Monitoring the Rangelands - Photographic Sequences for Mulga Lands
The Rangelands Information System Photographic Sequences is a tool which allows the user to view a photographic record of particular areas in the Rangelands. The photographs and other information for Mulga Lands has been provided by CSIRO Australia.
The following photographic sequence products are available for the Mulga Lands bioregion:
- Location 1
- Location 2
- Location 3
- Location 4
- Location 5
- Location 6
- Location 7
- Location 8
- Location 9
- Photosequences Research Article
Return To The Photosequences Home Page
Location 1
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April 1944
No domestic stock since the end of March. Bare ground except for remnants of perennial grass tussocks. Some cracking of the brown clay soil. The shrubs present are growing along the bore drain.
October 1944
The perennial grass tussocks have numerous new tillers. Plantago varia is common. The hole in the soil at the lower left is still quite apparent.
February 1946
The perennial grass tussocks appear vigorous. They are the same plants which were visible in April 1944. More diverse flora now after nearly two years of no grazing. The large plants in[ the foreground are Salsola kali.
April 1947
Very dense stand of perennial grasses, especially Mitchell grass. No bare ground visible in the photograph. After three years of no domestic stock grazing there is a good stand of Mitchell grass plants with numerous seed heads. Rainfall in 1947 was 20
October 1947
The grasses have died off over the winter period. No bare ground is visible because of the grass litter.
April 1948
The grass tussocks have increased in size. Seed heads have developed on some of the grass tussocks. Decrease in bare ground due to both the increase in tussock size and the presence of annual species.
July 1949
Tussocks larger. Mitchell grasses easily recognised by the light colour of the dead curled leaves.
April 1951
Tussocks appear larger although there has not been any significant increase in their height. There are no other species visible except for the grasses.
July 1953
The tussocks have decreased in height due to winter dieback? Mitchell grass is dominant
July 1954
Marked reduction of above ground plant biomass. Increase in bare ground. Cracks are visible in the brown clay. some grass plants appear to have been pulled out due to swelling and crakcing of the brown clay?
July 1955
Grass is much taller. Decrease in bare ground.
July 1958
Stubble appearance of perennial grass tussocks. 1957 and 1958 were years of well below average rainfall. No winter annuals are visible.
August 1959
Stubble appearance of tussocks again. Craspedia spp and Vittadinia spp can be seen between thetussocks. Below average rainfall in 1959.
July 1966
Big increase in bare ground. No annual specis are visible. All but a few of the Mitchell grass tussocks are in good condition. The shrubs along the bore drain have died between 1959 and July 1966.
August 1968
Tussocks relatively short. Winter annuals are common.
April 1970
Grass tussocks relatively short again. Panicum spp in the lower left of the photograph. Bassis spp and Ptilotus nobilis (in flower) are easilty distingushed.
October 1973
Large increase in Ptilotus nobilis (note that they can flower in April and October). Perennial grasses are relatively insignificant. Bare ground noticeable. There has been a marked invasion of shrubby species (Eremophila and Myoporum) in the background -19
April 1974
Pasture again dominated by grasses -19 mainly Mitchell grass, a Blue grass (Dichanthium spp). No sign of Ptilotus nobilis but some plants were observed during field monitoring
October 1974
Pernnial grasses dominant -19 mainly Mitchell grass. Very few annual species present
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Mitchell grass still dominant. No spread of shrubs. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence) No apparent livestock grazing
May 1997
As per 1995
Location 2
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April 1944
Bare ground except for remnants of perennial grass tussocks. Very rough surface of soil due to tussock remnants and holes developed by swelling and cracking of the brown clay soil. Very little litter on the surface.
October 1944
Many young plants emerging through the soil. The two large holes in the foreground have changed little,
February 1946
Numerous plants of Alsola kali and some perennial grasses present. Note the Mitchell grass tussocks in the lower mid foreground. Some of the old tussock remains have not developed new tillers. The tussocks mentioned above have arisen from the tussock
April 1947
Relatively good stand of Mitchell grass (20 rainfall in 1947). When this photograph is compared to the April 1947 photograph of site 01, the latter appears to show a better developed stand of Mitchell grass.
October 1947
Grass has died off (over winter?) Lot of dead plant material covering the ground.
April 1948
Some large Mitchell grass tussocks present. Ptilotus nobilis? in the right centre and left side level with the marker.
