A multiscale, hierarchical, ecoregional and floristic classification of arid and semi-arid ephemeral wetlands in New South Wales, Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 418
Author(s):  
John T. Hunter ◽  
Alex M. Lechner
Keyword(s):  
Classification System ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Ephemeral Wetlands ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Semi Arid

Describing, classifying and quantifying vegetation communities is fundamental for understanding their current distribution, rarity, interrelationships and ecosystem functions. In the present study, we apply a consistent objective classification system for ephemeral wetlands of arid and semi-arid areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Our approach uses a two-step statistically based, hierarchical, multiscale classification of environmental data at broad scales and floristics data at intermediate scales. At broad scales, ecoregionalisation methods were used to describe three wetland macrogroups. Within these groups, we performed unsupervised analyses of 640 floristic survey plots using the Bray–Curtis algorithm, clustering by group averaging and testing of clusters using similarity profile analysis (SIMPROF). From this we delineated 18 vegetation groups with class definition based on a combination of diagnostic and non-diagnostic similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) outputs and dominant taxa. We show that a consistent classification system can be effectively created for subsets of vegetation that have adequate plot data within a general matrix that is poorly sampled if outputs are restricted to appropriate scales of resolution. We suggest that our approach provides a stable and robust classification system that can be added to as more data become available.

scholarly journals Grasslands on Coastal Headlands in New South Wales, south eastern Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
John Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Profile Analysis ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Hierarchical Classification ◽  
Current State ◽  
South Wales ◽  
State Classification ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Group Averaging

Aims: To use unsupervised techniques to produce a hierarchical classification of grasslands on coastal headlands of New South Wales in eastern Australia. Methods: A dataset of 520 vegetation plots scored on cover and placed across grasslands on coastal headlands (ca. 2000 km of coastline). Vegetation assemblages were identified with the aid of a clustering method based on group averaging and tested using similarity profile analysis (SIMPROF) using Bray-Curtis similarity. A hierarchical schema was developed based on EcoVeg hierarchy and was circumscribed using positive and negative diagnostic taxa via similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) and importance based on summed cover scores and frequency. Mapping the occurrences grasslands was initially constructed using remote sensing which was verified and modified with on ground observations. Results: One group Themeda – Pultenaea – Zoysia – Cynodon grasslands and heathy grasslands was defined to include all coastal headland grassland vegetation of the New South Wales, and within this, three alliances and ten associations. Only one of the circumscribed associations is represented within the current state classification schema. In total 107 ha were mapped of which 68 ha occurred within secure conservation tenure. Conclusions: A number of unique and rare grassland assemblages on coastal headlands have to date gone undescribed. The most common alliance constitutes approximately 87% of extant grassland occurrences but is currently the only type listed as endangered and afforded protection. Although Poa spp. are listed as a threat to Themeda dominated assemblages on headlands data from this study suggest that this is unlikely to be the case. Taxonomic reference: PlantNET (http://plantnet/10rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/; accessed June 2019). Abbreviations: BC Act = Biodiversity Conservation Act; NMDS = non-metric multidimensional scaling; NSW = New South Wales; PCT = Plant Community Type; SIMPER = similarity percentage analysis; SIMPROF = Similarity profile analysis.

Prevalence of mental disorders in Australia: some evidence from the Hospital Morbidity Collection in New South Wales

1984 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhat Yusuf ◽  
M. Hamid Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Ethnic Origin ◽  
Affective Psychosis ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Hospital Morbidity

SummaryThis study examines data from 47,238 episodes of hospitalization in New South Wales, Australia, pertaining to the patients suffering from mental disorders, i.e. those patients with a principal diagnosis coded from 290 to 315 inclusive, according to the 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.An overall prevalence of nine episodes of hospitalization due to mental disorders was found per 1000 population per annum. Major disease categories were neuroses and alcoholism (each accounting for 21% of the total episodes) followed by schizophrenia (16%) and affective psychosis (11%); there were substantial differences by age, sex, marital status and ethnic origin.

