School of Biological Sciences Publications - UQ eSpace

Active adaptive conservation of threatened species in the face of uncertainty

2010-07-11T00:00:00Z

Active adaptive management for conservation

McCarthy, M. A. og Possingham, H. P. — 2008-02-18T00:00:00Z

Active adaptive management balances the requirements of management with the need to learn about the system being managed, which leads to better decisions. It is difficult to judge the benefit of management actions that accelerate information gain, relative to the benefit of making the best management decision given what is known at the time. We present a first step in developing methods to optimize management decisions that incorporate both uncertainty and learning via adaptive management We assumed a manager can allocate effort to discrete units (e.g., areas for revegetation or animals for reintroduction), the outcome can be measured as success or failure (e.g., the revegetation in an area is successful or the animal survives and breeds), and the manager has two possible management options from which to choose. We further assumed that there is an annual budget that may be allocated to one or both of the two options and that the manager must decide on the allocation. We used Bayesian updating of the probability of success of the two options and stochastic dynamic programming to determine the optimal strategy over a specified number of years, The costs, level of certainty about the success of the two options, and the timeframe of management all influenced the optimal allocation of the annual budget. In addition, the choice of management objective had a large influence on the optimal decision. In a case study of Merri Creek, Melbourne, Australia, we applied the approach to determining revegetation strategies. Our approach can be used to determine how best to manage ecological systems in the face of uncertainty.

Active Adaptive Management in Insect Pest and Weed Control: Intervention with a Plan for Learning

2006-02-10T00:00:00Z

A major problem in insect pest and weed management is uncertainty. Managers are faced with three main types of uncertainty: uncertainty about biological and environmental processes, and observational uncertainty. Active adaptive management (AAM) is management with a deliberate plan for learning about the managed system, so that management can be improved in the face of uncertainty. We discuss the potential benefits of applying AAM to insect pest and weed control with reference to a number of examples. We first address the possible uses for AAM in biological control, with particular reference to agent selection and release. We also propose applying AAM methods to resistance management and to spatial strategies for pest control. We conclude with an overview of AAM, a discussion of some of the potential limitations to its use in pest management, and the possibilities for increased implementation of AAM in the future.

Activity, abundance, distribution and expression of Na+/K+-ATPase in the salt glands of Crocodylus porosus following chronic saltwater acclimation

2010-04-18T00:00:00Z

Activity patterns and oviposition rates of Aphytis lingnanensis females, a parasitoid of California red scale Aonidiella aurantii: implications for successful biological control

Fernando, L. C. og Walter, G. H. — 2008-06-10T00:00:00Z

Activity patterns of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) (Marsupialia : Vombatidae) in the South Australian Murraylands

2011-09-16T00:00:00Z

Acute symptoms, not rectally administered sucralfate, predict for late radiation proctitis: Longer term follow-up of a phase III trial - trans-Tasman radiation oncology group

2007-08-14T00:00:00Z

Image : To assess the potential for sucralfate administered rectally to reduce the risk of late rectal morbidity in patients undergoing nonconformal radiotherapy (RT) for carcinoma of the prostate and to study the variables potentially contributing to late rectal morbidity and particularly to explore the relationship between acute and late toxicity. Image : Eighty-six patients with localized prostate carcinoma were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to a daily enema of 3 g of sucralfate in a 15-mL suspension or the same suspension without sucralfate. The enema began the first day of RT and was continued for 2 weeks after treatment completion. The primary end point of the study was acute Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) toxicity; however, the patients were followed for an additional 5 years on a 6-month basis. The evaluation included late RTOG/EORTC toxicity and a patient self-assessment questionnaire. Image : With a median follow-up of 5 years, the Kaplan-Meier probability of late Grade 2 RTOG/EORTC toxicity was 12% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2–22%) for placebo and 5% (95% CI 0–12%) for sucralfate (p = 0.26). The probability of late rectal bleeding was 59% (95% CI 45–73%) for placebo and 54% (95% CI 40–68%) for sucralfate. No statistically significant difference was found between the treatment arms for the peak incidence of any of the other patient self-assessment variables. Cox proportional hazards modeling indicated acute RTOG/EORTC toxicity of Grade 2 or greater was associated with a hazard ratio of 2.74 (95% CI 1.31–5.73) for the development of late toxicity of Grade 1 or greater. Substituting the patient self-assessment variables for acute RTOG/EORTC toxicity revealed that rectal pain of a moderate or severe grade during RT was the best predictor of the subsequent development of late toxicity, with a hazard ratio of 3.44 (95% CI 1.68–7). Image : The results of this study do not support the use of sucralfate administered rectally as a method for reducing the late toxicity of nonconformal RT for prostate cancer. There appears to be an association between the development of acute and subsequent late toxicity, although the nature of this association remains to be determined

