Добірка наукової літератури з теми "Mulga (Acacia aneura)"

The mulga complex (Acacia aneura F. Muell ex Benth and closely related species) consists of woody trees and shrubs, and is distributed across 20% of the Australian continent. A. aneura is renowned for a wide variety of phyllode shapes and growth forms, which may co-occur at any one site. We examined the intra- and inter-specific variation in growth form and phyllode shape in four species of the mulga complex, including A. aneura, across topographic gradients in semiarid north-west Australia. We measured 792 trees across 28 sites stratified into six discrete landscape positions; upper slope, lower slope, low open woodland, banded woodland, low woodland, and drainage line. Dominance of phyllode shapes was strongly related to landscape position. A. aneura with terete phyllodes were dominant on the hill slopes, whereas broad phyllodes were most common on A. aneura in all valley woodlands. Trends in growth form were less distinct, although single-stemmed forms were more common on hills, whereas the valleys had more multi-stemmed forms. The quantification of growth form and phyllode shape variability within the mulga complex provides a basis for the quantitative determination of functional links between morphology and environmental conditions at both the site and landscape level.

The botanical composition and nutrient content of diets selected by sheep grazing Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.) and mulga (Acacia aneura)/grassland pastures in south-west Queensland were studied during a four-year period. Forbs, when present in the sward, contributed significantly to the diets on both grassland types. Under drought conditions grasses were the major components of the diets of sheep grazing Mitchell grassland pastures, while under similar conditions on the mulga/grassland pastures at least 35% of the diet was mulga (Acacia aneura); some mulga was present in the diet at all times. In general, the nutrient content of the green leaves of grasses and forbs growing on the mulga/ grassland association was similar, whereas on the Mitchell grass association green forbs had a higher nutrient concentration than did the leaves of green grasses. Both the grasses and forbs on the mulga/ grassland site had lower P and sodium concentrations than those on the Mitchell grassland site. When seasonal conditions were average to good the concentrations of all nutrients in the diets of sheep grazing the Mitchell grass association were judged to be adequate. However, when the pastures dried out the diets contained low concentrations of N (7.0 g/kg DM), P (0.9 g/kg DM), sodium (O.lg/kg DM) and copper (3.8 mg/kg DM). On the mulga/grassland site dietary concentrations of P and sodium were low at all times and under drought conditions the N:S ratio fell to 16.8:1. The concentrations of other nutrients in the diets were high enough to provide the sheep's theoretical requirements at all times.

The structure of the title compound (1) has been determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. This compound, not previously described as a natural compound, has been isolated from two varieties of the mulga Acacia aneura. Some points of confusion in the literature regarding spectral parameters assigned to (1) are clarified.

The effects on the survival and growth of young mulga trees exposed to five levels of sheep graztng were monitored over bur years. The levels ranged from complete exclusion of domest~c stock to continuous grazing at a projected annual consumption rate of 20%, 35%, 50%, or 80% of the total available forage (grass, herbage, and accessible mulga leaf). Innially, all trees were less than 90 cm tall. Four years later, the ungrazed trees had more than doubled in he~ght whereas thegrazed trees were not significantly taller, irrespective of grazing intensity. Over 90% of the ungrazed trees had grown above the upper limit of sheep browsing (I20 cm) and their growth was considered unlikely to be prejudiced by subsequent grazing. Stem diameters nearly trebled in ungrazed mulga but much smaller Increases (averagmg25%) occurred in grazed plants. Overall, 36% of the young trees died. Most deaths occurred during the winter of 1980 and summer of 1982183 after protracted periods of dry weather. Grazing had little or no e,ffect on death rates. Even the lightest grazing arrested mulga growth and prevented the transition from low mulga to the tailer forms used for drought feeding. This is discussed as a possible cause of reported declines in drought reserves of mulga. The results of this study illustrate the need to ensure that grazing strategy is compatible with uninterrupted replacement of umbrella mulga (5-8 m high) cut for drought fodder.

The physical dimensions and locations of two forms of circular surface-soil features, believed to be constructed by animals now locally extinct, are described for a 200 ha site and its environs in a semi- arid mulga (Acacia mura) woodland in north-western New South Wales. The most common were 48 circular (c. 10 m diameter) features, some with well-defined central depressions carrying vigorous grass tussocks. Soil chemical analysis indicated the relatively high fertility of these central depressions. Surface pebbles were analysed for comparison with similar lithological data in the literature. The evidence suggests that the malleefowl (Leipoa ocerlata) is the most likely agent responsible for building these features. While only four of the larger features (c. 30 m diameter) were located in the study site, they were particularly conspicuous on higher ridges in adjoining paddocks because of the abundance of highly reflective, calcrete fragments visible on the surface of subcircular mounds. It is postulated that they were constructed by the bumowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur).

