bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Size‐class analysis of coastal scrub and woodland, Western Port, southem Australia
Authors: HAZARD JACQUE , PARSONS R. F.
Published: July 2006

Coastal scrub and woodland of varying fire history and variously dominated by Banksia integrifolia, Leptospermum laevigatum and Leucopogon parviflorus were studied using size‐class analysis of the dominant species. Transects from L. laevigatum scrub to B. integrifolia woodland were recorded in areas burnt (a) 32 years ago and (b) more than about 80–100 years ago. Post‐fire invasion of B. integrifolia by L. laevigatum is described in the younger stands. Only Leucopogon parviflorus shows widespread seedling establishment in the absence of fire. In the old L. laevigatum stands, there is good evidence that this species is dying out and being replaced by L. parviflorus which appears to be the climax dominant in non‐Banksia areas in the absence of fire. Although B. integrifolia seedling establishment is very rare in mature stands, no degenerate Banksia stands were found, so it is not yet clear whether this species is self‐maintained in the absence of fire.
Flowering phenology of some native perennial tropical grasses from north‐eastern Australia
Authors: TOTHILL J. C.
Published: July 2006

The division of north‐eastern Australia into tropical and sub‐tropical zones at approximately the latitude of 20° S, as suggested by the flowering phenology of Heteropogon contortus, is supported by studies on other perennial grasses of the native pastures. A progressive evolution away from an obligate short‐day flowering response which characterizes the tropical forms of Bothriochloa bladhii, perhaps Themeda australis, and the exclusive tropical species Dicanthium tenuiculum, through a quantitative short‐day response, as in the more widely distributed B. decipiens var. cloncurrensis, to the day‐neutral or opportunistic and largely subtropical species of B. decipiens and D. sericeum, is suggested as a sequence of flowering strategies leading to wider adaptation into the sub‐tropics.

There is evidence from here and elsewhere that tropical forms or species of perennial grasses are grosser than their subtropical counterparts and this is coupled with their short‐day flowering behaviour. The evidence suggests that B. decipiens and D. sericeum are the evolutionary products of taxa nearer to B. decipiens var. cloncurrensis and D. tenuiculum which exhibit day‐length control of flowering.
Breeding and age structure of the population of Macropus parma on Kawau Island, New Zealand
Authors: MAYNES G. M.
Published: July 2006

The parma wallaby, Macropus parma, is one of four species of wallaby introduced on to Kawau Island, New Zealand, in ahout 1870. A sample of sixty‐four parmas was shot on the island in February 1973 to provide information on breeding activity and age structure of the population. Incidental data were also collected from the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, which is the other common species on the island.

Neither the sex ratio of the shot sample of parmas (thirty‐seven males to twenty‐seven females) nor that of the tammars (eleven males to eleven females) differed significantly from parity.

Onset of sexual maturity of female parmas on Kawau I. was delayed when compared with that of captive females. One female was estimated to have bred at 19 months old but most females in the sample were not mature until 2 years old and a few not until 3 years old. In contrast, female tammars became sexually mature at about 12 months. There did not appear to be any delay in the onset of sexual maturity of male parma wallabies.

In the shot sample, none of sixteen female parmas capable of having a young were carrying a pouch young whereas nine of ten female tammars had a pouch young. The mean date of birth of these latter young was 30 January (range 18 January ‐ 11 February) which is consistent with the breeding season of tammars in Australia. Among the mature female parmas two had recently mated, six were in pro‐oestrus and six were in anoestrus, indicating that the breeding season in 1973 had just commenced. Estimated months of birth for all parmas under 3 years of age suggested that breeding was continuous in 1970–71 but that there had been a defined breeding season in 1972 with births occurring between March and July.

There was an excess of 1– and 2–year‐old parmas in the sample. This was the result of continuous breeding in 1970–71, presumably due to the provision of pasture on farmland being developed on the island. A sample of thirty‐three tammar skulls resulting from a shoot in November 1972 did not show a nmilar excess of 1– and 2–year‐old animals as this species has a rigidly defined breeding pattern and the females can produce only one young a year.
Concurrent changes in plant weight and soil water regimes in herbaceous communities in Central Australia
Authors: ROSS M. A.
Published: July 2006

Two studies of arid zone plant communities are described. In the first, the perennial grass Eragrostis eriopoda was sampled over 8 months for dry weight and water stress of tops, and water content and tension of soil to a depth of 150 cm. In the second, lasting 2 years, pure Eragrostis and pure Aristida con‐torta (annual) communities were sampled for dry weight of tops and roots and soil water content. Plots of naturally occurring mixtures of Eragrostis and Aristida were also studied.

During periods of prolonged high soil water content, perennial communities greatly out‐yielded annuals (1200 and 260gm‐2 respectively). During prolonged droughts all communities yielded less than 100 gm‐2.

