Journal articles: 'Brigalow'

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Reichman, S. M., S. M. Bellairs, and D. R. Mulligan. "The effects of temperature and salinity on Acacia harpophylla (brigalow) (Mimosaceae) germination." Rangeland Journal 28, no. 2 (2006): 175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj06027.

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Acacia harpophylla F. Muell. (brigalow) used to naturally occur over a range of about 50 000 km2 in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Large scale clearing for agriculture has reduced the area to less than 20 000 km2 and it is estimated that 20–25% of vertebrate fauna living in brigalow communities will become locally extinct as a result of the current clearing induced loss of habitat. Some coal mining companies in central Queensland have become interested in providing habitat for the endangered bridle nail-tailed wallaby that lives in brigalow vegetation. However, there is little known about establishment techniques for brigalow on mine sites and other disturbed ground; an understanding of brigalow biology and ecology is required to assist in the conservation of this threatened vegetation community and for re-creation of bridled nail-tail wallaby habitat in the post mining landscape. Brigalow is an unusual species of Acacia because it is not hard-seeded and germinates readily without the need to break seed-coat imposed dormancy. Germination trials were undertaken to test the ability of brigalow seed to germinate with a range of temperatures and salinity levels similar to those experienced in coal mine spoil. Optimum germination was found to occur at temperatures from 15 to 38°C and no germination was recorded at 45°C. Brigalow was very tolerant of high salt levels and germinated at percentages greater than 50% up to the highest salinity tested, 30 dS/m. Germination of greater than 90% occurred up to an electrical conductivity of 20 dS/m. The results indicate brigalow seed can be sown in summer when rains are most likely to occur, however, shading of the seed with extra soil or mulch may ensure the ground surface does not become too hot for germination. Because of its ability to germinate at high salinity levels, brigalow may be suitable for use in saline mine wastes which are common on sites to be rehabilitated after mining.

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Coates, DB, L. Mannetje, and GW Seifert. "Reproductive performance and calf growth to weaning of Hereford and Belmont Red cattle in subtropical, subcoastal Queensland." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 27, no. 1 (1987): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9870001.

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The reproductive performances of herds of Belmont Red (BR) and Hereford (H) breeding females were compared at Narayen Research Station in south-eastern Queensland on cleared and sown brigalow land (Brigalow) and on native speargrass pastures with trees killed (Speargrass). The conception rates (BR, 83%; H, 83%) and calving rates (BR, 80%; H, 78%) were similar, but BR calves grew faster (P<0.001) than H calves especially on Speargrass where BR had a 13% advantage. The mean calving date of H was 13 days earlier than BR (18 days on Speargrass; 7 days on Brigalow). Values for the weight of calfweaned per cow mated for BR and H respectively were 195 kg and 181 kg on Brigalow, and 155 kg and 140 kg on Speargrass. Breed x pasture-type interactions were significant for cow weight, time of calving and calf weight-for-age at weaning. There were significant effects of pasture type on animal performance. Compared with Speargrass, cows on Brigalow were heavier, they calved earlier and their calves grew faster. Production, measured as weight of calf weaned, was 3 times higher on Brigalow than on Speargrass per unit area and 30% higher per cow mated.

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Thornton, C. M., and B. Yu. "The Brigalow Catchment Study: IV. Clearing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) for cropping or grazing increases peak runoff rate." Soil Research 54, no. 6 (2016): 749. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr15121.

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In Queensland, Australia, large tracts of native vegetation have been cleared for agriculture, resulting in substantial hydrological changes in the landscape. Australia’s longest-running paired catchment study, the Brigalow Catchment Study (BCS), was established in 1965 to monitor hydrological changes associated with land development, particularly that of the 1960s Land Development Fitzroy Basin Scheme. The BCS has unequivocally shown that developing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) for cropping or for grazing doubles runoff volume. However, to date little research had been undertaken to quantify the changes in peak runoff rate when brigalow is cleared for cropping or grazing. The present study compared peak runoff rates from three brigalow catchments, two of which were subsequently cleared for cropping and pasture. Prior to land development, average peak runoff rates from the three brigalow scrub catchments were 3.2, 5 and 2mmh–1 for catchments 1 to 3 respectively. After development, these rates increased to 6.6mmh–1 from the brigalow scrub control catchment (catchment 1), 8.3mmh–1 from the cropping catchment (catchment 2) and 5.6mmh–1 from the pasture catchment (catchment 3). Peak runoff rate increased significantly from both the cropping and pasture catchments after adjusting for the underlying variation in peak runoff rate due to climatic variation between the pre- and post-development periods. The average peak runoff rate increased by 5.4mmh–1 (96%) for the cropping catchment and by 2.6mmh–1 (47%) for the pasture catchment. Increases in peak runoff rate were most prevalent in smaller events with an average recurrence interval of less than 2 years under cropping and 4 years under pasture.

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Fensham, Roderick J., Jason Halford, Chris Hansen, Boris Laffineur, and Billie Williams. "Threatened species in a threatened ecosystem: the conservation status of four Solanum species in the face of ongoing habitat loss." Oryx 53, no. 3 (May 20, 2019): 439–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605318001266.

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AbstractPlant biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and invasion by exotic species, but the effects of these disturbances on individual plant species are rarely quantified. Since the 1950s, brigalow Acacia harpophylla forests in Australia have been extensively cleared and converted to pastures dominated by exotic grasses. Here we assess the habitat requirements, population numbers and threats for four poorly known bush tomato species, Solanum adenophorum, Solanum dissectum, Solanum elachophyllum and Solanum johnsonianum. Herbarium records and surveys demonstrated a strong association of all four species with brigalow habitat, although S. elachophyllum also occurred in other habitat. We derived historical and current population estimates from plant densities at current sites and the area of mapped brigalow habitat. Density estimates are imprecise because the survey data vary greatly, but the assessment indicates the populations of all four species have declined > 93%. Solanum dissectum and S. johnsonianum did not persist in cleared brigalow habitat, whereas S. adenophorum and S. elachophyllum had some capacity to persist in clearings. None of the species occur where the exotic grass cover is > 40%. Between 27% and 57% of the records of the four species are in brigalow remnants with a high edge-to-area ratio or open canopy (< 50% cover), making them highly vulnerable to invasive grasses. We recommend the categorization of S. dissectum and S. johnsonianum as Critically Endangered, S. adenophorum as Vulnerable and S. elachophyllum as Near Threatened.

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BROWN, DANNY, JESSICA WORTHINGTON WILMER, and STEWART MACDONALD. "A revision of Strophurus taenicauda (Squamata; Diplodactylidae) with the description of two new subspecies from central Queensland and a southerly range extension." Zootaxa 3243, no. 1 (March 22, 2012): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3243.1.1.

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The Golden-tailed Gecko, Strophurus taenicauda (De Vis 1886), is redescribed and two new subspecies from centralQueensland are diagnosed on the basis of scalation, colour pattern and genetic differences. The distribution of S. t. taeni-cauda comprises the south-eastern part of the Queensland Brigalow Belt bioregion. Strophurus taenicauda albiocularisssp. nov. occupies the northern half of the range whilst S. taenicauda triaureus ssp. nov. has a limited range in the centraleastern part of the Brigalow Belt. The two new subspecies are predominantly inhabitants of Eucalyptus woodlands andare not as restricted to Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodlands as S. t. taenicauda. A single record of the nominate subspecies from northern New South Wales is also reported, extending the range of the species by >250km.

