Hi - The recent Volume of "Northern Territory Naturalist" including several
bird articles.
If anyone wants to submit a paper or note on the birds of NT (arid region
/Alice Springs to Top End) see the website, and information below the Table of
Contents.
thanks,
Colin
WEB:
https://sites.google.com/site/ntfieldnaturalists/journal
Northern Territory Naturalist no. 24, February 2013
Contents and Abstracts
Research Articles
Bisa D. (2013)
New locations of butterflies from northern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 2-13.
Abstract: The Northern Territory is a frontier in Australia for biological
research in which new discoveries and locations of butterflies are frequently
made. In this
paper, I report 41 new point locations for 36 species in northern Arnhem Land.
In particular, a number of significant range extensions and new spatial records
are documented,
including new locations for the Copper Jewel Hypochrysops apelles and Samphire
Blue Theclinesthes sulpitius which are more than 500 km from their
previous known occurrence in the Northern Territory. Notwithstanding Arnhem
Land’s remoteness
and inaccessibility being key constraints for butterfly surveys, further
sampling is recommended
to obtain fine-scale distribution data to fill knowledge gaps and to assess the
conservation status of particular species. As the majority of the region
surveyed is
now located within the recently declared Indigenous Protected Area (IPA)
managed by Bawinanga
Aboriginal Corporation’s Djelk Rangers based in Maningrida, these
recommendations will assist with the collection of baseline data for future
monitoring. A
greater focus on this invertebrate group may help to promote the potential use
of butterflies as indicators of
biodiversity and landscape health.
Fukuda Y.,
Saalfeld K., Webb G., Manolis C. and Risk R. (2013) Standardised method of
spotlight surveys for crocodiles in the tidal rivers of the
Northern Territory, Australia. Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 14-32.
Abstract: Standardised spotlight survey procedures have been an integral part of
long-term (1975-2012) monitoring programs for Saltwater Crocodiles Crocodylus
porosus and Freshwater Crocodiles C. johnstoni in tidal rivers of the Northern
Territory (NT) of Australia. These programs, implemented four
years after depleted Saltwater Crocodile populations were protected from
hunting in 1971, have been instrumental in documenting post-protection
population recovery
and evaluating management interventions. This article describes a standardised
method for
spotlight survey of crocodiles in tidal rivers, with particular emphasis on
practical aspects that were not previously documented. It also shows example
survey data and
how it is analysed. This practical guide is primarily oriented at maintaining
survey standardisation
within the NT, but it should help wildlife managers to use standardised
spotlight counting as a monitoring tool for crocodilian species in similar
habitats elsewhere.
Reynolds S.J.
(2013) Habitat associations of birds at Manton Dam, Northern Territory.
Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 33-49.
Abstract: Manton Dam is an impoundment of the Manton River approximately 50 km
south-south-east of Darwin, Northern Territory. Major habitats associated with
the dam (open water, water edge, riparian monsoon forest and savanna woodland)
were searched to
determine the bird species associated with each. A total of 84 avifauna species
were recorded. Diversity (22 species) and abundance of waterbirds were low in
comparison with other wetlands of northern Australia—only 11 bird species were
recorded using the open
water habitat. The paucity of waterbirds may be due to the lack of shallow
foraging areas. Bushbirds included 50 species that used riparian monsoon forest
habitat and
45 species that used savanna habitat; 34 species were recorded in both
habitats. Nine waterbird
species were also recorded using riparian monsoon forest habitat. Further
development of riparian vegetation around the fringes of the dam may encourage
colonisation
by additional forest bird species. Increasing the extent of shallow water areas
and prohibition
of motorboats may enhance habitat availability and quality for waterbirds and
shorebirds.
Short notes
Kyne P.M.
(2013) First record of Spotted Whistling Duck Dendrocygna guttata for the
Northern Territory. Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 50-54.
Abstract: The Spotted Whistling Duck Dendrocygna guttata occurs in the
Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and was first recorded in Australia
in 1995; it
is now seen regularly in northern Queensland. The first record of the species
in the Northern Territory,
which is also the first Australian record outside Queensland, is presented
here. A single bird was observed on six occasions from 27 December 2011 to 12
February 2012
at the Leanyer Sewage Ponds, Darwin. The initial observation was made
immediately following a
tropical cyclone, which formed in the Arafura Sea and tracked south to make
landfall east of Darwin, suggesting that the bird may have originated from
eastern
Indonesia rather than Queensland.
Jackson M.V.
and Kyne P.M. (2013) Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica in the
Northern Territory Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 55-60.