Acute tissue death (white syndrome) affects the microenvironment of tabular Acropora corals

2010-09-27T00:00:00Z

White syndrome (WS) is a collective term for coral diseases that cause acute tissue loss, resulting in apparently healthy tissue bordering on exposed skeleton. In this study, the microenvironmental condition and tissue structure of WS-affected tabular acroporid corals were assessed by O2 microelectrodes and histological techniques. The high spatial resolution of the microelectrode measurements enabled an evaluation of the extent of physiological changes at, and 2 cm away from, the WS border. Respiration of the coral host was decreased on the skeleton–tissue border but was comparable to that of healthy corals only 2 cm away from the border. Histological data, however, showed a decrease in mesogloea thickness on and 2 cm away from the WS border, which correlates with a previously observed allocation of photoassimilates away from the WS border. We suggest that there are colony-wide negative effects of WS which affect only the host physiology and, as disparate etiologies are evident in WS, these must be distinguished through the utilization of a multiple tool approach.

A damsel in distress: towards real IPM

Wade, M. R. — 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Adaptation of rainbow fish to lake and stream habitats

2007-08-14T00:00:00Z

Fish occupy a range of hydrological habitats that exert different demands on locomotor performance. We examined replicate natural populations of the rainbow fishes Melanotaenia eachamensis and M. duboulayi to determine if colonization of low-velocity (lake) habitats by fish from high-velocity (stream) habitats resulted in adaptation of locomotor morphology and performance. Relative to stream conspecifics, lake fish had more posteriorly positioned first dorsal and pelvic fins, and shorter second dorsal fin bases. Habitat dimorphism observed between wild-caught fish was determined to be heritable as it was retained in M. eachamensis offspring raised in a common garden. Repeated evolution of the same heritable phenotype in independently derived populations indicated body shape divergence was a consequence of natural selection. Morphological divergence between hydrological habitats did not support a priori expectations of deeper bodies and caudal peduncles in lake fish. However, observed divergence in fin positioning was consistent with a family-wide association between habitat and morphology, and with empirical studies on other fish species. As predicted, decreased demand for sustained swimming in takes resulted in a reduction in caudal red muscle area of lake fish relative to their stream counterparts. Melanotaenia duboulayi lake fish also had slower sustained swimming speeds (U-crit) than stream conspecifics. In M. eachamensis, habitat affected U-crit of males and females differently. Specifically, females exhibited the pattern observed in M. duboulayi (lake fish had faster U-crit than stream fish), but the opposite association was observed in males (stream males had slower Ucrit than lake males). Stream M. eachamensis also exhibited a reversed pattern of sexual dimorphism in U-crit (males slower than females) relative to all other groups (males faster than females). We suggest that M. eachamensis males from streams responded to factors other than water velocity. Although replication of muscle and U,,it phenotypes across same habitat populations within and/or among species was suggestive of adaptation, the common garden experiment did not confirm a genetic basis to these associations. Kinematic studies should consider the effect of the position and base length of dorsal fins.

Adaptations of strangler figs to life in the rainforest canopy

Schmidt, Susanne og Tracey, Dieter P. — 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Figs are rainforest keystone species. Non-strangler figs establish on the forest floor; strangler figs establish epiphytically, followed by a dramatic transition from epiphyte to free-standing tree that kills its hosts. Free-standing figs display vigorous growth and resource demand suggesting that epiphytic strangler figs require special adaptations to deal with resource limitations imposed by the epiphytic environment. We studied epiphytic and free-standing strangler figs, and non-strangler figs in tropical rainforest and in cultivation, as well as strangler figs in controlled conditions. We investigated whether the transition from epiphyte to free-standing tree is characterised by morphological and physiological plasticity. Epiphyte substrate had higher levels of plant-available ammonium and phosphate, and similar levels of nitrate compared with rainforest soil, suggesting that N and P are initially not limiting resources. A relationship was found between taxonomic groups and plant N physiology; strangler figs, all members of subgenus Urostigma, had mostly low foliar nitrate assimilation rates whereas non-strangler figs, in subgenera Pharmacocycea, Sycidium, Sycomorus or Synoecia, had moderate to high rates. Nitrate is an energetically expensive N source, and low nitrate use may be an adaptation of strangler figs for conserving energy during epiphytic growth. Interestingly, significant amounts of nitrate were stored in fleshy taproot tubers of epiphytic stranglers. Supporting the concept of plasticity, leaves of epiphytic Ficus benjamina L. had lower N and C content per unit leaf area, lower stomatal density and 80% greater specific leaf area than leaves of conspecific free-standing trees. Similarly, glasshouse-grown stranglers strongly increased biomass allocation to roots under water limitation. Epiphytic and free-standing F. benjamina had similar average foliar delta C-13, but epiphytes had more extreme values; this indicates that both groups of plants use the C-3 pathway of CO2 fixation but that water availability is highly variable for epiphytes. We hypothesise that epiphytic figs use fleshy stem tubers to avoid water stress, and that nitrate acts as an osmotic compound in tubers. We conclude that strangler figs are a unique experimental system for studying the transition from rainforest epiphyte to tree, and the genetic and environmental triggers involved.