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Thornton, C. M., B. A. Cowie, D. M. Freebairn, and C. L. Playford. "The Brigalow Catchment Study: II. Clearing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) for cropping or pasture increases runoff." Soil Research 45, no. 7 (2007): 496. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr07064.

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The Brigalow Catchment Study (BCS) was established to determine the impact on hydrology when brigalow land is cleared for cropping and grazing. The paired catchment study was commenced in 1965 using catchments of approximately 15 ha, with natural vegetation dominated by brigalow scrub (Acacia harpophylla). Three contiguous catchments were selected near Theodore in central Queensland to represent the extensive brigalow bioregion of central and southern Queensland and northern New South Wales (~40 Mha). The hydrology of the 3 catchments was characterised during a 17-year calibration period (1965–81). The catchments were considered hydrologically similar, with sufficient data available for an empirical comparison between catchments. In 1982, two of the catchments were cleared, with one developed for cropping and the other sown to improved pasture. The third catchment was used as an uncleared control. Hydrologic characteristics were then compared for the following 21 years. In their virgin state, the catchments behaved similarly, with average annual runoff being 5% of annual rainfall. Once cleared, total runoff from the cropping catchment increased to 11% of annual rainfall and total runoff from the pasture catchment increased to 9% of annual rainfall; however, timing of the individual runoff events varied between land uses. In order to confirm that changes in hydrology were a function of land use and not just seasonal variability or sampling error, several analytic techniques were used: a simple comparison of runoff totals, comparison of events, comparison of probability of exceedance for daily runoff, and comparison of predicted and observed runoff using a water balance modelling approach.

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Allen, D. E., M. J. Pringle, D. W. Butler, B. K. Henry, T. F. A. Bishop, S. G. Bray, T. G. Orton, and R. C. Dalal. "Effects of land-use change and management on soil carbon and nitrogen in the Brigalow Belt, Australia: I. Overview and inventory." Rangeland Journal 38, no. 5 (2016): 443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj16009.

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Soil and land-management interactions in Australian native-forest regrowth remain a major source of uncertainty in the context of the global carbon economy. We sampled soil total organic C (TOC) and soil total N (TN) stocks at 45 sites within the Brigalow ecological community of the Brigalow Belt bioregion, Queensland, Australia. The sites were matched as triplets representing three land uses, specifically: uncleared native brigalow forest (‘Remnant’); grassland pasture (‘Pasture’), derived by clearing native vegetation and maintained as pasture for a minimum of 10 years, and; regrowing native brigalow forest (‘Regrowth’, stand ages ranging from 10 to 58 years) that had developed spontaneously after past vegetation clearing for pasture establishment. Soil TOC fractions and natural abundance of soil C and N isotopes were examined to obtain insight into C and N dynamics. An updated above- and belowground carbon budget for the bioregions was generated. Average soil TOC stocks at 0–0.3-m depth ranged from 19 to 79 Mg ha–1 and soil TN stocks from 1.8 to 7.1 Mg ha–1 (2.5th and 97.5th percentiles, respectively). A trend in stocks was apparent with land use: Remnant > Regrowth ≅ Pasture sites. Soil δ13C ranged from –14 to –27‰, and soil δ15N ranged from 4‰ to 17‰, in general reflecting the difference between Pasture (C4-dominated) land use and N2-fixing (C3-dominated) Remnant and Regrowth. Mid-infrared spectroscopy predicted C fractions as a percentage of soil TOC stock, which ranged from 5% to 60% (particulate), 20–80% (humus) and 9–30% (resistant/inert). The geo-referenced soil and management information we collected is important for the calibration of C models, for the estimation of national C accounts, and to inform policy developments in relation to land-resource management undertaken within the Brigalow Belt bioregions of Australia.

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House, Alan, Chris Burwell, and Stuart Brown. "Ant assemblages in Brigalow regrowth vegetation." Ecological Management and Restoration 7, no. 2 (August 2006): 136–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2006.280_2.x.

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Cowie, B. A., C. M. Thornton, and B. J. Radford. "The Brigalow Catchment Study: I. Overview of a 40-year study of the effects of land clearing in the brigalow bioregion of Australia." Soil Research 45, no. 7 (2007): 479. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr07063.

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This paper describes a long-term, paired-catchment study, its broad findings, and considerations for future resource management of brigalow lands in north-eastern Australia. The Brigalow Catchment Study (BCS) commenced in 1965 with a pre-clearing calibration phase of 17 years to define the hydrology of 3 adjoining catchments (12–17 ha). After 2 catchments were cleared in 1982, 3 land uses (brigalow forest Acacia harpophylla, cropping, and grazed pasture) were monitored for water balance, resource condition and productivity, providing information for scientific understanding and resource management of the major land uses of the brigalow bioregion. In addition, this paper draws upon several project reviews to highlight the value of the BCS as an ‘outdoor laboratory’, its data resource, and to reflect on the study’s scientific rigor to support present and future value. An assessment of the BCS against national and international attributes of best practice for long-term studies showed the study to rate highly in aspects of design, implementation, monitoring, and data management, and moderately in formal publication, strategic management, and networking. The literature shows that Brigalow Catchment Study is the longest paired-catchment study in Australia, and continues to sample the interactions between climate, soils, water, land use, and management. Finally, this paper provides the context for component-specific papers on changes in hydrology, productivity, and salt balance. Results from the study to date include: a doubling of runoff after clearing, a reduction in wheat yield by more than 60% over 20 years, a halving of pasture availability 3 years after clearing, a decline in cattle liveweight gain of 4 kg/ha.year over an 8-year period with a constant stocking rate, and the leaching of 60% of the root-zone (0–1.5 m) chloride after clearing for cropping. Unanticipated applications of the data from the study include: (i) a crucial set of soil samples for calibration of the RothC soil carbon model used to estimate Australia’s soil carbon emissions; and (ii) estimates of deep drainage as a basis for salinity risk assessment in the region.

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VANDERDUYS, ERIC. "A new species of gecko (Squamata: Diplodactylidae: Strophurus) from central Queensland, Australia." Zootaxa 4347, no. 2 (November 13, 2017): 316. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4347.2.7.

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A new species of diplodactylid gecko in the genus Strophurus Fitzinger, from central Queensland, Australia, is described herein as Strophurus trux sp. nov. It is similar to the recently described Strophurus congoo Vanderduys from north Queensland and apparently shares a habitat preference for Triodia hummock open woodlands. It is notably different from the latter in possessing a vivid yellow to golden eye. It is only known from one small area of the Brigalow Belt Bioregion, although it is expected to occur more widely than the one area in which it has been found. It is likely that it is endemic to the Brigalow Belt Bioregion.

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Webb, Jennifer. "Brigalow bondage: Rural women and the arts." Social Semiotics 7, no. 1 (April 1997): 75–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10350339709360370.

