http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/ The University of Queensland en Fez http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:191277 2010-01-05T00:00:00Z McNeilly, C. og Hafner, L. M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9242 As the food intake of free-ranging animals has proved to be difficult to measure by traditional means, the feasibility of using radioactive Na to measure food consumption in a small scincid lizard (Lampropholis guichenoti) was assessed. This technique has previously been used only for several species of mammal. A significant relationship between food intake and Na turnover was found in the laboratory, with Na turnover underestimating intake by 7.6%. The food intake of free-ranging members of a field population was estimated by 22Na turnover to be 9.55, 0.65, 9.39 and 13.75 mg dry weight (day)-1 during autumn, winter, spring and summer respectively. Estimates of assimilated and expended energy from these food intake values agree closely with data reported for other lizards using alternative techniques. This study also describes the technical innovations which were necessary to study lizards weighing less than 1 g; and it suggests that 22Na can provide an easy, reliable and inexpensive means of studying the energetics of many free-living animals. 2005-08-29T00:00:00Z Gallagher, Kerri J. og Morrison, David A. og Shine, Richard og Grigg, Gordon C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:180752 2009-09-03T00:00:00Z Hamilton, AJ og Waters, EK og Kim, HJ og Pak, WS og Furlong, MJ http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:127682 Mixtures of single odours were used to explore the receptor response profile across individual antennae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Seven odours were tested including floral and green-leaf volatiles: phenyl acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, beta-caryophyllene, limonene, alpha-pinene, 1-hexanol, 3Z-hexenyl acetate. Electroantennograms of responses to paired mixtures of odours showed that there was considerable variation in receptor tuning across the receptor field between individuals. Data from some moth antennae showed no additivity, which indicated a restricted receptor profile. Results from other moth antennae to the same odour mixtures showed a range of partial additivity. This indicated that a wider array of receptor types was present in these moths, with a greater percentage of the receptors tuned exclusively to each odour. Peripheral receptor fields show variation in the spectrum of response within a population (of moths) when exposed to high doses of plant volatiles. This may be related to recorded variation in host choice within moth populations as reported by other authors. 2008-02-18T00:00:00Z Cribb, Bronwen W. og Hull, Craig D. og Moore, Chris J. og Cunningham, John Paul og Zalucki, Myron P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:268484 2012-02-26T00:00:00Z Diaz-Pulido, Guillermo og Anthony, Kenneth R. N. og Bender, Dorothea og Doropoulos, Chris og Gouezo, Marine og Herrero-Gimeno, Macarena og Reyes-Nivia, Catalina http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:41911 Larval quality may be capable of explaining much of the variation in the recruitment and subsequent population dynamics of benthic marine invertebrates. Whilst the effects of larval nutritional condition on adult performance have received the most attention, recent work has shown that larval size may also be an important and ubiquitous source of variation in larval quality. We examined the effects of variation in larval size on the post-metamorphic survival and growth of Watersipora subtorquata in 2 very different habitats - experimental substrata and pier pilings. We found strong effects of larval size on colony performance, although these varied among experiments. For colonies on experimental substrata, larval size positively affected adult survival and, initially, growth. However, after 3 wk in the field, there was no relationship between larval size and colony size, possibly because colonies were completely surrounded by newly settled organisms. Larval size also positively affected post-metamorphic growth of colonies on pier pilings, but, surprisingly, colonies that came from larger larvae had lower survival than colonies from smaller larvae. Overall, variation in larval size will strongly affect the recruitment and subsequent performance of adults in this species, although this may vary among different habitats. This study highlights the importance of examining the effects of larval quality on adult performance in as realistic conditions as possible, because of the strong interaction between larval size effects and the environment. 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Marshall, D. J. og Keough, M. J. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:247169 2011-09-05T00:00:00Z Hughes, G. L. og Allsopp, P. G. og Brumbley, S. M. og Woolfit, M. og McGraw, E. A. og O'Neill, S. L. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:9968 1. The Tasmanian native hen (Gallinula mortierii) exhibits mate-sharing by both males and females, with monogamy, polyandry, polygyny and polygynandry all occurring in a single population. 