Sites In Queensland Research Articles

Spotted gums and hybrids: Impact of pests and diseases, ontogeny and climate on tree performance

The increased threat of pests and pathogens in plantations has strengthened the need to understand the factors underlying their occurrence, such as climate and tree ontogenic, and the effect of these pests and diseases on plant performance. Spotted gums (Corymbia citriodora and C. henryi), C. torelliana, and their hybrids are important commercial plantation taxa, because they are suited to a range of environments where traditional commercial eucalypts grow poorly. They have desirable field performance and can produce a range of timber and fibre products. This study investigated field performance, ontogenetic shifts from juvenile to intermediate leaves, and damage by pests and pathogens in pure spotted gum taxa, including C. citriodora subsp. citriodora (CCC), C. citriodora subsp. variegata (CCV) and C. henryi (CH), C. torelliana (CT), and their hybrids over a two year period. The study revealed that higher mean daily rainfall and maximum/minimum temperatures positively influenced tree performance but were also associated with higher levels of defoliation by generalist insects. Necrosis associated with Quambalaria pitereka was not correlated with climatic conditions in most of the taxa. Growth rate and defoliation were positively correlated, while flushing and damage parameters (defoliation and leaf necrosis) were often negatively correlated, suggesting that the taxa studied may have high tolerance to defoliation. Ontogenetic shifts were variable between taxa, occurring earlier in pure spotted gum taxa than in hybrids. The only environmental factor related to the transition from juvenile to intermediate leaves was mean daily rainfall, suggesting that ontogenetic shifts may be associated with an adaptation to water availability. Overall, CCC and CT × CCC displayed the best combination of performance and resistance to pests and pathogens. Severe defoliation was associated with reduced diameter at breast height over bark (DBH) in CCV and CH. Tree interactions with damage and climate parameters were more consistent in the pure species than in the hybrids. These results add important knowledge on plant interactions with biotic and abiotic stress, assisting with strategies of pests and pathogen management and selection of the most appropriate taxa for pest and disease prone sites in southern Queensland.

The Long-Term Survival and Growth of Enrichment Plantings in Logged Tropical Rainforest in North Queensland, Australia

Enrichment planting is often suggested as a means of enhancing the productivity of logged rainforest. However, little is known about the long-term survival and growth of these trees. In this study, we used historical data from enrichment planting trials ranging from 15 to 32 years old to examine the survival and growth of 16 tree species across different sites in north Queensland, Australia. The results complement and extend current knowledge on the potential role of enrichment planting from a production perspective. A key finding was that the initial level of post-logging overwood did not appear to affect the immediate survival of enrichment plantings, but in the longer term (up to 30 years) survival decreased as post-logging overwood and regrowth increased. This suggests that removal of overwood should take place at the time of enrichment planting. A further key finding was that despite regular tending to remove vegetation adjacent to the plantings, competition from saplings and trees that were situated outside the tended area emerged as a major source of competition in some plots. By implication, the success of enrichment planting may depend on removal of competition from the entire logged area, not just adjacent to enrichment plantings. Results between individual species and trials varied widely. The best development of Flindersia brayleyana resulted in a mean tree diameter of 32.5 cm at age 22 for the 100 tallest trees per hectare. Although Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus microcorys, and Eucalyptus pilularis all failed—as expected, because they do not normally grow in rainforest—Corymbia torelliana, Cardwellia sublimis, Araucaria bidwillii, Khaya senegalensis, Flindersia amboinensis, and Swietenia macrophylla also failed although they grow naturally in similar sites. In other trials, tree height and basal area growth were often poor. For example, Khaya ivorensis grew to a basal area of only 1.3 m2/ha and a mean height of 7.7 m at age 10, and Flindersia ifflaiana only grew to a basal area of 0.7 m2/ha and a height of 7.9 m, also at age 10. Overall, these results emphasise the necessity of site–species matching before enrichment planting begins and the necessity of post-planting monitoring and remedial tending.