Adapting global biodiversity indicators to the national scale: A Red List Index for Australian birds

2012-05-21T22:42:07Z

The Red List Index (RLI), which uses information from the IUCN Red List to track trends in the projected overall extinction risk of sets of species, is among the indicators adopted by the world’s governments to assess performance under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. For greatest impact, such indicators need to be measured and used at a national scale as well as globally. We present the first application of the RLI based on assessments of extinction risk at the national scale using IUCN’s recommended methods, evaluating trends in the status of Australian birds for 1990–2010. We calculated RLIs based on the number of taxa in each Red List category and the number that changed categories between assessments in 1990, 2000 and 2010 as a result of genuine improvement or deterioration in status. A novel comparison between trends at the species and ultrataxon (subspecies or monotypic species) level showed that these were remarkably similar, suggesting that current global RLI trends at the species level may also be a useful surrogate for tracking losses in genetic diversity at this scale, for which no global measures currently exist. The RLI for Australia is declining faster than global rates when migratory shorebirds and seabirds are included, but not when changes resulting from threats in Australia alone are considered. The RLI of oceanic island taxa has declined faster than those on the continent or on continental islands. There were also differences in the performance of different jurisdictions within Australia.

Adapting to Climate Change

Franklin, C.E. og Seebacher, F. — 2010-03-22T00:00:00Z

Adapting to cope with eucalypt oils: Mandibular extensions in pergid sawfly larvae and potential preadaptations in its sister family Argidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Symphyta)

Schmidt, S. og Walter, G. H. — 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Adapting to crop pest and pathogen risks under a changing climate

2011-09-05T00:00:00Z

The need for pest and pathogen management will increase as the intensification of food production proceeds to feed the burgeoning human population. Climate is a significant driver of pest population dynamics, so climate change will require adaptive management strategies to cope with the altered status of pests and pathogens. A hierarchy of analytical tools is required to conduct risk assessments, inform policy and design pest management on scales from regions to landscapes and fields. Such tools include models for predicting potential geographical distributions, seasonal phenology, and population dynamics at a range of spatial and temporal scales. The level of sophistication of such models and databases will be determined by the economic importance of specific species. Many obstacles remain in the way of designing reliable adaptation strategies, and several issues that ensure continuing uncertainty are discussed. Holistic approaches that include nonclimatic drivers of change are needed to address the combination of global change variables. Changed patterns of crop production will determine the pests and pathogens that require greater effort to control. Linked crop-pest models offer the best opportunities for management of important pests and pathogens. Examples of risk assessments for pests and pathogens are illustrated mostly with cases from Australia, and guidelines for adaptation of pest and pathogen management are reviewed. The plethora of species and strains of pests and pathogens demands a parsimonious approach to risk assessment and adaptation, based on identified needs to inform management. Due to some intractable issues the best approach may often be scenario planning to design systems which will be resilient under any global change.

Adaptive divergence in a scleractinian coral: physiological adaptation of Seriatopora hystrix to shallow and deep reef habitats

2011-10-18T00:00:00Z

Adaptive evolution of color vision as seen through the eyes of butterflies

2009-03-03T00:00:00Z

A day in the life of a Damsel Bug: a predator for IPM in cotton

Wade, M. R. — 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Adding a Fifth Gene to the Ramosus branching model

2008-06-06T00:00:00Z

Additional signalling compounds are required to orchestrate plant development

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Plants are necessarily complex systems that require monitoring of multiple environmental signals and, in response to those signals, coordination of differentiation and development of an extensive array of cell types at multiple locations. This coordination must rely on integration of long-distance signals that provide a means of communication among different plant parts. We propose that the relatively well-characterized classical phytohormones must act with several other long-distance signals to achieve this level of organization with dynamic yet measured responses. This is supported by observations that classical phytohormones: (i) operate in complex yet experimentally unresolved networks involving cross-talk and feedback, (ii) are generally multifunctional and nonspecific and hence must rely on other long-distance cues or pre-set conditions to achieve specificity and (iii) are likely to mask roles of other long-distance signals in several experimental contexts. We present evidence for involvement of novel long-distance signals in three developmental processes-branching, flowering and nodulation, and discuss the possible identities of novel signalling molecules.

