Atherton Tableland Research Articles

Caribbean pine in an agroforestry system on the Atherton Tableland in north east Australia

A trial demonstrating an establishment and maintenance technique forPinus caribaea var hondurensis in an agroforestry land use system on the Atherton Tableland, north east Australia, is described. The establishment of the tree component involves mechanical cultivation and the application of herbicides which in combination are technically feasible and acceptable to a landholder who wishes to integrate pine trees and pasture grasses.

Scab (Sphaceloma batatas) a new disease of sweet potatoes in Australia: fungicide and cultivar evaluation

Since 1982, stem and foliage scab caused by Sphaceloma batatas has occurred in crops of sweet potatoes cv. 'Porto Rico' on the Atherton Tableland in North Queensland. This is the first report of the occurrence of this disease in Australia. We developed a natural substrate agar suitable for sporulation of S. batatas and demonstrated that a suspension of conidia was pathogenic, producing lesions on the stem, petioles and leaf veins of sweet potatoes. Nine fungicides were tested for control of stem and foliage scab in a field experiment. Benomyl (400 g a.i./ ha), chlorothalonil (1300 g a.i./ha), captafol (1520 g a.i./ha), fentin hydroxide (300 g a.i./ha), copper oxychloride (1500 g a.i./ha) and mancozeb (1 500 g a.i./ha) reduced the disease at the earliest assessment, 55 days after planting (P= 0.05). However, at 82 days after planting, copper oxychloride and mancozeb were no longer controlling stem and foliage scab, and, at the third assessment (after 111 days) only benomyl and chlorothalonil reduced the disease (P = 0.05). A field rating after 195 days confirmed that benomyl provided significantly better disease control (P= 0.05) than any other treatment throughout the season. There was a negative correlation between yield and disease levels at 55 and 82 days (r= -0.39 and -0.36, P= 0.05), but not at 111 and 195 days (r= -0.23 and -0.10. n.s.). Twenty sweet potato cultivars were evaluated for disease resistance. Of the major commercial cultivars grown in Queensland, Centennial '83 was highly resistant, Beerwah Gold was moderately resistant, while Red Abundance, NC-3, Lo 323 and Porto Rico were susceptible to stem and foliage scab.

Temperature, Development and Survival in Monophagous and Polyphagous Tropical Pierid Butterflies

Development rates and juvenile survival of seven species of pierid butterfly from the Australian tropics were examined in laboratory conditions at a range of temperatures between 15 and 32�C. We studied three monophagous species, Eurema brigitta, E. laeta and E. herla, and four oligophagous or poly- phagous species, E. hecabe, E, smilax, Catopsilia pomona and Pieris (Artogeia) rapae; the last of these is the predominantly temperate cabbage butterfly, which has established a small tropical population on the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland. Larval and pupal stages of all species survived poorly at temperatures above 30�C, and most showed reduced survival below 22�C. Within their optimal temperature ranges, smaller species tended to survive better than larger ones. Oligophagous and polyphagous species developed more rapidly than monophagous ones, even though three of the former are larger than the latter. Development thresholds were between 10�C (for P. rapae) and 15�C (for C. pomona). There was little correlation between development threshold and latitudinal distribution, and we suggest that selection for the ability to develop relatively rapidly at lower temperatures may be influenced by the seasonal timing of the breeding season as well as by geographic distribution.

Climatic Implications of Chenier Dates in Northern Australia

The characterization of late Holocene climates in northern Australia has, in the past, been based on local investigations. This examination of the chenier record of northern Australia indicates that there has been a statistically significant regional change in conditions between 1600–2800 years bp, possibly a period of relative aridity. Support for this conclusion may be found in the vegetation record from the Atherton Tableland where numerical comparisons of dryland fossil and modern pollen spectra suggest that rainfall may have been up to 50% higher during the period 7000 to 3000 bp.

Episodic stemflow inputs of magnesium and potassium to a tropical forest floor during heavy rainfall events.

Stemflow inputs of magnesium and potassium were measured from 57 canopy trees representing eight species under heavy rainfall conditions in two tropical forest sites in northeast Queensland, Australia. In the premontane tropical moist forest site on the Atherton Tableland, the stemflow input per unit trunk basal area of 51 canopy trees was found to be 0.46 g m-2 of Mg2+ and 4.22 g m-2 of K+ for an average wet season rainday of 99 mm. In the wetter montane tropical rainforest site on Mount Bellenden Ker, the stemflow input per unit trunk basal area of six canopy trees was 5.55 g m-2 of Mg2+ and 9.12 g m-2 of K+ for a wet season rainday of 38 mm. These stemflow inputs from single raindays are greater than the mean annual rainfall input and are almost of the same order of magnitude as the mean annual throughfall input of these cations to areas equal to the trunk basal area from which the stemflow was collected. Stemflow cation fluxes of this magnitude are mainly attributable to the funnelling of large quantities of rainwater down the trunks of these canopy trees by their thoroughly wetted, upwardly inclined branches.

