Academic literature on the topic 'Rainforest management Queensland'

In this, the fourth issue, we have the usual mix of reviews, essays and original research papers. Several articles address the complex issue of management for sustainability; what does this mean and how, for example, can we make use of forests without adversely affecting their biological processes and diversity? Another thought-provoking review considers the potential impacts of climate change and implications for conservation policy and planning. The research papers include one on rainforest expansion and another on the use of rainforest fragments by fauna; each of these is relevant to the management of tropical rainforests in north Queensland.

Changes in fire regime have been identified as the cause of the loss of nearly 50% of wet sclerophyll forest in north Queensland in the last 50 years. In the absence of fire, rainforest invades and eventually eliminates the specialized wet sclerophyll forest biota. Bird populations and foraging behaviour were monitored in areas selected to encompass both recent and advanced rainforest invasion. Foraging guilds are discussed in relation to increasing rainforest biomass. Some species, such as the Pale Yellow Robin Tregallasia capito nana were advantaged by the expansion of rainforest. Other species, such as the Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis showed no significant response, whereas the endemic subspecies of the Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis magnirostris was clearly disadvantaged. The latter species is of particular concern because in north-east Queensland it is dependent upon wet areas adjacent to rainforest and requires open ground in which to forage. Over the longer term the White-naped Melithreptus lunatus and White-cheeked Phylidonyris nigra Honeyeaters are also threatened by habitat loss. These honeyeaters favour the wetter areas adjacent to the rainforest which are gradually being lost to the invasive process. To maximize biological diversity in the wet tropics of north Queensland, it is necessary to maintain the full spectrum of natural habitats. Fire management is therefore required to maintain the wet sclerophyll forest and its dependent fauna.

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are believed to have a severe negative impact on the ecological values of tropical rainforests in north Queensland, Australia. Most perceptions of the environmental impacts of feral pigs focus on their disturbance of the soil or surface material (diggings). Spatial and temporal patterns of feral pig diggings were identified in this study: most diggings occurred in the early dry season and predominantly in moist soil (swamp and creek) microhabitats, with only minimal pig diggings found elsewhere through the general forest floor. The overall mean daily pig diggings were 0.09% of the rainforest floor. Most diggings occurred 3–4 months after the month of maximum rainfall. Most pig diggings were recorded in highland swamps, with over 80% of the swamp areas dug by pigs at some time during the 18-month study period. These results suggest that management of feral pig impacts should focus on protecting swamp and creek microhabitats in the rainforest, which are preferred by pigs for digging and which have a high environmental significance.

Predation on artificial avian ground-nests was assessed from March to December 1991 in rainforest and nearby modified habitats in tropical Queensland. Data from 610 experimental nests were used to determine relative predation intensity in five types of habitat or microhabitat. Nest predators were identified with live-traps, with baited grease-plates and by regular observations of 380 additional nests. Predation intensity was patchy but often heavy in forested habitats (rainforest interiors, secondary forest, rainforest-pasture edges, and a rainforest-secondary forest edge) and negligible in adjoining cattle pastures. Forest edges exhibited no obvious edge-interior gradients in predation intensity. Most predation occurred at night in rainforest (88%) and secondary forest (61%), and patterns of egg damage suggested that mammals were responsible for most (>71%) nest predation. A combined nest-predation and live-trapping experiment on six study plots revealed that the abundance of white-tailed rats (Uromys caudimaculatus) was a highly effective predictor of local predation intensity (F=30.15, r*2=0.85, P=0.004). One of Australia's largest rodents, the white-tailed rat may be a key opportunistic predator of some bird nests in north Queensland rainforest.

Vegetation maps were prepared from aerial photographs taken in 1943?45 and 1991?92 of three, widely separated areas of sclerophyll forest adjacent to the western edge of rainforest on granitic soils in north Queensland. Nine types of sclerophyll communities could be discerned from aerial photos and characterized by field measurement. Two types of Wet Sclerophyll Forest (WSFa and b) were separated on the species of tree composing the tallest stratum and these were subdivided according to whether the ground layer was dominated by grass or young rainforest. A related type showed large, residual Eucalyptus grandis emergent from mature rainforest. Closed canopy sclerophyll forest with no emergents (SF), sclerophyll woodland and Acaciaforest were also discerned. WSF was defined as having more than 30 per cent of the closed crown cover contributed by trees more than 35 m tall. During the 50-year study period rainforest invaded 70 per cent of WSFa (tallest stratum dominated by E. grandis), which principally occurs as a narrow strip along the rainforest margin, and 57 per cent of the adjacent WSFb (tallest stratum composed of mixed species). Grass would be quickly excluded from invaded areas and thereafter they would only burn under extreme atmospheric conditions. Because sclerophyll trees are unable to regenerate in shade and usually require fire to provide the appropriate conditions, a long-term transition to rainforest may ensue. The final stages of this transition were observed in areas that exhibited full-stature rainforest with large, relictual E. grandis emergents in 1943, but had disappeared by 1992. The initial cause of this vegetation transition is a fire-free period of sufficient length for rainforest tree seedlings to establish and suppress the grass layer. It is not known whether these vegetation changes represent a trend, possibly caused by a change a century ago from fire management by Aboriginal people to management for the cattle industry, or whether it is a temporary phase in the fire-induced, dynamic relationship between rainforest and sclerophyll vegetation. The current loss of WSF probably endangers the survival of a range of genetically endemic biota. Most groups are poorly known but the marsupial Yellowbellied Glider Petaurus australis reginae is totally dependent upon WSF and a number of vertebrates would probably go locally extinct if WSF is replaced by rainforest. WSF is the wettest part of the sclerophyll communities and probably acts as a refuge in times of unusual aridity. To maintain the WSF habitat, fire management is clearly indicated, but the intensity of fire required to reverse the advance of rainforest may be socially unacceptable to instigate or impossible to control if it occurs by accident.

