scholarly journals Ophyiulus in Victoria: results of millipede surveys from south-eastern Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Briony A. Norton ◽  
Linda J. Thomson ◽  
Michael A. Nash
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Native Species ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Future ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The composition and ecology of the millipede fauna of Victoria remain poorly understood. We collected millipedes as part of a series of ecological arthropod surveys across south-eastern Australia, focusing mainly on Victoria. These samples almost exclusively contained millipedes from the introduced order Julida. We pursued species identification of the julids when it became apparent there were species other than the well-recorded Ommatoiulus moreleti (Lucas, 1860) (Portuguese millipede) in the samples. The majority of specimens were O. moreleti, but we also detected at least one species of Cylindroiulus Verhoeff, 1894, as well as an Ophyiulus Berlese, 1884, species, specimens of which have been identified as Ophyiulus cf. targionii. These are the first Ophyiulus records for Victoria to our knowledge. We present preliminary data on the abundance through the year of Ophyiulus. This is the first study to examine this species in Victoria and little is currently known about its likely impact on agriculture or on native species. Monitoring and research of the species in the future is therefore warranted.

Dung burial by native and introduced dung beetles (Scarabaeidae)

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1799 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Tyndale-Biscoe
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The quantity of dung buried and shredded by dung beetles at four sites in south-eastern Australia was found to be positively correlated with the dry weight (biomass) of beetles in the pads. Each of the four sites has two abundant native species of dung beetles, and one to five well-established introduced species present. At Uriarra, where only one introduced species is common, a mean of 7 . 2 l � 1.94% (1990-91) and 6.01�1.31% (1991-92) of the dung was buried per week. At Fyshwick, with two common introduced species of dung beetles, 22.27� 4.03% (1990-91) and 12 04�2 72% (1991-92) of the dung was buried per week. Braidwood, with four introduced species, had a mean of 15.81� 2.82% (1991-92) weekly dung buried, and Araluen, with five introduced species, had 30.18�8- 73% (1992-93) dung buried per week. Dung beetle numbers were low at all sites during the first half of 1991-92 season due to a drought throughout the region. Dung shredding averaged less than 12% over the seasons at all sites, but fluctuated from 0 to 70%, depending mainly on beetle numbers in the dung pads on individual occasions. Increasing numbers of exotic dung beetles throughout the pastoral areas of Australia should result in increased amounts of dung buried and shredded, with correspondingly increased benefits to Australian agriculture.

scholarly journals Evidence of rapid population decline of the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) in Tasmania

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn A. Fancourt ◽  
Clare E. Hawkins ◽  
Stewart C. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Population Decline ◽  
Recent History ◽  
Mammalian Fauna ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Future ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Australia’s mammalian fauna has suffered unparalleled extinctions and declines in recent history. Tasmania has remained largely unaffected by these losses; however, marsupial dynamics are changing rapidly and new threats are emerging. Once abundant throughout south-eastern Australia, the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) survives only in Tasmania. Until recently, it was considered widespread and common, but it may be undergoing a rapid and severe decline. The aim of this study was to quantify changes in eastern quoll populations over recent years. Data were compiled from statewide spotlight surveys, repeated historic trapping surveys and bycatch records from non-target trapping surveys. Spotlight surveys from 150 sites across Tasmania revealed a 52% reduction in the number of eastern quoll sightings over the 10 years to 2009. Declines of 61–100% were observed in trapping surveys at three study sites compared with trapping conducted 18–31 years earlier. A reduction in trap success was recorded in five of six non-target surveys, with declines of 51–100% over 1–12 years. These results suggest that the eastern quoll can no longer be presumed secure in Tasmania. Urgent management action may be needed to ensure the future conservation of the species in its last remaining stronghold.

Condition of fenced and unfenced remnant vegetation in inland catchments in south-eastern Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue V. Briggs ◽  
Nicola M. Taws ◽  
Julian A. Seddon ◽  
Bindi Vanzella
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
Vegetation Condition ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Native Species Richness ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Considerable areas of remnant native vegetation have been fenced in the last decade to manage grazing by domestic stock. This study investigated vegetation condition in comparative fenced and unfenced remnant vegetation in the mid–upper Murrumbidgee and Lachlan catchments in south-eastern Australia. Native species richness, native groundcover and overstorey regeneration were higher at fenced than at unfenced sites. Area of bare ground was lower at fenced sites. Exotic groundcover did not differ between fenced and unfenced sites. Native species richness was higher at sites fenced for longer and with no stock grazing; neither native nor exotic groundcover at fenced sites was related to time since fencing or stock grazing pressure. Some tree species regenerated at both fenced and unfenced sites (Blakely’s red gum, Eucalyptus blakelyi; tumbledown gum, E. dealbata, long-leaved box, E. goniocalyx; red stringbark, E. macrorhyncha), some regenerated at few fenced and few unfenced sites (white box, E. albens; yellow box, E. melliodora) and some regenerated at fenced sites but not at unfenced sites (grey box, E. microcarpa; mugga ironbark, E. sideroxylon; white cypress pine, Callitris glaucophylla). Although less robust than pre- and postfencing monitoring, the comparisons reported here provide a logistically feasible and relatively inexpensive assessment of effects of the sizeable public investment in fencing on vegetation condition.

Do invasive eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) shape wetland fish assemblage structure in south-eastern Australia?

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jed I. Macdonald ◽  
Zeb D. Tonkin ◽  
David S. L. Ramsey ◽  
Andrew K. Kaus ◽  
Alison K. King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Gambusia Holbrooki ◽  
Fish Assemblage Structure ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Defining the ecological impacts conferred by invasive fishes provides a framework for evaluating the feasibility of control efforts in invaded waterways, and for predicting the consequences of future incursions. Eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) is a remarkably successful invader of freshwater systems worldwide, with the capacity to detrimentally impact native fishes both directly (e.g. competition, predation, agonistic interactions) and indirectly (e.g. triggering trophic cascades). Here, we modelled the influence of eastern gambusia and several environmental covariates on fish species diversity, abundance and condition based on quantitative survey data collected from 93 wetlands in south-eastern Australia. We predicted that small-bodied, wetland specialist species sharing dietary- and habitat-niches with eastern gambusia would be most severely impacted, and that environmental stressors associated with wetland drying during late summer would magnify these impacts. Eastern gambusia influenced the occurrence, abundance and/or body condition of most common wetland species; however, the direction and level of impact appeared dependent on both biotic and environmental forces. From these results, we postulate that generalist life-history strategies that permit niche-segregation may release some native species from competitive/predatory pressures, allowing coexistence with eastern gambusia in resource-limited, environmentally harsh habitats, whilst specialist species that occupy narrower ecological niches may be less resistant.

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