Abstract: Sixteen 1-ha study plots covering five regeneration stages were simultaneously trapped five times over a 20-month period to provide data on small mammal response to vegetation changes following fire. Areas regenerating after fires from 9 years to 1 month before the investigation were sampled in a uniform open forest on a coastal sand plain. Two types of understorey were recognized: one dominated by true forest shrubs with which Rattus fuscipes, Antechinus stuartii and Sminthopsis murina were associated, and another dominated by heath elements where the addition of Pseudomys novaehollandiae and Mus musculus produced a significantly more diverse small mammal community. The two communities exhibited different responses to post-fire vegetation changes. Rattus fuscipes was the most abundant species and showed a logistic growth in biomass. No resident populations were established in the first 3 years, but a rapid increase in biomass occurred from 3 to 5 years to plateau after 8 years. Regeneration age had the greatest effect on R. fuscipes biomass mediated through the amount of accumulated leaf litter with additional variation being attributed to several vegetation structure variables and plant species diversity. A replacement sequence in time was observed for species reaching their maximum abundance (P. novaehollandiae and/or M. musculus S. murina A. stuartii R. fuscipes) and was interpreted as species occupying stages in the succession when their optimal habitat requirements were fulfilled. These results have important implications for the design of management policies using fire or fire regimes as tools for habitat maintenance or alteration. A mosaic of forest patches of adequate size covering the entire range of seral stages is necessary to meet the optimum requirements of all the above species.

Abstract: Habitat preferences of four species of small mammals were studied on a 7.5-hectare trapping grid in a subalpine heathland/woodland complex on Mt William, western Victoria. Animals did not show strong spatial separation and differences in dispersion appeared to represent response to some feature of habitat. Floristic cues were good predictors of preference for Rattus lutreolus, Antechinus swainsonii and Pseudomys fumeus. Structural factors might also be important for R. lutreolus and A. swainsonii. The entire grid was suboptimal for Antechinus stuartii. Pseudomys fumeus was mycophagous during winter and, in the summer breeding season, principally ate seeds and bogong moths. Habitat preferences appear to reflect selection for those areas providing a year round source of high quality food rich in nitrogen. The transition period between the end of production of fungal sporocarps and prolific subalpine flower and seed production during summer may be particularly important as preferred areas provide fungi and seeds over longer periods, and food for bogong moths during their annual migration.

Abstract: The trophic structure of an ant community near Deniliquin, in south western New South Wales, was found to be complex. Individual species covered a range of trophic levels and, apart from a few specialized predators, most species showed a broad diet. A total of twenty-seven species were placed in six different categories, according to food usage patterns:- specialist predators (2 spp.), generalist predators (1 sp.), predatorscavengers (4 spp.), omnivore-nectar collectors (10 spp.), omnivore-seed collectors (5 spp.) and seed harvesters (5 spp.). Almost 50% of ant colonies were of the five seed-harvester species and their food usage was examined more closely. They showed marked seasonal changes in composition of diet, corresponding closely to periods of seed production by different food plants. There were also differences in seed selection between species, and these were related to the size, phenology and probably chemical properties of the seed. Foraging behaviour by the various species showed differing adaptations to efficient utilization of a variable food supply.

Abstract: A survey of 20 km2 of species-rich kwongan (sclerophyllous shrubland or sandplain vegetation) is reported, A total of 429 vascular plant species were found, of which 338 were recorded at the eighty-seven systematically located 0.1 ha releves, Five vegetation units were defined following analysis of the site floristics data. Small but distinctive suites of species (totalling 26% of recorded species) characterized a gradient in soils from the sands and gravels of the lateritic uplands, through the deep sands of the dune sequence, to the clays of the winter-wet depressions. However the soils-related axis in the ordinations accounted for only ca. 6% of the variability in the data, indicating the complexity of the vegetation environment interactions. Species richness was greatest in a zone of apparent overlap between the lateritic group of species and those of the deep sand areas. The winter-wet areas were poorest in species. The distributions of the floristically defined vegetation units did not closely parallel those of physiognomic units defined by interpretation of air photos. Structural dominance was negligible in all but the winter-wet areas and the few dominants appeared poorly correlated with other species and with the physical environment. Comparisons are made with areas of similar vegetation elsewhere in Australia and in South Africa.