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Radford, B. J., C. M. Thornton, B. A. Cowie, and M. L. Stephens. "The Brigalow Catchment Study: III. Productivity changes on brigalow land cleared for long-term cropping and for grazing." Soil Research 45, no. 7 (2007): 512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr07062.

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Productivity of grain crops and grazed pastures inevitably declines without soil nutrient replacement and may eventually make these enterprises unprofitable. We monitored these declines in north-eastern Australia during 23 years after clearing 2 of 3 adjacent brigalow catchments, in order to define the productivity levels of developed brigalow land over time. One catchment (11.7 ha) was used for grain production and another (12.7 ha) for beef production from a sown buffel grass pasture. There was no upward or downward trend in annual rainfall amounts throughout the study period. In the cropped catchment, grain yield from 14 winter crops without added nutrients declined significantly in 20 years from 2.9 to 1.1 t/ha.year on the upper-slope clay soil (92 kg/ha.year) and from 2.4 to 0.6 t/ha.year on the Sodosol (88 kg/ha.year). Crop production per year declined by 20% between 2 successive 10-year periods. Wheat grain protein content also declined with time, falling below the critical value for adequate soil N supply (11.5%) 12 years after clearing on the Sodosol and 16 years after clearing on the clay soil. Such declines in grain quantity and quality without applied fertiliser reduce profitability. The initial pasture dry matter on offer of 8 t/ha had halved 3 years after clearing, and a decline in cattle liveweight gain of 4 kg/ha.year was observed over an 8-year period with constant stocking of 0.59 head/ha. Due to fluctuating stocking rate levels of 0.3–0.7 head/ha over the trial period, liveweight productivity trends are attributed to the multiple effects of stocking rate changes and fertility decline. The amount of nitrogen exported from the cleared catchments was 36.1 kg/ha.year in grain but only 1.6 kg/ha.year in cattle (as liveweight gain). Total soil N at 0–0.3 m declined by 84 kg/ha.year under cropping but there was no significant decline under grazing. The soil nutrients removed during grain and beef production need to be replaced in order to avert productivity decline post-clearing.

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Grace, PR, IC MacRae, and RJK Myers. "Factors influencing the availability of mineral nitrogen in clay soils of the brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) region of Central Queensland." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 43, no. 5 (1992): 1197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar9921197.

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Microbiological and chemical assays were performed on clay soils from woodland (Acacia harpophylla-Casuarina cristata), grassland (Panicurn maximum var trichoglume-Chloris gayana) and cropland (Vigna mungo) in the brigalow region of Central Queensland. Over a 15 month period, the microbial biomass C in the top 3.5 cm of native brigalow woodland soil was on average 3630 8g C g-l, 50% more than an associated perennial pasture and over 400% more than an annually cropped soil. Microbial biomass N (575 8g N g-l) in woodland soil was on average 41% and 270% higher than in pasture and cropped soils respectively and highly correlated with seasonal soil moisture content. Viable counts of bacteria were consistently lower (average 69.2%) in the 0-3.5 cm and 3.5-7.5 cm strata of woodland soil compared with pasture and annual crop sites. Soil NO-3- N levels increased two fold in the upper 3.5 cm of the woodland site during low rainfall periods. This increase may be attributed to a more efficient distribution of mineral N mediated by the increased presence of a fungal population in this community. Leaching may also play a significant role in the distribution of plant available N in the brigalow region as suggested by the inverse relationship N = 54.11-0.67 R (P<0.01), where N is soil NO-3-N (8g N g-l) and R is rainfall in the preceding 3 month period (mm month-1).

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Bortolussi, G., J. G. McIvor, J. J. Hodgkinson, S. G. Coffey, and C. R. Holmes. "The northern Australian beef industry, a snapshot. 3. Annual liveweight gains from pasture based systems." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, no. 9 (2005): 1093. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea03098.

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The herd performance of 375 northern Australian beef producers during the 1991 and 1992 to 1995 and 1996 financial years was surveyed in 1996 and 1997. Estimates were made of annual liveweight gain from production systems based on native and improved pastures together with hormonal growth promotant use and supplementation practices. The most commonly used pasture communities for growing and finishing cattle were black speargrass and brigalow communities in Central Coastal Queensland and the Central Highlands; black speargrass in Northern Queensland; Mitchell grass and gidgee in Central Western and North-west Queensland; Mitchell grass in the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia regions and brigalow–softwood scrub in the Maranoa South West. There was considerable variation and overlap in the production ranges of the various pasture communities. The estimates and ranges of annual liveweight gains were comparable with measurements from scientific and commercial studies for 3 major pasture communities (black speargrass, brigalow and Mitchell grass). On this basis, the annual liveweight gain data are considered to represent sound estimates of performance from the pasture communities and husbandry systems in use in northern Australia. Mean annual gains for pasture communities in the more northern regions tended to be <150 kg/year. Half the survey group used hormonal growth promotants but use varied between regions with lowest levels in Central Coastal Queensland (30%) and highest usage in the Central Highlands (59%). Steers and bullocks were the most commonly implanted class of cattle. Supplementation periods tended to be longest in more northern regions. Nitrogen was a component of >90% of the supplements offered. The percentage of producers supplementing various classes of cattle varied widely (0–77%). Steers were often the least supplemented class and weaners were the most common. The highest percentage of producers (>68%) supplementing weaners was found in North-west and Northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. Significant correlations explaining 3–23% of the variance were found between annual liveweight gain and latitude and/or longitude for native black speargrass and Mitchell grass pasture communities and improved brigalow pastures. Generally, annual liveweight gain increased with increasing latitude and longitude. The results are discussed in relation to herd management practices and sources of variation in the northern Australian production environment.

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Midgley, David J., Jennifer A. Saleeba, Michael I. Stewart, and Peter A. McGee. "Novel soil lineages ofArchaeaare present in semi-arid soils of eastern Australia." Canadian Journal of Microbiology 53, no. 1 (January 1, 2007): 129–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/w06-104.

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The diversity of Archaea was studied in vertisolic and loam soils of a semi-arid region in Australia. Sampling was undertaken at an agricultural site, two grassland environments, and a brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland. Archaeal community structure was profiled using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) combined with rDNA sequencing of an example of each restriction fragment length polymorphism type. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that both crenarchaeotal and euryarchaeotal Archaea were present at oxic depths in the soil at all field sites. Along with previously described soil archaeal lineages, novel soil lineages and the deeply divergent Pendant-33 group of Euryarchaeota were also detected. A novel statistical method for comparing ARDRA derived data was demonstrated and implemented using the archaeal communities from the four field sites. Archaeal diversity, as measured by this method, was significantly higher in the agricultural site than at either of the grassland sites or the brigalow woodland.Key words: archaeal communities, cotton, Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, soil.

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Tiwari, J., C. M. Thornton, and B. Yu. "The Brigalow Catchment Study: VI.† Evaluation of the RUSLE and MUSLE models to assess the impact of clearing brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) on sediment yield." Soil Research 59, no. 8 (2021): 778. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr21030.