2. Multivariate models are used to investigate the relationships between reproductive success and a number of aspects of group compositions and territories in a population of Tasmanian native hens studied at Maria Island, Tasmania, Australia, over five breeding seasons. 3. Mating pattern did not remain a significant explanatory variable in most of the models of the factors affecting reproductive success, suggesting that the reproductive success of individuals is not affected by their mating pattern. The only exception was that mating pattern was significantly related to clutch size, because co-breeding females laid combined clutches. 4. Breeding success (per group, per breeding male and per breeding female) was most significantly related to the total length of edge between short pasture and tall, dense vegetative cover present in a territory. It is proposed that edges between short pasture and cover allow the Tasmanian native hens' precocious chicks to be near good feeding areas while also remaining close to protective cover. 5. Individual components of breeding success were most significantly related to different variables. The presence of water in the territory increased the probability that a group laid eggs. Clutch size was most affected by a group's mating pattern. Hatching success increased with the number of adults in a group. Chick survival increased with the length of pasture/cover edge in a group's territory. 6. The probability that mate-sharing by males occurred in a group was positively related to the total length of pasture/cover edge in the group's territory. There was no such relationship for mate-sharing by females. 7. These models suggest that individuals do not incur any net costs from sharing mates and that such sharing may allow some individuals to breed in higher-quality territories than those to which they would otherwise have access. 2005-01-14T00:00:00Z Goldizen, Anne W. og Putland, David A. og Goldizen, Alan R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:226569 2011-01-09T00:00:00Z Pegg, G. S. og Carnegie, A. J. og Wingfield, M. J. og Drenth, A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:181929 There is a growing appreciation of impacts of late-Quaternary climate fluctuations on spatial patterns of species and genetic diversity. A major challenge is to understand how and why species respond individualistically to a common history of climate-induced habitat fluctuation. Here, we combine modelling of palaeo-distributions and mitochondrial-DNA phylogeographies to compare spatial patterns of population persistence and isolation across three species of rainforest skinks (Saproscincus spp.) with varying climatic preferences. Using Akaike Information Criterion model-averaged projections, all three species are predicted to have maintained one or more small populations in the northern Wet Tropics, multiple or larger populations in the central region, and few if any in the south. For the high-elevation species, Saproscincus czechurai, the warm–wet climate of the mid Holocene was most restrictive, whereas for the generalist S. basiliscus and lower-elevation S. tetradactyla, the cool–dry last glacial maximum was most restrictive. As expected, S. czechurai was the most genetically structured species, although relative to modelled distributions, S. basiliscus had surprisingly deep phylogeographical structure among southern rainforest isolates, implying long-term isolation and persistence. For both S. basiliscus and S. tetradactyla, there was high genetic diversity and complex phylogeographical patterns in the central Wet Tropics, reflecting persistence of large, structured populations. A previously identified vicariant barrier separating northern and central regions is supported, and results from these species also emphasize a historical persistence of populations south of another biogeographical break, the Tully Gorge. Overall, the results support the contention that in a topographically heterogeneous landscape, species with broader climatic niches may maintain higher and more structured genetic diversity due to persistence through varying climates. 2009-09-03T00:00:00Z Moussalli, A og Moritz, C og Williams, SE og Carnaval, AC http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:235310 2011-03-13T00:00:00Z Miller, Terrence L. og Bray, Rodney A. og Justine, Jean-Lou og Cribb, Thomas H. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:163927 2009-02-11T00:00:00Z Ridley, Andrew W. og Dhileepan, K. og Walter, Gimme H. og Johnson, Karyn N. og Croft, Barry J. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:187743 2009-11-24T00:00:00Z Osborne, S.E. og Leong, Y. og O’Neill, S.L. og Johnson, K.N. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:69059 This study aimed to identify potential factors responsible for geographically structured morphological variation within the widespread Australian frogs Limnodynastes tasmaniensis Gunther and L. peronii Dumeril & Bibron. There was support for James's rule, and both latitude and present climate explained large amounts of the variation in body size and shape (particularly in L. peronii). There was also some support for the influence of several biogeographical barriers. Finally, both species were sexually dimorphic for body size and the degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) varied geographically. Climate was an important explanation for SSD variation in L. peronii, while latitude was most important for L. tasmaniensis. Geographical variations in sexual selection via male-male physical competition and climate-related resources are suggested as potential explanations for SSD variation in L. peronii. (C) 2004 The Linnean Society of London. 