Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Weeds South Australia'

Pittosporum undulatum Vent. (Sweet Pittosporum) is a densely foliaged tall shrub or small tree, native to the wet forests of south east Australia, This species now functions as a serious environmental weed in a range of habitats in Australia and on other continents and islands throughout the temperate, sub-tropical and tropical zones. This study investigated some of the ecological causes and consequences of P. undulatum invasion across a range of habitat types in south east Australia. Key aspects of P. undulatum biology and ecology investigated in the current study include; patterns of morphological variation across the range of habitats occupied (as a measure of the species’ plasticity), dispersal ecology and seed germinability, population structure and spatial pattern, community relationships and the ecological impacts of invasion. Phenotypic plasticity is considerable in P. undulatum. No clear patterns of geographic variation emerged from a study of leaf morphological attributes across the current range of this species on mainland south east Australia. The pattern of morphological variation is particularly complex in Victoria, where the invasion of this species is most advanced. The species’ adaptability to a range of environments and environmental conditions will likely promote further range expansion. The abundant winter fruit crop produced by functionally female P. undulatum plants attracts a suite of generalist opportunistic frugivores, which feed on P. undulatum fruits and seeds at various stages of fruit dehiscence, thereby enhancing dispersal opportunities for this species. P. undulatum seed collected from natural and invasive populations, at two stages of fruit maturity and from the scats and pellets of dispersal agents, displayed high germinability. European Blackbirds and Pied Currawongs are implicated as the main avian dispersal agents of P undulatum in south east Australia. The broader ecological implications of developing relationships between invasive fleshy-fruited bird-dispersed plant species and adaptive frugivores are likely to be considerable. The distribution of P. undulatutn seedlings was significantly negatively correlated with adult conspecifics and significantly positively correlated with trees and shrubs of other genera. This pattern reflects the importance of both firugivorous dispersal agents and the species’ germination and establishment requirements, in shaping the contagious distribution pattern typical of this species. These analyses suggest that recruitment opportunities for conspecific seedlings are limited beneath the canopy of adult conspecifics. Densities of P. undulatum were on average, 2.7 times higher in invaded populations, compared to the natural populations sampled. A male-bias was evident in all populations and no relationships between reproductive activity and the density of seedlings and juveniles were evident. Invading populations of P. undulatum impose substantial changes on ecosystem-level properties and functions. Mean species richness and cover-abundance declined notably once P. undulatum cover-abundance exceeded 20% at the invaded sites and 60% at the natural sites sampled. The natural communities sampled displayed comparatively greater resilience to the competitive effects of P. undulatum, but community attributes were affected at high densities and cover-abundance of this species. The cover-abundance of herbs and grasses declined most substantially with increasing P. undulatum at invaded sites, whereas, at the natural sites sampled, the species’ structural analogues appeared to be most affected by increasing P. undulatum cover-abundance. This study has demonstrated that the ecological consequences of P. undulatum population expansion are substantial and contribute to changes in the composition and successional trajectory of affected communities. These processes ultimately lead to the loss and simplification of biodiversity values and the homogenisation of affected habitats. P. undulatum has the potential to emerge as one of south east Australia's most serious environmental weed species.

