Effect of Severe Drought on Rabbit Numbers and Distribution in a Refuge Area in Semiarid North-western New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Myers ◽  
BS Parker
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Refuge Area ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Drainage Channels ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Gravelly Soils ◽  
North Western

During severe drought in north-western New South Wales populations of rabbits in sandy habitats are restricted to certain warrens, which are located in light sandy and gravelly soils in protected and elevated positions close to food supplies in major drainage channels and swamps. Warrens in less favourable localities become completely covered by drifting sand. After rain the unfavourable areas become more favourable and are recolonized by rabbits which open the old, buried warrens. Foxes are less able to excavate the permanently occupied warrens in the more favourable habitats, apparently because of their depth. The more evanescent warrens in less favourable areas show evidence of far more predation by foxes on nestling rabbits. The importance of these findings for rabbit control in the arid zone is discussed.

A Study of the Biology of the Wild Rabbit in Climatically Different Regions in Eastern Australia VI.* Changes in Numbers and Distribution related to Climate and Land Systems in Semiarid North-Western New South Wales.

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Myers ◽  
BS Parker
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Noticeable Increase ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Land Systems ◽  
North Western

This paper describes a dramatic fall in rabbit populations in a large area of semiarid north-western New South Wales, due to a severe drought, and the increase in numbers which followed. The reduction in numbers differed markedly in different land systems. The areas which supported rabbit populations throughout the study were limited to the proximity of swamps in sandy habitats, and close to drainage channels in stony habitats; populations became extinct over large areas of sandy habitats. In the stony habitats populations increased very rapidly in the 12 months following the breaking of the drought, whereas in the sandy habitats it took c. 3 y before a noticeable increase. The difference was probably a result of differences in survival, due mainly to the effects of predation and to the availability of open warrens. In sandy habitats drift sand buried untenanted warrens very rapidly. The environment affected not only rabbits but also their main predators, the fox and the cat. No cats and very few foxes were observed in stony habitats. The main activities of both species were confined to refuge areas in sandy habitats. The most significant correlation between indices of rabbit numbers and indices of use of rabbit warrens was the number of active burrows per unit area of habitat.

First confirmed records of the Western Hooded Scaly-foot Pygopus nigriceps from New South Wales

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-106
Author(s):  
George Madani
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
National Park ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
The State ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Far North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Western

ABSTRACT The Western Hooded Scaly-foot Pygopus nigriceps is a widespread pygopod concomitant with the sandy arid zone of inland and western Australia. The limited suitable habitat available and inaccessibility of north western New South Wales means that the occurrence of P. nigriceps has long gone undetected in the state. This is despite ecological work and fauna surveys having been conducted within this area. Here I report two records of P. nigriceps from far north western NSW (Sturt National Park and Winnathee Station), which are the only known confirmed records to date. This brings the number of known pygopods in NSW to 12 species.

Soil and vegetation response to thinning White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla) on the North Western Slopes of New South Wales, Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 285 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. McHenry ◽  
B. R. Wilson ◽  
J. M. Lemon ◽  
D. E. Donnelly ◽  
I. G. Growns
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Vegetation Response ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Callitris Glaucophylla ◽  
North Western ◽  
Cypress Pine

Red kangaroo, Megaleia rufa (Desmarest), in north-western New South Wales. 2. Food

1971 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Bailey ◽  
PN Martensz ◽  
RD Barker
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Western

Rhizobium as a factor in the re-establishment of legume-based pastures on clay soils of the wheat belt of north-western New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Bowman ◽  
D. M. Hebb ◽  
D. J. Munnich ◽  
J. Brockwell
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Rhizobium Meliloti ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Clay Soils ◽  
Natural Fertility ◽  
Fixed Nitrogen ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Annual Medics ◽  
North Western

Summary. Populations of Rhizobium meliloti in self-mulching clay soils (Vertisols) at 48 sites on 27 properties in north-western New South Wales were classified according to number and ability to fix nitrogen with several species of Medicago. Rhizobia were counted using serial dilution, nodulation frequency, plant infection tests. Abilities of the soil populations to fix nitrogen were determined in the laboratory with whole-soil inoculation of Medicago seedlings in test tubes with shoots exposed to the atmosphere and roots within the tubes under bacteriological control, and in the field using a technique based on the natural abundance of 15N in the soil. The majority of soils contained >1000 cells of R. meliloti per gram. The major component of those populations fixed nitrogen with lucerne (Medicago sativa) and some components of some soils also fixed nitrogen with M. polymorpha, M. scutellata, M. littoralis, M. tornata, M. laciniata and Trigonella suavissima. However, a number of soils were located which contained few if any rhizobia effective in nitrogen fixation with M. polymorpha. Overall, the effectiveness of nitrogen fixation of the naturally occurring populations of R. meliloti in association with M. polymorpha, M. scutellata, M. littoralis and M. tornata was only 46% of the effectiveness of standard strains. At one particular site, where 10 lines of annual Medicago spp. were growing experimentally, fixed nitrogen as a proportion of shoot nitrogen averaged only 28%. At that site, there were no effective rhizobia for M. scutellata and it was wholly dependent on the soil as the source of its nitrogen. The results are discussed in relation to the need for a substantial input of legume nitrogen for restoring the natural fertility of self-mulching clay soils in degraded wheat lands of north-western New South Wales. It is suggested that lucerne, or perhaps other perennial Medicago spp., might fill this role better than annual medics such as M. polymorpha and M. scutellata that are more dependent than lucerne on specific strains of R. meliloti to meet their requirements for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

