Upland wetlands in the Namoi catchment : mapping distribution and disturbance classes of fens, bogs and lagoons

To assist with planning and conservation strategies, mapping of wetlands above 700 m elevation across the Namoi Catchment (east of Tamworth) was undertaken. The number of hectares of each type within this high-elevation region, the area currently in conservation reserves and the status of these remnants was assessed. 1 001 wetlands were mapped and allocated to three wetland types (fens, bogs and lagoons) and six disturbance groups (based on agricultural clearing and presence of dams). Total wetlands cover was 4 490 ha, of which fens were the most common, followed by bogs and a single lagoon. The smallest wetland was 0.12 ha in size, the largest 113 ha and the average 5 ha. Only 10% of all wetlands were considered to be in near natural state with only 5.5% of all wetland area protected within conservation reserves

Short-Time Existence for Scale-Invariant Hamiltonian Waves

We prove short-time existence of smooth solutions for a class of nonlinear, and in general spatially nonlocal, Hamiltonian evolution equations that describe the self-interaction of weakly nonlinear scale-invariant waves. These equations include ones that describe weakly nonlinear hyperbolic surface waves, such as nonlinear Rayleigh wave

Vegetation and floristics of Warra National Park and Wattleridge, Northern Tablelands, NSW

The vegetation of Warra National Park (29° 29’S, 151° 56’E; 2041 ha in area) and Wattleridge (29°31’S, 151°54’E; 648 ha in area), located approximately 35 km southeast of Glen Innes and 5 km west of Mount Mitchell, within the Guyra and Severn Shires in the New England Tablelands Bioregion NSW, is described. Nine vegetation communities are defined, based on flexible UPGMA analysis of cover-abundance scores of all vascular plant taxa. These communities have been mapped based on analysis of quadrat data, air photo interpretation, substrate variation and ground-truthing. Communities described are: (1) Leptospermum novae-angliae (New England Tea-tree) – Bursaria spinosa (Blackthorn) Riparian Scrub & Heath, (2) Eucalyptus pauciflora (Snow Gum) – Eucalyptus nova-anglica (New England Peppermint) Woodland, (3) Haloragis heterophylla (Variable Raspwort) – Carex inversa (Sedge) Herbfield, (4) Baeckea omissa (Baeckea) – Leptospermum gregarium (Swamp Tea-tree) Closed Wet Heath, (5) Eucalyptus cameronii (Die-hard Stringybark) – Eucalyptus campanulata (New England Blackbutt) Shrubby Open Forest, (6) Eucalyptus radiata subsp. sejuncta (Narrow-leaved Peppermint) – Eucalyptus acaciiformis (Wattle-leaved Peppermint) Woodland, (7) Eucalyptus cameronii (Die-hard Stringybark) – Eucalyptus caliginosa (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Open Forest, (8) Eucalyptus nobilis (Manna Gum) – Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate) Tall Open Forest, and (9) Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate) – Eucalyptus nobilis (Manna Gum) Tall Open Forest, (10) Leptospermum novae-angliae – Kunzea obovata – Brachyloma saxicola Shrubby Open Scrub and Closed Heath. Of 11 communities within the area, four should be considered as threatened, while 18 taxa are considered to be of conservation significance

Vegetation of Culgoa National Park, central northern New South Wales

The vegetation of Culgoa National Park (22 986 ha in area; 29°15’ S, 147°15’ E) in the central north of New South Wales, approximately 40 km west of Goodooga and adjoining the NSW/Queensland border, is described. Six vegetation communities are delineated based on UPGMA analysis of cover-abundance scores of all vascular plant taxa. These communities are mapped based on ground truthing and air photo interpretation. All communities are simple in structure being primarily woodlands, shrublands and grasslands. Communities described are: 1) Eucalyptus coolabah Woodlands, 2) Muehlenbeckia florulenta Shrubby Thickets, 3) Eucalyptus coolabah – Acacia pendula Woodlands & Grasslands, 4) Eucalyptus largiflorens – Eucalyptus coolabah Woodlands, 5) Eucalyptus largiflorens – Alectryon oleifolius Woodlands, 6) Callitris glaucophylla – Eucalyptus populnea Woodlands and Shrublands. A total of 240 vascular plant taxa were found of which 8% were exotic in origin. Conservation issues are discussed

Floristics and distribution of Wattle Dry Sclerophyll Forests and Scrubs in north-eastern New South Wales

Acacia blakei forests and scrubs of north-eastern NSW are described and compared to similar vegetation found in the south-east of the state, primarily dominated by Acacia silvestris. Like those in the south, Northern Wattle Dry Sclerophyll Forests form often discrete stands with abrupt margins on steep slopes in rugged terrain on shallow often rocky soils. The structure is usually of a cohort with stems of an even height and size up to 20 m tall, and a sparse understorey with few grasses, herbs or shrubs. These systems are potentially maintained by infrequent extreme fire events. Notes are made on their management and conservation

Vegetation of Imbota and Yina Nature Reserves, Armidale, New South Wales

The vegetation of Imbota Nature Reserve (30° 35’S, 151° 45’E) (218 ha in area), 10 km south-east of Armidale, and Yina Nature Reserve (30° 29’S, 151° 45’E), (101 ha in area), 10 km east of Armidale, on the Northern Tablelands, NSW, is described. Based on classification analyses, air photo interpretation and ground-truthing, seven vegetation communities are described and mapped : 1. Eucalyptus caliginosa (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Forest and Woodland on deep soils at Imbota; 2. Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum) Grassy Forest and Woodland, Community; 3. Eucalyptus caliginosa (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Forest and Woodland on shallow soils at Imbota; 4. Eucalyptus caliginosa (Broad-leaved Stringybark) Grassy Forest and Woodland at Yina; 5. Eucalyptus blakelyi (Blakely’s Red Gum) – Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) Woodland; 6. Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum) – Eucalyptus nova-anglica (New England Peppermint) Grassy Forest and Woodland and 7. Riparian Herbfields 252 vascular plant taxa (from 59 families) were recorded from the two reserves, 179 species in Imbota NR, the larger reserve and 209 in Yina NR. The lower species richness at Imbota is likely to have resulted human disturbance rather than from overall habitat heterogeneity

The Conflicting Interests of Airport Owner and Nearby Property Owner

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