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Giachino, Pier Mauro, Stefan Eberhard, and Giulia Perina. "A rich fauna of subterranean short-range endemic Anillini (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae) from semi-arid regions of Western Australia." ZooKeys 1044 (June 16, 2021): 269–337. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1044.58844.
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Globally, the great majority of Anillini species are endogean, adapted to live in the interstices of soil and leaf litter, while the extremely low vagility of these minute ground beetles gives rise to numerous shortrange endemic species. Until recently the Australian Anillini fauna was known only from leaf litter in rain forests and eucalypt forests in the wetter, forested regions of eastern and south eastern Australia, as well as Lord Howe and Norfolk islands. The first hypogean Anillini in Australia (17 species in six genera) were described in 2016 from mineral exploration drill holes in iron-ore bearing rocks of the Pilbara region in Western Australia, representing the first finding of the tribe deep underground in a semi-arid climate region. A further eight new genera and 20 new species are described herein, mostly from the Pilbara region as well as the semi-arid Kimberley and Goldfields regions; all were collected in mineral exploration drill holes. The following new genera are described: Erwinanillusgen. nov., Gregorydytesgen. nov., Pilbaraphanusgen. nov., Neoillaphanusgen. nov., Kimberleytyphlusgen. nov., Gilesdytesgen. nov., Pilbaradytesgen. nov., and Bylibaraphanusgen. nov. The following new species are described: Erwinanillus baehrisp. nov.; Gracilanillus hirsutussp. nov., G. pannawonicanussp. nov.; Gregorydytes ophthalmianussp. nov.; Pilbaraphanus chichesterianussp. nov., P. bilybarianussp. nov.; Magnanillus firetalianussp. nov., M. sabaesp. nov., M. salomonissp. nov., M. regalissp. nov., M. serenitatissp. nov.; Neoillaphanus callawanussp. nov.; Kimberleytyphlus carrboydianussp. nov.; Austranillus jinayrianussp. nov.; Gilesdytes pardooanussp. nov., G. ethelianussp. nov.; Pilbaradytes abydosianussp. nov., P. webberianussp. nov.; Bylibaraphanus cundalinianussp. nov.; and Angustanillus armatussp. nov. Identification keys are provided for all Australian anilline genera, and Western Australian species. All the described species are known from a single locality and qualify as short-range endemics. The Anillini are recognised as a significant and diverse element making up part of Western Australia’s remarkable subterranean fauna, and whose conservation may potentially be impacted by mining developments.
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Hnatiuk, RJ, and BR Maslin. "Phytogeography of Acacia in Australia in Relation to Climate and Species-Richness." Australian Journal of Botany 36, no. 4 (1988): 361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt9880361.
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This paper reports on the kinds of geographic patterns encountered in the distribution of Australian species of Acacia and on some climatic correlates of these patterns. The analyses were based on distribution data of 837 species mapped on a 1° x 1.5° grid. The area of highest density of species was the south-west corner of the continent, especially adjacent to the major boundary separating the Arid Zone from the more humid South West Botanical Province. The second major centre of richness occurred in eastern Australia south of the Tropic of Capricorn along the topographically heterogeneous Great Dividing Range. Secondary centres of species-richness occurred in northern and north-eastern Australia, a number of rocky tablelands of the Arid Zone and in western Victoria. The principal species-poor areas were located in sandy and some riverine areas of the Arid Zone, in temperate forests of Tasmania and in coastal areas of the north of the continent. The geographic patterns of each section of Acacia, when combined with those of species density, highlighted the tropical (section Juliflorae) v. temperate areas (sections Phyllodineae, Pulchellae, Botrycephalae and Alatae). The numerical classification of grids resulted in the recognition of eight major Acacia areas, arranged under four Acacia regions: (1) South-west; (2) Eastern, comprising a southern and a northern area; (3) Northern, comprising an eastern and a western area; (4) Central, comprising a south-east, a central and a north-west area. A discriminant function analysis indicated that precipitation was more important than temperature in distinguishing between areas. Discussion of the potential evolutionary significance of these findings and brief comparison with other biogeographic studies are given.
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Short, Jeff, and Andrew Hide. "Distribution and status of the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura)." Australian Mammalogy 34, no. 1 (2012): 88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am11017.
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The red-tailed phascogale once extended widely across semiarid and arid Australia, but is now entirely confined to the southern wheatbelt of Western Australia, occupying less than 1% of its former range. Here it occurs in a portion of the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, and Esperance Plains biogeographical regions. The species persists only in areas that have been extensively cleared for agriculture and where the remaining bushland is highly fragmented. It does not appear to extend into unfragmented habitat in either the Jarrah Forest to the west or Mallee region to the east. It occurs primarily in woodland habitat with old-growth hollow-producing eucalypts, primarily wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) or York Gum (E. loxophleba), but records from the periphery of its current range appear to come from a broader range of habitats, including shrublands and various mosaics of woodland, shrubland, and scrub-heath. Key factors limiting persistence are likely to be fragmentation of habitat that is likely to greatly increase the risks associated with dispersal, a shortage of suitable nesting hollows in many vegetation associations, and predation by feral and domestic cats and by foxes. These factors, particularly fragmentation and lack of suitable nesting hollows, suggest that the species’ long-term persistence in areas beyond the wandoo belt is far from assured.
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Adams-Hosking, Christine, Hedley S. Grantham, Jonathan R. Rhodes, Clive McAlpine, and Patrick T. Moss. "Modelling climate-change-induced shifts in the distribution of the koala." Wildlife Research 38, no. 2 (2011): 122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10156.
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Context The impacts of climate change on the climate envelopes, and hence, distributions of species, are of ongoing concern for biodiversity worldwide. Knowing where climate refuge habitats will occur in the future is essential to conservation planning. The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species highly vulnerable to climate change. However, the impact of climate change on its distribution is poorly understood. Aims We aimed to predict the likely shifts in the climate envelope of the koala throughout its natural distribution under various climate change scenarios and identify potential future climate refugia. Methods To predict possible future koala climate envelopes we developed bioclimatic models using Maxent, based on a substantial database of locality records and several climate change scenarios. Key results The predicted current koala climate envelope was concentrated in south-east Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria, which generally showed congruency with their current known distribution. Under realistic projected future climate change, with the climate becoming increasingly drier and warmer, the models showed a significant progressive eastward and southward contraction in the koala’s climate envelope limit in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The models also indicated novel potentially suitable climate habitat in Tasmania and south-western Australia. Conclusions Under a future hotter and drier climate, current koala distributions, based on their climate envelope, will likely contract eastwards and southwards to many regions where koala populations are declining due to additional threats of high human population densities and ongoing pressures from habitat loss, dog attacks and vehicle collisions. In arid and semi-arid regions such as the Mulgalands of south-western Queensland, climate change is likely to compound the impacts of habitat loss, resulting in significant contractions in the distribution of this species. Implications Climate change pressures will likely change priorities for allocating conservation efforts for many species. Conservation planning needs to identify areas that will provide climatically suitable habitat for a species in a changing climate. In the case of the koala, inland habitats are likely to become climatically unsuitable, increasing the need to protect and restore the more mesic habitats, which are under threat from urbanisation. National and regional koala conservation policies need to anticipate these changes and synergistic threats. Therefore, a proactive approach to conservation planning is necessary to protect the koala and other species that depend on eucalypt forests.
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Sawyer, Benjamin. "Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) establishment in the semi-arid and arid regions of Western Australia." Rangeland Journal 35, no. 1 (2013): 109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj12088.
