Areas Of Western Australia Research Articles

Stepping outside my perspective: An autoethnographic review of Indigenous literature in Walyalup/Fremantle, Western Australia

Autoethnographic processes are valuable for creative practitioners and researchers as they allow for an intensive analysis not only of the practice-led approach being undertaken, but of the practitioner’s own personal and cultural impact on the artefact developed. I, as a white woman of migrant heritage, have undertaken a reflexive autoethnographic process during a review of Indigenous literature of the Walyalup/Fremantle area of Western Australia. This process required a deep, personal autoethnographic review of my own sociocultural context and biases, which resulted in key “epiphanies” (Ellis et al., 2011, p. 276) that have informed the ongoing approach to my geocritical research and creative writing practices. The process of autoethnographic notetaking aided in the identification of epiphanies around the importance of language, the emotional response as a researcher, and the limitations of locational boundaries and available sources around the privileging of hegemonic perspectives. This article explores how an autoethnographic reflexive process strengthens place-based research, specifically in interactions with Indigenous texts as a non-Indigenous researcher.

Runoff and leaching of dissolved phosphorus in streams from a rainfed mixed cropping and grazing catchment under a Mediterranean climate in Australia

Managing phosphorus (P) is a global priority for environmental water quality due to P lost from agricultural land through leaching, runoff and subsurface flow. In Western Australia (WA), following decades of P fertiliser application to crops and pastures in low rainfall regions, questions have been raised about this region's contribution to environmental P loss. This study was conducted on the Fitzgerald River catchment in the south Western Australia (WA) with mixed cropping and grazing land uses and a Mediterranean climate with low mean rainfall (~350 mm yr−1). Phosphorus forms were monitored continuously over a three-year period in five separate streams, each draining a defined sub-catchment. The P concentrations in streams consistently exceeded Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council (ANZECC) trigger values throughout the monitoring period. Of the measured total P concentration, ~75% was dissolved P (DRP; <0.45 μm) and 80% of that fraction was in the filterable reactive form (FRP). These water quality measurements and other independent soil investigations at this site, suggest that transport of dissolved P rather than erosion of sediment-bound P was dominant in this environment. Based on extractable soil P (Colwell P) and the P buffering index (PBI), predicted concentrations of dissolved reactive P (DRP) in soil solution in topsoils (0–10 cm) across this catchment, generally exceeded ANZECC's values of 0.07 mg PL−1. The level of exceedance was spatially variable. Streams draining areas with the lowest predicted DRP concentrations also had the lowest measured FRP concentrations. Elsewhere stream water FRP concentrations depended on both DRP concentration and the PBI of the land being drained. Our findings suggest that deployment of practices that physically filter runoff, for example riparian vegetation, would be ineffective in restricting P transport into stream in this environment. This conclusion is consistent with previous findings of the ineffectiveness of riparian buffers on coarse textured sandy soils in higher rainfall areas of southwest WA. A reduction in DRP losses without yield loss could be achieved by following evidence-based fertiliser advice from soil testing to limit losses of legacy P”.

Implementing genuine participatory action research with Aboriginal Elders: The Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort project

This paper describes the processes involved in establishing a genuinely collaborative and participatory role for nine Aboriginal Elders in a five-year participatory action research project focused on early child development in the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia. The project goals are to better inform and align policy and program design with Aboriginal values, world views and concepts of childhood. The Elder’s authority in the design, conduct and outputs of the research are intended to adhere to a decolonising approach, whereby Aboriginal people have power and voice in ways that are aligned to their values and beliefs. Requirements for research that is collaborative, relational, participatory and reflexive are not straightforward or easily achieved, and the process of working with the nine Elders in their roles as Co-researchers has not been without its challenges. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities of working with Aboriginal Elders as Co-researchers and seeks to enhance understanding of the necessity of incorporating an Aboriginal worldview and knowledge framework in this way.