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Land clearing for cropping and grazing has increased runoff and sediment yield in Central Queensland. The Brigalow Catchment Study (BCS), was established to determine the effect of land clearing on water balance, soils, and productivity, and consisted of three catchments: brigalow forest, cropping, and grazing. Factors responsible for changes in and models for predicting sediment yield have not been assessed. Objectives of this study are to identify climatic, hydrological, and ground cover factors responsible for the increased sediment yield and to assess suitable models for sediment yield prediction. Runoff and sediment yield data from 1988 to 2018 were used to assess the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Modified USLE (MUSLE) to predict the sediment yield in brigalow catchments. Common events among the three catchments and events for all catchment pairs were assessed. The sediment yield was approximately 44% higher for cropping and 4% higher for grazing than that from the forested catchment. The runoff amount (Q) and peak runoff rate (Qp) were major variables that could explain most of the increased sediment yield over time. A comparison for each catchment pair showed that sediment yield was 801kgha−1 or 37% higher for cropping and 28kgha−1 or 2% higher for grazing than for the forested catchment. Regression analysis for three different treatments (seven common events) and for different storm events (15 for forested, 40 for cropping, and 20 for grazing) showed that Q and Qpwere best correlated with sediment yield in comparison with variations in ground cover. The high coefficient of determination (R2>0.60) provided support for using the MUSLE model, based on both Q and Qp, instead of the RUSLE, and Q and Qp were the most important factors for improving sediment yield predictions from BCS catchments.

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Fensham, R. J., J. C. McCosker, and M. J. Cox. "Estimating Clearance of Acacia-dominated Ecosystems in Central Queensland Using Land-system Mapping Data." Australian Journal of Botany 46, no. 2 (1998): 305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt96129.

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Preferential clearance of productive Acacia-dominated ecosystems was determined using digital land-system mapping and a 1994–1995 native vegetation remnant coverage from central Queensland. The previously mapped land systems are composed of complexes of land units, covering a range of productive potentials that are not individually mapped but defined according to their proportions within the land systems. Some land units were grouped into 11 ‘Acacia ecosystems’ composed of unique combinations of geology and vegetation dominated by brigalow (Acacia harpophylla F.Muell. ex Benth.), gidgee (A. cambagei R.T.Baker) or blackwood (A. argyrodendron Domin). Calculation of the remnant area of these Acacia ecosystems, assuming equal proportions of vegetation clearance of the land unit components within the land-system complexes (equal proportion calculation), was compared with a more accurate calculation based on interpretation of aerial photography (aerial-photograph calculation) data. The aerial photograph calculation of remnant area was 44% of the equal proportion calculation for brigalow on Tertiary clay and the ratio between these calculations was greater than 100% for only one Acacia ecosystem of relatively low production potential. The proportion of the remnant Acacia ecosystems relative to less productive ecosystems on tenures assigned to production (leasehold and freehold) was consistently lower than on other tenures. The use of mapping consisting of composite ecosystems with various production potentials for area-based assessment of vegetation clearance will overestimate the remnant areas of the relatively productive types unless a procedure such as that outlined here is used to correct for preferential clearance. This study provides near-complete and accurate data on the 1994–1995 status of Acacia ecosystems in central Queensland. Relative to their original area, values ranged from 6.8% for brigalow on Tertiary clay to 37.6% for gidgee–blackwood on alluvium.

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Bradley, Melanie. "Goethe's “Delicate Empiricism”: Assessing its Value for Australian Ecologists." Australian Journal of Environmental Education 27, no. 1 (2011): 81–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0814062600000094.

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AbstractJohann Wolfgang von Goethe, recognised as a seminal German polymath, developed a unique approach for investigating nature, termed “delicate empiricism”. Goethe's approach uses empathy, imagination and intuition to promote a participatory engagement with the world. It goes beyond the dualistic-rationalism that defines “conventional” ecological research and can lead to novel insights. “Delicate empiricism” was applied in an ecologically-degraded agricultural landscape in the Brigalow Belt, Queensland, Australia, and its potential for increasing landscape understanding and providing a basis for land-use design was assessed. It was found that Goethe's approach led to holistic, qualitative landscape awareness, not ordinarily accessible via “conventional science”. Application of “delicate empiricism” also gave rise to a land-use design that refected the Australian-ness of the Brigalow Belt landscape, particularly the potential for recovery of native biodiversity values through retention of regrowth vegetation. Overall, the study suggested that there is merit in educating Australian ecologists about “delicate empiricism” to encourage more creative and sensitive landscape management, that is in sync with the environment.

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Bartrim, Graeme, Laura Hahn, Benita Blunden, Chris Ewing, Wendy Simpson, Rob Coulson, Tara D'Arcy-Evans, and Jaiben Baker. "Lessons learned from developing offsets in the Brigalow Belt of Queensland." APPEA Journal 55, no. 2 (2015): 457. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/aj14092.

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Origin Energy—on behalf of the Australia Pacific LNG Project, the upstream tenures for which occupy some 570,000 ha—has established an offsets project in the Brigalow Belt of Queensland. This belt of Acacia woodland runs between the tropical rainforest of the coast and the semi-arid interior of Queensland, and is one of 15 bio-regions in Queensland. Its reduction to less than 8% of its distribution makes it a significant part of Australia's natural environment. The offsets project has the aim of re-establishing areas of Brigalow and associated vegetation communities and fauna habitats for impacts on matters of federal or state significance. This should result in a long-term reduction in environmental impacts. Given the long-term decline in Queensland's biodiversity, such work is vital and its associated challenges—such as gaining long-term access to and protection of appropriate land, comparatively new and evolving regulatory requirements and, at times, working on the edge of scientific knowledge—requires persistence and innovation. This extended abstract presents valuable lessons learned to help inform future offsetting projects.

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Robertson, F. A., R. J. K. Myers, and P. G. Saffigna. "Nitrogen cycling in brigalow clay soils under pasture and cropping." Soil Research 35, no. 6 (1997): 1323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/s97026.

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Clay soils previously under native brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest are highly productive under annual cropping in central and southern Queensland. Grass pastures sown on these soils are initially productive, but deteriorate after several years because of N-stress (rundown). The aim of this work was to compare the patterns of N cycling in these pasture and cropping systems, in order to understand the rundown of the pastures. A small pulse of 15N-labelled ammonium sulfate was applied in the field to sites cropped with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and under green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume) pasture, and its movement through the soil and plant pools was followed over 2 growing seasons. There were large differences in the cycling of 15N in the cropping and pasture systems. Under sorghum, 60% of the applied 15N was immobilised by microorganisms after 4 days, after which it was re-mineralised. Plant uptake and stabilisation in soil organic matter and clay were relatively slow. The first sorghum crop assimilated 14% of the applied 15N. During the second season, most of the 15N was stabilised in soil organic matter and clay (maximum 42%). A significant proportion of the 15N remained in the soil inorganic pool over the 2 seasons. Under green panic, 82% of the 15N left the soil inorganic pool within 4 days and entered the microbial biomass, soil organic matter, and the plant. Uptake and re-release of 15N were most rapid in the microbial biomass (maximum uptake 34% of applied after 4 days). Microbial immobilisation and re-mineralisation were, however, slower under green panic than under sorghum. The pasture plant accumulated 32% of the applied 15N, two-thirds of which was re-released in the second season. Stabilised N represented up to 62% of the applied 15N, and was consistently greater under green panic than under sorghum. After 2 seasons, 15N was released from the stabilised N pool in both systems, at approximately the same rate as it had been stabilised. At the end of the experiment, 40% of the applied 15N was unaccounted for in the pasture system, and 66% in the crop system. The reduced N availability in the pasture system was attributed to immobilisation of N in soil organic matter and clay, plant material, and, to a lesser extent, soil microbial biomass. This immobilisation resulted from the large accumulation of carbonaceous plant residues.