[Truncated abstract] Annual grasses have colonised a diverse range of environments in southern Australia. The “Silvergrasses” of the genus Vulpia are excellent examples being widely distributed, are prevalent weeds of agriculture and have had a long history to naturalise on the continent. Research was undertaken on Vulpia populations to identify if naturalising species have reproductive traits that provide propagules with the best chances of success. Furthermore, research aimed at investigating if these traits vary between species and their populations and how this variability related to the environment. A herbarium and field study was undertaken to establish what Vulpia species occur in SW Australia and to investigate environmental factors affecting their distribution. 169 herbaria specimens was examined and a botanical field survey of 189 sites was carried out in September 1998. Four species occur in the region: V. fasciculata, V. muralis, V. bromoides and two variants of V. myuros (V. myuros var. megalura and V. myuros var. myuros). V. bromoides and V. myuros were introduced early into the region while V. fasciculata and V. muralis more recently. It is plausible that Vulpia invaded the region via early seaport settlements and was spread by agricultural expansion. 96% of field sites contained V. myuros var. myuros, 79% V. myuros var. megalura, 50% V. bromoides, 6% V. fasciculata and 6% contained V. muralis. 90% of sites contained a mix of species and 9% of sites contained pure species stands. V. myuros var. myuros is the most widespread species and dominant form of V. myuros. It is found from high rainfall regions through to arid locations occurring on mostly light textured low fertility soils. V. muralis and V. fasciculata occur infrequently with the former widely dispersed and the later occurring predominantly on sands. V. bromoides occurs extensively in high rainfall regions but rarely extends to locations receiving less than 400-450mm annual rainfall and northward above 30°00’ latitude. It is predominantly on light to loamy textured soils that are fertile and acid. The most common species V. myuros and V. bromoides often coexist within sites but the dominance of one over the other is strongly correlated with growing season length and false break frequency. V. bromoides is positively correlated to growing season length and V. myuros is negatively related. The distribution of Vulpia species is strongly influenced by climate and soils. Variability in distribution is a reflection of the ecological differentiation between species to colonise different environments

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-198) The horehound plume moth (Wheeleria spilodactylus Curits), an agent introduced to control the invasive weed horehound (Murrubium vulgare L.), was used as a model system to investigate factors believed to influence the successful establishment of an introduced natural enemy. Retrospectively tests the use of generic population viability analysis and decision making tools for determining optimal release strategies for the horehound plume moth in South Australia and to compare outcomes with the emprical data collected during the course of this project

Salsola australis is an introduced weed of crop and pasture systems in the Western Australian broad acre cropping and pasture region (wheat-belt). This thesis investigated the classification, biology and ecology of the genus Salsola in southwest Australia, as well as modelling the effectiveness of possible weed control practices. Prior to this research, S. tragus was the only recognised species of the Salsola genus within Australia. However, genetic analysis revealed that four genetically distinct putative taxa of the genus Salsola were found in southwest Australia, none of which were S. tragus. The taxa that is the most prevalent agricultural weed was classified as S. australis, but the other three putative taxa could not be matched to recognised species. All four taxa were diploid (2n = 18), as opposed to tetraploid (2n = 36) S. tragus. Within the agricultural system of southwest Australia, S. australis plants established throughout the year, although the majority of seed production occurred in late summer and autumn. Total seed production (138-7734 seeds per plant) and seed viability (7.6-62.8%) of S. australis were lower than that reported for other agricultural weed species of the Salsola genus. Seed dispersal occurred when the senesced plants broke free of their root system to become mobile. Wind driven plants travelled and shed seed over distances of 1.6 to 1247.2 m. Movement of approximately half the plants was restricted to less than 100 m by entanglement with other S. australis plants within the stand. Some seed was retained on the senesced plants, but the germinability of this seed fell to less than 2% in the two month period following plant senescence (i.e. a decline of 79%). Once seed shed into the soil seed bank, anywhere from 32.3 to 80.7% of the viable seeds germinated in the year following seed production, with the rest remaining dormant or degrading. A model of the life cycle of S. australis based on the population ecology data indicated that the dormant seed bank had very little effect on annual seedling recruitment, but seed dispersal from neighbouring populations had a large impact on population growth rate. Therefore, the most successful weed control measures were those that restricted seed dispersal from neighbouring populations, or those that were applied to all populations in the region rather than to a single population. Weed control techniques applied to a single population, without reducing seed dispersal, could not reduce population size.

Bibliography: leaves 185-200. The herbicides norflurazon, oxadiazon, oxyfluoren, trifluralin and simazine used in South Australian viticulture were assessed for mobility and degradation through a combination of laboratory and field experiments. Sorption, leaching and dissipation rates were measured, as was presence in shallow groundwater. The fate of herbicides from vine to wine was also investigated, tests being conducted on herbicide residue in both white and red grapes and presence in wine. A proposal for good environmental management of herbicide use in vineyards to minimise the effects of herbicides was also developed.