Perennial root systems were larger than for annuals. The weight of annual roots varied little with season as distinct from perennials which varied greatly. Maximum weight of annual roots occurred in the top 10 cm of soil; the zone of maximum rooting by perennials was 10–30 cm. Water loss from annual, perennial and bare plots was similar and extended throughout the measured profile. Two gradients of soil water tension of opposite signs developed during prolonged drought. The greater was due to evapo‐transpiration and the lesser developed below the zone of recharge.

On average. Eragrostis grew 4.6 times faster than the annuals which enjoyed a marginally more favourable water regime. In a mixture which had received one heavy simulated grazing the presence of annuals reduced the growth of Eragrostis by 68%, suggesting that the invasion of Eragrostis by annuals would seriously reduce productivity.
The ecology of granite outcrops at Wilson's Promontory, Victoria
Authors: ASHTON D. H. , WEBB R.N.
Published: July 2006

Rock outcrops on spurs and summits on Wilson's Promontory tend to be more prevalent on hot dry slopes than cool moist ones. In this comparatively moist climate, the rock outcrop vegetation can be grouped into high altitude, low altitude and coastal types. The surrounding rock‐heath is characterized below 400–500 m by Kunzea ambigua and above this altitude by Callistemon pallidus. Moss aprons of Campylopus bicolor on rock faces are often held in place by roots of surrounding shrubs on slopes up to 20°. Bryophyte and lichen communities vary with altitude, and annuals and geophytes are common. Fire may result in retrogression if forests and shrub zones are destroyed and humic top soil burnt or eroded away. Fossil root‐grooves occur in granite on the summit of Mt Latrobe and are the legacy of a cloud forest of Nothofagus cunninghamii. The rock‐heath species are more drought resistant than the‘climax’tree species and may develop very low water potentials. The rate of succession may be correlated with the highly variable rate of decay of each individual block of granite.

The soils of the early successional stages are veneers of humic sands enriched with hill‐wash, whilst the soils of the forest stages vary from duplex podzols to gradational podzolic soils of much greater moisture storage. Woody plant establishment is mostly initiated along rock joints: the rock surfaces and boulders so by‐passed are colonized by more mesic species. Many zonations appear to be static since advances are cancelled by retreats.

The rate of succession on bare granite is controlled by local climate, altitude, slope, fire and macro‐and micro‐jointing patterns. In general, the early stages bear strong similarities over a relatively wide range of climate. The so‐called climaxes which have developed represent a continuum in response to the complex environments found on Wilson's Promontory.
Some aspects of acclimation to low temperatures in the grain weevils Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and S. granarius (L.)
Authors: EVANS D.E.
Published: July 2006

The ability of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and S. granarius (L.) to acclimate when transferred from 27°C, a near optimal temperature, to 15° C, a marginal temperature, was examined in terms of chill‐coma temperature, dispersal, oxygen consumption and rate of oviposition.

The chill‐coma temperature of S. oryzae was higher and the increment of acclimation less than that of S. granarius. Acclimation, although well advanced after 2 weeks after transfer, took more than 4 weeks to complete. Re‐acclimation after the reciprocal transfer took only 2 weeks.

The dispersal of S. oryzae held at 15 and 27° C prior to testing differed when the weevils were released in wheat at 27°C but not when released at 15°C. Cold‐acclimated S. granarius dispersed less than warm‐acclimated weevils when released in wheat at both 15 and 27°C.

The activity oxygen consumption of cold‐acclimated weevils was less than that of warm‐acclimated weevils. Inverse‐shifts of acutely determined R‐T relationships appeared more significant than changes in temperature sensitivity. Acclimation to 15° C took 8–10 days and re‐acclimation to 27°C about 6–8 days. S. oryzae consumed less oxygen per unit of weight than S. granarius but was more temperature sensitive. Resting oxygen consumption, which was less temperature sensitive than activity consumption, also exhibited inverse acclimation in both species.

S. granarius showed evidence of inverse acclimation of oviposition rate after acclimation at 15°C.
The relative injuriousness of insect pests of cotton in the Namoi Valley, New South Wales
Authors: WILSON A.G. L. , GREENUP L. R.
Published: July 2006

The sequence and relative injuriousness of insect pests was studied for three successive years in unsprayed cotton of the Namoi Valley. Heliothis punctigera Wallengren, the native budworm, and to a lesser extent H. armigera (Hübner), the cotton bollworm, prevented the setting of full crops by destroying buds and bolls. After setting, high proportions of bolls were injured by Earias huegeli Rogenhofer, the rough bollworm. Incidental damage was caused to seedlings by Thrips imaginis Bagnall, the plague thrips, and lo leaves by Anomis flava Fabricius, the cotton looper, and by Austracris guttulosa (Walker), the spur‐throated locust. In commercial crops, pest control must rely on the use of broad‐spectrum insecticides: H. armigera is currently resistant to several of these, and has become the principal species in the local population of cotton pests.

