DOCSLIB.ORG

Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems of the Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems of the Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia Vegetation Communities and Regional Ecosystems of The Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia. An Accompaniment to Land Zone, Vegetation Community and Regional Ecosystem Maps. Final Report to Torres Strait Regional Authority Land & Sea Management Unit. by 3d Environmental Stanton, D.J., Fell, D.G. and Gooding, D.O. August, 2008 Executive Summary The Torres Strait region, lying between the tip of Cape York Peninsula and the south-western coast of Papua New Guinea, has long been recognised for its cultural and ecological uniqueness and diversity. The need to preserve and appropriately manage the cultural, social and environmental values identified throughout the region is now more than ever apparent and vital given the pressures imposed by a range of current and potentially threatening processes. Under funding from the Natural Heritage Trust administered through the Torres Strait Regional Authority Land and Sea Management Unit, a regional vegetation classification and mapping survey of the Torres Strait Islands has been undertaken. The report and accompanying maps present the first comprehensive assessment of the regions vegetation with previous studies either much broader in scale or focused on particular areas or islands. The information is intended to directly address priority issues identified in the Torres Strait Regional Land and Sea Management Strategy being; lack of information on terrestrial biodiversity ecology or biological process; and the lack of a spatial representation of vegetation communities (and regional ecosystems) at an appropriate scale for local land use planning initiatives. Furthermore, the information provided in this study serves to provide baseline data layers to support the development of Pilot Sustainable Land Use Plans on six islands (Saibai, Boigu, Dauan, Iama, Masig, and Erub). The study focused on detailed stereoscopic interpretation of the available aerial photography, both recent and historical, supported by satellite imagery as a basis for vegetation community delineation. A field survey undertaken to provide floristic characterisation of representative vegetation communities was completed by two field ecologists between 16 October and 2 December, 2007. The survey collected data at 1 372 survey locations over a total land area of 892 km2, supplementing 37 sites surveyed during previous data collection exercises (Neldner and Clarkson 2005), providing a spatial scale of sampling at scale of roughly 1:25 000. A secondary phase of field sampling was completed in July 2008 for Badu Island. In total, the study identified 158 remnant vegetation communities within 27 Broad Vegetation Groups. These vegetation communities are classified into the regional ecosystem framework based on landform association, structural type and floristic assemblage. Seventy-six regional ecosystems are identified in the study area, of which 10 are recognised as new ecosystem types for the Cape York Peninsula Bioregion, within which 218 regional ecosystems are currently recognised. This accounts for approximately one third of the total ecosystem diversity present in the bioregion within a recognised sub-region contributing less than 0.01% to the bioregions total land area (12,050,307.0576 ha – IBRA Version 5). The vascular flora is similarly diverse with 1 330 vascular flora species known and including 196 naturalised species, seven species declared on the Land Protection Act 2002, and 31 species listed as endangered, vulnerable or rare under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. The Torres Strait flora approximates 40% of the species known for the Cape York Peninsula bioregion and some 13% of the Queensland vascular flora. The Islands that make up the Torres Strait sub-region are truly unique and biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems which support outstanding terrestrial biodiversity values much of which has been previously unrecognised. The findings identify a number of highly significant vegetation types, which include those with very restricted distribution within the study area, bioregionally endemic types, extensive wetlands, and vegetation that provides important habitat for flora of national, state and regional significance. Furthermore, the vegetation and flora exhibit evidence of the evolving and ongoing fragmentation of the biomes of northern Australia and New Guinea. 3D Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008 i Acknowledgments This project was funded with the assistance of the Federal Government’s Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) through the Torres Strait Regional Authority-Land and Sea Management Unit. The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the following people and organisations for their assistance with the project: • All island Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) bodies and members who granted permission for access to traditional lands; • All island Council Chairpersons, CEO’s and executive for coordination and logistical support throughout the survey; • Kaurerag field rangers particularly Mr. John Wigness and Mr. Kathawa Rattler for assistance in the field on Kaurerag country, and liaison support by Mr Milton Savage and Mr Eliza Wasaga; • TSRA Land and Sea Management Unit staff Damian Miley, Miya Isherwood, and Vic McGrath for assistance with project management and cultural liaison. Ben Hanrahan and Marianne Helling provided valuable background information throughout; • Dr. Garrick Hitchcock for advice and guidance on issues pertaining to cultural protocols and ethnography, provision of background literature and review of the draft report; • Mary Bani of TSRA Native Title Office for assistance with introductory correspondence and advice on Native Title matters; • EPA Senior Botanist Eda Addicot and Dr John Neldner for advice and assistance on vegetation and Regional Ecosystem classification; • Barbara Waterhouse for provision of background information valuable to project planning and for botanical advice; • Peter Stanton for provision of comments on the draft report; • AQIS staff throughout Torres Strait; • Mr John Dowe for advice on palm distributions and identifications; • John and Linda Fell for accommodation on Zuna Island • Keith and Moroma Fell for accommodation on Mabuiag Island. Cover Photographs 1. Mangroves and salt pan on Land Zone 1, Horn Island. 