Changes in the status and distribution of four species of parrot in the south of Western Australia during 1970-90

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Mawson ◽  
John L. Long
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Mail Surveys ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
South West ◽  
The Status

Mail surveys were sent to field staff of the Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia to assess the distribution and status of four species of parrot in the agricultural region of south-west Western Australia in 1970, 1980 and 1990. The surveys indicated that the populations of the Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus) and the Western Rosella (Platycercus icterotis) have declined in range considerably since 1970. The populations of the Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) and the Port Lincoln Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius) have suffered little or not at all during the same period. Factors which appear to have contributed to the observed changes in distribution and status include clearing for agriculture, dietary preferences, physiology, habitat requirements, altered fire regimes, grazing by exotic herbivores and reduced winter rainfall. These surveys have shown that species which were formerly considered common and widespread have declined with little comment having been made of these changes. The implications of this are serious, both for these formerly common species and for rarer bird species which have similar ecological requirements. The technique of mail surveys has considerable merit for quickly assessing the status of some species of birds, but will be limited by the expertise of the respondents and the degree to which the species in question can be observed.

The status of non-volant mammals along a rainfall gradient in the south-west Kimberley, Western Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Start ◽  
A. A. Burbidge ◽  
M. C. McDowell ◽  
N. L. McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
South West ◽  
The Status ◽  
High Level

To assess the current status of mammals in relation to mean annual rainfall and to improve knowledge of the original mammalian assemblages in tropical Western Australia, extant terrestrial mammals and subfossil mammalian remains were sought along a rainfall gradient in two parallel ranges in the Kimberley, Western Australia. As expected, extant mammal species richness decreased with decreasing rainfall. Data from other studies in higher-rainfall areas complemented this conclusion and a parallel decline in trap success implied an overall decline in abundance, although numbers of two rodents (Rattus tunneyi and Zyzomys argurus) were highly variable. Small rodents were rare. Subfossil deposits were biased by accumulation processes, with most attributable to tytonid owls. They largely consisted of rodent and, to a lesser extent, small dasyurid bones and there was a high level of consistency in the proportional composition of many common species across the rainfall gradient. Most deposits appear to predate the introduction of stock in the 1880s and some may be much older. All species persist in the study area except two Notomys spp. and three Pseudomys spp. Both the Notomys and one Pseudomys are apparently undescribed, extinct species. However, there were marked ratio differences between subfossil and modern assemblages. Although specimens of species larger than those taken by tytonid owls were scarce, their occurrences were broadly consistent with the modern understanding of distributions.

Terrestrial avifauna of the Gippsland Plain and Strzelecki Ranges, Victoria, Australia: insights from Atlas data

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Q. Radford ◽  
Andrew F. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Regional Scale ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Reporting Rate ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Typical Species ◽  
The Status ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Landscape Units

The rate and spatial scale at which natural environments are being modified by human land-uses mean that a regional or national perspective is necessary to understand the status of the native biota. Here, we outline a landscape-based approach for using data from the ‘New Atlas of Australian Birds’ to examine the distribution and status of avifauna at a regional scale. We use data from two bioregions in south-east Australia – the Gippsland Plain and the Strzelecki Ranges (collectively termed the greater Gippsland Plains) – to demonstrate this approach. Records were compiled for 57 landscape units, each 10′ latitude by 10′ longitude (~270 km2) across the study region. A total of 165 terrestrial bird species was recorded from 1870 ‘area searches’, with a further 24 species added from incidental observations and other surveys. Of these, 108 species were considered ‘typical’ of the greater Gippsland Plain in that they currently or historically occur regularly in the study region. An index of species ‘occurrence’, combining reporting rate and breadth of distribution, was used to identify rare, common, widespread and restricted species. Ordination of the dataset highlighted assemblages of birds that had similar spatial distributions. A complementarity analysis identified a subset of 14 landscape units that together contained records from at least three different landscape units for each of the 108 ‘typical’ species. When compared with the 40 most common ‘typical’ species, the 40 least common species were more likely to be forest specialists, nest on the ground and, owing to the prevalence of raptors in the least common group, take prey on the wing. The future status of the terrestrial avifauna of the greater Gippsland Plains will depend on the extent to which effective restoration actions can be undertaken to ensure adequate representation of habitats for all species, especially for the large number of species of conservation concern.