First records of the introduced African carder bee, Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum (Hymenoptera:Megachilidae), in Western Australia

Globalisation has increased the occurrence of species being introduced outside of their natural range. The African carder bee, Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), is one such species. P. repetititum was first recorded in Australia in 2000 in Queensland (north-east Australia), and rapidly spread down the east coast of Australia, and by 2015 was reported to be a common component of bee assemblages in urban community gardens in Victoria (southern Australia). Here, I report the first occurrences of this species in Western Australia, on the other side of the continent, representing a major expansion of the distribution of the species. Thus far there are three confirmed and one unconfirmed localities where this species has been seen, all localised to the Mandurah region in residential areas of Western Australia. Female specimens were collected from a garden in Halls Head, where it was observed to be abundant. Other bees, both native and the introduced European honeybee, were foraging alongside it. The occurrence of P. repetitum represents a major expansion in its distribution. It remains rare and localised; however, given known negative impacts of introduced species on native fauna and flora, especially in Australia, vigilance is required to monitor this species.

Soil salinity exacerbates crown rot in wheat

Crown rot of wheat (Fusarium pseudograminearum) and dryland salinity cause significant economic losses to the Australian grains industry especially under water stressed conditions during grain filling, but association between them has not been previously reported. We collected opportunistic data on electrical conductivity (EC) and crown rot disease assessments in a replicated wheat germplasm field experiment at Nangeenan, a low rainfall area of Western Australia (WA). A positive correlation (r = 0.63, P < 0.001, df = 28) was found between crown rot index and the composite measure of salinity, computed as the log10 (product of EC values at depths). The simple linear relationship above can be further improved by fitting different intercepts and common slopes for each variety (adjusted R2 = 0.54). These observations indicate that crown rot symptoms are more severe in saline soils and have implications for the practical advice given to growers as well as for the planning of research experiments on biotic and abiotic factors.

Survival of Patients with Multiple Myeloma in Western Australia, a Large State of 2.5 Million Square Kilometers: A Population Based Study

BackgroundThere has been concern that patients with malignant disease from remote and regional country areas may have adverse outcomes compared with those from cities. Western Australia (WA) with an area of 2,526,786 square kilometers, is one third the size of Australia. It has a population of 2.6 million of which 92% live in the capital city Perth and the southwest corner. In WA, multiple myeloma is managed in tertiary public hospitals and private physician practice located in Perth. While oral based immunomodulators and alkylators are readily delivered in the regional areas, patients travel to Perth for parenteral chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. The WA state government subsidizes transport and accommodation for patients from regional areas to travel to Perth for treatment and clinical review via the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS). Telehealth through video conferencing is also used for review of patients on oral-based anti-myeloma treatment or during surveillance periods to avoid expensive and time-consuming travel to Perth. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), a non-profit medical organization, provides prompt transfer of unwell patients from regional and remote areas of WA to Perth. Pathology services in remote regions are provided by the publicly funded PathWest organization.MethodWe retrospectively reviewed the survival outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma in the WA public healthcare system. Patients diagnosed between 2008 to 2017 were included (n=569). Staging information was extracted from the laboratory information system and the cytogenetic database in PathWest. Patient demographics, complications requiring admission, mortality and follow-up data were extracted from the public hospital patient management systems. Patients were segregated into regional or metropolitan by their residential address postcodes. Patients diagnosed and/or followed-up in the private sector were excluded. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves, Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model.ResultMedian age at diagnosis was 67 years old (range 29 to 98), with 56% above 65 years. 56% were males, 44% were females. Overall median survival was 46 months (95%CI:41,52). 1-year, 3-years and 5-years survival rates were 80%, 56% and 30% respectively. 25% (n=143) of patients resided in regional areas. No statistically significant difference in overall survival time between patients from metropolitan and regional areas was identified (p=0.2): 47 months (95% CI:43,54) and 42 months (95% CI: 33,54) respectively. Subgroup analysis also did not find any significant difference in overall survival of each R-ISS staging between metropolitan and regional areas.DiscussionThis retrospective study provides real-life survival data of of an Australian-based population in a state with a large land mass and low population density outside the capital city. The overall survival of patients living in regional areas was not significantly different from those living in the capital city. This gives credence to the benefit of the WA government supported regional network of travel, accommodation and Telehealth conferencing overcoming the distance barrier in the provision of comprehensive medical care in the management of a hematological malignancy. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

