Biology of four species of Whiting (Pisces: Sillaginidae) in Botany Bay, NSW

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Burchmore ◽  
DA Pollard ◽  
MJ Middleton ◽  
JD Bell ◽  
BC Pease
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Fish Size ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Gonadal Maturity ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
First Maturity ◽  
Spatial Habitat

Four species of whiting (Family Sillaginidae) were collected from Botany Bay, New South Wales, between 1977 and 1979: Sillago ciliata (sand whiting), S. maculata maculata (trumpeter whiting), S. robusta (stout whiting) and S. bassensis flindersi (eastern school whiting). Sillago ciliata was the most abundant species over-all. Sillago ciliata was caught in greatest numbers in Zostera seagrass and shallow sandy habitats, whereas S. m. maculata, S. robusta and S. b. flindersi were most abundant over deeper muddy and sandy habitats. Sillago ciliata and S. b. flindersi were present mainly as juveniles. Gonosomatic indices and gonadal maturity stages of S. ciliata and S. m. maculata peaked around February. These species probably spawn within the Bay. Length to caudal fork at first maturity was 24 cm for male and female S. ciliata, 19 cm for male and female S. m. maculata, 17 cm for male and 18 cm for female S. robusta, and 14 cm for male and female S. b. flindersi. Although all species fed mainly on polychaetes and crustaceans, there was little overlap in specific dietary items between species. Variations observed in diet were due to fish size and temporal and spatial habitat differences within and among species.

Temporal and spatial variability in the community structure of the fauna of four sandy beaches in south-eastern New South Wales.

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Dexter
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Faunal Composition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Four intertidal sandy beaches with different exposures, La Perouse, Ocean Beach, Dolls Point, and Towra Point, were studied for temporal and spatial changes in faunal composition and community structure. Each of these beaches was sampled from 6 to 12 times between July 1980 and July 1981 using a 500 �m sieve. A stratified random sampling procedure across the intertidal zone isolated 40 660 individuals representing 85 species. Distribution and abundance of species were strongly influenced by tidal level. Densities changed during the year but no seasonal changes in intertidal zonation patterns were found. Changes in density were correlated with the reproductive activities of the abundant species, especially Pseudolana concinna and Exoediceros maculosus at La Perouse, and Spio pacifica at Dolls Point and Towra Point. The number of species increased from high to low tide, and also increased with decreasing exposure to wave action. Crustaceans dominated the fauna in the most exposed site and decreased in abundance with increasing protection. Ocean Beach experienced the least fluctuation in physical factors such as wave action, salinity, and temperature, and its fauna exhibited the highest diversity index (H') and evenness (J'), the most stable density, and the greatest stability in faunal composition through time. The highest densities and the most species were found at Towra Point, which also was the most protected site.

Diet and growth of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, in two streams on the New England Tableland, New South Wales

1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 967 ◽  
Author(s):  
RWJ Pidgeon
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
New England ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Fish Growth ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Fish Size ◽  
South Wales

The diets and growth rates of rainbow trout in the Wollomombi and Guy Fawkes Rivers in northern New South Wales were examined. The growth rate of trout in the Wollomombi River was much higher than that of fish in the Guy Fawkes River. Spearman rank correlation coefficients indicated that stream type was more important than fish size in determining the composition of the diet of the trout. Benthic invertebrates formed the largest component of the diet in both streams: 66.0 and 63.0% of ash-free dry weight (AFDW) in the Wollomombi River and the Guy Fawkes River, respectively. Trout in the Wollomombi River consumed more nektonic prey (33.3% of AFDW) than fish in the Guy Fawkes River (3.7% of AFDW). In contrast, surface food (aquatic imagines and terrestrial insects) made up a much higher proportion of the diet of trout in the Guy Fawkes River (33.9% of AFDW) than in the Wollomombi River (0.6% of AFDW). Crayfish were a major component of the diet (in terms of AFDW) in both streams, their proportions increasing with fish size. The significance of crayfish in relation to fish growth is discussed.

