Evaluation of methods of assessing vegetation change in the semi-arid rangelands of southern Australia.

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
NA Abraham ◽  
R Barratt ◽  
J Choate ◽  
DR Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Change ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Condition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Litter Cover ◽  
Precise Measure ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Semi Arid

Methods for measuring long-term changes in vegetation and soil condition were evaluated in terms of recording error, efficiency and value in meeting management objectives. The evaluation was made on 4-5 sites for each of six vegetation types across the semi-arid rangelands of South Australia and New South Wales. In the semi-arid woodlands the lowest errors of measurement (C.V. = 12-14%) were associated with point measures of canopy cover, while in the chenopod shrublands the most precise measure in most situations was the density of shrub clumps (C.V. = 12-16%). Measures of herbaceous and litter cover had a high error of measurement (e.g. C.V. = 60%) and observers were significantly different. The point measurement of the area of degraded soil surface was reliable on duplex soils, but not on gradational soils. The results are discussed in terms of their application for the monitoring of change in range condition. It is concluded that the most appropriate measure of the shrub layer is foliar cover in woodlands and clump density in chenopod shrublands.

Two new genera and five new species of Mugadina-like small grass cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Cicadettini) from Central and Eastern Australia: comparative morphology, songs, behaviour and distributions

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4413 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. EWART
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
New Genera ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Semi Arid

Moulds (2012) established the genus Mugadina for two small cicadas, M. marshalli (Distant) and M. emma (Goding and Froggatt), both grass inhabiting species known from Queensland and New South Wales. Both species are notable for their relatively simple 'ticking' songs. Moulds further noted that there were at least two superficially similar genera of cicadas, but each with different genitalia. This paper describes two new genera of small (9–15 mm body lengths) and distinctive grass cicadas with genitalia that are very similar to those of Mugadina, but possess clear morphological, colour and calling song differences. The new genera are: Heremusina n. gen. with two known species namely H. udeoecetes n. sp. and H. pipatio n. sp.; the second new genus is Xeropsalta n. gen., containing four known species, X. thomsoni n. sp., X. aridula n. sp., X. rattrayi n. sp., and X. festiva n. comb. Heremusina n. gen. species are described from the Alice Springs area of Northern Territory and the Cloncurry area of northwest Queensland, from arid to semi arid habitats. The Xeropsalta n. gen. species are described from western, southwest and central Queensland, and from the Simpson and Strzelecki Deserts in northeastern South Australia and northwestern New South Wales, respectively, all locations in very arid to arid habitats, but close to seasonal (often irregular) rivers and lakes. X. festiva n. comb. occurs in semi arid habitats in southern and southeastern Australia.        Detailed taxonomic descriptions are provided of the new species, together with distributions, habitats, and the calling songs. The Heremusina species emit songs with short repetitive buzzing echemes, the echeme durations differing between each species. The Xeropsalta songs are notable for their complexity, containing multiple elements with rapid changes of amplitudes and temporal structures, rather atypical of the songs of most small grass dwelling cicadas. Detailed song structures distinguishing each of the species are illustrated and interpreted in each case in light of their respective taxonomic status. 

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.

Technological Change in Fences and European Pastoral Heritage in Semi-Arid New South Wales.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 190 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Rich Variety ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Conservation Of Natural Resources ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Semi Arid

Despite increasing attention to conservation of natural resources and Aboriginal heritage, relics of the European pastoral industry in the semi-arid rangelands have been neglected. Fences are ubiquitous relics of the pastoral industry and show a rich variety in styles, techniques and technological change. Examples from Wilcannia in western New South Wales illustrate the variety that can be found. Legislation in New South Wales prohibits disturbance of relics (items > 50 years old) but has not been applied. The key step is assessing the significance of the item or place. Criteria adopted under The Burra Charter are listed and briefly discussed. Costs of conservation should be borne by society, not individual graziers; and grazier cooperation is essential for conserving cultural heritage.

Effect of Pasture Availability on Bait Uptake by Feral Pigs in Australia's Semi-Arid Rangelands.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Choquenot ◽  
B Lukins
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
New South ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
North Western ◽  
Semi Arid

Factors that influence bait uptake by feral pigs will determine the efficacy of poisoning and trapping programmes for the control of pigs and have the potential to introduce bias to indices of pig abundance requiring bait consumption. In this study, the influence of pasture availability on uptake of bait trails consisting of soaked wheat by pigs in the semi-arid rangelands of north-western New South Wales was investigated. Percentage uptake of bait trails, pig density and pasture biomass were estimated for six sites along the Paroo River on six occasions: two each when pasture biomass was relatively high, moderate and low. The influence of pasture biomass on the relationship between percentage uptake of bait trails and pig density was examined by linear regression analysis. The analysis demonstrated that increasing pasture biomass significantly reduced the density of pigs corresponding to a given percentage uptake of bait trails, suggesting that, as pasture biomass increased, fewer pigs consumed bait trails andlor the number of bait trails each pig consumed declined. Assuming the former, the effect of increasing pasture biomass on the relationship between percentage uptake of bait trails and pig density indicated that, for every increase in pasture biomass of 100 kg ha-1, the percentage of pigs consuming bait declined by about 10%. The implications of these results for pig control and bias associated with indices of pig abundance requiring bait consumption are discussed.