Some Biological and Chemical Changes in a North Queensland Soil Following Replacement of Rainforest with Araucaria cunninghamii (Coniferae: Araucariaceae)

(1) The soil nutrient levels, standing crop of litter and populations of soil and litter arthropods of a tropical Australian rainforest on the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland are compared with those of an adjacent 41-year-old hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamdi D. Don) plantation. (2) Organic carbon levels in the rainforest soil were markedly higher than in the hoop-pine plantation as were the levels of nitrogen, acid-extractable phosphorus and exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium. (3) The standing crop of litter was markedly higher in the hoop-pine plantation than in the rainforest and showed strong seasonal variation related to the seasonality of litterfall and climatic events. Turnover rates (k) were lowest in the hoop-pine plantation. (4) Large litter arthropods were less abundant in the hoop-pine plantation while Acari and Collembola were more abundant in the rainforest soils. (5) It is suggested that the decline in organic matter and associated nutrients in the hoop-pine forest soil results from the loss of a large proportion of the plant nutrients from the ecosystem when the original rainforest was cleared. The subsequent establishment and growth of a hoop-pine plantation then lowered the existing soil nutrient supplies by transfer of nutrients into the vegetation.

Nitrogen fertilizer requirements of irrigated potatoes on the Atherton Tableland, North Queensland

Seven field experiments were carried out during 1980 and 1981 to determine the nitrogen fertilizer requirements of potatoes grown in basaltic krasnozem soils in North Queensland. Rates of 0, 40, 80, 160 and 320 kg nitrogen/ha were compared in all experiments. Comparisons of urea and ammonium nitrate as fertilizer forms and basal and split application methods were also carried out in four of the experiments. Total yields of fresh tubers from nil-nitrogen plots varied from 18.1 to 29.7 t/ha and nitrogen applications increased these yields at all sites to levels varying from 136 to 325% of the control plots. Ninety-eight per cent of maximum yields calculated from quadratic functions were produced by rates of basally applied urea nitrogen varying from 108 to 205 kg/ha. These rates were poorly correlated with relative yields and topsoil (0-20 cm depth) nitrate nitrogen but were well correlated with nitrogen in 20-50 cm depth. Nitrogen application increased the average tuber weights from 135 to 179 g but reduced the specific gravity of tubers. Splitting nitrogen applications reduced average tuber weights.

Milk production from cows grazing on tropical grass pastures. 2. Effects of stocking rate and level of nitrogen fertilizer on milk yield and pasture-milk yield relationships

The effects of stocking rate and rate of nitrogen fertilizer application on milk yield from a Gatton panic (Panicum maximum cv. Gatton) pasture were studied over 3 years at Kairi Research Station on the Atherton Tablelands. Thirty-two Friesian cows were used in a 4x2 factorial experiment with treatments 2.0,2.5,3.0 and 3.5 cows/ha, each at 200 and 400 kg N/ha.year. Fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield per cow decreased (P<0.05) with increasing stocking rate according to the equation (� s.e.): Y=3476-276 ( � 111) X (P<0.05), where Y is FCM yield per cow (kg), and X is the stocking rate (cows/ha). FCM yield per hectare increased linearly (Pt0.01) with increasing stocking rate in each year and was represented by the following equations ( � s.e.) for nitrogen applications of 200 and 400 kg/ha.year, respectively: Y = 1584 + 1967 (� 289) X Y = 2366 + 1967 (�289) X (P<0.01), and where Y is FCM yield per hectare (kg) and X is the stocking rate (cows/ha). Milk yield per cow and per hectare were significantly increased by the higher rate of fertilizer application (P<0.01) in year 3, but not in years 1 and 2. Mean FCM yields per cow across years were 2574 and 2858 kg from 200 kg N and 400 kg N pastures respectively (P<0.05). The pasture parameters which were most closely correlated with milk yield were green dry matter (GDM) on offer or its components, namely green leaf and green stem. The relations between FCM yield per cow and green dry matter on offer per cow and per hectare were represented by the equations ( � s.e.): Y = 2211 +0.43 (� 0.12) X1 (P<0.01), And Y= 1656 + 0.35 (�0.08) X2 (P<0.01), where Y is FCM yield per cow (kg/lactation), X1 is GDM per cow (kg) and X2 is GDM per hectare (kg). For this environment, it is concluded that a stocking rate of 2.5 cows/ha with 400 kg N/ ha.year can be safely employed to maintain cows on a pure grass pasture from the opening rains in summer until the end of winter.