Additive pressures of elevated sea surface temperatures and herbicides on symbiont-bearing foraminifera

2012-05-21T22:06:51Z

Addressing Interindividual Variation within a Science Dissection-based Anatomy Course

Aland, Rachel C. og Kippers, Vaughan — 2009-04-09T00:00:00Z

Addressing longitudinal connectivity in the systematic conservation planning of fresh waters

2010-09-29T00:00:00Z

Adducts formed by tetrahedral anions and protonated forms of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane: Competition with chloride anions

2010-03-23T00:00:00Z

A DHA14 drug efflux gene from Xanthomonas albilineans confers high-level albicidin antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Aims: Identification of a gene for self-protection from the antibiotic-producing plant pathogen Xanthomonas albilineans, and functional testing by heterologous expression. Methods and Results: Albicidin antibiotics and phytotoxins are potent inhibitors of prokaryote DNA replication. A resistance gene (albF) isolated by shotgun cloning from the X. albilineans albicidin-biosynthesis region encodes a protein with typical features of DHA14 drug efflux pumps. Low-level expression of albF in Escherichia coli increased the MIC of albicidin 3000-fold, without affecting tsx-mediated albicidin uptake into the periplasm or resistance to other tested antibiotics. Bioinformatic analysis indicates more similarity to proteins involved in self-protection in polyketide-antibiotic-producing actinomycetes than to multi-drug resistance pumps in other Gram-negative bacteria. A complex promoter region may co-regulate albF with genes for hydrolases likely to be involved in albicidin activation or self-protection. Conclusions: AlbF is the first apparent single-component antibiotic-specific efflux pump from a Gram-negative antibiotic producer. It shows extraordinary efficiency as measured by resistance level conferred upon heterologous expression. Significance and Impact of the Study: Development of the clinical potential of albicidins as potent bactericidial antibiotics against diverse bacteria has been limited because of low yields in culture. Expression of albF with recently described albicidin-biosynthesis genes may enable large-scale production. Because albicidins are X. albilineans pathogenicity factors, interference with AlbF function is also an opportunity for control of the associated plant disease.

A DNA-based diagnostic test for 'tropical' race 4 of Fusarium wilt of banana

2007-08-24T00:00:00Z

A DNA fingerprinting procedure for ultra high-throughput genetic analysis of insects

2007-08-14T00:00:00Z

Existing procedures for the generation of polymorphic DNA markers are not optimal for insect studies in which the organisms are often tiny and background molecular Information is often non-existent. We have used a new high throughput DNA marker generation protocol called randomly amplified DNA fingerprints (RAF) to analyse the genetic variability In three separate strains of the stored grain pest, Rhyzopertha dominica. This protocol is quick, robust and reliable even though it requires minimal sample preparation, minute amounts of DNA and no prior molecular analysis of the organism. Arbitrarily selected oligonucleotide primers routinely produced similar to 50 scoreable polymorphic DNA markers, between individuals of three Independent field isolates of R. dominica. Multivariate cluster analysis using forty-nine arbitrarily selected polymorphisms generated from a single primer reliably separated individuals into three clades corresponding to their geographical origin. The resulting clades were quite distinct, with an average genetic difference of 37.5 +/- 6.0% between clades and of 21.0 +/- 7.1% between individuals within clades. As a prelude to future gene mapping efforts, we have also assessed the performance of RAF under conditions commonly used in gene mapping. In this analysis, fingerprints from pooled DNA samples accurately and reproducibly reflected RAF profiles obtained from Individual DNA samples that had been combined to create the bulked samples.

A Double-Survey Estimate Of Population Size From Incomplete Counts

2005-02-25T00:00:00Z

We sought to estimate the number of crocodile nests on the Liverpool River, Northern Territory, Australia. Two methods of survey were available, aerial survey and ground survey, in each of which sightings could be mapped. Hence, those nests which were detected by both methods could be identified. These counts were used to demonstrate the method by which an estimate of total number could be calculated. The assumptions and limitations are discussed.

