Traditional ecological knowledge can be highly informative and integrated with complementary scientific knowledge to improve species management. This is especially true for abundant species with which indigenous peoples have frequent interactions (e.g., through harvest), but has been studied less frequently in isolated or declining species. We examined Maori traditional ecological knowledge of tuatara (Sphenodon spp., reptiles that resemble lizards but are the last living representatives of the order Sphenodontia) through semidirected interviews of elders of Te Atiawa, Ngati Koata, and Ngati Wai Iwi (similar to tribes), the guardians of several islands currently inhabited by tuatara. Maori are indigenous to New Zealand, having settled 800 to 1000 years ago. Tuatara are endemic to New Zealand, have declined in numbers since human settlement, and are now restricted to 37 offshore islands. The detail and volume of tuatara traditional ecological knowledge were less than that recorded in studies of more abundant or accessible species. In addition, traditional knowledge of the cultural significance of tuatara was more common and detailed among the elders than traditional knowledge of tuatara biology or ecology. The traditional knowledge collected, however, provided the first evidence of seven former sites of tuatara occupation, suggested five additional sites tuatara may currently occupy, contained novel hypotheses for scientific testing, and described tuatara cultural roles that have not been reported previously. We conclude that, in at least some cases, traditional ecological knowledge may persist as species decline and may serve as a valuable source of ecological information for conservation.

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Growth and yield of chickpea, Cicer arietinum cv. Tyson, were studied at 4 row spacings (180, 360, 530 and 710 mm) and 4 plant population densities (14, 28, 42 and 56 plants m-2) in factorial combination in a wet and a dry growing season on a vertisol at Dalby, south-eastern Queensland. In both years, row spacing had only a small effect on above-ground dry matter production and yield, and there were no significant interactions between row spacing and plant population density. Above-ground dry matter production increased significantly with increase in plant population density for about 120 days after sowing. Seed yield increased significantly from 104 to 126 g m-2 in the drier season (106 mm rain, May-October) with increase in plant population density from 14 to 56 plants m-2. In the wetter season (286 mm rain, May- October), the corresponding trend in yield was from 262 to 287 g m-2. The response was attributed chiefly to larger seed size in the wet year, and higher harvest index in the dry year. We conclude that a density of at least 40 plants m-2 is required to attain maximum seed yield in southeastern Queensland. Although row spacing had no significant effect on yield, our earlier research indicated potential benefits from narrow row spacing, particularly for mechanised crop production.

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In the 1966 dry season at Kimberley Research Station in the Ord River valley, the performance under irrigation of three semi-dwarf wheat varieties was compared with that of two Australian varieties at three times of sowing and three levels of nitrogen fertilizer in factorial combination. The general response of the semi-dwarf varieties to time of sowing did not differ from that of the Australian varieties. All varieties, at 0 and 160 lb an acre N, gave higher grain yields when sown in late May than when sown in mid-April or late June. At 320 lb an acre N, each variety gave approximately the same grain yield whether sown in mid-April or late May, with a lower yield from late June sowings. All varieties increased in grain yield between 0 and 160 lb an acre N, but when nitrogen was increased from 160 to 320 lb an acre, the yield of the Australian varieties declined while that of the semi-dwarf varieties either increased or remained approximately the same. As a group, the semi-dwarf varieties differed only from the Australian varieties in their ability to use a high uptake of nitrogen for grain production, in their greater harvest index, 2nd in their lower grab nitrogen content. The highest yields, 75-80 bushels an acre, were obtained from Mexico 120 and Chile 1B.