Academic literature on the topic 'Souther Tablelands'

Results are presented of a survey of pastoral properties on the Central, Southern and Monaro Tablelands of New South Wales carried out during 1991—92. Landholders were interviewed to obtain information on property size, enterprise types, grazing management, tree clearing, fertiliser history and carrying capacity. In addition, familiarity with native grass species, and knowledge of their value were determined. The main grazing enterprises were wool and beef. The most common form of livestock management was continuous grazing. Most properties had been extensively cleared of trees (average cleared area 80%), and there had been a significant amount of disturbance of the original pastures. This varied from 40% of total property area for the Central and Monaro Tablelands to 60% for the Southern Tablelands. The main form of disturbance was cultivation for pasture sowing or fodder cropping. Landholders had used 80% more fertiliser on disturbed areas than on undisturbed areas, with most fertiliser applied on the Southern Tablelands and least on the Monaro Tablelands. The average carrying capacities of undisturbed and disturbed pastures over the tablelands were 4.3 and 7.7 dry sheep equivalents per hectare, respectively. While most landholders were satisfied with the performance of their sown pastures, there was a lack of knowledge of the contribution of native perennial grasses to pasture production. Using survey data, it was estimated that pastures with native grasses as the major components covered a minimum of 1.38 million hectares or 40% of the surveyed area. With such a large contribution to production, there is a need to assist landholders to identify native perennial grasses so that their potential value can be more fully realised.

Abstract Persistent scatterers SAR interferometry (PS-InSAR) was employed to monitor surface deformation in and around the Tainan tableland using 20 advanced synthetic aperture radar (ASAR) images from the ENVISAT satellite taken during the period from 2005 May 19 to 2008 September 25. In our study, we have found that the uplift rate of the northern Tainan tableland is faster than the southern tableland. The slant range displacement (SRD) rate for the area north along the precise leveling array is about 5 to 10 mm/yr with respect to the western edge of the Tainan tableland, whereas the SRD rate for the area south of the leveling array is about 1 to 5 mm/yr. In addition, the uplifted area extends eastward to the Tawan lowland with a maximum SRD rate of nearly 10 mm/yr, which is almost the same as the rate of the Tainan tableland. Results of this study differ from those suggested in previous researches that employed ERS-1/2 radar images taken from 1996 to 1999 and the differential interferometry synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR) technique. Our findings indicated that the Tawan lowland no longer subsides with respect to the western edge of the Tainan tableland, and that both northern and southern areas are experiencing uplift.

This co-learning study with greater lotus (Lotus uliginosus Schukr.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) was undertaken in the Perennial Pasture Zone of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in conjunction with 14 community groups. The overall study combined a field experiment investigating grazing management practices with a co-learning study assessing the adaptation and potential applications of these 2 Lotus species. The present paper reports on the co-learning study. Seventeen sites were established on farms situated in the North Coast, Northern Tablelands, North West Slopes, South Coast and Southern Tablelands regions of NSW. Of the 17 co-learning sites, greater lotus or birdsfoot trefoil was established successfully and yielded useful findings at 9 of 10 sites in northern NSW and 3 of 7 sites in southern NSW. Establishment failure of greater lotus or birdsfoot trefoil at the 5 remaining sites was associated with severe drought conditions at, or shortly following, sowing. Results from across the 4 regions are collated to report on the adaptation of the 2 Lotus species to a diversity of climatic, edaphic and management applications. The study has confirmed that greater lotus is a valuable perennial legume for high rainfall coastal plains, coastal low-lands, coastal hill-country and niche tablelands environments where the average annual rainfall (AAR) exceeds 1000 mm. Significantly, the study shows that birdsfoot trefoil has important potential for low fertility acidic soils on tablelands and slopes where the AAR is 650–1000 mm, especially in northern NSW.