Abstract: The incidence of myrmecochory (plants providing inducements for ants to disperse their seeds) was studied in thirty-eight plots on the West Head, New South Wales. The vegetation is made up of species from the temperate Australian flora which includes the largest known concentration of myrmecochores. Four plots with few myrmecochores either were frequently or permanently flooded, or were on fertile volcanic soil. Most plots were in well-drained sites on infertile sandstone. An average of 30% of the species on each of these were certainly myrmecochores, accounting for an average of 15% of the total cover. Within this majority of plots, the incidence of myrmecochory was not related to slope, aspect or vegetation structure. Although many myrmecochores were widespread in distribution, the majority did not contribute heavily to cover of the stands where they occurred.

Abstract: Soil, fungi, including species forming endomycorrhizae, appear to be important to pioneer plants colonizing coastal sand-dunes in the subtropics. In three mobile dunes at Cooloola, Queensland, networks of fungal hyphae were very common in the surface 0-20 cm of bare sand of the colonizing zones. These networks, consisting of long threads of hyphae, extend out into the bare sands from the roots of pioneer seedlings, most of which are endomycorrhizal. The fungi intermesh sand-grains to form aggregates which appear to be an important factor in stabilizing these loose sands. The sands are dominantly quartz grains partly covered by thin sesquioxide coatings which contain some phosphorus. Phosphorus held by sesquioxide is generally regarded as being unavailable to most plants. However, the close attachment of hyphae to these coatings, the lack of alternative sources of phosphorus and the prominence of endomycorrhizal fungi are consistent with these fungi obtaining phosphorus from these surfaces. These fungi appear to be important in plant colonization of these dunes and could have appliction in revegetaton of disturbed areas.

Abstract: Seed germination of Melaleuca ericifolia (swamp paperbark) is delayed by submergence in water but the final percentage germination after removing seeds from water is unaffected; some seeds will germinate and the cotyledons emerge whilst submerged. Germination is totally inhibited at salinities of 14% and a population which naturally occurs adjacent to coastal saltmarsh was inhibited more by salinities of 6–12% than two other populations from freshwater habitats. Seedling growth may be increased by water‐logging conditions and the degree of response differs for different seed sources. Inundation stimulates root growth and new roots are thick and aerenchymatous. Root systems in the field run horizontally and are shallow, apparently being restricted by clay at depth. All populations studied showed a similar seedling growth‐response to salinity treatments; growth declined at salinities ≤ 13% and was severely restricted at 21%, although no seedlings died after 48 days’exposure to the latter treatment. Copyright © 1981, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Abstract: This, the first study on herbivory in a woodland eucalypt in Australia, produced an estimate of annual foliage loss from Eucalyptus blakelyi to herbivorous insects of 40%. Further evidence on abscission of damaged foliage showed that this was an underestimate, a more accurate figure being closer to 70% annually.

Abstract: The red wattlebird, a large Australian honey eater,defends feeding territories from other nectar-feeding birds. One such territory decreased in sizeand experienced fewer intruders as the density offlowers increased. Daily energy production fromthe nectar in the territory closely approximated theenergy requirements of the territory holder. Thebird was probably minimizing energetic costsrather than maximizing energy intake. Introduction Nectarivorous birds are excellent subjects forstudying the economics of territoriality. Ter-ritorial behaviour has been investigated inhummingbirds (Stiles & Wolf 1970; Stiles 1971;Wolf & Hainsworth 1971; Gass et al. 1976; Lyonet al. 1977; Kodric-Brown & Brown 1978), sun-birds (Gill & Wolf 1975; Wolf 1975; Pyke 1979)and Hawaiian honeycreepers (Carpenter M Kodric-Brown and Brown 1978: with sun-birds; Gill & Wolf 1975; and with Hawaiianhoneycreepers: Carpenter & MacMillen 1976a).The birds defended areas which provided at leasttheir daily energy requirements.Small, rich territories attracted more intrudersin some cases in hummingbirds (Stiles & Wolf1970, Lyon et ai, 1977). However Gass et al,1976 suggested intruder pressure would beinversely related to richness. Small territorieshave shorter perimeters over which intruders canstray. Small territories should also be easier todefend as intruders are more easily seen, morequickly reached and more rapidly expelled.

Abstract: The movement of water and nutrients (N, P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca) through Eucalyptus regnans dominated catchments in the Maroondah catchment near Melbourne were determined. Nutrient fluxes in precipitation and streamflow are discussed and used to prepare simple precipitation input – stream flow output catchment budgets. These budgets are similar to those found elsewhere in Australia and overseas with the exception of nitrogen. This was probably due to errors in measurement and incomplete quantification of nitrogen fluxes. Catchment sodium budgets were used to estimate geological weathering rates by two different methods. Both methods yielded similar results. Data from two other studies in Victorian forested catchments yielded results similar to those obtained from Maroondah. It was concluded that the bedrock weathering rate at Maroondah was approximately 700 kg ha-1 year-1 which is very similar to that found elsewhere. Nutrient inputs from geological weathering were then estimated and possible errors discussed.