A Dual Layer Hair Array of the Brown Lacewing: Repelling Water at Different Length Scales

2011-09-05T16:32:56Z

Advancing marine conservation planning in the Mediterranean Sea

2012-12-23T00:50:46Z

Twenty leading scientists in the field of marine conservation planning attended the first international workshop on conservation planning in the Mediterranean Sea. This globally significant biodiversity hotspot has been subjected to human exploitation and degradation for 1,000s of years. Recently, several initiatives have tried to identify priority areas for conservation across the Mediterranean Sea. However, none of these efforts have led to large-scale actions yet. The aim of the workshop was to establish a network of scientists who are involved in large-scale conservation planning initiatives throughout the Mediterranean basin to promote collaboration and reduce redundancy in conservation initiatives. The three focus groups of the workshop build on existing efforts and intend to deliver: (1) a roadmap for setting conservation priorities, (2) a methodological framework for linking threats, actions and costs to improve the prioritization process, and (3) a systematic conservation planning process tailored to complex environments such as the Mediterranean Sea. Joining forces and involving more scientists (especially from the South-eastern part of the region) in following meetings, the participants endeavour to provide guidelines on how to bridge the science-policy gap and hence aid decision-makers to take efficient conservation actions.

Advantages and disadvantages of interference-competitive ability and resource-use efficiency when invading established communities

Hart, Simon P. og Marshall, Dustin J. — 2012-03-23T00:00:00Z

Invaders into established communities must overcome low resource availability. To establish, invaders must either appropriate resources from existing individuals through interference competition or efficiently use the small amount of resource that remains. Although both strategies may be important, they are rarely considered together and, in particular, resource-use efficiency is often ignored in systems dominated by interference competition. To identify the traits that confer invasion success, we experimentally invaded resource patches in established communities with multiple species from two functional groups that differ in interference competitive ability and resource-use efficiency. In contrast to previous assessments, we show that resource-use efficiency can facilitate invasion in systems dominated by interference competition. Furthermore, large resource requirements can be a liability when establishing because interference competition is inherently costly and so cannot fully compensate for limitations in the primary resource. However, we also show that there is a tradeoff in performance among functional groups between small and large resource gaps. Our results suggest we modify the way we view and manage species invasion in systems dominated by interference competition.

Aedes aegypti control: The concomitant role of space, competition and transgenic technologies

2012-01-19T00:00:00Z

Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) vision: Response to stimuli from the optical environment

Muir, L. E. og Kay, B. H. og Thorne, M. J. — 2011-03-10T00:00:00Z

Although Aedes aegypti (L.) are capable of some wavelength discrimination, behavioral experiments demonstrated that color was not a stimulus to which they responded. Optical stimuli that did affect Ae. aegypti behavior were luminous reflectance, vertical contrast, and movement. Stationary objects of low reflectance and solid color were the most attractive to males and females.

Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) vision: Spectral sensitivity and other perceptual parameters of the female eye

Muir, L. E. og Thorne, M. J. og Kay, B. H. — 2011-03-10T00:00:00Z

Aedes aegypti: Sensilla trichodea and stimulus-conducting structures

Muir, Lynda E. og Cribb, Bronwen W. — 2011-03-10T00:00:00Z

Much of the morphology of the olfactory sensilla on the antennae of the mosquito Aedesaegypti (L.) has been described, however little is known about the fate of odour molecules once they have been adsorbed onto the surfaces of sensilla. A stimulus-conducting system of pores, pore kettles, and pore tubules has been described for the sensillatrichodea (olfactory hairs) of several insects but not mosquitoes. Scanning electron microscopy was used to identify the s. trichodea of Ae. aegypti and to attempt visualization of their pore openings. Chemical fixation, cryopreparation, freeze drying, and negative staining, with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used to locate putative stimulus-conductingstructures associated with the pores. TEM sections using Dalton's fixative or freeze drying showed pores and pore tubules, whereas pore tubules were poorly preserved in cryoprepared sections. The putative stimulus-conductingstructures were clearly demonstrated by negative staining of whole sensilla which was quick and easy. The current hypothesis of olfactory stimulus conduction is extended to include Ae. aegypti.

Aedes aegypti survival and dispersal estimated by mark-release-recapture in northern Australia

Muir, L. E. og Kay, B. H. — 2011-03-10T00:00:00Z

The survival and dispersal of adult Aedes aegypti were estimated in northern Australia where sporadic outbreaks of Ae. aegypti-borne dengue viruses have occurred in recent years. Standard mark-release-recapture methods were used. In addition, a new sticky trap was used to capture the mosquitoes. Prior to the field study, the survival and effect of marking Ae. aegypti with fluorescent powder were determined in the laboratory. Mortality was age-dependent and the marked cohorts had higher survival rates than the untreated cohorts. Recapture rates of 13.0% and 3.6% over a seven-day period were achieved for two batches of marked Ae. aegypti released simultaneously at the field site. More males than females were recaptured although the proportion of females increased with time. The probability of daily survival was 0.91 and 0.86 for the blue- and pink-marked females, respectively, and 0.57 and 0.70 for the blue- and pink-marked and males, respectively. The mean distance traveled of recaptured Ae. aegypti was 56 m and 35 m for females and males, respectively. The maximum observed distance traveled of 160 m was the same for both sexes. The warm to hot and dry climatic conditions may have restricted the dispersal of released mosquitoes in this study. The frequency of recaptures at certain trap locations suggested that shade, wind, and the availability of hosts affected the distribution of Ae. aegypti within the study site.