2. Semi deciduous vine forest on Land Zone 2, Erub. 3. Pandanus grassland complex on Land Zone 3, Saibai. 4. Vine thicket remnants on Land Zone 7, Saibai. 5. Grassland and vine thicket on Land Zone 8, Erub. 6. Rainforest on Land Zone 12, Moa Island. 3d Environmental – Torres Strait Regional Ecosystem Mapping Project – August 2008 ii Table of Contents Executive Summary...................................................................................... i Acknowledgments....................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................iii 1. Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Area Description....................................................................................1 1.1.1 Study Location and Context...................................................................................1 1.1.2 Climate ......................................................................................................................2 1.1.3 Geology and Geomorphology ...............................................................................2 2. Aims and Scope..................................................................................... 6 3. Methods .................................................................................................. 7 3.1 Desktop Literature Review..............................................................................7 3.2 Image Base Compilation and Aerial Photograph Analysis ........................9 3.3 Site Locations...................................................................................................10 3.4 Field Survey Procedure..................................................................................17 3.5 Classification of Land and Vegetation.........................................................18 3.5.1 Non-Rainforest Vegetation...................................................................................19 3.5.2 Classification of Rainforest Vegetation...............................................................19 3.5.3 Classification of Remnant/Non-Remnant Vegetation .....................................20 3.6 Scale of Survey.................................................................................................21 3.7 Image Interpretation and Attribution Method ...........................................21 3.8 Pre-clearing Vegetation Method...................................................................21 3.9 Digital Processing and Accuracy..................................................................22 3.10 Limitations and Constraints ..........................................................................22 4.0 Results – Field Analysis ..................................................................... 24 4.1 Classification of Land and Vegetation.........................................................24 4.1.1 Land Zones .............................................................................................................24 4.1.2 Vegetation Communities ......................................................................................24
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Vascular Plant Survey of Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
    YIKA-VWAZA TRUST RESEARCH STUDY REPORT N (2017/18) Vascular Plant Survey of Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Malawi By Sopani Sichinga ([email protected]) September , 2019 ABSTRACT In 2018 – 19, a survey on vascular plants was conducted in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve. The reserve is located in the north-western Malawi, covering an area of about 986 km2. Based on this survey, a total of 461 species from 76 families were recorded (i.e. 454 Angiosperms and 7 Pteridophyta). Of the total species recorded, 19 are exotics (of which 4 are reported to be invasive) while 1 species is considered threatened. The most dominant families were Fabaceae (80 species representing 17. 4%), Poaceae (53 species representing 11.5%), Rubiaceae (27 species representing 5.9 %), and Euphorbiaceae (24 species representing 5.2%). The annotated checklist includes scientific names, habit, habitat types and IUCN Red List status and is presented in section 5. i ACKNOLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, let me thank the Nyika–Vwaza Trust (UK) for funding this work. Without their financial support, this work would have not been materialized. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) Malawi through its Regional Office (N) is also thanked for the logistical support and accommodation throughout the entire study. Special thanks are due to my supervisor - Mr. George Zwide Nxumayo for his invaluable guidance. Mr. Thom McShane should also be thanked in a special way for sharing me some information, and sending me some documents about Vwaza which have contributed a lot to the success of this work. I extend my sincere thanks to the Vwaza Research Unit team for their assistance, especially during the field work.
