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1
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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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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Ridley, Anna M., Tim Paramore, and Eloise Seymour. "Towards 'clean and green' farming systems using group learning to implement Environmental Management Systems." Australian Journal of Botany 51, no. 6 (2003): 637. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt02112.
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Australian farmers want to market products as 'clean and green'. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) can help farmers improve their performance and justify 'green claims'. We worked with 12 farm families in southern New South Wales to develop and implement EMS using group learning and report progress towards developing more environmentally acceptable farming systems through increased perenniality and active management of remnant vegetation. Early on in the 3-year project, farmers assessed their environmental performance through development of a self-assessment questionnaire. Some had strong skills in management of remnant vegetation, whereas others were stronger in agronomy. Environmental monitoring tools were developed and tested, enabling farmers to assess on-farm perenniality, leakage (excess water lost) from paddocks and quality of remnant vegetation. Farmers became ready for the formal parts of EMS (environmental review, policy and action plans) half way through the project. The group-learning approach resulted in practice change. Improving farmers' understanding of environmental principles was found to be more important than the EMS process in achieving practice change, but EMS was a useful tool that enabled integration of production and environmental management.
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Lockwood, Michael, and Sandra Walpole. "Economic Assessment of Remnant Native Vegetation Conservation." Australasian Journal of Environmental Management 7, no. 4 (January 2000): 237–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14486563.2000.10648505.
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Smith, Rhiannon, Julian Reid, Laura Scott-Morales, Stuart Green, and Nick Reid. "A baseline survey of birds in native vegetation on cotton farms in inland eastern Australia." Wildlife Research 46, no. 4 (2019): 304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr18038.
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Context The Australian cotton industry has committed to (1) understanding the biodiversity value of remnant native vegetation on cotton farms, (2) funding independent, evidence-based assessments of the industry’s sustainability and environmental performance, and (3) investing in research that reports against recognised sustainability indicators. Aims The present study reports the results of an industry-wide survey to benchmark bird diversity in native vegetation on cotton farms spanning a 1260-km north–south subcontinental gradient from Central Queensland (Qld) to Southern New South Wales (NSW). Methods Between September and November 2014, birds were sampled twice on separate days in 2-ha quadrats (20 min per census) in eight remnant vegetation types as well as in native revegetation at 197 sites on 60 cotton farms spread across the principal cotton-growing zones (Central Qld, Border Rivers, Macquarie and Southern NSW) in inland eastern Australia. Key results We recorded 185 bird species in remnant and planted native vegetation on cotton farms. Species richness of bird communities declined from north to south. Bird community composition was similar in the three southern zones, differing somewhat in the north. The most frequent species were large (>60 g), readily detected landbirds common in agricultural districts, but 26 of the 53 extant species of conservation concern in the study region were also recorded, including 16 species of declining woodland birds. Bird composition, abundance, richness and diversity differed among the nine native vegetation types, with maximal and minimal bird abundance and diversity metrics recorded in river red gum-dominated riparian vegetation and grassland respectively. Conclusions Each remnant vegetation community had a generally distinct bird assemblage, indicating that all vegetation types contribute to regional biodiversity in cotton-growing zones in inland eastern Australia. Appropriate on-farm management of all remnant and planted native vegetation will assist regional biodiversity conservation. Implications For the Australian cotton industry to meet its stated environmental responsibilities, growers should be encouraged to prioritise the conservation management of remnant, riparian and planted native vegetation on cotton farms and the monitoring of bird species as an indicator of regional biodiversity response.
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Hodgson, P., K. French, and R. E. Major. "Comparison of foraging behaviour of small, urban-sensitive insectivores in continuous woodland and woodland remnants in a suburban landscape." Wildlife Research 33, no. 7 (2006): 591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05017.
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Small patches of remnant vegetation are often considered to have low conservation value. In urban landscapes their value may potentially be higher than in other landscapes because they can be the only representatives of original native vegetation. Despite this potential, many small insectivorous birds that rely on native vegetation demonstrate sensitivities within urban landscapes through reduced numbers or total absence. One reason for this sensitivity may be that remnants are of suboptimal quality, which may be reflected in behavioural changes. Using five insectivorous species that were present (in low numbers) in remnants surrounded by high-density housing, foraging behaviour was examined in relation to vegetation. The proportion of time birds spent on different foraging substrates and plant species was compared with that of conspecifics in continuous vegetation. Canopy and shrub foragers showed minimal behavioural changes. Ground foragers in remnants tended to forage at lower heights than those in continuous vegetation; however, these changes did not appear to reflect a negative effect. These changes were partially explained by structural differences between vegetation in remnants and continuous sites. The number of times a bird attacked prey items was significantly higher in continuous habitat for only two species. Overall, the foraging behaviour of small insectivorous birds in remnants surrounded by high-density housing was not adversely affected by urbanisation and it appears that remnants have potential value as habitat and foraging sources in an urban landscape. Despite this, small insectivores are still sensitive to urbanisation, suggesting that other factors, probably in the matrix, are important.
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Hadden, SA, and ME Westbrooke. "Habitat Relationships of the Herpetofauna of Remnant Buloke Woodlands of the Wimmera Plains, Victoria." Wildlife Research 23, no. 3 (1996): 363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9960363.
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Twelve remnants of woodland dominated by buloke (Allocasuarina leuhmannii [A. luehmannii]) in the Wimmera Plains of Victoria, Australia, were investigated to evaluate the habitat relationships of the herpetofauna. Reptiles and amphibians were assessed by pitfall trapping, systematic searching and recording of frog vocalisations. Site characteristics that are likely to affect the species richness of herpetofauna in buloke remnants were determined. Nine reptile and 4 amphibian species were recorded from 6048 trap-nights and 216 h of systematic searching. A significant relationship was found between the herpetofaunal and reptile species richness and the level of past grazing pressure and vegetation understorey structure. No correlation was found between herpetofaunal species richness and the area of the remnant. Species richness of amphibians was best predicted by soil type. Habitat features associated with each species are presented. Implications for the management of remnant buloke woodlands and their herpetofauna are discussed and recommendations made.
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Grover, DR, and PJ Slater. "Conservation Value to Birds of Remnants of Melaleuca Forest in Suburban Brisbane." Wildlife Research 21, no. 4 (1994): 433. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9940433.
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The bird species composition of nine remnants of Melaleuca quinquenervia forest in NE Brisbane, Queensland, was censused from March 1992 to March 1993 to investigate the effect of forest fragmentation and fragment characteristics. Remnant area was a correlated with the total number of bird species and the number of raptors occurring, while understorey vegetation density was related to the number of forest and understorey bird species. The species composition of the M. quinquenervia remnants was compared with that of the Cooloola National Park and with that of eucalypt [Eucalyptus] remnants in lowland SE Queensland. Even the small M. quinquenervia remnants around Brisbane play an important role in conserving the avian fauna of the region by providing habitat and refuges for migrant, nesting, locally rate and uncommon species, and species not commonly found in other forest types. Future recommended management involves the maintenance of size, habitat diversity and understorey vegetation density, the prevention of disturbance and the preservation of swampy areas and ponds.
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Driver, Martin, and Ian Davidson. "Deposit for the Future: Remnant vegetation management through community cost-sharing." Ecological Management and Restoration 3, no. 2 (August 2002): 81–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-8903.2002.00099.x.
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Debus, S. J. S., and H. A. Ford. "Responses of Eastern Yellow Robins Eopsaltria australis to translocation into vegetation remnants in a fragmented landscape." Pacific Conservation Biology 18, no. 3 (2012): 194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc130194.