2018 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release

The Australian Government’s 2018 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release was announced by the Commonwealth Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan at the 2018 APPEA conference. This paper provides insights into the processes that the Australian Government has undertaken to select the final release areas and goes into detail on the ongoing petroleum related activities of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (the Department). The annual acreage release is a central component of ensuring ongoing, sustainable and responsible investment in Australia’s offshore petroleum sector. The annual acreage release remains the primary mechanism for securing investment in offshore oil and gas exploration in areas of known petroleum potential and new geological frontiers. Continued exploration for oil and gas in Commonwealth waters is a central component of ensuring Australia’s future energy security. Australia’s well established and independent environmental regulator, NOPSEMA (the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority), ensures all petroleum activities in Commonwealth waters are performed safely and in an environmentally responsible manner. Combined with NOPTA’s (National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator) leading practice titles administration, Australia remains an attractive investment destination while offering industry leading environmental protections and ensuring safe working conditions industry-wide. Australia offers investors access to data, secure tenure, a stable economic environment and a well-established transparent regulatory system for offshore petroleum activities. A key driver for sustainable activity in Australia is the acceptance of multiple use access to Australia’s marine resources. Recognising this, the department consults with a range of stakeholders on the areas it proposes to release for petroleum exploration. This consultation process provides an opportunity for all interested parties to provide comments and feedback on the areas proposed and in particular highlight how interested parties or the areas might be impacted by exploration activities. The 21 areas in the 2018 offshore petroleum exploration acreage release are located in the offshore areas of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and the Ashmore-Cartier Islands. These areas will enable the next wave of investment in the Australian resources sector, and the prospect of new oil, gas and condensate production.

A review of the Australian endemic clam shrimp, Paralimnadia Sars 1896(Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata).

Paralimnadia was recently re-erected to accommodate Australian limnadiids formally placed in Limnadia. They are characterised by the lack of a spine on the posterior ventral corner of the telson, a cercopod divided by a spine midlength into a cylindrical seta bearing basal section and a narrowing denticle bearing distal section, males amplex females on the posterior body margin keeping the body in line, and gonochoristic reproduction, so typically sex ratios are broadly 1:1. These characters separate Paralimnadia from the closely related Eulimandia. Paralimnadia is endemic to and diverse in Australia, and includes the transferred P. stanleyana (King), P. sordida (King), P. badia (Wolf), P. cygnorum (Dakin) and P. urukhai (Webb & Bell) as well as 10 new species. All are variable morphologically, the most conservative characters being the morphology of their eggs and the cercopod setae. Although found across Australia, there are hot spots of diversity in the coast and montane areas of New South Wales and southwest of areas of Western Australia and few in the vast inland arid zone. As in Eulimnadia, a few occur in rock pools. However those in sandy coastal pools subject to urbanisation or mining are becoming rare.

Is Western Australia's rural surgical workforce going to sustain the future? A quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Objective Despite public interest in the rural workforce, there are few published data on the geographical distribution of Australia's rural surgeons, their practice skill set, career stage or work-life balance (on-call burden). Similarly, there has not been a peer-reviewed skills audit of rural training opportunities for surgical trainees. The present study undertook this baseline assessment for Western Australia (WA), which has some of the most remote practice areas in Australia. Methods Hospital staff from all WA Country Health Service hospitals with surgical service (20 of 89 rural health services) were contacted by telephone. A total of 18 of 20 provided complete data. The study questionnaire explored hospital and practice locations of practicing rural surgeons, on-call rosters, career stage, practice skill set and the availability of surgical training positions. Data were tabulated in excel and geographic information system geocoded. Descriptive statistics were calculated in Excel. Results Of the seven health regions for rural Western Australia, two (28.6%) were served by resident surgeons at a ratio consistent with Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) guidelines. General surgery was offered in 16 (89%) hospitals. In total, 16 (89%) hospitals were served by fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) surgical services. Two hospitals with resident surgeons did not use FIFO services, but all hospitals without resident surgeons were served by FIFO surgical specialists. The majority of resident surgeons (62.5%) and FIFO surgeons (43.2%) were perceived to be mid-career by hospital staff members. Three hospitals (16.7%) offered all eight of the identified surgical skill sets, but 16 (89%) offered general surgery. Conclusions Relatively few resident rural surgeons are servicing large areas of WA, assisted by the widespread provision of FIFO surgical services. The present audit demonstrates strength in general surgical skills throughout regional WA, and augers well for the training of general surgeons. What is known about the topic? A paper published in 1998 suggested that Australia's rural surgeons were soon to reach retirement age. However, there have been no published peer-reviewed papers on Australia's surgical workforce since then. More recent workforce statistics released from the RACS suggest that the rural workforce is in crisis. What does this paper add? This paper provides up-to-date whole-of-state information for WA, showing where surgical services are being provided and by whom, giving a precise geographical spread of the workforce. It shows the skill set and on-call rosters of these practitioners. What are the implications for practitioners? The present study provides geographical workforce data, which is important to health planners, the general public and surgeons considering where to practice. In particular, these data are relevant to trainees considering their rural training options.