Temporal and spatial variability of the sediments budget of the subaerial beach at Warilla, New South Wales

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 945 ◽  
Author(s):  
IG Eliot ◽  
DJ Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Eof Analysis ◽  
Sediment Volume ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Periodic Fluctuations ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Phase Differences

A 5-year set of profile data from Warilla Beach, N.S.W., measured fortnightly, has been statistically analysed by using Fourier transform, least-squares, and empirical orthogonal function (eigenfunction or EOF) techniques to identify characteristic patterns of temporal and spatial variation in the sediment volume of the subaerial beach. Least-squares analysis enabled separation of the variation in the subaerial beach at Warilla into a 5-year trend, periodic fluctuations and aperiodic events. The periodic fluctuations are dominated by biennial and annual components. The biennial component accounts for 40% of the sediment budget of the subaerial beach, the annual component 30%, 13% is due to the long-term trend over the 5 years, and about 20% is estimated as aperiodic fluctuations mainly related to changes in the wave regime. Phase differences were identified for periodic oscillations on adjacent beach segments and a chronology of change in sediment volume deduced from the phase differences. The results show that variation in the sediment volume of the subaerial beach is determined by interaction between the biennial and seasonal exchanges although the resulting pattern of exchange may be obscured by higher-frequency beach changes. In alternate years the focus of onshore-offshore sediment exchange shifts from the centre of the beach to the exposed, northern sector. The major depositional zone associated with this exchange is located on the southern+entral sector of the beach and the major erosion zone is on the northern part of the beach. The pattern of alongshore sediment exchange was more closely investigated by EOF analysis. The method facilitated separation of onshore-offshore and alongshore modes of sediment transfer and identification of the patterns of alongshore sediment exchange. The first four EOF's for the data on the subaerial beach at Warilla contain 95.3% of the total variance. The fundamental pattern of sediment movement identified in the EOF analysis involves an onshore-offshore transfer of sediment in biennial, seasonal and 6-monthly cycles. The transfer accounts for 61.7% of the variance for the sediment store of the subaerial beach. The amplitude spectrum of the associated time series for this eigenfunction mode shows that the biennial component is dominant. This result supports the results from the least-squares analysis. It could not have been anticipated from previous studies of beach change from New South Wales or elsewhere and is the subject of ongoing investigation. Subsequent eigenfunction modes identify alongshore movements, with three patterns accounting for a further 33.8% of the remaining variance. They are associated with the prevailing system of inshore water circulation and identify major, recurrent rip and bar locations. Time series associated with the eigenfunction modes confirm the dominance of biennial, annual, and biannual sediment transfers occurring on Warilla Beach.

Sexual cycles of pigeons in arid and semiarid Australia

1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
HJ Frith ◽  
SM Carpenter ◽  
LW Braithwaite
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Annual Cycles ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Gonad Size ◽  
The Common ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
North Western ◽  
Arid And Semiarid

The gonad cycles of the crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes and the common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera in inland New South Wales, and the plumed pigeon Geophaps plumifera and the red- plumed pigeon G. ferruginea in central and north-western Australia, have been studied. In each species some males were producing abundant sperm and some females had enlarged ovarian follicles in each month of the year. There was a tendency for fewer birds to be at the maximum stage of spermatogenesis in autumn and winter than in other seasons. The size of the testis was not indicative of its spermatogenic state. There were annual cycles of gonad size in each species; the maxima were the spring and summer. The timing of the cycles did not differ in the two plumed pigeons but in both species the maxima were earlier than in the other species. Male common bronze-wings achieved maximum gonad size earlier than did male crested pigeons. In addition to the annual cycle there were significant biannual effects in males. Except for the male and female of the red-plumed pigeon, in which they may have had some biological significance, these biannual effects were probably only included to improve the accuracy of the curve fitting. There were significant effects of rainfall on the gonad cycle of all species except the common bronzewing; these were consistent with the expected effect of rainfall on the birds' food supply and nutrition. It was concluded that, although the gonad cycles were controlled mainly by changes in photo-period, the abundance of food and the effects of rainfall on it were important in modifying the cycle.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal distribution of Culicoides species in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia between 1990 and 2018