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Many species of Australian robins (Petroicidae) are declining in wooded landscapes across southern Australia, perhaps because they are unable or unwilling to disperse across the matrix between remnants, or because they experience high mortality while doing so. Eastern Yellow Robins Eopsaltria australis have declined in parts of southeastern Australia, and have gone extinct in some woodland remnants. We translocated adult Yellow Robins to remnants from which they had disappeared, and followed their survival and behaviour. Nine Yellow Robins were translocated to a 100 ha remnant in 2001 (seven birds) and 2002 (two birds). One bird disappeared immediately and a second after 2 weeks, but the rest stayed for at least 2 months, with two birds surviving to at least 4 and 5 years. One reintroduced pair bred each year from 2001 to 2005, producing six fledglings. Two colour-banded Yellow Robins also arrived unaided from another remnant 7 km away. Fifteen Yellow Robins were translocated to nine small remnants (<60 ha) in 2005– 06. Seven birds disappeared within 3 days of their release, apparently killed by predators. The remainder survived for up to 7 weeks, but none was found breeding. Translocated Robins moved up to 3 km from their release sites through natural or planted corridors, and up to 1 km through a matrix of scattered trees. Small remnants, which surviving Robins ultimately vacated, had fewer shrubs than sites where they bred. The results suggest that Eastern Yellow Robins can disperse through a landscape with corridors or scattered trees. However, they may suffer predation and reject sites that are too small or of poor habitat quality. Management to retain Eastern Yellow Robins in a fragmented landscape should enlarge remnants, protect scattered trees, plant or regenerate strategic clumps of trees and shrubs in gaps between remnants, and allow shrubs to regenerate within remnants.
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Bridle, Kerry, Margy Fitzgerald, David Green, Janet Smith, Peter McQuillan, and Ted Lefroy. "Relationships between site characteristics, farming system and biodiversity on Australian mixed farms." Animal Production Science 49, no. 10 (2009): 869. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an09042.
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A collaborative project between researchers, regional natural resource management organisations and landholders set out to explore three questions about the relationships between biodiversity and land use in Australia’s mixed-farming landscapes: (1) the extent to which farm-scale measures of biodiversity were related to agricultural production; (2) the influence of the type and intensity of agricultural production on native biodiversity on farms; and (3) the relative influence of site and farming system on selected measures of biodiversity. Four land-use types on 47 mixed farms across nine regions, derived from several of Australia’s 56 natural resource management regions, were surveyed in autumn and spring 2006 and 2007. Surveys of birds, surface invertebrates (beetles, ants, spiders), vegetation and soils were undertaken on four land classes on each farm; crop, ‘rotation’ (break crop/pasture phase), perennial pasture and remnant vegetation. Data were collected by participating regional staff, using a standard protocol, which were sent to a central collection point for collation, analysis and interpretation. Species richness, functional diversity and vegetation structure were assessed. This introductory paper focuses on results relating to species richness, which for most taxa was greater in remnant vegetation than other land-use classes and declined along a disturbance gradient (remnant, pasture, rotation, crop). Properties with a greater proportion of perennial pastures recorded higher species richness than properties that were dominated by crop. Properties that recorded high wheat yields (t/ha) also recorded lower species richness for spiders and birds. The presence of insectivorous birds and beneficial invertebrates (spiders, beetles and ants) in all land-use classes suggests the potential to apply integrated pest management approaches to mixed-farming systems across the country. Site and system features were found to be important determinants of biodiversity, with their relative importance varying with the scale of investigation and the taxa. At the landscape scale, bird species richness was correlated with the amount of remnant vegetation within a 5-km radius of the farm boundary, and with the condition of native vegetation on the farm. The average size of remnant vegetation patches was 5 ha or less on nearly half of the properties surveyed. At the farm scale, ant species richness was correlated with site features, while beetles were correlated with management/system features such as the presence and fertility of perennial pastures. Analyses at the functional group level will provide more detailed information on relationships between different land-use types. Further experimental work needs to be undertaken to qualify the suggested impact of land management practices on different taxa, while repeated surveys will allow for the collation of datasets over time, from which population dynamics may be determined.
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Henry, B. K., T. Danaher, G. M. McKeon, and W. H. Burrows. "A review of the potential role of greenhouse gas abatement in native vegetation management in Queensland's rangelands." Rangeland Journal 24, no. 1 (2002): 112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj02006.
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Concern about the risk of harmful human-induced climate change has resulted in international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. We review the international and national context for consideration of greenhouse abatement in native vegetation management and discuss potential options in Queensland. Queensland has large areas of productive or potentially productive land with native woody vegetation cover with approximately 76 million ha with woody cover remaining in 1991. High rates of tree clearing, predominantly to increase pasture productivity, continued throughout the 1990s with an average 345,000 ha/a estimated to have been cleared, including non-remnant (woody regrowth) as well as remnant vegetation. Estimates of greenhouse gas emissions associated with land clearing currently have a high uncertainty but clearing was reported to contribute a significant proportion of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 (21%) to 1999 (13%). In Queensland, greenhouse emissions from land clearing were estimated to have been 54.5 Mt CO2-e in 1999. Management of native vegetation for timber harvesting and the proliferation of woody vegetation (vegetation thickening) in the grazed woodlands also represent large carbon fluxes. Forestry (plantations and native forests) in Queensland was reported to be a 4.4 Mt CO2-e sink in 1999 but there are a lack of comprehensive data on timber harvesting in private hardwood forests. Vegetation thickening is reported for large areas of the c. 60 million ha grazed woodlands in Queensland. The magnitude of the carbon sink in 27 million ha grazed eucalypt woodlands has been estimated to be 66 Mt CO2-e/a but this sink is not currently included in Australia's inventory of anthropogenic greenhouse emissions. Improved understanding of the function and dynamics of natural and managed ecosystems is required to support management of native vegetation to preserve and enhance carbon stocks for greenhouse benefits while meeting objectives of sustainable and productive management and biodiversity protection.
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J. Franks, Andrew. "The ecological consequences of Buffel Grass Cenchrus ciliaris establishment within remnant vegetation of Queensland." Pacific Conservation Biology 8, no. 2 (2002): 99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc020099.
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The effects of Buffel Grass Cenchrus ciliaris presence and dominance in 78 Poplar Box Eucalyptus populnea woodland remnants of south central Queensland are documented, Buffel Grass was recorded from the majority of sites sampled, As the relative cover of Buffel Grass increased at both the quadrat and site level, the number of native ground cover species declined significantly. Most commonly recorded ground cover species displayed significant changes in frequency as Buffel Grass cover increased, Only two species increased with increased Buffel Grass cover: Desert Goosefoot Chenopodium desertorum subsp. anidiophyllum and Galvanised Burr Sclerolaena birchii. The average cover of Buffel Grass decreased significantly from the edge of remnants towards the core areas. The foliage projected cover of the sub-canopy layers appeared to be an important factor affecting the relative cover of Buffel Grass at any one site indicating that shading and competition with the woody layers are important determinants in the structure and composition of the ground cover layer. A number of sub-canopy species were found to produce leachates that were capable of significantly reducing the germination or growth of Buffel Grass seeds, alluding that allelopathy may play a minor role in determining ground cover species assemblages. However, this result can only be interpreted conservatively in relation to its ecological relevance with effects related to competition with overstorey woody species being of greater importance. This study quantifies the long observed effect that the exotic perennial Buffel Grass excludes other ground cover species, which may have detrimental ramifications on the functioning of remnant native vegetation over much of the state. With the recent introduction of regulations controlling broad scale tree clearing on both freehold and leasehold lands in Queensland, it is now important to identify a range of issues pertaining to the effective on ground management of remnant vegetation located outside the existing nature refuge network.
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A. How, R., and J. Dell. "Ground vertebrate fauna of Perth's vegetation remnants: impact of 170 years of urbanization." Pacific Conservation Biology 6, no. 3 (2000): 198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc000198.
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Ground vertebrates were surveyed on 34 vegetation remnants on the Swan Coastal Plain within the Perth metropolitan area. The remnants ranged from one hectare to nearly 340 ha and were sampled for at least 50 days during the year using pitfall traps. Six remnants were sampled in two or more successive years. Seven native, non-volant mammal, six introduced mammal, 11 amphibian and 43 reptile species were recorded. Native mammals are the most disadvantaged vertebrates in urban remnants with few species surviving the effects of long-term fragmentation. The herpetofauna is less affected, although snakes are generally rare. Marked annual variation occurred in lizard assemblages recorded on remnants sampled over consecutive years. On average, these remnants had a similarity in species composition of only 77% between years. Small remnants are important for conservation of reptile assemblages and there is a strong correlation between remnant area and species number for all reptile groups, except skinks. Remnants as small as one hectare retain viable populations of many reptiles, but need active management to exclude fire and predation. Regional biogeographic patterns are apparent in reptiles. Subregional patterns on the Swan Coastal Plain are associated with different soil types and the Swan River also creates a barrier across landforms. The diversity of reptile assemblages and variation in species trophic patterns indicate that many elements of the original food chain continue to operate in these urban environments.