July 1949
Tussocks larger. Ptilotus nobilis on left side level with marker flowering (same plant as previous photo)
April 1951
Tussocks larger again, Increase in plant cover.
July 1953
Tussocks smaller. The Mitchell grass tussock in the lower centre foreground appears to have grown from the tussock remnants in the Aprill 1944 photograph.
July 1954
Increase in bare ground. Much of the vegetative parts of the grasses have died. Cnspcious lack of winter annuals.
July 1955
Tussocks smaller. Some winter annuals covering much of the bare ground visible in the previous photograph
July 1958
Stubble appearance of tussocks. 1957 & 1958 were drought years. Bare ground between the tussocks.
August 1959
Stubble appearance of tussocks again. Mitchell grass tussokc in the lower centre foreground is still vigrous (1944 remnant)
July 1966
Increase in bare ground. No annuals visible. 1965 was a drought year with only 6.5 of rain. Note the small shrub at the base of the marker.
August 1968
Tussocks small. Shrub at base of marker has increased in size. Abundance of Plantago varia?
April 1970
Ptilotus nobilis in flower. Panicum spp in mid-19foreground. Grass tussocks relatively insignificant.
October 1973
Ptilotus nobilis abundant and flowering. Grass tussocks small. Bare gound noticeable.
April 1974
Good cover of grass species. Large Panicum sp in the lower right corner of the photograph. The shrub at the base of the marker is still alive.
October 1974
Small shrub at base of marker still alive. The shrub to the right of the marker is dead and has been blown thre by the wind.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Mitchell grass still dominant. No spread of shrubs. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence) No apparent livestock grazing
May 1997
As per previous photo
Location 3
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April 1944
Grey-19brown clay soil with gilgai microrelief. Tussock remnants and cracks in the soil give a very rough surface. The tree in the centre is Eucalyptus microtheca (Coolibah) and those in the background are mainly Acacia cambage (gidgee) and Eucalyptus popul
October 1944
Plantago varia is the most common ground species. The tussock remnants do not show as much new tiller development here as they do at site 01.
April 1947
Good cover of grasses. Mitchell grass has developed seed heads. The e. microtheca appears dead. Large area on right hand side has no Mitchell grass but is covered with Eragrostis sp?
April 1948
Good cover of grass species. Large patch of Eragrostis sp can be seen in flower in the lower right side of the photograph.
July 1949
Mitchell grass still providing good cover. Eragrostis sp still dominant in the lower right.
April 1951
Mitchell grass tussocks shorter in height. Erogrostis sp still visible. Craspedia sp can be seen because of their conspicous flower heads.
July 1954
Mitchell grass tussocks larger than last year. Eragrostis sp. appear in poor condition. NOte the presence of the small shrub to the right of the bae of the dea E. microtheca.
July 1955
Mitchell grass appears in good health. Eragrostis sp no longer visible. Aristida sp can be seen on the extreme left hand side in the centre.
July 1958
Stubble appearance of grass tussocks. Increase in bare ground. Note the large seeds on the ground (Carex sp ??).
August 1959
Grass appears healthier. The lnumerous winter annuals in flower are Calotis sp.
July 1966
Bare ground noticeable. No winter annuals visible.
August 1968
Winter annuals (Calotis spp) very numerous. Tussocks seem sparse.
April 1970
Tussocks very small in size. Salsola kali in lower left hand corner. Increase in bare ground.
October 1973
Ptilotus nobilis in flower. Mitchell grass tussocks small. Chenopodium auricomum visible in upper left and right corners of photograph. Large shrub at the base of the ded Eucalyptus germinated between 1951 and 1953.
October 1974
Tussocks relatively large. Very few annuals present.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Mitchell grass still dominant. No spread of shrubs. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence) No apparent livestock grazing
May 1997
As per previous photo
Location 4
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April 1944
Bare ground except for remnants of grass tussocks. Cracking grey clay soil. Surface of soil covered by gibbers beyond the dead tree. Complete lack of any understorey vegetation.
April 1947
Good cover of grass. The large tussocks of Mitchell grass can easily be distinguisded fromthe shorter grass species (Erogrostis sp).
April 1948
Large tussocks of Mitchell grass. The large tussock in the lower left of the photograph has grown from the large tussock remnant seen in the April 1944 photograph.
July 1949
Mitchell grass tussocks are large. Note the curly leaves of these plants. Large branch of the dead tree as fallen off since the date of the last photograph.