Milk production from cows grazing on tropical grass pastures. 1. Effects of stocking rate and level of nitrogen fertilizer on the pasture and diet

A 3-year experiment was conducted at Kairi Research Station on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, to determine the effects of stocking rate and applied nitrogen fertilizer on the pasture yield and composition, diet selection by cows, and soil fertility of Gatton panic (Panicum maximum cv. Gatton) pastures. Thirty-two Friesian cows were used in a 4x2 factorial design: four stocking rates (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 cows/ha), each at two rates of fertilizer application 200 and 400 kg N/ha.year. The higher rate of fertilization increased the pasture green dry matter on offer at all samplings (P < 0.01); the increase ranged from 1 106 kg/ha in summer to 548 kg/ha in spring. Green dry matter decreased ( P< 0.0 1) with increasing stocking rate, with mean yields of 3736 and 2384 kg/ha at 2.0 and 3.5 cows/ha, respectively. Weed yields increased over the 3 years at the higher stocking rates for pastures receiving 200 kg N/ha.year. The crude protein content of leaf and stem increased with increasing stocking rate and amount of applied nitrogen fertilizer. Values ranged from 12.1 to 26.5% of dry matter (DM) in leaf and from 3.7 to 13.8% DM in stem. In leaf, sodium concentration (range 0.05-0.20% DM) was increased, while phosphorus concentration (range 0.21-0.44% DM) was decreased by the higher rate of fertilizer application. Plant sodium and phosphorus levels were inadequate for high levels of milk production. Dietary leaf content and crude protein contents were consistently increased by both a reduced stocking rate, and the higher rate of fertilization. Cows were able to select for leaf and at the lowest stocking rate, leaf in the diet averaged 38%; while the leaf content of the pasture was 20%. Dietary leaf content ranged from 38 to 57% in summer and from 11 to 36% in winter. Dietary crude protein ranged from 13 to 15% in summer and from 7 to 11% in winter and was positively correlated with pasture crude protein content and dietary leaf percentage. Soil pH decreased (P<0.05) from an overall mean of 6.3 in 1976 to 6.1 at 200 N and 5.8 at 400 N in 1979. Soil phosphorus status remained stable, while calcium and magnesium levels were lower (P<0.01) after 3 years.

Four New Species of Duonota Hill (Heteroptera: Schizopteridae)

Duonota spathulata, sp. nov., and D. lumata, sp. nov., from the Atherton Tableland of north Queensland, and D. fusca, sp. nov., and D, decoricaudula, sp. nov., from New South Wales are described. A key to the 12 Duonota species is given and the relationships of the species discussed.

A taxonomic revision of the Australian autumn gum moth genus Mnesampela Guest (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Ennominae)

AbstractThe taxonomy and biology of the ennomine genus Mnesampela Guest is reviewed. Several species are well known in southern Australia as defoliators of gumtrees (Eucalyptus spp.) in cultivation. Seven species are recorded in the genus: privata (Guenée) (= inordinata Walker), comarcha Guest ( = comarcha Meyrick), lenaea Meyrick, heliochrysa (Lower), and three new species: athertonensis from the Atherton Tableland of north-eastern Quccnsland, kunama from high altitudes in south-eastern mainland Australia, and arida from the subinterior of southern Australia. A key to the species is provided and all species and their genitalia are descrihed and illustrated. Details of the immature stages, foodplants, flight periods, and distribution of the various species are also recorded. One new synonymy is established and two lectotypes are designated.

POGONUS NIGRESCENS SP. N. FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND, (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE)

Abstract Pogonus nigrescens sp. n. is described from the western slope of the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland, and is compared with the other pigmented species of Pogonus Nicolai of Australia. The discovery of the well known species Pogonus cardiotrachelus Chaudoir as far north as the Hamersley Ranges, Western Australia, is reported.

Zearalenone intoxication of pigs.

Mycotoxicosis due to ingestion of zearalenone was detected on 2 pig farms on the Atherton Tableland in northern Queensland. In one herd of 200 pigs, this resulted from feeding maize which had been stored with a high moisture content. In the other herd of 1400 pigs, it resulted from feeding sorghum grain which was rain affected before harvest. Concentrations of zearalenone in the feeds ranged up to 8 mg/kg. Most prepubertal gilts in the herds displayed enlarged teats and signs of oestrus such as having red, swollen vulvas. In several cases both rectal and vaginal prolapses occurred. On one of the farms, 25 pigs died as a direct result of prolapses. Autopsy of a 3-month-old gilt revealed apparently enlarged ovaries and uterine horns. Sows and boars seemed to be unaffected. Four gilts failed to conceive following mating during the period of zearalenone ingestion, but apart from this and the deaths from prolapses, production of the herds appeared to be unaffected.