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Seddon, Julian A., Andre Zerger, Stuart J. Doyle, and Sue V. Briggs. "The extent of dryland salinity in remnant woodland and forest within an agricultural landscape." Australian Journal of Botany 55, no. 5 (2007): 533. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt06100.
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Dryland salinity is considered a significant and increasing threat to sustainable land management and biodiversity across large parts of temperate Australia. However, there is little information on the extent of this threat to terrestrial ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. This paper provides a quantitative assessment of the extent of dryland salinity in remnant native woody vegetation in the agriculture-dominated landscape of the Boorowa Shire located in the South West Slopes bioregion of south-eastern Australia. The amount and type of native woody vegetation in the Boorowa Shire affected by dryland salinity was assessed by analysing the extent of overlap between the following three spatial data layers: (1) woody vegetation mapping derived from high-resolution satellite imagery, (2) existing vegetation community mapping predicted from field data and expert opinion and (3) existing dryland salinity outbreak mapping derived from air photo interpretation and filed verification. There were more than 6000 patches of salt outbreak in woody vegetation in the Boorowa Shire, 383 (6%) of which were 1 ha or larger in area. Almost 2000 ha of woody vegetation were affected by dryland salinity, representing ~3% of the extant native woody vegetation in the Boorowa Shire. The vegetation type with the largest total area affected by dryland salinity was yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora Cunn. Ex Schauer)–Blakely’s red gum (E. Blakelyi Maiden) woodland. As a proportion of their current extent, vegetation communities lower in the landscape were significantly more affected than those higher up the topographic sequence, with 14% of riparian communities and nearly 6% of yellow box–Blakely’s red gum woodland exhibiting symptoms of dryland salinity. About 1% of white box (E. albens Benth) woodland, and of hill communities which are on mid- and upper slopes, were affected. The pattern of salinity outbreaks in relation to landscape position and vegetation type is significant for biodiversity conservation because the vegetation communities most affected by salinisation are those most heavily cleared and modified post-European settlement. Throughout the South West Slopes of New South Wales, remnants of riparian communities and yellow box–Blakely’s red gum woodland are highly cleared, fragmented and degraded. Dryland salinity represents an additional threat to these vegetation communities and their component species. Salinisation of woodland ecosystems poses significant problems for land managers. The long-term viability of these woodland remnants needs to be considered when allocating limited public funds for woodland conservation, whether on private land or in formal reserves.
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Lunt, Ian D., and John W. Morgan. "Vegetation Changes after 10 Years of Grazing Exclusion and Intermittent Burning in a Themeda triandra (Poaceae) Grassland Reserve in South-eastern Australia." Australian Journal of Botany 47, no. 4 (1999): 537. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt98011.
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Changes in the vegetation composition of a remnant Themeda triandra Forsskal grassland in south-eastern Australia were documented following the replacement of stock grazing with intermittent burning at 3–11-year intervals. The vegetation was initially sampled in 1986, 1 year after stock were removed, and then 10 years later in 1996. Most frequently encountered grassland species were abundant in both surveys, although there was little correspondence between species richness at the quadrat scale in 1986 and 1996. Total floristic richness increased slightly over the 10-year period, owing to the proliferation of tall forbs with wind-blown seeds, including exotic thistles and colonising native forbs. Unfortunately, most native ‘increasers’ were ‘weedy’ species which are not typical or common components of species-rich temperate grassland remnants in southern Victoria. Thus, replacing grazing with intermittent burning has not resulted in the flora becoming more similar to that of high-quality, species-rich grassland remnants, but instead, has promoted a group of ruderal colonisers. The ability to identify factors contributing to particular botanical changes was hampered by the design of the management regimes implemented over the past decade. Suggestions are provided to overcome these difficulties, incorporating principles from adaptive management.
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Prober, SM, and KR Thiele. "Conservation of the Grassy White Box Woodlands: Relative Contributions of Size and Disturbance to Floristic Composition and Diversity of Remnants." Australian Journal of Botany 43, no. 4 (1995): 349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt9950349.
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Before European settlement, grassy white box woodlands were the dominant vegetation in the east of the wheat-sheep belt of south-eastern Australia. Tree clearing, cultivation and pasture improvement have led to fragmentation of this once relatively continuous ecosystem, leaving a series of remnants which themselves have been modified by livestock grazing. Little-modified remnants are extremely rare. We examined and compared the effects of fragmentation and disturbance on the understorey flora of woodland remnants, through a survey of remnants of varying size, grazing history and tree clearing. In accordance with fragmentation theory, species richness generally increased with remnant size, and, for little-grazed remnants, smaller remnants were more vulnerable to weed invasion. Similarly, tree clearing and grazing encouraged weed invasion and reduced native species richness. Evidence for increased total species richness at intermediate grazing levels, as predicted by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, was equivocal. Remnant quality was more severely affected by grazing than by remnant size. All little-grazed remnants had lower exotic species abundance and similar or higher native species richness than grazed remnants, despite their extremely small sizes (< 6 ha). Further, small, littlegrazed remnants maintained the general character of the pre-European woodland understorey, while grazing caused changes to the dominant species. Although generally small, the little-grazed remnants are the best representatives of the pre-European woodland understorey, and should be central to any conservation plan for the woodlands. Selected larger remnants are needed to complement these, however, to increase the total area of woodland conserved, and, because most little-grazed remnants are cleared, to represent the ecosystem in its original structural form. For the maintenance of native plant diversity and composition in little-grazed remnants, it is critical that livestock grazing continues to be excluded. For grazed remnants, maintenance of a site in its current state would allow continuation of past management, while restoration to a pre-European condition would require management directed towards weed removal, and could take advantage of the difference noted in the predominant life-cycle of native (perennial) versus exotic (annual or biennial) species.
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Saunders, Denis A., and A. J. McAleer. "The conservation value of private property; a case study of the birds of Woopenatty, Arrino, in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia, 1987–2002." Pacific Conservation Biology 18, no. 3 (2012): 164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc130164.
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Woopenatty was a 7,293 ha wheat-sheep property in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region of the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia. Data were collected on the presence of bird species seen on a weekly basis on the property from October 1987 until the end of 2002. A total of 133 species was recorded from the property during this period with 52 species of resident, 16 species of regular visitor, 15 species of irregular visitor and 50 vagrant species. The avifauna of the property was compared with records collated from 1904 from eight locations within a radius of 110 km of the property and from records within a radius of 50 km of the property from two Birds Australia atlases (1977– 1981 and 1997–2002). Seventy-four percent of the species, including many dependent on remnant native vegetation, recorded from the other localities were recorded on Woopenatty. The property was clearly of importance for conservation of the avifauna of the Geraldton Sandplains. This study illustrates the importance of publishing descriptions of regional biota in order to assess changes over time and the significance of remnant native vegetation on private property to conservation. Suggestions for setting priorities for conservation and management of such remnant native vegetation are made.
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Good, Megan K., Jodi N. Price, Peter J. Clarke, and Nick Reid. "Dense regeneration of floodplain Eucalyptus coolabah: invasive scrub or passive restoration of an endangered woodland community?" Rangeland Journal 34, no. 2 (2012): 219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj12008.
