herbivores for food and shelter, and predation by foxes seem to be the main reasons for this decline. However, it is still not possible to say whether the species currently has a decreasing population and is at risk, is in equilibrium, or is increasing. Information published in this paper and current studies in South Australia and New South Wales should soon determine this.


1977 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.M. Boyd

A listening program geared to the interests of rural Aboriginal children was prepared and sent out to two Year S classes in the north-west of New South Wales. The class, with 19 Aboriginals and 4 whites showed measurable gains in listening comprehension at the end of the program. The Experimental Class with one Aboriginal girl and 10 white children did not show improvements in listening until the Aboriginally oriented listening program was terminated. The significance of these results, particularly for minority groups in a classroom, are discussed.


1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (101) ◽  
pp. 684 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Warr ◽  
AR Gilmour ◽  
NK Wilson

Four shearing times, summer, autumn, winter and spring, were examined in relation to the quantity and type of vegetable fault in Merino wool in seven districts of New South Wales in 1974 and 1975. Shearing time did not affect total vegetable matter (VM) content in six of the seven districts surveyed. Shearing in summer in the Central-West Slopes and Plains lowered (P < 0.05) VM compared with autumn and winter shearing; levels of burr and seed were also lower (P < 0.05). In other districts, burr or seed components were decreased at particular times of shearing, but there was no effect on total VM content. Seed contamination was lowest with spring and summer shearing in all districts in survey 1. Thus, in most districts, shearing time did not reduce VM, but in particular areas such changes may be of considerable value in reducing contamination from individual species. Wools from the North-West Slopes and Plains, Central-West Slopes and Plains and Western Division were heavily contaminated with burr and seed, whereas in wools from the Tablelands and Southern Slopes, seed was the major contaminant.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD FitzGerald

A range of pasture legumes was either broadcast or drilled into native grass pastures on the North-west Slopes of New South Wales to identify legumes that would persist in that environment and improve the quality of winter pastures based on native grasses. There were 2 experiments conducted over 12 sites. In the first, sites were selected to permit identification of effects of altitude and 2 soil types on legume adaptation. In the second, the lower altitude range was extended and a wider range of soil types was sampled. Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was the most persistent and productive species, with cultivar performance varying with altitude. At the lowest altitude (340 m) the early-maturing cv. Dalkeith was the most productive, and at 500-600 m there was little difference between the tested cultivars. Stand density, herbage yield, and seed yield all declined as altitude increased, but the decline was greater with earlier maturing cultivars than with the later maturing cv. Woogenellup White clover (T. repens cv. Haifa) established poorly in native grass swards, but plants that did establish persisted during favourable seasons at higher altitudes. Herbage yields of woolly pod vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv. Namoi) and rose clover (T. hirtum cv. Hykon) occasionally exceeded yield of subterranean clover at some lower altitude sites, but those species failed to persist at other sites where grazing management may have been unsuitable. Barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) established satisfactorily but did not persist on the more acidic soils (pH <6.0). Both drilling and broadcasting establishment techniques produced satisfactory legume stands. Legume plant density was generally greater on heavier soils of basaltic origin than on lighter soils of rhyolitic origin.


1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 317
Author(s):  
GE Stovold ◽  
A Francis

The pod and stem blight and seed decay fungus Phomopsis phaseoli was detected in soybean crops in coastal districts of New South Wales as a symptomless infection in the lowest petioles at flowering. Up to 90% of petioles from a second year crop yielded the fungus compared with 17% from a first year crop. Similar effects of paddock history were evident during pod fill when 43% of pods from a first year crop were infected compared with 76% in a second year crop. Visible symptoms of infection only appeared after crops reached harvest maturity. Crops in the North West of the state were infected at a much lower level. As in coastal districts the highest levels of infection occurred in fields which had been sown previously to soybeans. Only negligible levels of infection were detected in crops grown in the Riverina district. Only seed from coastal crops carried significant infection with P. phaseoli. The level of infection varied within and between seasons and was determined by prevailing climatic factors, especially atmospheric humidity and rainfall during pod fill and after maturity. Humidity and rainfall are greater for coastal than for inland districts, but prevailing temperatures in coastal and inland districts are only slightly different.


1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Caughley ◽  
RG Sinclair ◽  
GR Wilson

The number of kangaroos on the plains of New South Wales (496000 km2) was estimated as 2 073 000 & 98 000 red kangaroos, Megaleia rufa, and 1 578 000 i- 84 000 grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus and M. fuliginosus. The overall densities were 4.18 reds and 3.18 greys per square kilometre. Sheep outnumbered kangaroos by five to one. Red kangaroos were most numerous in the north-west of the state, greys in the north-central region. The legal harvest on the survey area in 1975 was 48 100 reds and 60 300 greys, representing 2.3% of the population of reds and 3.8% of the greys. Density is mapped for both red and grey kangaroos, and a design is offered for monitoring subsequent changes in density by aerial survey.


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