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Arnold, Sven, Yolana Kailichova, Jürgen Knauer, Alexander D. Ruthsatz, and Thomas Baumgartl. "Effects of soil water potential on germination of co-dominant Brigalow species: Implications for rehabilitation of water-limited ecosystems in the Brigalow Belt bioregion." Ecological Engineering 70 (September 2014): 35–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.04.015.

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Dwyer, John M. "Reproductive size thresholds and seedling survival in Acacia harpophylla (Mimosaceae)." Australian Journal of Botany 65, no. 5 (2017): 438. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt17051.

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Acacia harpophylla F.Muell. ex Benth. (brigalow) forests and woodlands formerly occupied at least 8.7 M ha of Queensland and New South Wales, but less than 10% persists in isolated fragments and linear strips within a matrix of exotic beef pasture and dryland cropping. Given the relatively rapid and widespread clearing of brigalow forests, recent research has focussed on restoration via naturally resprouting vegetation. However, our understanding of A. harpophylla sexual reproduction and seedling recruitment remains poor. This study, undertaken following a widespread masting event in late 2007, aimed to (1) quantify initial densities of A. harpophylla germinants; (2) estimate subsequent seedling survival during the first year; and (3) determine minimum size thresholds for sexual reproduction in A. harpophylla. Initial densities averaged >46 000 seedlings ha–1, but only 438 seedlings ha–1 (<1%) were estimated to remain after a year. Although mortality was high, seedling recruitment is probably still sufficient to replace senescing stems and augment population genetic diversity to some extent. A reproductive size threshold of 10 cm diameter was identified, providing useful information to predict when naturally resprouting stands will begin to participate in masting events.

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Poulton, P. L., N. I. Huth, and P. S. Carberry. "Use of simulation in assessing cropping system strategies for minimising salinity risk in brigalow landscapes." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, no. 6 (2005): 635. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea03250.

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Areas of brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) dominated landscapes in north-eastern Australia have declined drastically due to major clearing and agricultural expansion during the late 1940s and early 1960s. The inherently high salt content of the soils of this region present a potential downstream salinity hazard from groundwater recharge. Chronosequence analysis using paired chloride profiles from soil cores taken beneath brigalow remnants and adjacent pasture or cropping lands provide a tracer for quantifying historic recharge rates as a consequence of vegetation management and agricultural practice. Present day chloride levels are the direct result of past land management. In this paper we present the results of simulation studies used to benchmark historic management practice since clearing in terms of chloride leaching and drainage. These simulations estimated that 15.3 t/ha of chloride leached from the top 150 cm in 7 major drainage events (>15mm) over a 34-year period, and that these leaching events corresponded with peaks in rainfall cycles. Use of virtual experiments to investigate alternative cropping systems found significant increases in the frequency and magnitude of drainage events of no-tillage wheat compared with sorghum grown in a summer-rainfall region. Systems simulation can provide guidelines for designing cropping systems which best balance production with drainage objectives in dryland farming systems.

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SCANLAN, J. C. "Woody overstorey and herbaceous understorey biomass in Acacia harpophylla (brigalow) woodlands." Austral Ecology 16, no. 4 (December 1991): 521–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.1991.tb01081.x.

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Blakemore, R. J. "Agronomic potential of earthworms in brigalow soils of south-east Queensland." Soil Biology and Biochemistry 29, no. 3-4 (March 1997): 603–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0038-0717(96)00186-1.

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Kelly, GD. "Mapping current land use from Landsat data in southern inland Queensland." Rangeland Journal 9, no. 2 (1987): 68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj9870068.

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Land use/cover maps were generated using digi~al analysis of Landsat Multispectral Scanner data for a section of the brigalow belt in southern Queensland. As most agricultural establishments in the study area combine beef and/or sheep with grain production, a complex land uselcover pattern is present. Because of this diversity the most efficient computer analysis strategy was found to be a combination of digital masking techniques and unsupervised classification. Five land use categories were identified from the Landsat data with an overall mapping accuracy of 91%.

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Bradley, Melanie, Alan House, Michael Robertson, and Clyde Wild. "Vegetation succession and recovery of ecological values in the southern Queensland Brigalow Belt." Ecological Management & Restoration 11, no. 2 (July 21, 2010): 113–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2010.00528.x.

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Eastwood, Rod, Michael F. Braby, Daniel J. Schmidt, and Jane M. Hughes. "Taxonomy, ecology, genetics and conservation status of the pale imperial hairstreak (Jalmenus eubulus) (Lepidoptera:Lycaenidae): a threatened butterfly from the Brigalow Belt, Australia." Invertebrate Systematics 22, no. 4 (2008): 407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/is06028.

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The taxonomic status of Jalmenus eubulus Miskin stat. rev. is revised and considered to be specifically distinct from J. evagoras (Donovan) based on fundamental differences in morphology, ecology and genetics. Miskin’s holotype is fixed by monotypy and illustrated, with type locality Rockhampton, Queensland. Fixed differences in the mitochondrial genomes of J. eubulus and J. evagoras in which the mean pairwise divergence is only 0.85% indicate absence of matrilineal gene flow, whereas allozyme data show significant structure within and between populations of both species consistent with recent diversification. Underlying causes for the observed genetic patterns are investigated. The two species are parapatric, with a narrow range of overlap along the Great Escarpment in south-eastern Queensland. Jalmenus eubulus is restricted to vegetation communities comprising brigalow-dominated old-growth open-forests and woodlands in the Brigalow Belt (with larvae monophagous on Acacia harpophylla F. Muell. Ex Benth), whereas J. evagoras occurs in a range of disturbed eucalypt woodlands/open-forests predominantly in montane and coastal areas east of this bioregion (with larvae polyphagous on Acacia species other than A. harpophylla). The conservation status of J. eubulus is considered to be vulnerable nationally and critically endangered in New South Wales according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria. Nationally, the geographic range has an estimated area of occupancy of less than 2000 km2, is severely fragmented, and the extent or quality of its habitat, which is poorly conserved, continues to decline. It is recommended that the taxon be used as an indicator for identification of remnant old-growth forest for conservation planning, as well as a flagship for the conservation of invertebrate biodiversity associated with this threatened ecological community.

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DOWLING, A. J., A. A. WEBB, and J. C. SCANLAN. "Surface soil chemical and physical patterns in a brigalow–Dawson gum forest, central Queensland." Austral Ecology 11, no. 2 (June 1986): 155–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.1986.tb01386.x.