Fibrous Tremolite in Central New South Wales, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
Marc Hendrickx
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Natural Material ◽  
Widespread Occurrence ◽  
Asbestos Fibers ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Amphibole Asbestos

ABSTRACT Tremolite schists in Ordovician meta-volcanic units in central New South Wales (NSW) consist of fine fibrous tremolite-actinolite. They host tremolite asbestos occurrences, and small quantities of asbestos were mined from narrow vein deposits in central NSW during the last century. When pulverized, the tremolite schist releases mineral fragments that fall into the classification range for countable mineral fibers and may be classed as asbestos despite not having an asbestiform habit. The ambiguity in classification of this type of natural material raises significant health and safety, legal, and environmental issues that require clarification. While the health effects of amphibole asbestos fibers are well known, the consequences of exposure to non-asbestiform, fibrous varieties is not well studied. This group of elongated mineral particles deserves more attention due to their widespread occurrence in metamorphic rocks in Australia. Toxicological studies are needed to assess the health risks associated with disturbance of these minerals during mining, civil construction, forestry, and farming practices.

The butterfly fauna of the Griffith district, a fragmented semi-arid landscape in inland southern New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Braby ◽  
Ted D. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Butterfly Fauna ◽  
Semi Arid

Thirty-three species of butterflies are recorded from the Griffith district in the semi-arid zone of inland southern New South Wales. The butterfly community comprises the following structure: 19 species (58%) are resident; 7 (21 %) are regular immigrants; 2 (6%) are irregular immigrants; 5 (15%) are vagrants. Except for a few migratory species, most occur in relatively low abundance. Lack of similar studies elsewhere in western New South Wales precludes generalizations regarding the species richness, composition and structure of semi-arid butterfly communities. Comparison of the butterfly fauna with that from five other inland regions on the slopes and foothills of the Great Diving Range, revealed that the Griffith district is most similar in species richness and composition to that of Deniliquin and to a lesser extent Wagga Wagga and Cowra in the south, than with two regions in the higher summer rainfall area of the north of the State (Coonabarabran-Mendooran, Narrabri-Bellata). Overall, the butterfly fauna of inland New South Wales (total of 73 species, of which 49 occur in the southern regions) is depauperate compared with that recorded from the coastal/subcoastal areas east of the Great Dividing Range. Attention is drawn to the conservation significance of several vegetation types and habitat remnants in the Griffith district. Much of the native vegetation in the district has been extensively modified since European settlement due to excessive clearing for agriculture, resulting in a highly fragmented landscape for the conservation of native flora and fauna. With the exception of the lycaenid Candalides hyacinthinus Simplex, which is considered threatened locally, there is a general absence of narrow range endemic butterflies associated with mallee-heathland or mallee-woodland, possibly as a result of widespread land clearing practices of mallee vegetation in the past.

Native small mammals and reptiles in cropped and uncropped parts of lakebeds in semi-arid Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 629 ◽  
Author(s):  
SV Biggs
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Habitat Requirements ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Semi Arid

Small mammals and reptiles were surveyed by trapping in uncropped and cropped parts of two dry lakebeds in semi-arid New South Wales, Australia, in spring 1992 and 1993. Four species of native small mammals (18 individuals) were captured in uncropped parts of the lakebeds, compared with two individuals of one species in cropped parts of the lakebeds. A total of 38 reptiles (seven species) was caught at the uncropped sites compared with 10 individuals (four species) at the cropped sites. Small mammals were absent where the soil was scarified and bare between crop cycles. The habitat requirements of small mammals (particularly Planigale gilesi) and reptiles need to be provided for when cropping lakebeds. The most effective way to do this is to leave wide strips of uncropped soil at the edges of lakebeds, and patches of uncropped country that are connected to the strips, on lakebeds.

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