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Clearing of native vegetation and changes to disturbance regimes have resulted in dense regeneration of native trees and shrubs in parts of Australia. The conversion of open vegetation to dense woodlands may result in changes to the composition of plant communities and ecosystem function if structure, composition and function are tightly linked. Widespread clearing of the floodplain tree Eucalyptus coolabah subsp. coolabah (coolibah), in New South Wales, Australia, has led to state and federal listings of coolibah woodland as an endangered ecological community. Dense regeneration of coolibah in the mid 1970s, however, also resulted in its listing as an ‘invasive native species’ in NSW, meaning it can be legally cleared under certain conditions. Dense regeneration could be a novel state dissimilar to the threatened community or it could represent the next generation of coolibah woodlands and may contribute to passive restoration of heavily cleared landscapes. This study investigated if dense stands are distinct from remnant woodland by comparing floristic composition of the ground-storey community and top-soil properties of four coolibah vegetation states: derived grassland, derived degraded grassland, dense regeneration and remnant woodland. Ground-storey composition was found to overlap broadly among states regardless of tree density. Most species were common to all states, although dense regeneration contained characteristic woodland species that were absent from grasslands. The carbon : nitrogen ratio of the soil was significantly higher in dense regeneration and remnant woodland than in either of the grassland states, indicating that the woody states are broadly similar in terms of nutrient cycling. The study demonstrates that structurally different vegetation states (grasslands, woodlands and dense regeneration) are not associated with distinct plant communities. The results also suggest that grazing management has a more pronounced effect on ground-storey composition of plant communities than tree density and that well managed derived grasslands and dense regeneration are floristically similar to remnant woodlands. Since dense regeneration and remnant woodlands are not floristically distinct from one another, dense regeneration could contribute to the conservation of endangered coolibah woodlands in cleared agricultural landscapes.
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Mcfarlane, DJ, and RJ George. "Factors affecting dryland salinity in two wheat belt catchments in Western Australia." Soil Research 30, no. 1 (1992): 85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sr9920085.
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We investigated why the Wallatin Creek Catchment in the Western Australian wheatbelt had an appreciable area of secondary salinity whereas the adjoining North Baandee Catchment had almost none. The Wallatin Creek Catchment, which is long and narrow, had a shallow regolith over granite bedrock. Although this catchment had less salt stored in the regolith than the wider North Baandee Catchment, the groundwaters came close to the ground surface because the regolith was thin and the valley cross-section narrow. Management practices which increase recharge (e.g. using level banks to control runoff), are likely to result in increased salinity in the short term in the Wallatin Creek Catchment. We also investigated whether retaining areas of remnant vegetation had reduced the amount of secondary salinity in a sub-catchment of the Wallatin Creek Catchment. At comparable positions in the landscape, groundwater levels were up to 7 m lower under the remnant vegetation. The vegetation appears to have delayed, if not prevented, the development of salinity in nearby and downslope areas.
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O'Shea, E. M., and J. B. Kirkpatrick. "The impact of suburbanization on remnant coastal vegetation in Hobart, Tasmania." Applied Vegetation Science 3, no. 2 (February 24, 2000): 243–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1479003.
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Ballantyne, Mark, Donna Louise Treby, Joseph Quarmby, and Catherine Marina Pickering. "Comparing the impacts of different types of recreational trails on grey box grassy-woodland vegetation: lessons for conservation and management." Australian Journal of Botany 64, no. 3 (2016): 246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt15239.
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Tourism and recreation are popular in natural areas but can damage plant communities, including those of high conservation value in protected areas. This includes impacts from recreational trails, but what type of trail has the most impact and why? We compared the impacts of five different trails (narrow, intermediate and wide bare earth trails, intermediate gravel trails and wide tarmac trails) on the endangered grey box grassy-woodland (Eucalyptus microcarpa (Maiden) Maiden) in Belair National Park near Adelaide in South Australia. First, the extent, width and area of recreational trails in the remnant woodland were mapped. Then, vegetation parameters were recorded in quadrats at three distances from the edge of trails in the woodland, with 10 replicate sites per trail type and single quadrats at 10 control sites (i.e. total 60 sites, 160 quadrats). All trails resulted in vegetation loss on the trail surface and along the edges of the trails, as well as changes in vegetation composition, including reductions in shrubs and bulbs close to the trail. The most common types of trail were bare earth trails with an average width of 2.5 m (50% of trails) which resulted in the greatest soil loss (>88 000 m3) and vegetation loss (33 899 m2 or 3.4 ha) in the 167 ha woodland remnant overall. Wider (5.4 m) hardened tarmac trails, however, were associated with low species richness, high cover of exotic grasses and few herbs, shrubs and bulbs compared with vegetation away from trails and closer to other trails. Therefore a mixed approach to the provision of trails may be most appropriate, with hardened trails used in areas of highest use, but in some circumstances leaving trails unhardened may be more appropriate where they are likely to remain narrow and where there is less likely to be erosion and/or safety issues.
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Cunningham, Saul A., Frances FitzGibbon, and Tim A. Heard. "The future of pollinators for Australian agriculture." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53, no. 8 (2002): 893. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ar01186.
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Agriculture in Australia is highly dependent on insect pollination, in particular from the introduced western honeybee, Apis mellifera. Most agricultural pollination is provided as an unpaid service by feral A. mellifera and native insects. A smaller proportion of agricultural pollination is provided as a paid service by beekeepers. Insect pollination is threatened by misuse of insecticides and the loss of remnant vegetation, but most potently by the likelihood that the honeybee mite, Varroa destructor, will enter the country. Now is the time to prepare for the effect of these changes, and international experience with pollinator decline should serve as a guide. We need to protect and manage our remnant vegetation to protect wild pollinators. Insurance against declining A. mellifera will come through the development of management practices for alternative pollinator species. By developing native insects as pollinators we can avoid the risks associated with the importation of additional introduced species.
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Law, Bradley S., Mark Chidel, and Trent Penman. "Do young eucalypt plantations benefit bats in an intensive agricultural landscape?" Wildlife Research 38, no. 3 (2011): 173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10204.
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Context Environmental benefits of timber plantations have been a major selling point for land use change from previously cleared farmland, but data concerning the response of biodiversity are scarce. Aims We investigated the use of young (4–11 years old) timber plantations by bats in comparison with other vegetation classes in a highly cleared and productive agricultural landscape in north-west New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods Initially, we recorded activity in paddocks before plantation establishment, and then four to six years after establishment. We compared activity within young eucalypt plantations with surrounding paddocks and remnant woodland. We also radio-tracked four different bat species to investigate how roosting and foraging was apportioned into different habitats. Key results The ultrasonic survey of bats found that the young plantations were typically used by 7–8 species and activity averaged 87 passes per night. Activity within plantations was similar to treeless paddocks, and approximately six times less than in small remnants. The very high activity levels and feeding buzzes in small remnants was significantly related to rich, basalt soil (which was used as a proxy for invertebrate biomass) on agricultural plains. Total activity and species richness was correlated positively with the number of remnant trees on the site, but neither plantation area nor shape influenced bat activity. Plantations were not used preferentially by radio-tracked bats at night compared with their availability in the local landscape (13–14% bat use, 17% available). No bat roosts were located within the plantations. Most bat roosts were in tree hollows, which were absent in the plantations. Decorticating bark was abundant in eucalypt plantations, but only Nyctophilus geoffroyi was observed beneath bark and only in remnant trees outside of plantations. Conclusions Young eucalypt plantations have limited value for bats, and this is comparable to previous studies on more environmentally focussed plantings. Implications The value of plantations for bats would be improved by retaining remnant trees, both in the surrounding landscape and within plantations. We also recommend varying tree densities to increase the diversity of animal species using plantations.
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Abensperg-Traun, Max, Graeme T. Smith, and Barbara York Main. "Terrestrial arthropods in a fragmented landscape: a review of ecological research in the Western Australian central wheatbelt." Pacific Conservation Biology 6, no. 2 (2000): 102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc000102.
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In 1985, CSIRO's Wildlife and Ecology established ''The Kelierberrin Project on Fragmented Landscapes", a study to investigate the role of remnant vegetation in sustaining the native biota in Western Australia's central wheatbelt. This paper reviews findings, and other relevant research within the wheatbelt region, with regard to the terrestrial arthropod fauna. We examine critical issues for faunal persistence with regard to disturbance effects on the biota (habitat fragmentation effects of remnant size and spatial isolation (connectivity), livestock and associated exotic weed invasion, altered fire regimes, changes in hydrology, and recolonization of restored habitat), indicators of arthropod species richness at the individual remnant scale, and endemism and taxonomic richness. We provide management recommendations for the conservation of terrestrial arthropods in the Western Australian central wheatbelt and suggest priority research.
