Hematological and Body-Mass Changes of Small Passerines Overwintering in South-Eastern Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Breuer ◽  
A Lill ◽  
J Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The North ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Haemoglobin Content ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Haematological parameters and body mass of four passerine bird species resident in south-eastern Australia were compared in winter and summer to determine whether there were changes indicative of metabolic adjustments associated with seasonal acclimatisation. Haematocrit and whole-blood haemoglobin content did not change seasonally, but erythrocyte numbers increased (by 45-72%) and erythrocyte volume decreased (by 40-73%) significantly in winter in all species. The greater surface area to volume ratio and shorter diffusion pathway of smaller erythrocytes in winter should enhance blood oxygen transport efficiency and thus potentially facilitate metabolic acclimatisation to cold stress. Only one species showed a significant, but small (3%), increase in body mass in winter, suggesting only a minor role for winter fattening in any such seasonal metabolic adjustments in the species studied. The findings contrast with those for some passerines overwintering in the north temperate zone, but the generality of these possible north-south differences needs further investigation.

Longevity in wild populations of the squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis.

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 239 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van der Ree ◽  
M. J. Harper ◽  
M. Crane
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Age Category ◽  
Age Estimates ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Petaurus norfolcensis were trapped between December 1996 and April 2005 at 3 sites in south-eastern Australia. In 2005 nine individuals marked in previous years were captured. Age estimates at first capture were based on body mass, tooth wear and pouch condition. Most recaptured individual were propertly assigned to the correct age category (>3 years), but the age of 2 were underestimated. This indicates uncertainty in using physical characteristics, chiefly wear of upper incisors, to estimate age in P. norfolcensis.One individual captured in 2005 was over 7 years 9 months old. This compares to captive P. breviceps and P. australis records of 9 years and 16 years respectively.

Persistence and productivity of Medicago sativa subspecies sativa, caerulea, falcata and varia accessions at three intermittently dry sites in south-eastern Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Li ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
S. P. Boschma ◽  
B. S. Dear ◽  
G. M. Lodge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The North ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Perennial Legume ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The persistence and productivity of a diverse range of Medicago sativa germplasm including representatives of subspecies sativa, caerulea, falcata and varia were examined at 3 field sites in south-eastern Australia over 4 years. Sites were located at Tamworth, Barmedman and Hamilton, forming a 1200 km north–south transect with rainfall distribution varying from predominantly summer dominant in the north to winter dominant at the most southerly site. Several entries of subspecies varia and caerulea had herbage yields and persistence equivalent to that of M. sativa subspecies sativa cultivar Sceptre, a highly winter-active type that was used as a standard. The cultivar Cancreep, a cross of M. falcata and M. sativa, had a total yield over 3 years equivalent to 84–91% of Sceptre at the 2 sites where it was sown. Individual lines of subspecies varia demonstrated good persistence under grazing and were ranked 2nd and 6th out of 35 accessions for frequency in year 4 at Barmedman, the driest site, and 5th, 7th and 9th out of 33 accessions at Tamworth, the more summer-dominant rainfall site. Entries of subspecies falcata were among the least productive and persistent. The study indicated that germplasm from subspecies caerulea and varia offered hitherto unexploited potential for selection as persistent and drought-tolerant perennial legume alternatives to M. sativa for extensive low management grazing systems of south-eastern Australia.

Occurrence of Angiostrongylus species (Nematoda) in populations of Rattus rattus and Rattus fuscipes in coastal forests of south-eastern Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki L. Stokes ◽  
David M. Spratt ◽  
Peter B. Banks ◽  
Roger P. Pech ◽  
Richard L. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The North ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rattus Fuscipes ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The distributions of the introduced nematode parasite, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and the native Angiostrongylus mackerrasae in Australia are poorly understood. We sampled rodents and/or their faeces, and intermediate gastropod hosts for the presence of Angiostrongylus species in coastal forests surrounding Jervis Bay in south-eastern Australia. We found A. cantonensis in populations of introduced Rattus rattus in forests to the north of Jervis Bay, and A. mackerrasae in native Rattus fuscipes in forests to the south of Jervis Bay. The apparent geographical separation of these lungworm species may be a consequence of host specificity and negative associations between R. rattus and R. fuscipes that results from interspecific competition. A. cantonensis was regularly found in R. rattus or their faeces across 9 of 12 study sites north of Jervis Bay, and three species of snail common to the area were suitable intermediate hosts. This has potential negative implications for native wildlife and human visitors to these forests, because A. cantonensis infection causes zoonotic disease (neuro-angiostrongyliasis) in humans and a wide range of bird and mammal hosts. Management of pest rodents in the study area is warranted.