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z Schauble, C. S. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:165868 We studied ectoparasite infestation patterns in a wild population of brown antechinuses, Antechinus stuartii (Dasyuridae) at three sites in south-eastern New South Wales, over a period of seven months. Ectoparasite diversity on brown antechinuses was particularly high for a small mammal: 18 species of ectoparasites were recorded, including one undescribed species of mite. Ectoparasite infestation varied between study sites and changed seasonally. Variation between sites was related to habitat and environmental parameters, and the highest ectoparasite infestations were encountered in the coolest habitat with greatest depth of leaf litter. Host population densities varied only slightly between sites, and host density was not considered to be a primary factor influencing ectoparasite infestation. This is the first study to provide a host record of ectoparasites of Antechinus stuartii sensu stricto. 2009-03-03T00:00:00Z Lorch , Dagmar og Fisher, Diana O. og Spratt, David M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:127787 Gnathiid isopods are one of the most abundant groups of ectoparasites on coral reef fishes. They, and other isopods, have been shown to significantly affect the health and behaviour of many reef fish. Whether isopod emergence differs among habitats on coral reefs is not known. In this study, we measured emergence rates of parasitic isopods (Gnathiidea and Flabellifera) in six habitats at two sites at Lizard Island during new moon periods in March and December 2004. Isopods were collected from the periphery and centres of micro-reefs, patch reefs, continuous reefs, and from inter-reefal habitats (sand or rubble) with 1 m(2) emergence traps. Sites (Casuarina and Coconut Beach) were located on opposite sides of Lizard Island. Live gnathiids were collected with light traps in November 2005 to investigate species differences between sites. At both sites, the most abundant gnathiid species was exclusive to that site. More gnathiid larvae emerged at night, and emergence of fed gnathiids (pranizae) and flabelliferan isopods was almost exclusively nocturnal. Diurnal emergence was greater at Coconut Beach than Casuarina Beach. Although emergence counts were not consistently affected by parameters such as habitat, site, or sampling period, gnathiid size and feeding state were. Where significant differences existed, gnathiids were larger and more often fed over reef borders than centrally. We suggest first stage larvae (Z1) have the largest influence on total abundance and are patchily distributed in accordance with adults from which they have recently hatched. As later stage larvae depend on fish, more successful (fed) and older larvae are found on the edges of reefs where appropriate hosts may be more abundant, or predation is lower. Gnathiids were over-dispersed in all habitats investigated, including apparently homogeneous beds of coral rubble and sand. This indicates that their distributions may be better predicted by very fine scale differences in substrate or that aggregations are the result of gregariousness and may be difficult to predict on the basis of substrate. Emergence traps collected comparatively few parasitic flabelliferan isopods. This community differed greatly from the previously described community of scavenging isopods at Lizard Island. These differences are probably the result of differences in trapping methodology. 2008-02-18T00:00:00Z Jones, C. M. og Grutter, A. S. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:57964 We investigated some of the factors that may lead to outbreaks of pink wax scale, Ceroplastes rubens Maskell, on umbrella trees, Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.). Estimates of birth and death rates of pink wax scale were high and variable within and among trees; variation in these rates was not related to scale density. Adult fecundity correlated significantly but weakly with adult test length; mean fecundity was 292 eggs per female with a range of 5-1178. Adult test length and its variance decreased weakly with increasing density. Field experiments showed that mortality of C. rubens is greatest during the first 24 hours after hatching when approximately half disappear. The rate of loss decreases over time with 0.3% of initial motile first-instar nymphs surviving to maturity. Rates of loss varied significantly between trees, indicating that some trees are more suitable for scale colonisation and survival. 