Cooloola National Park Research Articles

Writing Strange Letters in the Garden, with Love and Fury

French feminist philosopher Hélène Cixous says, ‘the book is a letter on the run’ ( White Ink 177) and I too have taken the letters of two Australian women gardeners on the run to create my thesis. I grasped the letters between wildflower illustrator Kathleen McArthur and poet Judith Wright and ran with them. I held them close as I grappled to understand how contemporary Australian women’s digital garden stories might work to create conditions of community and worlds in common. In corresponding about their gardens, the poet and the artist developed a deep friendship that bloomed into a broader conservation ethic and action. Their letters and deep female friendship evolved into a question about how to live in harmony with the more-than human world. They would go on to play vital roles in the protection of places I hold dear: The Great Barrier Reef, K’gari (Fraser Island) and the Cooloola National Park. As I held these letters close and analysed my own thesis findings the world around me suffered increasing, human-caused, environmental catastrophe and I felt myself writing with both love and fury, much like Wright did. I began writing strange letters to Kathleen McArthur, alongside letters to my supervisor Professor Liz Mackinlay. Through these letters I searched for what gardens said and did and felt when they were turned into stories. What happens to garden boundaries in this time of environmental love and loss, and digital connection?

Wandering and Wildflowering: Walking with Women into Intimacy and Ecological Action

Wandering and Wildflowering: Walking with Women into Intimacy and Ecological Action

A taxonomic review, new species and a key to species of Platycoelus Blanchard, 1843 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pterostichini).

Based on the study of type material for species of Platycoelus Blanchard, 1843 significant changes to the current taxonomy of species included in this genus is required. Psegmatopterus politissimus (White 1846) from New Zealand is found to be congeneric with Platycoelus species and so is a new combination. Platycoelus irideomicans (Tschitschérine 1890) status novum; P. caledonicus (Tschitschérine 1901) status novum; P. sulcatulus (MacLeay 1888) status novum; and P. planipennis (MacLeay 1871) status novum; each previously considered synonyms of P. poeciloides are each recognized as a distinct species. Five new species are described, four from Queensland, Australia: P. chongheeae sp. nov., type locality Iron Range National Park; P. orion sp. nov., type locality Normanton; P. brigalowphilus sp. nov., type locality Southwood National Park; and P. politus sp. nov., type locality Cooloola National Park. The fifth species described is P. hermes sp. nov., type locality Aitape, Papua New Guinea. These changes and additions bring the total number of species in the genus to 19. A key and habitus images for all species is provided as are illustrations of the male genitalia for species where male specimens were available.

Cooloola National Park – another perspective on the Bjelke-Petersen government.

Cooloola National Park – another perspective on the Bjelke-Petersen government.

Host associations of the strangler fig Ficus watkinsiana in a subtropical Queensland rain forest

Abstract The distribution of epiphytic organisms is limited by the availability of, and dispersal to suitable hosts. We examined the distribution of a hemi‐epiphytic strangler fig, Ficus watkinsiana (Moraceae) in Cooloola National Park (Queensland, Australia), in order to determine whether this species exhibits a preference for certain host species and why. We assessed host bark roughness and flakiness, fruit type, and size to explain the observed distribution of F. watkinsiana. We surveyed over 1900 potential host trees of the 30 most common forest canopy species and found that host size measured by diameter at breast height accounted for most variation in fig prevalence (Binary Logistic Regression log‐likelihood = −588.178, G = 314.494, d.f. = 1, P < 0.005). After controlling for host size, F. watkinsiana prevalence still differed significantly between host species (χ2 = 54.612, d.f. = 24, P < 0.005), a difference that was only partly explained by variation in the bark roughness of host trunks. These results suggest that variation in the rate at which tree species host strangler figs are primarily related to individual tree size – figs may simply be more likely to colonize and thrive upon host species that grow larger.

Variation in vocalisations of the ground parrot at its northern range

The eastern ground parrot, Pezoporus wallicus wallicus, is a vulnerable and elusive species whose ecology is little known. We recorded and analysed calls from the northern distributional range of the species. Eleven call types were identified in mainland Queensland, 10 of which were common to three study sites located within Noosa National Park. One call type was absent 50 km to the north in Cooloola National Park, where a call type not heard in Noosa was found instead. There may be less mixing of individuals between Noosa and Cooloola areas than within Noosa. Analysis of sonagrams showed that all calls are structurally simple, and generally lie within a frequency band of 2–6 kHz. There were calls with gradually ascending notes and syllables, and calls with monotone notes within syllables. The Step Ascending call is common to both Noosa and Cooloola, and modifications were detected in Yuraygir National Park and Fraser island. These call types could have derived from the same ancestral call, which may have been modified over time, with isolation maintaining the modified calls within populations. Analysis of call patterns has much potential as a conservation tool in uncommon and elusive birds, but research is required to determine the functions of various call types.