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249468
Author(s):  
Biniam T. Lakew ◽  
Adrian H. Nicholas ◽  
Stephen W. Walkden-Brown
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
Evenness Indices

Culicoides are one of the smallest hematophagous flies measuring 1–5 mm in size with only females seeking blood for egg development. The present study investigated spatio-temporal distribution of Culicoides species trapped between 1990 and 2018 at 13 sites in the New England region of NSW, Australia using automated light traps. Trapping locations were divided into three subregions (tablelands, slopes and plains). Nineteen Culicoides species were identified. Culicoides marksi and C. austropalpalis were the most abundant and widespread species. Culicoides brevitarsis, the principal vector of livestock diseases in New South Wales comprised 2.9% of the total catch and was detected in 12 of the 13 locations in the study. Abundance as determined by Log10 Culicoides count per trapping event for the eight most abundant species did not vary significantly with season but trended towards higher counts in summer for C. marksi (P = 0.09) and C. austropalpalis (P = 0.05). Significant geographic variation in abundance was observed for C. marksi, C. austropalpalis and C. dycei with counts decreasing with increasing altitude from the plains to the slopes and tablelands. Culicoides victoriae exhibited the reverse trend in abundance (P = 0.08). Greater abundance during the warmer seasons and at lower altitudes for C. marksi and C. austropalpalis was indicative of temperature and rainfall dependence in this region with moderate summer dominance in rainfall. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of species was higher on the tablelands (H = 1.59) than the slopes (H = 1.33) and plains (H = 1.08) with evenness indices of 0.62, 0.46 and 0.39 respectively. Culicoides species on the tablelands were more diverse than on the slopes and plains where C. marksi and C. austropalpalis dominated. The temporal and spatial variation in abundance, diversity and evenness of species reported in this diverse region of Australia provides additional insight into Culicoides as pests and disease vectors and may contribute to future modelling studies.

Trachymedusae and Narcomedusae of South-east Australian Waters

1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 410
Author(s):  
M Blackburn
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
New Records ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Cosmopolitan Species ◽  
Australian Region ◽  
South Wales

Thirteen species of Trachymedusae and seven of Narcomedusae are recorded from south-east Australian waters, where both orders were previously unknown. Eight Trachymedusae and four Narcomedusae are new records for the entire Australian region. Additions are made to the descriptions of some species. Eight species are epipelagic, seven bathypelagic, and five probably eurybathic in the upper 1000 m of the sea; the second and third groups contain several cosmopolitan species, but the species of the first (epipelagic) group tend to be restricted to tropical and, subtropical latitudes. One epipelagic species, Liriope tetraphylla (Chamisso & Eysenhardt), has not been found south of lat. 39� S. in south-east Australian waters and may serve as an indicator of one of the two main water masses which meet in that region. The most abundant species of either order is Aglauru hemistoma Peron & Lesueur, which is the commonest of all hydromedusae on the continental shelf off Queensland and New South Wales. Aglaura and Liriope are also recorded from the neighbourhood of Fremantle, W.A.

A survey of fallow practices and weed floras in wheat stubble and grain sorghum in northern New South Wales.