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Chandler, Timothy S., Yvonne M. Buckley, and John M. Dwyer. "Restoration potential of Brigalow regrowth: Insights from a cross-sectional study in southern Queensland." Ecological Management & Restoration 8, no. 3 (December 2007): 218–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2007.00370.x.

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Sinden, J. A. "Estimating the opportunity costs of biodiversity protection in the Brigalow Belt, New South Wales." Journal of Environmental Management 70, no. 4 (April 2004): 351–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2003.12.013.

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Villarreal-Rosas, Jaramar, Adrian L. Vogl, Laura J. Sonter, Hugh P. Possingham, and Jonathan R. Rhodes. "Trade-offs between efficiency, equality and equity in restoration for flood protection." Environmental Research Letters 17, no. 1 (December 21, 2021): 014001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac3797.

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Abstract Conservation decision-makers and practitioners increasingly strive for efficient and equitable outcomes for people and nature. However, environmental management programs commonly benefit some groups of people more than others, and very little is known about how efforts to promote equality (i.e. even distributions) and equity (i.e. proportional distributions) trade-off against efficiency (i.e. total net outcome per dollar spent). Based on a case study in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion, Australia, we quantified trade-offs between equality, equity, and efficiency in planning for flood protection. We considered optimal restoration strategies that allocate a fixed budget (a) evenly among beneficiary sectors (i.e. seeking equality among urban residents, rural communities, and the food sector), (b) evenly among local government areas (LGAs) within the Brigalow Belt (i.e. seeking spatial equality), and (c) preferentially to areas of highest socioeconomic disadvantage (i.e. seeking equity). We assessed equality using the Gini coefficient, and equity using an index of socioeconomic disadvantage. At an AUD10M budget, evenly distributing the budget among beneficiary sectors was 80% less efficient than ignoring beneficiary groups, and did not improve equality in the distribution of flood protection among beneficiary sectors. Evenly distributing the budget among LGAs ensured restoration in four areas that were otherwise ignored, with a modest reduction in efficiency (12%–25%). Directing flood protection to areas of highest socioeconomic disadvantage did not result in additional reductions in efficiency, and captured areas of high disadvantage for the rural and urban sectors that were missed otherwise. We show here that different ways of targeting equity and equality lead to quite different trade-offs with efficiency. Our approach can be used to guide transparent negotiations between beneficiaries and other stakeholders involved in a planning process.

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Tierney, TJ, TH Rudder, RJ Webber, BM Burns, PT Knights, and CJ Howitt. "Productivity of Hereford, highgrade Simmental and Belmont Red beef herds in central Queensland. 2. Liveweight of the breeding herd and progeny up to weaning." Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, no. 5 (1992): 559. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ea9920559.

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Liveweights of Hereford, highgrade Simmental and Belmont Red calves and cows, between calving and weaning, were compared at Brigalow Research Station, Theodore, Queensland. These cattle grazed predominantly improved pastures growing on cleared brigalow country. Over the 4 calf crops, highgrade Simmental calves were heavier (P<0.05) at birth, 50, 126 and 205 (weaning) days of age (41, 83, 166, 220 kg, respectively) than Belmont Red (33, 72, 141, 191 kg) and Hereford (36, 71, 138, 184 kg) calves. Belmont Red calves were significantly heavier (P<0.05) than Hereford calves at 205 days but not at other ages, while Hereford calves were heavier (P<0.05) than Belmont Red at birth. The advantage to highgrade Simmental calves was greatest during above average seasonal conditions and under these conditions Hereford calves were similar to Belmont Red calves. Conversely, under adverse seasonal conditions Belmont Red calves were heavier than Hereford calves. The 4-year average May liveweight of highgrade Simmental cows (519 kg) was heavier (P<0.05) than Belmont Red (481 kg) which was heavier (P<0.05) than Hereford (465 kg). Highgrade Simrnental breeders were always heavier than Hereford and Belmont Red. While these differences varied according to year, highgrade Simmental were always at least 41 kg heavier than Hereford and 17 kg heavier than Belmont Red. Differences between Belmont Red and Hereford were small and not commercially significant during average to above average years, but favoured the Belmont Red by up to 30 kg following below average seasonal conditions. Production of weaner liveweight per breeder was 125, 132 and 155 kg for Hereford, highgrade Simmental and Belmont Red, respectively. These weights represented 27, 25 and 32 kg weaner production respectively per 100 kg breeder liveweight supported.

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Shapcott, Alison, Robert W. Lamont, Gabriel Conroy, Heather E. James, and Yoko Shimizu-Kimura. "A genetic, demographic and habitat evaluation of an endangered ephemeral species Xerothamnella herbacea from Australia’s Brigalow belt." Australian Journal of Botany 65, no. 1 (2017): 38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt16148.

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Little remains of the Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla F.Muell. ex Benth.) woodlands of Australia, primarily due to land clearing for grazing and agriculture. Many threatened species in this region are poorly studied, and the life history traits of some herbaceous species such as ephemeral shoot systems, mean that conservation assessments are difficult. Recent gas pipeline developments have led to an increased need to understand the ecology and genetics of such taxa, in order to advise offset and translocation activities. Xerothamnella herbacea R.Baker is an endangered ephemeral herbaceous species from the Brigalow Belt region, which dies back during prolonged dry conditions. The aim of this study was to map the extent of potentially suitable habitat of this species, including determination of population extent within existing protected area estate. The species population sizes, reproductive activity and evidence of clonal spread, as well as the levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding, across the species range were also assessed to provide guidance for potential translocation and offsetting programs. The genetic results were related to the species suitable habitat distribution to test whether historic or recent habitat fragmentation most explains genetic patterns in this species. Most of the populations of this species were found to be small with less than 100 plants. The species appears not to be limited by its reproductive output, suggesting other factors may limit its abundance. The species populations have moderate to low genetic diversity suggesting the species is genetically viable in the medium term but are inbred which may be partially due to vegetative spread. Geographic proximity does not predict genetic similarity of populations and diversity is not correlated with population size. The results indicate potential translocation or offsetting programs need to account for genetic relationships in their planning. Resprouting ability has potentially assisted the species to slow the pace of genetic diversity loss due to anthropogenic fragmentation.

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Arnold, Sven, Patrick Audet, David Doley, and Thomas Baumgartl. "Hydropedology and Ecohydrology of the Brigalow Belt, Australia: Opportunities for Ecosystem Rehabilitation in Semiarid Environments." Vadose Zone Journal 12, no. 4 (August 2, 2013): vzj2013.03.0052. http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/vzj2013.03.0052.

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Arnold, Sven, Craig Thornton, and Thomas Baumgartl. "Ecohydrological feedback as a land restoration tool in the semi-arid Brigalow Belt, QLD, Australia." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 163 (December 2012): 61–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.05.020.

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37

Bowen, Michiala E., Clive A. McAlpine, Alan P. N. House, and Geoffrey C. Smith. "Agricultural landscape modification increases the abundance of an important food resource: Mistletoes, birds and brigalow." Biological Conservation 142, no. 1 (January 2009): 122–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.10.005.