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Harvesting of sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) occurs mainly from wild stands in the semi-arid and arid regions (typical annual rainfall 150–300 mm) of Western Australia. Regeneration of wild sandalwood in these regions is believed to be low since the occurrence of changes in land use associated with European settlement. This is thought to be due to factors including drought, poor seed dispersal and grazing. The objective of the study was to increase the germination and establishment of sandalwood through exploring seed response to rainfall. Additionally, the potential of soil-preparation techniques to utilise trace amounts of moisture was investigated. Two 25-ha plots were located either side of the semi-arid–arid divide. Into the plots 16 replicates of the control and 96 replicates of treatments were installed and sown with 11 200 seeds. Rainfall and other weather parameters were recorded at each site with an automated weather station. The study was replicated in 2008 and 2009. It was concluded from the study that there was a statistically significant relationship between germination and rainfall. It is proposed that the germination threshold is 264 mm per year which coincides with the long-term annual rainfall average of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship between germination and soil preparation was demonstrated. Ripping crust-forming soils before sowing and the construction of water-harvest banks had a positive effect. Information gained from these studies has led to the Western Australian State Government implementing a seeding program to increase sandalwood regeneration in the semi-arid region.
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DONNELLAN, S. C., M. J. MAHONY, and T. BERTOZZI. "A new species of Pseudophryne (Anura: Myobatrachidae) from the central Australian ranges." Zootaxa 3476, no. 1 (September 10, 2011): 69. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3476.1.4.
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The myobatrachid frog genus Pseudophryne is highly variable in color pattern in eastern Australia where many species are distinguished by distinctive dorsal patterns. In contrast Pseudophryne from the western half of the continent are morphologically conservative. Two nominal species are widespread in south-western Australia and north-western South Australia, with one, P. occidentalis, being found in semi-arid and arid regions. Using mitochondrial DNA and morphological characters we establish that populations in the ranges of north-western South Australia assigned to P. occidentalis are a separate species. The new species comprises one of four major lineages of Pseudophryne while P. occidentalis falls within another lineage confined to south-western Australia.
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Abensperg-traun, M., G. W. Arnold, D. E. Steven, G. T. Smith, L. Atkins, J. J. Viveen, and M. Gutter. "Biodiversity indicators in semi-arid, agricultural Western Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 2, no. 4 (1995): 375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc960375.
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The predicted future loss of native Australian species of plants and animals, in part as a result of adverse land management strategies, has led to attempts to identify areas of high biotic richness (numbers of species). Bioindicators are measures of the physical environment, or of a subset of the plants or animals, that best predict biotic richness. Ideally, bioindicators should aim at predicting as large a component of the plant or animal fauna as is possible at minimum cost. For two contrasting vegetation types, we examined remnant area, vegetation structural diversity, species richness of plants, lizards and terrestrial arthropods, and the relative abundance of individual arthropod species, as indicators of faunal richness, using correlation, principal component regression and stepwise regression analyses. The study was carried out in gimlet Eucalyptus salubris woodlands (29 sites) and shrublands (27 sites) in semi-arid, agricultural Western Australia. Sites varied considerably in grazing history (woodland) and in farming history (shrubland). Fauna sampled were lizards (woodland), scorpions (woodland), isopods (woodland), cockroaches (woodland), termites (woodland, shrubland), earwigs (woodland), hemipterans (shrubland), beetles (woodland, shrubland), butterflies (shrubland) and ants (woodland, shrubland). None of the indicator variables in any analyses effectively predicted total faunal richness for either vegetation type (<35% of variation in total richness explained). In correlation analyses for woodlands, vegetation structural diversity and plant richness, but no fauna variable, explained a high percentage of the variation in the richness of lizards (56% explained by richness of native plants, +ve), scorpions (48%, richness of native plants, +ve), termites (55%, vegetation structural diversity, +ve) and beetles (59%, litter, –ve). The richness of the shrubland fauna was poorly predicted by all indicator variables (<25% explained). When using the total richness and abundance of ant functional groups, the abundance of a subset of species within ant functional groups, and of termite and beetle species, in principal component regressions, various ant functional groups explained 42% each of the richness of scorpions and beetles, and eight beetle species explained 50% of termite richness. When remnant area, vegetation structural diversity and the richness of native plants in woodland were tested in step-wise regressions as indicators of total faunal richness, remnant area was the only significant indicator variable, explaining 33% of total richness. The richness of native plants and vegetation structural diversity explained a total of 76% of the pooled richness of lizards + scorpions + termites. No significant indicator variable was found by regression procedures for total richness, or for a subset, of the shrubland fauna. We argue that differences in the predictive qualities of vegetation structure and plant richness between the vegetation types was due, in part, to differences in the spatial heterogeneity of biotic richness, and possibly the scale at which structure was measured. The use of structural diversity or plant richness as predictors of faunal richness for different woodland types, or those with different disturbance histories, or in different geographic or climatic regions, should not be adopted without verification of their efficiency at predicting the richness of the local fauna.
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Ewart, Anthony, Max S. Moulds, and David C. Marshall. "Arenopsaltria nubivena (Cicadidae: Cicadinae: Cryptotympanini) from the arid regions of Central Australia and southwest Western Australia." Records of the Australian Museum 67, no. 6 (November 25, 2015): 163–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.67.2015.1643.
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Savini, G., J. D. Dunsmore, I. D. Robertson, and P. Seneviratna. "The epidemiology of Sarcocystis spp. in cattle of Western Australia." Epidemiology and Infection 108, no. 1 (February 1992): 107–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268800049554.
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SUMMARYOesophagus samples from 714 cattle from Western Australia were examined by artificial digestion to detect the presence of Sarcocystis spp. The overall prevalence of infection was 52%. The prevalence of infection increased with age and was highest in the entire males (92%). The prevalence was lower in cattle which originated from arid and semiarid regions (9 and 31% respectively) than those from tropical (87%) and temperate (60%) regions. possible reasons for these differences are discussed and it is concluded that environmental and management factors as well as host age and sex influence the prevalence of infection with Sarcocystis spp. in cattle.
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TAKAHASHI, N. "Water Use Efficiency of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Growing in Arid Regions in Western Australia." JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING OF JAPAN 36, no. 4 (2003): 391–400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1252/jcej.36.391.
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O’Neill, M. K., C. C. Shock, K. A. Lombard, R. F. Heyduck, E. B. G. Feibert, D. Smeal, and R. N. Arnold. "Hybrid poplar (Populus ssp.) selections for arid and semi-arid intermountain regions of the western United States." Agroforestry Systems 79, no. 3 (March 9, 2010): 409–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10457-010-9286-y.
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Hayden, Helen L., Anton J. Cozijnsen, and Barbara J. Howlett. "Microsatellite and Minisatellite Analysis of Leptosphaeria maculans in Australia Reveals Regional Genetic Differentiation." Phytopathology® 97, no. 7 (July 2007): 879–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/phyto-97-7-0879.
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The population genetic structure of the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans was determined in Australia using six microsatellite and two minisatellite markers. Ascospores were sampled from Brassica napus stubble in disease nurseries and commercial fields in different sites over 2 years. The 13 subpopulations of L. maculans exhibited high gene (H = 0.393 to 0.563) and genotypic diversity, with 357 haplotypes identified among 513 isolates. Although the majority of genetic variation was distributed within subpopulations (85%), 10% occurred between the regions of eastern and Western Australia, and 5% within regions. FST analysis of subpopulation pairs also showed the east-west genetic differentiation, whereas factorial correspondence analysis separated Western Australian subpopulations from eastern ones. Bayesian model-based population structure analyses of multilocus haplotypes inferred three distinct populations, one in Western Australia and an admixture of two in eastern Australia. These two regions are separated by 1,200 km of arid desert that may act as a natural barrier to gene flow, resulting in differentiation by random genetic drift. The genetic differentiation of L. maculans isolates between eastern and Western Australia means that these regions can be treated as different management units, and reinforces the need for widespread disease nurseries in each region to screen breeding lines against a range of genetic and pathogenic populations of L. maculans.
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Wright, Boyd R., and Peter J. Clarke. "Resprouting responses of Acacia shrubs in the Western Desert of Australia - fire severity, interval and season influence survival." International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, no. 3 (2007): 317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wf06094.