Zantedeshia aethiopica (arum lily) is a noxious weed in south-western Australia. Herbicides are ineffective in controlling it in native forest and bushland. Biological control of weeds using indigenous or 'naturalised' plant pathogens in an inundative or 'mycoherbicide' strategy is an effective, host specific method of weed control. The work in this thesis tested the hypothesis that there are pathogens of Z. aethiopica present in the weed population of Z. aethiopica in south-western Australia. The objective of the study was to provide the groundwork to establish a potential bio-control programme for Z. aethiopica. Surveys were conducted for fungal, bacterial and nematode pathogens of Z. aethiopica over three geographic regions in south-western Australia: Perth metropolitan area; Garden Island nature reserve; and the Buselton-Augusta region. The diversity in fungi isolated varied amongst the three regions, with the greatest diversity of fungi being recovered from the Busselton-Augusta region of the study and the least diversity from the Garden Island region. Possible explanations for this variation are differences in rainfall, soil organics and soil pH. A total of 782 isolates werer recovered from diseased roots and rhizomes of Z. aethiopica. Of these the fungal genera most commonly isolated from root or I rhizome rots were Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Alternaria species. These genera are all potential plant pathogens which have been isolated from z. aethiopica by workers world-wide. The most commonly isolated fungal species were Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum. A frequently isolated Pythium sp. was identified as P. coloratum. This is a new host pathogen association. The most commonly occurring fungi associated with leaf lesions were Phoma species. It is unlikely that the Phoma spp. isolated were Phoma zantedeschia as the isolated organisms failed to fit the original description of this species which has clusters of of multi-septate chlamydospores. This is significant as it indicates that P. zantedeschia, a pathogen of Z. aethiopica in a number of countries throughout the world, is unlikely to be present in southwestern Australia. Another serious pathogen isolated from Z. aethiopica both overseas and in New South Wales which was not isolated in this study is Phytophthora richardiae. Bacteria were associated with soft rots of rhizomes. Out of 50 bacterial isolates, nine of the most commonly occurring forms were examined in detail. Five were identified as Pseudomonas spp. and four as Erwinia species. These 9 isolates were tested for pathogenicity toward Z. aethiopica by infecting roots of Z. aethiopica grown in an aeroponics system. There was some indication that one of the Erwinia isolates may have been pathogenic toward Z. aethiopica. The differences were not significant (p>O.OS) but it is postulated that this is because of the high standard error, which could have been compensated for by increasing the number of replicates per treatment. Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani isolated from rhizome rots of z. aethiopica were also tested for pathogenicity toward Z. aethiopica in an aeroponics system. Lesion development was greater in response to inoculation with Fusarium isolates Foxl and Fs2 than in the non-inoculated controls, particularly in wounded treatments. The nematode Meloidogyne javanica was identified as the causal agent of galled roots observed on Z. aethiopica at 2 sites. This is a new host pathogen association. Meloidogyne javanica has a very broad host range and hence is not suitable as a biological control agent against Z. aethiopica. The diverse range of pathogenic genera isolated from Z. aethiopica gives reason for some optimism in the search for a bio-control agent to control the noxious weed Z. aethiopica. The existence of host specific pathovars of Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria spp., which have been use in the biocontrol of weeds, offer avenues for further research into biocontrol of Z. aethiopica.