Aerial Survey of Kangaroos in South Australia 1978-1998: A Brief Report Focusing on Methodology

2005-04-06T00:00:00Z

Twenty-one surveys have been conducted using a Cessna 182 in the pastoral zone of South Australia, covering the twenty year period 1978 to 1998, flying the same transects and using the same method. Considerable attention has been given to observer training and the turnover rate of observers has been low. The same pilot has flown all surveys. The pastoral zone is bounded in the north and west by a dingo-proof fence. Large lakes and areas of terrain above 2000 ft elevation (notably the Flinders Ranges) were excluded from the survey, leaving a surveyed area of approximately 207 000 square km. Surveys are conducted each year in July/August, with morning and afternoon survey sessions. Transects run east/west and are 15 nautical miles (28km) apart. The method has followed what has become the standard for fixed-wing surveys: a height of 250ft (76m) above ground (AGL), a ground speed of 100 knots (185 km h-1), 5 km unit lengths (97 sec.) with a 7 sec. pause between each and animals counted in 200 m wide strips each side of the aircraft, demarcated by streamers attached to the wing struts. A radar altimeter is used to maintain height above the terrain and, since 1989, a global positioning system has been used to ensure adherence to the transect and to maintain the required groundspeed. Red kangaroos, western grey kangaroos, common wallaroos, emus and goats are counted and other macro fauna noted (camels, horses, dingoes, ostriches, etc.). Standard correction factors have been applied throughout, except that, in the present paper, the data are recalculated to reflect the outcomes of this workshop concerning a move to modified correction factors. The results have highlighted the responsiveness of kangaroo populations to rainfall and pasture availability. There has been a statistically significant long-term trend towards higher numbers of western grey kangaroos in the study area, and a similar trend in reds since the end of the 1982/1983 drought. Over the 20 years, however, there has been no statistically significant trend to either higher or lower numbers of red kangaroos. Some analyses of the data obtained by aerial survey have already been presented and, in due course, further analyses will be presented elsewhere. Importantly, the results provide a useful demonstration that long-term harvesting can be carried out without detriment to the populations.

Aeronautical Aspects Of Biological Aerial Surveys

Grigg, Gordon C. — 2005-02-28T00:00:00Z

Aspects of aircraft operation relevant to planning and execution of aerial surveys are discussed. Regulations governing the operation of light aircraft in Australia and the aeronautical limitations of such aircraft operating at low attitude and low speed are discussed as constraints within which aerial surveys must be designed and carried out. For surveys to be effective it is essential that both pilot and biologist know a little of each other's profession.

Aeropalynology of Australian native arboreal species in Brisbane, Australia

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

The influence of meteorological parameters on airborne pollen of Australian native arboreal species was investigated in the sub-tropical city of Brisbane, Australia over the five-year period, June 1994–May 1999. Australian native arboreal pollen (ANAP), shed by taxa belonging to the families Cupressaceae, Casuarinaceae and Myrtaceae accounts for 18.4% of the total annual pollen count and is distributed in the atmosphere during the entire year with maximum loads restricted to the months May through November. Daily counts within the range 11–100 grains m–3 occurred over short intervals each year and were recorded on 100 days during the five-year sampling period. Total seasonal ANAP concentrations varied each year, with highest annual values measured for the family Cupressaceae, for which greater seasonal frequencies were shown to be related to pre-seasonal precipitation (r 2 = 0.76, p = 0.05). Seasonal start dates were near consistent for the Cupressaceae and Casuarinaceae. Myrtaceae start dates were variable and established to be directly related to lower average pre-seasonal maximum temperature (r 2 = 0.78, p = 0.04). Associations between daily ANAP loads and weather parameters showed that densities of airborne Cupressaceae and Casuarinaceae pollen were negatively correlated with maximum temperature (p < 0.0001), minimum temperature (p < 0.0001) and precipitation (p < 0.05), whereas associations with daily Myrtaceae pollen counts were not statistically significant. This is the first study to be conducted in Australia that has assessed the relationships between weather parameters and the airborne distribution of pollen emitted by Australian native arboreal species. Pollen shed by Australian native Cupressaceae, Casuarinaceae and Myrtaceae species are considered to be important aeroallergens overseas, however their significance as a sensitising source in Australia remains unclear and requires further investigation.

