Objective derivation of macro invertebrate family sensitivity grade numbers for the SIGNAL biotic index: application to the Hunter River system, New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce C. Chessman ◽  
Jane E. Growns ◽  
Amanda R. Kotlash
Keyword(s):  
Iterative Algorithm ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Highly Correlated

Chessman's SIGNAL-95 biotic index was modified on the basis of data from spring and autumn surveys of macroinvertebrates at 42 sites in the Hunter River and tributaries. An iterative algorithm was used to derive improved grade numbers reflecting the pollution sensitivities of individual families of river macroinvertebrates. The new grades were used to calculate values of the modified index (SIGNAL-HU97). These values were highly correlated with SIGNAL-95 values but were more widely spread, giving better discrimination between the sites of higher environmental quality and the more degraded sites. SIGNAL-HU97 values were also more highly correlated than were SIGNAL-95 values with environmental variables such as the conductivity of the water and a riparian, channel and environmental inventory. There was little difference in values between spring and autumn, but riffles consistently had higher mean values than other habitats.

Prevalence of sclerotinia stem rot of canola in New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Hind ◽  
G. J. Ash ◽  
G. M. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Stem Rot ◽  
Sclerotinia Stem Rot ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Stem Infection ◽  
South Wales

Surveys of petal infestation and stem infection conducted in 1998, 1999 and 2000 indicated that Sclerotinia sclerotiorum poses a threat to the Australian canola industry. Inoculum was present throughout all canola-growing regions of New South Wales and the stem disease was widespread throughout southern New South Wales. Percentage petal infestation increased over the 3 years surveyed with values ranging from 0 to 99.4%. The highest petal infestation values were observed in 2000 (maximum of 99.4%, mean of 82.2%), with lower mean values in 1998 (38.4%) and 1999 (49.6%). Stem infection ranged from 0 to 37.5% and most fields had less than 10% stem infection. Stem rot incidence before harvest did not relate to percentage petal infestation determined during flowering. This indicated that factors other than percentage petal infestation were important in influencing stem rot incidence. While there was no relationship between percentage petal infestation and stem rot incidence, stem infection never occurred without prior petal infestation.

Models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales in relation to environmental variables

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt ◽  
R. I. Forrester
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
A Site

Statistical models are presented of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in eucalypt forests in relation to environmental variables within an area of approximately 24 000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales. Environmental variables are defined as climatic or topographic variables that may be useful to map the distribution of fauna. The environmental variables examined were season, temperature, rainfall, elevation, lithology, steepness of slope, position on slope, aspect and landform profile. The probability of recording some species was higher in spring than autumn and many species were in highest abundance in areas of low temperature (high elevation). Although aspect was a significant variable in a number of models, no species was absent from any aspect category. Mid-slopes down to and including creeks and drainage lines were particularly important for many species, as were areas with flatter terrain. Although we have modelled environmental variables only there will no doubt be longer-term interactions between habitat and environmental variables. Fundamentally, environmental variables will determine the type of habitat present at a site, and the distribution of canopy communities, at least, can be predicted from environmental variables. However, other studies have shown for ground-dwelling mammals that environmental variables contribute little and it is the state of the habitat locally, and particularly the understorey, that determines their presence and abundance at a site. The results are discussed in relation to similar models using habitat variables and in relation to the use of such models in the management of ground-dwelling fauna in forests.

Use of bioclimatic analysis to direct survey effort for the long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes), a rare forest-dwelling rat-kangaroo

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Claridge
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
New Records ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
The Past ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Survey Effort

The long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) is one of the rarest and most elusive forest-dwelling mammals in Australia. Survey effort for the species over the past decade or so in south-eastern New South Wales has been driven, primarily, by predictions derived from climatic analyses using BIOCLIM. These predictions were based on known locality records of the long-footed potoroo from adjacent East Gippsland, Victoria. While they have proven useful in confirming the occurrence of the species in New South Wales, recent fortuitous records of the species from north-eastern Victoria fall well outside of the range predicted earlier by BIOCLIM. Using these new records a revised predicted range is calculated, enlarging considerably the potential geographic extent of climatically suitable habitat for the species. The results presented here highlight the limitations of BIOCLIM when given locality records of a species from only a portion of its true geographic range. I argue that less emphasis might be based on this approach to direct survey effort for the species in the future. Instead, a range of other environmental variables might be used in combination with BIOCLIM-derived outputs when selecting survey sites. In this way a more representative picture of the distribution of the species may be obtained.

