Effect of lights on activity levels of forest bats: increasing the efficiency of surveys and species identification

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria D. Adams ◽  
Bradley S. Law ◽  
Kris O. French
Keyword(s):  
Species Identification ◽  
Detection System ◽  
New South ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Forest Bats ◽  
Time Required

We investigated the effects of insect-attracting ultraviolet lights on activity of forest bats (Microchiroptera) with the prediction that lights would increase our indices of bat activity and improve species identification of recorded echolocation calls. Insect aggregations were created on forest tracks (n = 9) near Kioloa, New South Wales, using three vertically stratified insect light traps. Bat echolocation calls were recorded using a ground-based vertically oriented Anabat II detection system. Bat activity and foraging rates were higher at lit points than at unlit points, particularly when the lights were operated in full darkness. More species were identified at lit points and the sampling time required to identify the second to the fifth new species was 3.3–4.6 times shorter with lights. The presence of lights resulted in a greater number of bat passes more than five pulses in length, which was associated with an increased ability to identify passes to species level. Our study demonstrates that the use of lights in forest-based echolocation surveys can improve bat species inventories, particularly in communities where overlap in call characteristics among species is common.

Are vegetation interfaces important to foraging insectivorous bats in endangered coastal saltmarsh on the Central Coast of New South Wales?

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leroy Gonsalves ◽  
Bradley Law ◽  
Cameron Webb ◽  
Vaughan Monamy
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Insect Abundance ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Linear Elements

Conservation of insectivorous bats and their habitats is of increasing concern in Australia and linear elements in the landscape form important foraging habitats for many species. Only recently has use of endangered coastal saltmarsh habitat by bats been documented. Vegetation adjoining saltmarsh provides echolocating bats with linear elements that may be used while foraging and commuting to patches of high insect abundance. We used acoustic detectors to investigate whether individual species and total bat activity along seaward and landward saltmarsh edges was different to the interior of the saltmarsh. Four taxa accounted for greater than 80 % of all bat activity in each zone with similar taxa recorded in both edge and interior zones. However, significantly more bat activity was recorded in edge zones. While differences in microhabitat use by individual species were also found, bat morphology did not account for the observed differences. Conservation managers of saltmarsh and adjoining habitats should consider potential impacts of management actions on foraging bats and their prey. Retention of strips of edge vegetation may help to balance the conservation requirements of endangered coastal saltmarsh habitats and the foraging insectivorous bat populations they sustain.

Hydrograph recession characteristics of some small agricultural catchments

Soil Research ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
WC Boughton ◽  
DM Freebairn
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Unit Hydrograph ◽  
Agricultural Catchments ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Catchment Size ◽  
Time Required

Five-min recession constants were calculated for surface runoff and interflow using hydrographs of runoff from five 1-ha catchments at Greenmount near Toowoomba in south-east Queensland. The recession constants were converted to half-flow periods, i.e. the time required for flow rate to halve during an exponential recession. The half-flow periods of surface runoff and interflow on the 1 ha catchment are compared with published data from catchments of much larger size in New South Wales, and it is shown that the ratio of interflow half-flow period to surface runoff half-flow period does not vary much over six orders of magnitude of catchment size. Calculations of maximum rates of interflow and volumes of interflow storage show that both rates and volumes are possible in the plough depth of surface soil. The results support the evidence of interflow obtained earlier in unit hydrograph studies of runoff on these same catchments.

scholarly journals Anthropogenic noise alters bat activity levels and echolocation calls

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 62-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie P. Bunkley ◽  
Christopher J.W. McClure ◽  
Nathan J. Kleist ◽  
Clinton D. Francis ◽  
Jesse R. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Echolocation Calls ◽  
Bat Activity

scholarly journals Evaluation of a voucher scheme to increase child physical activity in participants of a school physical activity trial in the Hunter region of Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Reilly ◽  
Adrian Bauman ◽  
Lindsey Reece ◽  
Christophe Lecathelinais ◽  
Rachel Sutherland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
New South ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Organized Sport ◽  
Child Physical Activity ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Hunter Region

