scholarly journals Poplar box woodlands of Eastern Australia: an assessment of a threatened ecological community within the IVC framework

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 241-255
Author(s):  
John T. Hunter ◽  
Eda Addicott

Aims: Ecosystems nationally at risk in Australia are listed under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act), and many cross State jurisdictional boundaries. The determination of these ecosystems across the State boundaries are based on expert knowledge. The International Vegetation Classification has the potential to be useful as a cross-jurisdictional hierarchy which also gives global perspective to ecosystems. Study Area: All bioregions that include Eucalyptus populnea as a dominant or major component of woodlands across the species known distribution. Methods: We use plot-based data (455 plots) from two states (Queensland and New South Wales) in eastern Australia and quantitative classification methods to assess the definition and description for the Poplar Box Woodland ecosystem type (hereafter “ecological community” or “community”) that is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act. Analyses were conducted using kR-CLUSTER methods to generate alliances. Within these alliances, analyses were undertaken to define associations using agglomerative hierarchical clustering and similarity profile testing (SIMPROF). We then explore how assigning this community into the IVC hierarchy may provide a mechanism for linking Australian communities, defined at the association and alliance levels, to international communities at risk. Results: We define three alliances and 23 associations based on the results of floristic analysis. Using the standard rule-set of the IVC system, we found that the IVC hierarchy was a useful instrument in correlating ecological communities across jurisdictional boundaries where different classification systems are used. It is potentially important in giving a broader understanding of communities that may be at risk continentally and globally. Conclusions: We conclude that the IVC hierarchy can incorporate Australian communities at the association level into useful units at higher levels, and provides a useful classification tool for Australian ecosystems. Taxonomic reference: PlantNET (http://plantnet/10rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/) [accessed June 2019]. Abbreviations: EPBC Act = Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act; IVC = International Vegetation Classification; NMDS = non-metric multidimensional scaling; NSW = New South Wales; PCT = Plant Community Type; QLD = Queensland; RE = Regional Vegetation Community; SIMPER = similarity percentage analysis; SIMPROF = Similarity profile analysis.

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.


2002 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. L. Sutherland ◽  
I. T. Graham ◽  
R. E. Pogson ◽  
D. Schwarz ◽  
G. B. Webb ◽  
...  

1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
IR Bock

The Australian Mycodrosophila fauna comprises 21 species distributed in northern and eastern Australia to southern New South Wales. Only one species, M. argentifrons Malloch, is previously described from Australia; the south-east Asian species M. separata (de Meijere) is recorded for the first time. The remaining 19 species are new: adequate material has been available to permit the description and naming of 18 of them.


Soil Research ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 340
Author(s):  
B. Kelly ◽  
C. Allan ◽  
B. P. Wilson

'Soil health' programs and projects in Australia's agricultural districts are designed to influence farmers' management behaviours, usually to produce better outcomes for production, conservation, and sustainability. These programs usually examine soil management practices from a soil science perspective, but how soils are understood by farmers, and how that understanding informs their farm management decisions, is poorly documented. The research presented in this paper sought to better understand how dryland farmers in the Billabong catchment of southern New South Wales use soil indicators to inform their management decisions. Thematic content analysis of transcripts of semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with farmers suggest several themes that have implications for soil scientists and other professionals wishing to promote soil health in the dryland farming regions of south-eastern Australia. In particular, all soil indicators, including those related to soil 'health', need to relate to some clear, practical use to farmers if they are to be used in farm decision making. This research highlights a reliance of the participants of this research on agronomists. Reliance on agronomists for soil management decisions may result in increasing loss of connectivity between farmers and their land. If this reflects a wider trend, soil health projects may need to consider where best to direct their capacity-building activities, and/or how to re-empower individual farmers.


1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrick McDonald ◽  
Roger A. Farrow

AbstractAerial sampling for Nysius vinitor Bergroth was undertaken in the surface and upper air, at altitudes of 2 and 100-300 m, respectively, at Trangie in central New South Wales and at Corny Point, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Insects were sampled for 15 periods, each of 3-11 days, between October 1979 and February 1984, covering all months except January, March and May. N. vinitor was one of the most abundant insects caught in the upper air during the day and night (mean density of 652/106 m3), while the congeneric N. clevelandensis Evans was rarely caught at any time. N. vinitor was caught in all months sampled except for the winter months of July and August, and the largest daily catches occurred in September. Females were generally less common than males, although the relative incidence in the upper air catches frequently increased significantly from day to night. Fewer mature females were caught in the upper air (0-16·8%) than at the surface (0-48·4%). Densities were generally much greater in the surface air than in the upper air, although during the major flights of spring, there was less than a two-fold difference, indicating increased migratory activity. Migration occurred in a range of synoptic conditions resulting in the displacement of individuals in a variety of directions and distances depending on synoptic flow at the time of flight. Major migrations occurred at night, following dusk take-off, in disturbed weather associated with prefrontal airflows. These resulted in net southward displacements of ca 200-300 km depending on flight duration. It is suggested that major immigration flights into central-western New South Wales and regions to the south regularly occur in early spring (September-October) and probably arise from breeding areas in subtropical latitudes.