Changes in populations of bird species in roadside softwood scrub remnants/farmland and open eucalypt forest in south-east Queensland, 1981 to 1993

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 232 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Leach
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Management ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Noisy Miner ◽  
The Status ◽  
Monitoring Procedure

Long-term monitoring of bird species provides information on base-line populations and population trends required to ensure that habitat management is effective for their conservation. Two surveys in both spring and autumn over 12 years monitored populations at fixed points in roadside softwood scrub remnants plus adjoining farmland (softwood/farmland) and in eucalypt open forest in south-east Queensland. The main aims were to determine the status of species in each habitat, especially whether the status of any species was changing, and to assess the usefulness of the monitoring procedure. In all, 92 species were observed; 79 in the softwood/farmland and 74 in the eucalypt forest. From 49 to 56 species were observed each year in softwood/farmland and 34 to 46 in eucalypt forest. Annual species turnover in softwood/farmland was about half that in eucalypt forest; 39% of all species were observed every year in the former habitat, but only 19% in the latter. The Torresian Crow was most often observed in softwood/farmland and the Noisy Miner in eucalypt forest. The Torresian Crow was the only species to be among the five most observed in each habitat. Among other common species, 95% or more observations of Bar-shouldered Doves, Superb Fairy-wrens, Yellow Thornbills and Silvereyes were in softwood/farmland, whereas for Weebills, White-throated Gerygones, Buff-rumped Thornbills, White-throated Treecreepers and White-throated Honeyeaters at least 95% of observations were in eucalypt forest, confirming their strong habitat specificities. The number of birds observed increased linearly for eight species in softwood/farmland and six species in eucalypt forest, and decreased for five and four species, respectively, over the 12 years. The most significant trends were for the Crested Pigeon (increase) and Willie Wagtail (decrease) in softwood/farmland, while Peaceful Dove and Rufous Whistler decreased in both habitats. Several species which increased adapt well to partial clearing of woody vegetation and aggressively exclude others, e.g., Noisy Miner, butcherbirds and Pied Currawong. The trends may reflect insidious degradation of habitats. The main value of the survey method was for detecting changes of species that could be used as indicator species ? those that respond most rapidly to habitat change. While the method was efficient, wildlife managers would need to use it regularly to maintain skills, especially because most observations are of bird calls.

scholarly journals Knowledge of birds and willingness to support their conservation: an Australian case study

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLEVO WILSON ◽  
CLEM TISDELL
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
The Status ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Australian Case ◽  
Balanced Information

This case study concentrates on the extent of knowledge among the Australian public of Australia's tropical bird species, and their willingness to support their conservation. In order to place this issue in context, we provide background information on the status of Australian bird species, focusing attention on species that occur in tropical Australia. Then, using questionnaire survey results, we consider the hypothesis that the public's support for the conservation of different bird species depends on their understanding of the species' existence and status. Based on results from a sample of residents in Brisbane, Queensland, we found that knowledge of bird species that occur exclusively in the Australian tropics (including tropical Queensland) was very poor compared with that of those occurring in the Brisbane area that are relatively common. Experimental results indicated that when respondents in the sample had an option to allocate A$1,000 between 10 bird species listed in the survey, they allocated more funds to the better-known and more common species, unless they were provided with balanced information about all the selected species. With balanced information, the average allocation to bird species confined mostly to the Australian tropics, particularly those threatened, increased. This demonstrates the conservation implications of information provision about bird species. The results showed that public education can play a crucial role in attempts to conserve bird species that are poorly known and threatened.

Patterns of landscape fire and predicted vegetation response in the North Kimberley region of Western Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Fisher ◽  
Tom Vigilante ◽  
Cameron Yates ◽  
Jeremy Russell-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Interval Data ◽  
Obligate Seeder ◽  
The North ◽  
The Status ◽  
Modelling Studies

The paper reports on the development of a decadal fire history, 1990–1999, derived from Landsat imagery, and associated assessment of landscape-scale patterns, in a remote, sparsely human-populated region of the high rainfall zone of monsoonal north-western Australia. The assembled fire history confirms observations, derived from coarser-scale imagery, that substantial areas of the North Kimberley are burnt each year. The annual mean extent of burning was 31% (albeit involving marked inter-annual variability), with most burning occurring in the latter part of the dry season under relatively severe fire weather conditions. Extent of burning was found to be associated with intensity of landuse; most burning occurred on pastoral lands, particularly in association with more fertile basalt soils. Based on previous modelling studies, predicted effects of contemporary fire regimes include increased development of woody regeneration size-classes, especially on non-basalt substrates. In contrast, on sandstone-derived substrata, fire interval data indicate that longer-lived obligate-seeder shrub species are likely to be suppressed and ultimately displaced by contemporary fire regimes. Such observations are supported by recent evidence of regional collapse of the long-lived obligate seeder tree species, Callitris intratropica. Collectively, assembled data point to the need to undertake a thorough appraisal of the status of regional biota in this remote, ostensibly ecologically intact region.