Pastures on 126 properties on the central, southern, and Monaro tablelands were surveyed to determine their botanical composition. Data on climate, soils, pasture sowing, fertiliser history, and stock management were collected to relate current composition to environmental factors and previous management. Native grass-based pastures were found to be widespread, and in many cases, pastures were dominated by native grasses, despite many decades of pasture improvement. Seventeen genera of native perennial grasses comprising over 35 species were identified. The most common species on the central tablelands were Austrodanthonia spp., Bothriochloa macra, and Microlaena stipoides; on the southern tablelands, Austrodanthoniaspp. and M. stipoides; and on the Monaro, Poa spp., Austrodanthonia spp., Themeda australis, and Austrostipa spp. Soil type was the most important factor affecting species distribution, and other soil attributes such as texture, pH, P, and N were also important. Environmental (rainfall) and management (superphosphate application, stock type, stocking rate) factors also influenced distribution. The significant areas of native grass pastures that were found suggest a decline in sown species and a recolonisation of sown pastures with native grasses. The potential for manipulation of botanical composition of these grasslands is discussed, together with their value for production and sustainability.

Two monitoring projects were conducted to investigate weaner mortality in commercial Merino flocks in the Yass and the Central Tablelands Rural Lands Protection Boards located in the Southern Tablelands agricultural region of New South Wales. The projects were conducted in Yass in 2005 and in the Central Tablelands in 2006. A random sample of weaners from four flocks in the Yass board and 11 flocks in the Central Tablelands board were regularly weighed, growth rates were calculated after weaning and survival was determined by the continuing presence of an individual weaner at subsequent weighing activities. Weaning weight was the most important factor in determining postweaning liveweight, growth rates and survival with the significant impact of weaning weight on liveweight persisting for up to 6 months after weaning. Despite the lightest weaners being capable of considerable compensatory growth given sufficient postweaning nutrition, the lightest 25% of weaners were more than twice as likely to die as heavier weaners. A focus on ewe nutrition and parasite control during late pregnancy and lactation will allow Merino producers to achieve higher weaning weights that will set their weaners up for strong postweaning growth with a decreased likelihood of mortality.

A study was undertaken in the Perennial Pasture Zone in New South Wales, Australia, to investigate the potential of lotus-based pastures (greater lotus, Lotus uliginosus Schukr.; birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L.) to improve grazing production. The study was based on a methodology that combined a grazing experiment to determine the effects of grazing management on lotus persistence, with a co-learning phase to assess the adaptation and applications of lotus across the high rainfall zone. The present paper reports on the grazing experiment that was replicated in 4 regions (North Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands) and that included combinations of grazing strategy (summer rest, autumn rest, 14-day spell or 28-day spell), grazing intensity (low or high herbage mass), Lotus species and cultivar (L. uliginosus cvv. Grasslands Maku, Sharnae; L. corniculatus cv. Grasslands Goldie or ‘Spanish’ breeding line) and companion grass (sown or volunteer) treatments. The experiment provided results for the establishment and botanical presence of both Lotus species, and the expression of their persistence mechanisms in these 4 environments. Greater lotus cv. Grasslands Maku established best under coastal conditions and birdsfoot trefoil cv. Grasslands Goldie established best under tablelands conditions. The degree of nodulation of greater lotus cv. Sharnae and birdsfoot trefoil cv. Grasslands Goldie was less than nodulation of greater lotus cv. Grasslands Maku, but nodulation had no apparent effect on seedling vigour. The population density of all Lotus cultivars declined substantially at the North Coast, South Coast and Southern Tablelands sites during severe drought conditions. However, both birdsfoot trefoil cv. Grasslands Goldie and greater lotus cv. Grasslands Maku remained relatively stable at the Northern Tablelands site with greater lotus cv. Grasslands Maku maintaining 20–40% presence and birdsfoot trefoil cv. Grasslands Goldie retaining 30–50% presence, depending on time of year. In general, there was little effect of grazing management practice on arresting the decline in lotus presence due to drought, or on enhancing the regeneration processes associated with lotus persistence.