Abstract: Distinct O1 and O2 layers, representing annual litter fall, enabled the sequential loss of biomass and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) to be reconstructed in undisturbed litter layers of Banksia ornata in the Dark Island heathland, South Australia. Apart from an initial loss in biomass and nitrogen, the dry weight and nutrient content of the O1 layer, exposed to the desiccating influence of the atmosphere, remained relatively constant until covered by the following year's leaf fall. Under the blanket of newly fallen leaves, biomass decomposition proceeded continuously through autumn, winter, spring, into the dry summer season. Even though the biomass of the decomposing leaf (O2) layer decreased continuously, its nutrient content remained relatively constant until the summer season was reached when total decomposition and nutrient loss occurred. During spring, fine rootlets invaded the decomposing litter layer (O2) and, together with decomposer fungi, bacteria and soil fauna, maintained the total nutrient content of the decomposing leaf at a constant level. By late spring‐early summer shoot growth of the dominant heath species was initiated, inducing the mobilization of the nutrients stored in the decomposing litter layer. Copyright

Abstract: This is the third of a series of papers describing the soils and vegetation of the central Australian sandridges and their interrelations. It details topographic—floristic patterns on fourteen transects at seven sites in the northwest, southwest and southeast Simpson Desert. There is a consistent vegetational zonation on the main Simpson sandridges, with regional modifications due to the broad scale NW-SE floristic gradient. Closer dunes have more similar vegetation than distant ones. Swale vegetation is less consistent than sandridge vegetation and depends on soil type. Species differ greatly in their degree of restriction both topographically and geographically. Zone separation differs greatly between dunes in consequence. Zones defined on overall floristics are less clearly separated in the Simpson than in the western deserts. A floristically and structurally distinct crest zone is recognizable on all main dunefield sandridges. The only universally applicable zonation is swale, flank, crest. Vegetation patterns are more closely correlated with field soil texture than with topography.

Abstract: Changes in coastal heath vegetation were measured for 6 years following a wildfire and the data compared with the pre-fire vegetation. For the first 2 years changes were related to time; after that environmental factors dominated the process of regeneration. During the first 4 years plant species spread rapidly and maximum species diversity per plot was reached 4 years after the fire. About the same time many species consolidated their position in the community; this being shown by cover levels greater than before the fire for some species. Six years after the fire the vegetation is still dynamic and very different when compared with the heath before burning.

Abstract: Colonization and abundance of mosquitoes and other insects were studied during four trials in man-made ponds at Mildura, Victoria. In December and February, respectively, Culex australicus and Cx annulirostris colonized the ponds within 1 day of formation. Maximum larval densities were attained within 8 days and, thereafter, densities gradually declined. The ponds were also colonized initially by predatory Coleoptera and Hemiptera, then Odonata. In three of the four trials, a significant inverse relationship existed between mosquito and predator densities. From life tables compiled during one of these trials, a survival rate of Cx annulirostris, from egg hatch to eclosion, was estimated to be 11%. Predation was considered to be largely responsible for the low survival. The results are discussed in relation to control of Cx annulirostris in temporary and permanent grassy ponds.

Abstract: We ask under what circumstances two methods of dispersal-for-distance should be combined, given that the second method may carry the diaspore back towards its point of origin. The combination is made possible when the morphological adaptations of the diaspore are compatible. It is advantageous when the return on investment in the first method of dispersal declines sharply beyond some level of investment. The median seed achieves the best net distance when the two methods achieve similar distances; the upper decile of seeds achieve nearly a simple sum of the two distances. The first two conditions apply to the combination of ballistic with ant-dispersal, which is widespread in Australian sclerophyll shrubs. Mother plants’fitnesses could well be determined by the upper decile of distances their seeds achieve. It remains an open question whether the addition of ant-dispersal to ballistic dispersal achieves the selective advantage of distance or of placement.