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The hummock grasslands of arid Australia are fire-prone ecosystems in which the perennial woody plants mostly resprout after fire. The resprouting ability among these species is poorly understood in relation to environmental variation; consequently, little is known about the impacts that contemporary fire regimes are having on vegetation within these systems. We examined the resprouting ability of adults and juveniles of four widespread Acacia species (A. aneura, A. kempeana, A. maitlandii, A. melleodora) by experimentally testing the effects of fire severity, interval and season. We found that fire severity and season strongly affected survival, but the magnitude of the effects was variable among the species. Unexpectedly, a short fire interval of 2 years did not have a strong negative effect on resprouting of any species. Fire severity had variable effects among the four species, with those species with more deeply buried buds being more resilient to high-severity soil heating than those with shallow buds. Season of fire also strongly affected survival of some species, and we propose that seasonal variation in soil heating and soil moisture mediated these effects. The species by environment interactions we observed within one functional group (resprouters with a soil-stored seed bank) and in one genus suggest that modelling landscape response to fire regimes will be complex in these arid ecosystems. We predict, however, that the dominant resprouting acacias in hummock grasslands of central Australia are highly resilient to a range of fire regimes.
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Zumwalde, Bethany A., Ross A. McCauley, Ian J. Fullinwider, Drew Duckett, Emma Spence, and Sean Hoban. "Genetic, Morphological, and Environmental Differentiation of an Arid-Adapted Oak with a Disjunct Distribution." Forests 12, no. 4 (April 10, 2021): 465. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f12040465.
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The patterns of genetic and morphological diversity of a widespread species can be influenced by environmental heterogeneity and the degree of connectivity across its geographic distribution. Here, we studied Quercus havardii Rydb., a uniquely adapted desert oak endemic to the Southwest region of the United States, using genetic, morphometric, and environmental datasets over various geographic scales to quantify differentiation and understand forces influencing population divergence. First, we quantified variation by analyzing 10 eastern and 13 western populations from the disjunct distribution of Q. havardii using 11 microsatellite loci, 17 morphological variables, and 19 bioclimatic variables. We then used regressions to examine local and regional correlations of climate with genetic variation. We found strong genetic, morphological and environmental differences corresponding with the large-scale disjunction of populations. Additionally, western populations had higher genetic diversity and lower relatedness than eastern populations. Levels of genetic variation in the eastern populations were found to be primarily associated with precipitation seasonality, while levels of genetic variation in western populations were associated with lower daily temperature fluctuations and higher winter precipitation. Finally, we found little to no observed environmental niche overlap between regions. Our results suggest that eastern and western populations likely represent two distinct taxonomic entities, each associated with a unique set of climatic variables potentially influencing local patterns of diversity.
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Mitchell, Patrick J., Erik Veneklaas, Hans Lambers, and Stephen S. O. Burgess. "Partitioning of evapotranspiration in a semi-arid eucalypt woodland in south-western Australia." Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 149, no. 1 (January 2009): 25–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2008.07.008.
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DOUGHTY, PAUL, LUKE KEALLEY, and JANE MELVILLE. "Taxonomic assessment of Diporiphora (Reptilia: Agamidae) dragon lizards from the western arid zone of Australia." Zootaxa 3518, no. 1 (October 16, 2012): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3518.1.1.
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Members of the genus Diporiphora are slender perching agamid lizards from Australasia, with a conservative morphologyand some outstanding taxonomic issues. Here we assess morphological variation in the morphologically similar D. pin-dan, D. valens, and D. winneckei from the western deserts of Australia. A reassessment of morphological differences thatincluded the presence or absence of a gular fold, revealed D. pindan to be much more widely distributed than previouslythought, occurring as far south as the northern Pilbara and east to the Tanami Desert. Examination of D. valens specimensrevealed a north-south split within the Pilbara, with specimens conspecific with the types from the Hamersley Range inthe southern Pilbara, whereas recently collected specimens from the Chichester and Roebourne regions in the northernPilbara differ morphologically, and are described as a new species. Examination of the type of D. winneckei and topotypicmaterial indicates that populations referable to this species are confined to the eastern arid zone. The isolated far westernpopulation of ‘D. winneckei’ from the Carnarvon Basin differs in morphology from the eastern arid zone D. winneckei andis described as a new species. The western arid zone ‘D. winneckei’ is also morphologically distinctive from the easternarid zone D. winneckei and is described as a new species. We also redescribe D. pindan, D. valens, and D. winneckei, and return Caimanops amphiboluroides to Diporiphora based on the results of previous genetic studies.
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Dastogeer, Khondoker M. G., Hua Li, Krishnapillai Sivasithamparam, and Stephen J. Wylie. "In vitrosalt and thermal tolerance of fungal endophytes ofNicotianaspp. growing in arid regions of north-western Australia." Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 51, no. 11-12 (July 21, 2018): 602–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2018.1503762.
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KOOLHOF, I. S., S. BETTIOL, and S. CARVER. "Fine-temporal forecasting of outbreak probability and severity: Ross River virus in Western Australia." Epidemiology and Infection 145, no. 14 (September 4, 2017): 2949–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095026881700190x.
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SUMMARYHealth warnings of mosquito-borne disease risk require forecasts that are accurate at fine-temporal resolutions (weekly scales); however, most forecasting is coarse (monthly). We use environmental and Ross River virus (RRV) surveillance to predict weekly outbreak probabilities and incidence spanning tropical, semi-arid, and Mediterranean regions of Western Australia (1991–2014). Hurdle and linear models were used to predict outbreak probabilities and incidence respectively, using time-lagged environmental variables. Forecast accuracy was assessed by model fit and cross-validation. Residual RRV notification data were also examined against mitigation expenditure for one site, Mandurah 2007–2014. Models were predictive of RRV activity, except at one site (Capel). Minimum temperature was an important predictor of RRV outbreaks and incidence at all predicted sites. Precipitation was more likely to cause outbreaks and greater incidence among tropical and semi-arid sites. While variable, mitigation expenditure coincided positively with increased RRV incidence (r2 = 0·21). Our research demonstrates capacity to accurately predict mosquito-borne disease outbreaks and incidence at fine-temporal resolutions. We apply our findings, developing a user-friendly tool enabling managers to easily adopt this research to forecast region-specific RRV outbreaks and incidence. Approaches here may be of value to fine-scale forecasting of RRV in other areas of Australia, and other mosquito-borne diseases.
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BEIN, BERNHARD, MALTE C. EBACH, SHAWN W. LAFFAN, DANIEL J. MURPHY, and GERASIMOS CASSIS. "Quantifying vertebrate zoogeographical regions of Australia using geospatial turnover in the species composition of mammals, birds, reptiles and terrestrial amphibians." Zootaxa 4802, no. 1 (June 22, 2020): 61–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4802.1.4.
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A geospatial analysis of 1,906,302 records of 1938 species of Australian vertebrates has shown that the original regions proposed in the 19th century, namely the Eyrean, Torresian and Bassian still hold. The analysis has shown that the Eyrean region has an east-west divide, forming two, possibly independent arid regions (Eastern Desert and Western Desert provinces), that are shaped by topography and rainfall. A revised and interim zoogeographical area taxonomy of the Australian region is presented herein.
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Ambrose, SJ, and SD Bradshaw. "The Water and Electrolyte Metabolism of Free-Ranging and Captive White-Browed Scrubwrens, Sericornis-Frontalis (Acanthizidae), From Arid, Semi-Arid and Mesic Environments." Australian Journal of Zoology 36, no. 1 (1988): 29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo9880029.
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Seasonal variations in water and sodium turnover of resident populations of free-ranging Sericornis frontalis were measured at three sites in Western Australia ranging from arid, through semi-arid to mesic environments. Scrubwrens at all three sites maintained water and sodium balance despite the wide variation in environment. During winter at semi-arid Eyre, however, scrubwrens had a greatly increased dietary sodium intake resulting from the deposition of airborne oceanic salt over the coastal dunes. Scrubwrens at arid Hamelin had significantly lower water turnover rates (e.g. 1.3 ml 10 g-'d-') than those at Eyre and mesic Rockingham during hot, dry periods. The highest rates of water turnover were recorded at Rockingham during wet winters. We discuss the ecological implications of these results. In laboratory studies, scrubwrens from arid regions consumed NaCl solutions of up to 0.8 mol l-', compared with a maximum of only 0.6 ml l-' by scrubwrens from semi-arid and mesic regions. Shark Bay scrubwrens also had a much greater renal-concentrating ability which may be partially accounted for by the larger proportion of medullary tissue in the kidneys of these birds.