Host associations of lianas in a south-east Queensland rain forest

Lianas are abundant in tropical forests around the world, yet little is known about their ecology. In this study we report the results of a survey of ten common liana species on 27 host tree species in Cooloola National Park, Queensland, Australia. We found significant associations between some liana and tree species. Our results indicate that host tree diameter was important in explaining liana presence or absence. Host tree fruit type was correlated with the presence or absence of different liana types. Tendrillar and root-climbing lianas tended to occur most often on mid-sized, fleshy-fruited trees, and on smaller, non-fleshy-fruited trees. The presence of stem twining lianas tended to decrease with increasing tree diameter for both fleshy- and non-fleshy-fruited trees, although this effect was more pronounced for fleshy-fruited trees. In general, lianas were most prevalent on trees possessing intermediate levels of bark roughness and flakiness. Although we established associative patterns between liana species and these host characteristics, the model suggested that other unidentified variables may also be important in determining presence or absence of liana species.

Conservation Value to Birds of Remnants of Melaleuca Forest in Suburban Brisbane.

The bird species composition of nine remnants of Melaleuca quinquenervia forest in NE Brisbane, Queensland, was censused from March 1992 to March 1993 to investigate the effect of forest fragmentation and fragment characteristics. Remnant area was a correlated with the total number of bird species and the number of raptors occurring, while understorey vegetation density was related to the number of forest and understorey bird species. The species composition of the M. quinquenervia remnants was compared with that of the Cooloola National Park and with that of eucalypt [Eucalyptus] remnants in lowland SE Queensland. Even the small M. quinquenervia remnants around Brisbane play an important role in conserving the avian fauna of the region by providing habitat and refuges for migrant, nesting, locally rate and uncommon species, and species not commonly found in other forest types. Future recommended management involves the maintenance of size, habitat diversity and understorey vegetation density, the prevention of disturbance and the preservation of swampy areas and ponds.

The Biology of the Ground Parrot, Pezoporus wallicus, in Queensland. II. Spacing, Calling and Breeding Behaviour

The spacing, calling and breeding behaviour of ground parrots in Cooloola National Park was studied over three years. Despite having overlapping home ranges, individual parrots maintain a solitary existence, the inter-bird distance averaging 106 m. No aggressive behaviour was ever recorded. Calling was restricted to before sunrise and after sunset; it comprised whistling notes mostly in variable ascending scales. Four call types were used throughout the year, and three others only in the breeding season. Light intensity appears to be the main factor determining when calling starts and finishes; parrot density influences the rate of calling by individuals. Calling may be used to advertise dominance status and location of an individual. The formation of a dominance hierarchy would enable several birds to use the same area, individual rank determining priority of access to the spatially and temporally variable seed resources. Ground parrots bred in spring, the clutch size was either three or four. Nests were found only on the ground under vegetation in dry parts of heathlands that had not been burnt for at least 3-4 years. Minimum nest density ranged between 1.0 and 1.3 nests per 10 ha. Only the female incubated the eggs, the male provided all food to both the female and chicks. On average a pair produced 1.9 fledglings per nest each year. An unusually high rate of egg failure (22-31%) appears to be typical for this species.

The Double Island Point Aboriginal Burials, Coastal Southeast Queensland

This paper reports on the excavation of two Aboriginal burials from near Double Island Point, Cooloola National Park, southeast Queensland. The work represents the first controlled excavation of Aboriginal burials in southeast Queensland since Haglund's Broadbeach Aboriginal Burial Ground excavation in the 1960s (Haglund 1976). The examination of the two burials arose out of a larger regional study of settlement and subsistence at Cooloola (McNiven 1985, 1990), which focuses on Holocene shell midden and stone artefact scatters. This project revealed that historically recorded resident groups of marine oriented peoples across the northern and southern sections of the region probably developed during the last l000 years. In that connection, this paper details two burials pertaining to this Recent Phase occupation of Cooloola. It provides a description of the antiquity and method of burial and documents consultations with local Aboriginal groups.

The Biology of the Ground Parrot, Pezoporus wallicus, in Queensland. I. Microhabitat Use, Activity Cycle and Diet

The microhabitat use, activity cycle and diet of the ground parrot in Cooloola National Park was examined by flushing birds, plotting call locations, radio-tracking 12 individuals, and sampling crop contents of trapped birds. Within a heathland, parrots appeared to use all parts of the dry and wet microhabitats but few of them used sedgelands and shrub- or tree-dominated areas. Birds visited dry microhabitats between late autumn and early summer, but used wet microhabitats mostly in summer. The shifts between dry and wet corresponded to changes in seed availability and accessibility, and may also be linked to climate. Radio-tracked birds were active throughout the day, with peaks just after sunrise, at mid-morning and in late afternoon. Voluntary flights were recorded only in the dawn and dusk calling periods. Home range area averaged 9.2 ha during all tracking periods, the smallest ranges being recorded in spring. Mean adult range (5.6 ha) was smaller than that of subadults (13.9 ha). There was considerable overlap in home ranges among individuals but little overlap in foraging areas. Ground parrots in Cooloola fed on seeds from at least 40 different species of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Selection appeared to be based on whatever seeds were available, accessible and of a size that could be handled.