No - till systems have been widely adopted by farmers in Australia over the past decade to reduce soil erosion, improve soil physical and chemical properties, conserve soil moisture and save on fuel costs. These changes in tillage practices can have a major influence on the ecology and management of weeds. Studies were undertaken on the seed biology of six important Australian weed species to provide underpinning knowledge of their response to tillage. Field studies were also undertaken to investigate the effect of no - till on weed seedling emergence, seed bank persistence and herbicide behaviour. Seed germination of threehorn bedstraw and wild turnip, the latter only at sub - optimal temperatures, was inhibited by light. In contrast, seed germination of common sowthistle and Indian hedge mustard was stimulated by light. Seed germination of small - flowered mallow was not influenced by the light conditions. Seedling emergence of threehorn bedstraw, wild turnip, small - flowered mallow and annual ryegrass was low on the soil surface but increased with shallow burial, which suggests that farming practices that achieve shallow burial of seeds are likely to promote greater seedling emergence of these weed species. In contrast, seedling emergence of common sowthistle and Indian hedge mustard was greatest for the seeds present on the soil surface and emergence decreased with increased burial depth. In field experiments, low soil disturbance tillage systems left more seeds on the soil surface after crop sowing, whereas high soil disturbance systems buried most of the seeds. Seedling emergence of annual ryegrass, threehorn bedstraw and wild radish was greater under minimum tillage than no - till system. In contrast, seedling emergence of Indian hedge mustard, common sowthistle, silvergrass, small - flowered mallow and turnipweed was greater under the no - till system. Seedling emergence of wild oat and wild turnip was not influenced by the tillage system. Even though seedling emergence of annual ryegrass was much lower under no - till, the persistence of residual viable seeds of annual ryegrass from one season to the next was similar between the tillage systems. This was because of much greater seed decay under no - till ( 48 to 60 % ) than that recorded under minimum tillage ( 12 to 39 % ). All dinitroaniline herbicides ( trifluralin, pendimethalin and oryzalin ) were more effective in reducing the number of plants, spikes, dry matter and seed production of annual ryegrass when incorporated at sowing with tines than with the discs. At Minlaton in 2004 and 2005, bioavailable trifluralin was greater under tillage systems with greater levels of soil disturbance than under lower soil disturbance systems. In the absence of the herbicide, annual ryegrass was less competitive with wheat under the disc - sown systems. The response of grain yield to herbicides was greater under the tine - sown systems than the disc - sown systems. The performance of S - metolachlor on annual ryegrass control was investigated under no - till. The control of annual ryegrass was greater than 80 % when S - metolachlor was applied at sowing ( incorporated by sowing or post - sowing pre - emergence ). However, application of the herbicide at sowing resulted in phytotoxic effects on crop emergence and grain yield of wheat. Application of S - metolachlor at 20 or 23 days before sowing not only provided effective control ( 74 to 83 % ) of annual ryegrass, it was also safe on wheat. Application of this herbicide at 40 or 46 days before sowing was relatively ineffective in controlling annual ryegrass ( 33 to 49 % weed kill ) but safe on wheat. In conclusion, soil disturbance caused by tillage was found to have a major influence on the behaviour of the seed bank of different species including seedling emergence and decay rates of weed seeds. However, the response to tillage tended to be species - specific and was related to their seed biology. Tillage systems also had a major influence on the efficacy and bioavailability of trifluralin, which is prone to volatilisation losses. The findings of this research program are expected to contribute to the improvement in weed management under no - till systems.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2006.

Offprints of the author's articles inserted
Bibliography: v. 2, leaves 106-111
2 v. : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Agronomy, 1986

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library.
Field experiments investigating the nature and extent of interference in monocultures and mixtures of wild radish and wheat were conducted in 2003 and 2004 at Roseworthy, South Australia. Intraspecific and interspecific interfenernce between wild radish and wheat was investigated in the field using additive series design. Results indicated that higher densities of wheat were able to suppress seed production of this weed species.
http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1274618
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2006

Field experiments investigating the nature and extent of interference in monocultures and mixtures of wild radish and wheat were conducted in 2003 and 2004 at Roseworthy, South Australia. Intraspecific and interspecific interfenernce between wild radish and wheat was investigated in the field using additive series design. Results indicated that higher densities of wheat were able to suppress seed production of this weed species.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2006