There has been a recent flurry of field guides to grassy ecosystems in southeastern Australia, and all the publications have been excellent. This attractive field guide is no exception. It is a spiral-bound A-sized booklet, ideal for the glovebox or the backpack. It is easy to use for both the novice and expert, with colour coding separating sections on grasses, rushes and sedges, lilies, orchids, forbs, ferns, shrubs and trees. Within each life form section entries are alphabetical for grasses and sedges, but generally species are grouped together based on the colour of their flowers. And an excellent addition is the inclusion of weeds ? many interested users will be very pleased to sort out which species are native or not ? often a challenge in grasslands! The text is informative and uses non-technical language. It is most helpful to have notes on similar species and how to tell the difference. Large colour symbols clearly indicate if a species is annual, exotic, noxious or threatened. Brief management notes are also very practical and informative. A short glossary and explanation of terms also makes this a useful guide, especially for beginners. A brief but adequate introduction outlines the conservation plight of native grasslands, and gives information on threatened plant species and plant communities, grassland animals and management of grassy ecosystems. This is an excellent publication, very comprehensive, great value and useable throughout southeastern Australia. Every time I have had my copy in the field a landowner has grabbed it, and then several of their mates ring up for a copy too.

Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) is a perennial grass of Mediterranean origin used widely by the sheep and cattle industries of south-eastern Australia. Winter-active cultivars released since the 1970's have the potential for higher herbage productivity than the earlier, semi-winter dormant cultivars but have been reported to be less persistent under sub-optimal grazing management and soil conditions. To improve genetic potential for persistence in winter-active phalaris, a program of recurrent selection was conducted by subjecting three populations of half-sib families to two cycles of selection for persistence under heavy, largely continuous grazing pressure. Cycle 2 progeny families and bulked seedlots of each generation were grown in separate grazed plot trials in Western Victoria and the Southern Tablelands and North-West Slopes of New South Wales from 1999-2003 to assess response to selection. Positive linear response to selection was observed in all populations at the Western Victorian and Southern Tablelands sites. Response to selection was absent and persistence was very low under higher temperature and drought stress on the North-West Slopes. This high level of genotype × environment interaction for persistence was also observed among final generation families. Families with better persistence than current winteractive cultivars at the two southern sites were identified in each population and a new cultivar is being formed from the parents.

Clearance of Eucalyptus woodlands has resulted in soil deterioration and lost agricultural production, due to wind erosion, salinity and soil acidity. Despite increasing efforts to reverse these trends through Landcare and other revegetation and agroforestry programs, there is a lack of experimentally-based information about the effects of trees on native pasture performance. The study was carried out in a temperate environment (Southern Tablelands, New South Wales). The altitude at the study sites ranged from 740 to 880m and the aspect at the experimental plots varied from SE to SW. The nearest site was 16 km from Canberra Airport and all sites were situated within similar rainfall isohyets as Canberra Airport. Thus climatic conditions were expected to be similar. Climate records at Canberra Airport indicate that January is the hottest month with mean maximum temperature of 27.7 �C and July is the coldest month with a maximum of 11.1 �C. Rainfall in the area ranges from 37.5 to 66.0 mm monthly average in June and October respectively. The main tree species in the study area were Eucalyptus pauciflora, E. melliodora and E. mannifera. Furthermore, Poa labillardieri, P. sieberiana, Themeda australis, Danthonia penicillata and Microlaena stipoides were the most abundant pasture species on the experimental plots. Species of clover (Trifolium spp.) were also abundant among the herbs. This study used pasture assessment techniques to quantify the effects of remnant patches of Eucalyptus open woodlands on the composition, quality and biomass production of herbaceous understorey vegetation. Microclimate and soil nutrients were also compared under trees and in the open. In addition, consumption by vertebrate grazers under Eucalyptus trees and in the open was compared. Tree density and basal area were compared with herbage standing crop. Remnant patches of Eucalyptus open woodlands modify the microclimate by reducing wind reaching the understorey vegetation. However no significant effects on ambient air temperature and relative humidity were recorded. The effect of trees on soil moisture was contingent to differences between the four sites and soil depth. Despite a 13% higher soil organic matter in the top 15 cm of soil under trees, soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus did not differ from that in the open. Surface soil pH values were lower (by 0.2 units) under the trees. No significant effect of trees on pasture species richness was found. However the classification of quadrats on the basis of species presence showed a distinction between species composition under trees and in the open at one of the four sites. vi The contribution of pasture species to total dry weight on plots under trees and in the open did depend on the particular species involved and was also contingent to differences between sites. However at the sites where Vulpia bromoides and Poa sieberiana were abundant, the two species dominated the biomass under trees. Whereas Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides dominated the biomass under trees at two sites and in the open at only one of the four sites. Pasture total N content differed between sites. Two of the sites had significantly higher (5.9% and 19.7%) N content under trees. On the contrary, pastures at one site contained 18.7% higher N content in the open. The total P content was 18% higher in pastures under trees. Overall, the pasture standing crop under trees was 15% less than in the open during August to May. Vertebrate grazers consumed about the same amount of pasture under the trees and in the open at the four experimental sites.