Mulga is a distinctive woodland or shrub community with a wide distribution across the semi-arid zone of southern and central Australia. Mulga (Acacia aneura) is the dominant shrub and small tree, but other species of Acacia are common. Typical of Australian habitats in the arid zone, mulga has a core of resident bird species that is augmented by nomadic (opportunistic) species when conditions are favourable. This paper describes the foraging behaviour and habitat use of a mulga avifauna in the vicinity of Alice Springs during late winter, when many opportunistic species were present. Data were obtained for 24 species, of which 16 were confirmed as nesting. Many birds, regardless of their normal foraging habits, converged on a common food resource: a geometrid moth (Geometridae) that was abundant on mulga plants. Despite their use of a common food resource, species differed in their foraging behaviour, proportions of different substrates used, and foraging heights. Ground-foraging species dominated the avifauna, but in most respects the guild structure of the community was a scaled-down version of Eucalyptus forest avifaunas. Differences in guild structure between mulga and eucalypt forest are best explained by differences between the two habitats in the kinds of resources (e.g. foraging substrates, types of food) that are available.

Reduced fire frequency and severity associated with livestock grazing are cited as a cause of woody plant encroachment and thickening in rangelands, but such paradigms are difficult to test experimentally owing to limited opportunities to burn. Mulga (Acacia aneura) dominates 25% of the Australian continent and epitomises this quandary. We measured the effect of rare wildfires on tree and shrub mortality and subsequent regeneration in mulga-dominated communities to critically examine prevailing but unsubstantiated paradigms of vegetation structural change. Mortality of mature mulga trees was positively correlated with fire severity, which was negatively correlated with tree basal area per hectare. High-severity fires killed the majority of mulga, but only occurred in more open areas, whereas low-severity fires typical of many mulga communities did not kill substantial proportions of mature mulga. The majority of mulga saplings were killed across all sites regardless of fire severity. Seedling germination was stimulated by fire, but not dependent on it. Green turkey bush (Eremophila gilesii) was the only shrub species with >50% mortality across all sites. Combined with the rarity of fire events in the historical record, our results, particularly limited fire mortality and enhanced post-fire seedling recruitment, suggest that the role of fire in shaping vegetation structure in mulga-dominated communities has been overstated. The decoupling of fire and vegetation structure is consistent with emerging regional studies in low-productivity semiarid environments.

Very little information is available about how long dead trees remain standing, or fallen logs persist, in the Australian arid zone. Data on dead timber longevity were extracted from records of both permanent quadrats and photopoints on the T.G.B. Osborn Vegetation Reserve on Koonamore Station, South Australia. Two species were examined, Acacia aneura (mulga) and Myoporum platycarpum (false sandalwood, sugarwood). Some individuals of mulga are capable of standing dead for over 75 years, while dead M. platycarpum may stand for over 60 years. Dead Myoporum trees remained standing for an average of 31.2 � 5.7 years, fallen trunks persisted for 38.4 � 3.7 years. Standing dead A. aneura persisted on average for 40.0 � 3.7 years, fallen trunks for 22.4� 6.3 years. These figures are almost certainly underestimates. The reasons why are discussed and some comparisons made with temperate forests and tropical mangroves.

Rumen micro-organisms which are resistant to high levels of condensed tannins (CT) may constitute a unique response by feral goats to the nutritive depressing effects of mulga (Acacia aneura) CT. Transferring these micro-organisms to domestic livestock lacking this response may be beneficial when CT-rich mulga diets are consumed. Three experiments were conducted in which sheep consuming a mulga diet were given a ruminal inoculation of feral goat rumen fluid (FGRF). Feed intake and nitrogen (N) retention were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in both sheep and domestic goats following inoculation and in inoculated compared with uninoculated sheep. Inoculation also improved N digestibility and reduced the rate of liveweight loss in sheep and domestic goats. These improvements were of similar magnitude to those attributable to the traditional N, phosphorus and sulfur mineral supplement for mulga fed sheep. FGRF inoculated sheep also grew as much wool as uninoculated sheep receiving a production enhancing mineral supplement. The results from these experiments suggest that FGRF is readily transferable to sheep and improves N metabolism in these animals. Using micro-organisms from FGRF as an inoculum for sheep consuming a mulga diet has the potential to be an alternative to mineral supplements.