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Loch, A.D. og Zalucki, M.P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:273087 2012-04-23T22:05:12Z Jackson, Daniel J. og Degnan, Sandie M. og Degnan, Bernard M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:39396 For many species of marine invertebrates, variability in larval settlement behaviour appears to be the rule rather than the exception. This variability has the potential to affect larval dispersal, because settlement behaviour will influence the length of time larvae are in the plankton. Despite the ubiquity and importance of this variability, relatively few sources of variation in larval settlement behaviour have been identified. One important factor that can affect larval settlement behaviour is the nutritional state of larvae. Non-feeding larvae often become less discriminating in their 'choice' of settlement substrate, i.e. more desperate to settle, when energetic reserves run low. We tested whether variation in larval size (and presumably in nutritional reserves) also affects the settlement behaviour of 3 species of colonial marine invertebrate larvae, the bryozoans Bugula neritina and Watersipora subtorquata and the ascidian Diplosoma listerianum. For all 3 species, larger larvae delayed settlement for longer in the absence of settlement cues, and settlement of Bugula neritina larvae was accelerated by the presence of settlement cues, independently of larval size. In the field, larger W subtorquata larvae also took longer to settle than smaller larvae and were more discriminating towards settlement surfaces. These differences in settlement time are likely to result in differences in the distance that larvae disperse in the field. We suggest that species that produce non-feeding larvae can affect the dispersal potential of their offspring by manipulating larval size and thus larval desperation. 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Marshall, DJ og Keough, MJ http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:284814 2012-11-14T12:53:26Z Santini, Nadia S. og Schmitz, Nele og Lovelock, Catherine E. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:167237 Spisula subtruncata is an infaunal filter-feeding bivalve, which lives in shallow sandy bottoms (2–20 m depth) from Norway to the Atlantic coasts of Morocco, including the Mediterranean Sea. Considering that fisheries of this species have become an important economic resource in some European countries (e.g. The Netherlands), it is of great interest to know the seasonal variation in its physiological energetics. For this purpose, individuals of S. subtruncata were collected and maintained under ambient temperature and seawater conditions of Dutch coastal waters. Physiological processes related to the acquisition and utilisation of energy (e.g. clearance rate [CR], absorption and oxygen uptake) were measured under ambient conditions of the period March 1999 to February 2000. Mean annual clearance and respiration rates (RR) were 0.99 l h1 and 0.23 ml O2 h1 for a standard individual of 250 mg. Values for both clearance and respiration rate were high during spring and summer and low during autumn and winter. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated a significant relationship of the clearance rate with temperature and particulate organic matter (POM), whereas respiration rate was significantly related to temperature, absorption rate (AR) of the animals and their reproductive condition. Absorption efficiency (AE) of the food was significantly related to food quality. Scope for growth (SFG) of S. subtruncata, as well as flesh weight of the animals, was high in summer and low in winter. D 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 2009-03-11T00:00:00Z Rueda, J. L. og Smaal, A. C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:277645 2012-07-17T00:00:00Z Gilbert, Benjamin og Bennett, Joseph R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:189293 Sporadic, late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) constitutes the most frequent cause of dementia in the elderly population. AD-related pathology is often accompanied by vascular changes. The predominant vascular lesions in AD are cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and arteriosclerosis/lipohyalinosis (AS/LH). The present study was carried out to examine the coincidence of these small vessel pathologies during the development of cognitive deficits, amyloid [beta]-protein (A[beta]) deposition, and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in sporadic late-onset AD. We correlated the clinical dementia rating (CDR) score, the sequential extension of AD-related A[beta] deposition into different parts of the brain, and the extension of NFTs to involve more brain regions with the distribution of CAA and AS/LH in 52 human autopsy brains. The extension of CAA and AS/LH to involve different areas of the brain was associated with a rise of CDR scores and an increase in the extension of A[beta] deposition and NFT generation. AD cases showed a higher number of regions with CAA and AS/LH compared to nondemented patients with AD-related pathology and controls. Moreover, we demonstrated a hierarchical sequence in which the different regions of the brain exhibited CAA and AS/LH-affected vessels, allowing the distinction of 3 stages in the development of CAA and AS/LH. The first stage of CAA involved leptomeningeal and neocortical vessels. The second stage was characterized by additional A[beta] deposition in allocortical and midbrain vessels. Finally, in a third stage, CAA was observed in the basal ganglia, the thalamus, and in the lower brainstem. In contrast, AS/LH initially affected the basal ganglia in stage A. In stage B this pathology made inroads into the deep white matter, the leptomeningeal arteries of the cortex, the cerebellum, and into the thalamus. Stage C was characterized by AS/LH in brainstem vessels. Our results demonstrate widespread CAA and AS/LH to be associated with the development