The experiments described in this thesis were designed to assess changes in pasture dynamics (biomass and species composition of pasture) of grazing land on the Southern Tablelands of ACT and NSW, after 16 combinations of rabbit control treatments had been applied. The rabbit control performed by CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology consisted of all combinations of presence-absence of Poisoning (using sodium monofluoroacetate, 1080: POIS), Ripping (ripping warrens using a tractor fitted with ripping tynes: RIP), Fumigation (pressure fumigation using chloropicrin: FUM) and repeated follow-up fumigation (using phostoxin pellets one, six and eighteen months after completion of the initial treatment: ANN). The pasture was assessed before treatments were applied, and every six months after rabbit control treatments. Treatment combinations were assigned randomly in a 24 factorial design on a total of 32 sites. There was a significant increase of pasture biomass at the RIP+ANN treatment at post-treatment sample 5. The analysis of covariance did not detect any other significant increase or decrease of pasture biomass for any rabbit control treatment, at any posttreatment sample. A significant increase of grass species occurred for the treatments of POIS+RIP+FUM, POIS and RIP+ANN for the post-treatment samples of 1, 3 and 5 respectively. There was a significant increase of thistles at the rabbit control treatments of POIS+RIP+FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 1), RIP, ANN, RIP+FUM, RIP+FUM+ANN and POIS+RIP+FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 3) and RIP and FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 5). A significant increase of weeds occurred at FUM (post-treatment sample 3) and at FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 5). No significant changes in the amount of herbs or legumes was apparent for any rabbit control treatment or post-treatment sample. There were no significant decreases for any species group. Except for the significant results for post-treatment sample 1, all significant increases of biomass for any species group occurred during spring (post-treatment sample 3 and 5) which suggests a growth phase during spring then subsequent dieback (particularly for thistles and weeds), as any change was not detected in the following autumn sample. No strong trend is evident for any particular rabbit control treatments, or any combination of treatments. Analysis of covariance revealed that the rabbit control treatment of RIP+ANN showed significant increases in both total biomass of pasture and grass biomass during post-treatment sample 5. This treatment reduced the number of active entrances the most. Significant positive correlations were found between pasture biomass (total) with grass, herb, legume, thistle and weed species groups. Significant negative correlations between grass biomass and the number of active entrances were found when the rabbit control had been highly effective in reducing the number of active entrances. When rabbit control had not been very successful, there was a significant positive but low correlation with the number of active entrances. There was no significant relationship between the number of active entrances with the weight of rabbit dung pellets. It is reasoned that they are different measures of rabbit abundance. More rabbit dung pellets were found closer to the warren than further away from the warren, but there was no correlation between rabbit dung and pasture biomass. Rainfall was above average for most of the experiment, biomass increased accordingly, and rabbit control was highly successful. The resulting changes in the pasture were difficult to detect, although some increases in species composition groups occurred. It is reasoned that the changes observed are partly attributable to seasonal conditions, and to high rainfall. Grazing by domestic animals, sheep and cattle, had been found to be consistent throughout the experiment.