Australian Study Casts Doubt on Effectiveness of Infant Simulators in Preventing Teenage Pregnancy

Programs that aim to reduce teen pregnancy by training and requiring youth to care for lifelike infant dolls may not be effective, according to a school-based, cluster randomized controlled trial among young women in Australia. (1) Greater proportions of 13-15-year-old females who participated in a virtual infant parenting (VIP) program--which used infant simulators with realistic sleeping and feeding patterns--than of peers who received a standard health education curriculum experienced a live birth (8% vs. 4%) or an induced abortion (9% vs. 6%) by age 20. In analyses that accounted for factors that could affect these outcomes, VIP program participants still had a 40% higher risk than controls of experiencing a live birth, stillbirth or induced abortion by age 20. The trial was conducted in schools in the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia between 2003 and 2006. Non-Catholic government and nongovernment schools were randomly assigned to deliver a VIP pregnancy prevention program or the standard health education curriculum to female youth in grades 9 and 10. The VIP program, Baby Think It Over, was adapted from a similar U.S. program; it aimed to delay pregnancy and to improve knowledge and awareness of preconception health issues. It was delivered by school health nurses over six days and entailed small group educational sessions, a comprehensive reference workbook, a video documentary of teenage mothers talking about their experiences, and caring for an infant simulator from a Friday afternoon through the following Monday morning. In the trial, a total of 57 schools were randomized--28 to the VIP program group and 29 to the control group; however, one intervention school was excluded because it did not recruit students according to the study's protocol. The overall rate of consent and participation of eligible female students was 58% at VIP program schools, translating to a sample of 1,267 teenagers, and 50% at control schools, translating to a sample of 1,567 teenagers. Investigators followed all participants until age 20, and ascertained their experience of a pregnancy event (live birth, stillbirth or induced abortion) through use of linked hospital and abortion clinic records. The investigators used binomial and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to assess differences in pregnancy event rates between the study groups. At the time of trial enrollment, participants in each group had a median age of 15. The majority of participants in the intervention and control groups lived with both their biological parents (58% and 63%, respectively) and were sexually inexperienced (84% and 81%). Forty-two percent of youth in the VIP program group and 26% in the control group had a high level of socioeconomic disadvantage--that is, they were living in a household with a below-median socioeconomic index for their district. …

Tracking invasion and invasiveness in Queensland fruit flies: From classical genetics to ‘omics’

Abstract Three Australian tephritid fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni - Q-fly, Bactrocera neohumeralis - NEO, and Bactrocera jarvisi - JAR) are promising models for genetic studies of pest status and invasiveness. The long history of ecological and physiological studies of the three species has been augmented by the development of a range of genetic and genomic tools, including the capacity for forced multigeneration crosses between the three species followed by selection experiments, a draft genome for Q-fly, and tissue- and stage-specific transcriptomes. The Q-fly and NEO species pair is of particular interest. The distribution of NEO is contained entirely within the wider distribution of Q-fly and the two species are ecologically extremely similar, with no known differences in pheromones, temperature tolerance, or host-fruit utilisation. However there are three clear differences between them: humeral callus colour, complete pre-mating isolation based on mating time-of-day, and invasiveness. NEO is much less invasive, whereas in historical times Q-fly has invaded southeastern Australia and areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In southeastern fruit-growing regions, microsatellites suggest that some of these outbreaks might derive from genetically differentiated populations overwintering in or near the invaded area. Q-fly and NEO show very limited genome differentiation, so comparative genomic analyses and QTL mapping should be able to identify the regions of the genome controlling mating time and invasiveness, to assess the genetic bases for the invasive strains of Q-fly, and to facilitate a variety of improvements to current sterile insect control strategies for that species.