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38

Johnson, Robert W., William J. McDonald, Roderick J. Fensham, Clive A. McAlpine, and Michael J. Lawes. "Changes over 46 years in plant community structure in a cleared brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest." Austral Ecology 41, no. 6 (April 22, 2016): 644–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aec.12354.

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39

Le Brocque, Andrew F., and Peter M. Wagner. "Passive brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) woodland regeneration fails to recover floristic composition in an agricultural landscape." Austral Ecology 43, no. 4 (February 6, 2018): 409–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aec.12578.

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40

Wilson, B. A., V. J. Neldner, and A. Accad. "The extent and status of remnant vegetation in Queensland and its implications for statewide vegetation management and legislation." Rangeland Journal 24, no. 1 (2002): 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj02001.

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Vegetation classification, survey and mapping provide key information underpinning the implementation of statewide vegetation management legislation and associated policies in Queensland. This paper summarises: (i) the Queensland Herbarium survey and mapping methods and land classification system and its role in vegetation management legislation; and, (ii) the current extent and rate of vegetation clearing by bioregion, sub-region and Broad Vegetation Group; (iii) and the amount of vegetation protected under legislated statewide bioregional and regional ecosystem thresholds. Information also is provided on the pre-clearing and current extent by 18 Broad Vegetation Groups and the area of non-remnant woody vegetation by bioregion. The implications for vegetation management are discussed, along with a comparison of clearing statistics derived from other studies that use different classification and mapping methodologies. The majority of Queensland has relatively continuous native vegetation cover (82% remnant native vegetation remaining in 1999). The productive soils of the southern part of the Brigalow Belt, lowlands in South-east Queensland, New England Tableland and Central Queensland Coast have been, however, extensively cleared with 7–30% of remnant vegetation remaining. Between 1997 and 1999, the annual rate of remnant clearing in Queensland was 4460 km2 of which over 60% occurred in the Brigalow Belt bioregion. A greater proportion of this recent clearing occurred in Broad Vegetation Groups that are associated with less fertile and/or more arid parts of the State compared with pre 1997 clearing. For bioregions and regional ecosystems where past clearing has been extensive, a substantial proportion (50–91%) of the remaining vegetation is protected by bioregional and regional ecosystem thresholds prescribed under statewide legislation and associated policies. For other bioregions and regional ecosystems, other factors such as rainfall, soil and areas of high conservation value are likely to play a larger role in determining the amount of vegetation protected. However, the effectiveness of the Queensland legislation cannot be assessed until regional planning processes have been completed and all criteria addressed.

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CASSIS, GERASIMOS, and CELIA L. SYMONDS. "Megadrymus brigalow n.sp. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Rhyparochromidae: Drymini), a diminutive new species of seed bug from semi-evergreen vine thicket of the Queensland Brigalow Belt." Zootaxa 3774, no. 6 (March 14, 2014): 596. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3774.6.8.

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42

Star, M., P. Donaghy, and J. Rolfe. "Economically viable land regeneration in Central Queensland and improved water quality outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef." Rangeland Journal 33, no. 3 (2011): 267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj10005.

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The impact of excessive sediment loads entering into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon has led to increased awareness of land condition in grazing lands. Improved ground cover and land condition have been identified as two important factors in reducing sediment loads. This paper reports the economics of land regeneration using case studies for two different land types in the Fitzroy Basin. The results suggest that for sediment reduction to be achieved from land regeneration of more fertile land types (brigalow blackbutt) the most efficient method of allocating funds would be through extension and education. However for less productive country (narrow leaved ironbark woodlands) incentives will be required. The analysis also highlights the need for further scientific data to undertake similar financial assessments of land regeneration for other locations in Queensland.

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Butler, By Don W., and Russell J. Fairfax. "Buffel Grass and fire in a Gidgee and Brigalow woodland: A case study from central Queensland." Ecological Management and Restoration 4, no. 2 (August 2003): 120–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-8903.2003.00146.x.

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Collard, Stuart, Andrew Le Brocque, and Charlie Zammit. "Bird assemblages in fragmented agricultural landscapes: the role of small brigalow remnants and adjoining land uses." Biodiversity and Conservation 18, no. 6 (December 13, 2008): 1649–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9548-4.

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Paton, Colin J., Jeffrey F. Clewett, Alice R. Melland, Tom Newsome, Jochen Eberhard, John McL Bennett, and Craig P. Baillie. "Sustainability of beef production from brigalow lands after cultivation and mining. 1. Sown pasture growth and carrying capacity." Animal Production Science 61, no. 12 (2021): 1246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an20135.

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Context New Acland coal mine in south-eastern Queensland is seeking to rehabilitate mined land to pastures that are safe, stable and sustainable for beef production. Little is known of the productivity and sustainability of grazing previously mined land in the Darling Downs study region. Additionally, information is required to specify management guidelines for sustainable grazing of regional land types retired from cultivation. Aims Identify pasture growth characteristics, rainfall use efficiencies and long-term carrying capacities of subtropical sown pastures established on lands rehabilitated after open-cut coal mining in comparison to sown pastures established on un-mined but previously cultivated lands. Methods Pasture growth and quality (% nitrogen) were observed using the Swiftsynd methodology in ungrazed exclosures with three sites on rehabilitated lands of the Acland Grazing Trial over a 5-year period (2014–2018), and 13 sites on unmined lands over periods of 2–5 years providing data for modelling pasture growth. Key results Peak pasture yield (TSDM for autumn harvests) averaged for 2017 and 2018 was greater (P < 0.1) on rehabilitated sites than unmined Poplar Box land type sites (5957 and 2233 kg/ha respectively) but similar to Brigalow Uplands and Mountain Coolibah land type sites (3946 and 3413 kg/ha respectively). Pasture rundown was evident, with pasture N uptake decreasing over 5 years at some sites. Soil mineral N supply (potentially mineralisable N and mineral N) in spring was a useful indicator of N uptake over the following growing season. Simulations using the GRASP pasture growth model for the grazing trial period predicted rainfall use efficiencies of 12.0, 7.0, 9.1 and 4.8 kg/ha.mm rainfall for rehabilitated sites and unmined sites on Brigalow Uplands, Mountain Coolibah and Poplar Box land types respectively. Long-term carrying capacities based on estimates of long-term median pasture growth and 30% utilisation were 4.39, 3.58 and 5.92 ha/adult equivalent respectively for the unmined land types, and 2.45 ha/adult equivalent for the rehabilitated lands. Conclusions Rehabilitated land can be as productive as unmined but previously cultivated land. Implications Grazing management plans for sustainable management of mined and unmined lands can be developed using data from the present study. The plans will assist with the transition of rehabilitated lands to commercial agriculture.

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Leach, GJ, and HF Recher. "Use of roadside remnants of softwood scrub vegetation by birds in south-eastern Queensland." Wildlife Research 20, no. 2 (1993): 233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9930233.