The red fox occurs across a very broad range of habitats, and displays great behavioural flexibility under different environmental conditions. In Australia, mounting concern over the impacts of foxes on livestock and native fauna has highlighted a need for more information on fox ecology under Australian conditions as a fundamental step towards developing more strategic means of managing foxes. This study explores ranging behaviour, dispersal, use of dens, activity rhythms, population dynamics and diet in the absence of management in productive agricultural land in the central tablelands of New South Wales. The study was conducted from June 1994 to June 1997 on private property near Murringo, NSW Australia (34°15� S, 148°30� E). The site was primarily sheep and cattle grazing land and had a history of no fox management. Rainfall was considerably below average for much of the study. A total of 83 foxes were trapped over 3931 trapnights, of which 50 were fitted with radio-collars (23 adult and 6 juvenile females, 12 adult and 9 juvenile males) and 26 released with eartags only (all juveniles: 10 females, 16 males). Thirty-three foxes were radio-tracked using fixed towers between March 1995 and December 1996, with between 11 and 28 foxes tracked at any time. Mean home range size was 446.1 ha ± 69.8 se using 95% Minimum Convex Polygons (MCP), and 276.4 ha ± 36.3 se using 95% kernel utilisation distributions. Male home ranges defined by MCP were significantly larger than female ranges, but no significant difference was found using 95% kernels. Core ranges were estimated to be 133.4 ha ± 23.7 se using 50% MCP and 59.8 ha ± 6.1 se using 95% kernels, with no significant difference between sexes. No significant differences were found between range sizes of adults and juveniles or between years or seasons. While most home ranges were steady for the duration of the study, some foxes were observed to shift range location and 4 foxes displayed nomadic behaviour for at least some of the study. There was a high incidence of overlapping home ranges, most commonly between females or males and females but occasionally between males, but core areas were usually separate. Fully overlapping core areas were observed in 1995 but not in 1996. Juvenile foxes were significantly more likely to disperse than adults, and usually travelled further (juveniles 61.1 km 31.6 ± se; adults 5.9 km 1.1 ± se). Males and females were equally likely to disperse, and there was no significant difference in the distance travelled. The furthest distances were 285 km and 140 km, but mean distance of dispersal excluding these animals was 12.3 km ± 4.3 se (n = 13). Thorough surveys across a 16.4 km² area located 200 dens, with 68 of these active in 1995 and 96 active in 1996. Density of breeding foxes was estimated to be 0.55 and 0.52 adult foxes/km² in 1995 and 1996 respectively based on natal den counts. Density estimates based on active den counts, which include non-breeding foxes, were 0.91and 1.30 foxes/km² in 1995 and 1996 respectively. These estimates appear lower than other studies in similar habitats but this is likely due to using a half home range boundary strip around the surveyed area in the present study. Application of mark-recapture analysis found very high �recapture� rates of dens and gave a similar estimate of the total number of dens to that observed directly. Natal dens were regularly distributed across the study area, whereas active dens tended to be in clusters. There was a high turnover of which dens were used each year, but the total number of natal dens was similar across years (16 in 1995 and 17 in 1996). Natal dens were more likely to be used on repeat occasions than other dens, but not necessarily by the same vixen. Litter size based on sightings of emergent cubs was 2.8. Foxes were predominantly nocturnal, with a major peak in activity about an hour after sunset. A new method of analysing activity rhythm data using Fourier series to mathematically describe animal movements was developed, that allowed systematic identification of the cyclical components underlying overall movement patterns. General fox behaviour could be clearly described by a 24-hour and a 12-hour cyclical component when corrected for variation in daylength. The rising and setting of the sun appeared to be a major trigger underlying movement patterns. Seasonal and sex differences were observed in patterns of activity. The annual rate of increase of the fox population was found to vary around a mean of zero between June 1994 and June 1997. A major drop in fox numbers as estimated by spotlight counts occurred in the second half of 1995, but numbers recovered by the end of 1996. Kaplan-Meier analysis of radio-tagged foxes found annual adult survival was generally very high (0.56-0.96) with lowest survival between July and October. Causes of mortality were human-related outside the site and apparently of natural causes within the site. However foxes dying of natural causes outside the site were unlikely to be found. There was no overall movement of foxes into or out of the site. Immigration was detected following the drop in fox numbers in late 1995, but there was no evidence of immigration prior to this period although emigration occurred. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the effects of a small change in life history parameters on finite rate of increase using published data as well as adult mortality data from the present study. The two most influential life-history parameters were adult and juvenile survival, while changes in fecundity and age at first reproduction had much less impact on finite rate of increase. In terms of management, in which fertility control is being considered as an alternative to lethal control, this implies that a small change in fecundity may cause less change in the rate of increase of foxes than lethal control. Foxes were culled in June 1997 on completion of the study. Estimated density using a Petersen estimate was 2.4-5.3 foxes/km² and index-manipulation-index was 1.4-3.2 foxes/km². The different methods used to cull foxes appeared to target different age groups within the population, and were generally biased in favour of younger foxes. Success at killing animals was low, leading to large standard errors in the population estimates. Stomachs of foxes shot in the Orange district were found to contain predominantly rabbit and carrion, with invertebrates present when abundant. These findings were not strictly representative of the diet of foxes in the study area, where rabbits were scarce. Foxes scavenged heavily on lamb carcasses within the study site. The quantity of fresh lamb carrion removed from a lambing paddock in winter 1996 was estimated to support 13-24 foxes, with available fresh lamb theoretically able to support 240-440 foxes. Density based on removal of fresh carcasses was estimated to be 0.83-1.5 foxes/km².