A falsification of the thermal specialization paradigm: compensation for elevated temperatures in Antarctic fishes

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Specialization to a particular environment is one of the main factors used to explain species distributions. Antarctic fishes are often cited as a classic example to illustrate the specialization process and are regarded as the archetypal stenotherms. Here we show that the Antarctic fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki has retained the capacity to compensate for chronic temperature change. By displaying astounding plasticity in cardiovascular response and metabolic control, the fishes maintained locomotory performance at elevated temperatures. Our falsification of the specialization paradigm indicates that the effect of climate change on species distribution and extinction may be overestimated by current models of global warming.

A festschrift for Jeremy B.C. Jackson and his integration of paleobiology, ecology, evolution, and conservation biology

Pandolfi, John M. og Budd, Ann F. — 2012-03-20T12:27:08Z

This collection of papers is dedicated to the career and achievements of Dr. Jeremy B.C. Jackson, and is written by a sample of his students, post-docs, and colleagues over his career. Jackson is an influential leader in cross-disciplinary research integrating ecology and paleontology. His contributions are broad in scope, and range in topic from the ecological and evolutionary consequences of the formation of the Central American Isthmus to the long-term impacts of human activities on the oceans. Two areas of particular interest have been the evolutionary ecology of coral reef organisms and the tempo and mode of speciation in the sea. Papers in the collection examine: colonial marine animals (Buss and Rice, Lidgard et al.), marrying genes and fossils (Budd et al., Marko and Hart, Palumbi et al., Jagadeeshan and O’Dea), the geography, tempo, and mode of evolution (Bromfield and Pandolfi, Norris and Hull, Vermeij, Erwin and Tweedt), and marine ecosystem health (Sandin and Sala).

A Fetal-Maternal Shift of Blood Oxygen Affinity in an Australian Viviparous Lizard, Sphenomorphus quoyii (Reptilia, Scincidae)

Grigg, GC og Harlow, P — 2005-09-15T00:00:00Z

Compared to adults, the oxygen affinity of blood from fetal Sphenomorphus quoyii is very much higher: P50 is approximately 70 Torr in adults and 30 Torr in nearly full term embryos (PC02= 17 Torr, T=34 degrees C). Following birth, oxygen affinity decreases gradually and adult values are approached after about 15 weeks, with the onset of winter retreat. Electrophoresis revealed a multiple hemoglobin system in both adults and embryos, but there were no apparent differences between them.

Afferent pathways regulating the cough reflex

Canning, B.J. og Mazzone, Stuart — 2009-12-21T00:00:00Z

Affinities of Lantana camara in the Australia-Pacific Region

2007-08-24T00:00:00Z

Affinities of the family Sollasellidae (Porifera, Demospongiae). II. Molecular evidence

2008-05-15T00:00:00Z

This is the second part of a revision and re-classification of the demosponge family Sollasellidae, and an example of a successful use of combined morphological and molecular data. Sollasella had been a poorly known, long forgotten taxon, placed incertae sedis in the order Hadromerida in the last major revision of the demosponges. It has recently been suggested to belong to Raspailiidae in the order Poecilosclerida due to striking morphological similarities. The present analysis verified this re-classification using molecular markers. Comparing 28S rDNA fragments of Sollasella cervicornis, a newly described species S. moretonensis and a representative set of raspailiid and hadromerid samples. In our analyses Sollasella clearly clusters inside the Raspailiidae clade, and distantly from hadromerid taxa. Supporting morphological hypothesis of Van Soest et al. (2006), that Sollasella is a raspailiid sponge.

AFLP analysis reveals a clonal population of Phytophthora pinifolia in Chile

2010-11-26T00:00:00Z

Phytophthora pinifolia is the causal agent of the recently discovered needle disease of Pinus radiata in Chile, referred to as " Daño Foliar del Pino" (DFP). The genetic structure of the pathogen population is unknown, which hinders our understanding of its appearance and spread in Chile since 2004. In this study, a population of 88 cultures of P. pinifolia isolated from P. radiata at several localities in Chile was evaluated for genotypic diversity using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Results of the AFLP analyses showed that the P. pinifolia population in Chile consists of two near identical genotypes but with no genetic differentiation based on geography, year of isolation or the part of the tree from which the isolates were obtained. Mating experiments did not lead to the production of gametangia suggesting that the organism is sterile. The fact that a single clonal genotype dominates the population of P. pinifolia in Chile supports the hypothesis that P. pinifolia was recently introduced into this country and that its impact is due to a new and susceptible host encounter. © 2010 The British Mycological Society.