    [Show full text]
  • Grass Genera in Townsville
    Grass Genera in Townsville Nanette B. Hooker Photographs by Chris Gardiner SCHOOL OF MARINE and TROPICAL BIOLOGY JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY TOWNSVILLE QUEENSLAND James Cook University 2012 GRASSES OF THE TOWNSVILLE AREA Welcome to the grasses of the Townsville area. The genera covered in this treatment are those found in the lowland areas around Townsville as far north as Bluewater, south to Alligator Creek and west to the base of Hervey’s Range. Most of these genera will also be found in neighbouring areas although some genera not included may occur in specific habitats. The aim of this book is to provide a description of the grass genera as well as a list of species. The grasses belong to a very widespread and large family called the Poaceae. The original family name Gramineae is used in some publications, in Australia the preferred family name is Poaceae. It is one of the largest flowering plant families of the world, comprising more than 700 genera, and more than 10,000 species. In Australia there are over 1300 species including non-native grasses. In the Townsville area there are more than 220 grass species. The grasses have highly modified flowers arranged in a variety of ways. Because they are highly modified and specialized, there are also many new terms used to describe the various features. Hence there is a lot of terminology that chiefly applies to grasses, but some terms are used also in the sedge family. The basic unit of the grass inflorescence (The flowering part) is the spikelet. The spikelet consists of 1-2 basal glumes (bracts at the base) that subtend 1-many florets or flowers.
    [Show full text]
  • Dendrobium Kingianum Bidwill Ex Lindl
    Volume 24: 203–232 ELOPEA Publication date: 19 May 2021 T dx.doi.org/10.7751/telopea14806 Journal of Plant Systematics plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Telopea • escholarship.usyd.edu.au/journals/index.php/TEL • ISSN 0312-9764 (Print) • ISSN 2200-4025 (Online) A review of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. (Orchidaceae) with morphological and molecular- phylogenetic analyses Peter B. Adams1,2, Sheryl D. Lawson2, and Matthew A.M. Renner 3 1The University of Melbourne, School of BioSciences, Parkville 3010, Victoria 2National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Birdwood Ave., Melbourne 3004, Victoria 3National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney 2000, New South Wales Author for correspondence: [email protected] Abstract Populations of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. from near Newcastle, New South Wales to southern and central west Queensland and encompassing all regions of the distribution were studied using field observations, morphometric analysis and nrITS sequences. A total of 281 individuals were used to construct regional descriptions of D. kingianum and 139 individuals were measured for 19 morphological characters, and similarities and differences among specimens summarised using multivariate statistical methods. Patterns of morphological variation within D. kingianum are consistent with a single variable species that expresses clinal variation, with short-growing plants in the south and taller plants in the northern part of the distribution. The nrITS gene tree suggests two subgroups within D. kingianum subsp. kingianum, one comprising northern, the other southern individuals, which may overlap in the vicinity of Dorrigo, New South Wales. The disjunct D. kingianum subsp. carnarvonense Peter B.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia Lacks Stem Succulents but Is It Depauperate in Plants With
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect Australia lacks stem succulents but is it depauperate in plants with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)? 1,2 3 3 Joseph AM Holtum , Lillian P Hancock , Erika J Edwards , 4 5 6 Michael D Crisp , Darren M Crayn , Rowan Sage and 2 Klaus Winter In the flora of Australia, the driest vegetated continent, [1,2,3]. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), a water- crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), the most water-use use efficient form of photosynthesis typically associated efficient form of photosynthesis, is documented in only 0.6% of with leaf and stem succulence, also appears poorly repre- native species. Most are epiphytes and only seven terrestrial. sented in Australia. If 6% of vascular plants worldwide However, much of Australia is unsurveyed, and carbon isotope exhibit CAM [4], Australia should host 1300 CAM signature, commonly used to assess photosynthetic pathway species [5]. At present CAM has been documented in diversity, does not distinguish between plants with low-levels of only 120 named species (Table 1). Most are epiphytes, a CAM and C3 plants. We provide the first census of CAM for the mere seven are terrestrial. Australian flora and suggest that the real frequency of CAM in the flora is double that currently known, with the number of Ellenberg [2] suggested that rainfall in arid Australia is too terrestrial CAM species probably 10-fold greater. Still unpredictable to support the massive water-storing suc- unresolved is the question why the large stem-succulent life — culent life-form found amongst cacti, agaves and form is absent from the native Australian flora even though euphorbs.