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD)
The European red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) is a well known predator of native species and domestic stock, and is recognised as one of Australia’s most devastating vertebrate pests. Current fox management relies heavily on poisoning using baits impregnated with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080). This reliance on 1080 is likely to continue given the lack of viable alternatives for controlling foxes, so that, in the meanwhile, it is important to improve the efficiency of the current techniques. Factors affecting the susceptibility of individual foxes to bait include their ability to locate it, as well as the bait’s palatability and toxicity. The economic costs associated with using different bait types, the pattern and density of their distribution will also affect the efficiency of control programs. It is essential to examine and refine all such issues to ensure efficient use of the 1080 baiting technique. This thesis focuses generally on problems associated with management of the fox in eastern Australia. More specifically, I investigate the factors affecting the efficiency of fox baiting practices on the central tablelands of New South Wales. The study was conducted largely on agricultural lands near the town of Molong (33010’ 37”S, 148087’15”E) on the central tablelands of New South Wales. This area was chosen as it is broadly representative, in terms of land use, of a large region of eastern Australia. The highly modified, predominantly agricultural landscapes near Molong are well suited to foxes, and conflict with the predominantly pastoral community means that fox management is widely undertaken. I determined the persistence of 1080 in two commonly used bait types, Foxoff® and chicken wingettes, under different climatic and rainfall conditions. The rate of 1080 degradation did not change significantly between the central tablelands and the relatively hotter and drier western slopes. Foxoff® baits remained lethal for longer than wingettes under all conditions, although their rate of degradation generally increased with increasing rainfall. I confirmed the presence of defluorinating micro-organisms in thesoils of eastern Australia for the first time, and suggest that, following removal from the bait, 1080 would not persist in the environment for long. Bait should be attractive and highly palatable to ensure that the target species will find and consume it upon discovery. Caching, where discovered food is removed but not immediately consumed, may potentially reduce the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of baiting campaigns. I quantified the caching of chicken wingette, day-old chick and Foxoff® baits by inserting transmitters into bait material and assessing whether it was eaten or cached following removal. The intensity of caching did not change significantly between seasons. Type of bait had the largest influence on caching intensity, with a greater percentage of non-toxic Foxoff® baits (66.9%) being cached than either wingettes (5.7%) or day-old chicks (4.5%). The percentage of toxic (1080) baits cached was even greater, suggesting that 1080 bait may be less palatable, and detectable to foxes. I also investigated the use of conditioned taste aversion to reduce multiple bait uptake by foxes. Levamisole, an illness-inducing chemical, was added to bait and the fate of removed bait was again monitored via radio-telemetry. Following consumption of a levamisole-treated bait, foxes avoided eating treated baits but consumed untreated baits. I concluded that a reduction in bait consumption was achieved through learned aversion to levamisole rather than via conditioned taste aversion to baits. Adding levamisole to baits, especially non-toxic bait such as rabies vaccines, could potentially be used to reduce bait monopolisation by individual foxes. Fox density and den site preferences were assessed by investigating the distribution and density of fox natal dens on one property (9.6 km2) over three consecutive years. A total of 9 natal dens were located in 2000 and 2001, declining to 6 in 2002. No preference was shown for den sites on the basis of habitat, slope or aspect, but more dens were located under, or adjacent to cover. Assuming that each natal den represents a breeding pair and that the population sex ratio did not differ from parity (1:1), the site contained a prebreeding density of 1.9 foxes/km2 in 2000 and 2001, and 1.25 foxes/km2 in 2002. Given that the mean number of cubs is 4.0, the post-breeding density was estimated at 5.6 and 3.75 foxes/km2 in 2000/2001 and 2002, respectively. The results demonstrated that high densities of foxes occur on agricultural lands. The success and likely accuracy of the technique to monitor fox density suggests that it may be used to calibrate more efficient abundance estimates that will be essential for the strategic management of foxes in future. Pest animal management strategies are traditionally assessed for their effectiveness, with less consideration being given to the efficiency or cost of achieving the desired effect. I used cost-effectiveness analyses to compare between different baiting strategies based on the longevity, palatability and handling/replacement costs associated with each bait type. The results indicated that, when measured on a total cost-per-bait-consumed basis, wingettes and day-old chicks were the most cost-effective baits for campaigns of up to 4 weeks duration. This demonstrates the importance of including the longevity, and particularly the palatability of bait, when assessing cost-effectiveness. However, it is recognised that other factors, including the consistency of dosage and uptake by nontarget species, may be equally or more important in deciding the appropriate baiting strategy. The spatial and temporal application of fox baiting in the region overseen by the Molong Rural Lands Protection Board was examined between January 1998 and December 2002 as a case study to evaluate the apparent effectiveness of cooperative management practices. Most landholders (78.8%) did not bait for foxes during this period. Based on known dispersal distances, the effect of fox immigration into baited areas was determined. The results indicated that no areas baited for foxes were separated by a sufficient buffer distance (>9.58 km) from unbaited areas to be protected from fox immigration. This suggests that, at current levels of coordination, the effectiveness of most baiting operations in eastern Australia is compromised over the long term by fox immigration. However, it is recognised that short-term reductions in fox density may sometimes be all that are required to reduce predation to acceptable levels, especially for seasonally-susceptible prey. Ultimately, the cost-effectiveness of control should be evaluated in terms of the response of the prey rather than that of the predator. This study has highlighted deficiencies in current ‘best-practice’ baiting techniques. Specific recommendations for current baiting practices, in addition to future research, are also given. In brief, these include minimising free-feed baiting, increasing the minimum distance between bait stations, and, where possible, presenting the most palatable bait. Continued research into conditioned taste aversion, aerial baiting, and techniques to reduce caching are recommended as potential techniques to improve the efficiency of baiting practices.