AFLP linkage map of the Oomycete Phytophthora infestans

2010-07-12T00:00:00Z

A forever young ecosystem: Light gap creation and turnover of subtropical mangrove forests in Moreton Bay, Southeast Queensland, Australia

Aldrie, Amir og Duke, Norman C. — 2010-11-15T00:00:00Z

Light gaps act as important renewal agents in mangrove forests. Light gaps progress through a number of stages starting from the death of a patch of trees through to its infill and rejuvenation of forest. These define a process of mangrove regeneration where forests naturally replace themselves over time. Light gaps in Moreton Bay mangroves were assessed to develop a greater understanding of the physical characteristics and microclimate change with adjacent canopies. Historical aerial photographs from 1978 to 2007 were analysed to reveal the dynamic processes of these mangrove forests and the role of light gap creation. The annual average number of new light gaps and the annual average number of gaps in recovery phases were calculated and used to estimate forest turnover. The average size of gaps in Moreton Bay is 84.2 m2. Average forest turnover based on gap creation decreased from 1987 to 2007. An increase in gap creation rate may be indicative of an increase in storm activity - a possible tangible effect of global climate change.

A framework for the study of genetic variation in migratory behaviour

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Evolutionary change results from selection acting on genetic variation. For migration to be successful, many different aspects of an animal's physiology and behaviour need to function in a co-coordinated way. Changes in one migratory trait are therefore likely to be accompanied by changes in other migratory and life-history traits. At present, we have some knowledge of the pressures that operate at the various stages of migration, but we know very little about the extent of genetic variation in various aspects of the migratory syndrome. As a consequence, our ability to predict which species is capable of what kind of evolutionary change, and at which rate, is limited. Here, we review how our evolutionary understanding of migration may benefit from taking a quantitative-genetic approach and present a framework for studying the causes of phenotypic variation. We review past research, that has mainly studied single migratory traits in captive birds, and discuss how this work could be extended to study genetic variation in the wild and to account for genetic correlations and correlated selection. In the future, reaction-norm approaches may become very important, as they allow the study of genetic and environmental effects on phenotypic expression within a single framework, as well as of their interactions. We advocate making more use of repeated measurements on single individuals to study the causes of among-individual variation in the wild, as they are easier to obtain than data on relatives and can provide valuable information for identifying and selecting traits. This approach will be particularly informative if it involves systematic testing of individuals under different environmental conditions. We propose extending this research agenda by using optimality models to predict levels of variation and covariation among traits and constraints. This may help us to select traits in which we might expect genetic variation, and to identify the most informative environmental axes. We also recommend an expansion of the passerine model, as this model does not apply to birds, like geese, where cultural transmission of spatio-temporal information is an important determinant of migration patterns and their variation.

A framework of lessons learned from community-based marine reserves and its effectiveness in guiding a new coastal management initiative in the Philippines

2007-08-15T00:00:00Z

Community-based coastal resource management has been widely applied within the Philippines. However, small-scale community-based reserves are often inefficient owing to management inadequacies arising because of a lack of local support or enforcement or poor design. Because there are many potential pitfalls during the establishment of even small community-based reserves, it is important for coastal managers, communities, and facilitating institutions to have access to a summary of the key factors for success. Reviewing relevant literature, we present a framework of lessons learned during the establishment of protected areas, mainly in the Philippines. The framework contains summary guidance on the importance of (1) an island location, (2) small community population size, (3) minimal effect of land-based development, (4) application of a bottom-up approach, (5) an external facilitating institution, (6) acquisition of title, (7) use of a scientific information database, (8) stakeholder involvement, (9) the establishment of legislation, (10) community empowerment, (11) alternative livelihood schemes, (12) surveillance, (13) tangible management results, (14) continued involvement of external groups after reserve establishment, and (15) small-scale project expansion. These framework components guided the establishment of a community-based protected area at Danjugan Island, Negros Occidental, Philippines. This case study showed that the framework was a useful guide that led to establishing and implementing a community-based marine reserve. Evaluation of the reserve using standard criteria developed for the Philippines shows that the Danjugan Island protected area can be considered successful and sustainable. At Danjugan Island, all of the lessons synthesized in the framework were important and should be considered elsewhere, even for relatively small projects. As shown in previous projects in the Philippines, local involvement and stewardship of the protected area appeared particularly important for its successful implementation. The involvement of external organizations also seemed to have a key role in the success of the Danjugan Island project by guiding local decision-makers in the sociobiological principles of establishing protected areas. However, the relative importance of each component of the framework will vary between coastal management initiatives both within the Philippines and across the wider Asian region.