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Valdez, Jose W., Kaya Klop-Toker, Michelle P. Stockwell, Loren Fardell, Simon Clulow, John Clulow, and Michael J. Mahony. "Differences in microhabitat selection patterns between a remnant and constructed landscape following management intervention." Wildlife Research 44, no. 3 (2017): 248. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr16172.
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Context Achieving successful conservation outcomes in habitat creation and reintroductions requires an understanding of how species use their habitat and respond to these interventions. However, few initiatives directly compare microhabitat selection between remnant and managed habitats to measure effectiveness and evaluate outcomes. Probability of detection is also rarely included in studies on microhabitat use, which may lead to erroneous conclusions if detectability varies between variables. Methods In this study, we used the endangered green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) to compare differences in microhabitat-use patterns in both a remnant and a constructed habitat. A detectability study was also conducted to determine detection probabilities among microhabitats. Key results Aquatic vegetation was used more than expected in both the remnant and constructed habitats, and rock piles were utilised less than expected in the constructed habitat, despite their recommendation in most habitat templates. We found that detection probabilities altered the outcomes of abundance estimates for nearly all the measured microhabitat variables. Conclusions Future management for this species should focus on providing high proportions of aquatic vegetation. Furthermore, although rock piles have been utilised greatly in past L. aurea habitat creation, placing large rocks on a managed site is expensive and time consuming. Future management initiatives may need to focus on providing smaller proportion of rocks, which would be a more appropriate use of resources. Implications With conservation management projects increasing over the next few decades, understanding habitat use before implementing strategies should be a priority as it will provide important insights and inform decision-making for optimum habitat creation and restoration. Furthermore, accounting for detectability in microhabitat use studies is essential to avoid wrong conclusions that may negatively affect the success of ecological management strategies.
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Bennett, AF. "Microhabitat use by the long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus, and other small mammals in remnant forest vegetation, south-western Victoria." Wildlife Research 20, no. 3 (1993): 267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9930267.
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Microhabitat use by the long-nosed potoroo, Potorous tridactylus, and six other species of small mammal was studied in remnant forest vegetation in south-western Victoria, Australia. Throughout its geographic range, P. tridactylus is consistently associated with dense vegetation in the ground and shrub strata. However, at a local scale, captures of P. tridactylus were not clearly associated with a particular floristic group, and were not strongly correlated with any structural feature of the vegetation. Rather, individuals utilised a range of sites of differing floristic composition and vegetation density. Dense cover provided diurnal shelter and protection from predators, whereas food resources were most abundant in adjacent more open areas. The use of vegetation mosaics or ecotones that allow the inclusion of contrasting microhabitats within an individual home range appears to be characteristic of potoroids in temperate environments. Such mosaics may result from topographic or edaphic variation, or from sera1 successional stages in vegetation following disturbance. Of the other small mammals, the bush rat, Rattus fuscipes, and the brown antechinus, Antechinus stuartii, favoured floristic groups that provided dense low cover. Captures of the swamp rat, Rattus lutreolus, were clumped, and centred on several sites along the forest edge on impeded drainage where potential foods were common. The long-nosed bandicoot, Perameles nasuta, and the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus, were uncommon and clear microhabitat preferences were not displayed. The house mouse, Mus musculus, was of transient occurrence, mostly during autumn, and no obvious habitat preference was apparent. The quality and availability of microhabitats in remnant vegetation, together with landscape structure, are important in ensuring the persistence and conservation of small mammals in fragmented landscapes.
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Comino, E., B. P. Miller, and N. J. Enright. "Soil seedbanks in natural and restored boxironbark forests at Stawell Gold Mine, Victoria." Pacific Conservation Biology 10, no. 1 (2004): 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc040009.
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Natural communities have the capacity to regenerate themselves, and this functional ecosystem attribute must be regarded as a key indicator of success for revegetation programmes. The accumulation of species (and individuals) as dormant propagules in a soil seedbank, representing potential future states for the vegetation, is one possible index of revegetation success. Here, we investigate the soil seedbanks for five natural vegetation (Box-Ironbark forest) remnants, a topsoil stockpile and three revegetated mine-site areas associated with gold mining at Stawell (Victoria, Australia). The revegetation efforts largely date from 1987 and, in terms of their composition and structure, are relatively similar to natural vegetation remnants. Soil samples were treated with heat or smoke (plus control) and were monitored for seedling emergence, species composition and density in the glasshouse for 150 days. Seedling densities in treated seedbank samples were high (2 200 to 17 500 seedlings m-2) while species richness was low, ranging from 10 to 20 species per sample. Exotic species made up 22?61 % of emergents and 33?50% of species observed. Correlation of seedbank composition and density with chemical attributes of soils, and with above ground (extant) vegetation at sites showed few significant relationships. Total species richness and the proportion of exotic species varied significantly between natural bushland remnants and revegetation areas. Richness was highest, and the proportion of exotic species was lowest in natural bushland samples. Total emergent numbers and the density of exotic emergents did not vary significantly between remnant bushland and revegetation areas. Declining vigour of some woody species in revegetation sites that are well represented in the seedbank, including Acacia pycnantha and A. genistifolia, indicates that the reintroduction of fire might be an appropriate management practice to facilitate long-term recovery of a functional community on these revegetated surfaces, but the potential for the establishment of weed species from the seed-bank following fire may pose a challenge to management.
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Doley, Alison. ""Koobabbie": ecological and economic Sustainability." Pacific Conservation Biology 9, no. 1 (2003): 42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc030042.
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"KOOBABBIE" is a 6 885 ha wheat and sheep farm in the Coorow District of the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia (see Fig. 1, Hobbs 2003). The land was taken up by my grandparents in 1906. As clearing for agriculture took place, original vegetation was preserved in timber belts, along waterways and on rocky rises, but these were not fenced. In 1966 my husband, John, and I took over management of the property and in 1970 commenced fencing the remnant vegetation to exclude livestock. In 1987 we purchased 1 864 ha of salt lake country and excluded livestock from the area. Our aim is to preserve a representative cross section of the original vegetation on our property.
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Hasani, Mohammad, Abdolrassoul Salmanmahiny, and Alireza Mikaeili Tabrizi. "An Integrative Modelling Approach to Analyse Landscape Dynamics Through Intensity Analysis and Cellular Automata-Markov Chain Model." European Spatial Research and Policy 27, no. 1 (June 30, 2020): 243–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.18778/1231-1952.27.1.11.
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The goal of this study is offer a deep understanding of the landscape dynamics in the Gorgan Township, the Golestan Province, Iran. Landsat satellite imagery of two different time thresholds, i.e. the years 1992 and 2011, was acquired from the US Geological Survey database and the changes were quantified for the Gorgan area covering a 19-year time span. Furthermore, an integrated Cellular Automata-Markov Chain (CA-MC) model was applied to predict future changes up to the year 2030. We used the intensity analysis method to compare the historical dynamics of different land categories at multiple levels. The results indicated that during the 19 years, the built-up and forest areas increased by 2.33% and 0.27%, respectively, while agriculture and remnant vegetation decreased by 2.43% and 0.24%, respectively. The CA-MC model illustrated that in the following 19 years, the built-up areas could increase by 2.45%. An intensity analysis revealed that forest gains and losses were dormant while remnant vegetation gains and losses were active. The built-up area’s gains and water bodies’ losses were active and stationary during both time intervals. The transitions from water bodies and remnant vegetation to agriculture were regularly targeting and stationary, while the transition from forest to agriculture was regularly avoiding and stationary. Our findings also indicated a heavy systematic transition from agriculture to built-up areas. Regarding the increasing population growth and urbanisation in the region, the outcomes of this study can help make informed decisions for the management and protection of natural resources in the study area.
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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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Priddel, D., and R. Wheeler. "MOrtality of captive-raised malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata, released into a mallee remnant within the wheat-belt of New South Wales." Wildlife Research 21, no. 5 (1994): 543. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9940543.