Abstract Background Global population data suggest that physical activity levels in children remain unacceptably low. Improved participation in organised sport has been recommended by the WHO as one strategy to improve population levels of physical activity. In 2018, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, the government introduced the Active Kids scheme, to help families meet the cost of getting children into organized sport. The aim of this study is to describe the uptake of Active Kids and assess the impact of the scheme on organized sport participation and child physical activity in a region of New South Wales. Methods A pragmatic longitudinal study was undertaken of parents/carers from primary school aged children (5–12 years) in the Hunter region of NSW, Australia. Baseline data were collected between Oct-Dec 2017, with follow-up 12 months later. A telephone survey occurred at both time points, asking questions regarding registration and redemption of an Active Kids voucher for their child, child participation in organised sports and child physical activity levels. Results Of the 974 parents/carers who consented to participate, 511 (52.5%) completed the telephone surveys at both time points. A very large proportion of children (n = 454, 89.0%) were reported by their parents/carers at baseline as meeting the minimum physical activity guideline of 60 min per day. Of participating parents/carers in this study, 407 (96.0%) reported redeeming an Active Kids voucher. Children who redeemed a voucher had three times the odds to participate in organized team sports from baseline to follow-up (p = 0.009). Sub group analyses identified that females who redeemed a voucher had four times the odds to participate in organized team sports (p = 0.012). Conclusions Given the already active nature of this sample, no significant improvements in physical activity levels were noted, but the positive contribution community sport can have on health and wellbeing amongst children is reinforced. Whilst voucher schemes can address financial burdens across all socio-economic groups, more population targeting is needed to deliver voucher schemes to the most disadvantaged and inactive segments of the population in order to increase physical activity.

Migrating moths (Lepidoptera) collected in tower-mounted light traps in northern New South Wales, Australia: species composition and seasonal abundance

1993 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Gregg ◽  
G. P. Fitt ◽  
M. Coombs ◽  
G. S. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Trapping Period ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Local Breeding ◽  
Noctuid Species

AbstractLight traps were operated between September and April for five years on towers on mountain tops at two locations in northern New South Wales, Australia. The traps were designed so that their lights could only be seen from above, and therefore only insects engaged in high altitude flight, presumed to be migrants, were captured. The catch consisted mostly of Noctuidae and Sphingidae. Sweep netting failed to reveal local breeding, and for many species there were few host plants close to the traps. A total of 51,580 moths were trapped at Point Lookout and 10,223 at Mt Dowe. Sphingids, mostly Hippotion scrofa (Boisduval), comprised 26.9% of the catch at Point Lookout, but only 2.6% at Mt Dowe, and there were more species of noctuids at Point Lookout (44) than at Mt Dowe (15). The most common noctuid species were Agrotis infusa (Boisduval), Mythimna convecta (Walker), Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren), H. armigera (Hübner), Dasygaster nephelistis Hampson and A. munda Walker. Known or suspected migrants comprised 94.6% of the catch at Point Lookout and 99.9% at Mt Dowe. However, there were at least 24 species not previously suspected as migrants. The seasonal distribution of catches varied between sites and years. Some species showed peaks in both spring and autumn in some years, but only in spring in other years. Many of the less common species were caught only in summer and autumn. Large catches were usually obtained overs short periods (1–2 nights), separated by long periods when catches were very low. These large catches, which were thought to represent major migrations, accounted for 76% of the catch in 3% of the trapping period at Point Lookout, and 87% of the catch in 2% of the trapping period at Mt Dowe.

scholarly journals Quantifying daily activity patterns of the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) using camera trap data from a stronghold population in south-eastern New South Wales

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie K. Courtney Jones ◽  
Katarina M. Mikac
Keyword(s):  
Daily Activity ◽  
New South ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Daily Activity Patterns

Activity levels of spotted-tailed quolls were investigated using camera traps over 12 months. There were 33 independent camera trap photos with 17 individual quolls identified. Latency to initial detection was 40 days. Quolls were nocturnal/crepuscular, spending 35% of the day they were detected active. Highest activity levels were recorded in summer.