Deep Air Quality Forecasts: Suspended Particulate Matter Modeling With Convolutional Neural and Long Short-Term Memory Networks

Public health risks arising from airborne pollutants, e.g., Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) matter, can significantly elevate ongoing and future healthcare costs. The chaotic behaviour of air pollutants posing major difficulties in tracking their three-dimensional movements over diverse temporal domains is a significant challenge in designing practical air quality systems. This research paper builds a deep learning hybrid CLSTM model where convolutional neural network (CNN) is amalgamed with the long short-term memory (LSTM) network to forecast hourly TSP. The CNN model entails a data processer including feature extractors that draw upon statistically significant antecedent lagged predictor variables, whereas the LSTM model encapsulates a new feature mapping scheme to predict the next hourly TSP value. The hybrid CLSTM model is comprehensively benchmarked and is seen to outperform an ensemble of five machine learning models. The efficacy of the CLSTM model is elucidated in model testing phase at study sites in Queensland, Australia. Using performance metrics, visual analysis of TSP simulations relative to observations, and detailed error analysis, this study ascertains the CLSTM model's practical utility for air pollutant forecasting systems in health risk mitigation. This study captures a feasible opportunity to emulate air quality at relatively high temporal resolutions in global regions where air pollution is a considerable threat to public health.

Functional and employment outcomes following road traffic crashes in Queensland, Australia: Protocol for a prospective cohort study.

IntroductionMost road traffic crash injuries are minor to moderate in severity, but can still lead to persistent disability. One aspect of this disability is being unable to return to paid employment. Being unable to work has follow-on effects for personal financial stability, health and quality of life, as well as increasing costs for employers and society more broadly. In order to better understand the trajectory of returning to work in individuals injured in road traffic crashes, a prospective inception cohort study will be conducted across multiple sites in Queensland, Australia that will assess work and health outcomes in the first year after injury. This study protocol describes the process undertaken by the research team to design the methodology of this study. MethodsParticipants aged between 18 and 64 years, injured in a crash involving a motorised vehicle, will be recruited from public hospitals in Queensland. Participants will be excluded if their injuries are severe, including severe traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Baseline data collection will occur within 28 days of the injury, with major follow up assessments occurring at 6 and 12 months post-baseline. Outcome measures include return to work status, health-related quality of life, musculoskeletal pain, disability, psychosocial well-being, and physical activity. Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by Townsville Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee, and The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee. RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry reference number ACTRN12618001684213.

Landscape context modifies the rate and distribution of predation around habitat restoration sites

The rate and distribution of ecological functions is modified by how species respond to the composition of landscapes. Extensive loss of habitats has led to habitat restoration becoming an important management tool, however, it is not clear where restoration sites should be located in heterogeneous landscapes to maximise outcomes for ecological functions. We used restored oyster reefs, and the guild of predators associated with them, as a model system to test whether, and how ecological functioning is modified by the spatial context of restoration sites in marine landscapes (i.e. seascapes). We measured predation rates and surveyed predators using videoed deployments of ‘squidpops’ (dried squid tethered using fishing line) at multiple restored oyster reefs and nearby control sites in Queensland, Australia. Sites were located in different spatial contexts in a seascape composed of a mosaic of habitat types. Predation rates at restored oyster reefs were double those at control sites. Seascape context was important in modifying these predation rates; consumption near reefs was significantly lower when reefs were close to seagrass and mangroves. By contrast, higher rates were observed on reefs surrounded by non-vegetated seafloor, far from seagrass and mangroves. In addition, the distance over which predation extendeds into the surrounding unvegetated areas was greater on reefs father from vegetation. Strategically placing restoration sites in heterogeneous landscapes can maximise the effects of habitat restoration for ecosystem functioning and modify the distance over which these effects extent into surrounding seascape.

Pharmacy practitioners' lived experiences of culture in multicultural Australia: From perceptions to skilled practice.

ObjectivesThe Code of Ethics of pharmacy practitioners in Australia recognises the obligation to provide care to patients in a culturally safe and responsive manner. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine how Australian community pharmacists understand and experience the concept of ‘culture’ in their everyday practice environment.MethodsVoluntary, semi-structured interviews were conducted at community pharmacy placement sites in South-East Queensland, Australia. Pharmacists were asked to recall an incident that evoked their cultural awareness during the course of their practice. The question stated, verbatim: “We are preparing our students to be pharmacists in a highly multicultural community. Can you think of an incident where you learnt something about another person’s culture or it made you more aware of your own culture? Please briefly describe the incident.” Reportable responses were collected from 59 of the 92 visited pharmacists. These responses were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were collated and analysed through iterative, reflexive, thematic analysis using constant comparison.Results and significanceThe responses provided a rich selection of lived experiences within Australian multicultural pharmacy practice, describing professional dilemmas, fears and the strategies employed to overcome practice challenges. Six main response categories were identified: (i) Language/communication challenges, (ii) Cultural attitudes and behaviours, (iii) Exposure to culture due to pharmacy location, (iv) Religion, gender, and age, (v) Prejudiced/perceived racist attitudes and discrimination towards ‘other’ cultures, (vi) Perceived ‘sameness’ of different cultures. The study has provided valuable insights into community pharmacists’ experiences of culture in their day-to-day professional practice, also highlighting the associated strategies used to maintain a high standard of practice. There is merit in ensuring that the pharmacy curriculum and professional development programs are designed to respond to the ethical obligation of pharmacists to practise in a culturally safe, responsive manner that acknowledges and incorporates the importance of culture, cultural differences and intercultural relations, while addressing culturally unique needs in a skilled and professional manner.