of cognitive deficits in AD. A combination of both CAA and AS/LH may, therefore, contribute to neurodegeneration in AD. These data also suggest that small vessel disease due to arteriosclerosis and fibro- lipohyalinosis is a potential target for the treatment of AD. 2009-12-07T00:00:00Z Thal, Dietmar Rudolf og Ghebremedhin, Estifanos og Orantes, Mario og Wiestler, Otmar http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:253176 2011-09-25T00:00:00Z Van Den Hurk, Andrew F. og McElroy, Kate og Pyke, Alyssa T. og McGee, Charles E. og Hall-Mendelin, Sonja og Day, Andrew og Ryan, Peter A. og Ritchie, Scott A. og Vanlandingham, Dana L. og Higgs, Stephen http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:218970 2010-10-24T00:00:00Z Cuong, Do Manh og Beebe, Nigel W. og Van, Nguyen Thi Van og Tao, Le Quang og Chau, Tran Lein og Dung, Van Nguyen og Thanh, Nguyen Xuan og Anh, Le Ngoc og Cooper, Robert D. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:204684 2010-05-02T00:00:00Z Fensham, R. J. og Fairfax, R. J. og Dwyer, J. M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:247423 2011-09-07T00:00:00Z Asgari, Sassan og Rivers, David B. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:81254 Endoporasitoid wasps have evolved various mechanisms to ensure successful development of their progeny, including co-injection of a cocktail of maternal secretions into the host hemocoel, including venom, calyx fluid, and polydnoviruses. The components of each type of secretion may influence host physiology and development independently or in a synergistic fashion. For example, venom fluid consists of several peptides and proteins that promote expression of polydnavirus genes in addition to other activities, such as inhibition of prophenoloxidase activation, inhibition of hemocytes spreading and aggregation, and inhibition of development. This review provides a brief overview of advances and prospects in the study of venom proteins from polydnavirus-producing endoparositoid wasps with a special emphasis on the role of C. rubecula venom proteins in host-parositoid interactions. 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z Asgari, Sassan http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:266042 2012-01-25T09:49:57Z Asgari, Sassan http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:144964 We tested the hypothesis that male southern green stink bugs, Nezara viridula (L.), use substrate-borne songs to locate females. We recorded the responses of bugs on plants to the vibrations caused by a prerecorded female song and by an artificial sound. The female song caused males to walk, to respond with the calling and courtship songs and to approach the source of the song with characteristic search behaviour at junctions between branches on the plants. At a junction, a searching male stopped, stretched his legs and antennae and compared the vibratory signals on the two branches, with different combinations of legs and antennae. The males then left the junction and approached the source of the vibration. Males located the loudspeaker significantly more frequently in the presence than in the absence of vibratory stimuli on cyperus, Cyperus alternifolius L., and beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L. Vibrational directionality was also elicited by artificial pure tones whose spectral and temporal parameters were similar to those of natural female song. Females showed no reaction to vibratory stimulation and no vibrational directionality. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying vibrational directionality in the light of expected signal changes during transmission through plants. (C) 1999 The Association for the study of Animal Behaviour. 2008-06-10T00:00:00Z Cokl, A. og Virant-Doberlet, M. og McDowell, A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:247255 Biogeographic barriers, some transitory in duration, are likely to have been important contributing factors to modern marine biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific region. One such barrier was the Torres Strait land bridge between continental Australia and New Guinea that persisted through much of the late Pleistocene and separated Indian and Pacific Ocean taxa. Here, we examine the patterns of mitochondrial DNA diversity for marine animals with present-day distributions spanning the Torres Strait. Specifically, we investigate whether there are concordant signatures across species, consistent with either vicariance or recent colonization from either ocean basin. We survey four species of reef fishes (Apogon doederleini, Pomacentrus coelestis, Dascyllus trimaculatus, and Acanthurus triostegus) for mtDNA cytochrome oxidase 1 and control region variation and contrast these results to previous mtDNA studies in diverse marine animals with similar distributions. We find substantial genetic partitioning (estimated from F-statistics and coalescent approaches) between Indian and Pacific Ocean populations for many species, consistent with regional persistence through the late Pleistocene in both ocean basins. The species-specific estimates of genetic divergence, however, vary greatly and for reef fishes we estimate substantially different divergence times among species. It is likely that Indian and Pacific Ocean populations have been isolated for multiple glacial cycles for some species, whereas for other species genetic connections have been more recent. Regional estimates of genetic diversity and directionality of gene flow also vary among species. Thus, there is no apparent consistency among historical patterns across the Torres Strait for these co-distributed marine animals 2011-09-06T00:00:00Z Mirams, A.G.K. og Treml, E.A. og Shields, J.L. og Liggins, L. og Riginos, C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:189455 2009-12-08T00:00:00Z Pays, O. og Dubot, A.L. og Jarman, P.J. og Loisel, P. og Goldizen, A.W. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:195643 2010-02-17T00:00:00Z Favreau, F-R og Jarman, P.J. og Goldizen, A.W. og Dubot, A-L og Sourice, S. og Pays, O. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:143100 2008-06-10T00:00:00Z Suzuki, M. og Gemmell, R. T. og Yosida, Y. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:111313 Virions of the alphanodavirus Pariacoto virus (PaV) have T=3 icosahedral symmetry and are assembled from multiple copies of a precursor protein that is cleaved into two mature capsid proteins after assembly. The crystal structure of PaV shows that the N-terminal similar to30 amino acid residues of the subunits surrounding the 5-fold axes interact extensively with icosahedrally ordered regions of the encapsidated positive-sense genomic RNAs. We found that wild-type PaV particles also contain a minor capsid protein that is truncated by 24 residues at its N terminus. Reverse genetic experiments showed that translation of this protein initiated at the second AUG of the capsid protein open reading frame. When either the longer or shorter version of the capsid protein was expressed independently of the other, it assembled into virus particles and underwent maturational cleavage. Virions that lacked the shorter capsid protein retained infectivity for cultured insect cells and Galleria mellonella larvae. 2007-09-19T00:00:00Z Johnson, Karyn N. og Ball, L. Andrew http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:60390 2007-08-14T00:00:00Z Hewson, Ian og ONeil, Judith M. og Fuhrman, Jed A. og Dennison, William C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:60391 2007-08-14T00:00:00Z Hewson, I. og ONeil, J. M. og Dennison, W. C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:39295 Our current, still limited, understanding of the comparative biology and evolution of polydnaviruses (PDVs) is reviewed, especially in the context of the possible origins of these parasitoid viruses and of their coevolution with carrier wasps. A hypothetical scenario of evolution of PDVs from ascovirus (or ascovirus-like) ancestors is presented, with examples of apparent extant transitional forms. PDVs appear, in the case of bracoviruses, to show phylogenetic relationships that mirror those of their wasp carriers: with ichno-viruses, the picture is less clear. Ongoing sequencing studies of entire PDV genomes from diverse wasp species are likely to greatly contribute to our understanding of PDV evolution. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Whitfield, James B. og Asgari, Sassan http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:133526 In birds, the position and extent of the region of binocular vision appears to be determined by feeding ecology. Of prime importance is the degree to which vision is used for the precise control of bill position when pecking or lunging at prey. In birds that do not require such precision (probe and filter-feeders), the bill falls outside the binocular field, which extends above and behind the head, thus providing comprehensive visual coverage. Flamingos Phoenicopteridae are highly specialised filter-feeders. They employ a unique technique that does not require accurate bill positioning in which the inverted head is placed between the feet. Feeding flamingos often walk forwards with the head pointing "backwards". Here we show that in Lesser Flamingos Phoeniconaias minor visual fields are in fact the same as those of birds that feed by precision pecking and that feeding flamingos are blind in the direction of their walking. We suggest that this is due to the requirement for accurate bill placement when flamingos feed their chicks with "crop-milk", and possibly when building their nest. We propose that chick-feeding may be the ultimate determinant of visual field topography in birds, not feeding ecology. 2008-03-28T00:00:00Z Martin, G. R. og Jarrett, N. og Tovey, P. og White, C. R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:290115 2013-01-27T00:55:18Z Hancox, Daniel og Wilson, Robbie S. og White, Craig R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:204089 2010-04-23T00:00:00Z Lücker, Joost og Bowen, Pat og Bohlmann, Jörg http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:81535 Olfactory signals can communicate a wide variety of information and are very important in many mammalian species. However, little is known about the olfactory communication of primates. This study used gas chromatography to examine the volatile components of the anogenital gland secretions of wild Milne-Edward's sifaka, Propithecus edwardsi (Primates, Indriidae) (n = 17), captured in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. We compared scent swabs of animals and examined differences between social group, age class, sex, and season. The only identified differences in the volatiles were between swabs from the different seasons; all other categories were statistically indistinguishable. Am. J. Primatol. 