A number of enviromental features impede the natural control of pests in the southerly areas where cotton is now produced. In comparison to the older dryland cropping practised in central Queensland, a higher yield is necessary to cover the production costs of irrigated cotton; a shorter growing season prevents the plants from compensating effectively for insect damage and the natural enemies of cotton pests are less abundant and less active.
The distribution and density of rabbit warrens on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales
Authors: PARKER B. S.
Published: July 2006

Rabbit warrens are distributed in a clumped manner in three areas totalling 1696 ha in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales.

While the discontinuous distribution may be partly related to original patterns of colonization, the present distribution is closely related to agricultural practices and the rabbits’biological requirements. The highest densities of warrens are in the agriculturally less valuable areas. The number of burrows in use in a warren is related to the number of rabbits living in the warren, although at the time of the study, large warrens contained fewer rabbits than expected.
Estimates of biomass in a temperate mangrove community
Authors: BRIGGS S. V.
Published: July 2006

Above and below ground biomass of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. was studied in a mangrove community near Sydney, Australia. Data were obtained for seedlings (0–80 cm) and established trees (≥ 200 cm) growing in two nearby sites. Estimates were made of total mangrove biomass and its components: roots and pneumatophores; trunks and branches: leaves and petioles. The sites studied differed in average tree size (277 kg v. 97 kg) and in seedling biomass (0.12 km m‐2 v. 0.02 kg m‐2) but not in total biomass (29.2 kg m‐2 v. 27.3 kg m‐2).

The partitioning of biomass of Avicennia marina in this temperate mangrove community was similar to that of Rhizophora mangle in a tropical mangrove community.
The determination of an optimum sampling technique for biomass of herbaceous vegetation in a Central Australian woodland
Authors: FRIEDEL M. H.
Published: July 2006

The green standing material, dry standing material and litter in the herbaceous layer of a Central Australian woodland were sampled using sets of nested quadrats of various proportions. By minimizing the product of the time required to obtain the data and the relative variances of the mean weights of material, the optimum size of quadrat necessary for estimating biomass was found to be 1 m2 or less. The optimum shape of quadrat for litter was a very elongate rectangle, with the lengths of its sides in the ratio 1:16. There was no preferred shape for green or dry standing material in this case.

No edge effect was detected. A method is given for determining the optimum number of quadrats for a known mean, variance and cost.
Plant communities of the Mt Wellington Range, Tasmania
Authors: RATKOWSKY D. A. , RATKOWSKY A. V.
Published: July 2006

Associations among species of vascular plants in twelve predefined vegetation zones on Mt Wellington, Tasmania, are described. The vegetation zones were based mainly on the dominant species of eucalypt contained therein, following an approach used previously by Martin (1940). The twelve zones were subsequently reduced to a total of six cluster groups using hierarchical classification procedures. Character species, in the sense of the Braun‐Blanquet (1928) system of phytosociology, are identified and tabulated for each group. It is suggested that the division of a survey area into zones based upon dominant euealypts may be applicable to the study of vegetation communities in other parts of Tasmania.
Nutrient stocks in a subtropical eucalypt forest, North Stradbroke Island
Authors: WESTMAN W.E , ROGGERS R. V.
Published: July 2006

The concentrations and quantities of eleven essential plant nutrients in a 15 m tall Eucalyptus signata dominated forest have been determined. This forest of 180 habiomass is supported on one of the most phosphorus‐deficient forest soils yet reported. The ecosystem is also particularly low in calcium, and relatively abundant in nitrogen. The nutrient stocks in the sclerophyllous heath understorey are only slightly more than half the quantity expected on the basis of their proportion of the total forest biomass occupied by this stratum. This lends some confirmatory evidence to the idea that the heath understorey of eucalypt forests is a separately evolved synusia adapted to soils of low fertility. Partitioning of nutrients among plant parts on this forest differs in a number of respects from other forests studied. This suggests the lack of strong selective pressure towards convergence of strategy between formations in the manner of partitioning of nutrients among forest components.
Population structure of Livistona eastonii Gardn., Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia
Authors: HNATIUK R. J.
Published: July 2006

Livistona eastonii on the Mitchell Plateau of northern Western Australia forms a dense, multi‐aged understorey to an open eucalypt woodland. The palm population has the characteristics of a species that comprises a climax vegetation type. Reproduction of the palm appears to have been stimulated in recent years, perhaps by annual burning. The present palm population has been reproducing throughout its life with only minor though significant fluctuations. The average maximum age is estimated to be about 280 years, based on an average increment of 2.85 cm/year for plants taller than 30 cm and 1.15 cm/year for the first 30 cm of height growth. Exceptionally tall plants of 21 m (Gardner 1923) and 10.4 in (Beard 1976) may be about 720 years and 360 years old respectively.
Seed germination studies with Heteropogon contortus
Authors: TOTHILL J. C.
Published: July 2006

Germination characteristics of Heteropogon contortus were investigated in germination cabinets and in the glasshouse using soil trays. Under the former a dual inhibitory system appeared to operate. On the one hand naked caryopses from seeds which were less than 4 months of age were inhibited from germination by a process apparently analogous to epicotyl dormancy. This could readily be broken by applying 1% gibberellic acid and partly broken by repeated wetting and drying. On the other hand between 4 and 12 months, naked caryopses germinated more readily than intact seeds (caryopsis plus glumes, lemmas, etc.). However, the dormancy factor apparently associated with these structures could not be detected when seed was germinated in soil in the glasshouse and it appeared that they are a necessary protection for the caryopsis under field conditions.