Landscape ecology of the burrowing bettong: fire and marsupial biocontrol of shrubs in semi-arid Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Noble ◽  
David S. Hik ◽  
Anthony R. E. Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Native Shrubs ◽  
In Fire ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Stony Hard

Prior to European settlement, medium-sized marsupials, especially bettongs (Bettongia spp.), were widely distributed across arid and semi-arid Australia. Most disappeared rapidly in the late 1800s in the earliest settled rangelands such as the West Darling region of western New South Wales following the spread of domestic herbivores, rabbit invasion, exotic predators and loss of habitat. Because the burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur) is the only fossorial macropod species, it left a clearly visible record of its past presence, distribution and habitat preferences in the form of substantial relict warrens, particularly in stony, ‘hard-red’ habitats. With the reduction in fire frequency because of excessive grazing pressures following European settlement in the 19th century, there was a rapid increase in the density of unpalatable native shrubs. We examine the hypothesis that periodic wildfires and browsing by bettongs were together able to regulate shrub densities in semi-arid rangelands in Australia. Information from various sources concerning the effects of fire, rainfall and browsing on the demography of shrubs was used to construct a model of shrub population dynamics. The model indicates the potential for two states for a given bettong density: first, a low shrub density maintained by a combination of periodic fire and bettong browsing; and second, a high shrub density in the absence of fire. These results have broad implications for pastoral and conservation management in Australian semi-arid rangelands.

Distribution and Relative Abundance of Feral Goats in the Rangelands of Eastern Australia.

1993 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Southwell ◽  
K Weaver ◽  
N Sheppard ◽  
P Morris
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Goat Population ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Feral Goat ◽  
Semi Arid

An aerial survey of 966,000 km2 of the arid/semi-arid rangelands of Queensland and New South Wales in the winter of 1992 indicated a minimum feral goat population of almost 1 million animals (density 0.97�0.12/km2). Observed density (f standard error) was higher in New South Wales (1.51�0.23/km2) than in Queensland (0.47�0.09/km2).

The application of Landsat image data to rangeland assessment and monitoring: An example from South Australia.

1983 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Graetz ◽  
MR Gentle ◽  
RP Pech ◽  
JF O'Callaghan ◽  
G Drewien
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Image Data ◽  
Rangeland Management ◽  
Landsat Image ◽  
Landsat Data ◽  
Individual Property ◽  
Resource Information ◽  
Arid Rangelands ◽  
Semi Arid

The potential of Landsat image data to assess and monitor an area of semi-arid rangelands in South Australia is demonstrated. The project is a cooperative ongoing one between CSIRO and a future operational user of Landsat, the South Australian Pastoral Board, and it has as its long-term aim the development of a Land Image-Based Resource Information System (LIBRIS) for rangeland management. Three separate stages of the project are described. The fist is the integration of tenure maps with Landsat image data to permit a useful analysis and interrogation of the combined Landsat data sets. The second is the derivation of vegetation indices from Landsat data that are applicable to the semi-arid rangelands. Indices of 'cover' and of 'greenness' have been derived, but this report concen- trates on the cover index only for it can be related to soil erosion hazard/landscape stability and, as such, it represents a simple, robust vegetation-related index derived directly from Landsat. Lastly this index is used to map both cover and trend (changes in cover). Cover changes over the period 1973-1980 are detected and reported for a test region of 8300 km2. With the integration of tenure boundaries the interrogation, mapping and reporting at the individual property level is demonstrable.

Range condition assessment in bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) communities.

1982 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
GJ Tupper ◽  
DJ Tongway
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Texture Contrast

Factors contributing to changes in the condition of saltbush communities (Atriplex vesicaria) in the Riverine Plain and Barrier Range regions of New South Wales were measured under a variety of seasonal situations. Groups of eight plots, representing a range of past grazing intensity, were established at each location and measurements were made of species biomass, canopy cover and frequency, forage availability and soil fertility. In both regions, high grazing intensity was characterized by the elimination of the saltbush (A. vesicaria) and an increase in other species, such as Astrebla (mitchell grass), Sclerolaena spp. (copperburrs), annual Atriplex spp. and a wide range of ephemeral species. These changes were best characterized by canopy cover measurements which gave a quantitative assessment of the vegetation changes (in contrast to frequency) and gave values that were less seasonally variable than biomass. Up to 83 species were recorded, but these were aggregated into approximately 9 groups to simplify the collection and analysis of data, without loss of information. On the Barrier Range site, the A. vesicaria was replaced by palatable species, so that there was little loss of overall forage production. Similarly, there was little evidence of loss of soil fertility, as measured by various measures of soil nitrogen, available phosphorus and organic carbon. There was no erosion on these sites, although this may occur on other saltbush communities that grow on texture contrast soils. On the basis of these results, four separate indices of condition are proposed for saltbush communities. These are based on the measurement in the growing season of the canopy cover of major perennial and biennial species or species groups. They are (i) the relative cover of A. vesicaria (the major observable change in these communities), (ii) the relative total cover of desirable forage species (an index of forage productivity), (iii) percentage similarity (an index of community change for conservation purposes), and (iv) the relative area of eroded soil surface.

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