scholarly journals Effects of logging, fire and drought on possums and gliders in the coastal forests near Bega, NSW

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 263 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Commercial Species ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps

Seven species of possums and gliders were found during a survey in logged coastal forests near Bega, New South Wales. A study of the preferences for the various tree species showed that both commercial and non-commercial species must be retained to support the full range of possum and glider species. Spotlight searches were carried out in 6 adjacent felling areas each autumn from 1981 to 1983. Four species (Petaurus breviceps, P. australis, Petauroides volans and Pseudocheirus peregrinus) were seen frequently enough to determine their habitat preferences. There were significantly fewer possums and gliders in logged areas, with a greater effect on some species, e.g. P. volans, than others, e.g. P. breviceps. Fire rendered the logged areas even less habitable, and drought compounded the effects of logging and fire by further reducing numbers. Deep unlogged gullies were found to be crucial refuges from logging, fire and drought. The primary conclusions are that the current logging operation is causing a significant reduction in numbers, and that gullies need to be redefined to include all drainage lines and to remain unlogged.

The effect of lambing performance on the face cover of ewes

1964 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Dun ◽  
BH Clinton ◽  
TH Crofts ◽  
JOC Furner ◽  
AC Godlee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Face ◽  
Average Face

Face cover was scored on 1979 maiden ewes mated on seven commercial properties in New South Wales. Results from four muffled flocks (full range of face cover scores) showed a small regression of percentage ewes wet on face cover scored prior to mating (b = -2.9, P<0.01). There was no relationship between these measurements in three open faced flocks (no ewes with face cover above score 4). A second score for face cover, given when the ewes had lambs at foot, was very strongly related to percentage wet ewes (b = -7.5, P<0.001, for muffled flocks and b = -6.3, P<0.01, for open faced flocks). The importance of time of scoring in determining the strength of the relation between reproductive performance and face cover, was caused by wet ewes dropping 0.6 grades in average face cover score between mating and marking. Dry ewes maintained their level of face cover.

Bird communities in remnant woodland on the New England Tablelands, New South Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. S. Debus ◽  
H. A. Ford ◽  
D. Page
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Private Land ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
South Wales

We provide a geographic and landscape context for ongoing studies on bird communities in eucalypt woodland remnants on the New England Tablelands, New South Wales. We draw together several surveys that have not been published in the scientific literature, and integrate them with previously published material. A total of 142 woodland bird species, including 12 threatened species, was recorded in remnant woodland in the area above 900 m elevation from 50 km SSE to 100 km NNW of Armidals. There was a positive relationship between remnant size and bird species richness. Woodland reserves >300 ha supported significantly more species than remnants <100 ha on private land. Intensively surveyed reserves also had more species than remnants surveyed more casually. Threatened and other declining species occurred mainly in medium-sized (100-300 ha) and large reserves; foraging guilds of small to medium-sized, ground and above-ground insectivores were impoverished in degraded medium-sized and small remnants on private land. Almost the full range of woodland bird species was found at one or more sites, indicating their conservation value. However, some species were found in few sites or were only vagrants at a site. Active management will be needed to retain the current diversity of bird species in such heavily cleared landscapes.

Nature Conservation in Rangelands: Lessons From Research on Reserve Selection in New South Wales.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Pressey
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
New South ◽  
Full Range ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Reserve Selection ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Land Systems ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Selection Of

Information on the features to be protected in a system of conservation reserves is an obvious requirement. The quality of the data base will primarily determine the effectiveness of conservation planning in protecting the full range of natural features in a region. However, the way in which data are used to make decisions on the locations of protected areas is also critical. Rigorous procedures for reserve selection can make the difference between achieving reservation goals or not. Research on reserve selection in New South Wales over recent years has concerned both data bases and procedures for guiding decisions. Reserve planning in many regions is based largely on some form of land classification like vegetation types or land systems. There are good reasons for using such land classes to guide the selection of reserves and to judge their representativeness. Nevertheless, they can have considerable limitations as a basis for protecting all the species in a region. These limitations are reviewed with references to more detailed discussions of particular issues. The paper also reviews a variety of procedures for selecting reserves which have been tested and applied in New South Wales. Some of the recent procedures are conceptually simple but very useful in identifying the requirements of reservation goals and demonstrating the options available to planners for representing particular features. Three principles are proposed which should underpin any attempt at systematic conservation planning.