Eco-physiological performance may contribute to differential success of two forms of an invasive vine, Dolichandra unguis-cati, in Australia

Invasive plant species are hypothesized as being more efficient at resource acquisition and use, resulting in faster growth than co-occurring non-invasive plant species. Nonetheless, some findings suggest that trait differences between invasive and non-invasive species are context dependent. In this study, two forms of an invasive vine species,Dolichandraunguis-cati, were used to test the context-dependent hypothesis.Dolichandraunguis-catiis a weed of national significance in Australia with two different forms: the ‘long pod’ (LP) and ‘short pod’ (SP). The two forms have different levels of distribution on the eastern Seaboard of the continent, with the SP form occurring extensively in both States of Queensland and New South Wales while the LP form is found only in isolated sites in South-East Queensland. This study examines whether differences in eco-physiological performance could be responsible for differential success of the two forms. A partially factorial experiment was set up in controlled conditions where potted plants of both forms were grown under two levels of light, water and nutrient resources (high and low) for 15 months. We measured several traits that are known to correlate with plant performance and resource use efficiency (RUE). The SP form exhibited higher values of carbon assimilation, RUE, number of subterranean tubers and leaf nitrogen than the LP form. However, the LP form produced greater biomass than the SP form, with the difference driven mainly by high resource conditions. The LP form displayed significantly higher phenotypic integration (number of traits significantly correlated) than the SP form in response to all treatments while the SP form exhibited higher phenotypic integration than the LP form in response to high resource conditions only. The SP form displayed traits that are well suited for successful colonization, possibly explaining its increased success in Australia, while the LP form possessed traits of opportunistic plants. Overall, we find that the two forms of the weedy vine deploy different carbon economies in response to resource conditions, which is evidence of the context-dependent trait hypothesis.

Self-regulation, behaviours and learning among children: An evaluation of the Journey to the Island of Calm programme in Australia

AbstractIn this article, an evaluation of the Journey to the Island of Calm programme in three sites in Queensland is presented. The evaluation examines the change in children’s sense of agency and capacity to manage their social and emotional well-being. Using a mixed method approach, the findings confirm that the Journey to the Island of Calm programme has accrued positive gains for children in their self-regulation and self-understanding. The findings are useful in developing intervention and learning programmes for children between 9 and 12 years of age in order to promote their sense of agency, capacity for self-regulation and self-independence, and contribute to children’s social and emotional development and skills from very early on in life.

Evaluation of a multisite telehealth group model for persistent pain management for rural/remote participants.