After European settlement, Australian rangelands especially in South Australia underwent significant changes because of the main land use of pastoralism. Many studies have revealed that the plant communities are negatively effected by herbivory mainly by sheep. The main aim of this study is to separate the different effects of sheep, rabbits and kangaroos. This was examined by survey supported by experimental and modelling research. A 32,000 km² area previously surveyed by Tiver and Andrew (1997) in eastern South Australia was re-surveyed to monitor populations of perennial plant species at sites of various intensity of grazing by sheep, rabbits and kangaroos (goats populations are low in the study area), the most important vertebrate herbivores. Plant population data were collected in both sheep paddocks and historically ungrazed by sheep (road reserves) by using the Random Walk method and analyzed using Generalized Linear Modelling (GLM) to separate the effects of sheep and rabbits on plant regeneration and their regeneration in response to grazing. These data were also compared to similar data collected by Tiver and Andrew in 1992 (1997) to ascertain if the reduction in rabbit numbers through introduction of RCV had allowed increased regeneration. Regeneration of many species inside paddocks were negatively affected and species in roadside reserves neither did not significantly increase from 1992 to 2004. However, some species showed increase of populations in spite of sheep grazing, with some species being less susceptible than others. This research also indicates kangaroo grazing impact on some plant species. Reduction in rabbit numbers following the 1995 release of calicivirus has not been effective in restoring regeneration. Another experiment was conducted at Middleback Field Station near Whyalla to identify herbivore grazing pressure on the arid zone plant species Acacia aneura using unfenced, sheep fenced and rabbit fenced grazing exclosures. This experiment was set up with seedlings in exclosures, ten replicates of each treatment, at plots four different distances from the watering point to identify the survivorship of seedlings. Data were collected by recording canopy volumes of seedling over an 18 month period and analyzed by Residual Maximal Likelihood (REML). Seedlings both near and far from the watering point were severely effected by large herbivores, either sheep, kangaroos or both, and in a separate experiment kangaroo grazing effects on the seedling were also identified. Seedlings browsed by the rabbits were recovered better than the seedlings grazed by the large herbivores. Decreasing kangaroo activities has been noticed when the rabbit movements increased. Computer modelling was conducted to predict the future plant population structure over 500 years using a matrix population model developed by Tiver et al. (2006) and using data collected in the survey as a starting point. Extinction probabilities of populations of Acacia aneura near watering points, far from watering points and under pulse grazing scenarios were compared. Sheep grazing was found to cause eventual extinction of populations in all parts of sheep paddocks. Together, the results indicate that sheep are the major herbivore suppressing regeneration of perennial plant species. Kangaroo and rabbits have an identifiable but lesser effect. The results have implications for conservation and pastoral management. To achieve ecological sustainability of arid lands a land-use system including a network of reserves ungrazed by sheep and with control of both rabbit and kangaroo numbers will be required.

Orobanche ramosa L. is an annual, parasitic weed present in the western Murray-Mallee region of South Australia. A quarantine zone was established to encompass all known infestations, and has been adjusted over time as new infestations have been discovered. The movement of fodder, machinery, grain and straw, horticultural crops, livestock, and soil is controlled by strict quarantine procedures, to prevent further spread across the landscape. O. ramosa presents a unique situation for weed managers: plants are obligate parasites, relying entirely on broadleaved hosts for their water and nutrition; and seeds are tiny (0.3 mm), produced in large numbers (up to 100 000 seeds per plant), and are long-lived, persisting in the soil seed bank for up to 13 years. The dispersal vectors for O. ramosa in South Australia are the focus of this Master’s thesis. Two dispersal vectors were chosen for investigation: sheep and wind. Sheep were examined as possible vector for seeds, both via the gut (internal transport, or endozoochory) and via adhesion on the external surface of the animal (external transport, or epizoochory). Internal transport via sheep was investigated with a classic gut-passage experiment, which showed a peak in excretion of weed seeds at day 2, reducing to zero seeds excreted at day 8, and a half-life of 2 days. Two phases of external transport on sheep was studied: attachment and retention. Attachment was confirmed by finding seeds on the body wool and feet of sheep that had been kept for 7 days on soil with an O. ramosa seedbank. Seed retention was confirmed by placing seeds onto the body and still finding them in wool samples after 7 days. Wind was the other dispersal vector investigated for O. ramosa. A survey of natural wind dispersal was conducted, which confirmed wind as a vector and allowed trap design to be tested. Then a portable field-based wind tunnel was used to investigate the effects of ground cover (bare ground and cereal stubble) and wind speed (low, medium and high) on wind dispersal of O. ramosa seeds. For the stubble treatments, more seeds were trapped within the tunnel, and on bare ground more seeds were trapped exiting the tunnel. Importantly, the data showed that low wind speeds readily move O. ramosa seeds, and that the seeds are capable of aerodynamic lift in the wind profile. Results are discussed in the context of dispersal biology, quarantine procedures, and future work that would further refine knowledge of likely dispersal vectors for O. ramosa.
http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1459246
Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2009

