scholarly journals The Ant Fauna of Danggali Conservation Park in Semi-arid South Australia: a Comparison with Wyperfeld (Vic.) and Cape Arid (W.A.) National Parks

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan N. Andersen ◽  
Roger E. Clay
Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2213 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHEW J. COLLOFF

The morphology of the genus Scapheremaeus Berlese, 1910 is reviewed and characters of taxonomic utility delineated. Based on the morphological review, some 13 species-groups are outlined based on major morphotypes. There are two main categories: i) species that have a complete circumdorsal scissure with plicate microsculpture on the circumnotogastral plate and strongly contrasting microsculpture (foveolae, ridges or tubercles) on the centrodorsal plate (plicate species-groups), and ii) species with the circumdorsal scissure complete, incomplete or absent but with little or no contrast in microsculpture between the central and lateral regions: typically both regions foveolate or reticulate (non- plicate species-groups). A catalogue of world species of Scapheremaeus is provided. Scapheremaeus petrophagus (Banks, 1906) is not a Scapheremaeus but belongs to an undetermined genus in the Ameronothroidea. Cymbaeremaeus cyclops Oudemans, 1915 is recombined to Scapheremaeus. Five new species are described (S. angusi sp. nov., S. cheloniella sp. nov., S. ewani sp. nov., S. lambieae sp. nov., and S. pulleni sp. nov.) from soil and litter habitats in semi-arid Mallee eucalypt vegetation at Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, South Australia. These are the first members of the genus Scapheremaeus to be described from Australia, though undescribed species have been recorded previously. All the new species are morphologically closely-related and belong to a single species-group: Carinatus.


1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
O. Morozow

The continued access to land for exploration by the petroleum and mineral industries in Australia has been increasingly impeded by State and Commonwealth legislation aimed at dedicating Crown Land for single land uses.In September 1986, South Australia's Minister for Mines and Energy, Ron Payne, announced a Cabinet decision for 'a package of recommendations designed to foster multiple land-use concepts and to ensure that no land is alienated from exploration without careful consideration of the sub-surface mineral/petroleum potential, relevant economic factors and the existing and potential sub-surface rights'.In this one innovative and potentially far-reaching move, the South Australian Government has:provided a framework to reconcile conflicting interests;indicated a willingness to listen and act upon the expressed legitimate concerns of industries of vital economic importance to the State;made it necessary for the proponents of reserve areas such as National Parks to be more accountable and to provide balanced, scientific substantiation;indicated its intention to make legislative changes to allow for the adoption of multiple land-use principles; andredressed the imbalance where, in the words of the Minister, 'Legislation providing for Aboriginal land rights, the creation of national and conservation parks, and State Government heritage areas have, to varying degrees, created unforeseen consequences for the resources industry'.The first practical test of this new Government policy is the proposed declaration of the Innamincka Regional Reserve, currently a 14 000 sq km pastoral lease within some of the most productive areas of PELs 5 & 6 held jointly by Santos Ltd. and Delhi Petroleum Pty. Ltd.It is intended that this new form of reserve will allow for the protection of specific areas of environmental sensitivity and of cultural, scientific and historic value, while still allowing for the continuation of pastoral, tourist and petroleum exploration/ production activity within the major part of the reserve area.


1999 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
D.F. Gibson

The distribution and conservation status of the Black-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis (MacDonnell Ranges race), in the Northern Territory were investigated to complement previous surveys in adjoining areas of Western Australia and South Australia. Historical data were collated and compared with recent biological survey results obtained between 1870 and 1999. From a total of 469 records, 400 were collated for the period 1975-1999. The species occurs over ten biogeographic regions, principally within the MacDonnell Ranges bioregion, but with many populations in the Burt Plain and Great Sandy Desert bioregions. It is widely distributed through pastoral, Aboriginal, conservation and urban land and, at present, retains much the same distribution as concluded from early records. Thirteen conservation areas and 30 pastoral leases currently support populations of the species. An unknown number of animals live in and about Alice Springs. Only two National Parks, the West MacDonnells and Finke Gorge, are considered large and diverse enough to ensure the long-term survival of P. lateralis. Measures of abundance are not available but numbers of animals in conservation areas are perceived to have remained stable or to have increased over the past 20 years. Surveys undertaken during the period 1975-1999 indicate that P. lateralis have disappeared from 21 of 400 sites. Petrogale lateralis were present on all major rock types, including many granite outcrops. They were most widespread and apparently abundant on major quartzite ranges such as the MacDonnells where steep cliff faces, gorges, scree slopes and fire shadow areas are common. The wide distribution of P. lateralis in the Northern Territory in comparison to other states may be due to a variety of factors: widespread, relatively contiguous and variable habitat, occupation of country north of the core distribution of Oryctolagus cuniculus and of Vulpes vulpes, the inability of Capra hircus to persist and thus to compete in rocky range habitat, and a government 1080 poisoning programme for Canis lupus dingo on pastoral land. There is however, concern for the survival of some populations on many small ranges and rock outcrops on the fringes of its known distribution where recent observations indicate that numbers of animals are low.