    [Show full text]
  • Creating Jobs, Protecting Forests?
    Creating Jobs, Protecting Forests? An Analysis of the State of the Nation’s Regional Forest Agreements Creating Jobs, Protecting Forests? An Analysis of the State of the Nation’s Regional Forest Agreements The Wilderness Society. 2020, Creating Jobs, Protecting Forests? The State of the Nation’s RFAs, The Wilderness Society, Melbourne, Australia Table of contents 4 Executive summary Printed on 100% recycled post-consumer waste paper 5 Key findings 6 Recommendations Copyright The Wilderness Society Ltd 7 List of abbreviations All material presented in this publication is protected by copyright. 8 Introduction First published September 2020. 9 1. Background and legal status 12 2. Success of the RFAs in achieving key outcomes Contact: [email protected] | 1800 030 641 | www.wilderness.org.au 12 2.1 Comprehensive, Adequate, Representative Reserve system 13 2.1.1 Design of the CAR Reserve System Cover image: Yarra Ranges, Victoria | mitchgreenphotos.com 14 2.1.2 Implementation of the CAR Reserve System 15 2.1.3 Management of the CAR Reserve System 16 2.2 Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management 16 2.2.1 Maintaining biodiversity 20 2.2.2 Contributing factors to biodiversity decline 21 2.3 Security for industry 22 2.3.1 Volume of logs harvested 25 2.3.2 Employment 25 2.3.3 Growth in the plantation sector of Australia’s wood products industry 27 2.3.4 Factors contributing to industry decline 28 2.4 Regard to relevant research and projects 28 2.5 Reviews 32 3. Ability of the RFAs to meet intended outcomes into the future 32 3.1 Climate change 32 3.1.1 The role of forests in climate change mitigation 32 3.1.2 Climate change impacts on conservation and native forestry 33 3.2 Biodiversity loss/resource decline 33 3.2.1 Altered fire regimes 34 3.2.2 Disease 35 3.2.3 Pest species 35 3.3 Competing forest uses and values 35 3.3.1 Water 35 3.3.2 Carbon credits 36 3.4 Changing industries, markets and societies 36 3.5 International and national agreements 37 3.6 Legal concerns 37 3.7 Findings 38 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Cultural Heritage Series
    VOLUME 4 PART 2 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM CULTURAL HERITAGE SERIES 17 OCTOBER 2008 © The State of Queensland (Queensland Museum) 2008 PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia Phone 06 7 3840 7555 Fax 06 7 3846 1226 Email [email protected] Website www.qm.qld.gov.au National Library of Australia card number ISSN 1440-4788 NOTE Papers published in this volume and in all previous volumes of the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum may be reproduced for scientific research, individual study or other educational purposes. Properly acknowledged quotations may be made but queries regarding the republication of any papers should be addressed to the Editor in Chief. Copies of the journal can be purchased from the Queensland Museum Shop. A Guide to Authors is displayed at the Queensland Museum web site A Queensland Government Project Typeset at the Queensland Museum CHAPTER 4 HISTORICAL MUA ANNA SHNUKAL Shnukal, A. 2008 10 17: Historical Mua. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Cultural Heritage Series 4(2): 61-205. Brisbane. ISSN 1440-4788. As a consequence of their different origins, populations, legal status, administrations and rates of growth, the post-contact western and eastern Muan communities followed different historical trajectories. This chapter traces the history of Mua, linking events with the family connections which always existed but were down-played until the second half of the 20th century. There are four sections, each relating to a different period of Mua’s history. Each is historically contextualised and contains discussions on economy, administration, infrastructure, health, religion, education and population. Totalai, Dabu, Poid, Kubin, St Paul’s community, Port Lihou, church missions, Pacific Islanders, education, health, Torres Strait history, Mua (Banks Island).
