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Abstract:
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(En)
In response to pastoralists concerns about the deteriorating condition of chenopod shrublands on the Nullarbor plain, the authors carried out a three day survey of the region.Of the area surveyed, all paddocks had some damage. Most were categorised as having light to moderate damage but for 20% of pastures at least half of their plants were dry and brown and for 5% all the plants had completely dried off. The damage appears to be the result of the feeding of a weed web moth (Loxostege sp.-Pyralidae) The m rvey, there were no signs of the damaged plants recovering. In the long term, if a sequence of catastophic events occurred, like insect outbreaks and fire, a concern was expressed that the Nullarbor may gradually change into an ephemeral grassland. Howe er an outbreak that has caused so much damage to their pastures and the summer rainfall of 1994/95, which was probably the key catylst of the outbreak, was one of the highest and most extensive ever recorded.At the time of the survey, locust numbers wer
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