The optimal temperature for germination was between 30 and 35°C constant. Alternating diurnal temperatures of less than this appeared to cause reduced germination, and no high‐temperature stimulation was observed. Germination was not directly promoted by the passage of a normal grass fire.
Elimination of species before cluster analysis
Authors: STEPHENSON W. , COOK S. D.
Published: July 2006

Previous attempts at selecting species to eliminate are criticized and a method depending upon interspecific dissimilarities is outlined. It was tested using a matrix of 24 samples by 71 species, and shown to be viable and much more economical to operate than an alternative method which was developed and discarded. It still involves the arbitrary choice of a cut‐off level, and a parallel consideration of abundance values is advised.

The method was assayed by performing cluster analysis with and without exclusion of species.
Studies of a vegetation transect through brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forest in central Queensland
Authors: JOHNSON R. W.
Published: July 2006

Vegetation and environmental data were collected in 182 contiguous plots along a belt transect, 3.7 km long, in central Queensland through a relatively undisturbed forest dominated by brigalow (Acacia harpophylla). A subset of eighty‐nine plots using percentage cover of 128 species was classified using a polythetic agglomerative approach. Dual stand and species ordinations by principal component analysis and reciprocal averaging were also undertaken.

The cluster analysis and ordination of unstandardized cover data, grouped stands on the basis of abundance of the predominant canopy species, but only where these species were true dominants such as Macropteranthes leichhardtii did these same groupings appear in the ordination of standardized data. The latter ordination was ecologically more satisfying, but the complementary species ordination was unsatisfactory. The vegetation‐species complex was best explained by dual species and stand ordinations using presence‐absence data. Reciprocal averaging appeared to produce a marginally better ordination than principal component analysis.

An ordination of eleven environmental factors indicated soil profile and presence of gilgai were the most important environmental variables. The ordination was enhanced by varimax rotation which focused on a more homogeneous environmental gradient and coincided more closely with the vegetation ordinations. An ordination using both species and environmental factors substantiated the explanation of the vegetation‐environmental complex derived from separate ordinations.

The main gradient revealed from the ordinations appeared to be a mesic‐xeric gradient stretching from Macropteranthes leichhardtii semi‐evergreen vine thicket at the mesic end diverging through various A. harpophylla ‐ dominant communities to A. harpophylla ‐ Eucalyptus melanophloia woodland on duplex soils and Dichanthium affine grassland on clay soils.

Six plant communities are defined and described and each related to a particular set of environmental conditions. These communities are bonewood (Macropteranthes leichhardtii) ‐ semi‐evergreen vine thicket, brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) ‐ semi‐evergreen vine thicket, brigalow (A. harpophylla) continuum (clay soils), Dichanthium affine grassland, brigalow (A. harpophylla) continuum (duplex soils) and brigalow (A. harpophylla) ‐ silver‐leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus melanophloia) woodland.
Biomass and nutrient distribution in two eucalypt forest ecosystems
Authors: FELLER M. C.
Published: July 2006

The distribution of biomass and nutrients (N, P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca) among components of a Eucalyptus regnans forest and a mixed Eucalyptus obliqua‐Eucalyptus dives forest near Melbourne in southern Victoria have been determined and are discussed. Both forests were found to have relatively low root biomass. Trees and soil accounted for more than 80% of each nutrient present in both ecosystems. The results of nutrient distribution studies in Australian eucalypt forests and in temperate forests elsewhere in the world are compared. These comparisons suggest that the above‐ground living biomass in eucalypt forests contains no abnormally high or low quantities of macronutrients in relation to coniferous or deciduous hardwood forests. Detailed comparison among ecosystems is rendered difficult by the variable treatment given to roots and soils.
The foraging behaviour of Australian honeyeaters: a review and some comparisons with hummingbirds
Authors: PYKE GRAHAM H.
Published: July 2006

