Theme da australis— Eucalyptus Savannah in Papua — H eyligers 
489 
Airport could be nearly twice as long as at 
Katherine, viz. 41 weeks against 22: this would 
certainly contribute to the difference in produc- 
tion between these stations. 
ACNOWLEDGMENTS 
Grateful acknowledgment is made of the in- 
terest which Mr. R. A. Perry and the other 
ecologists of the Division of Land Research 
and Regional Survey have taken in this investi- 
gation, and also their criticism on the subse- 
quent paper. 
I am much indebted to Mr. J. A. Mabbutt 
and Mr. R. M. Scott for the discussions on the 
physical part of the savannah ecosystem ; to Mr. 
R. Pullen for his assistance with identification 
of my collections; and to Dr. P. Grieg-Smith, 
Mr. G. A. McIntyre, and Mr. M. L. Dudzinski 
for discussions on statistics. 
Appreciation is expressed to the head of the 
Quarantine Station of the Department of Agri- 
culture, Stock and Fisheries, Port Moresby, for 
putting a balance at my disposal and to the 
Director of the Department of Forests, Port 
Moresby, for lending wartime aerial photo- 
graphs. 
Last, but not least, I would like to thank 
Habau and Mou for their assistance in the field. 
SUMMARY 
Themeda australis-Eucalyptus savannah cov- 
ers extensive areas in the monsoonal coastal 
lowlands of Papua. The ground layer is domi- 
nated by grasses, mainly Themeda australis, 
Heteropogon contort us, and Sehima nervosum; 
the tree layer is formed by three species of 
Eucalyptus. 
This type of savannah has been investigated 
on two transects near Port Moresby. Observa- 
tions have been made on its composition and 
structure, and on rooting habits of trees and 
grasses. Quantitative data for the grass cover 
have been determined. 
Patterns in the vegetation coincide only lo- 
cally with some topographic and soil factors, 
and it is suggested that further investigation 
may reveal burning as an agent overriding the 
influences of other factors. 
REFERENCES 
Arndt, W., and M. J. T. Norman. 1959. 
Characteristics of native pasture on Tippera 
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Land Res. Reg. Surv. Tech. Paper No. 3. 
Daubenmire, R. F. 1959. A canopy-coverage 
method of vegetational analysis. Northwest 
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Fitzpatrick, E. A. 1965. Climate of the 
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Mabbutt, J. A., et al. 1965. Lands of the Port 
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Mabbutt, J. A., and R. M. Scott. 1966. 
Periodicity of morphogenesis and soil for- 
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