Changes in an Assemblage of Small Birds in the Understorey of Dry Sclerophyll Forest in Southwestern Australia After Fire

1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Wooller ◽  
MC Calver
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest

Changes in the numbers and types of small birds caught in mist-nets in the understorey of dry sclerophyll forest in south-western Australia were recorded for three years after a low intensity fire. There were few changes in the species composition of the assemblage but abundances of the 6-8 most numerous and relatively sedentary species were approximately halved. Many marked individuals (22%) were recaptured up to three years after the fire. After the fire, the number of prey taxa recorded from the faeces of birds caught fell from twelve to six, and the birds ate proportionately more ants and fewer beetles. Ants eaten after the fire were smaller than those eaten before it.

The germinable soil seedbank of Eucalyptus victrix grassy woodlands at Roy Hill station, Pilbara district, Western Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Graham ◽  
S. K. Florentine ◽  
J. E. D. Fox ◽  
T. M. Luong
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Hill Station ◽  
Soil Seedbank ◽  
Germinable Seed

The paper reports soil seedbank species composition, of Eucalyptus victrix grassy woodlands, of the upper Fortescue River in the Pilbara District, Western Australia. In this study, our objectives were to investigate germinable soil seedbanks and species composition in response to three simulated seasons, using emergence. Variation in seed density from three depths was tested. Four field sites were sampled. Thirty samples were collected in late spring, after seed rain and before summer rainfall. From each sample spot, three soil depths (surface, 1–5, and 6–10 cm) were segregated from beneath surface areas of 100 cm2. Samples were later incubated in a glasshouse to simulate three different seasonal conditions (autumn, winter and spring). Germinating seedlings were recorded on emergence and grown until identified. Forty-one species germinated, comprising 11 grasses (7 annuals and 4 perennials), 25 annual herbs and 5 perennial herbs. Distribution patterns of germinable seed in both the important annual grass Eragrostis japonica and the perennial Eragrostis setifolia (a preferred cattle fodder species), suggest that seedbank accumulation differs among species and between sites. In part, this may be associated with the absence of grazing. Species with most total germinable seed were E. japonica (Poaceae; 603/m2), and the annual herbs Calotis multicaulis (Asteraceae; 346/m2), and Mimulus gracilis (Scrophulariaceae; 168/m2). Perennial grass seed was sparse. Spring simulation gave most germination (1059), followed by autumn (892) and winter (376) sets. Greatest species diversity was produced from the spring simulation (33 species), followed by autumn (26), and winter (22). Of the total germination, 92% came from 17 species that were represented in all three simulations. Of the 1227 grass seedlings counted, most were recruited from the surface soil (735), followed by the 5 (310) and 10 (182) cm depths. Marginally more grass seedlings germinated from the spring simulation (558) than the autumn set (523). Only 11.9% of grass germinants came from the winter simulation. All grass species recruited from the soil seedbanks had a C4 photosynthetic pathway. Except for Cenchrus ciliaris all grass species are native to Australia. Of the four sites sampled, one fenced to exclude cattle five years earlier had significantly more germination than the three unfenced sites. Seedbank sampling produced several new records for plants in the areas sampled.

Shore-based recreational angling in the Rottnest Island Reserve, Western Australia: Spatial and temporal distribution of catch and fishing effort

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Smallwood ◽  
L. E. Beckley ◽  
N. R. Sumner
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Recreational Fishing ◽  
Temporal Data ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Recreational Angling ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Support Decision Making

The Rottnest Island Reserve, located off southwestern Australia, is one of the most popular recreational fishing locations in Western Australia. In the reserve, standard Western Australian recreational fishing regulations apply and there are two small "no-take" conservation sanctuary areas. A roving creel survey of shore-based recreational angling in the reserve was conducted from January to December 2003. In total, 1 053 anglers were recorded which included individuals, families, school groups and angling club members. The total annual shore-based angling effort for Rottnest island was calculated to be 23 899 angler outings and the total catch estimated at 53 994 retained fish. Fishing effort was concentrated in the settlement area on the eastern side of the island and the highest levels of catch and effort were recorded in April, May and July. During the survey, 33 fish species were identified in the catch and the small, pelagic species Australian Herring dominated with 7.27 tonnes caught during the study. Shore-based anglers also caught and released a large number of non-target species. The survey has provided spatial and temporal data that can be used as a benchmark and to support decision making by the Rottnest Island Authority with respect to biodiversity conservation and the Department of Fisheries with regard to management of shore-based recreational angling in the Rottnest Island Reserve.

Echolocation Ecology and Flight Morphology of Insectivorous Bats (Chiroptera) in South-Western Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Fullard ◽  
C Koehler ◽  
A Surlykke ◽  
NL Mckenzie
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Echolocation Call ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Insectivorous Bats ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Flight Morphology ◽  
Diet Analyses ◽  
Non Parametric

A small community of obligate insectivorous microchiropterans in the Perup forest reserve of southwestern Australia was sampled to determine species flight morphologies, diets and echolocation call designs. The aspect ratio:wing loading relationships of the seven species analysed indicate a loose clustering of species into closed, edge and open microhabitats with substantial interspecific overlap. Non-parametric correlations of the bats' aspect ratios and wing loadings with their echolocation call characteristics support these foraging zone classifications. Diet analyses indicate that this community of bats forages on a wide variety of insects, although certain preferences for Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera were noted. We use these results and observations of the same species from other sites to propose a microhabitat separation for the bats of the Perup forest.