Differential habitat use by a local population of subadult common dunnarts, Sminthopsis murina, following wildfire in coastal wet heath, New South Wales, Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaughan Monamy ◽  
Barry J. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
New South ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Local Population ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
High Soil Moisture ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Unusual Occurrence ◽  
Habitat Fidelity

Little has been published about Sminthopsis murina, a small insectivorous marsupial encountered infrequently during trapping studies. Individuals favour vegetation associations found in recently burnt heathlands and forests; however, individuals rarely remain in such areas long enough for repeated capture. We report an unusual occurrence of habitat fidelity by a dense population of subadult S. murina in coastal wet heath, New South Wales, Australia. Individuals were captured repeatedly in the first 16 months following wildfire (30 subadults trapped 154 times: recapture rate = 80%). Densities peaked 10 months after fire at 3.75 individuals ha–1. More males than females were captured (23 males, 7 females). Habitat analyses revealed differential use of regenerating coastal wet heathland by S. murina. Significantly more captures were made in areas of high soil moisture in the first six months following fire. Captures then decreased in these areas but increased where soil moisture had been lower and where vegetation had been growing more slowly. Beyond the 1995/96 breeding season, regenerating vegetation became increasingly dense and less patchy and captures of S. murina ultimately declined to zero. This paper records a rare opportunity to examine habitat preferences of a single cohort of subadult S. murina. Habitat use may have been determined by the presence of a narrow range of vegetation structure.

The tree species preferences of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) inhabiting forest and woodland communities on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Phillips ◽  
John Callaghan ◽  
Valerie Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Quaternary Deposits ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Species Preferences ◽  
Woodland Communities ◽  
Port Stephens

An assessment of the tree species preferences of koalas inhabiting forest and woodland communities growing on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales, was undertaken between November 1994 and March 1996. Using a plot-based methodology, 3847 trees were sampled, comprising 15 Eucalyptus species and 17 species of non-eucalypt. Evidence of tree use by koalas, specifically the presence of koala faecal pellets, was recorded from beneath 10 Eucalyptus species and 9 species of non-eucalypt. Tree species preferences were determined by analyses of log- likelihood ratios derived from data based on the presence/absence of koala faecal pellets, rather than on gross counts. This approach confirmed significant variation in the levels of utilisation amongst and between different tree species, and that two in particular – swamp mahogany (E. robusta) and drooping red gum (E. parramattensis) – were most preferred. Increases in the levels of use of other tree species were also positively associated with the presence of E. robusta and/or E. parramattensis. Levels of utilisation of E. robusta and E. parramattensis did not alter significantly in response to changes in their respective densities, suggesting that the relative abundance of both was important in terms of understanding the carrying capacity of vegetation communities utilised by koalas. The results have established the success with which an enumerative approach to the interpretation of faecal pellet data can be utilised to clarify the tree species preferences of koalas. Application of the approach for habitat assessment and mapping purposes is also discussed.