The foraging behaviour of Australian honeyeaters is reviewed in terms of diet, foraging selectivity, foraging flight mode, quality and quantity of nectar encountered per flower, flower densities encountered and effect of predation. At the same time comparisons are made between honeyeaters and hummingbirds. These two groups of birds are superficially similar. Both feed on nectar and insects. Both tend to have long curved bills and tongues adapted for removal of nectar from flowers. Both tend to feed at long, red flowers. However, on close inspection, honeyeaters and hummingbirds are quite dissimilar. For example, many honeyeaters include fruit in their diets. Hummingbirds almost never eat fruit. Honeyeaters appear to be considerably less nectarivorous and more insectivorous than hummingbirds. Honeyeaters are, for the most part, larger than hummingbirds and they usually perch while feeding whereas hummingbirds usually hover. Honeyeaters but not hummingbirds often flock while feeding. Predation appears to be considerably more important for honeyeaters than for hummingbirds. Territorial defense of flowers seems common in hummingbirds but uncommon in honeyeaters. These differences are discussed in detail and explanations are offered for them wherever possible.
Studies in the analysis of data from Australian tidal forests (‘Mangroves’). I. Vegetational sequences and their graphic representation
Authors: BUNT J. S. , WILLIAMS W. T.
Published: July 2006

Difficulties have been experienced in reconciling field observations of tidal forests in north‐east Queensland with published accounts of their vegetational character. Modern classificatory techniques have been applied to information on forest composition at 803 widely‐distributed sites. A novel method has been developed to represent a set of thirty association groups linked through a minimum spanning tree. This approach has provided new insights into tidal forest expression, the range of vegetational sequences present, and their relationships. Current views of mangrove zonation in north‐east Queensland are found inadequate.
Studies in the analysis of data from Australian tidal forests (‘Mangroves’). II. The use of an asymmetric monothetic divisive classificatory program
Authors: WILLIAMS W. T. , BUNT J. S.
Published: July 2006

An algorithm (ASYM) is defined which implements a monothetic divisive classification of presence/absence data; it is based on the Jaccard measure and is consequently asymmetric, in that it ignores double‐zero matches. It is insensitive to group size but sensitive to floristic heterogeneity. An extensive set of Australian tidal forest data is processed both by ASYM and by the symmetric information‐statistic divisive program DIVINE. It is concluded that the two systems are complementary in that they reveal somewhat different aspects of the data‐structure; but that if only one program were to be used, ASYM would be ecologically preferable.
The cation composition of precipitation at four sites in far north Queensland
Authors: BRASELL H. M. , GILMOUR D. A.
Published: July 2006

Bulk precipitation samples were collected over four years at four sites on a transect from the Coral Sea to the Atherton Tableland in far north Queensland and analysed for sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The concentration of the cations in the rainfall was significantly higher during the dry season than during the wet season. There were marked differences between the coastal sites and the Tableland sites in both concentration and accession of cations in the precipitation. Mean annual accession for sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium ranged from 159, 8.1, 17.1 and 19.4 kg/ha respectively at the coastal sites to 11, 4.5, 2.7 and 2.4 kg/ha respectively at the Tableland sites. The high levels of cation accession at the two coastal sites was attributed to the very high annual rainfalls.

There were no differences in ionic ratios between seasons except for the most inland site. However, there were significant differences in ionic ratios between coastal and inland sites. except for Na: Mg, with increasing proportions of calcium and potassium and decreasing proportions of sodium and magnesium away from the coast.
The ecology ofAraucariaspecies in New Guinea. I. Ordination studies of forest types and environments
Authors: ENRIGHT N. J.
Published: July 2006

Previous studies of the ecology and regeneration strategies ofAraucaria cunninghamiiandA. hunsteiniiin New Guinea rainforests have treated these species as ecologically identical and disagree concerning their ability to maintain a stable population size in forest communities dominated by angiosperms. Vegetation data from a number of 0.5 ha forest sites in New Guinea are analysed in order to characterize forest types and their environmental regimes in the altitudinal zone from 700 to 1500 m a.s.l. Particular attention is paid to forests containing Araucaria species. Nodal component analysis identifies a number of distinct forest types or ‘series’, each dominated by a different species. Continuity analysis displays the location of sites and species in non‐linear ordination space.

Subsequent regression of environmental data on the position of sites in ordination space shows that forest types are separated along gradients related to altitude and rainfall on the one hand, and soil nutrient concentrations on the other.A. cunninghamiiis generally found in wetter and less nutrient‐rich sites thanA. hunsteinii.The analysis of species presence data, as opposed to quantitative data, shows that whilst forest types are easily differentiated according to their dominant species, changes in floristic composition are subtle along the altitudinal and other gradients recognized.
Seed dispersal in a cycad, Macrozamia riedlei
Authors: BURBIDGE ALLAN H. , WHELAN ROBERT J.
Published: July 2006