Abstract: This ecological study of the Myall Lakes, a lagoon system on the New South Wales central coast, presents the physical setting and characteristics of the Lakes’catchments and relates these characteristics to the hydrochemical features of surface and subsurface waters. In turn these hydrochemical features have been related to the aquatic communities. It is suggested that the predominance of forest vegetation and stable soils in the Lakes’catchment has assisted in retaining these lakes in a generally undisturbed state. Fluctuations of salinity, turbidity and ionic concentrations in the lower part of the system are controlled by natural inputs of rainfall, run-off and tidal flushings. However, Boolambayte Lake and particularly Myall Lake, the upper part of the system, appear to be isolated from these influences. The aquatic communities reflect these hydrochemical differences. The lack of flushing of waters in this upper part of the system, in Dirty Creek and to a lesser extent in the Myall River immediately upstream of the Broadwater, makes these areas particularly susceptible to pollution and eutrophication associated with increased development.

Abstract: The disparity between the distribution and abundance of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) and its major food trees (Eucalyptus spp.) is examined in terms of the essential oil content of the leaves, the influence of weather, social behaviour, and the level of available nitrogenous food. The essential oils are considered to be relatively unimportant since the koala has the ability to detoxify them. It is proposed that the level of available nitrogenous food is the major limiting influence on the abundance of the koala. Social behaviour enables a few koalas to acquire sufficient food while the majority of the population is subject to a relative shortage of food. The weather varies the local availability of adequate nitrogenous food by its influence on leaf growth in the eucalypts. Unusually favourable weather or inappropriate management which lead to a local increase in the availability of young growing leaves (flush growth) may result in outbreaks in koala numbers.

Abstract: A long-term study (1973-9) was made of the intertidal floras of two headlands, one exposed to the ocean, the other in a bay. Many algal species varied erratically in frequency or occurrence from year to year, apparently due to local chance causes, but in some years many species showed reductions in frequency. In these years the changes in the flora appear to be associated with sand movements, which are possibly due to locally damaging storms. Recovery of the floras follows these depressions, but it is stressed that this recovery depends on the existence of a reservoir of spore-producing plants which in turn depends on the maintenance of good water quality in the sea. The naturally occurring variations in floras are greater than are any induced by a low volume well-treated sewerage outfall, except in the immediate area of the outfall.

Abstract: Shrub invasion of Eucalyptus populnea woodland is of concern to the pastoral industry. As part of an ecosystem study, different analyses were used to identify spatial pattern and associations in the tree and shrub species, with the aim of identifying what factors were most influential on the ecosystem. The results suggested that there were no strong edaphic or topographic influences on the distribution of plants. The principal influence on the arrangement of trees and shrubs was the large Eucalyptus trees, which were randomly arranged, and the canopy of which covered 15% of the area. It is concluded that any disturbance of the large Eucalyptus trees would have intense effects on the whole ecosystem. Qualitative and quantitative measurements of the plant species in sample quadrats were subjected to a variety of pattern analyses including association analysis (DIVINF), correlation analysis, principal components analysis and several classification programs including POLYDIV and MULCLAS. A criticism of such analyses is that positive results are both inevitable and not subject to statistical proof, whilst their strength is that they can simplify complicated sets of data. In this case the patterns suggested by the results were visually apparent and no additional insights were achieved. The dangers inherent in relying on a single pattern analysis were revealed when the groups of quadrats produced by the different analyses were mapped. Even when the groupings derived from different analyses were based on a similar species content, their spatial arrangement was dissimilar.

Abstract: In contrast to classical island biogeographical predictions, plant species richness is not monotonically related to island area or isolation for the northern Great Barrier Reef islands, and this cannot be accounted for as a 'small island effect'. Many islands are composed of different terrain units bearing different floristic assemblages suggesting a modified 'terrainfloristic element' model for island biogeography. This requires definition of a time-scale for equilibrium considerations and emphasizes that equilibrium or first order perturbation ('relaxation') models may be inappropriate for some archipelagos.

Abstract: Clearing of native forest has caused a rise in soil watertables and increased the salinity of land and streams in south-western Australia. Reforestation is a possible method of increasing the use of water on cleared catchments, lowering watertables and reducing the output of salt from hillside seeps. One of the first needs is evidence of suitable species for such a project. This paper describes the comparative success of twenty-eight species (mainly Eucalyptus spp.) in establishment and early growth when grown on and near saline seeps during 1976–77. Plantations were located in 850, 500 and 420 mm annual rainfall zones of the Hotham River valley about 150 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia. The sites had saline confined aquifers and seasonal perched watertables which were typical of many landscapes in the region. Though rainfall was below average and only one watering was given, nineteen species had greater than 80% establishment in upslope, midslope and downslope positions. In late winter 1977, 15 months after planting, the leading species were 1–2 metres tall and carried leaf area up to 5.5 m2 per tree where current rainfall was highest. The results indicate a high potential for plant establishment and early growth within the rainfall zones. Eucalyptus spp. from many regions of southern Australia were successful at the wettest location. Success at the two driest locations was limited to species from dry climates of southern South Australia and Western Australia. Planting on seep areas decreased the establishment of three species. Eucalyptus wandoo, E. globulus and E. camaldulensis, which performed well on non-seep areas at one or more locations. Implications for a source of further test species and for planting strategy near seeps are discussed.