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Osborne, J. M. "Mine decommissioning: Environmental completion criteria for gold and nickel mine waste dumps in arid regions of Western Australia." International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment 13, no. 3 (January 1999): 131–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09208119908944229.
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Maslin, BR, and L. Pedley. "Patterns of Distribution of Acacia in Australia." Australian Journal of Botany 36, no. 4 (1988): 385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt9880385.
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Patterns of distribution are described for the three subgenera and nine sections that make up the Australian Acacia flora. Subgenus Phyllodineae (833 species) is widespread and contains 99% of the species; subgenus Acacia (six species) and subgenus Aculeiferum (one species) are poorly represented and virtually confined to the north of the continent. The geographic patterns of species-richness are strongly influenced by sections Phyllodineae (352 species), Juliflorae (219 species) and Plurinerves (178 species). Section Phyllodineae has centres of richness south of the Tropic of Capricorn in temperate and adjacent semiarid areas of eastern, south-eastern and south-western Australia. The section is poorly represented in the tropics. The closely related sections Juliflorae and Plurinerves predominate in the north of the continent, semiarid areas of the south-west, many rocky tablelands of the Arid Zone and along the Great Dividing Range and adjacent inland riverine lowland areas in eastern Australia. The remaining four sections contribute little to the overall patterns of species-richness. The principal speciespoor areas are sandy and fluvial lowland regions of the Arid Zone. In eastern Australia, sections Botrycephalae, Juliflorae, Phyllodineae and Plurinerves show discontinuous patterns of species-richness along the Great Dividing Range. All sections have species whose ranges terminate in the area of the McPherson-Macleay Overlap region.
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A How, R., and M. A Cowan. "Collections in space and time: geographical patterning of native frogs, mammals and reptiles through a continental gradient." Pacific Conservation Biology 12, no. 2 (2006): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc060111.
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Native frog, mammal and reptile specimen data in the Western Australian Museum were examined from the western third of the Australian continent covering nearly 22 degrees of latitude and 16 degrees of longitude and encompassing tropical, desert and temperate regions. The timing of specimen data collection and collecting effort were evaluated and show that large areas of the State remain poorly sampled. The great majority of the collections have been made over the last 50 years and taxonomic status of many vertebrate species is still in review with several new species being described. Systematic surveys need to be undertaken to address the inadequacy of information on vertebrate fauna distributions over large tracts of the desert and pastoral areas of Western Australia. The distribution of taxa endemic to Western Australia, threatened and priority taxa as well as restricted?range endemic taxa were examined over equal areas based on the 1 :250 000 map series that covers the western third of the Australian continent. Endemic taxa are focused in the south-west of the state and along the west coast, while restricted-range endemics are more frequently distriooted along the west and northwestern coasts. Threatened and priority taxa show a similar pattern to that of endemic taxa. The similarity of areas across Western Australia, based on the composition of their vertebrate fauna, indicates that there are four broad regions corresponding to the tropical north, the mesic south-west, the semi-arid southwestern interior and the arid Pilbara and desert areas. Additionally, regional areas defined under the IBRA scheme were examined for the number of sampling locations, endemic taxa in the various fauna! groups and the richness of taxa recorded. The Pilbara bioregion, one of the best-sampled areas of the State, showed limited concordance between vertebrate taxa similarity in half-degree cells and subregional boundaries and relatively high heterogeneity in vertebrate fauna distribution across the bioregion.
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Turpin, J. M., N. E. White, J. A. Dunlop, and M. J. Bamford. "New populations of the black-flanked rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis) from the Little Sandy Desert and Murchison, Western Australia." Australian Mammalogy 40, no. 2 (2018): 234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am14043.
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During two independent fauna surveys, rock-wallaby (Petrogale) scats were recorded from caves located outside the current known Petrogale distribution. Scats collected from Desert Queen Baths (Little Sandy Desert, Western Australia, 2012), and the Barr Smith Range (Murchison, Western Australia, 2015) were genetically analysed and a follow-up motion camera survey confirmed an extant rock-wallaby population at Desert Queen Baths. The combination of sampling techniques overcame the detection difficulties associated with rare and cryptic taxa, and together were important in establishing the presence of Petrogale lateralis from regions where the species has been poorly documented. At both locations, P. lateralis scats were recorded from deep caves situated close to permanent water, reflecting the species’ physiological constraints in the arid zone. These records represent significant range extensions of a highly threatened macropod.
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RABOSKY, DANIEL L., PAUL DOUGHTY, and HUATENG HUANG. "Lizards in pinstripes: morphological and genomic evidence for two new species of scincid lizards within Ctenotus piankai Storr and C. duricola Storr (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Australian arid zone." Zootaxa 4303, no. 1 (August 8, 2017): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4303.1.1.
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The scincid lizard genus Ctenotus is one of the most species-rich genera of squamate reptiles, but few molecular phylogenetic studies have been undertaken on the group. Here we assess molecular and morphological variation within C. piankai and C. duricola, an arid-adapted pair of nominate species characterized by a pattern of thin pale longitudinal lines on a dark background that occur primarily in the western deserts and Pilbara region of Australia. We sequenced mitochondrial DNA and genome-wide restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) from geographically widespread samples of these lizard taxa, with particularly dense sampling from the Pilbara region. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene and approximately 5,000 nuclear loci identified four highly divergent lineages within the two taxa. The four genetically-defined populations were concordant with geography and are distinguishable based on multiple morphological and color pattern characters, despite appearing superficially similar in appearance. Despite limited mtDNA exchange between two lineages in the Pilbara, we found no evidence for ongoing gene flow across the nuclear genome. For the western desert lineages, there was no evidence of introgression for either mtDNA or nDNA in our data. To resolve the taxonomy of the group, we redescribe C. piankai and C. duricola, and recognize the two divergent lineages as new species: C. rhabdotus sp. nov., from the south-eastern Kimberley, Ord, Victoria River and northern Tanami Desert regions of Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and C. pallasotus sp. nov., from the western Pilbara and North West Cape regions of Western Australia.
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Bradshaw, S. D., K. W. Dixon, H. Lambers, A. T. Cross, J. Bailey, and S. D. Hopper. "Understanding the long-term impact of prescribed burning in mediterranean-climate biodiversity hotspots, with a focus on south-western Australia." International Journal of Wildland Fire 27, no. 10 (2018): 643. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wf18067.
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Wildfires are expected to increase worldwide both in frequency and intensity owing to global warming, but are likely to vary geographically. This is of particular concern in the five mediterranean regions of the world that are all biodiversity hotspots with extraordinary plant and animal diversity that may be impacted by deliberately imposed fire. Wildland managers attempt to reduce the impact and mitigate the outcomes of wildfires on human assets and biodiversity by the use of prescribed burning. The response that we must ‘fight fire with fire’ is understandable, perceived as reducing the flammability of wildlands in fire-prone regions and lessening the impact of wildfires. The long-term impact on biodiversity is, however, less clear. The practice of prescribed burning has been in place and monitored in south-western Australia for 50 years, longer and more intensively than in most other mediterranean ecosystems. The present target is for 200 000 ha burned each year in this biodiversity hotspot. Published studies on the impact of this burning on infrastructure protection and on biodiversity are here used to understand the protective capacity of the practice and to foreshadow its possible long-term ecological impact across all mediterranean ecosystems.
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van Etten, Eddie J. B. "Changes to land tenure and pastoral lease ownership in Western Australia’s central rangelands: implications for co-operative, landscape-scale management." Rangeland Journal 35, no. 1 (2013): 37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj11088.
