A note on the macrofauna of a temporary rainpool in semi-arid Western Australia

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 425 ◽  
Author(s):  
WD Williams
Keyword(s):  
Fresh Water ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Ionic Composition ◽  
Semi Arid

The chemistry and macrofauna of a temporary rainpool on soft substrata near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, are described. The ionic composition of the water was dominated by sodium and chloride and salinity was relatively high (5324 ppm). The fauna was depauperate and many faunal groups typical of fresh water were not recorded. Several groups often found in temporary localities were also not recorded, including chironomids. Insects (Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera) dominated the fauna. Also present was a species of frog (larvae) and various crustaceans.

Yield, plant characteristics, and relative tolerance to bunch loss of four banana varieties (Musa AAA Group, Cavendish subgroup) in the semi-arid subtropics of Western Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
TR Hill ◽  
ARJ Bissell ◽  
JR Burt
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
The Other ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Relative Tolerance ◽  
Plant Characteristics ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Semi Arid

The yield, plant characteristics (pseudostem height and girth), and relative tolerance to bunch loss of 4 banana varieties (Musa AAA Group, Cavendish subgroup) were studied over 2 crops in the semi-arid subtropics at Carnarvon, Western Australia. The varieties were New Guinea Cavendish, Chinese Cavendish, Hsien.Jen Chiao, and the most widely grown Australian variety, Williams. The marketable yield of Williams was higher (P<0.05) than the mean of the other varieties in the parent crop (70.2 v. 50.7 t/ha) and ratoon 1 crop (65.8 v. 34.4 t/ha). This was the result of lower (P<0.05) bunch loss, about 41% less over the 2 crops, than for the other varieties. Resistance to bunch loss-pseudostem breakage and bunch peduncle snap was not associated with the shorter varieties (New Guinea Cavendish and Chinese Cavendish), but resistance to choke throat was associated with the taller varieties (Williams and Hsien Jen Chiao).

Budgets of water use by Eucalyptus kochii tree belts in the semi-arid wheatbelt of Western Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 262 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 129-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan T. Wildy ◽  
John S. Pate ◽  
John R. Bartle
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Semi Arid

Taxonomy and biology of the genus Isometroides Keyserling (Scorpionida)

1956 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
BY Main
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Semi Arid

From an examination of specimens of the scorpion Isometroides Keyserling collected in Western Australia, South Australia, and New South Wales and a study of the literature, it is concluded that two described species must be regarded as one. I. angusticaudus Keyserling is considered a synonym of I. vescus (Karsch). The genus represents a unique adaptive level, especially in its specialized feeding behaviour. It is distributed throughout the semi-arid inland. These facts make it difficult to find a geographically imposed isolation whereby the genus, once established, could have speciated. Field observations on this rare scorpion are presented. It is widespread, occurring in woodland and semi-arid country. In habit it is terrestrial, vagrant, and is specialized for feeding on burrowing spiders.

scholarly journals A rich fauna of subterranean short-range endemic Anillini (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae) from semi-arid regions of Western Australia

ZooKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1044 ◽  
pp. 269-337
Author(s):  
Pier Mauro Giachino ◽  
Stefan Eberhard ◽  
Giulia Perina
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Short Range ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
New Genera ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Drill Holes ◽  
Semi Arid

Globally, the great majority of Anillini species are endogean, adapted to live in the interstices of soil and leaf litter, while the extremely low vagility of these minute ground beetles gives rise to numerous shortrange endemic species. Until recently the Australian Anillini fauna was known only from leaf litter in rain forests and eucalypt forests in the wetter, forested regions of eastern and south eastern Australia, as well as Lord Howe and Norfolk islands. The first hypogean Anillini in Australia (17 species in six genera) were described in 2016 from mineral exploration drill holes in iron-ore bearing rocks of the Pilbara region in Western Australia, representing the first finding of the tribe deep underground in a semi-arid climate region. A further eight new genera and 20 new species are described herein, mostly from the Pilbara region as well as the semi-arid Kimberley and Goldfields regions; all were collected in mineral exploration drill holes. The following new genera are described: Erwinanillusgen. nov., Gregorydytesgen. nov., Pilbaraphanusgen. nov., Neoillaphanusgen. nov., Kimberleytyphlusgen. nov., Gilesdytesgen. nov., Pilbaradytesgen. nov., and Bylibaraphanusgen. nov. The following new species are described: Erwinanillus baehrisp. nov.; Gracilanillus hirsutussp. nov., G. pannawonicanussp. nov.; Gregorydytes ophthalmianussp. nov.; Pilbaraphanus chichesterianussp. nov., P. bilybarianussp. nov.; Magnanillus firetalianussp. nov., M. sabaesp. nov., M. salomonissp. nov., M. regalissp. nov., M. serenitatissp. nov.; Neoillaphanus callawanussp. nov.; Kimberleytyphlus carrboydianussp. nov.; Austranillus jinayrianussp. nov.; Gilesdytes pardooanussp. nov., G. ethelianussp. nov.; Pilbaradytes abydosianussp. nov., P. webberianussp. nov.; Bylibaraphanus cundalinianussp. nov.; and Angustanillus armatussp. nov. Identification keys are provided for all Australian anilline genera, and Western Australian species. All the described species are known from a single locality and qualify as short-range endemics. The Anillini are recognised as a significant and diverse element making up part of Western Australia’s remarkable subterranean fauna, and whose conservation may potentially be impacted by mining developments.

scholarly journals A hydrological framework for persistent river pools in semi-arid environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Bourke ◽  
Margaret Shanafield ◽  
Paul Hedley ◽  
Shawan Dogramaci
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Groundwater Discharge ◽  
Geological Mapping ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Hydrogeological Characteristics ◽  
Through Flow ◽  
Bedrock Aquifers ◽  
North Western ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. Persistent surface water pools along non-perennial rivers represent an important water resource for the plants, animals, and humans that inhabit semi-arid regions. While ecological studies of these features are not uncommon, these are rarely accompanied by a rigorous examination of the hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics that create or support the pools. Here we present an overarching framework for understanding the hydrology of persistent pools based on data from 22 pools in the Hamersley Basin in Western Australia. Three dominant mechanisms that control the occurrence of persistent pools have been identified; perched pools, through flow pools and groundwater discharge pools. Groundwater discharge pools are further categorized into those that are present because of a geological contact or barrier, and those that are controlled by topography. A suite of diagnostic tools (including geological mapping, hydraulic data and hydrochemical surveys) is generally required to identify the mechanism supporting persistent pools. Perched pools are sensitive to climate variability but their persistence is largely independent of groundwater withdrawals. Water fluxes to pools from alluvial and bedrock aquifers can vary seasonally and resolving these inputs is generally non-trivial. The susceptibility of through-flow and groundwater discharge pools to climate variations and groundwater withdrawals depends on the mechanism of pool persistence and the spatial distribution of stressors relative to the pool. Although this framework was developed in the context of north-western Australia, this framework can also be applied to pools and springs found along non-perennial rivers around the world.

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