Publication Date
1989
Description
Since settlement by Europeans, the vegetation of the semiarid woodlands of south eastern Australia has undergone major changes. The change of greatest significance to pastoral industries has been the increase in woody species and the decline of endemic perennial grasses (Anon, 1969). One cause of change has been grazing by large numbers of sheep, the introduced rabbit and the increased populations of kangaroos (Wilson et al., 1984; Newsome, 1975). Grazing-induced changes have meant not only the reduction in a valuable forage component but reduced competition for small shrub seedlings and a lowered probability of fires that kill shrubs. (Harrington et al., 1984). A study commenced in 1985 seeks to add to knowledge of endemic perennial grasses by examining the effects of rainfall and grazing in two types of semi-arid woodland west of Co bar, N.S.W. In particular it attempts to differentiate between the effects of domestic stock and non-domestic mammalian herbivores. In this paper I will present data on the survival of established plants over a three year period. The study area is semi-arid (300 mm p.a.). Rainfall is highly unpredictable and aseasonal, with great variation between years. Stocking rates for the area are typically about 1 sheep to four hectares. Rabbit and kangaroo numbers fluctuate with seasonal conditions.
Citation
Grice, A C., "The Effect of Grazing by Sheep and Kangaroos Upon the Survival of Grasses in a Semi-arid Woodland of South Eastern Australia" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 33.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session9/33
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Effect of Grazing by Sheep and Kangaroos Upon the Survival of Grasses in a Semi-arid Woodland of South Eastern Australia
Since settlement by Europeans, the vegetation of the semiarid woodlands of south eastern Australia has undergone major changes. The change of greatest significance to pastoral industries has been the increase in woody species and the decline of endemic perennial grasses (Anon, 1969). One cause of change has been grazing by large numbers of sheep, the introduced rabbit and the increased populations of kangaroos (Wilson et al., 1984; Newsome, 1975). Grazing-induced changes have meant not only the reduction in a valuable forage component but reduced competition for small shrub seedlings and a lowered probability of fires that kill shrubs. (Harrington et al., 1984). A study commenced in 1985 seeks to add to knowledge of endemic perennial grasses by examining the effects of rainfall and grazing in two types of semi-arid woodland west of Co bar, N.S.W. In particular it attempts to differentiate between the effects of domestic stock and non-domestic mammalian herbivores. In this paper I will present data on the survival of established plants over a three year period. The study area is semi-arid (300 mm p.a.). Rainfall is highly unpredictable and aseasonal, with great variation between years. Stocking rates for the area are typically about 1 sheep to four hectares. Rabbit and kangaroo numbers fluctuate with seasonal conditions.
