Impact of domestic sewage effluent versus natural background variability: An example from Jervis Bay, New South Wales

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
SDA Smith

The effects of an outfall of low-volume, tertiary-treated effluent were evaluated within Jervis Bay on the southern coast of New South Wales by using the macrofauna inhabiting kelp (Ecklonia radiata) holdfasts. A range of analytical methods was used to determine differences in faunistic patterns between six sites (three close to the outfall and three controls) in the winters of 1990 and 1991. The analyses indicated that community structure was highly variable over both the spatial and the temporal scales of the study. Although some of the methods provided results consistent with a perturbed environment on the first sampling occasion (ABC plots, log-normal plots), these patterns were not repeated on the second sampling occasion. In addition, the species primarily responsible for the 'perturbed' configuration with those methods were from taxa that have been highlighted as pollution-sensitive in other studies of holdfast fauna. Non-parametric multivariate statistical methods (MDS, ANOSIM) consistently showed significant differences among sites but also revealed highly significant differences within a site over time. There was no consistent difference between sites closest to the outfall and more distant sampling locations and so no outfall effect was suggested. The results indicate that natural environmental factors are more influential than the low-volume, tertiary-treated effluent from the outfall in determining patterns of community structure in the holdfast community within Jervis Bay.

1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
KW Dawbin ◽  
JC Evans ◽  
MJ Duggin ◽  
EK Leggett

Radiance data collected by Landsat were used to derive wheat production forecasts. Radiance data at three stages of wheat growth in 1976 for the Tamworth region of the New South Wales wheat-belt were analysed by multivariate statistical methods to discriminate between paddocks that had been sown with wheat and those that had not, and to relate radiance to wheat yield. A discriminant function was derived that classified the paddocks, and a regression equation was derived to predict yields of wheat paddocks. Although data were not available for the green vegetative phases of growth, intrinsic testing of classification and yield prediction indicated high accuracy, although extrinsic testing indicated that they were less accurate. Assuming that data are available in future seasons at the vegetative stages, Landsat has a great potential for improving wheat forecasts in Australia.


1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (34) ◽  
pp. 631 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Casimir

Field trials investigating ultra-low volume applications of undiluted technical maldison by aircraft against dense populations of Phaulacridium vittatum Sj�stedt (wingless grasshopper) are described. In February 1965 an application rate of 8.2 fl oz an acre gave 90-95 per cent reduction of grasshopper populations on a property on the northern tablelands of New South Wales. A further trial in November 1965, using rates of 4.6 and 5.6 fl oz per acre, gave similar results for each rate-70 per cent reduction of the population one day after spraying, rising to 80-85 per cent within eleven days. Some aspects of a large aerial spraying campaign conducted from October to December 1965 are also described. More than 150,000 acres were treated with maldison at the rate of 6.3 fl oz an acre. Detailed observations of the campaign spraying were made on a single property as well as general surveys of the whole treated area. A minimum application rate of 8.0 fl oz maldison an acre is suggested for normal field usage against P. vitiatum.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 263 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Chen ◽  
R. D. B. Lefroy ◽  
G. J. Blair ◽  
J. M. Scott

Differences in concentrations of n-alkanes in the cuticular waxes of plants can be used to estimate the species composition of herbage mixtures or the diet consumed by grazing animals. The objectives of this study were (i) to provide information on the n-alkane (C25-C35) ‘signatures’ or patterns of pasture species occurring in ‘degraded’ and perennial pastures of the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, and (ii) to examine the extent of the field variation in the signatures. There were considerable differences in odd-numbered alkanes and in their total content between species. There were also significant differences in n-alkane concentrations among species within grasses, legumes, and weeds. For the individual odd-numbered alkanes, differences between species accounted for 87-93% of the total variance in alkane concentration over 3 samplings. Variable results for the temporal effect suggest that time-specific herbage samples are needed in animal diet studies. Analyses of the spatial effect indicate that random cuts over each treatment plot can obtain representative samples of each species. Multivariate statistical analyses using principal component and discriminant analyses indicated that the patterns of alkanes in species occurring on both degraded and perennial pastures were readily distinguishable. These results confirmed that the alkane technique could be used for estimation of diet composition in grazing sheep on the Northern Tablelands, NSW, where differences in n-alkane signatures between species were sufficient and persistent over time.


Telopea ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 203-232
Author(s):  
Peter Adams

Populations of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. from near Newcastle, New South Wales to southern and central west Queensland and encompassing all regions of the distribution were studied using field observations, morphometric analysis and nrITS sequences. A total of 281 individuals were used to construct regional descriptions of D. kingianum and 139 individuals were measured for 19 morphological characters, and similarities and differences among specimens summarised using multivariate statistical methods. Patterns of morphological variation within D. kingianum are consistent with a single variable species that expresses clinal variation, with short-growing plants in the south and taller plants in the northern part of the distribution. The nrITS gene tree suggests two subgroups within D. kingianum subsp. kingianum, one comprising northern, the other southern individuals, which may overlap in the vicinity of Dorrigo, New South Wales. The disjunct D. kingianum subsp. carnarvonense Peter B. Adams in central west Queensland, which can be distinguished by a predominately subterranean habit and a narrower labellum midlobe, was resolved sister to D. moorei F.Muell., which renders D. kingianum paraphyletic in the nrITS gene tree, but this position was not supported. Regional descriptions documenting clinal variation are provided. All previously described varieties, including D. kingianum var. pulcherrimum Rupp, are colour and growth forms of D. kingianum subsp. kingianum.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Hacking

Macrofaunal community composition of ten exposed sandy beaches in northern New South Wales, Australia, appeared to correlate with beach morphodynamic state even though the data represented sampling at only a single time. Better results were obtained by using the Beach State Index (BSI) rather than the dimensionless fall velocity (?). Species number and abundance significantly increased as the BSI value increased, whereas biomass was not correlated with BSI. The New South Wales beaches had a higher species number and abundance relative to BSI than did beaches in a published review of beaches around the world.


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