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The majority of arid and semiarid land in the Western Australian pastoral zone has a long history of livestock grazing within an extensive network of predominantly family-held pastoral leases. A variety of different groups have purchased pastoral leases in the last five decades and, for many, making a profit from pastoralism is no longer a priority. For the central rangelands of Western Australia, these groups have included: government agencies, who have purchased some 9% of pastoral leases by area; private conservation organisations (<1% purchased); aboriginal communities and groups (~7%); and mining companies (~13%). The purchases of pastoral leases by government agencies was designed to improve the conservation status of arid-zone ecosystems, and is the first step in a process of changing land tenure to a conservation reserve. This paper summarises the extent and other characteristics of these changes in land tenure and ownership of pastoral leases, and explores the implications for land management and conservation, stemming from these changes. It demonstrates that large areas of contiguous land with no or reduced domestic stocking can now be found in many parts of these rangelands, particularly in the Coolgardie, Yalgoo and Pilbara bio-regions, with some leaseholders actively managing land for the conservation of biodiversity and restoring sites degraded through past over-grazing. In some bio-regions, such land covers considerable proportions of sub-catchments, suggesting that broad-scale conservation management and restoration objectives may be realised. It is argued that to fully realise these objectives requires effective communication and co-ordination between land managers, including sharing of ideas, view-points and resources. In particular, mining companies, now major holders of pastoral leases in Western Australia, can play an important role in contributing to and even facilitating such objectives.
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Woolley, P. A. "Aspects of reproduction, and morphology of the penis, of Pseudantechinus woolleyae (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae)." Australian Journal of Zoology 65, no. 6 (2017): 357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo17086.
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Woolley’s Pseudantechinus, P. woolleyae, has remained virtually unstudied in the 30 years since its recognition in 1988 as a species distinct from P. macdonnellensis. It has a wide distribution in arid regions of Western Australia. What little is known of its biology comes largely from studies carried out over the years 1988–91 on one wild-caught female and her offspring, and a few specimens held in the collection of the Western Australian Museum. P. woolleyae is a seasonal breeder and young are born from late July to early October. They mature when ~7 months old. Both males and females are potentially capable of breeding in more than one year. Males have accessory erectile tissue that does not form an appendage on the penis.
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Zhang, Ruibo, Bakytbek Ermenbaev, Tongwen Zhang, Mamtimin Ali, Li Qin, and Rysbek Satylkanov. "The Radial Growth of Schrenk Spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey.) Records the Hydroclimatic Changes in the Chu River Basin over the Past 175 Years." Forests 10, no. 3 (March 2, 2019): 223. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f10030223.
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The Chu River is one of the most important rivers in arid Central Asia. Its discharge is affected by climate change. Here, we establish a tree-ring chronology for the upper Chu River Basin and analyze the relationships between radial growth, climate, and discharge. The results show that the radial growth of Schrenk spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey.) is controlled by moisture. We also reconstruct a 175-year standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) for the Chu River Basin. A comparison of the reconstructed and observed indices reveal that 39.5% of the variance occurred during the calibration period of 1952–2014. The SPEI reconstruction and discharge variability of the Chu River show consistent long-term change. They also show that the Chu River Basin became increasingly dry between the 1840s and the 1960s, with a significant drought during the 1970s. A long and rapid wetting period occurred between the 1970s and the 2000s, and was followed by increasing drought since 2004. The change in the SPEI in the Chu River Basin is consistent with records of long-term precipitation, SPEI and Palmer Drought Severity Indices (PDSI) in other proximate regions of the western Tianshan Mountains. The hydroclimatic change of the Chu River Basin may be associated with westerly wind. This study is helpful for disaster prevention and water resource management in arid central Asia.
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Plucinski, M. P., W. L. McCaw, J. S. Gould, and B. M. Wotton. "Predicting the number of daily human-caused bushfires to assist suppression planning in south-west Western Australia." International Journal of Wildland Fire 23, no. 4 (2014): 520. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wf13090.
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Data from bushfire incidents in south-west Western Australia from the Departments of Parks and Wildlife and Fire and Emergency Services were used to develop models that predict the number of human-caused bushfires within 10 management areas. Fire incident data were compiled with weather variables, binary classifications of day types (e.g. school days) and counts of the number of fires that occurred over recent days. Models were developed using negative binomial regression with a dataset covering 3 years and evaluated using data from an independent year. A common model form that included variables relating to fuel moisture content, the number of recent human-caused bushfires, work day (binary classification separating weekends and public holidays from other days) and rainfall was applied to all areas. The model had reasonable fit statistics across all management areas, but showed enough day-to-day prediction variability to be of practical use only in the more densely populated management areas, which were dominated by deliberate ignitions. The findings of this study should be of interest to fire managers in Mediterranean climatic regions where a variety of practices are used to manage wildfires.
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Kala, Jatin, Alyce Sala Tenna, Daniel Rudloff, Julia Andrys, Ole Rieke, and Thomas J. Lyons. "Evaluation of the Weather Research and Forecasting model in simulating fire weather for the south-west of Western Australia." International Journal of Wildland Fire 29, no. 9 (2020): 779. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wf19111.
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The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was used to simulate fire weather for the south-west of Western Australia (SWWA) over multiple decades at a 5-km resolution using lateral boundary conditions from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA)-Interim reanalysis. Simulations were compared with observations at Australian Bureau of Meteorology meteorological stations and the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) was used to quantify fire weather. Results showed that, overall, the WRF reproduced the annual cumulative FFDI at most stations reasonably well, with most biases in the FFDI ranging between –600 and 600. Biases were highest at stations within the metropolitan region. The WRF simulated the geographical gradients in the FFDI across the domain well. The source of errors in the FFDI varied markedly between the different stations, with no one particular variable able to account for the errors at all stations. Overall, this study shows that the WRF is a useful model for simulating fire weather for SWWA, one of the most fire-prone regions in Australia.
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Ward, Bruce G., Thomas B. Bragg, and Barbara A. Hayes. "Relationship between fire-return interval and mulga (Acacia aneura) regeneration in the Gibson Desert and Gascoyne–Murchison regions of Western Australia." International Journal of Wildland Fire 23, no. 3 (2014): 394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wf13007.
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A study of 26 burnt mulga (Acacia aneura) stands was conducted from 2003 to 2012 in the Gibson Desert and eastern Gascoyne–Murchison region of Western Australia to assess the effect of fire interval on seedling regeneration. Tree-ring analysis and Landsat satellite imagery identified mulga stands with fire intervals ranging from 3 to 52 years. Results show fire-return intervals less than 20 years produce 2–3-year-old seedling regeneration lower than 50% of the original adult stand population (average juvenile-to-adult ratio=0.49). In total, 6 of the 26 stands sampled had reburnt within 3 to 10 years of the previous burn, a consequence of increased plant growth associated with higher rainfall. For all fires, summer fires were larger and more frequent (24 of 35 fires recorded, median fire size=150km2) than spring fires (median fire size=91km2). This study emphasises the important role of fire in maintaining the diversity and vigour of the mulga–Triodia ecosystem but indicates a minimum fire-return interval of 26 years to maintain mulga populations.
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Suganuma, Hideki, Yukuo Abe, Masahiko Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Tanouchi, Hajime Utsugi, Toshinori Kojima, and Koichi Yamada. "Stand biomass estimation method by canopy coverage for application to remote sensing in an arid area of Western Australia." Forest Ecology and Management 222, no. 1-3 (February 2006): 75–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.10.014.
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Gamage, Harshi K., Subrata Mondal, Lynley A. Wallis, Paul Memmott, Darren Martin, Boyd R. Wright, and Susanne Schmidt. "Indigenous and modern biomaterials derived from Triodia (‘spinifex’) grasslands in Australia." Australian Journal of Botany 60, no. 2 (2012): 114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt11285.
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Plant-derived fibres and resins can provide biomaterials with environmental, health and financial benefits. Australian arid zone grasses have not been explored as sources of modern biomaterials including building materials. Triodia grasslands are a dominant vegetation type in the arid and semiarid regions of Australia covering a third of the continent. Of the 69 identified Triodia species, 26 produce resin from specialised cells in the outer leaf epidermis. In Aboriginal culture, Triodia biomass and resin were valued for their usefulness in cladding shelters and as a hafting agent. Since European settlement, Triodia grasslands have been used for cattle grazing and burning is a common occurrence to improve pasture value and prevent large-scale fires. Although Triodia grasslands are relatively stable to fires, more frequent and large-scale fires impact on other fire sensitive woody and herbaceous species associated with Triodia and invasion of exotic weeds resulting in localised changes in vegetation structure and composition. The extent and change occurring in Triodia grasslands as a result of altered land-use practices, fire regimes, and changing climate warrant careful consideration of their future management. Localised harvesting of Triodia grasslands could have environmental benefits and provide much needed biomaterials for desert living. Research is underway to evaluate the material properties of Triodia biomass and resin in the context of Indigenous and western scientific knowledge. Here, we review uses of Triodia and highlight research needs if sustainable harvesting is to be considered.