The mistletoe flora of southern Western Australia, with a particular reference to host relationships and fire

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 636 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Start
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fire Management ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
The South ◽  
Northern Boundary ◽  
South West ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Host Relationships

The mistletoe flora of southern Western Australia was studied over a 30-year period with a particular emphasis on distributions, host relationships and fire. The study area encompassed Western Australia south of ~26° S. It included all the South-west Botanical Province and southern components of the Eremaean Botanical Province, with the northern boundary corresponding with bioregional boundaries. Vegetation ranges from wet and dry sclerophyll forest through woodlands and heaths to deserts. The mistletoe flora comprises 21 taxa, 19 in the Loranthaceae and two in the Santalaceae. They infect 153 species in 25 genera and 15 families. The Fabaceae provides hosts to more taxa than any other family; however, the genus with most host species, Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), supports only two mistletoe species, one of which barely enters the study area. Melaleuca (also Myrtaceae) is host to seven species. The number of mistletoe species per bioregion ranges from 0 to 18, with 12 species in the seven bioregions of the South-west Botanical Province and 20 in the six bioregions of Eremaean Botanical Province that are within the study area. In both provinces, diversity is lower in coastal areas and higher in more arid, inland areas. Most mistletoe habitats in the study area are fire-prone. One species is probably capable of resprouting whereas all other taxa are obligate seeders. With no means of in situ seed storage, post-fire recovery depends on seed importation. Fire is the most pervasive (but not the only) threatening process operating today. However, fire management in more populous agricultural and urban areas safeguards many populations in the South-west Province.

Changes in Species Composition of Floras on Islets Near Perth, Western Australia

1980 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Abbott ◽  
Robert Black
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Western Australia

Late Pleistocene Vegetation and Climate Near Melaleuca Inlet, South-Western Tasmania

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Jordan ◽  
RJ Carpenter ◽  
RS Hill
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Present Species ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
Heath Communities ◽  
Vegetation And Climate ◽  
Pleistocene Deposit

Macrofossils of 27 taxa and microfossils of 47 taxa are identified from a Late Pleistocene deposit at Melaleuca Inlet with a minimum age of 38 800 years. Interpretation of the fossil assemblage suggests that at the time of deposition the climate was cooler than at present and at least as wet. The local vegetation was dominated by wet scrub and sedgeland-heath communities with rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest also present. Species composition was similar to extant vegetation in the region but now-extinct species and possibly communities were present. Charcoal occurs in the sediments and the taxonomic make-up of the assemblage is consistent with the presence of a well established high fire frequency, despite the deposit pre-dating the earliest known human occupation of Tasmania.

A new wobbegong shark, Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp. (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from southwestern Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1239 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER R. LAST ◽  
JUSTIN A. CHIDLOW ◽  
LEONARD J.V. COMPAGNO
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Rock Lobster ◽  
North West ◽  
Southwestern Australia ◽  
White Spots ◽  
By Catch

Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp.. is a moderate-sized wobbegong shark found in shallow continental shelf habitats off Western Australia. It occurs from Coral Bay (near North West Cape) south to Groper Bluff (west of Bremer Bay) in depths of 9–106 m where it is caught as by-catch of local gillnet, longline, rock lobster and recreational fisheries. It is sympatric with two other commercial wobbegong species, Orectolobus maculatus and O. ornatus, but differs from these and other IndoPacific species in having the combination of a few unbranched dermal lobes, relatively tall dorsal fins, no warty tubercles on the back of adults, and dark brown corrugated saddles without white spots and blotches. Some details of its biology are also provided.

Helminth parasites of Jamaican anoles (Reptilia: Iguanidae): a comparison of the helminth fauna of 6 Anolis species

1987 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald A. P. Bundy ◽  
Peter Vogel ◽  
Eileen A. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Helminth Fauna ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Cestode Species ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Intensity Range ◽  
Large Numbers

ABSTRACTPrevalence and intensity of helminth parasites are described for a sample of 102 Jamaican anole lizards representing 6 species (Anolis lineatopus lineatopus, A. I. neckeri, A. grahami, A. valencienni, A.opalinus, A. sagrei, A. garmani). Fifty nine per cent of lizards were infected with 5 species of nematodes, 16% with one acanthocephalan, 7% with two digeneans, and 4% with a single cestode species. Infection intensity was generally low (intensity range 1–5) although two species of nematode occurred in very large numbers (intensity range 1–436). Helminth prevalence patterns and species composition reflected differences in anole habitats rather than ecomorphs, and were uncorrelated with the genetic relatedness of indigenous versus introduced anole species.

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