Individuals living in rural/remote areas have recognised barriers to specialist services for persistent pain management. Although there is current evidence to support the use of telehealth to deliver individual pain management support, there is minimal evidence to support the use of pain management programs delivered within a group model, using telehealth. The aim of the present research was to perform a formative evaluation of a persistent pain management program implemented using a multisite telehealth group model, and to examine consumer perceptions. The Manage Your Pain multisite telehealth group program was developed as a modified hub-and-spoke model. The model allowed participants from multiple rural/remote 'spoke' sites in Queensland, Australia to access four 2-hour specialist persistent pain management sessions from a metropolitan interdisciplinary persistent pain management centre ('hub' site, 491-1009 km from spoke sites), and simultaneously enable real-time access/interactions between participants at each of the spoke sites. Twenty-one individuals living with persistent pain participated in one of five multisite telehealth groups over the 10-month period. All participants completed standard pain scales before and after the pain management program, including Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire 20 (CPAQ20), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21), Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ) and the Participant Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System &#40;PROMIS&#41;. The Patient Impression of Change Scale (PICS), a telehealth perceptions survey, and a semi-structured telephone interview were completed post-program. Results revealed significant (p<0.05) improvements in the activity subscale and total score of the CPAQ, with 6 (30%) showing reliable improvement (90% confidence interval), indicating higher levels of activity engagement and pain acceptance after the program. Four (19%) participants made reliable improvement on the BPI interference. Post-program, the PICS revealed 65% of participants reported improvements in overall function, 61% indicated improved mood, 57% reported improved physical activity and 50% had some improvement in pain. Post-program, less than 10% of participants reported having technical (audio, visual) issues that had impacted on their sessions, and more than 90% found telehealth to be comfortable, convenient and would consider using it for their healthcare in the future. Post-program, most participants felt they had connected and were in a shared health experience with other group members through the multisite telehealth model. The interviews revealed three main themes: 'group experiences', which involved comments relating to the dynamics of the group and the shared experience; 'telehealth accessibility', which pertained to perceptions of the telehealth model for accessing specialist services; and 'limitations and concerns', where participants spoke of possible improvements to the program delivery model. Results confirmed that participants received benefit from the pain management program and that they had positive perceptions of receiving the service using a telehealth model. The present findings provide positive data to support using telehealth to deliver specialist persistent pain management for individuals who face accessibility issues in rural and remote communities. The model also demonstrated that positive elements of group treatment can be achieved through telehealth group models.

Asia-Australia distribution patterns among species of Mystrothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), with two new species.

The genus Mystrothrips now comprises 10 species, of which one is from Brazil but the others from Asia and Australia, including M. brachystylis sp.n. and M. nomadus sp.n. from eastern Australia. Variation among specimens of M. dammermanni from sites in Southeast Asia and Queensland is discussed. Mystrothrips reteanum described from Korea and known from southern China, is here recorded from Fiji and eastern Australia, and moreover is newly recognized as a senior synonym of M. flavidus from Japan.

Understanding the diversity in yield potential and stability among commercial sorghum hybrids can inform crop designs

Reducing yield gaps in dryland cropping depends on our capacity to identify combinations of genetics (G) and management (M) (i.e. crop designs, G × M) that best suit site and seasonal conditions (the environment, E). We combined empirical and modelling approaches to characterise and explain the yield stability and yield potential of commercial sorghum hybrids when grown under a range of agronomic managements and environments yielding between 3 and 12 t ha−1. The empirical data includes two seasons (2014-15 and 2015–2016) of on-farm and on-research station trials conducted across six sites in Queensland, Australia. Agronomic management treatments included plant density, row configuration, level of irrigation and fertiliser inputs, and time of sowing. Six hybrids contrasting in maturity and tillering type were characterised relative to the industry standard MR-Buster in terms of yield potential, yield stability (bi), and an expected utility index that combines both indices. A medium-late maturity and high tillering hybrid (MR-Scorpio), had the highest utility rank and showed high bi values due to high tiller productivity. A variety of significant row spacing and configuration, and plant density effects on yield were observed, but these were inconsistent across sites and seasons. A long-term simulation experiment across contrasting environments was used to identify hybrid traits and managements capable of modifying yield stability. Combined with the empirical data, the simulations suggest hybrids showing high biomass production and multiple productive tillers can increase the response of yield to the productivity of the environment, whereas reducing the thermal time to floral initiation may increase the stability of yields across environments. Expected changes in hybrid rank due to such G × E interactions, along with the complex effects of management on yield, increase the need to match crop design to specific sites and seasons. The value of targeted crop design depends on the diversity of traits among commercial hybrids and the availability of a skilful seasonal climate forecast to allow farmers to match hybrids and management to prevailing and expected seasonal conditions.

Effect of simulated herbivory on bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) growth and implications for biological control

Understanding the ability of invasive plants to compensate for herbivory damage is crucial for their management, but this has been poorly studied in weed biological control. Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia L.) is an invasive weed and a target for biological control in Australia. To understand the response of bellyache bush to herbivory, we simulated herbivory damage, under field conditions, at a site in north Queensland. Two size classes, that is, seedlings and mature plants were subjected to either defoliation, shoot damage or a combination of both, and the damage was inflicted once, twice or thrice at 6–7 weeks interval. All herbivory types significantly reduced growth and biomass when herbivory was inflicted twice or thrice, whereas the single application had limited impact. Shoot damage alone and defoliation + shoot damage had a greater negative impact than defoliation treatment on plant height, basal stem diameter, the number of leaves, root length and the number of shoot tips produced while increasing the number of dead shoot tips. Defoliation alone and defoliation + shoot damage had a greater negative impact on the number of flowers and fruit pods produced than shoot damage. The greater negative effects noticed when herbivory was inflicted twice or thrice suggest that multivoltine biological control agents that can inflict shoot damage and defoliation should be sought for the biological control of bellyache bush.