Seed dormancy, germination, seedling emergence, and survival of some temperate perennial pasture grasses in northern New South Wales

2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
New South ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Litter Cover ◽  
Time Required

A series of seed and seedling studies was undertaken in northern New South Wales for the temperate perennial grasses phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirosa and Australian), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea cv. Demeter), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Kangaroo Valley), and 2 wallaby grasses (Austrodanthonia bipartita syn. Danthonia linkii cv. Bunderra and A. richardsonii syn. D. richardsonii cv. Taranna). Studies were conducted to determine the level of dormancy in freshly harvested seed and the time required to overcome it, effects of alternating daily temperatures on the germination of non-dormant seed, effect of time-of-sowing on seedling emergence (2 studies) and survival, levels of seed production and soil seedbanks, and the effect of litter cover and soil type on the emergence of Sirosa phalaris seedlings.Grass species, time, and their interaction all had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on both dispersal unit and caryopses germination. One month after harvest, germination of caryopses was lower (P < 0.05, 2 and 1%, respectively) for Taranna and Bunderra than for Sirosa (79.5%). In March 1993, germination of the 2 wallaby grasses was also lower (P < 0.05) than that of Sirosa. Dormancy of freshly harvested seeds of Sirosa was mainly associated with the structures surrounding the caryopses (7.7 v. 79.5% mean germination), but for Taranna and Bunderra it was related to physiological dormancy of the caryopses.Germination levels that were not significantly different to the maximum occurred for temperature ranges of 35/30–15/10�C [Sirosa (commercial)], 35/25–15/10�C (Australian phalaris), and 35/30–15/05�C (Kangaroo Valley ryegrass). In contrast, maximum germination of wallaby grasses only occurred for Taranna in the temperature range 25/20–20/10�C, and for Bunderra at 25/15 and 20/15�C.Seedling emergence in the field was episodic, occurring on only 3 occasions from 1993 to 1996. No seedlings of Sirosa phalaris, Demeter tall fescue, or Kangaroo Valley ryegrass were successfully recruited, but Taranna and Bunderra successfully recruited new plants from natural seedfalls. Whereas seed production of the perennial grasses studied was relatively high (~10 000 seed/m2 in 1992), soil seedbank levels were much lower (generally <1000 seeds/m2). These data were used to indicate the likely successful establishment of sown perennial grasses or by regeneration from natural seedfall.

scholarly journals Can a vaccine-led approach end the NSW outbreak in 100 days, or at least substantially reduce morbidity and mortality?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laxman Bablani ◽  
Tim Wilson ◽  
Hassan Andrabi ◽  
Vijaya Sundararajan ◽  
Driss Ait Oukarim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Uncertainty Interval ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Original Plan ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Business As Usual

Abstract Background and Aims The New South Wales (NSW) COVID-19 outbreak is at 478 daily cases on August 16, 2021. Our aims were to: 1) estimate the time required to reach ≤5 cases per day under three lockdown strengths (weak, moderate, strong), and four vaccination rollouts: (a) per the original plan, (b) prioritizing essential workers, (c) b plus rapid vaccination of 25% of <60-year-olds with AstraZeneca (AZ25), and (d) b plus rapid vaccination of 50% of <60-year-olds with AstraZeneca (AZ50). 2) estimate the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the 100 days after 1/August for the 12 scenarios. Methods An agent-based model was adapted to NSW and the Delta variant. Hospitalization and mortality rates for unvaccinated COVID-19 infections were doubled given the virulence of Delta. Results The business-as-usual rollout fully vaccinates 50%, 70% and 80% of >16-year-olds by 10/Oct, 21/Nov, and 28/Dec, respectively. This reduced to 1/Oct, 30/Oct, and 22/Nov for the fastest (AZ50) rollout. A strong lockdown with a rapid vaccine rollout was the fastest to reach ≤5 cases (14-day average), with a median of 78 days (90% Uncertainty interval 61 - 103) or 18/Oct, compared to 207 days (166 - 254) or 24/Feb for a weak lockdown with no rollout acceleration. Increased lockdown strength had more impact than rollout acceleration. Under the AZ25 vaccination scenario, there were 1,440 (90% UI 262 - 10,600 deaths in the first 100 days of cases under a weak lockdown, compared to 71 (90% UI 26 - 178) under a strong lockdown scenario. Conclusion NSW will likely achieve 70% vaccination of >16-year-olds before reaching ≤5 daily cases. Accelerating the vaccine rollout is important for the medium-term, but in the short-term increased restriction strength was more effective at reducing caseload (and subsequently mortality and hospitalisation) than accelerating the vaccine rollout.

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