The mulga complex (Acacia aneura and closely related taxa) is a widespread group that is dominant in much of arid Australia. The group is taxonomically difficult, due to a complex interaction of sympatry and putative hybridisation between the major species, geographic variation within species and sympatric variation within A. aneura. Mulga is highly variable in a wide range of vegetative and reproductive characters and it is not unusual to find five or six distinct forms growing side by side. The aim of this project was to gain a better understanding of the relationships among mulga species and A. aneura varieties, as well as the maintenance of this variation. A single site in the Northern Territory, containing A. ayersiana, A. minyura and two varieties of A. aneura, was sampled intensively. Six morphotypes were observed in the field and five were strongly supported by morphometric analysis. Although the mulga complex is generally tetraploid (2n = 52), triploid (2n = 39) and pentaploid (2n = 65) seedlings were produced in the study population. Microsatellite primers developed for A. mangium (sect. Juliflorae) were amplified in individuals of each morphotype, resulting in genetic marker patterns consistent with polyploidy. Genetic and morphometric distances were correlated and differences between morphotypes account for 63% of the total genetic variation (ΦPT = 0.63, P < 0.001). Allele sequences confirmed the presence of genuine heterozygosity and clonality was suggested by the low genotypic diversity and the lack of allele segregation. Seedlings had identical genotypes to the maternal plants and polyembryony was observed in each taxon, consistent with apomictic reproduction. Both variation of the ploidy level and apomixis may restrict gene flow among morphotypes, playing a role in the maintenance of morphological diversity at the study site. The success of the group in arid and semi-arid Australia may also be due, in part, to these factors.

This thesis examines the death of mulga (Acacia aneura) adjacent to a mine haul road in the north-eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. The death of trees along roadsides in the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia is often referred to as a ‘road shadow effect’ and is thought to occur because of sheetflow blockage. As sheetflow redistributes water across the land surface (rather than into channels) any impediment to flow is likely to have consequences for vegetation downslope of the impediment. The study was important as many mining companies in semi-arid Western Australia have reported tree deaths along their mine haul roadsides and the problem has also been identified across other areas of Western Australia including grazing land and road verges. The haul roads at many mines are watered to suppress dust and the water is often hypersaline. This study compared vegetation and soil parameters at sites up and downslope of both the haul (treated) and control roads to ascertain whether factors additional to sheetflow contributed to roadside tree deaths. At each site, a series of adjoining quadrats was established perpendicular to the road. The data collected at each site was analysed on a quadrat by quadrat basis to establish trends with increasing distance from the road edge. Where possible analysis techniques which could test for differences between control and treated sites or upslope and downslope sites and the interaction between sites were used as this would address the aims of the study. If data were normally distributed either two-way Analysis of Variance or t-tests were carried out and where data were not normally distributed the non-parametric Mann Whitney Utest was performed. The significant differences noted in several vegetation parameters between up and downslope sides of both the control and treated roads provided a good argument for road presence leading to road shadow effect. These differences included a greater proportion of dead and recently dead trees and a greater reduction in canopy fullness for living trees on the downslope sides of the roads. The presence of roads and the associated interruption in sheetflow water movement have contributed to the decline and eventually death of some mulga trees. However, the downslope side of the treated road often showed much greater differences for the parameters measured when compared with the control road. The results show that there was an interactive effect between salt water treatment and roadside and a strong to modest positive relationship between soil salt levels and tree health in close proximity to roadsides. At the haul road, the addition of hypersaline water as a dust suppressant exacerbated the decline and death of mulga trees downslope as well as having an influence on the trees upslope. Road location in the landscape strongly influences the type of interactions between roads and pathways of water movement. The roads monitored for this study mostly acted as a barrier to sheet water flow which resulted in a drought situation for mulga located on the downslope roadside and lead to their eventual decline or death. Road designs incorporating culverts or under road drainage systems are widely suggested for areas of mulga dependent on sheetflow however, their effectiveness requires further study. On occasion the haul road also acted as a source of water which had been contaminated with excess salts that accumulated during road watering for dust suppression. This resulted in an alteration of the surface soil salinity along the haul roadside and further exacerbated the effect of the altered hydrological regime. While dust suppression on mine haul roads is essential for a variety of reasons a product other than hypersaline water is highly recommended.

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Biogeochemical methods can be employed to assist in detecting buried ore deposits. Plant roots can penetrate the bedrock and therefore, as a result of testing their leaves can give a good indication of the buried mineralization in an area. The aim of this study was to support or challenge the findings from the study that was conducted by Wang et al. (1999). It also aimed to compare the biogeochemistry results with traditional soil analysis. Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Pearl Bluebush (Maireana sedifolia) leaves as well as soil samples were collected and analysed from eighteen different locations at the Olympic Dam (Roxby Downs) region. The analysis of these plants and soils detected a range of elements including the ones that were relevant to this study (mercury, copper and gold). The vegetation, bulk analysis and partial leach results of this study did not show a similar pattern of mercury, copper and gold concentrations to the results from the Wang et al. (1999) study. Giving this information, this study cannot support the findings from the Wang et al. (1999) study. An important finding of this study was that sample VEG 007 recorded the highest concentrations in the majority of the elements and as a result the area may require further investigation. In addition, vegetation and soil samples that were taken from approximately 5 km south, approximately 10 km south and approximately 15 km north east of Olympic Dam region showed some promising results and as a result these areas may require further investigation. This study showed that biogeochemistry may be useful in locating potential mineral deposits.
Thesis (B.Sc.(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2011