April 1951
Tussocks appear smaller. Other species visible are Panicum sp in the lower r+ight and Cras+pedia sp. on the left side of the marker. Note the appearance of a shrub species near the base of the tree.
July 1953
Tussocks smaller. Very few winter annuals between the tussocks. A lot of plant litter on the soil surface
July 1954
Tussocks larger
July 1955
Increase in cover of Mitchell grass. Note the increase in shrubby species under the trees in the background.
July 1958
Stubbled appearance of tussocks. 1957 & 1958 well below average rainfall years. Lack of winter annuals.
August 1959
Tussocks are in a much improved condition. Calotis sp. very common. Eremophila sp. on extreme rigt of photograph.
July 1966
Increase in bare ground. No winter annuals visible. 1965 was a drought year -19 6.5 rain. Eremophila sp. on extreme right is in poor health.
August 1968
Calotis sp. very common winter annuals. Mitchell grass tussocks stand out against the flowers. Eremophila sp. on the extreme right of the photograph has recovered from the drought.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Mitchell grass still dominant. No spread of shrubs. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence) No apparent livestock grazing
May 1997
As per previous photo
Location 5
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April 1944
Heavy grey clay, bare except for the numerous gibbers on the surface. Note the absence of any tussock remants and the absence of any understorey.
April 1947
Grass specis common now but no large tussocks.
April 1948
A few tussocks of Mitchell grass can be seen. Grasses mainly Aristida sp.
July 1949
Some large Mitchell grass tussocks present. Mostly Eragrostis sp.
April 1951
Still relatively few Mitchell grass tussocks. Mostly Eragrostis sp. and Sristida sp. Note the small shrub in the upper right hand side of the photograph.
July 1953
Mitchell grass tussocks relatively few. Bassia bicornus and Aristida sp common. Shrub larger.
July 1954
Note much change since last photograph.
July 1955
Not much change but an increase in winter annuals.
July 1958
Mitchell grass tussocks easily seen although they are in a poor condition. The shrub is also in poor condition showing the effect of the drought.
August 1959
Shrub vigorous. Lack of tussocks in foreground but relatively common in the background. Bassia bicornus (light coloured) and Bassia aniscanthoides? (darker colour) make up most of the species in the foreground.
July 1966
Mostly grass tussocks-19 lack of winter annuals. Note the invasion of shrub species in the background.
August 1968
Grass tussocks small and not easily recognised. Bassia bicornus is very conspicuous. The shrub first noticed in 1951 apppears dead.
April 1970
Bassia sp. again common. Ptilotus nobilis flowering in the background. Tussocks hard to see.
October 1973
Ptilotus nobilis flowering. Tussocks small. The remains of the shrub which first appeared in 1951 can be seen on the extreme right.
October 1974
Increase in grass cover. Shrubs in the background appear thicker.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Mitchell grass still dominant. No spread of shrubs. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence) No apparent livestock grazing
May 1997
as per previous photo.
Location 6
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April 1944
Bare ground except for gibbers and a few tussock remnants. Complete lack of understorey. The trees are Acacia cambagei (Gidgee)
April 1947
The Chenopodium auriocomum has grown well. Grass species mostly Sprobolus sp. Mitchell grass tussock in front of the trees.
April 1948
There is a noticeable difference in the species occupying the foreground/background. The grass in the background under the Gidgee trees is probably Sporobolus sp.
July 1949
A few large tussocks of Mitchell grass are easily recognised. Sporobolus sp. occupying ground under the Gidgee trees in the background.
April 1951
Mitchell grass species easily recognised. The Chenopodium auricomum at the base of the marker is quite large now.
July 1953
The only conspicuous ground layer are the few shurbs and old tussocks of Mitchell grass. There has been a great increase in bare ground.
July 1954
No changes except for an increase in size of the grass tussocks. Litter now covers most of the bare ground in the previous photograph
July 1955
The inter-19tussock spaces have now been occupied by other grass species.
July 1958
Drought year. All remaining tussocks and shrubs look in a very poor condition.
August 1959
Both the old tussocks and the shrubs have recovered from last years drought. Winter annuals (calotis sp) occupy some of thepreviously bare ground.
July 1966
No annual species present but the old Mitchell grass tussocks and shrubs are still present.
August 1968
Tussocks relatively small. Winter annuals (calotis sp.) in flower.
April 1970
Large dead Gidgee tree has fallen over. Perennial tussocks small. Iseilema vaginoflorum? is relatively common.