Predicting mammalian target-specificity of the M-44 ejector in south-eastern Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive A. Marks ◽  
Rebecca Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Simple Relationship ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Adult Body Mass ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Pulling Forces ◽  
Pulling Force ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Meat-based baits are currently used for the control of the exotic red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in south-eastern Australia. Thirty-one quadrupedal endemic mammals are considered to be potentially bait consuming (PBC) and may be exposed to bait toxicants. Mechanical toxicant ejectors may be more selective if some PBC species cannot apply enough upward force to trigger them. A simple relationship between body mass and pulling force was sought to enable estimates of ejector specificity to be made. The pulling force applied to ejector baits was measured for the red fox and six endemic mammals. The relationship between body mass and pulling force was highly significant (P < 0.001) and the resulting regression equation was used to estimate the highest pulling forces for 31 quadrupedal mammals based upon the largest body mass recorded for each species. In a sample of 640 foxes, taken by a range of methods in south-eastern Australia, the lowest adult body mass detected from January to September was 3 kg and declined only when cubs were present in the population from October to December. An ejector trigger force of 26.46 N was estimated to allow foxes weighing >3 kg to trigger the device, while eliminating exposure of 26 of the 31 PBC mammals. Appropriate toxicant selection and dose rates may ensure that four out of five susceptible mammals are less likely to be affected by unwanted exposure.

Hydrocotyle simulans (Araliaceae), a new perennial species from south-eastern Australia

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 437 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
ANDREW J. PERKINS
Keyword(s):  
South Australia ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
Photographic Images ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The North ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Floral Bracts ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Hydrocotyle simulans, a new perennial species from south-eastern Australia, is here described with associated illustration, photographic images and distribution map. The new species is restricted mostly to freshwater swamps in coastal areas of south-eastern South Australia, southern Victoria and to the Furneaux Group of islands, off the north-eastern coast of Tasmania. Hydrocotyle simulans resembles both H. plebeya and H. pterocarpa, in having orbicular-cordate to reniform leaves, hydathodes along leaf lamina margins and broadly ovate to orbicular stipules with entire margins. It differs from these taxa by a combination of characters, such as reflexed white trichomes congregated at the petiole apices, ovate floral bracts with basal lobes, subsessile flowers with pale to dark crimson petals and lenticular mericarps with minutely rugulose surfaces when mature.

Persistence of winter-active phalaris breeding populations, cultivars and other temperate grasses in diverse environments of south-eastern Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 136 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Culvenor ◽  
S. P. Boschma ◽  
K. F. M. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
North West ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The North ◽  
Genotype Environment Interaction ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Sib Families ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Three winter-active populations of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), selected over two generations for improved persistence under grazing, were evaluated with commercial cultivars of phalaris and other temperate perennial grasses from 1999–2003 in three environments of south-eastern Australia as part of a program to develop a cultivar for more sustainable pastures and to assess genotype × environment interaction. Grazed sites were located at Bulart in western Victoria, and Rye Park on the Southern Tablelands and Tamworth on the North West Slopes of New South Wales. At the conclusion of the experiment, the frequency of live plant base was highest at Rye Park despite soil acidity and drought. Significant variance among half-sib families in each population was also observed most frequently at this site. Frequency was intermediate at Bulart but lower than expected considering high soil fertility, probably because of high grazing pressure. Frequency was lowest at Tamworth where severe drought occurred from 2001 onwards. There was significant genotype × environment interaction for frequency among half-sib families. Significant common family variance for frequency across the Bulart and Rye Park sites was demonstrated, but not between Tamworth and either of the other sites in later years. The relationship between winter herbage mass potential and persistence differed with population and site, and was negative for one population at Bulart but positive for another population at Tamworth. Mean persistence of all families was 30% higher than winter-active controls at Rye Park and at least 40% higher at Bulart. Phalaris generally persisted better than cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with some exceptions, particularly at Bulart. Development of a winter-active phalaris cultivar with improved persistence under grazing was considered possible for the Southern Tablelands and western Victorian environments with these populations but a separate program using additional germplasm will be needed for the North West Slopes environment.

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