Orobanche ramosa L. is an annual, parasitic weed present in the western Murray-Mallee region of South Australia. A quarantine zone was established to encompass all known infestations, and has been adjusted over time as new infestations have been discovered. The movement of fodder, machinery, grain and straw, horticultural crops, livestock, and soil is controlled by strict quarantine procedures, to prevent further spread across the landscape. O. ramosa presents a unique situation for weed managers: plants are obligate parasites, relying entirely on broadleaved hosts for their water and nutrition; and seeds are tiny (0.3 mm), produced in large numbers (up to 100 000 seeds per plant), and are long-lived, persisting in the soil seed bank for up to 13 years. The dispersal vectors for O. ramosa in South Australia are the focus of this Master’s thesis. Two dispersal vectors were chosen for investigation: sheep and wind. Sheep were examined as possible vector for seeds, both via the gut (internal transport, or endozoochory) and via adhesion on the external surface of the animal (external transport, or epizoochory). Internal transport via sheep was investigated with a classic gut-passage experiment, which showed a peak in excretion of weed seeds at day 2, reducing to zero seeds excreted at day 8, and a half-life of 2 days. Two phases of external transport on sheep was studied: attachment and retention. Attachment was confirmed by finding seeds on the body wool and feet of sheep that had been kept for 7 days on soil with an O. ramosa seedbank. Seed retention was confirmed by placing seeds onto the body and still finding them in wool samples after 7 days. Wind was the other dispersal vector investigated for O. ramosa. A survey of natural wind dispersal was conducted, which confirmed wind as a vector and allowed trap design to be tested. Then a portable field-based wind tunnel was used to investigate the effects of ground cover (bare ground and cereal stubble) and wind speed (low, medium and high) on wind dispersal of O. ramosa seeds. For the stubble treatments, more seeds were trapped within the tunnel, and on bare ground more seeds were trapped exiting the tunnel. Importantly, the data showed that low wind speeds readily move O. ramosa seeds, and that the seeds are capable of aerodynamic lift in the wind profile. Results are discussed in the context of dispersal biology, quarantine procedures, and future work that would further refine knowledge of likely dispersal vectors for O. ramosa.
Thesis (M.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2009

Bibliography: leaves 67-72.
ix, 72 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.
The main objective of this research project was to study the environmental fate and mobility of two herbicides registered for use in Australian viticulture, namely norflurazon and haloxyfop-R methyl ester.
Thesis (M.App. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Science and Management, 2000

Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelm.) J.G. Sm. (Alismataceae) is an emergent aquatic plant native to southern USA. Imported into Australia and South Africa as an ornamental and aquarium plant, the species is now a serious invader of shallow freshwater wetlands, slow-flowing rivers, irrigation channels, drains and along the margins of lakes and reservoirs. As a first step towards initiating a classical biological control program, a population genetic study was conducted to determine the prospects of finding compatible biological control agents and to refine the search for natural enemies to source populations with closest genetic match to Australian and South African genotypes. Using AFLP markers we surveyed genetic diversity and population genetic structure in 26 populations from the USA, 19 from Australia and 7 from South Africa. Interestingly, we have established that populations introduced into South Africa and to a lesser extent Australia have maintained substantial molecular genetic diversity comparable with that in the native range. Results from principal coordinates analysis, population graph theory and Bayesian-based clustering analysis all support the notion that introduced populations in Australia and South Africa were founded by multiple sources from the USA. Furthermore, the divergence of some Australian populations from the USA suggests that intraspecific hybridization between genetically distinct lineages from the native range may have occurred. The implications of these findings in relation to biological control are discussed.