Survival outcomes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib.

Erlotinib is used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib was subsidized on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule in Australia for the treatment of advanced stage (IIIB or IV) NSCLC (August 2008). In the pivotal trial supporting initial subsidy, erlotinib increased overall survival (OS) by 2 months compared with placebo (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.85). We examined the effectiveness of erlotinib in a 'real-world' setting by measuring survival outcomes in NSCLC patients treated in two tertiary metropolitan public hospitals in Queensland. We extracted data from the electronic oncology prescribing system (CHARM) for NSCLC patients prescribed erlotinib (1 September 2009 to 1 February 2015). Survival estimates and analyses were generated using Kaplan-Meier curves. 134 patients received at least one dose of erlotinib during the study period. At the date of data extraction 113 patients had died. The median patient age was 64 years and 55% were men. The median duration of treatment was 2.0 months. The median OS was 5.8 months. The median progression-free survival (time from start of erlotinib to disease progression or death from any cause) was 3.6 months. The use of erlotinib in the two Queensland sites was consistent with the pivotal trial used to support subsidy. The median OS was somewhat less than the trial (5.8 vs. 6.7 months), which could be because of the hospital cohort including frailer patients who were unsuitable for parenteral chemotherapy, and the mixed epidermal growth factor receptor mutation status of the hospital cohort.

Fractionation processes of δ13C in a soil-shallow groundwater system of a potential CO2 sequestration site: Wandoan, QLD, Australia

Near-surface leakage detection is often a crucial part of verifying the success of CO2 sequestration projects, and it cannot be achieved without a detailed description of the natural state of an operational site prior to injection. Without baseline studies, it is difficult to define CO2 anomalies outside natural variation in the subsurface that may be related to leakage. CO2 concentrations and δ13C-CO2 values (of DIC, dissolved gas, and soil gas) were investigated to establish a baseline modelling of natural chemical processes leading to CO2 occurrence and δ13C-CO2 fractionation in the soil-groundwater interface on an example at the Glenhaven site in Queensland, Australia. This was analysed within the context of the hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry of a shallow aquifer system (<20 m depth). The Glenhaven site and its five monitoring station are located in an area which is a candidate for a future small scale carbon storage pilot project. We combine major ion, stable isotope data of groundwater and soil gas as well as physical hydrogeology data with extensive isotope models to explain the pathways and origins of groundwater and CO2. The results indicate shallow aquitard claystone units at the site restrict vertical groundwater leakage and inter-aquifer mixing. Groundwater chemistry is controlled by transpiration of plants, cation exchange, weathering and meteoric recharge to produce Na-Cl and Na-HCO3-Cl type waters. δ18O and δ2H values suggest a shallow meteoric recharge source largely unaffected by evaporation. CO2 concentrations in soil and dissolved in groundwater range between 631 and 47,516 ppm and δ13C values average −17 and −21‰. The mixing of three potential CO2 sources is discussed: 1) the aerobic decay of C3 plant matter, 2) the aerobic decay of C4 plant matter and, 3) shallow coal related CO2. Despite this, the variability of CO2 concentrations and equivocal sources is not likely to hinder leakage detection in the future of site monitoring.

Wood charcoal analysis in tropical rainforest: a pilot study identifying firewood used at toxic nut processing sites in northeast Queensland, Australia

Anthracology, the systematic recovery and analysis of wood charcoal from archaeological sites, provides insights into past subsistence practices, socio-ecological interactions and palaeoenvironments. A pilot study focusing on the identification of firewood taxa from the late Holocene deposit at Goddard Creek has revealed the fuel choices and collection patterns of Rainforest Aboriginal people in the settlement of upland notophyll rainforest on the Evelyn tableland in northeast Queensland, Australia. The analysis indicates the existence of a floristically rich rainforest site at the time of occupation, with potentially up to 90 different rainforest taxa recorded, including the positive identification of 37 taxa. Firewood used in association with toxic nut processing at the site consisted of the preferential selection of fresh Rhodamnia sp. wood and Citronella sp. branches, possibly for specialised functions, as well as a range of other taxa that were collected according to availability from the surrounding rainforest. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential of anthracological analysis for archaeological interpretations in tropical Australia, while highlighting the continuing efforts required to successfully apply the discipline in this region. This study contributes to the wider research into the history of the wet tropics cultural landscape and is the first application of systematic wood charcoal studies to an archaeological site in the wet tropical rainforests of Australia.