Abstract: This is the first of a series of papers describing catenary patterns in central Australian sand-ridge soils and vegetation, and observations and experiments designed to assess the interrelationships among them and the impact of fire. The aims and study area are described and previous literature reviewed briefly. Later papers will detail soil and vegetation patterns and discuss the relative importance of the dune-swale gradients in soil texture, mobility, fertility and moisture status as controls and constraints on the vegetation, with reference to rainfall fluctuations and to changes in plant cover and environment at various time scales. These embody experimental studies on plant regeneration to suggest an overall model for the maintenance of the present open-crested dune vegetation.

Abstract: Belt transects taken over the main sandridges in Uluru National Park, Northern Territory, show a consistent fioristic zonation from swale to dunecrest. On the larger ridges five or six zones are distinguishable and the crest assemblage is largely disjunct; on the lower dunes the pattern is truncated. The Uluru dunefields are representative of the Northern Territory and central Western Australia, though the floristic assemblage differs regionally.

Abstract: The clearing of native forests for open cut mining for bauxite is a potential cause for severe modification of the hydrological cycle. In the Darling Range, Western Australia, jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Sm.) woodlands are being cleared for mining and are being replaced with plantations of other eucalypts. The plantation trees, which were up to 8 years old, showed no greater water stress than those of the original forest. The leaf area index of older plantation trees was usually higher than that of the original, mature forest. Transpiration rate was estimated on twigs enclosed briefly in a transpiration chamber. Prior test showed that this method was appropriate for comparisons in field grown eucalypts. Field measurements of stratified samples showed little difference in transpiration rate per unit leaf area between plantation forests and original forests. For the last 3 months of the dry season, however, transpiration per unit area of leaves was depressed by 25% in the plantation forest.

Abstract: The understorey vegetation of nine localities with different fire histories from open eucalypt forest near Melbourne, Victoria, was analysed by principal component analysis. Floristically, localities were quite similar; however, structural differences caused mainly by different burning regimes of recent years were more evident. An analysis of presence-absence data displayed a marked discontinuity that was explainable in terms of the timing and intensity of a recent fire. Using unstandardized height data the pattern was related to inter- and intra-locality differences in time since the last fires. An analysis of standardized height data demonstrated a connection between understorey structure and fire frequency. Despite apparent differences in the scatter diagrams obtained a statistical comparison of the analytical results indicated that, in many respects, the ordinations were similar

Abstract: Differences in the litter and soil of northern temperate and tropical and subtropical forest soil and soil faunas are noted. Analyses of the distribution and abundance of Cryptostigmata and Mesostigmata mites in the litter and soil of two Australian subtropical forests are presented. The faunal associations in the litter and soil of these forests are different. It is suggested that the litter and soil habitats of subtropical and tropical forests should be regarded as separate but connected habitats in relation to their fauna. This contrasts with the assumption, for temperate forests, that litter and soil communities are portions of a single system. Copyright

Abstract: There is little published information about coastal salt marshes in south-western Australia, which are prominent in estuaries but absent from the high energy coastline. The zonation of the marshes of the Blackwood estuary resemble those in other parts of the world, in that Sarcocornia marsh occurs near the mouth, followed by rush marsh, with sedges further upstream, suggesting that salinity is a prime determining factor. Spartina and Phragmites are absent. The most exensive marsh is the Juncus kraussii rush community which is invaded by the paperbark tree, Melaleuca cuticularis. The sedge Baumea juncea forms a marsh community on the shores of the lower tidal river and a progression of species occurs with distance along the tidal river. A number of dynamic processes observed in these marshes are described and related to observations elsewhere

Abstract: Association-analyses were made of montane grasslands (patanas) of Sri Lanka using higher plant and soil microfungal data. Stand classifications derived from higher plants and microfungi were remarkably parallel and were in complete agreement with the tentative division of patanas into five major types. The ecological distinctiveness of the five patanas was further evident from the phytosociological affinities of species indicated by classifications of higher plants and microfungi. Multivariate analyses of higher plants and fungi from the same ecosystem are regarded as alternative approaches which provide more information together than alone.