October 1974
Chenopodium auricomum larger. Grass cover relatively good.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence). Note the left tree on the ground
May 1997
As per previous photo.
Location 7
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April 1944
Bare sandy soil over clay. Litter in the form of small branches and twigs. Two Eucalyptus populnea in the foreground. Sandhill in the bacground (sloping west) with spinifex stubble. Calliturs lugelii on top of the sandhill
April 1947
Cover of grass species.
April 1948
Cover of grass species. Spinifex now well grown. The shoots on the Eucalypt are growing and healthy
July 1949
Eragrostis sp. providing much of the ground cover. Spinifex now about 1-191.3 m tall. There is vigorous growth of the shoots on the Eucalypt.
July 1950
Eragrostis sp. in lower foreground. Other grass species? Eucalypt shoots are healthy.
April 1951
Relatively dense cover of grass
July 1953
Eucalypt leaf litter and twig litter. Dead Salsola kali. Only a few grass plants alive. Eucalypt shoots not as healthy as in previous photographs. Note the shrub on the left of the left Eucalypt.
July 1954
Not much change.
July 1955
Shrub near the branch on the ground on the left side is bigger. Eucalypt shoots still in a poor condition. Some grass specis present but they no not provide a good cover.
July 1958
Very few grass plants alive. Spinifex very tall. A lot of leaf and twig litter. Eucalypt on right in very poor condition.
August 1959
Fewer grass plants. Eucalypt on the right appears dead. Spinifex is very tall. 1957 & 1958 were drought years.
July 1966
Few grass plants. Leaf and twig litter. Eucalypt dead. The shrub at the base of the left Eucalypt has gone.
April 1970
Bassia bicornus? conspicuous. Basal shoots on the Eucalypt are dead. Very few grass plants.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Stump of dead Eucalyptus populnea visible. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence). Note the left tree on the ground
May 1997
as per previous photo
Location 8
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April 1944
Bare sandy soil over clay. Twig and branch litter. Slightly sloping topography. Thos on top of the sand are Callitrus lugelli. Spinifex stubble can be seen on the sandhill
October 1944
Leaf, twig and branch litter. Young plants emerging
March 1948
Woody litter, a few grass plants can be seen but summer annuals account for most.
April 1948
Woody litter. Some grasses have grown and developed seed heads.
July 1949
Woody litter. A few grass plants. Young Myoporum sp. in the lower left side of the photograph. Also note the large tussock in lower left corner.
July 1950
Myoporum sp (left and right side) have increased in size. Tussock increased in size, woody litter.
April 1951
No changes except Myoporum sp. have increased in size. Grass mainly Eragrostis sp.
July 1953
Myoporum sp. large. No annual grasses. Perennial tussocks only. Leaft and twig litter.
July 1954
Not much change
July 1955
Not much change.
July 1958
Myoporum sp. in a poor condition. Large ded branch has fallen across photograph site. Tussocks in a poor condition (1957 & 1958 were drought years).
August 1959
Myoporum sp. still in a poor condition. Tussocks likewise. Large dead branch moved by someone?
July 1966
Myoporum sp. appead dead. A lot of dead twigs on both shrubs. Absence of winter annuals. Increase in the number of grass tussocks.
August 1968
Both Myoporum sp. are dead. Winter flowering annuals and some old tussocks make up most of the ground flora.
April 1970
Remains of Myoporum sp. can be seen. Other species include Bassias, Rhagodia and annuals.
June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Stump of dead Eucalyptus populnea visible. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence). Note the left tree on the ground
May 1997
As per previous photo
Location 9
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April 1944
Western aspect on sandhill. Bare except for spinifex litter heavily trampled by sheep. Callitrus lugelli on top of the dune.
October 1947
Spinifex flowering. Other species in flower is Ptilotus polystachysus.
April 1948
Spinifex flowering
July 1949
July 1949 to August 1959. Seasonal changes account for appearance of spinifex. Virtually the same tract of bare ground in all these photographs
July 1950
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April 1951
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July 1953
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July 1954
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July 1955
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July 1958
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August 1959
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July 1966
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August 1968
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April 1970
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June 1995
Sites relocated by Dr David Freudenberger, CSIRO Wildlife & Ecology, Canberra. Wooden pegs had been replaced with steel in 1974. Stump of dead Eucalyptus populnea visible. Some kangaroo grazing (holes in fence). Note spread of young mulga (shrubby)
May 1997
as per previous photo
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