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Read, J., P. Copley, and P. Bird. "The distribution, ecology and current status of Pseudomys desertor in South Australia." Wildlife Research 26, no. 4 (1999): 453. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr97051.
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Recent surveys have shown that the desert mouse (Pseudomys desertor), which was once considered to be rare in South Australia, is relatively widespread throughout the north-west of the State. However, historical localities in the Flinders Ranges and Nullarbor Plain were not matched with contemporary records, suggesting a range contraction to the central desert regions. Habitat preferences were determined from 78 captures at 41 sites, which revealed that samphire, sedge and nitrebush habitats, along with spinifex grassland, were favoured. A high tolerance to high rabbit numbers, mining activity, moderate cattle grazing pressures and cohabitation with Mus domesticus was evident. Pseudomys desertor is sometimes diurnal, possibly as a result of the time-consuming and regular foraging requirements of its folivorous diet. High mortality rates, resulting from prolonged exposure to predators, and lack of complex deep burrow systems are offset by its high fecundity and ecological plasticity. We consider that P. desertor is secure in the north-western arid zone of South Australia.
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Islam, Muhammad, David W. Turner, and Mark A. Adams. "Regeneration of the legumes Acacia ancistrocarpa and Senna notabilis in the Pilbara region of Western Australia: mineral nutrition and carbon fractions." Australian Journal of Botany 48, no. 4 (2000): 435. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt98095.
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A large proportion of Australia’s rangelands is arid or semi-arid and is dominated by soils low in total phosphorus. Productivity is controlled chiefly by the season and distribution of rainfall, although fire plays a major role in determining species composition, especially of the scrublands in these regions. Two legumes, common to the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Acacia ancistrocarpa and Senna notabilis, regenerated quickly after fires in summer 1995–1996. We examined their growth, mineral nutrition and carbon fractions in relation to their role as possible feed for herbivores, both native and introduced, with and without added phosphorus both in the field and the glasshouse. In the field, both species showed no significant changes in concentrations of total phenolics, condensed tannins, non-structural carbohydrates or lignin in response to fertiliser addition. Both species accumulated nitrogen and phosphorus after summer rain but the allocation of those resources varied between species. In the glasshouse, the concentration of nitrogen in both species was not affected by phosphorus fertilisation but the concentration of phosphorus in foliage increased linearly as the amount of phosphorus increased. Phosphorus application resulted in an increase in the dry mass of both species. Both species are low in in vitro dry organic matter digestibility and maintain high concentrations of total phenolics, condensed tannins and lignin. All nutritional, including major minerals, and anti-nutritional components varied significantly with season.
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ABRAMS, KYM M., JOEL A. HUEY, MIA J. HILLYER, RAPHAEL K. DIDHAM, and MARK S. HARVEY. "A systematic revision of Draculoides (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) of the Pilbara, Western Australia, Part I: the Western Pilbara." Zootaxa 4864, no. 1 (October 22, 2020): 1–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4864.1.1.
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The schizomid fauna of mainland Australia currently comprises 60 species within seven named genera, of which five are endemic to the continent: Attenuizomus Harvey, 2000, Brignolizomus Harvey, 2000, Draculoides Harvey, 1992, Julattenius Harvey, 1992, Notozomus Harvey, 2000. Most Australian schizomids have been described from eastern and northern Australia, but there is also a significant subterranean fauna that has been found in hypogean habitats in the semi-arid Pilbara region of Western Australia. The vast majority of these species can be assigned to the genus Draculoides and this study is the first in a proposed series to revise this highly diverse genus. We treat the species found in the western Pilbara region, which includes 13 new species and 13 previously named species, using morphological characters and multi-locus sequence data. We also incorporate a molecular “mini-barcode” approach for COI, 12S and ITS2 to diagnose the new species. The new species are named: Draculoides akashae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. belalugosii Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. carmillae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. christopherleei Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. claudiae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. immortalis Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. karenbassettae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. mckechnieorum Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. minae Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. noctigrassator Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. nosferatu Abrams and Harvey, n. sp., D. piscivultus Abrams and Harvey, n. sp. and D. warramboo Abrams and Harvey, n. sp. We also provide the first descriptions of males of D. anachoretus (Harvey, Berry, Edward and Humphreys, 2008) and D. gnophicola (Harvey, Berry, Edward and Humphreys, 2008). All of the new species are subterranean-dwelling, short-range endemic species that occur in regions subject to mining activities, rendering them of high conservation significance.
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Yang, Yujie, Shijie Wang, Xiaoyong Bai, Qiu Tan, Qin Li, Luhua Wu, Shiqi Tian, Zeyin Hu, Chaojun Li, and Yuanhong Deng. "Factors Affecting Long-Term Trends in Global NDVI." Forests 10, no. 5 (April 28, 2019): 372. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f10050372.
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Diagnosing the evolution trends of vegetation and its drivers is necessary for ecological conservation and restoration. However, it remains unclear what the underlying distribution pattern of these trends and its correlation with some drivers at large spatial-temporal scales. Here we use the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to quantify the activity of vegetation by Theil–Sen median trend analysis and the Mann–Kendall test, Pearson correlation analysis and Boosted regression trees (BRT) model. Results show that about 34% of the global continent area has experienced greening in the grid annual NDVI from 1982 to 2015. The major greening areas were observed in the Sahel, European, India and south China. Only 10% of the global continent land areas were browning, and these were observed in Canada, South America, central Africa and Central Asia. BRT model shows that rainfall is the most important factor affecting vegetation evolution (63.1%), followed by temperature (15%), land cover change (8.6%), population (6.5%), elevation (6.4%) and nightlight (0.4%). It’s about 21% of the world’s continent were affected by rainfall, mainly in arid regions such as central Asia and Australia. The main temperature-affected areas accounted for 36%, located near the equator or in high latitudes.
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Gouramanis, C., P. De Deckker, D. Wilkins, and J. Dodson. "High-resolution, multiproxy palaeoenvironmental changes recorded from Two Mile Lake, southern Western Australia: implications for Ramsar-listed playa sites." Marine and Freshwater Research 67, no. 6 (2016): 748. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf14193.
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Numerous saline playa lakes exist across the arid, semiarid and temperate regions of Australia. These playa lakes exhibit a diverse range of hydrological conditions to which the Australian aquatic invertebrate biota have become adapted and which the biota can utilise as refugia in times of hydrological deterioration. Saline playas also yield palaeoenvironmental records that can be used to infer lacustrine and catchment responses to environmental variability. We present a palaeoenvironmental record recovered from Two Mile Lake, a saline playa from southern Western Australia. Dating, based on quartz optical luminescence and 14C accelerator mass spectrometry of biogenic carbonates and organic fibres, suggests that most of the sediment was rapidly deposited at 4.36 ± 0.25 thousand years ago. Ostracods and non-marine foraminifera preserved in the sediment show periods of faunal colonisation of the lake with oscillations between hypersaline and oligosaline conditions. The geochemistry of ostracod valves and foraminifera tests suggests higher-frequency variability within the lake, and palynological changes indicate landscape changes, possibly in response to fire. The Two Mile Lake record highlights the utility of saline playas as archives of environmental change that can be used to guide wetland health management, particularly under the impacts of a changing climate.
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Guzik, Michelle T., Andrew D. Austin, Steven J. B. Cooper, Mark S. Harvey, William F. Humphreys, Tessa Bradford, Stefan M. Eberhard, et al. "VIEWPOINT. Is the Australian subterranean fauna uniquely diverse?" Invertebrate Systematics 24, no. 5 (2010): 407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/is10038.