Patterns of waterbird use in wetlands of the Paroo, A river system of inland Australia.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
MT Maher ◽  
LW Braithwaite
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Flood Event ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Inland Wetlands ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Waterbird Species ◽  
North Western

The significance of inland wetlands to Australian waterbirds has been overlooked until recently. One important area identified from regular aerial survey centres on the Paroo River in north-western New South Wales. Between April 1983 and December 1985, a period covering a major flood, waterbird populations were estimated on five wetland systems associated with the Paroo during 14 trips. Fifty- three waterbird species were recorded with the anatids, Anas gibberifrons and Malacorhynchus membranaceus, accounting for 75 per cent of total estimated populations. Most breeding events were observed in those wetlands dominated by Muehlenbeckia florulenta (lignum). Breeding accounted for shifts in waterbird populations between wetland systems. A model of waterbird usage of the five wetland systems in relation to a complete flood event is described. The importance for waterbird conservation of wetlands used for breeding and maintenance of populations between flood events, and threats to the integrity of these wetlands are discussed.

Natural enrichment of topsoils with chromium and other heavy metals, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd G. Lottermoser
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Heavy Metal Concentrations ◽  
Environmental Investigation ◽  
South Wales

Total heavy metal concentrations [cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper(Cu), iron (Fe), mangnese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)]were determined in surface soil samples from Port Macquarie, New South Wales,Australia. Composite topsoil samples (0–10 cm depth) had mean values(per kg) of 13 mg Co, 1020 mg Cr, 59 mg Cu, 136·7 g Fe, 719 mg Mn, 149mg Ni, 20 mg Pb, and 47 mg Zn. The topsoils were generally characterised by alow pH (3·8–5·2) and a mineralogy dominated by haematite,magnetite, quartz, and kaolinite. Chromium was predominantly present in thetopsoils as Cr3+ in microcrystalline chromite(FeCr2O4) and, to a lesser degree,in kaolinite and haematite. Differences in Cr soil concentrations with depthwere due to variations in the relative abundance of the various soilcomponents, rather than Cr3+ mobility within the soilprofile. The elevated heavy metal concentrations are the result of soildevelopment over metal-rich bedrock (serpentinite matrix melange) andassociated enrichment of relatively immobile elements (Cr, Fe, Ni) in theresidual soil profile. The ANZECC and NH&MRC (Australian and New ZealandEnvironment and Conservation Council and National Health & MedicalResearch Council) environmental investigation limits were exceeded for100% of the sample sites for Cr, 47% for Cu, 61% for Mn,and 58% for Ni.

scholarly journals Comparative Angler Catches of Australian Bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) in Three Major River Systems in New South Wales, Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. VAN DER WALT ◽  
R. A. FARAGHER ◽  
J. HARRIS
Keyword(s):  
Time Series Data ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Catch Rates

A joint program between New South Wales Fisheries and three fishing clubs was initiated in 1988 with the aim of collecting standardised catch and effort data during biannual fishing competitions on three major rivers in New South Wales. This paper examines the data to determine trends in the catch of the target species, Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) and to evaluate whether the data can be used to assess Australian bass populations over time. Distinct trends in Australian bass mean length in each river system were evident but catch rates were more variable. Median catch per unit effort was similar (mostly between 0.5 and 1.5 Australian bass·h-1 ) in the Nepean and Williams Rivers although catch rates in the Manning River were nearly always zero. There was an increasing trend in the mean length of Australian bass in all three rivers, possibly representing a recovery in fish populations following severe drought from 1979 to 1983. Low or zero catch rates were continually recorded in the Manning River and size composition data indicated a lack of recruitment through most of the study period. The standardised format of the data collection program provided qualitative and reliable time series data allowing the determination of long-term trends in the population structure of Australian bass which can be used for monitoring and management purposes.