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Loss, fragmentation and degradation of mallee habitat within the New South Wales wheat-belt have caused a marked decline in the range and local abundance of malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata. Small disjunct populations of malleefowl now occupy small isolated remnants of suitable habitat. and several of these populations have become locally extinct in recent times. Young captive-reared malleefowl(8-184 days old) were experimentally released in March and June 1988 into a 558-ha remnant of mallee vegetation. The remnant contained a small but declining population of rnalleefowl. From the first day after release, malleefowl were found dead, and mortality continued at a rapid rate until none remained alive. Of the 31 released, 16 (52%) were dead after 7 days, at least 22 (71%) were dead after 11 days, and none survived longer than 107 days. In all, 94% of malleefowl were killed by predators: 26-39% by raptors, and 55-68% by introduced predators, principally foxes, Vulpes vulpes. No improvement in survival was evident when malleefowl were given supplementary food. Relying principally on camouflage, young malleefowl have no effective defence or escape behaviour to evade ground-dwelling predators such as the fox. By imposing severe predation pressure on young malleefowl, foxes are likely to be curtailing recruitment into the breeding population. Such a situation must inevitably lead to the further localised extinction of small disjunct populations of malleefowl. Foxes are thus a major threat to the continuance of remnant populations of malleefowl within the wheat-belt of New South Wales.
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Smith-Ramirez, Cecilia, Juan L. Celis-Diez, Erik von Jenstchyk, Jaime E. Jimenez, and Juan J. Armesto. "Habitat use of remnant forest habitats by the threatened arboreal marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria) in a rural landscape of southern Chile." Wildlife Research 37, no. 3 (2010): 249. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr09050.
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Context. Remnant forest patches in rural landscapes may be important sites for maintaining viable populations of restricted forest species, especially when these remnant habitats maintain some connectivity, for instance through riparian vegetation strips and other forest patches. Aims. We assessed the use of remnant forest habitats in a rural landscape of southern Chile (40°S) by the ‘near threatened’ arboreal marsupial Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria), in relation to habitat type (riparian strips, forest fragments and continuous forests), width of the riparian forests, and the presence and abundance of the hemiparasite Tristerix corymbosus, whose fruits are readily eaten by D. gliroides. Methods. In two summers, 2004 and 2008, we set up grids of 96 live traps for three consecutive nights at each of 16 sites along two riparian forest strips, four additional sites in remnant, non-riparian forest patches, and four more within continuous pre-Andean forest. We counted hemiparasites on trees in the trapping grid area, and estimated their individual volumes. Key results . In total, 48 individuals of D. gliroides were captured at all sites during the 2 years. We documented a significant positive relationship between the width of riparian vegetation and the number of individuals captured (r s = 0.78, P = 0.02, n = 8) for one riparian strip, but not for the second one. Neither habitat type nor the frequency of hemiparasites related statistically to D. gliroides abundance. Key conclusions. We conclude that in the rural landscape of the Chilean Lake District, narrow riparian forest strips, in a highly inter-connected mosaic of remnant forest patches may be as important as large patches and continuous Andean forests to sustain viable populations of this threatened, strictly arboreal, marsupial. Implications. The present study reports, for the first time, the presence in narrow riparian forests immersed in a pasture-dominated agricultural matrix of this forest-specialist marsupial, which was previously known only from continuous pre-Andean forests.
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Eyre, Teresa J., Jian Wang, Melanie F. Venz, Chris Chilcott, and Giselle Whish. "Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands: response to local and landscape scale variables, and relationship with grass, forb and reptile species." Rangeland Journal 31, no. 3 (2009): 293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj08035.
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Buffel grass [Pennisetum ciliare (L.) Link] has been widely introduced in the Australian rangelands as a consequence of its value for productive grazing, but tends to competitively establish in non-target areas such as remnant vegetation. In this study, we examined the influence landscape-scale and local-scale variables had upon the distribution of buffel grass in remnant poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea F.Muell.) dominant woodland fragments in the Brigalow Bioregion, Queensland. Buffel grass and variables thought to influence its distribution in the region were measured at 60 sites, which were selected based on the amount of native woodland retained in the landscape and patch size. An information-theoretic modelling approach and hierarchical partitioning revealed that the most influential variable was the percent of retained vegetation within a 1-km spatial extent. From this, we identified a critical threshold of ~30% retained vegetation in the landscape, above which the model predicted buffel grass was not likely to occur in a woodland fragment. Other explanatory variables in the model were site based, and included litter cover and long-term rainfall. Given the paucity of information on the effect of buffel grass upon biodiversity values, we undertook exploratory analyses to determine whether buffel grass cover influenced the distribution of grass, forb and reptile species. We detected some trends; hierarchical partitioning revealed that buffel grass cover was the most important explanatory variable describing habitat preferences of four reptile species. However, establishing causal links – particularly between native grass and forb species and buffel grass – was problematic owing to possible confounding with grazing pressure. We conclude with a set of management recommendations aimed at reducing the spread of buffel grass into remnant woodlands.
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Michael, Damian R., David B. Lindenmayer, Mason Crane, Christopher MacGregor, Rebecca Montague-Drake, and Lachlan McBurney. "Reptilia, Murray catchment, New South Wales, south-eastern Australia." Check List 7, no. 1 (January 1, 2011): 025. http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/7.1.25.
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Two large-scale, long-term biodiversity monitoring programs examining vertebrate responses to habitat fragmentation and landscape change in agricultural landscapes are taking place in the Murray Catchment Management Area of New South Wales, south-eastern Australia. Field surveys involve counting reptiles under a range of management conditions and across a broad range of vegetation types in two bioregions, the South-western Slopes of New South Wales and the Riverina. We list reptiles recorded during surveys conducted between 2002 and 2009. We include additional species recorded between 1997 and 2009 from a conservation reserve. Thirty-nine species from nine families were recorded. The list will be useful for workers interested in reptile zoogeographical distributions and habitat associations as well as those interested in the biodiversity value of remnant vegetation and tree plantings in fragmented agricultural landscapes.
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McAlpine, C. A., R. J. Fensham, and D. E. Temple-Smith. "Biodiversity conservation and vegetation clearing in Queensland: principles and thresholds." Rangeland Journal 24, no. 1 (2002): 36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj02002.
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Clearing of native vegetation is a major threat to biodiversity in Australia. In Queensland, clearing has resulted in extensive ecosystem transformation, especially in the more fertile parts of the landscape. In this paper, we examine Queensland, Australian and some overseas evidence of the impact of clearing and related fragmentation effects on terrestrial biota. The geographic focus is the semi-arid regions, although we recognise that coastal regions have been extensively cleared. The evidence reviewed here suggests that the reduction of remnant vegetation to 30% will result in the loss of 25–35% of vertebrate fauna, with the full impact not realised for another 50–100 years, or even longer. Less mobile, habitat specialists and rare species appear to be particularly at risk. We propose three broad principles for effective biodiversity conservation in Queensland: (i) regional native vegetation retention thresholds of 50%; (ii) regional ecosystem thresholds of 30%; and (iii) landscape design and planning principles that protect large remnants, preferably > 2000 ha, as core habitats. Under these retention thresholds, no further clearing would be permitted in the extensively cleared biogeographic regions such as Brigalow Belt and New England Tablelands. Some elements of the biota, however, will require more detailed knowledge and targeted retention and management to ensure their security. The application of resource sustainability and economic criteria outlined elsewhere in this volume should be applied to ensure that the biogeographic regions in the north and west of Queensland that are largely intact continue to provide extensive wildlife habitat.
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Lunt, Ian D. "Two Hundred Years of Land Use and Vegetation Change in a Remnant Coastal Woodland in Southern Australia." Australian Journal of Botany 46, no. 6 (1998): 629. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt97052.