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Birds in roadside and remnant patches of vegetation in the Marburg district of south-eastern Queensland were studied from November 1989 to February 1990. Effects of the length, width and height of the tree, shrub and herb layers, and their major components, on the bird community were determined. In all, 43 species of birds were observed in roadside vegetation; 16 of these were abundant and widely distributed. Silvereyes were most frequently observed (240 observations), followed by superb fairy-wrens (59), yellow thornbills (53), double-barred finches (26), red-backed fairy-wrens (25) and Lewin's honeyeaters (20). Apart from silvereyes (20-654 of observations), and superb fairy-wrens on two roads (12 and 13%) and yellow thornbills on one (15%), no other species constituted more than 10% of observations on any road. In all, 48 species of birds were observed in remnant patches of vegetation, 14 in all of them. Rates of detection in remnant patches ranged from 2.7 to 5.3 birds per 5 min compared with a mean maximum rate for roadside vegetation of 1.3. The richness of the roadside avifauna increased significantly (P=0.001) as the volume (length x width x height) of the tree component, especially the softwood species, increased. The diversity of tree species in softwood remnants and the greater canopy density appear to be important factors that enhance the bird community. The number of birds was also correlated (P=0.05) with the volume of brigalow, Acacia harpophylla. The correlation of the volume of woody weeddshrubs with the number of birds was low (P=0.05), and with the number of species not significant, even though woody weeds were a major component of roadside vegetation. Although supporting fewer birds than remnant patches of vegetation, roadside vegetation contributes importantly to conservation of the avifauna in the Marburg district. Some simple management practices, such as maintaining a minimum width of undisturbed vegetation and retaining vegetation diversity, would ensure or enhance the long-term conservation benefits. Opportunities to regenerate softwood remnants could also be taken, particularly to enhance the value, and possibly prolong the life, of the associated remnants of brigalow.

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Skjemstad, J. O., L. R. Spouncer, B. Cowie, and R. S. Swift. "Calibration of the Rothamsted organic carbon turnover model (RothC ver. 26.3), using measurable soil organic carbon pools." Soil Research 42, no. 1 (2004): 79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr03013.

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A fractionation scheme that provided the measurement of a labile pool (particulate organic carbon), a charcoal-carbon pool, and a humic pool by difference was tested as a means of initialising the Rothamsted organic carbon turnover model version 26.3. Equating these 3 fractions with the resistant plant material, inert organic matter, and humic pools of the model, respectively, gave good agreement between measured and modelled data for 2 long-term rotation trials in Australia using a soil depth of 30 cm. At one location, Brigalow Research Station in Queensland, there were 3 distinct soil types, two clays and a duplex soil, in a semi-arid, subtropical climate. At this site, continuous wheat with some sorghum was established after clearing land under brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) and continued for 18 years. The second location was near Tarlee, South Australia, and was established on existing agricultural land. One soil type (red brown earth) with 2 rotations (continuous wheat and wheat–fallow) were available over a period of 8 years.The modelled and measured data were in good agreement for both locations but the level of agreement was substantially improved when the resistant plant material decomposition rate was reduced from 0.3 to 0.15/year. No other modifications were required and the resulting values provided excellent agreement between the modelled and measured data not only for the total soil organic carbon but also for the individual pools. Using this fractionation scheme therefore provides an excellent means of initialising and testing the Rothamsted model, not only in Australia, but also in countries with similar soil types and climate.For the first time, the work reported here demonstrates a methodology linking measured soil carbon pools with a conceptual soil carbon turnover model. This approach has the advantage of allowing the model to be initialised at any point in the landscape without the necessity for historical data or for using the model itself to generate an initial equilibrium pool structure. The correct prediction of the changing total soil organic carbon levels, as well as the pool structure over time, acts as an internal verification and gives confidence that the model is performing as intended.

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Bray, S. G., and R. Golden. "Scenario analysis of alternative vegetation management options on the greenhouse gas budget of two grazing businesses in north-eastern Australia." Rangeland Journal 31, no. 1 (2009): 137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj08055.

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The emerging carbon economy will have a major impact on grazing businesses because of significant livestock methane and land-use change emissions. Livestock methane emissions alone account for ~11% of Australia’s reported greenhouse gas emissions. Grazing businesses need to develop an understanding of their greenhouse gas impact and be able to assess the impact of alternative management options. This paper attempts to generate a greenhouse gas budget for two scenarios using a spread sheet model. The first scenario was based on one land-type ‘20-year-old brigalow regrowth’ in the brigalow bioregion of southern-central Queensland. The 50 year analysis demonstrated the substantially different greenhouse gas outcomes and livestock carrying capacity for three alternative regrowth management options: retain regrowth (sequester 71.5 t carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare, CO2-e/ha), clear all regrowth (emit 42.8 t CO2-e/ha) and clear regrowth strips (emit 5.8 t CO2-e/ha). The second scenario was based on a ‘remnant eucalypt savanna-woodland’ land type in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion of north Queensland. The four alternative vegetation management options were: retain current woodland structure (emit 7.4 t CO2-e/ha), allow woodland to thicken increasing tree basal area (sequester 20.7 t CO2-e/ha), thin trees less than 10 cm diameter (emit 8.9 t CO2-e/ha), and thin trees <20 cm diameter (emit 12.4 t CO2-e/ha). Significant assumptions were required to complete the budgets due to gaps in current knowledge on the response of woody vegetation, soil carbon and non-CO2 soil emissions to management options and land-type at the property scale. The analyses indicate that there is scope for grazing businesses to choose alternative management options to influence their greenhouse gas budget. However, a key assumption is that accumulation of carbon or avoidance of emissions somewhere on a grazing business (e.g. in woody vegetation or soil) will be recognised as an offset for emissions elsewhere in the business (e.g. livestock methane). This issue will be a challenge for livestock industries and policy makers to work through in the coming years.

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Yates, DJ. "Short-Term Changes in Spectral Properties of Phyllodes of Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla F Muell Ex Benth) in Response to Wetting." Australian Journal of Botany 40, no. 1 (1992): 27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt9920027.

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The phyllodes of Acacia harpophylla (brigalow) possess a high reflectivity (0.20) in the visible wavelengths due to the presence of a dense covering of flattened trichomes. This results in a low value for phyllode absorptivity (0.79). While dry phyllodes appear grey-blue to the eye, wet phyllodes appear green and their reflection spectra are similar to those of 'typical' foliage elements. When wet, reflectivity in the visible wavelengths is reduced (0.09) and absorptivity is increased by 14%. Examination of the wetting and drying process, both visually and by measuring the time course of reflectivity, illustrates the importance of the wettable surfaces of both the epidermis and the individual trichomes. On drying, the reflectivity increase in the near infrared (NIR, 0.41-0.59) precedes that in the visible portion of the spectrum, although changes in the visible portion of the spectrum are larger than those in the NIR.

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Seabrook, Leonie, Clive McAlpine, and Rod Fensham. "Cattle, crops and clearing: Regional drivers of landscape change in the Brigalow Belt, Queensland, Australia, 1840–2004." Landscape and Urban Planning 78, no. 4 (November 2006): 373–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2005.11.007.

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Journal articles on the topic 'Brigalow'

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