68:1202-1207, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z Hayes, R. Andrew og Morelli, Toni Lyn og Wright, Patricia C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:251583 Litter standing crop (LSC) is the quantity of plant detritus on the floor in forested environments. Knowledge of LSC is important in understanding many ecological phenomena. These include studies of litterfall, decomposition/litter turnover rates and nutrient cycling (Anderson et al. 1983, Dent et al. 2006), general plant performance (Benítez-Malvido & Kossmann-Ferraz 1999), other ecosystem processes such as the effects of fire (Odiwe & Muoghalu 2003) and fauna (Frith & Frith 1990, Giaretta et al. 1999, Levings & Windsor 1985). The determination of accurate annual average LSC data, may require monitoring over long periods due to seasonality and sometimes sporadic nature of litterfall and decomposition rates (Clark et al. 2001). Furthermore, the effects of topography and water movement create the need for both representative site selection and sufficient spatial coverage. 2011-09-11T00:00:00Z Parsons, Scott og Shoo, Luke P. og Williams, Stephen E. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:215606 2010-09-05T00:00:00Z Phillips, Steven J. og Archer, Aaron og Pressey, Robert L. og Torkornoo, Desmond og Applegate, David og Johnson, David og Watts, Matthew E. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:285204 2012-11-15T12:01:07Z Campbell, Hamish A. og Watts, Matthew E. og Dwyer, Ross G. og Franklin, Craig E. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:276739 Tropical montane cloud forests are among the most vulnerable terrestrial ecosystems to climate change1, 2, 3 owing to their restricted climatic requirements and their narrow and fragmented distribution4. Although 12% of Mexican cloud forest is protected, it is not known whether reserves will ensure the persistence of the ecosystem and its endemic species under climate change. Here, we show that 68% of Mexico’s cloud forest could vanish by 2080 because of climate change and more than 90% of cloud forest that is protected at present will not be climatically suitable for that ecosystem in 2080. Moreover, if we assume unprotected forests are cleared, 99% of the entire ecosystem could be lost through a combination of climate change and habitat loss, resulting in the extinction of about 70% of endemic cloud forest vertebrate species. Immediate action is required to minimize this loss—expansion of the protected-area estate in areas of low climate vulnerability is an urgent priority. Our analysis indicates that one key area for immediate protection is the Sierra de Juárez in Oaxaca. This area supports many endemic species and is expected to retain relatively large fragments of cloud forest despite rapid climate change. 2012-07-02T07:49:26Z Ponce-Reyes, Rocío og Reynoso-Rosales, Víctor-Hugo og Watson, James E. M. og VanDerWal, Jeremy og Fuller, Richard A. og Pressey, Robert L. og Possingham, Hugh P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:188876 2009-12-02T00:00:00Z Kasperson, Roger, E. og Dow, Kirstin og Archer, Emma, R.M. og Caceras, E. og Downing, Thomas, E. og Elmqvist, Tomas og Eriksen, Siri og Folke, Carle og Han, Guoyi og Iyengar, Kavita og Vogel, Coleen og Wilson, Kerrie Ann og Ziervogel, Gina http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:148242 Experimental Biology 2000- Milestones and Goals. Coparative Biochemistry and Physiology: Cambridge 2000 supplement 2008-06-06T00:00:00Z http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:246907 2011-09-02T00:00:00Z Booth, David T. og Evans, Andrew http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:64332 A radiation of five species of giant tortoises (Cylindraspis ) existed in the southwest Indian Ocean, on the Mascarene islands, and another (of Aldabrachelys ) has been postulated on small islands north of Madagascar, from where at least eight nominal species have been named and up to five have been recently recognized. Of 37 specimens of Madagascan and small-island Aldabrachelys investigated by us, 23 yielded significant portions of a 428-base-pair (bp) fragment of mitochondrial (cytochrome b and tRNA-Glu), including type material of seven nominal species (A. arnoldi, A. dussumieri, A. hololissa, A. daudinii, A. sumierei, A. ponderosa and A. gouffei ). These and nearly all the remaining specimens, including 15 additional captive individuals sequenced previously, show little variation. Thirty-three exhibit no differences and the remainder diverge by only 1-4 bp (0.23-0.93%). This contrasts with more widely accepted tortoise species which show much greater inter- and intraspecific differences. The non-Madagascan material examined may therefore only represent a single species and all specimens may come from Aldabra where the common haplotype is known to occur. The present study provides no evidence against the Madagascan origin for Aldabra tortoises suggested by a previous molecular phylogenetic analysis, the direction of marine currents and phylogeography of other reptiles in the area. Ancient mitochondrial DNA from the extinct subfossil A. grandidieri of Madagascar differs at 25 sites (5.8%) from all other Aldabrachelys samples examined here. 2007-08-14T00:00:00Z Austin, J. J. og Arnold, E. N. og Bour, R.