Studies on the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogale xanthopus Gray (Marsupialia : Macropodidae). 3. Distribution and management in western New South Wales

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Lim ◽  
J. R. Giles

Contrary to previous literature, P. xanthopus had not been recorded in western New South Wales before its existence was reported by Fox (1966). There is only one geographically isolated population of less than 250 animals in two separate colonies in the Gap and Coturaundee Ranges, where they are confined to two cliff systems and two outcrops. Their distribution is therefore more limited than first reported by Wilson et al. (1976). They were more widespread in the past, being found also in the Barrier and Bynguano Ranges. These conclusions have been reached from data collected from: (1) a large-scale low-level aerial survey and subsequent ground inspections to record this species' presence in specific locations in north-western New South Wales; (2) a systematic detailed survey of the Gap and Coturaundee Ranges to establish its pattern of habitat use from the accumulated density of faecal pellets; (3) low-level aerial surveys over these and other areas, by helicopter, to confirm the results of earlier surveys and check on reported sightings. The results of this study are being used for the management of this rare rock-wallaby in New South Wales. It is recommend that this species be re-established in the Bynguano Range.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
MT Maher ◽  
LW Braithwaite

The significance of inland wetlands to Australian waterbirds has been overlooked until recently. One important area identified from regular aerial survey centres on the Paroo River in north-western New South Wales. Between April 1983 and December 1985, a period covering a major flood, waterbird populations were estimated on five wetland systems associated with the Paroo during 14 trips. Fifty- three waterbird species were recorded with the anatids, Anas gibberifrons and Malacorhynchus membranaceus, accounting for 75 per cent of total estimated populations. Most breeding events were observed in those wetlands dominated by Muehlenbeckia florulenta (lignum). Breeding accounted for shifts in waterbird populations between wetland systems. A model of waterbird usage of the five wetland systems in relation to a complete flood event is described. The importance for waterbird conservation of wetlands used for breeding and maintenance of populations between flood events, and threats to the integrity of these wetlands are discussed.


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

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
LW Braithwaite ◽  
M Maher ◽  
SV Briggs ◽  
BS Parker

Populations of waterfowl of three game species, the Pacific black duck Anus superciliosa, grey teal A. gibberifrons, and maned duck Chenonetta jubata, were assessed by aerial survey in October 1983 within a survey region of 2 697 000 km2 of eastern Australia. The numbers of each species were assessed on all surface waters of over 1 ha, and on a sample of smaller surface waters within 10 survey bands each 30 km wide and spaced at intervals of 2� latitude from 20�30' to 38�30'S. The area within the survey bands was 324 120 km2, which gave a sampling intensity of 12.0% of the land surface area. The area of features shown as wetlands or water impoundments within the survey bands on 1 : 2 500 000 topographic maps was 19 200 km2 or 11.2% of the total area of these features in the survey region. The area of surface waters surveyed was assessed at 465 300 ha. Assessments of populations of each species were tallied for wetlands by grid cells of 6 min of 1� longitude along the survey bands (258-309 km2 depending on latitude). Distributions were then mapped, with log*10 indices of populations in each cell. Distributions of the black duck and grey teal showed a pattern of intense aggregation in limited numbers of cells, that of the maned duck was more evenly distributed. The major concentrations of the Pacific black duck were recorded in northern New South Wales and the south-eastern, western, central eastern and central coastal regions of Queensland; those of the grey teal were in south-western, western and northern New South Wales and central-eastern Queensland; the maned duck was broadly distributed over inland New South Wales with the exception of the far west, inland southern Queensland, and central northern Victoria.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Underwood ◽  
M. G. Chapman

Data were collected in New South Wales from replicate sites on five wave-exposed shores separated by hundreds of kilometres at three-monthly intervals for four years, to examine large and small spatial and temporal patterns in low-shore algal assemblages. These data were used to test hypotheses from the models that algal assemblages show large-scale, predictable changes in structure or, alternatively, that variation from time to time is small-scale and differs from shore to shore or site to site on a shore. There was considerable variation at all scales examined — among replicate quadrats within sites, between sites on a shore and among shores. Similarly, assemblages differed from one sampling period to the next and changes in the assemblages over time periods of three months were as great as from year to year. These changes were interactive, with no two sites or shores showing similar temporal patterns. Thus, understanding diversity along a coast-line requires detailed understanding of local processes. Without adequate spatial and temporal replication in sampling designs and without explanatory models, the large and complex variability in intertidal assemblages at different scales cannot be documented and understood.


1971 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Bailey ◽  
PN Martensz ◽  
RD Barker

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Bowman ◽  
D. M. Hebb ◽  
D. J. Munnich ◽  
J. Brockwell

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.


1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Parer ◽  
BS Parker

Warren destruction by ripping reduced the number of warrens on a property in western New South Wales to a very low level. After the cessation of ripping the number of warrens remained low for three years. In the following years rainfall was above average and during this period the number of warrens increased considerably.


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Claridge

The long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes) is one of the rarest and most elusive forest-dwelling mammals in Australia. Survey effort for the species over the past decade or so in south-eastern New South Wales has been driven, primarily, by predictions derived from climatic analyses using BIOCLIM. These predictions were based on known locality records of the long-footed potoroo from adjacent East Gippsland, Victoria. While they have proven useful in confirming the occurrence of the species in New South Wales, recent fortuitous records of the species from north-eastern Victoria fall well outside of the range predicted earlier by BIOCLIM. Using these new records a revised predicted range is calculated, enlarging considerably the potential geographic extent of climatically suitable habitat for the species. The results presented here highlight the limitations of BIOCLIM when given locality records of a species from only a portion of its true geographic range. I argue that less emphasis might be based on this approach to direct survey effort for the species in the future. Instead, a range of other environmental variables might be used in combination with BIOCLIM-derived outputs when selecting survey sites. In this way a more representative picture of the distribution of the species may be obtained.


1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel

Habitat utilisation by sympatric red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, was monitored by aerial survey. Red kangaroos used floodplain and sandplain with equal intensity. Western grey kangaroos favoured floodplain and utilised woodland on both landforms relatively more than did red kangaroos. Movements of kangaroos between sandplain and floodplain paralleled changes in pasture condition. Red kangaroos responded to pasture growth, moving to sandplain immediately after rain. Western greys followed up to 3 months later, the increase in use of sandplain being weakly correlated (r = 0.70) to an increase in pasture biomass. There was no evidence of any temporal change in use of either woodland or open plain by either species.


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