A HOLOCENE POLLEN DIAGRAM FROM LYNCH'S CRATER, NORTH‐EASTERN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

SummaryPollen analysis of this core from Lynch's Crater provides a more detailed and continuous Holocene record than has been obtained previously from the site. The pattern of dry‐land vegetation changes appears broadly similar to those from other sites covering this period from the Atherton Tableland, though problems of dating do place some restriction on temporal correlations between them. Swamp forest is recorded for the first time within the region from pollen and plant macroremains, and this existed from the time of arrival of rainforest, probably about 8500 years B.P. until between 6000 and 4500 B.P. Firing by Aborigines in addition to climate change is considered to have been an important factor in swamp forest destruction and in the promotion of subsequent changes in swamp vegetation.

Tree Rings in Tropical Callitris macleayana F. Muell.

Growth rings were examined in trees of Callitrzs macleayana from the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, Australia. The climate is tropical with a distinct dry season that induces regular annual growth rings. A correlation of 0 74 was found between annual ring widths and the duration of the wet seasons. The potential of this species for dendrochronological study is apparent.

The status and relationships of the Atherton Antechinus, Antechinus godmani (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).

Antechinus godmani has been collected from only six localities all with a 30 km radius from Ravenshoe, Atherton Tableland. Its distribution appears to be limited to complex notophyll vine-forest at altitudes of approximately 1200 m. Features of dental, cranial and external morphology indicate A. godmani to be more closely related to New Guinean antechinuses, in particular A. mayeri, than to any other Australian antechinus. The biogeographical implications of this relationship are discussed.

Late Cenozoic pollen spectra from the Atherton Tableland, north-eastern Australia

Pollen analysis of samples from a short sediment sequence on the Atherton Tableland, of Late Tertiary or Early Pleistocene age, provides the first evidence of existing vegetation within the region prior to about 100,000 years B.P. Comparison of fossil samples with modern pollen spectra suggests the presence of a submontane rainforest existing under a temperature regime some 3°C cooler than present. A number of ancient taxa including Nothofagus and several conifers, present in the fossil samples, no longer exists within the region. An attempt is made to explain their decline within an area that harbours a great diversity of rainforest species including many primitive angiosperms. Unfavourable climatic conditions combined with aspects of the dispersal ecology of the taxa would have been important contributing factors.

Associations of rotifers in Australian crater lakes

Associations of rotifers in 12 Australian crater lakes have been compared by means of indices of similarity and diversity, and by two dimensional ordination. Four of the lakes lay on the Atherton Tableland in tropical Queensland, four were shallow saline lakes in Victoria and the remaining four were fresh lakes in the same general region as the saline lakes.The total number of species identified was 67, but the maximum found in any one sample was 27. Salinity is an important factor reducing diversity, whilst the development of vegetation increases the diversity of the rotifer fauna. The index of diversity (a) ranged from less than one in the saline lakes to 13 in the richly vegetated Lake Euramoo.Comparisons with the rotifers living in the open waters of crater lakes in Africa, Indonesia and Europe revealed no marked similarities between the fresh Australian lakes and these other regions, although strong similarities were found between Ausralian saline lakes and those of other regions. In general the rotiferan faunas of the Australian crater lakes resembled each other less than might be expected from the similarities found between crater lakes within other regions.

Distribution and control of root-knot and root lesion nematodes on peanuts in north Queensland

In a survey of peanut plantings in north Queensland, the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood was found to be confined to red basaltic soils with a long cropping history around Tolga and Atherton. The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus (Godfrey) was widespread throughout the Atherton Tablelands and was absent only in soils that had recently been brought into cultivation. Infestations of both species were heavier where peanuts had been grown on the same land for two or more successive seasons. Applications at planting of fenamiphos, ethoprophos or aldicarb at 5 kg active ingredient ha-1 in a 15 cm band, or ethylene dibromide row treatment at 30 kg ha-1 increased yield by up to 40% in Virginia Bunch peanuts. Yield responses were only obtained in trials where infestations of M. hapla were severe, and there was none where P. brachyurus occurred by itself. Treatments with dibromochloropropane, oxamyl and terbufos were ineffective.

The cation composition of precipitation at four sites in far north Queensland

Bulk precipitation samples were collected over four years at four sites on a transect from the Coral Sea to the Atherton Tableland in far north Queensland and analysed for sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The concentration of the cations in the rainfall was significantly higher during the dry season than during the wet season. There were marked differences between the coastal sites and the Tableland sites in both concentration and accession of cations in the precipitation. Mean annual accession for sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium ranged from 159, 8.1, 17.1 and 19.4 kg/ha respectively at the coastal sites to 11, 4.5, 2.7 and 2.4 kg/ha respectively at the Tableland sites. The high levels of cation accession at the two coastal sites was attributed to the very high annual rainfalls.There were no differences in ionic ratios between seasons except for the most inland site. However, there were significant differences in ionic ratios between coastal and inland sites. except for Na: Mg, with increasing proportions of calcium and potassium and decreasing proportions of sodium and magnesium away from the coast.