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Australia was historically considered a poor prospect for subterranean fauna but, in reality, the continent holds a great variety of subterranean habitats, with associated faunas, found both in karst and non-karst environments. This paper critically examines the diversity of subterranean fauna in several key regions for the mostly arid western half of Australia. We aimed to document levels of species richness for major taxon groups and examine the degree of uniqueness of the fauna. We also wanted to compare the composition of these ecosystems, and their origins, with other regions of subterranean diversity world-wide. Using information on the number of ‘described’ and ‘known’ invertebrate species (recognised based on morphological and/or molecular data), we predict that the total subterranean fauna for the western half of the continent is 4140 species, of which ~10% is described and 9% is ‘known’ but not yet described. The stygofauna, water beetles, ostracods and copepods have the largest number of described species, while arachnids dominate the described troglofauna. Conversely, copepods, water beetles and isopods are the poorest known groups with less than 20% described species, while hexapods (comprising mostly Collembola, Coleoptera, Blattodea and Hemiptera) are the least known of the troglofauna. Compared with other regions of the world, we consider the Australian subterranean fauna to be unique in its diversity compared with the northern hemisphere for three key reasons: the range and diversity of subterranean habitats is both extensive and novel; direct faunal links to ancient Pangaea and Gondwana are evident, emphasising their early biogeographic history; and Miocene aridification, rather than Pleistocene post-ice age driven diversification events (as is predicted in the northern hemisphere), are likely to have dominated Australia’s subterranean speciation explosion. Finally, we predict that the geologically younger, although more poorly studied, eastern half of the Australian continent is unlikely to be as diverse as the western half, except for stygofauna in porous media. Furthermore, based on similar geology, palaeogeography and tectonic history to that seen in the western parts of Australia, southern Africa, parts of South America and India may also yield similar subterranean biodiversity to that described here.
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Holdaway, SJ, PC Fanning, and DC Witter. "Prehistoric aboriginal occupation of the rangelands: Interpreting the surface archaeological record of far western New South Wales, Australia." Rangeland Journal 22, no. 1 (2000): 44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj0000044.
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Recent erosion in arid regions of western NSW has exposed large areas that are scattered with stone artefacts manufactured by Aboriginal people in prehistory. These exposures offer an opportunity for archaeologists to study the artefacts abandoned by Aboriginal people through time and to compare those artefacts that accumulate in different parts of the landscape. To reconstruct the nature of prehistoric behaviour in the rangelands, two approaches are needed. First, the geomorphological context of the artefacts needs to be considered since exposure of the artefacts is a function of landscape history. Second, large areas (measured in thousands of square metres) and large numbers of artefacts need to be considered if patterns reflecting long-term abandonment behaviour by Aboriginal people are to be identified. This paper reports on the Western New South Wales Archaeological Program (WNSWAP) which was initiated in 1995 to study surface archaeology in the rangelands. Geomorphological studies are combined with artefact analysis using geographic information system software to investigate Aboriginal stone artefact scatters and associated features such as heat retainer hearths, in a landscape context. Results suggest that apparently random scatters of stone artefacts are in fact patterned in ways which inform on prehistoric Aboriginal settlement of the rangelands. Key words: Aboriginal stone artefacts; rangelands; landscape archaeology; geomorphology; GIs
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Prendergast, HDV, and PW Hattersley. "Distribution and cytology of Australian Neurachne and its allies (Poaceae), a group containing C3, C4 and C3-C4 Intermediate species." Australian Journal of Botany 33, no. 3 (1985): 317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt9850317.
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Cytological, phytogeographical and habitat data are presented for the Neurachneae (Poaceae), a tribe endemic to Australia and containing seven C3 two C4 and one C3-C4 intermediate species. Chromosome counts for 34 accessions Australia-wide reveal a typical eu-panicoid base number (x = 9). Three species are diploid (Neurachne tenuifolia C3, Thyridolepis mitchelliana C3 and T. xerophila C3,); four species (Paraneurachne muelleri C4, N. minor C3-C4, N. lanigera C3, T. multiculmis C3) are tetraploid only, one (N. queenslandica C3) is hexaploid only, while two (N. alopecuroidea C3 and N. munroi C4) are variable. Aneuploidy was found in individuals of N. minor (2n = 4x+1) and N. queenslandica (2n = 6x -1). Chromosomes are small (mean c. 2 �m) and metacentric or submetacentric. Using localities derived from all known collections in Australian herbaria, actual and computer-predicted distributions were mapped using the Bioclimate Prediction System (BIOCLIM) developed by H. A. Nix and J. R. Busby. Species distributions, habitats and chromosome counts are discussed in relation to photosynthetic pathway, present and past climates and evolutionary history. The Neurachneae are mainly subtropical, arid and semiarid zone plants. However, the distribution of their C3 species contrasts with those of other C3 eu-panicoids and C3 grasses as a whole. The temperate species N. alopecuroidea is the only native C3 eu-panicoid known from south-western Australia. It is suggested that phenotypic expression of C4, photosynthesis in the Neurachneae occurred independently of other grasses and that they did not extend into arid and semiarid regions from a mesic temperate zone.
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Lindsay, Michael D. A., John S. Mackenzie, A. E. (Tony) Wright, Annette K. Broom, and Cheryl A. Johansen. "Ross River Virus Isolations from Mosquitoes in Arid Regions of Western Australia: Implication of Vertical Transmission as a Means of Persistence of the Virus." American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 49, no. 6 (December 1, 1993): 686–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1993.49.686.
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Shimojima, Eiichi, Ichiro Tamagawa, Masato Horiuchi, Robert J. Woodbury, and Jeffrey V. Turner. "Observation of water and solute movement in a saline, bare soil, groundwater seepage area, Western Australia. Part 1: Movement of water in near-surface soils in summer." Soil Research 51, no. 4 (2013): 288. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr12282.
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In order to elucidate the relationship between evaporation, salinisation, and annual water and salt balances in semi-arid and arid regions, hydrological and meteorological observations were undertaken over 3 years in a small, salinised, bare-soil, groundwater seepage area in Western Australia. This paper focuses on water behaviour near a bare saline soil surface during the dry summer. Analysis of observed data on soil vapour density using a vapour diffusion transfer model can account for the daily upward vapour flux from the soil surface that occurs in midsummer. The dry soil undergoes cycles of drying during the day, accompanied by salt crust formation and wetting during the night. In late summer, the same zones show a wetting trend owing to a marked atmospheric vapour invasion and condensation at night regardless of evaporation during daytime. The daily average vapour flux at the ground surface in mid- and late-summer, respectively, estimated through the vapour transfer model in the dry soil layer was ~0.35 and 0.03 mm/day. Comparison of vapour fluxes at the ground surface measured with a portable surface evaporimeter with modelled estimates of vapour transport in soil showed agreement of the proposed model to field results at low wind speed, but not at the higher wind speeds. This identifies the active role of turbulent surface wind speed on vapour transfer in the dry soil layer below the ground surface.
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Chandler, Gregory T., and Michael D. Crisp. "Contributions Towards a Revision of Daviesia (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae). IV.* D. ulicifolia sens. lat." Australian Systematic Botany 10, no. 1 (1997): 31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sb96013.
Full textAbstract:
Following a morphometric and cladistic analysis of the Daviesia ulicifolia Andrews group (Chandler and Crisp 1997), a new species, D. sejugata, is described. It occurs disjunctly in eastern Tasmania and southern Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, and is closely related to D. arthropoda F.Muell., differing in a generally more robust habit, thicker fleshy phyllodes, and larger flowers. Even with this species removed from D. ulicifolia, the latter varies considerably over a wide geographic, edaphic and altitudinal range. Daviesia ulicifolia is divided into six subspecies based on distinct phenetic and phylogenetic groups delimited in the earlier study. These are subsp. aridicola (glaucous plants in arid regions), subsp. incarnata (reddish-flowered plants in the Mt Lofty Range, South Australia), subsp. ruscifolia (plants with ovate-acuminate leaves and orange flowers in Victoria and southern New South Wales (NSW), often at high altitude), subsp. stenophylla (a narrow-leaved form in northern NSW and Queensland), subsp. pilligensis (ovate-leaved plants on sandy soil in western NSW), and subsp. ulicifolia (a paraphyletic residual from south-eastern states).