2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
J. Dubach ◽  
K. L. Viggers

The morphological and genetic characteristics of the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) are described for animals from a range of locations throughout its known geographic distribution in eastern Australia. Although there is considerable variation among populations, unequivocal morphological and genetic differences exist between northern and southern populations of the species. Specimens from southern populations (from Victoria) have a significantly (P < 0.001) larger ear conch, a significantly (P < 0.001) longer pes, and a significantly (P < 0.001) shorter tail than do specimens from northern populations (from New South Wales and Queensland). Animals can be clearly distinguished using a simple index based on these three morphological measures, which are gathered from live animals. North–south dimorphism is strongly supported by patterns in genetic data that show genetic distances of 2.7–3.0% between the southern and northern populations. The combined outcomes of morphological and genetic analyses suggest the existence of two distinct species. We recommend that the northern form, distributed from central New South Wales north to central Queensland, retain the name Trichosurus caninus; the southern form from Victoria is described here as Trichosurus cunninghami, sp. nov. The common names of these new species should be the 'short-eared possum' and the 'mountain brushtail possum', respectively.


1976 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Elix

Parmelia (subgen. Xanthoparmelia) barbatica, Parmelia (subgen. Xanthoparmelia) burmeisterii and Parmelia (subgen. Xanthoparmelia) pseudohypoleia are described as new from the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. The former two species are the first representatives of this subgenus to be described in which usnic acid, barbatic acid and 4-O-demethylbarbatic acid are the major secondary metabolites.


1958 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Barlow

Within the species Casuarina littoralis there are diploid and tetraploid forms, having 22 and 44 chromosomes respectively. Previous records of 2n = 48 are erroneous. The tetraploid form has an almost continuous distribution in eastern Australia and Tasmania, whilst the diploid has a small, distinct distribution in New South Wales and Queensland. Under certain conditions hybridization has oocurred.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 959 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAE Lattimore

Legume-based pastures have long been an integral part of rice growing in the southern New South Wales irrigation areas and still offer potential to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the temperate rice-cropping system.This paper reviews both historical and current aspects of pastures in temperate rice rotations in southern New South Wales and highlights the importance of pastures in sustaining this cropping system as environmental pressures increase. Topics discussed include pasture species and rotations, their role in improving soil fertility and sustainability, the value of pastures in weed control, and their management for maximum profitability.


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
GAC Beattie ◽  
EA Roberts ◽  
LE Rippon ◽  
CL Vanhoff

The phytotoxicity of petroleum oil sprays to Vakncia orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) on Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. rootstocks was investigated at Kulnura and at Griffith, New South Wales. Four narrow-range petroleum oils, designated as 206, 212, 214 and 238 oils, were applied as high volume sprays in 3 consecutive years. Annual sprays were applied during the spring, summer and autumn months of November, February and April. Some treatments were sprayed once each year, others twice. The single spray per year treatments involved concentrations of 1.2 or 2% of each oil in February or 2% of the 212, 214 and 238 oils in November or in April. A total concentration of 3.2% oil per year of the 2 12,2 14 and 238 oils was applied in February (2%) and in November of the previous year (1.2%) or in April (1.2%) to the double spray treatments. The effect of the sprays on yield variables, percentage juice, �Brix (w/w sucrose), anhydrous citric acid, rind colour and oil content was studied. Rind colour was not affected by any treatment at either location. Significant (P< 0.05), though inconsistent, effects on other characteristics of fruit quality were found. Increase in 50% distillation temperature and rate of application of oils tended to decrease �Brix. The oils did not significantly affect yield at Kulnura. At Griffith, 2% sprays of 238 oil significantly reduced yield by reducing the number of fruit. At both locations, trees sprayed with 2% oil in April tended to have lower yields than those sprayed in November or February at the same rate. The effect of sprays with total concentrations of 3.2% was variable. The 238 oil was the only oil considered to be potentially phytotoxic. This type of oil should not be used at concentrations > 2% from March to November or in consecutive years at any time. They can be used from late spring to early autumn in consecutive years at 1.2%. Variation in the phytotoxicity of oils between locations in south-eastern Australia appears to be related to variation in night temperatures in summer and early autumn which affect flower initiation.


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