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Post-settlement changes in vegetation and land use were examined in a reputedly undisturbed woodland remnant at Ocean Grove, southern Victoria, the site of earlier ecological studies. The vegetation has passed through at least three structural phases since European colonisation: an open grassy woodland dominated by Allocasuarina and Eucalyptus species and Banksia marginata Cav. with few shrubs; an open scrub of Acacia pycnantha Benth.; and a closed scrub of Allocasuarina littoralis (Salisb.) L.A.S.Johnson, which now dominates the reserve. Tree and shrub density has progressively increased, from perhaps less than 20 trees ha–1 in the early 1800s, to over 3000 trees ha–1 in 1996. Most large Allocasuarina trees established in the late 1930s or early 1940s, and Allocasuarina littoralis appears to have invaded rapidly thereafter. Surprisingly, A. littoralis was not recorded in an 1894 plant census, and might have been locally rare last century. Vegetation changes over the past 200 years can be attributed to the long-term absence of fire. The abundant recruitment of Acacia species in the mid- to late-1800s may have been a rapid response to the curtailment of Aboriginal burning, and the more recent invasion of A. littoralis a longer-term response to fire exclusion. The importance of active vegetation management for biodiversity conservation in the future is stressed.
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Rees, Michael, and David Paull. "Distribution of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in the Portland region of south-western Victoria." Wildlife Research 27, no. 5 (2000): 539. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr99045.
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The southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) occurs across the periphery of southern and eastern Australia as a series of isolated regional populations. Historical records and recent surveys conducted for I. obesulus indicate that it has disappeared or decreased significantly from many parts of its former range. Vegetation clearance, habitat fragmentation, feral predators and fire have all been implicated in the decline of the species. This paper examines the distribution of I. obesulus in the Portland region of south-western Victoria. Historical records of I. obesulus were compiled from the specimen collection of Museum Victoria, the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Portland Field Naturalists’ Club records and anecdotal sources. Field surveys were conducted to determine the current distribution of I. obesulus in the study area based on evidence of its foraging activity. The historical records reveal limited information: most are clustered around centres of human activity, indicating observational bias. The field surveys demonstrate that I. obesulus occurs in the Portland region as a series of local populations. Each local population is associated with a patch of remnant native vegetation separated from neighbouring patches by dispersal barriers. Within these habitat remnants the occurrence of the species is sporadic. Approximately 69% of the potential habitat is managed by the Forests Service, 31% is managed by Parks Victoria, and less than 0.5% is held under other tenures. Spatial isolation of habitat remnants, fires and feral predators are the main threats to I. obesulus in the Portland region.
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Osunkoya, Olusegun O., Karina Pyle, Tanya Scharaschkin, and Kunjithapatham Dhileepan. "What lies beneath? The pattern and abundance of the subterranean tuber bank of the invasive liana cat's claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati (Bignoniaceae)." Australian Journal of Botany 57, no. 2 (2009): 132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/bt09033.
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Cat’s claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) Gentry (Bignoniaceae) is a major environmental weed of riparian areas, rainforest communities and remnant natural vegetation in coastal Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. In densely infested areas, it smothers standing vegetation, including large trees, and causes canopy collapse. Quantitative data on the ecology of this invasive vine are generally lacking. The present study examines the underground tuber traits of M. unguis-cati and explores their links with aboveground parameters at five infested sites spanning both riparian and inland vegetation. Tubers were abundant in terms of density (~1000 per m2), although small in size and low in level of interconnectivity. M. unguis-cati also exhibits multiple stems per plant. Of all traits screened, the link between stand (stem density) and tuber density was the most significant and yielded a promising bivariate relationship for the purposes of estimation, prediction and management of what lies beneath the soil surface of a given M. unguis-cati infestation site. The study also suggests that new recruitment is primarily from seeds, not from vegetative propagation as previously thought. The results highlight the need for future biological-control efforts to focus on introducing specialist seed- and pod-feeding insects to reduce seed-output.
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Crosti, R., K. W. Dixon, P. C. Ladd, and C. J. Yates. "Changes in the structure and species dominance in vegetation over 60 years in an urban bushland remnant." Pacific Conservation Biology 13, no. 3 (2007): 158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc070158.
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Kings Park bushland is an urban remnant of predominantly mixed Eucalyptus-Allocasuarina--Banksia mediterranean climate-type woodland in southwestern Australia. This paper presents the results of one of the longest quantitative comparisons on multispecies temporal differences in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1939, the locations of individuals of 13 dominant native tree and shrub species were mapped in 126 transects in a 60 ha portion of the bushland. Observations of the same transects were undertaken in 1999, and the temporal differences in the presence of the same 13 species compared both with univariate and multivariate analyses. There have been substantial changes in vegetation structure and species dominance within the plant community in the 60 years period. In the woodland canopy, there has been an increase in Eucalyptus gomphocephala, E. marginata, Corymbia calophylla and Allocasuarina fraseriana and a decline in once dominant Banksia species. In the mid-storey there have been increases in the density of Dryandra sessilis and Acacia saligna. The changes in structure and species dominance may be considered as changes between different community variants that all occur in the vegetation of the Swan Coastal Plain. The main factors that may be responsible for vegetation change are weed invasion, changed fire regime and seed predation of some species. Disturbances beyond the control of managers (such as wildfire) have altered the composition of the vegetation. However, changes in management procedures in the urban reserve, such as weed removal with herbicides and cessation of fuel reduction burning have also been successful in altering the prominence of some native plant species in the Park. The outcomes of this study indicate that in urban remnants of once natural ecosystems the relative dominance of species may change in response to changes in disturbance regime and hence recruitment cues and this may have important consequences in terms of managing and conserving fauna and flora assemblages, including rare species, in reserves.
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Catling, Paul M. "The Extent and Floristic Composition of the Rice Lake Plains Based on Remnants." Canadian Field-Naturalist 122, no. 1 (January 1, 2008): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v122i1.537.
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A study of the floristic composition and extent of the Rice Lake Plains in central southern Ontario was undertaken to provide a basis for protection and management and to contribute to a better understanding of pre-settlement vegetation. During field reconnaissance 42 remnant sites were discovered. Complete species lists were generated for 24 of these sites and a total of 260 native species was recorded of which 61 were present at more than half of the sites. Less than 10% of the native flora of dry, open ground is believed to be extirpated. The most frequent species and those dominating many of the remnants included Andropogon gerardii, Carex siccata, Ceanothus americanus, Pteridium aquilinum, Sorghastrum nutans, and Toxicodendron rydbergii, all of which are characteristic dominants of tallgrass prairie and related habitats in the midwest. It is believed that both composition and frequency are much the same, but not exactly the same, as existed in pre-settlement times. A principal coordinate analysis based on Jaccard’s coefficient derived from a matrix of presence/absence data for 84 regionally rare species in 24 sites revealed three major groupings: (1) open sand and characteristic sand barren flora, including Dichanthelium sabulorum, Carex merritt-fernaldii, Cyperus lupulinus, Polygonum douglasii, Selaginella rupestris, and Sporobolus cryptandrus; (2) prairie sites with Desmodium canadense, Monarda fistulosa, Penstemon hirsutus, Ranunculus rhomboideus, and Schizachyrium scoparium; (3) high-diversity sites with savannah vegetation, including species characteristic of both prairie and open woodland, including Asclepias exaltata, Desmodium glutinosum, Erigeron pulchellus, Solidago arguta, and Taenidia integerrima. Correspondance analysis suggested a succession from sand barren to woodland and ordered species along a successional axis. In addition to three major associations, there was some regional variation with closer sites sharing species such as Lupinus perennis, Liatris cylindracea and Dichanthelium oligosanthes. The probable extent of plains vegetation revealed by remnants was determined by overlaying remnant sites on the soil landscapes and soil types to determine the extent of the associated soil or landscape thus providing a clue to the extent of the plains vegetation. Results of both the soil landscape and soil data analyses were subjected to restrictions based on exposure, elevation and historical information so as to develop a concept of minimum area. The minimum area of plains vegetation including prairie, sand barren and savannah was estimated to be 263 km2 on the basis of distribution of appropriate soils and 590 km2 on the basis of soil landscapes. Thus the Rice Lake Plains included an area of prairie, savannah and sand barrens approximately 600 km2 in extent and extending as an essentially continuous band 123 km long and up to 25 km wide along the top and north slope of the Oak Ridges Moraine from the Ganaraska Highland west of Rice Lake eastward to the Murray Hills and the Trent River and was one of the largest areas of plains vegetation in the eastern Great Lakes region.