Maintaining Dose Intensity of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Older Patients With Breast Cancer

IntroductionMaintaining the relative dose intensity (RDI) of adjuvant chemotherapy at ≥ 85% has been associated with improved treatment outcomes in early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). Increasing evidence has suggested that patients aged ≥ 65 years can maintain the optimal RDI for standard chemotherapy regimens. The present study investigated the RDI of newer adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in this demographic. Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data from 281 patients aged ≥ 65 years with a diagnosis of ESBC who had received adjuvant chemotherapy across 3 sites in Queensland, Australia from 2010 to 2015. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who had received an RDI of ≥ 85%. ResultsThe median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range, 65-85 years), with 36.3% aged > 70 years. The patient characteristics included tumor stage T3 or T4 in 17% and node-positive disease in 60%. The common chemotherapy regimens included docetaxel/cyclophosphamide (23%), 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide plus docetaxel or paclitaxel (17%); Adriamycin/cyclophosphamide/weekly paclitaxel (38%); and docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab (11%). Primary (15%) and secondary (54%) granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used. An RDI of ≥ 85% was achieved in 63% of the patients. Significant associations were noted between a reduced RDI and age ≥ 70 years (P < .001), Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 1 (P = .043), initial dose reductions (P = .01), secondary G-CSF use (P = .45), hospital admission (P < .001), and febrile neutropenia (P = .007). Treatment-related toxicities were the most common reason for noncompletion, with high rates of hospital admissions (46%) and febrile neutropenia (22%). ConclusionOur findings suggest that patients aged ≥ 65 years with ESBC can maintain an optimal RDI with modern chemotherapy regimens. Appropriate geriatric assessment and the use of supportive measures such as G-CSF could better assist select groups to maintain an optimal dose intensity.

Enhancing perinatal and infant mental health through an innovative integrated and collaborative partnership

This paper reports on the outcomes of an intensive collaborative community-based perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH) Day Program designed to improve the emotional-social wellbeing of mothers with a moderate to severe mental illness and attachment to their infant. Coordinated by the Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, Child and Youth Mental Health, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, the program was delivered in 2016 to twenty six mother-infant dyads through an interagency partnership between adult mental health, child and youth mental health and community child health across two Hospital and Health Service sites in Queensland, Australia. The study resulted from recommendations of a pilot project conducted in Brisbane in 2009 . An infant’s developmental outcomes are predicated by their earliest attachment to their caregivers . It is estimated 40% to 60% of children whose parent has a mental illness are at risk to their mental wellbeing. With more than 16% of Australian women and 10% of fathers developing a perinatal mental illness, there is an identified gap in both the availability and flexibility of services to this vulnerable population. Evidence suggests that service delivery to perinatal mothers with complex mental health issues is typically ‘siloed’ and that treating maternal mental health alone does not improve outcomes for infants. The unique feature of the PIMH Day Program is the collaboration of three separate health services delivering one program to mothers and infants together. Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (HHS) and Townsville HHS are two large regional cities located in north Queensland. Clinicians from adult mental health, child and youth mental health and child health from each HHS delivered three (3) six week (one day per week) perinatal and infant mental health programs between May to November 2016 through a collaborative and integrative methodology. Multidisciplinary clinicians from the three services worked together to deliver the program using a dedicated program manual. The intervention resulted in statistically significant improvements in pre-post quantitative measures relating to mother’s emotional-social wellbeing and infant attachment, positive feedback from self-report surveys on program elements, and engagement in post referral pathways. Clinicians reported high level satisfaction with the collaborative process, resource sharing and transfer of knowledge and skills. They support the intervention as a sustainable, effective and efficient model of service. The findings support the premise that interagency collaboration between health services brings about improved mental health outcomes for mothers with a mental illness and enhanced understanding and sensitivity to their infants. The study resulted in statistically significant results in both sites supporting the results of the 2009 study. This program demonstrates that collaboration, partnerships and integration across service boundaries and professional disciplines offers a promising opportunity to deliver a service that supports parenting and an infant’s emotional-social development. The Day Program translates across settings while building workforce capacity in perinatal and infant mental health.