The influence of animals on patterns of seed dispersal has not been well explored, despite the importance of seed dispersal in plant population biology. Furthermore, the exploitation of animals as dispersal agents has been considered one reason for the replacement of gymnosperms by angiosperms in the Cretaceous. We studied seed dispersal in a cycad, Macrozamia riedlei, and showed that in the absence of animals, ripe seeds drop directly beneath the parent not more than 40 cm from the base. Several animals eat the fleshy outer integument of the seeds, and possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), transport seeds up to 24 m from the parent. The postdispersal positioning of seeds gave a log density‐log distance relationship of y = 7.20 – 2.85x (r2= 0.96, N = 17). Effective local dispersal may have contributed to the persistence of cycads in the world flora for the last 200 million years.
The use of epiphytic algae to indicate environmental changes
Authors: MAY VALERIE
Published: July 2006

The distribution of an epiphytic alga, shown in earlier studies to be an indicator species, has changed after modification of environmental conditions.
Patterns in north Queensland mangrove vegetation
Authors: BUCKLEY R. C.
Published: July 2006

This note suggests an additional interpretation of analyses of north Queensland tidal forest vegetation recently presented by Bunt & Williams (1980a). They separated 30 species associations defined by various combinations of 11 defining species, and showed that these associations do not form a single invariant zonal sequence, as implied previously by Macnae (1966). Their results do indicate, however, that individual mangrove species are characteristically associated with different sections of the overall tidal range. This does not contradict their conclusions but rather places a different emphasis on their results.
Ecological association of birds and vegetation structure in wet tropical forests of Australia
Authors: KIKKAWA JIRO
Published: July 2006

Birds and environments of tropical rainforests were studied in 18 selected areas from sea level to 1520 m within the humid tropical region of northeastern Australia. A total of 122 sites (20 m × 20 m each) were established within the 18 areas, and bird data (observation and mist‐netting) and environmental data (pro forma survey and foliage measurements) were collected at each site. The bird data were analysed numerically in two ways: abundance of 146 species in 18 areas and presence and absence of 108 species at 122 sites. Both classification and ordination analyses produced a major discontinuity between the tableland sites and the lowland sites, each divisible further into various types of vine forest and non‐vine forest vegetation. The few rare species did not contribute to the general pattern. The environmental data were reduced to a set of those attributes that showed variation among the sites. They included topographic and edaphic features, physiognomic and structural features of vegetation, fruiting and defoliating habits of plants, foliage height diversity and evenness, and canopy cover. The primary pattern in the data set of 135 attributes by 122 sites was vine forest versus nonvine forest, and altitudinal divisions appeared as a secondary pattern, in both classification and ordination.

Canonical correlation coefficients between bird vectors and environmental vectors were reasonably high for the first four canonical vectors, which correlated well with major Gower vectors of birds and environments. The back‐correlation to the raw data produced bird species and matching environmental attributes with sites sharing them for both positive and negative ends of each canonical vector. In general, the analysis extracted elements of both fauna and environment that characterized the vine forest as opposed to the non‐vine forest and the tableland sites as opposed to the lowland sites. Canonical correlation analysis is limited by the unverifiable nature of derived correlations. Such correlations may suggest certain associations to be tested by independent means (hypothesis‐generating function), but may also formalize self‐evident or fortuitous associations.
Cluster analysis, ordination and dominance‐structural classification applied to diverse tropical vegetation at Jabiluka, Northern Territory
Authors: BURGMAN M. A. , THOMPSON E. J.
Published: July 2006

One hundred and seven sample plots were established on a study area at Jabiluka, Northern Territory, and detailed quantitative floristic and structural data were collected. Data collection was by sampling both on aerial photographs and in the field, and both sets of data were used to describe the primary floristic types and structural sub‐types. Cluster analysis (Orloci 1967, 1969), polar ordination (Mathews 1977) and Specht's (1970, 1977) approach to vegetation classification were used to analyse the data. Two independent clustering techniques, one based on art information measure and the other on a measure of within group dispersion, produced very similar dendrograms. The analyses consistently separated the plots into three major groups ‐ floodplain, dryland and sandstone landscapes; within these groups 15 floristic associations and eight structural formations were identified. The environmental parameters associated with the various groups were substrate type, and seasonal inundation from the Magela Creek system. The results of ordination did not highlight any environmental parameters not already made evident by cluster analysis.
In situ determination of nitrogen fixation in Antarctica using a high sensitivity portable gas chromatograph
Authors: DAVEY ALLAN
Published: July 2006

A portable gas chromatograph was employed in the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica, during the austral summer of 1979‐80 for determining nitrogenase activity of the blue‐green alga Nostoc commune Vaucher by the acetylene reduction assay. Acetylene reduction was measured in samples taken along a transect where the vegetation changed with respect to differing topography and water availability. Submerged colonies of Nostoc recorded the highest fixation rates (6.89 nmol C2H4. cm‐2 h‐1). Damp mosscyanophyte associations growing on shallow slopes showed moderate rates of acetylene reduction (1.99 nmol C2H4. cm‐2 h‐1) whilst the drier vegetation of the steeper terrain was the least active (0.19 nmol C2H4. cm‐2 h‐1. The employment of a high sensitivity portable gas chromatograph provided an accurate and reliable method of measuring acetylene reduction.
A field device for integrating temperature sensed in grass or forest fires
Authors: HODGKINSON KEN C. , GORDON WILLIAM T. , SMITH DON L.
Published: July 2006