The Biology of the Ground Parrot, Pezoporus wallicus, in Queensland. III. Distribution and Abundance

Ground parrots in Queensland were found in closed graminoid-heathlands and sedgelands between Maryborough and Coolum on the mainland, and along the west coast of Fraser I. Parrot distribution, when compared to historical data, shows a decline which is a result of habitat destruction or degradation in the northern and southern limits of the species range. The current population is estimated at 2900 birds, with the majority in the heathlands of Cooloola National Park, Wide Bay Military Reserve and the State Forest and the Great Sandy National Park on Fraser I. Ground parrot density varied between sites because of the interactive effects of vegetation type, heathland area, time since and frequency of fire, microhabitat diversity and proximity to recolonisers. Within sites, parrot numbers changed in the long term with time since fire (influence of temporal changes in vegetation structure and seed availability) peaking at 5-8 years after burning, and in the short term with the seasonal effects of dispersal and breeding. Although predators were present their impact on the main populations was considered minimal. All of these factors are, to some extent, influenced by human activities, e.g. clearing and burning of heathlands.

Flower and Seed Phenology of Some Plants in the Subtropical Heathlands of Cooloola National-Park, Queensland, Australia

The timing and intensity of flowering and seeding of most subtropical heathland plants were examined in five sites that had been unburnt for different lengths of time. For the heathlands in general, most flowering occurs in spring. For those species examined, seed intensity is also greatest in spring. The numbers of species flowering and seeding, and the intensity of these activities, increase to a peak between 4 and 8 years after a fire. There appears to be a decline in reproductive effort in heathlands unburnt for more than 10 years but the data are limited. The percentage of the total heathland flowering and seeding intensity in the dry microhabitat peaks between late autumn and spring. In the wet microhabitat the percentage is greatest between summer and mid autumn. Flower and subsequent seed intensity varies within and between heathland microhabitats on both within-year (seasonal) and between-year (years since last fire) time scales.

The Composition, Microhabitat Use and Response to Fire of the Avifauna of Subtropical Heathlands in Cooloola National Park, Queensland

A total of 54 bird species was recorded in the subtropical heathlands of Cooloola National Park, Queensland.. The composition of the bird community and the numbers of birds present in any given heathland appeared to be dependent on the years since the last fire. Thirty-nine species were inconsistent users of the habitat. Some of these species were migrants while others were either irregular visitors occurring throughout the year or predictable visitors that take advantage of specific short-lived abundances of food (e.g. carrion after fires or the annual production of nectar or seeds). The longer a heathland was unburnt the smaller the number of inconsistent species recorded visiting that heathland. Of the 15 bird species consistently using the heathlands, 12 were breeding residents, including the Ground Parrot and Southern Emu-wren. The variable patterns of post-fire recolonisation exhibited by the consistent species was attributed to the changing structure of the preferred microhabitats and the availabilitv of food. A minimum seven to eight year fire-free interval is suggested if viable populations of most resident species are to be maintained.

Fire and the Vegetation Composition and Structure of Sub-Tropical Heathlands in Southeastern Queensland

Six heathland sites were studied in Cooloola National Park, south-eastern Queensland. Vegetation composition (species present and numbers) and structure (plant density, cover, height and vertical foliage density) were examined at each site with respect to time since last fire (0.5-10.5 years) and the two recognised microhabitat types (dry and wet). No significant change in species numbers or composition was detected in sites more than 1 year after fire, although the changing physical status (density and cover) of some plants could give the impression of species being 'lost' or 'gained' over time. On the basis of the structural attributes of the heathlands, and the maintenance of several obligate seed regenerator species, a minimum fire-free interval of 8 or 10 years is suggested for subtropical heathlands. Results from this study are compared with data collected from other Australian heathlands. In composition and structure, the temporal responses to fire in the Cooloola heathlands are similar to those in southern heathlands, albeit occurring at a possibly faster rate.

The regional economic impact of tourism and recreation in national parks

Although regional economic impact studies stop a long way short of providing economic evaluations of alternative uses of open space, they are valuable in quantifying tangible contributions of recreation and tourism to local economic activity. Such studies might be vital in supporting the case for conservation and national parks. Regional economic impact studies predict changes in output, income, and employment stemming from visitor expenditures. A review of the quantitative findings of twenty-nine such studies shows a surprising commonality in regional multiplier estimates in the range 1.25–1.89. This is despite wide diversity in the location, context, and methodology of the studies. The second section of the paper is a case study conducted in Cooloola National Park, Australia. Problems in measuring visitor expenditures are discussed in some detail, as it is argued that inaccuracies in this phase of research may be more significant than those arising from multiplier estimation. Markedly different impacts ...