碩士
國立中央大學
地球物理研究所
96
The main topography in Taiwan Island is tipical structure and ranges with a N—S strike because of the direction of plate movement and the geometry of plate boundary. In addition, The existence of Kuanyin High causes a series of structures with a E—W strike developing in northwestern Taiwan and dominating the deformation of entire area, such as Hukou fault. Besides, since southern Taoyuan Tablelands area is one of the most populated area in northwestern Taiwan, the tectonic activity and the potential geological hazard of this area is an important issue for Taiwan. The Hukou fault in southern Taoyaun Tablelands is evaluated as one of the major and active structures in northwestern Taiwan, along which some industrial parks and communities are well developed. In order to realize the interaction between surface deformation behavior and subsurface structure of this area, we mainly apply DInSAR-technique to engage this study, and cooperate strain rate field analysis, pebble-frature paleostress analysis, and simulated surface deformation from fault model. The interferometric results reveal that the Pingchen area has a few local deformation center, but the surface deformation patterns is not clear to observe in the vicinity of the fault zone. However, the result of pebble-frature paleostress analysis and strain rate field analysis indicate that study area is under a NW-SE stress field(111°~141°) and has slightly obvious strain strength along Hukou fault.Otherwise, we construct a subsurface structure including four faults with distinct dip, and simulate the surface deformation by giving various slip rates. Unexpectedly, the optimum result is well consist with the DInSAR result. The result implies that Hukou is still active with a subtle slip rate around 0.5 cm/yr and influence the suface deformation behavior of southern Taoyuan Tablelands in recent day.