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society of London
    I 3 2044 105 172"381 : JOURNAL OF THE llopl lortimltoal fbck EDITED BY Key. GEORGE HEXSLOW, ALA., E.L.S., F.G.S. rtanical Demonstrator, and Secretary to the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. VOLUME VI Gray Herbarium Harvard University LOXD N II. WEEDE & Co., PRINTERS, BEOMPTON. ' 1 8 8 0. HARVARD UNIVERSITY HERBARIUM. THE GIFT 0F f 4a Ziiau7- m 3 2044 i"05 172 38" J O U E N A L OF THE EDITED BY Eev. GEOEGE HENSLOW, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S. Botanical Demonstrator, and Secretary to the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. YOLUME "VI. LONDON: H. WEEDE & Co., PRINTERS, BROMPTON, 1 8 80, OOUITOIL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1 8 8 0. Patron. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. President. The Eight Honourable Lord Aberdare. Vice- Presidents. Lord Alfred S. Churchill. Arthur Grote, Esq., F.L.S. Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bt., M.P. H. J". Elwes, Esq. Treasurer. Henry "W ebb, Esq., Secretary. Eobert Hogg, Esq., LL.D., F.L.S. Members of Council. G. T. Clarke, Esq. W. Haughton, Esq. Colonel R. Tretor Clarke. Major F. Mason. The Rev. H. Harpur Crewe. Sir Henry Scudamore J. Denny, Esq., M.D. Stanhope, Bart. Sir Charles "W. Strickland, Bart. Auditors. R. A. Aspinall, Esq. John Lee, Esq. James F. West, Esq. Assistant Secretary. Samuel Jennings, Esq., F.L S. Chief Clerk J. Douglas Dick. Bankers. London and County Bank, High Street, Kensington, W. Garden Superintendent. A. F. Barron. iv ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, 1880. Chairman. Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, K.C.S.I., M.D., C.B.,F.R.S., V.P.L.S., Royal Gardens, Kew.
    [Show full text]
  • Creating a Successful Edible Front Yard See Page 1
    LNewsletteret’s of the San DiegoT Horticulturalalk Society PlNovemberants! 2012, Number 218 Creating a Successful Edible Front Yard SEE PAGE 1 PAINTED SUCCULENTS??? page 5 A TALE OF TWO POPPIES page 6 HORT BUCKS EASIER TO REDEEM page 8 TAX-FREE SEEDS AND PLANTS page 9 GENEROUS LIBRARY DONATION page 12 On the Cover: An edible front yard November Featured Garden Date: November 25 Time: 10am to 2pm Location: Escondido Cathy Carey Cathy The next Featured Garden is at Cathy Carey's exciting garden and fascinating artist studio near Lake Hodges in Escondido. Learn about Cathy’s art at www.artstudiosandiego.com. Details will be emailed to members in your monthly eblast, and are also on our website, where you’ll be able to register: http://sdhort.org/FeaturedGarden ▼SDHS SPONSOR GREEN THUMB SUPER GARDEN CENTERS 1019 W. San Marcos Blvd. • 760-744-3822 (Off the 78 Frwy. near Via Vera Cruz) • CALIFORNIA NURSERY PROFESSIONALS ON STAFF • HOME OF THE NURSERY EXPERTS • GROWER DIRECT www.supergarden.com Now on Facebook WITH THIS VALUABLE Coupon $10 00 OFF Any Purchase of $6000 or More! • Must present printed coupon to cashier at time of purchase • Not valid with any sale items or with other coupons or offers • Offer does not include Sod, Gift Certifi cates, or Department 56 • Not valid with previous purchases • Limit 1 coupon per household • Coupon expires 11/30/2012 at 6 p.m. San Diego Horticultural Society In This Issue... Our Mission is to promote the enjoyment, art, knowledge 2 2013 Spring Garden Tour: Making Great Progress and public awareness of horticulture in the San Diego area, 2 Important Member Information while providing the opportunity for education and research.