A device for measuring the integrated temperature sensed by a thermocouple during a grass, forest or other landscape fire is described and its performance evaluated. It consists of a small tube containing an electronic circuit to which is attached a length of thermocouple wire. The tube is buried for the duration of the fire. Principal component of the circuit is an E‐cell (or microcoulometer) which when cleared allows calculation of the temperature/time integral. Performance was found to be reliable and accurate: because of its low cost it has widespread application for measuring the temperature in soil, plants or air during fires.
Short Note Strategy and tactics in pattern analysis: a response to Harrington, Dawes and Ludwig
Authors: DALE M. B.
Published: July 2006

In this paper the role of pattern analytic methods is examined. Recently Harrington et al. (1981) have argued that such methods provide no information which is not already available to the user and that they therefore must be considered useless. It is first suggested that Harrison et al. provided no proof that the information obtained from a pattern analysis was already known to them. It is further suggested that they have misunderstood the role of pattern analysis in the identification of processes for generation of variation in vegetation, restricting it solely to certain mathematical techniques of search. However the assignment of credit or debit to the various components of an analysis, where these include such things as choice of sample units, selection of descriptors, identification of appropriate accuracy and precision for measurement as well as the selection of similarity measures and structuring techniques, remains a very difficult task. Harrington et al. do not appear from their paper to have thoroughly explored all possibilities. In fact the results obtained by them reflect the complexity of the ecological situation. Thus the difficulty they had in interpretation reflects their desire for a simplistic solution. Whether changes in all features of the analysis can provide such a simple result is not known. However it can hardly be considered the fault of the analysis if no such simplicity exists.
Transplants along the vegetation gradient on central Australian sandridges
Authors: BUCKLEY R.
Published: July 2006

To assess the importance of static catenary factors in controlling the floristic gradient on central Australian sandridges, plant species characteristic of particular topographic zones were transplanted to zones outside their normal topographic range. Both upper‐slope species transplanted downslope, and lower‐slope species transplanted upslope suffered higher mortality than control plants transplanted within the same topographic zone.
The effect of cave microclimate on winter roosting behaviour in the bat, Miniopterus schreibersii blepotis
Authors: HALL LESLIE S.
Published: July 2006

The microclimate at Thermocline Cave (lat, 30° 45′S, long, 149° 43′E) was investigated by measuring air temperature and relative humidity at five stations on 18 occasions from September 1971 to December, 1973. The activity, body weight and roosting sites of the bat Miniopterus schreibersii blepotis in the cave were recorded on each visit.

Relative humidity in the cave was generally high and paralleled temperature. The cave exhibited a range of temperatures from 9 to 19.5°C but bats selected roosting sites only in a part of this range. During the autumn when the bats arrived and were feeding, their body weights were low, and they roosted in a domed area at the rear of the cave with a temperature of 19.5°C. As they became less active and body weight increased they moved to cooler parts (9.5‐11°C) towards the front of the cave and underwent periods of torpor, in one case lasting for at least 12 days. From July to September body weight decreased. The bats became more active in September and most had left the cave by October.

It appears that M.s. blepotis can detect temperature differences of 1°C. They used this ability to select cold areas with stable high humidity in Thermocline Cave to under go periods of winter torpor.
Sexual differences in the foraging behaviour of the frill‐necked flycatcher Arses telescopthalmus in New Guinea
Authors: BELL H. L.
Published: July 2006

The foraging behaviour of male and female Arses telescopthalmus was studied at Brown River, Papua New Guinea. Significant differences exist between the sexes. The male mainly frequents the lower understorey and forages substantially on bare substrates, particularly vertical ones such as trunks and hanging vines. The female occurs mainly higher in the subcanopy, sallies frequently after aerial insects and forages mainly off leafy substrates. Both male and female show morphological adaptations to their specialized roles. Sexual differences in a species’foraging behaviour usually occur in depauperate avifaunas but the study area is rich in potential competitors of Arses. It is suggested that past environmental fluctuations may have initiated differentiation of male, female or both.
Litter production and decomposition from an overstorey of Eucalyptus spp. on two catchments in the New England region of New South Wales
Authors: PRESSLAND A. J.
Published: July 2006

Litter fall on two catchments, one with an almost continuous canopy of Eucalyptus spp., the other with a discontinuous eucalypt canopy was measured for 29 4‐week periods. Annual litter accretion(2.5‐3.7 t ha−1) was low by world standards, but similar to other Australian dry sclerophyll forests. Between 33 and 54% of the total litter fall occurred during summer, and only 6‐13% in winter. Leaf was the major component of litter fall and usually contributed more than 50% of the total. Variability between the 4‐weekly litter falls was high, but coefficients of variation for the total annual fall were low (<5%).

