scholarly journals Initial effects of rabbit haemorrhagic disease on free-living rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations in central-western New South Wales

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Saunders ◽  
David Choquenot ◽  
John McIlroy ◽  
Rossanne Packwood

Quarterly spotlight counts of rabbits were conducted at three sites in central-western New South Wales. These counts commenced two years before the arrival of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in the winter of 1996. The existing data on quarterly rates of change in rabbit abundance for the three populations provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of RHD on rabbit demography. Prior to the arrival of RHD, all three populations underwent phases of sequential increase and decrease in each year. On the basis of these patterns, RHD had a variable influence on the demography of the three rabbit populations. In 1996–97, the density of two populations declined over an expected period of increase, while at the third site the density increased as expected from pre-RHD patterns. Twelve months after their failure to generate expected positive rates of increase the two affected populations had returned to the normal sequence of increases and decreases in density although still at comparatively low numbers.


2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Moriarty ◽  
Glen Saunders ◽  
Barry J. Richardson

Mortality of radio-tagged adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (n = 274) was monitored for one year in central-western New South Wales. The overall mortality rate was 82%. Predation was the most important and consistent cause of adult rabbit mortality, accounting for 44% of the total number of rabbits, followed by Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) (16%), myxomatosis (9%), unknown causes (9%), and enteritis/peritonitis (2%). Foxes were the most important predators, accounting for 28% of radio-tagged rabbits. Medium to large birds of prey were less important, accounting for 10%, followed by cats, which were responsible for 6% of the deaths of radio-collared rabbits. Myxomatosis outbreaks occurred in February/March and November–January. An RHD outbreak occurred during July, with 40% of the adult rabbit population being killed. The number of male and female radio-collared adult rabbits killed by each mortality agent throughout the year was similar. The proportions of warren-dwelling rabbits and surface-dwelling, solitary rabbits killed were similar overall; however, a significantly higher number of warren-dwelling rabbits were killed by myxomatosis and a significantly higher number of surface-dwelling rabbits were killed by RHD.



1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Canfield ◽  
RJ Whittington

Blood was collected from the bill sinus of 10 healthy, mature platypuses captured in the Upper Shoalhaven River of New South Wales. Blood from all 10 animals was used for light microscopic morphometrical studies, and that from four of them was used for ultrastructural studies. The erythrocytes presented no unusual features and were similar to those described for other monotremes, marsupials and man. Platelets were of a mammalian type and uniform. Features of the leukocytes were compared and contrasted with those of other monotremes, marsupials, domestic mammals and man. Unusual features of the leukocytes of the platypus included the consistent presence of Dohle bodies within segmented neutrophils, and the nonsegmented nature of nuclei of eosinophils and basophils. Ultrastructural studies confirmed these findings.



2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. S. Fleming ◽  
David Choquenot ◽  
Richard J. Mason

An experiment that held the density of feral pigs constant while varying the effective density of aerially distributed baits was conducted at three sites in north-western New South Wales. Meat baits, containing one of the biomarkers iophenoxic acid, tetracycline or rhodamine B, were distributed at different intensities over each site, and a sample of pigs was shot from a helicopter at each site to determine bait uptake. Serum and tissue samples taken from each pig were analysed for the occurrence of the biomarkers; the proportions of pigs exhibiting biomarkers represented the proportions of the feral pig populations that had consumed baits at different baiting intensities (expressed as baits per unit of pig density). The maximum percentage of sampled pigs that had eaten baits varied from 31% to 72% across the three sites. Bait uptake was regressed against baiting intensity. For two of the trials, the quantity of bait hypothetically required to eliminate a population of feral pigs was extrapolated to be 1577 baits per unit of pig density, while for the third trial 1874 baits per unit of pig density would have been required. Bait-uptake by non-target animals was substantial, posing potential hazards to birds and reducing the availability of baits to feral pigs. Most likely, seasonal conditions affected bait-uptake by feral pigs. We discuss the implications of these results for exotic disease contingency planning.



