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:287801 2012-12-23T00:52:06Z Tulloch, Ayesha I. T. og Szabo, Judit K. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:282775 2012-10-05T11:54:53Z Mokhatla, Mohlamatsane M. og Measey, G. John og Chimimba, Christian T. og van Rensburg, Berndt J. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:137864 Sugarcane is an ideal candidate as a biofactory for the production of alternate higher value products. One way of achieving this is to direct useful proteins into the vacuoles within the sugarcane storage parenchyma tissue. By bioinformatic analysis of gene sequences from putative sugarcane vacuolar proteins a motif has been identified that displays high conservation across plant legumain homologues that are known to function within vacuolar compartments. This. ve amino acid motif, represented by the sequence IRLPS in sugarcane is shown to direct an otherwise secreted GFP fusion protein into a large acidic and proteolytic vacuole in sugarcane callus cells as well as in diverse plant species. In mature sugarcane transgenic plants, the stability of GFP appeared to be dependent on cell type, suggesting that the vacuolar environment can be hostile to introduced proteins. This targeting motif will be a valuable tool for engineering plants such as sugarcane for production of novel products. 2008-05-08T00:00:00Z Jackson, M. A. og Rae, A. L. og Casu, R. E. og Grof, C. P. L. og Bonnett, G. D. og Maclean, D. J. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:297518 2013-04-14T23:31:17Z Richards, Christopher T. og Clemente, Christofer J. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:287320 The majority of fish studies on coral reefs consider only non-cryptic species and, despite their functional importance, data on cryptic species are scarce. This study investigates inter-habitat variation in Caribbean cryptobenthic fishes by re-analysing a comprehensive data set from 58 rotenone stations around Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands. Boosted regression trees were used to associate the density and diversity of non-piscivorous cryptobenthic fishes, both in the entire data set and on reef habitats alone, with 14 abiotic and biotic variables. The study also models the habitat requirements of the three commonest species. Dead coral cover was the first or second most important variable in six of the eight models constructed. For example, within the entire data set, the number of species and total fish density increased approximately linearly with increasing dead coral cover. Dead coral was also important in multivariate analyses that discriminated 10 assemblages within the entire data set. On reef habitats, the number of species and total fish density increased dramatically when dead coral exceeded ~55 %. Live coral cover was typically less important for explaining variance in fish assemblages than dead coral, but live corals were important for maintaining high fish diversity. Coral species favoured by cryptobenthic species may be particularly susceptible to mortality, but dead coral may also provide abundant food and shelter for many fishes. Piscivore density was a key variable in the final models, but typically increased with increasing cryptobenthic fish diversity and abundance, suggesting both groups of fishes are responding to the same habitat variables. The density of territorial damselfishes reduced the number of cryptobenthic fish species on reef habitats. Finally, habitats delineated by standard remote sensing techniques supported distinct cryptobenthic fish assemblages, suggesting that such maps can be used as surrogates of general patterns of cryptic fish biodiversity in conservation planning. 2012-12-16T00:17:50Z Harborne, A. R. og Jelks, H. L. og Smith-Vaniz, W. F. og Rocha, L. A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:251863 2011-09-12T00:00:00Z Mcleod, Elizabeth og Chmura, Gail L. og Bouillon, Steven og Salm, Rodney og Björk, Mats og Duarte, Carlos M. og Lovelock, Catherine E. og Schlesinger, William H. og Silliman, Brian R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:74726 The paradigm that mangroves are critical for sustaining production in coastal fisheries is widely accepted, but empirical evidence has been tenuous. This study showed that links between mangrove extent and coastal fisheries production could be detected for some species at a broad regional scale (1000s of kilometres) on the east coast of Queensland, Australia. The relationships between catch-per-unit-effort for different commercially caught species in four fisheries (trawl, line, net and pot fisheries) and mangrove characteristics, estimated from Landsat images were examined using multiple regression analyses. The species were categorised into three groups based on information on their life