An analysis of the 1984 locust plague in Australia using multitemporal landsat multispectral data and a simulation model of locust development

Abstract An analysis of the 1984 locust ( Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker)) plague in Australia was undertaken to determine its source region using a simulation model of locust development and whether using appropriately enhanced satellite data, the individual areas that were suitable for locust breeding could be detected within this region. The origin of the 1984 plague was found to be in the Channel Country of south west Queensland, and satellite data indicated that there were localised areas suitable for locust breeding at the appropriate time other than those detected by ground survey. It is concluded that it isfeasible to use satellite data on an operational basis to detect areas suitable for locust breeding by monitoring changes in vegetation condition. Using the locust simulation model, the course of breeding and possible plague development can then be forecast, and ground surveys directed to the areas of interest at the approximate time.

[1]  R. Farrow.  Population Dynamics of the Australian Plague Locust, Chortoicetes Terminifera (Walker) in Central Western New South Wales Iii. Analysis of Population Processes. , 1982 .

[2]  R. Farrow.  Population Dynamics of the Australian Plague Locust, Chortoicetes Terminifera (Walker), in Central Western New South Wales. I. Reproduction and Migration in Relation to Weather. , 1979 .

[3]  C. Ashall,et al.  Field studies on the Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera Walk.) in the ' Channel Country' of Queensland. , 1969 .

[4]  D. Wright,et al.  Lipid accumulation and migratory flight in the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) , 1981 .

[5]  John A. Richards,et al.  Thematic mapping from multitemporal image data using the principal components transformation , 1984 .

[6]  K. Wardhaugh.  A study of some factors affecting egg development in Chortoicetes terminifera, Walker (Orthoptera: acrididae) , 1973 .

[7]  P. Symmons,et al.  Persistence and migration of Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Australia , 1980 .

[8]  R. Farrow.  Offshore migration and the collapse of outbreaks of the Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera Walk.) in south-east Australia. , 1975 .

[9]  R. Farrow.  Population dynamics of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) in central western New South Wales. II. Factors influencing natality and survival. , 1982 .

[10]  C. Perry,et al.  Functional equivalence of spectral vegetation indices , 1984 .

[11]  R. Hara,et al.  Regeneration of Squid Retinochrome , 1968, Nature.

[12]  JEREMY ROFFEY,et al.  Environmental and Behavioural Processes in a Desert Locust Outbreak , 1968, Nature.

[13]  D. Clark.  On the sexual maturation, breeding, and ovipsition behaviour of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walk.). , 1965 .

[14]  D. Hunter,et al.  Variation in diapause potential and strength in eggs of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) , 1984 .

[15]  M. Lambert.  Some factors affecting flight in field populations of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker), in New South Wales. , 1972, Animal behaviour.

[16]  D. Hunter.  Adult development in the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) , 1982 .

[17]  H. Nix,et al.  The climatic factor in Australian grassland ecology , 1970 .