1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin McMillan

Seedlings derived from field-collected burs from Australia were tested for photoperiodic adaptation and morphologies. Four morphophysiological types were represented from northern Victoria to southern Queensland. The widespread chinense morphological complex (Noogoora Burr) has a critical dark period of 10.5 h. The italicum morphological complex of eastern central New South Wales has a critical dark period of 10 h. The cavanillesii morphological complex near Sydney has an apparent critical night of 9.5 h and the pensylvanicum morphological complex in northwestern Victoria has an apparent critical night of 9.25–9.5 h. Two populations in the area of sympatry of the chinense and italicum complexes showed diverse photoperiodic adaptation, ripeness-to-flower (maturity) responses and morphologies, suggesting hybridization. Although Xanthium populations have been in Australia for over 100 years, their morphophysiology matches populations in America with relatively narrow distribution.



1995 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Selvakumaraswamy ◽  
M. Byrne


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Haering ◽  
Vanessa Wilson ◽  
Annie Zhuo ◽  
Peter Stathis

ABSTRACT The views of veterinary professionals were surveyed to inform the New South Wales Government about the extent, cost and nature of services they provide to free-living native animals and their interactions with the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector. Our aim was to better understand the challenges faced by veterinarians and veterinary nurses and the veterinary practices they work from. The survey was part of an extensive review of the New South Wales wildlife rehabilitation sector to inform strategic improvements to volunteer standards and service delivery. We found New South Wales private veterinary practices and their staff provide an essential network of support for the rehabilitation of sick and injured free-living native animals. Nearly all responding private veterinary practices provided some type of service pro-bono. The annual value of free services and products was estimated to be $1,038,650. Reported average weekly animal caseload was about five with birds the most frequent patients. Cost of services was the main challenge faced by practices, followed by knowledge and skill of staff. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses considered their formal training to not be very useful in teaching skills relevant to free-living native animals and sought further professional development opportunities in animal assessment, treatment and rehabilitation techniques. Most respondents were satisfied with the standard of care afforded to native animals by volunteers. Complaints focused on delays in native animal pick-ups and communication with practice staff. We make recommendations for improving veterinary capacity and strengthening relationships with the volunteer wildlife rehabilitation sector.



1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 745 ◽  
Author(s):  
TE Launders

Seasonal yields and persistence of Hunter River and three introduced lucerne (Medicago sativa) cultivars (African, Du Puits, and Hairy Peruvian) were compared with two C.S.I.R.O.-bred lines, a hay type (C.1212) and a creeping type (Cancreep), over a five-year period between 1963 and 1968 under dryland conditions at Narrabri, New South Wales. After two years, Hunter River had significantly higher plant density than all other cultivars. By maintaining this superiority throughout the experiment, it was never exceeded in dry matter production in any season after the third summer. Spring yields of Cancreep compared favourably with Hunter River for three seasons, and there was little difference between most cultivars for four summers. Cancreep and Hairy Peruvian matched Hunter River in autumn-winter production for two seasons. In all cases decline in production during the third and fourth years is attributed to a lack of persistence in cultivars other than Hunter River.



1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1483 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Blome ◽  
F Riemann

Three new species of the desmodoroid genus Onyx are described from ocean beaches of northern New South Wales, Australia: Onyx macramphis, sp, nov., Onyx adenophorus, sp. nov., and Onyx cannoni, sp. nov. The genus Onyx is revised, the status of the type species, O. perfectus Cobb, 1891, is discussed and an annotated list of the species of the genus is presented. The precaudal position of the caudal glands in O. adenophoius prompts a discussion of the significance of the precaudal position of caudal glands in free-living marine nematode taxonomy in general.



1976 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
WE Mulham ◽  
JH Leigh

In a Belah - Rosewood woodland in western New South Wales, stocking with feral goats over a four year period effected changes in the composition of the tree and shrub component. The most readily browsed tree was Rosewood and mature trees of this species were stripped of foliage to a height of 2 m. At an early stage Desert broombush (Templetonia egena) and young Warrior bush (Apophyllum anomalum) were severely damaged and young Yarran (Acacia homalophylla) and Belah defoliated. Most defoliated Yarran died within the observation period. Two shrubs regarded as weed species, Punty bush (Cassia eremophila var. platypoda) and Desert cassia (C. eremophila var. coriacea) were heavily browsed in the third year and subsequently eliminated. The weed shrub Turpentine (Eremophila sturtizl was not browsed at any time.



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