Chinese FDI in the French and Australian Wine Industries: Liabilities of Foreignness, Assets of Foreignness and Interactions with Host Country Institutions

This paper explores the recent evolution of Chinese investment in the Bordeaux region of France and the south-western area of Western Australia (WA). It seeks to identify the key motivations for the investment as well as the difficulties experienced. Drawing on a series of interviews and reviews of press reports, as well as analysis of trade data, the paper highlights the key issues which have emerged following the growth in FDI from China in the two region’ wine sectors and interprets these in the light of existing theory of FDI (Dunning, 1993) and Liability of Foreignness (LOF) (Eden and Miller, 2004; Zaheer, 1995). We find that the key motivation for the FDI is resource seeking, although strategic asset seeking is also important, especially in the case of Bordeaux. In terms of LOF we find evidence of all three of the categories of hazards identified by Eden and Miller (2004) although the key hazard was unfamiliarity. The paper concludes with some recommendations for investors and public authorities to reduce LOF.

Species of Pythium Associated with Seedling Root and Hypocotyl Disease on Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Western Australia

The occurrence and distribution of Pythium spp. were determined by collecting isolates of Pythium from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants showing root or hypocotyl disease symptoms from different areas of Western Australia in 2012. Eight different Pythium species (Pythium conidiophorum, P. diclinum, P. intermedium, P. irregulare, P. lutarium, P. mamillatum, P. pachycaule, and P. perplexum) were isolated and identified according to molecular sequences. P. irregulare was the most widespread Pythium sp. All species, except P. perplexum, were pathogenic to the hypocotyl and root of common bean. We believe this is the first report of P. intermedium as a pathogen on common bean worldwide. This is also the first report of P. conidiophorum, P. intermedium, P. lutarium, P. mamillatum, P. pachycaule, and P. diclinum as pathogens on common bean in Australia and the first report of P. irregulare as a pathogen on common bean in Western Australia. P. intermedium was the most pathogenic species, causing the most severe disease on 'Gourmet Delight' (percent root disease index [%RDI] 75 ± 2.9 and percent hypocotyl disease index [%HDI] 59.2 ± 3.2) and 'Pioneer' (%RDI 75 ± 2.9 and %HDI 65.8 ± 3.2). That the relative susceptibility or resistance (the ability of a plant to reduce the extent of invasion by the pathogen) of a given bean variety to one Pythium sp. was, in general, similar across the other Pythium spp. was an important finding, because this opens up opportunities to utilize a single virulent isolate of one Pythium sp. to identify general resistance to a wider spectrum of Pythium spp.

Reflectance spectral characterization of acid sulphate soil in South Yunderup, Western Australia

Acid sulphate soils (ASS) are widely spread worldwide and are detrimental to the environment. South Yunderup is one of the coastal areas of Western Australia heavily affected by ASS. Conventional investigation is costly and time-consuming, and thus there is an urgent need to rapidly characterize and identify this type of soil. This paper aims to characterize these soils using reflectance spectra, which may be one of the most significant steps in effectively identifying them and mapping their extent by remote sensing. The ASS from the study area were divided into several groups and subtypes according to both pH measurements and mineral composition as identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. Each group and subtype was then characterized by its spectral reflectance features. We found that the spectral characteristics of ASS are governed by the spectral features of its compositional minerals. In particular, some secondary iron-bearing minerals produced by the formation of ASS, together with surrounding minerals such as carbonate, play vitally important roles in influencing the spectral characterization of ASS. These iron-bearing minerals, including iron oxides, hydroxides/oxyhydroxides (e.g. haematite, goethite, and ferrihydrite), and iron sulphates (e.g. jarosite and copiapite), have diagnostic spectral features and are therefore detectable in the reflectance range. Moreover, these secondary iron-bearing minerals could be indicators suggesting the pH conditions in which they formed. The results of this study include the overall mineral distribution of the study area, the spectral characterization of different groups and subtypes of ASS, and the linkages between spectral features and pH ranges.