Land management and its impact on water yield on the northern tablelands of New South Wales.

1982 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
PA Wright
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Land Management ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Water Yield ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Run Off ◽  
The University

The extensive and radical change in pastoral land treatment and management which has taken place on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales since 1950 has greatly increased the demand on available water, and has at the same time affected the amount and rate of water run-off into streams and dams, and the nature and permanency of springs and streams. This has not only created problems of water scarcity on the Tablelands, but it has serious implications for the Darling River system, of which the Tablelands form a major source of supply, because of reduced run-off into headwater streams, and additional retention of water for livestock in larger, and an increased number of, farm dams. The onset of drought in 1980 precipitated an immediate and serious shortage of water for livestock and urban use. A recognition that this was partly man induced led to the establishment of a Water Management Research project, jointly sponsored by land users and the University of New England. In 1981-2 a detailed study was undertaken of a typical Tablelands area, the Severn River basin, to ascertain and quantify the effects of changed land management. The results of the study, its implications, and conclusions drawn from it are discussed.

Home Range, Burrow Usage and Diel Activity of Platypuses on the Duckmaloi Weir, New South Wales.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
M. Mcleod ◽  
D. Goldney
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
Mark Release Recapture ◽  
Individual Variations

Platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, have been studied on the Duckmaloi River, New South Wales, in a long term mark-release-recapture project from 1986 to 1996. Some animals are recaptured regularly, while others are trapped only once. A high percentage of juveniles are never retrapped. New animals continue to be captured each year. Hence radio-tracking was employed to examine the movements of animals within the river system including their spatial utilisation of the Duckmaloi Weir. Concurrent studies on activity patterns and burrow usage were undertaken. Seventeen animals (I 0 juveniles, 2 subadults and 5 adults) were radio-tracked for various lengths of time between January and October 1993. Telemetric data revealed that radio-tagged animals were not recaptured on all possible occasions. Home ranges (length of river) varied from 0.5 km to 3.5 km. Home ranges of all animals, overlapped extensively, while core area overlap also occurred in the pool behind the Duckmaloi weir. One juvenile male dispersed 8.5 km upstream from the weir. Platypuses typically utilised areas when feeding with water depth between I to 2.5 m, rarely using areas less than 0.5 m deep. Juvenile platypuses were crepuscular and nocturnal, while adults, although mainly nocturnal also exhibited individual variations in diurnality. Although some individuals remained active throughout the night, others returned to burrows before re-entering the water. Animals commonly returned to certain burrow complexes with some exhibiting a higher degree of burrow site specificity than others. Certain burrows were used by nearly all radio-tagged animals over time while others were used by only a select number of individuals. Some animals tracked in the weir pool were found to share burrows.

Models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the eucalypt forests of south-eastern New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt ◽  
R. I. Forrester
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Large Area ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
Habitat Variables

We examined the relationship between ground-dwelling mammals and the environment within 500 000 ha of eucalypt forest in south-eastern New South Wales. Ground-dwelling mammals were surveyed at 368 sites in 13 areas in relation to four habitat variables/factors, seven environmental variables, and two derived variables (‘disturbance’ and ‘prey abundance’). Habitat variables are vegetative variables such as eucalypt community and forest structure that may be altered by man (e.g. logging) or natural disturbances (e.g. wildfire). Environmental variables are climatic or topographic variables such as rainfall or lithology that cannot be altered by man or natural disturbances. Statistical models are presented of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in temperate eucalypt forests. From studies of the prediction of eucalypt species from environmental variables and the distribution of arboreal marsupials it has been possible previously to map the predicted density of arboreal marsupials for a large area of south-eastern New South Wales. It would be difficult to do the same for the ground-dwelling mammals because of the importance of structural variables and the influence of disturbance on structure. However, there appears to be a positive relationship between the abundance of some ground-dwelling mammals and environmental variables such as the lithology nutrient rating. Many past studies of fauna have stratified sampling on broad climatic and terrain variables and not included an adequate proportion of the structural variation, which may remain concealed as a large part of the unexplained variation. This may be the single most important problem facing reliable modelling and prediction of patterns of biodiversity in eucalypt forests.

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