Abstract: The Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica is an
irregular visitor to Australia during its non-breeding season. We present an
account of records of this species
in the Northern Territory (NT), Australia. Photographs are provided for two
previously undocumented
records, resulting in a total of seven reported occurrences in the NT.
Red-rumped Swallow has been recorded between October and April, often in
association
with other hirundinid species. Subspecific identification of NT records is not
definitive and observers are
encouraged to carefully document additional occurrences.
Kyne P.M. and
Jackson M.V. (2013) An insectivorous Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella
diversifies its diet. Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 61-64.
Abstract: Pratincoles and coursers (family Glareolidae), including the primarily
ground-feeding Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella, are principally
insectivorous. This
paper presents a brief note on the first documented occurrence of Australian
Pratincole (and indeed a rare record of any glareolid bird) feeding on
vertebrate prey, in this
case a small frog.
Palmer C. and
Chatto R. (2013) First confirmed sighting of the Killer Whale Orcinus orca in
Northern Territory coastal waters. Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 65-67.
Abstract: The first confirmed sighting of the Killer Whale Orcinus orca in
Northern Territory coastal waters is reported here. It highlights the
importance of
members of the public taking the time to submit photos and information to the
Marine WildWatch Hotline.
Species Profiles
Willan R.C.
(2013) A key to the potamidid snails (longbums, mudcreepers and treecreepers)
of northern Australia.Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 68-80.
Abstract: Longbums and the smaller mudcreepers and treecreepers (Mollusca:
Gastropoda:
Cerithioidea: Potamididae) are amphibious surface-dwellers of tidal wetlands
intimately associated with mangrove forests, depending on the trees for shelter
from heat and desiccation,
as a substrate, for food, and for protection from predators. A dichotomous key
is presented to identify the eight species of Potamididae that occur in tropical
northern Australia, several of which have similar looking shells. These species
represent 27.6% of the global
biodiversity for the family. This contribution describes the most useful
features for distinguishing between species, and provides comments on habitat,
ecological
niche and geographical range of each species, with notes on exploitation by
Aborigines. One species of
true creeper, Cerithium
coralium (Cerithioidea: Cerithiidae), is
also included because it lives with, and may be easily confused with, juvenile
longbums and/or the
smaller potamidid species.
Franklin D.C.
and Bate P.J. (2013) Brachychiton megaphyllus, the
Red-flowered Kurrajong. Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 81-88.
Abstract: The Red-flowered Kurrajong Brachychiton megaphyllus is a large-leaved
shrub of savanna and open forests of the north-west
of the Northern
Territory, Australia. It is deciduous during the tropical dry season and
flowers and fruits whilst leafless. Excavation revealed a large, carrot-shaped
tap-root
which may enable the plant to maintain positive moisture balance whilst
flowering by storing water. The
Red-flowered Kurrajong raises intriguing questions about seasonality and life
history in the monsoon tropics.
Book review
Reynolds S.J. (2013) Flammable Australia.
Fire Regimes, Biodiversity and Ecosystems in a Changing World [book review].
Northern Territory Naturalist 24, 89-91.
PUBLISHING
>From Michael Braby::::
The Northern Territory Naturalist is
a registered, peer-reviewed journal (ISSN 0155-4093) for original
research and publishes works concerning any aspect of the natural
history and ecology of the Northern Territory or adjacent areas of
northern Australia (e.g. Kimberley, western Queensland, Timor). Authors may
submit material in the form of Reviews, Research Articles, Short Notes, Species
Profiles or Book Reviews.
Contributors
include a range of field naturalists and scientists who are not
necessarily members of the NT Field Naturalist Club. There are no page
charges, and inclusion of colour figures is also free of charge. This
year we are moving towards making all articles accessible (open access)
as PDF’s on the Clubs web site.
The
journal is sent to Thomson’s Zoological Record for abstracting, and
electronic versions are indexed and distributed through the Informit
platform. The journal is also currently listed by the Australian
Research Council as a Category C publication, and all papers will soon
be included in Scopus, Elsevier’s
bibliographic database containing abstracts and cited references of over
19,000 scientific titles from more than 5,000 publishers. Hence,
academics and other researchers receive official recognition for
publishing with us.
The
success of the journal in recent years is reflected by the number of
high quality refereed papers published (46 in the past 5 years), which
span a broad range of topics in natural history and ecology. Since 2007,
the journal has been produced on an annual basis.
For more information regarding author instructions please see our home page:
http://sites.google.com/site/ntfieldnaturalists/journal
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