Environmental ‘Low Dose’ Mesotheliomas and Their Relationship to Domestic Exposures-Preliminary Report

Crocidolite is a fibrous mineral with unusual crystallography in that the fiber width varies according to geographical origin. The fibers from the mining areas of Western Australia and the Cape Province, in South Africa are ‘thin’ compared to those from Bolivian and some other mines. Regardless, the mineral is a well known causative agent for mesothelioma. The literature contains many reports of the disease occurring as a consequence of so called environmental exposures due to what some believe to be ‘low’ dose, ambient exposure. However, closer examination of these exposure conditions generally reveals an unrecognized (or simply ignored) strong domestic (para-occupational) exposure component. Oftentimes, the importance of such domestic exposures is not considered since they too are thought to be too low to contribute to risk. We have, for the first time, applied state of the art measurement methods to evaluate domestic (shake out) conditions created by workers in a historical unregulated crocidolite-cement based operating plant in Bolivia. Our results show that exposures can reach levels more usually associated with historic occupational exposures. The reason for studying the exposures in such a plant is that epidemiological studies have shown that ‘thin’ crocidolite fibers are associated with a high mesothelioma risk while exposure to the ‘thick’ Bolivian fibers are associated with a much lessened mesothelioma risk.

Production and persistence of subtropical grasses in environments with Mediterranean climates

The agricultural region of south-west Western Australia (WA) has a Mediterranean climate, characterised by a winter-dominant rainfall pattern. Perennial subtropical grasses are increasingly being grown to increase productivity and reduce erosion on infertile sandy soils in the northern agricultural region (NAR) of WA, an area with mild winters and dry, hot summers. However, little information exists on the persistence of different species or their expected seasonal production and feed quality. On the south coast of WA, an area with dry, warm summers and a maritime influence, kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) has been widely sown, but there is little information on the potential of other subtropical grasses. To address these issues, five trials were established across the agricultural area of south-west WA to measure the seasonal production, feed quality and persistence of the main, commercially available subtropical grasses over 3–4 years. This study demonstrates that subtropical grasses have a long-term role in the NAR in areas with mild winters and/or where the rainfall is &gt;400 mm. The best performing subtropical grasses across a range of sites were panic grass (Megathyrsus maximus) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). These species can be expected to have a water-use efficiency of ~10 kg ha–1 mm–1 over a 12-month period, provided there is a good perennial grass density. On the south coast, panic grass, Rhodes grass and setaria (Setaria sphacelata) persisted well and produced significantly more biomass than kikuyu. These grasses could complement kikuyu by increasing out-of-season production. At Kojonup, a more inland site, most of the subtropical grasses died over winter from a combination of occasional frosts and cold, wet soils. However, kikuyu re-grew from rhizomes in spring and maintained &gt;90% ground cover 4 years after sowing. The results from these experiments are likely to be applicable to other regions across the globe with Mediterranean climates and similar soil types.

Whose Land is it Anyway? Contesting Urban Fringe Nature-based Tourism and Recreation in Western Australia

Urban fringe natural areas on public land are important resources for tourism and recreation use. However these contested areas are also in demand for a range of other land uses. How the land is managed can strongly influence opportunities for nature-based tourism and recreation, and the benefits that these bring to participants and host communities. This paper examines the case of tourism and recreation access to the forested urban fringe of Perth, Western Australia (WA) using a typology of land occupancy and management priorities originally devised for private land use. A review of legislation and policy relating to tourism and recreation access to land in WA was conducted. Tourism and recreation groups and land managers associated with access to the Perth urban fringe natural areas were interviewed regarding their perceptions of land access management. Most land in the WA study area is publically owned and is therefore technically accessible to the public. In regions dominated by multiple private land owners such as Europe and the UK, varying approaches to land-use management may be classified according to a predictable land occupancy typology that tends to be consistently applied. By contrast, the single public land holder in this area of WA, the state government, lacks consistency in its approach to recreational and tourist access to land. This creates both public and governmental uncertainty and confusion regarding where and how land may be accessed on the Perth urban fringe.