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
WL Felton ◽  
GA Wicks ◽  
SM Welsby
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Atrazine Treatment ◽  
Wheat Stubble

A survey undertaken in northern New South Wales after the 1989 wheat harvest investigated the effects of cultural practices used by dryland farmers on summer weed flora. Only 50% of fallow paddocks surveyed between December and February were weedfree, and by mid January 65% had inadequate stubble cover (<1000 kg/ha) for protection from soil erosion, mainly because of excessive tillage. By February, only 10% of paddocks were being sprayed with a herbicide to control weeds. Examination of 65 uncultivated fallow wheat stubble paddocks and 25 grain sorghum crops identified 87 and 51 different weed species, respectively. In fallow paddocks where no herbicide had been used, 69 and 61 species were found in ungrazed and grazed paddocks, respectively. Where glyphosate had been used the number of species was 37 (grazed) and 39 (ungrazed), and for glyphosate plus atrazine, 23 and 18 species. The number of weed species found in grain sorghum was 29 for cultivated without atrazine, 35 for cultivated with atrazine, and 35 for no-tillage with atrazine, The most important weeds found in fallow were liverseed grass, native millet, common sowthistle, wireweed, and barnyard grasses. Black bindweed was a problem where atrazine had not been used. Native millet was the most abundant species where atrazine had been applied. In grain sorghum the most common broadleaf weeds for cultivated paddocks with no atrazine treatment were Tribulus spp., Australian bindweed, pigweed, and Bathurst burr, while the most common grass weeds were barnyard grasses, liverseed grass, stinkgrass, and native millet. When cultivation plus atrazine was used, barnyard grasses, native millet, wild oats, and liverseed grass were the most common weeds. In minimum tillage or no-tillage paddocks treated with atrazine, native millet, Queensland blue grass, liverseed grass, common sowthistle, Australian bindweed, and windmill grass were the most common weeds.

The Subgeneric Composition of Eucalypt Forest Stands in a Region of South-Eastern Australia

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
MP Austin ◽  
RB Cunningham ◽  
JT Wood
Keyword(s):  
Forest Ecology ◽  
New South ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Reverse Situation ◽  
Using Data

Pryor's rule that mixed stands of eucalypt forest consist of species from different subgeneric groups was tested statistically using data from a vegetation survey of part of the South Coast of New South Wales. The plot data were stratified by environmental regions, and expressed in terms of the subgeneric combinations of the two most abundant tree species. The categories recognized were the eucalypt subgenera Monocalyptus, Symphyomyrtus and Corymbia, plus Angophora and others. The results suggest that: (a) subgenera are characteristic of certain environmental regions; (b) combinations of subgenera are not random; (c) a modification of Pryor's rule is applicable to three of the four regions studied; and (d) in addition, certain combinations of subgenera occur more frequently than expected by chance, e.g. Monocalyptus occurs as the most abundant species, with Symphomyrtus as subordinate, more frequently than the reverse situation. The results accord with recent reviews of eucalypt forest ecology but there are many plots with a composition of three species from the same subgenus. Biological explanations for Pryor's rule must also take account of these exceptions and the tendency for Symphyomyrtus species to be subdominant to Monocalyptus in the coastal region.

Sizes at first maturity and at onset of breeding in female Jasus verreauxi (Decapoda: Palinuridae) from New South Wales waters, Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
SS Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
Carapace Length ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Minimum Length ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Spawning Stock ◽  
First Maturity ◽  
Size At First Maturity

Two criteria were used to investigate the size at which female eastern rock lobsters (Jasus verreauxi) off New South Wales attain maturity. These were the presence of well developed setae on, or the presence of eggs attached to, the pleopods. Females having well developed setae on the pleopods and/or carrying eggs were found only in catches from Coffs Harbour and Crowdy Head, the two most northern localities sampled. There were no significant differences in carapace length (CL) between size at first maturity (SOM) and size at onset of breeding (SOB) within or between areas sampled or when data from different areas were combined. SOM and SOB values (with 95% confidence intervals) for combined areas were, respectively 170.1 mm CL (169.1-171 a2 mm CL) and 166.5 mm CL (166.1- 171.9 mm CL). The present legal minimum length for harvesting J. verreauxi (104 mm CL) is far shorter than these SOM and SOB values. It is suggested that if a legal minimum length is imposed to conserve the spawning stock, then it should be 166 mm CL.

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