    [Show full text]
  • The Discovery of 2,5-Dialkylcyclohexan-1,3-Diones As a New Class of Natural Products
    The discovery of 2,5-dialkylcyclohexan-1,3-diones as a new class of natural products S. Frankea, F. Ibarraa, C. M. Schulza, R. Twelea, J. Poldyb, R. A. Barrowb, R. Peakallc, F. P. Schiestld, and W. Franckea,1 aDepartment of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany; bDepartment of Chemistry and cDepartment of Botany and Zoology, School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia; and dInstitute of Systematic Botany, University of Zu¨rich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zu¨rich, Switzerland Edited by Jerrold Meinwald, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and approved March 31, 2009 (received for review January 22, 2009) Orchids employing sexual deceit attract males of their pollinator candidate compounds, followed by coupled gas chromatography/ species through specific volatile signals that mimic female-released mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to determine their chemical struc- sex pheromones. One of these signals proved to be 2-ethyl-5- tures. Confirmation of biological activity with synthetic com- propylcyclohexan-1,3-dione (chiloglottone1), a new natural prod- pounds during field bioassays was the final essential step (11–13). uct that was shown to be most important in the relations between A milestone in the understanding of thynnine wasp phero- orchids of the genus Chiloglottis, native to Australia, and corre- mones and the attractive principles of orchids that mimic them sponding pollinator species. Systematic investigations on the mass has been the identification of 2-ethyl-5-propylcyclohexan-1,3- spectrometric fragmentation pattern of 2,5-dialkylcyclohexan-1,3- dione, chiloglottone1, formerly called chiloglottone, as the de- diones identified key ions providing information about the struc- cisive compound involved in the chemical mimicry used by tures of the substituents at positions 2 and 5.
    [Show full text]
  • BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION on the TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 1. Environments and Plants
    BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ON THE TIWI ISLANDS, NORTHERN TERRITORY: Part 1. Environments and plants Report prepared by John Woinarski, Kym Brennan, Ian Cowie, Raelee Kerrigan and Craig Hempel. Darwin, August 2003 Cover photo: Tall forests dominated by Darwin stringybark Eucalyptus tetrodonta, Darwin woollybutt E. miniata and Melville Island Bloodwood Corymbia nesophila are the principal landscape element across the Tiwi islands (photo: Craig Hempel). i SUMMARY The Tiwi Islands comprise two of Australia’s largest offshore islands - Bathurst (with an area of 1693 km 2) and Melville (5788 km 2) Islands. These are Aboriginal lands lying about 20 km to the north of Darwin, Northern Territory. The islands are of generally low relief with relatively simple geological patterning. They have the highest rainfall in the Northern Territory (to about 2000 mm annual average rainfall in the far north-west of Melville and north of Bathurst). The human population of about 2000 people lives mainly in the three towns of Nguiu, Milakapati and Pirlangimpi. Tall forests dominated by Eucalyptus miniata, E. tetrodonta, and Corymbia nesophila cover about 75% of the island area. These include the best developed eucalypt forests in the Northern Territory. The Tiwi Islands also include nearly 1300 rainforest patches, with floristic composition in many of these patches distinct from that of the Northern Territory mainland. Although the total extent of rainforest on the Tiwi Islands is small (around 160 km 2 ), at an NT level this makes up an unusually high proportion of the landscape and comprises between 6 and 15% of the total NT rainforest extent. The Tiwi Islands also include nearly 200 km 2 of “treeless plains”, a vegetation type largely restricted to these islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Palm Weevils of the Genus Rhynchophorus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Their Threat to Florida Palms