A Review of The Distribution, Status and Conservation of Rock-wallabies in Western Australia.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
D.J. Pearson ◽  
J.E. Kinnear
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
National Park ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Chromosomal Races ◽  
South West ◽  
Diverse Species ◽  
Field Identification ◽  
The Status ◽  
Taxonomic Research ◽  
The Impact

Western Australia has five species of rock-wallabies. Petrogale brachyotis, Petrogale burbidgei and Petrogale concinna occur in wet-dry tropical habitats in the Kimberley region. Petrogale rothschildi is a Pilbara region endemic, while Petrogale lateralis has the largest distribution, extending from the south-west Kimberley to islands off the southern coastline. There have been few collections of the three species restricted to the Kimberley. Their small size, secretive disposition and variable pelage have hampered field identification, and thus, understanding of their distribution and status. The populations of all three are currently believed to be stable and their status is considered secure. Petrogale rothschildi is known from the Hamersley and Chichester Ranges, the east Pilbara, the Burrup Peninsula and four islands in the Dampier Archipelago. It is abundant on three of these islands but has declined on Dolphin island. The status of the mainland populations is uncertain. Petrogale lateralis is a diverse species, with two subspecies and two chromosomal races occurring in WA. Petrogale lateralis hacketti is restricted to three islands in the Archipelago of the Recherche. Petrogale lateralis lateralis has declined throughout its mainland range, with extant populations known from six localities in the Wheatbelt; Cape Range; the Calvert Range; and Barrow and Salisbury Islands. It may still be extant in Kalbarri National Park. Petrogale lateralis West Kimberley race has a restricted distribution but appears secure, while P. lateralis MacDonnell Ranges race has declined markedly in recent years. Fox predation has been implicated in the decline of some populations of P. lateralis and P. rothschildi. The impact of factors such as competition from introduced grazers (stock, rabbits, goats), fire and habitat clearing have not been examined. Increased control of exotic predators, taxonomic research to clarify the identity of unsampled populations and field surveys are needed to improve the conservation outlook for WA rock-wallabies.

scholarly journals Do woodland birds prefer to forage in healthy Eucalyptus wandoo trees?

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Moore ◽  
L. E. Valentine ◽  
M. D. Craig ◽  
G. E. StJ. Hardy ◽  
P. A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
Tree Decline ◽  
Woodland Birds ◽  
South West ◽  
Conservation Park ◽  
Condition Assessments ◽  
Eucalyptus Wandoo

Globally, many forests and woodlands are in decline. The marked loss of canopy foliage typical of these declines results in reduced foraging resources (e.g. nectar, pollen, and insects) and, subsequently, can reduce habitat quality for woodland birds. In south-west Western Australia, patches of Eucalyptus wandoo woodlands have shown a decline in condition since at least 2002. We investigated how changes in E. wandoo condition affect the woodland bird community. Foraging activities of three bird species were recorded for 20 sites in Dryandra State Forest and Wandoo Conservation Park either by conducting watches on focal trees (‘sitting’ method), or following individuals through the woodland (‘following’ method). Condition assessments of trees used by the birds were compared with those for trees available at the study site. Weebills (Smicrornis brevirostris; canopy insectivore) displayed preference for healthy trees (low amounts of canopy dieback), whereas rufous treecreepers (Climacteris rufa; bark-foraging insectivore) preferred trees with a higher proportion of dead branches. Yellow-plumed honeyeaters (Lichenostomus ornatus; insectivore/nectarivore) foraged in older, larger E. wandoo trees having full canopies with few signs of tree decline. Tree declines, such as that happening in E. wandoo, alter the foraging resources and habitat available to woodland birds.

Survey of feral honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies for Nosema apis in Western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Manning ◽  
Kate Lancaster ◽  
April Rutkay ◽  
Linda Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Nosema Apis ◽  
The South ◽  
South West ◽  
Feral Populations ◽  
Significant Difference

The parasite, Nosema apis, was found to be widespread among feral populations of honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the south-west of Western Australia. The location, month of collection and whether the feral colony was enclosed in an object or exposed to the environment, all affected the presence and severity of infection. There was no significant difference in the probability of infection between managed and feral bees. However, when infected by N. apis, managed bees appeared to have a greater severity of the infection.

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