Acari prostigmata (excluding Trombiculidae) parasitic on Australian vertebrates: an annotated checklist, keys and bibliography

1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Domrow
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Nasal Passages ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
New Synonymy ◽  
Annotated Checklist

The prostigmatic mites (excluding Trombiculidae) parasitic on, or associated with, Australian vertebrates are reviewed, and keys and illustrations are provided to enable separation of all 45 genera and 121 species recognised. Two new species are described: Paraspeleognathopsis exaeta sp. nov. (Erynetidae), from the nasal passages of the marsupial Petaurus breviceps in New South Wales, and Radfordia hydromys Fain sp. nov. (Myobiidae). New synonymy in Ereynetidae: Boydaia Womersley, 1953 = Coboydaia Fain, 1971b; Neospeleognathopsis Fain, 1958b = Pteropignathus Fain & Lukoschus, 1979b; Psittaboydaia Fain, 1985 = Trichoglossiella Fain, 1985; in Myobiidae: Australomyobia dasycercus Fain, 1973a = A. d. antechinus Fain & Lukoschus, 1979d; Calcarmyobia miniopteris (Womersley, 1941a) = C. o. orianae Uchikawa, 1985c; Ewingana bispinosa Radford, 1948 = E. b. longispina Fain & Lukoschus, 1979c; Radfordia Ewing, 1938 = Pseudoradfordia Dubinin, 1957a = Syconycterobia Fain, 1973b; in Demodecidae: Demodex equi Railliet, 1893 = D. caballi Desch & Nutting, 1979a; D. ovis Railliet, 1893 = D. aries Desch, 1987; in Leeuwenhoekiidae: Odontacarus Ewing, 1929 = Leogonius Vercammen-Grandjean, 1968. A host-parasite list and bibliography are included.

Some characteristics of the trees used by sheep for diurnal camping and differences between the shade and nocturnal camps in a paddock on the northern tablelands of New South Wales.

1984 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Taylor ◽  
DA Hedges
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales

This paper examines some of the characteristics of trees under which sheep camped during the day and the differences between the shade and the nocturnal camps in a large paddock. Of the five tree species present, Merinos preferred to camp under Augophora floribunda and Brachychiton populneum during the day. The selected trees had a high canopy/bole ratio and either an elevated convex or a convex shaped canopy. Nocturnal camps occurred in an upperslope position and were much larger, better developed and had more sheep faeces per unit area than the shade camps in the paddock. Shade camps occurred downslope of the nocturnal camps and were within the area of the paddock used primarily for grazing.

Ecological attributes and conservation of native rodents in New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Dickman ◽  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
New South ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Research Management ◽  
North East ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales

In New South Wales, at least 28 species of native rodents have been recorded since European settlement. Four of these are extinct nationally, six are extinct in the State, six are vulnerable and four are endangered; only eight remain non-threatened. Declines and losses have been greatest in central and western New South Wales and least in the State’s north-east. Neither body weight nor habit are associated with status, but taxa such as Rattus species with broad diets and habitat preferences remain generally less threatened than ecological specialists. Threatening processes affect all vulnerable and endangered species, with predation from introduced carnivores, grazing from livestock, clearance of vegetation and changed fire regimes being among the most severe. No species occur entirely on reserved land, while two endangered species have no secure land tenure. A program of survey, research, management and education is proposed to help achieve recovery.

Diets of Scincid Lizards Lampropholis-Guichenoti (Dumeril and Bibron) and Lampropholis-Delicata (De Vis) in Mumbulla State Forest on the South Coast of New-South-Wales

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Lunney ◽  
E Ashby ◽  
J Grigg ◽  
M Oconnell
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Coast ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
The South ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Combined Impact

The diets of the two small scincid lizards Lampropholis guichenoti and L. delicata were examined by analysis of gut contents. The study was conducted in Mumbulla State Forest on the south coast of New South Wales. Gut samples were collected before an intense fire in November 1980, then again in December of 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1984. The study included a period of intense drought from 1980 to 1983. Both species were found to be generalist feeders taking a wide range of invertebrate taxa, mostly insects and spiders. The range of taxa taken as prey indicated that both species foraged over a variety of substrates and were flexible in their foraging behaviour. Both species had a similar diet, except during the drought years when there were significant differences in the proportions of some taxa eaten. That both species are common in the coastal forests near Bega and survived the combined impact of fire and drought can be attributed, at least in part, to the flexibility of their foraging ecology.

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