    DACS-P-01719 Pest Alert created 18-February-2010 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry Adam H. Putnam, Commissioner of Agriculture Giant Palm Weevils of the Genus Rhynchophorus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Their Threat to Florida Palms Michael C. Thomas, Taxonomic Entomologist, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry INTRODUCTION: The giant palm weevils of the genus Rhynchophorus Herbst are among the worst palm pests in the world. One species, Rhynchophorus cruentatus (Fabricius), is native to Florida and the southeastern US. Two other species, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) and Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.), are found in the New World and are considered to be threats to palms in Florida. Of particular concern is R. ferrugineus, known as the red palm weevil. It is a pest of coconut and other palms in its native range. Over the past three decades, its range has expanded into the Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean Europe. It attacks many palm species, but is especially devastating on date palms. It recently became established in Curaçao in the Caribbean, placing it ever closer to Florida. In each case, it is suspected that the weevils travelled with imported palms. In January 2010, the federal government prohibited the importation into the United States of live palms belonging to 17 genera. IDENTIFICATION: Identification of adult palm weevils is straightforward as they are the largest weevils in NorthAmerica, ranging from about 1 to 1.8 inches (25mm to 45mm) in length. The individual species are rather similar, but the three species under consideration can be distinguished by the following key: 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Map1-Editionv-Cape-York.Pdf
    142°35'E 142°40'E 142°45'E 142°50'E 142°55'E 143°00'E 143°05'E 143°10'E 143°15'E 143°20'E 143°25'E 143°30'E 143°35'E 143°40'E 143°45'E 143°50'E 143°55'E 144°00'E 144°05'E 144°10'E 144°15'E L Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Lacey Island Jardine Rock Nicklin Islet Forbes Head Zoning Mt Adolphus (Mori) Island Morilug Islet A do Kai-Damun Reef lph us Johnson Islet S S ' ' 0 0 MAP 1 - Cape York 4 Akone 4 ° Quetta Rock ° 0 L Islet 0 1 C 1 York Island L Mid Rock ha nn 10-807 # # # # # # # Eborac Island (NP) e # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # l # 10°41.207'S Cape York Meggi-Damun Reef 10-348 10-387 L 10-315 10-381 # Sana Rock North Brother North Ledge 10-350 Sextant Rock 10-349 E L# 10-326 10-322 ' 10-313 L 10-325 2 # Tree Island 10-316 10-382 3 Ida Island Middle South Ledge 0 . 10-384 10-314 Bush Islet 10-317 Brother 10-327 5 5 a 10-321 10-323 ° # Albany Rock L L 3 Little Ida Island 4 # L 1 10-386 10-802# Mai Islet 10-320 # L 9 2 Tetley 10-805 10-385 4 t b Pitt Rock 10-319 South - n # 0 0 i d Island 10-351 1 3 o # 10-389 4 P Brother MNP-10-1001 - g # 10-352 S 0 10-324 10-392 S ' r 10-390 ' 1 # 10-443 u Albany Island 5 c 5 b 4 4 a 10-318 ° Fly Point ° n # 10-393 0 10-353 0 s # 10-354 1 O L Ulfa Rock10-328 Triangle Reef 1 10-434 10-355 10-391 # 10-397 Ariel Bank10-329 10-394 ´ 10-356 10-396 Scale 1 : 250 000 L 10-299 10-398 E 10-330 ' # # # 5 10-804 Harrington Shoal # Ch 0 10-399 andogoo Po # 0 5 10 15 20 km in 10-331 9 10-395 t .
    [Show full text]