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Dettmann, P. D., S. D. Hamilton, and A. L. Curtis. "Understanding Landholder Values and Intentions to Improve Remnant Vegetation Management in Australia: The Box-Ironbark Case Study." Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 16, no. 3 (August 18, 2000): 93–105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/j064v16n03_07.
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Short, Jeff, and Andrew Hide. "Successful reintroduction of red-tailed phascogale to Wadderin Sanctuary in the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia." Australian Mammalogy 37, no. 2 (2015): 234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am15002.
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Red-tailed phascogales (Phascogale calura) were reintroduced to Wadderin Sanctuary in the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia in April 2009 with individuals sourced from remnant native vegetation on farmland some 180 km to the west. Their establishment was monitored initially by radio-telemetry and trapping, and subsequently by the checking of nest boxes both within and outside the sanctuary. Translocated phascogales established well and bred successfully in their first season. Phascogales remain extant at Wadderin more than five years after release and appear to be abundant and to occupy all available habitat. They have spread beyond the fenced sanctuary to adjoining woodland and to shrubland and woodland habitat in a remnant 1.4 km away. Comparison with two other reintroductions of this species (one apparently successful, one not) suggests management and habitat factors that may have contributed to the outcomes.
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Florgård, Clas. "Preserved and remnant natural vegetation in cities: A geographically divided field of research." Landscape Research 32, no. 1 (February 2007): 79–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01426390601097750.
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Mawson, P. R., and C. E. Cooper. "The effect of changing land use on the availability of potential nest trees for the endangered Muir's corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator): a case study of the establishment of commercial Tasmanian blue gum plantations in Western Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 21, no. 2 (2015): 146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc14913.
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In the mid-1990s commercial Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) plantations were established in south-west Western Australia. We examined the extent of loss of potential nesting trees for an endangered obligate hollow-nesting cockatoo, Muir’s corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator), resulting from establishment of these plantations during 1995–2004. Clearing of native vegetation was extensive in both Tonebridge (51%) and Frankland (76%) study sites. The proportion of land used for timber plantation increased significantly from 2.4% to 12.1% (Tonebridge) and 0.5% to 9% (Frankland) in the period 1995–2004. Plantations were predominantly established on already cleared farmland, but during the rapid development of plantations, large numbers of remnant paddock trees (mean = 56%) in cleared farmland were removed. Despite the loss of more than 50% of potential nesting habitat over an area of 376km2 within its current distribution, Muir’s corella continued to increase in numbers. However, there are concerns about delayed impacts of the clearing of potential nest trees we have observed, and consequences of further tree loss during future plantation harvesting. Evidence-based demonstration of biodiversity protection is increasingly needed to fulfil forest and plantation stewardship requirements, so greater care needs to be directed towards the management of extant remnant vegetation in paddocks.
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Pettigrew, Melissa, and C. Michael Bull. "The impact of heavy grazing on burrow choice in the pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis." Wildlife Research 38, no. 4 (2011): 299. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr11052.
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Context Grazing pressure has directly altered and indirectly influenced natural ecosystems worldwide, and has affected and displaced many native species. The endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis is endemic to the mid-north of South Australia. It inhabits remnant native grasslands where it is reliant on the presence of natural spider burrows constructed by lycosid and mygalomorph spiders as refuge sites. These lizards spend the majority of the day associated with their burrow either in the burrow itself or basking at its entrance. The remnant native grasslands of South Australia have endured 200 years of agricultural changes and the introduction of domestic stock has meant that grazing pressure has substantially increased. The vegetation around a burrow is considered to be important in providing shelter for the lizard. However, too much vegetation may reduce basking opportunities and visibility of prey. Stock grazing has been maintained on the majority of sites that contain pygmy bluetongue populations and it is presumed that the lizards can tolerate some form of grazing. However, the level of grazing intensity directly influences the vegetation structure that surrounds the lizard burrows. Aims We aimed to investigate the consequences of severe grazing pressure on the choice of burrows by lizards, and on their burrow related behaviour. Methods We simulated heavy grazing pressure by manually removing aboveground vegetation in the field in replicated quadrats that contained artificial burrows, and by providing bare substrate in half of experimental enclosures in the laboratory. Key results In the field, lizards only occupied the artificial burrows in control quadrats, where vegetation had been left intact. In the laboratory, lizards that occupied both burrows basked for longer at the burrow entrance where vegetation was present. Conclusions Heavy grazing management that results in the majority of vegetation being removed could have a negative impact on pygmy bluetongue lizard recruitment and sustainability. Implications Grazing regimes should be carefully monitored to consider the needs of species that rely heavily on microhabitat structure for their persistence. For the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard, heavy grazing should be avoided to promote amounts of vegetation suitable to sustain viable populations.
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Fonsêca, Nathan C., Giselle L. Moreira, José Nailson B. Santos, Marília Isabelle O. da Silva, Máida Cynthia D. de Lima, Ana Jéssica S. Barbosa, Jéssica Stéfane A. Cunha, Diogo José O. Pimentel, Flávio Cipriano de A. do Carmo, and Felipe S. Amorim. "Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Vegetation Cover in a Diversity Hotspot for the Conservation of Brazilian Cerrado." Journal of Agricultural Science 11, no. 15 (September 15, 2019): 200. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n15p200.
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This work investigates the spatial-temporal dynamics of land use and vegetation covers in a conservation area of Cerrado, in the county of Currais, Piauí, in which the economy depends on large agricultural projects. We used maps of a 32-year time series (1985 to 2017) of land use and cover provided by the Brazilian Annual Land Use and Land Cover Mapping Project (MapBiomas). We assessed six classes of land uses and vegetation covers: forest, savanna, grassland, agriculture/pasture, non-vegetated area, and water bodies. There was a fast increase in pressure on natural ecosystems from 1985 and 2017, primarily from 2000. The land use for agriculture and pasture increased from 0.26% (726.93 ha) in 2000 to 16% (50,772.63 ha) in 2017. During this period, the native vegetation decreased 15.90%, with savannas suffering the largest loss in hectares of vegetation (41,663.73 ha), followed by the forests (9,837.35 ha). The grassland cover, non-vegetated area, and water bodies remained unchanged. These results provide essential information for decision making and can be used to guide public policies for the conservation, monitoring, and sustainable management of remnant vegetation areas.
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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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Smith, K. J., P. A. Fleming, T. L. Kreplins, and B. A. Wilson. "Population monitoring and habitat utilisation of the ash-grey mouse (Pseudomys albocinereus) in Western Australia." Australian Mammalogy 41, no. 2 (2019): 170. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am17061.
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Although Australia has a diverse native rodent fauna, the population dynamics and habitat requirements of most species have not yet been identified. Effective management for conservation of these species is therefore hindered. The aim of the present study was to investigate the habitat use and population dynamics of the ash-grey mouse (Pseudomys albocinereus) through trapping and radio-tracking in Boonanarring Nature Reserve, Western Australia. Although there was no relationship between capture rate and time since fire, ash-grey mice selected dense understorey vegetation. Burrows (47% of 19 unique daytime locations), Xanthorrhoea spp. (26%), tree hollows (11%), shrubs (11%), and logs were selected as daytime refuges. Mean (±s.e.) short-term home-range size was 1.70±0.97ha (n=9) (maximum=9.15ha). There was some evidence that ash-grey mice may be excluded from favourable habitat by a high abundance of house mice (Mus musculus). Management to prevent declines of ash-grey mice should minimise threats to significant habitat features – areas with dense understorey vegetation, soils suitable for burrowing, grasstrees, hollow logs, and tree hollows. Suitable management strategies include: retention or rehabilitation of remnant vegetation; exclusion of livestock; low-intensity, small-area burns; and control of weeds, introduced predators and Phytophthora cinnamomi.
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Lunt, Ian D. "Effects of long-term vegetation management on remnant grassy forests and anthropogenic native grasslands in south-eastern Australia." Biological Conservation 81, no. 3 (September 1997): 287–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3207(96)00159-0.
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