To catch a starling: testing the effectiveness of different trap and lure types

Context Worldwide, invasive fauna species present one of the most intractable problems for agriculture and natural systems. Our ability to improve control techniques to combat the global invasive species predicament is constrained within the bounds of both economic and ethical considerations. In south-eastern Australia, the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is an established invasive avian pest that is now making incursions into areas of Western Australia (WA) that are currently free of this species. The most cost-effective and widely implemented starling control tool is trapping with live-lure birds. In recent years, the use of live-lure birds has been questioned on both economic and ethical grounds, and consequently alternative lure methods need investigating. Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of different trap and lure combinations for the capture of starlings in western South Australia (SA). Methods Modified Australian Crow (MAC) traps, used traditionally in WA to trap starlings, and Myna traps, originally designed for trapping common mynas (Sturnus tristis), were set during the peaks in starling flocking activity (Austral summer, 2007) using three different lure types: (1) live lure (live starlings); (2) moving water; and (3) acoustic lures. A trapping grid consisting of a single Myna trap with live lure and three MAC traps, each with one type of lure (live, water or acoustic) was established at five sites on the Eyre Peninsula in SA and monitored twice daily for 28 days. Key results Live lures were significantly more effective at attracting starlings into traps compared with both water and sound lures. We also trapped at an additional three sites and showed that Myna traps caught ~1.5 times more starlings than MAC traps when both traps were fitted with live-lure birds. Conclusions Neither moving water nor acoustic play-back lures proved suitable replacements for the use of live-lure birds to capture starlings. The efficacy of alternative lure types may depend on several factors and may include neophobic response(s) to novel signals and also the length of time that an invasive population has been established. Implications We recommend that use of live lures is continued in ongoing starling control programs, and that MAC traps currently in use be modified to capitalise on known starling behaviour. Further research and development of traps that do not contain live lures will improve the welfare of invasive species control programs.

Life cycle assessment of fuel production for biomass from dry land afforestation

Biomass has been focused as a fuel resource because of its huge abundance and carbon-neutral characteristics. Thus, we attempted to use tree biomass as the resource to automotive fuel. From the global warming point of view, the biomass energy production from large-scale plantation is required, however, the land use should not be changed from crop field or forest land. In the present paper, the feasibility of the use in Japan of biofuel from woody biomass produced in large arid area of Western Australia, where the present authors demonstrated that the large-scale afforestation is possible even in an arid land when introducing water management and plantation technologies, has been evaluated using LCA method, by considering the actual condition of our afforestation area. Furthermore, some sensitivity analysis is conducted on the effects of composition ratio of electric power sources.

Management of stable fly and other nuisance flies breeding in rotting vegetable matter associated with horticultural crop production

Stable-fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L., Diptera: Muscidae) and other nuisance flies breeding in horticultural substrates around the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia were investigated with regard to their larval habitats and relative abundances. Substrates were found to comprise either crop residue (i.e. stalks, leaves and fruit) left in or on the ground after harvesting, or harvested crop waste (i.e. reject produce or processing scraps dumped into open pits or fed to livestock). Stable-flies were the predominant species (>85%) developing from a wide variety of trashed vegetable crop residues. Other flies developing from these materials included house-fly, lesser house-fly, false stable-fly, blue-bodied blow-fly, black carrion-fly and flesh-flies. Stable-fly development was reduced by >90% when crop residues were sprayed with diazinon or chlorpyrifos, either prior to or immediately after incorporation of the residue into soil. Untreated crop residues yielded several hundred to >1,000 stable flies/m2 of production. Insecticides applied several weeks after crop residue incorporation into soil did not significantly reduce stable-fly emergence.