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Yang, Xingchuan, Chuanfeng Zhao, Yikun Yang, and Hao Fan. "Long-term multi-source data analysis about the characteristics of aerosol optical properties and types over Australia." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 21, no. 5 (March 15, 2021): 3803–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-3803-2021.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. The spatiotemporal distributions of aerosol optical properties and major aerosol types, along with the vertical distribution of major aerosol types over Australia, are investigated based on multi-year Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations at nine sites, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2), Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP), and back-trajectory analysis from the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT). During the observation period from 2001–2020, the annual aerosol optical depth (AOD) at most sites showed increasing trends (0.002–0.029 yr−1), except for that at three sites, Canberra, Jabiru, and Lake Argyle, which showed decreasing trends (−0.004 to −0.014 yr−1). In contrast, the annual Ångström exponent (AE) showed decreasing tendencies at most sites (−0.045 to −0.005 yr−1). The results showed strong seasonal variations in AOD, with high values in the austral spring and summer and relatively low values in the austral fall and winter, and weak seasonal variations in AE, with the highest mean values in the austral spring at most sites. Monthly average AOD increases from August to December or the following January and decreases during March–July. Spatially, the MODIS AOD showed obvious spatial heterogeneity, with high values appearing over the Australian tropical savanna regions, Lake Eyre Basin, and southeastern regions of Australia, while low values appeared over the arid regions in western Australia. MERRA-2 showed that carbonaceous aerosol over northern Australia, dust over central Australia, sulfate over densely populated northwestern and southeastern Australia, and sea salt over Australian coastal regions are the major types of atmospheric aerosols. The nine ground-based AERONET sites over Australia showed that the mixed type of aerosols (biomass burning and dust) is dominant in all seasons. Moreover, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) showed that polluted dust is the dominant aerosol type detected at heights 0.5–5 km over the Australian continent during all seasons. The results suggested that Australian aerosol has similar source characteristics due to the regional transport over Australia, especially for biomass burning and dust aerosols. However, the dust-prone characteristic of aerosol is more prominent over central Australia, while the biomass-burning-prone characteristic of aerosol is more prominent in northern Australia.
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Hooper, Ryan J., and K. Sivasithamparam. "Characterization of damage and biotic factors associated with the decline of Eucalyptus wandoo in southwest Western Australia." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35, no. 11 (November 1, 2005): 2589–602. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x05-162.
Full textAbstract:
Crown decline of wandoo, Eucalyptus wandoo, in southwest Western Australia has escalated over the last 10 years, so very few unaffected stands remain. To assess the canopy-damage characteristics of trees in decline a destructive, partial-harvest method was used to sample branches in natural mixed-age stands. Necrosis of common cankers was closely associated with type-1 borer damage, characterized by "longitudinal" gallery structure on declining trees only. Cankers were found to be consistently more severe on declining trees, with decay regions affecting a greater proportion of sapwood tissue. Several infestations causing type-1 borer damage that varied in age were found on declining branches, providing evidence of cyclical damage events. Type-2 borer damage characterized by "ring-barking" gallery structure caused extensive damage in canopies, but was not always associated with decline. Interactions between foliage density and canker score showed that 17.8% and 63.1% of the variability in foliage-density ratios was accounted for in declining intermediate-health and unhealthy classes, respectively. The relationship was negligible for the healthy class (9.9%), providing strong evidence that cankers are causing foliage loss in declining canopies. Evidence suggests that an interaction between type-1 borer infestations and decay-causing fungi is responsible for the decline in E. wandoo wandoo canopies.
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Start, A. N. "Mistletoe flora (Loranthaceae and Santalaceae) of the Kimberley, a tropical region in Western Australia, with particular reference to fire." Australian Journal of Botany 61, no. 4 (2013): 309. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt13021.
Full textAbstract:
The mistletoe flora of the tropical Kimberley region of Western Australia was studied over a 30-year period, with a particular emphasis on distributions, use of hosts and effects of fire. The results were compared with those of a similar study undertaken in the Pilbara, a more arid tropical region in the same State. The flora consisted of one genus with three species in the Santalaceae and five genera with 22 species (one with two varieties) in the Loranthaceae. Amyema was the largest genus in both regions. Four species are regarded as Kimberley endemics but two of them may also occur in the Northern Territory. Most species occurred in three or more of five Kimberley bioregions. However, six species were recorded only from the North Kimberley where they were all rare. Host records included 165 species from 33 families. Fabaceae (particularly Acacia) and Myrtaceae (particularly Eucalyptus and Corymbia) were the most important. The perfect dichotomy between species using fabaceous and myrtaceous hosts in the Pilbara was strong but imperfect in the Kimberley. Fire responses of two species were not observed. Two (perhaps three) taxa were able to resprout, whereas the remaining taxa were killed if scorched. Most species occurred, at least occasionally, in relatively fire-safe refugia. Nevertheless, fire is eroding distributions of many species and may be threatening some, particularly the rare North Kimberley species.
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Downing, Trisha L., Marco F. Duretto, and Pauline Y. Ladiges. "Morphological analysis of the Grevillea ilicifolia complex (Proteaceae) and recognition of taxa." Australian Systematic Botany 17, no. 3 (2004): 327. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sb03026.
Full textAbstract:
A morphological study of herbarium and field-collected specimens, using phenetic techniques of agglomerative classification, ordination and minimum spanning trees, and covering the geographic range of the Holly Grevillea, G.�ilicifolia (R.Br.) R.Br. sensu lato, has resulted in the recognition of three species and four subspecies. The taxa are based on leaf form, noted by previous authors to be highly variable between populations. The taxa recognised here are G.�ilicifolia, G.�ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia (typical, kite-shaped leaf form), G.�ilicifolia subsp. lobata (F.Muell.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov. (oak-shaped leaf form), G.�dilatata (R.Br.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov. (fan-shaped leaf form), G.�angustiloba (F.Muell.) T.L.Downing comb. et stat. nov., G.�angustiloba subsp. angustiloba (narrow-lobed leaf form) and G.�angustiloba subsp. wirregaensis T.L.Downing subsp. nov. (very narrow-lobed leaf form). The rank of subspecies is used where there are some intermediate plants between forms. Grevillea ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia is the most widespread taxon and occurs in South Australia, western Victoria and in two localities in New South Wales. Grevillea angustiloba subsp. wirregaensis has the most restricted range, occurring in semi-arid regions near Wirrega in South Australia. Grevillea dilatata is largely endemic to Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
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Murray, B. R., C. R. Dickman, C. H. S. Watts, and S. R. Morton. "The dietary ecology of Australian desert rodents." Wildlife Research 26, no. 4 (1999): 421. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr97046.
Full textAbstract:
Very little systematic information has been collected on the diets of Australian rodents in arid and semiarid regions. The information that is available is restricted generally to short periods of sampling and small sample sizes. Here we review the diets of 15 extant and one extinct species of Australian desert rodents, and provide new results of dietary analyses for (1) Leggadina forresti, Pseudomys desertorand Rattus villosissimus from the Simpson Desert, south-western Queensland, (2) P. albocinereus and P. bolami from the western goldfields of Western Australia, and (3) Notomys alexis, P. desertor and P. hermannsburgensis from the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory. Overwhelmingly, omnivory is the predominant dietary strategy, with most species (11) taking substantial amounts of invertebrate, seed and green plant material. Of the other five species, four can be considered herbivores and one a granivore. Of the four herbivores, however, one is extinct (Leporillus apicalis), one is restricted to an offshore island (Lep. conditor), while another (P. fieldi) is classified as a herbivore from a diet sample of four individuals only. Similarly, P. occidentalis is classified as a granivore on the basis of dietary sampling of two individuals alone. These findings indicate that omnivory, over and above any other dietary strategy including granivory, is predominant among rodents inhabiting Australian deserts.