Open woodland tree and shrub dynamics and landscape function in central Queensland after killing the trees with herbicide

Herbicides are used in savanna to control tree and shrub density, primarily to maintain the value of the country for pastoral enterprises. However, the concomitant effects on biodiversity and landscape functioning need to be recognised and better understood. This study monitored tree and shrub dynamics and eventual landscape functionality in response to tree-killing over 7–8 years at two open eucalypt woodland sites in central Queensland. Paddocks denuded of trees using herbicide or not so treated were subject to three differing grazing pressures by cattle. Similarly treated but ungrazed sets of plots were subjected to either regular spring burns or were rarely burnt. Tree and shrub growth and seedling recruitment were slightly affected by grazing pressure but regular spring burns minimised recruitment of minor woodland species and reduced the population of original saplings and seedlings that survived the herbicide. Few eucalypt seedlings emerged from soil surface samples taken each spring in any treatment, despite the presence of flowering trees in half the treatments. Capture and retention of resources, particularly rainfall and nutrients, were slightly improved by killing the trees, and worsened by grazing. We conclude that killing trees with herbicide at these sites did not adversely affect landscape function and that woody species regeneration was almost inevitable on these open eucalypt woodland native pastures.

Using GeoEye-1 Imagery for Multi-Temporal Object-Based Detection of Canegrub Damage in Sugarcane Fields in Queensland, Australia

The greyback canegrub (Dermolepida albohirtum) is the main pest of sugarcane crops in all cane-growing regions between Mossman (16.5°S) and Sarina (21.5°S) in Queensland, Australia. In previous years, high infestations have cost the industry up to $40 million. However, identifying damage in the field is difficult due to the often impenetrable nature of the sugarcane crop. Satellite imagery offers a feasible means of achieving this by examining the visual characteristics of stool tipping, changed leaf color, and exposure of soil in damaged areas. The objective of this study was to use geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) and high-spatial resolution GeoEye-1 satellite imagery for three years to map canegrub damage and develop two mapping approaches suitable for risk mapping. The GEOBIA mapping approach for canegrub damage detection was evaluated over three selected study sites in Queensland, covering a total of 254 km2 and included five main steps developed in the eCognition Developer software. These included: (1) initial segmentation of sugarcane block boundaries; (2) classification and subsequent omission of fallow/harvested fields, tracks, and other non-sugarcane features within the block boundaries; (3) identification of likely canegrub-damaged areas with low NDVI values and high levels of image texture within each block; (4) the further refining of canegrub damaged areas to low, medium, and high likelihood; and (5) risk classification. The validation based on field observations of canegrub damage at the time of the satellite image capture yielded producer’s accuracies between 75% and 98.7%, depending on the study site. Error of commission occurred in some cases due to sprawling, drainage issues, wind, weed, and pig damage. The two developed risk mapping approaches were based on the results of the canegrub damage detection. This research will improve decision making by growers affected by canegrub damage.

Open‐cut mining impacts on soil abiotic and bacterial community properties as shown by restoration chronosequence

Open‐cut mining severely disrupts landforms and soils, preventing or impeding the restoration of preexisting or functional ecosystems because essential properties of the original soils cannot immediately or easily be reinstated. We examined the soil physicochemical and bacterial characteristics of 21 coal‐mined sites in subtropical Queensland, Australia, 3–23 years after establishment of native plant species relative to nonmined analogue sites. Soil disturbance significantly decreased total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and especially total carbon (TC). The TC is projected to take 36 years to recover. Bacterial communities assessed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing showed greater species richness and evenness in rehabilitated as compared with nonmined soils, regardless of rehabilitation age. However, bacterial species composition was associated significantly with soil electrical conductivity, the plant density, and total stem cross‐sectional area of woody vegetation. The bacterial communities on rehabilitated sites became progressively more similar to those of nonmined analogue sites over time. This work demonstrates that if topsoils are conserved carefully during mining and supplemented by inorganic fertilizer addition, vigorous plant growth and changes in bacterial community composition can occur soon after plant establishment. This will mitigate the effects of soil disturbance and accelerate the return to the chemical and biological attributes of nonmined analogue soils.