The butterfly fauna of the Griffith district, a fragmented semi-arid landscape in inland southern New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Braby ◽  
Ted D. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Wagga Wagga ◽  
Fragmented Landscape ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Butterfly Fauna ◽  
Semi Arid

Thirty-three species of butterflies are recorded from the Griffith district in the semi-arid zone of inland southern New South Wales. The butterfly community comprises the following structure: 19 species (58%) are resident; 7 (21 %) are regular immigrants; 2 (6%) are irregular immigrants; 5 (15%) are vagrants. Except for a few migratory species, most occur in relatively low abundance. Lack of similar studies elsewhere in western New South Wales precludes generalizations regarding the species richness, composition and structure of semi-arid butterfly communities. Comparison of the butterfly fauna with that from five other inland regions on the slopes and foothills of the Great Diving Range, revealed that the Griffith district is most similar in species richness and composition to that of Deniliquin and to a lesser extent Wagga Wagga and Cowra in the south, than with two regions in the higher summer rainfall area of the north of the State (Coonabarabran-Mendooran, Narrabri-Bellata). Overall, the butterfly fauna of inland New South Wales (total of 73 species, of which 49 occur in the southern regions) is depauperate compared with that recorded from the coastal/subcoastal areas east of the Great Dividing Range. Attention is drawn to the conservation significance of several vegetation types and habitat remnants in the Griffith district. Much of the native vegetation in the district has been extensively modified since European settlement due to excessive clearing for agriculture, resulting in a highly fragmented landscape for the conservation of native flora and fauna. With the exception of the lycaenid Candalides hyacinthinus Simplex, which is considered threatened locally, there is a general absence of narrow range endemic butterflies associated with mallee-heathland or mallee-woodland, possibly as a result of widespread land clearing practices of mallee vegetation in the past.

Do economic factors cause change in productivity and stability in the New South Wales arid zone?

1978 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 200
Author(s):  
J.R. Anderson ◽  
PA Bruyn
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Western Division

A framework is suggested and explored for examining the influence of economic factors on changes in productivity and stability in the Western Division of New South Wales. The conclusion is reached that, excepting for an extraordinary peak of productivity around 1890, productivity continues to move up and down in a manner as unstable as ever. Economic factors seemingly play no clear role in influencing changes in productivity and only a slight and ambiguous role in influencing changes in stability.

Vegetation changes after fire on two land systems in arid North-west New South Wales.

1985 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Dune System ◽  
Erosion Risk ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales

Following a sequence of favourable years in which pasture growth over much of the arid zone of Australia reached very high ievels, controlled burns were carried out on two contrasting vegetation types in the extreme north-west of New South Wales. A wheei-point apparatus was used to measure subse- quent changes in botanical composition and foliage cover over a four year period. On a pasture periodically dominated by Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.) burning while growing conditions were favourable resulted in only a small long- term decrease in the cover of Mitchell grass. In the short-term all chenopod species were eliminated and a wider range and greater abundance of annual forbs were promoted in the following spring. On a similar area burned by wildfire in a year of low summer rainfall the response from Mitchell grass was much poorer and botanical composition of the pasture present in the following spring differed from that which developed in the spring following the controlled burn. It also differed from that of the unburnt pasture. The major differences were due to the response of forb species and are attributed to variation in seasonal rainfall. On a dune-system pasture the dominant grasses were species of Aristida and Enneapogon. These are relatively short-lived and appear to have little ability to regrow from the butt after fire. Their slow regeneration after the burn was reflected in the substantial increase in relative abundance of perennial forbs in the following autumn, and of annual forbs the next spring. Although fire appeared to have no long-term effect on the pasture it dramatically reduced tree and shrub numbers. It is suggested that during years in which abnormal quantities of Mitchell grass are present in this region, controlled burning could be a useful form of management. A mosaic of patches burnt at different times would reduce the potential for wide-scale wildfires, provide refuge areas for stock and wildlife in the event of wildfire, and promote a wider choice of plant material for grazing animals. However, in dune-systems vegetation, removal of the pasture cover and reduction of the tree and shrub density would constitute an erosion risk.

Habitat Use by Sminthopsis-Crassicaudata, Planigale-Gilesi and Planigale-Tenuirostris (Marsupialia, Dasyuridae) in Semiarid New-South-Wales

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Read
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Sminthopsis Crassicaudata ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Soil Cracks ◽  
Habitat Variables

Habitat use by Sminthopsis crassicaudata, Planigale gilesi and P. tenuirostris was investigated in the arid zone of New South Wales. All species showed considerable flexibility in habitat use at all times, and abundance was poorly predicted from easily measured parameters of the habitat. However, evidence was found for separation of microhabitat among these sympatric species. Multiple regression analysis indicated that abundance of S. crassicaudata was negatively associated with height of vegetation and the depth and density of soil cracks, and that of P. gilesi was positively associated with these habitat variables. Plant height was positively associated with abundance of P. tenuirostris and it was the only important predictor for this species. These results are discussed in conjunction with trapping records from other habitats.

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