1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (28) ◽  
pp. 453 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Russell

Response experiments with Gabo wheat at four rates of ammonium sulphate (0, 11.5, 23, and 46 lb N an acre) were carried out at a number of widely-spread locations in the cereal growing areas of South Australia during six seasons in the period 1956-61. Considerable variability in grain and grain + straw yield and in the observed response to nitrogen fertilizer was found. Season and site effects were marked and season-site interactions were also observed. The mean grain yield response was 8.7, 7.2, and 5.1 lb grain for each lb of nitrogen applied as fertilizer at the rates of 11.5, 23, and 46 lb N an acre. These mean values are lower than those reported for other more humid wheat growing areas, but there are conditions where response is at a comparable level. The main difficulty lies in predicting these situations. Several aspects of the use of nitrogen fertilizer in a semi-arid environment are discussed.


Nature ◽  
1964 ◽  
Vol 203 (4944) ◽  
pp. 459-459

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4413 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. EWART

Moulds (2012) established the genus Mugadina for two small cicadas, M. marshalli (Distant) and M. emma (Goding and Froggatt), both grass inhabiting species known from Queensland and New South Wales. Both species are notable for their relatively simple 'ticking' songs. Moulds further noted that there were at least two superficially similar genera of cicadas, but each with different genitalia. This paper describes two new genera of small (9–15 mm body lengths) and distinctive grass cicadas with genitalia that are very similar to those of Mugadina, but possess clear morphological, colour and calling song differences. The new genera are: Heremusina n. gen. with two known species namely H. udeoecetes n. sp. and H. pipatio n. sp.; the second new genus is Xeropsalta n. gen., containing four known species, X. thomsoni n. sp., X. aridula n. sp., X. rattrayi n. sp., and X. festiva n. comb. Heremusina n. gen. species are described from the Alice Springs area of Northern Territory and the Cloncurry area of northwest Queensland, from arid to semi arid habitats. The Xeropsalta n. gen. species are described from western, southwest and central Queensland, and from the Simpson and Strzelecki Deserts in northeastern South Australia and northwestern New South Wales, respectively, all locations in very arid to arid habitats, but close to seasonal (often irregular) rivers and lakes. X. festiva n. comb. occurs in semi arid habitats in southern and southeastern Australia.        Detailed taxonomic descriptions are provided of the new species, together with distributions, habitats, and the calling songs. The Heremusina species emit songs with short repetitive buzzing echemes, the echeme durations differing between each species. The Xeropsalta songs are notable for their complexity, containing multiple elements with rapid changes of amplitudes and temporal structures, rather atypical of the songs of most small grass dwelling cicadas. Detailed song structures distinguishing each of the species are illustrated and interpreted in each case in light of their respective taxonomic status. 


1956 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
BY Main

From an examination of specimens of the scorpion Isometroides Keyserling collected in Western Australia, South Australia, and New South Wales and a study of the literature, it is concluded that two described species must be regarded as one. I. angusticaudus Keyserling is considered a synonym of I. vescus (Karsch). The genus represents a unique adaptive level, especially in its specialized feeding behaviour. It is distributed throughout the semi-arid inland. These facts make it difficult to find a geographically imposed isolation whereby the genus, once established, could have speciated. Field observations on this rare scorpion are presented. It is widespread, occurring in woodland and semi-arid country. In habit it is terrestrial, vagrant, and is specialized for feeding on burrowing spiders.


1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
R.A. Laws

The mineral and petroleum industry has played a vital role in the development of South Australia, historically, culturally, and economically. In 1985 more than $1 billion worth of production contributed over $50 million in royalties to the state's revenues plus a range of taxes to the Commonwealth. Other benefits included infrastructure establishment, employment, and the training and development of expertise in the workforce.Access to the land surface for exploration is vital if the state's subsurface resources are to be discovered and developed. Over the past ten years, however, there has been a major increase in limitations on access to land for exploration in South Australia. Currently, access to 29 per cent of the state is restricted to some extent, mostly due to National Parks, Aboriginal land, and both Commonwealth and State heritage legislation. Proposals are in hand which could result in the restricted area increasing to over 40 per cent.Less than 0.1 per cent of the area of the state has been directly involved in resource exploration and development. Despite this, and despite successful introduction of codes of practice to limit the effect of exploration activities and to speed rehabilitation of access tracks and drillsites, the industry is generally and erroneously perceived to be a major land user. This is evidenced in community attitudes and reflected in recent legislation. A greater effort is required to ensure that exploration is not stifled by excessive limitations on the right of access to land.


2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
SM Carthew ◽  
T Keynes

Small mammal community structure was investigated at a semi-arid mallee site in the Middleback Ranges of South Australia during 14 field trips conducted over four years. During this time, 291 small mammals were caught from 6579 trap nights (trap success 4.4%). Ningaui yvonneae was the most abundant and frequently recorded species (199 captures), followed by Cercartetus concinnus (75 captures). Other species caught infrequently were Sminthopsis dolichura (2 captures), Notomys mitchellii (3 captures), Pseudomys bolami (2 captures) and Mus domesticus (10 captures). Ningaui yvonneae was the only species caught during all sampling periods. Males were trapped more frequently than females (117 : 43). Recapture rates were low, with only eight of 160 individuals caught during more than one sampling period. This may reflect the mobility of the species. Distances moved between successive recaptures within a sampling period averaged less than 100 m, while between sampling periods distances averaged more than 450 m. This is the first published study to capture N. yvonneae regularly and in reasonable numbers.


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