The Hunter Region, between the Hawkesbury and Manning rivers in eastern New South Wales, hosts a rich diversity of vegetation, with many species found nowhere else. Spanning an area from the coast to the tablelands and slopes, its rainforests, wet and dry sclerophyll forests, woodlands, heathlands, grasslands and swamps are known for their beauty and ecological significance. Flora of the Hunter Region describes 54 endemic trees and large shrubs, combining art and science in a manner rarely seen in botanical identification guides. Species accounts provide information on distribution, habitat, flowering, key diagnostic features and conservation status, along with complete taxonomic descriptions. Each account includes stunning botanical illustrations produced by graduates of the University of Newcastle's Bachelor of Natural History Illustration program. The illustrations depict key diagnostic features and allow complete identification of each species. This publication will be a valuable resource for those interested in the plants of the region, including researchers, environmental consultants, horticulturalists and gardeners, bush walkers, herbaria, and others involved in land management.

One of Barry Cunliffe’s major areas of research interest has been societies in transition, especially in the context of core/periphery relationships between expanding states and societies on their margins. Much of this work has been on the relationships between Rome and the Iron Age societies of southern Britain on the northwestern margins of the empire, and the subsequent pathways of resistance, interaction, and transformation. In this chapter we focus on events and processes on the opposite margins of the Roman empire in the Levant, where the Nabataean state was formally incorporated into the Roman imperial system some sixty years after the Claudian invasion of Britain. We draw on the results of the Wadi Faynan Landscape Survey (1996–2000), an interdisciplinary and diachronic investigation of evidence of environmental and climatic change, settlement pattern, and human activity in the Wadi Faynan in southern Jordan (figure 7.1). Situated about 40 kilometres from the Nabataean capital of Petra, the Wadi Faynan lies in the hot and hyper-arid Jordanian Desert, at a distinctive and spectacular mountain front that reaches 1500m above the desert floor. This landform marks the eastern margin of the desert lowlands of the great Jordanian rift valley, with the trough of the Wadi ‘Arabah to the south and west, and the highlands of the Mountains of Edom and the Jordanian tablelands to the east and north (Bienkowski and Galor 2006). The mean summer temperature on the Jordanian tablelands is in the order of 178c, compared with winter temperatures of about 12ºc (Bruins 2006; Rabb’a 1994). Winter temperatures on the desert floor in the Wadi Faynan are much the same as on the plateau, but in summer temperatures frequently reach 40ºc. Seasonality is strong, with most rain falling between December and March and virtually no precipitation occurring between June and September. Annual rainfall in the lower Wadi Faynan is around 63mm and even less in theWadi ‘Arabah (‘Aqaba receives 30mm for example), whereas the Jordanian Tablelands have an average precipitation exceeding 200mm per year.

The objective of this chapter is to highlight the seasonal statistical variability of rainfalls in Danube Delta and Dobrogea Tableland (Romania), considering the extreme and outliers values. The geomorphological and evaporimetric features of this region are also mentioned. Area of study is a complex geographical region, with two major units: the Dobrogea Tableland and the Danube Delta spread over 14,695 sq. km in the south-eastern part of Romania. The outcomes show that the minimum and maximum values of the lower quartile median and of the upper quartile median with the highest values occur in summer. The lowest values occur for all the indicators during winter and there are intermediate values for all indicators during autumn and spring. Regarding the seasonal variability of rainfalls, it has a mosaic distribution of the outliers and extreme values. The extreme values record a small number of values, both in autumn and summer. The maximum number of extreme values is during spring and winter. The drought is amplified by evaporation from water surface in summer.