Half‐life of total litter fall in the continuous forest (2.14 y) was double that in the discontinuous forest (0.98 y), and may have been due to differences in air temperature and surface soil moisture.

The pattern of litter fall on each catchment was related to hydro‐meteorological variables including air temperature, solar radiation, rainfall and soil moisture content.
Evidence against primary microclimatic control of the dune‐swale floristic gradient on central Australian sandridges
Authors: BUCKLEY R. C.
Published: July 2006

There are distinct and consistent soil and vegetation gradients between the dune‐crests and swales of the central Australian sandridges. If there is a corresponding dune‐swale microclimatic gradient, it is assumed to be controlled by topography. In general, soil characteristics and topography are closely correlated, but where they diverge, vegetation follows soil rather than topography. Hence if any duneswale microclimatic gradient exists, it is not a significant factor in controlling the dune‐swale floristic gradient.
Short Note On the apparent anomaly between observed and predicted percentages of vegetation types in south‐west Tasmania
Authors: BROWN M. J. , PODGER F.
Published: July 2006

There is an anomaly apparent between the estimated percentage of area of rainforest in south‐west Tasmania and the amount predicted by a Markovian model based on fire frequency. The anomaly results from a misinterpretation of the original reference. The predicted percentages of vegetation types are in broad accord with present day distributions, and variations can be explained by relatively minor shifts of fire frequency estimates.
Altitudinal and successional variation in the vegetation of the northern part of the West Coast Range, Tasmania
Authors: KIRKPATRICK J. B.
Published: July 2006

Thirteen floristic communities are recognized by numerical analysis of the vegetation of a part of the West Coast Range containing the climatic station with the highest mean annual precipitation in temperate Australia, and a variation in altitude from 400 to 1200 m. These communities form an altitude‐related sequence with a perceptible break at the transition to alpine vegetation. Within rainforest three intergrading groups also form an altitudinal sequence. However, total environmental stress, as reflected in growth rates, is hypothesized to control this floristic and richness gradient. Direct and indirect gradient analysis reveals a lowland successional sequence from sedgeland to rainforest. Although some alpine communities are clearly the product of firing of others, there is no analogue of the lowland sedgelands. Fire‐induced change in both alpine vegetation and rainforest can be extremely long term. Soil drainage is important in the differentiation of both lowland and alpine communities.
Growth energetics in relation to temperature for larvae of four species of necrophagous flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Authors: WILLIAMS H. , RICHARDSON A. M. M.
Published: July 2006

The growth characteristics of the larvae of the major members of a necrophagous fly guild in Tasmania (Lucilia cuprina, Calliphora stygia, Calliphora vicina and Calliphora hilli) were measured to assess their competitive ability. The measurements were made at temperatures between 10 and 45°C, to cover the range of temperatures that would be encountered by larvae in carrion or myiasis under field conditions.

The characteristics measured were net production and respiration. The indices K2i (instantaneous growth efficiency), K2c (cumulated growth efficiency) and Mi (instantaneous cost of maintenance) were calculated. Generally K2c and K2i are highest and Mi lowest at 25°C for all the species. A sinusoidal response in K2c, K2i and Mi against temperature is seen for L. cuprina, C. stygia and C. vicina. This response is‘cold’adapted in the Calliphora species and‘warm’adapted in L. cuprina.

Egg size, egg caloric density and the energy content of the eggs are discussed in relation to the‘fitness’and reproductive strategies of the four species.

The thermal tolerance range of L. cuprina determined here suggests that carrion may provide a significant number of this fly particularly in areas where Chrysomya spp. do not occur, and in large carcasses where temperatures are elevated.
Drought and dieback of rural eucalypts
Authors: LANDSBERG J.
Published: July 2006

The possibility that drought causes dieback of eucalypts in rural Australia was investigated. Water potential and canopy condition in dieback and healthy rural Eucalyptus blakelyi and E. melliodora trees were compared during and after an extreme drought in the ACT. All the trees were drought affected, but the extent was independent of the condition of their canopies at the beginning of the study.
Experimental confirmation of competition between two dominant species of Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: FOX BARRY J. , FOX MARILYN D. , ARCHER ELIZABETH
Published: July 2006

The well‐defined ant succession following disturbance of coastal heathland in eastern Australia includes community replacement triggered by one dominant species of Iridomyrmex (species C) being replaced by another (species A). This paper investigates the consequences of experimentally reducing the abundance of species A by injecting petrol into the nest entrances of colonies. The response of species C was monitored at 2 and 10 months after removal and shows highly significant increases in the number of pitfall traps occupied and the area of territory maintained by this species.

It is confirmed that interspecific competition plays an important role in maintaining the observed mosaic pattern of ant distribution and is also important in ant succession. The mechanism of competition is interference or, more exactly, territorial competition. The species appear to actively defend territorial space by patrolling territory boundaries that are breached when the defenders are eliminated.