We examined the movement patterns and habitat preferences of Mogurnda adspersa in Pattersons Creek, a small, low-order, rainforest creek in Gillies Range State Forest, Far North Queensland, Australia. First, we conducted a capture and recapture study to document population structure and individual movements. Our results show that movement is a prominent feature of population behaviour of M. adspersa, with male gudgeons moving significantly more between pools than females, irrespective of gudgeon size. Second, we quantitatively described habitat characteristics of rainforest pools using point sampling. This data was then combined with capture data to describe the habitat preference of M. adspersa. Our results show that the number of gudgeons was positively related to pool size and decreased with increasing pool velocity. We discuss the results in light of effective management options for the species habitat in general, and Far North Queensland in particular.

Feral pigs [Sus scrofa] are perceived to cause considerable damage in the rain forests of NE Queensland. The distribution, biology and effects of feral pigs in the region were reviewed and the likely efficacy of control options assessed. Topics covered include parasites and diseases of pigs, and the effects of introduction of exotic livestock diseases (in particular foot and mouth disease). The results are presented of a survey of feral pigs in the Cooktown-Townsville area, Queensland carried out during January-May and May-September 1988. Sightings of pigs, presence of tracks, dung, wallows and areas of rooting were used as signs of pig activity. Some 80% of the transects showed signs of pig activity during at least one of the study periods.

Changes to Aboriginal fire regimes since European occupation are thought to have affected the range and demographic structure of many vegetation communities. This study shows a contraction by 49% of the area of fire-prone open forest through rainforest invasion between 1945 and 1991-94 in the northern wet tropics of Queensland, Australia. Relative Growth Rates (RGR) for open forest areas varied from -0.112 to -0.005. Collaborative historical research with the Aboriginal traditional owners, the Kuku-Yalanji people, investigated possible linkages with alterations to their fire practices. A multiplicity of human impacts is associated with the measured vegetation change, including clearing for agriculture and mining, logging for timber and firewood, and the introduction of cattle and horses. Some rainforest expansion since 1945 represents a recovery following clearing from earlier mining operations. Contraction of open forest through rainforest invasion was most rapid (RGR = -0.124) where there was a continuation of Aboriginal fire management with cattle grazing. The contraction of open forest was nine times slower in an ungrazed area (RGR = -0.005) than in a nearby area grazed by horses (RGR = -0.045). Aboriginal fire regimes may act synergistically with cattle or horse grazing to accelerate the invasion of rainforest into open forest. Management prescriptions currently focus on active fire management to prevent further open forest contraction. However, fire management may have unexpected outcomes when rainforest-open forest dynamics are complicated by recent historical factors such as cattle grazing, logging, and tin mining, and possible synergies between these factors and fire regimes. Managers need to understand the histories of particular sites when formulating plans, and monitor the consequences of their actions to enable an adaptive approach.

Possibly the most successful urban birds, pigeons and doves in the Order Columbiformes are one of the most easily recognised groups. They are an ancient and very successful group with an almost worldwide distribution and are most strongly represented in tropical and subtropical regions, including Australia. In most species simple plumage patterns feature mainly grey and brown with black, white or dull reddish markings, but the highly colourful fruit-doves include some of the most beautiful of all birds. From dense rainforests of north Queensland, where brilliantly plumaged Superb Fruit-Doves Ptilinopus superbus are heard more easily than seen, to cold, windswept heathlands of Tasmania, where Brush Bronzewings Phaps elegans are locally common, most regions of Australia are frequented by one or more species. For more than a century after arrival of the First Fleet, interest in these birds focused on the eating qualities of larger species. In addition to contributing to declines of local populations in some parts of Australia, excessive hunting brought about the extinction of two species on Lord Howe Island and another species on Norfolk Island. In Pigeons and Doves in Australia, Joseph Forshaw and William Cooper have summarised our current knowledge of all species, including those occurring on Christmas, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, and with superb artwork have given readers a visual appreciation of the birds in their natural habitats. Historical accounts of extinct species are also included. Detailed information on management practices for all species is presented, ensuring that Pigeons and Doves in Australia will become the standard reference work on these birds for ornithologists and aviculturists. Winner of a 2015 Whitley Awards Certificate of Commendation for Illustrated Text.