history characteristics, namely mangrove-related species (banana prawns Penaeus merguiensis, mud crabs Scylla serrata and barramundi Lates calcarifer), estuarine species (tiger prawns Penaeus esculentus and Penaeus semisulcatus, blue swimmer crabs Portunus pelagicus and blue threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum) and offshore species (coral trout Plectropomus spp.). For the mangrove-related species, mangrove characteristics such as area and perimeter accounted for most of the variation in the model; for the non-mangrove estuarine species, latitude was the dominant parameter but some mangrove characteristics (e.g. mangrove perimeter) also made significant contributions to the models. In contrast, for the offshore species, latitude was the dominant variable, with no contribution from mangrove characteristics. This study also identified that finer scale spatial data for the fisheries, to enable catch information to be attributed to a particular catchment, would help to improve our understanding of relationships between mangroves and fisheries production. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z Manson, F. J. og Loneragan, N. R. og Harch, B. D. og Skilleter, G. A. og Williams, L. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:247165 2011-09-05T00:00:00Z Puan, Chong Leong og Goldizen, Anne W. og Zakaria, Mohamed og Hafidzi, Mohd N. og Baxter, Greg S. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:202733 2010-04-13T00:00:00Z Beninati, Tiziana og Riegler, Markus og Vilcins, Inger-Marie E. og Sacchi, Luciano og McFadyen, Raelene og Krockenberger, Mark og Bandi, Caludio og O'Neill, Scott L. og Lo, Nathan http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:84504 The humpback whales that migrate along the east coast of Australia were hunted to near-extinction in the 1950s and early 1960s. Two independent series of land-based surveys conducted over the last 25 years during the whales’ northward migration along the Australian coastline have demonstrated a rapid increase in the size of the population. In 2004 we conducted a survey of the migratory population as a continuation of these series of surveys. Two methods of data analysis were used in line with the previous surveys, both for calculation of absolute and relative abundance. We consider the best estimates for 2004 to be 7,090 ± 660 (95% CI) whales with an annual rate of increase of 10.6 ± 0.5% (95% CI) for 1987 – 2004. The rate of increase agrees with those previously obtained for this population and demonstrates the continuation of a strong post-exploitation recovery. While there are still some uncertainties concerning the absolute abundance estimate and structure of this population, the rate of annual increase should be independent of these and highly robust. 2007-08-14T00:00:00Z Noad, M. J. og Cato, D. H. og Paton, D. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:162497 Seasonal aggregations commonly occur in the marine environment where typically wide-ranging organisms come together to exploit temporary resources or find conspecifics for mating events. The zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum is a demersal carpet shark that aggregates over the austral summer months in the coastal waters of southeast Queensland, Australia. This study employed photo-identification and mark-recapture methods over a 3 yr period (2003 to 2006) to investigate the population size and structure of this aggregation. In total 327 individual zebra sharks were identified from 570 photographs. Numbered dart-tags on 15 zebra sharks were used to confirm that pigmentation patterns were unique and persistent in wild zebra sharks for up to 810 d. Pollock’s robust design resulted in an annual population estimate of 458 individuals (95% CI = 298–618). The mean number of zebra sharks observed on a single day was 8 (± 8 SE) and the maximum number of zebra sharks seen on a single day was 34. In total, 27% of the sharks were sighted in more than one summer aggregation period and males had greater re-capture probabilities than females. The aggregation consisted exclusively of large (>1800 mm total length) adults with an overall female sex bias of 3.8:1 though sex-ratios varied temporally. Predictable visitation of large, presumably mature individuals to the site raises conservation concerns if aggregations of similar size and structure occur in regions where zebra sharks are fished. 2009-02-02T00:00:00Z Dudgeon, C.L. og Noad, M. J. og Lanyon, J.M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:251584 2011-09-11T00:00:00Z Vanderwal, Jeremy og Shoo, Luke P. og Johnson, Christopher N. og Williams, Stephen E. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:140706 Seasonal patterns of abundance and distribution of all life stages of known Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) host species on different plant species in a soybean agricultural system in southeastern Queensland, Australia are reported. In particular, the seasonal phenology of different bug species is described with emphasis on periods of oviposition. Twelve hosts for T. basalis were identified, with three pentatomid bugs, green vegetable bug, green stink bug, and horehound bug, predominating. These three species appear to undergo at least three generations per year with mating and oviposition occurring during all months between September and April but mainly during October and January–April. Horehound bug is the only known T. basalis host that does not diapause during winter and continues to oviposit during winter at low levels. These results suggest that T. basalis is not host limited temporally except during winter when hosts are scarce. Results also show that T. basalis hosts are spatially aggregated at a number of levels, but how this affects T. basalis and the subsequent degree of biological control has yet to be investigated. 2008-06-10T00:00:00Z Loch, A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:247175 Many ecosystems worldwide are dominated by introduced plant species, leading to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem function. A common but rarely tested assumption is that these plants are more abundant in introduced vs. native communities, because ecological or evolutionary-based shifts in populations underlie invasion success. Here, data for 26 herbaceous species at 39 sites, within eight countries, revealed that species abundances were similar at native (home) and introduced (away) sites – grass species were generally abundant home and away, while forbs were low in abundance, but more abundant at home. Sites with six or more of these species had similar community abundance hierarchies, suggesting that suites of introduced species are assembling similarly on different continents. Overall, we found that substantial changes to populations are not necessarily a pre-condition for invasion success and that increases in species abundance are unusual. Instead, abundance at home predicts abundance away, a potentially useful additional criterion for biosecurity programmes. 2011-09-05T00:00:00Z Firn, Jennifer og Moore, Joslin L. og MacDougall, Andrew S. og Borer, Elizabeth T. og Seabloom, Eric W. og HilleRisLambers, Janneke og Harpole, W. Stanley og Cleland, Elsa E. og Brown, Cynthia S. og Knops, Johannes M. H. og Prober, Suzanne M. og Pyke, David A. og Farrell, Kelly A. og Bakker, John D. og O’Halloran, Lydia R. og Adler, Peter B. og Collins, Scott L. og D’Antonio, Carla M. og Crawley, Michael J. og Wolkovich, Elizabeth M. og La Pierre, Kimberly J. og Melbourne, Brett A. og Hautier, Yann og Morgan, John W. og Leakey, Andrew D. B. og Kay, Adam og McCulley, Rebecca og Davies, Kendi F. og Stevens, Carly J. og Chu, Cheng-Jin og Holl, Karen D. og Klein, Julia A. og Fay, Philip A. og Hagenah, Nicole og Kirkman, Kevin P. og Buckley, Yvonne M. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:190587 Evolutionary biology has struggled to explain the coexistence of two basic observations: Genetic variation is found in almost all traits in the presence of strong natural and sexual selection in natural populations. These two observations are in direct conflict as such selection should deplete genetic variation. Furthermore, the presence of genetic variation in a trait, and selection acting on that trait, is often not sufficient for the trait to respond to selection. Here, we bring together geometric perspectives on mutation, selection, and genetic variation and show how the perceived incompatibility between these two observations is a consequence of taking a trait-by-trait approach to the multivariate problem of genetic variation and selection. We conclude that the simultaneous presence of widespead genetic variation in, and strong selection on, individual traits indicates that substantial multivariate genetic constraints are likely to be present in natural populations. 2009-12-20T00:00:00Z Walsh, B. og Blows, M.W. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:172408 The striking color patterns of butterflies and birds have long interested biologists. But how these animals see color is less well understood. Opsins are the protein components of the visual pigments of the eye. Color vision has evolved in butterflies through opsin gene duplications, through positive selection at individual opsin loci, and by the use of filtering pigments. By contrast, birds have retained the same opsin complement present in early-jawed vertebrates, and their visual system has diversified primarily through tuning of the short-wavelength-sensitive photoreceptors, rather than by opsin duplication or the use of filtering elements. Butterflies and birds have evolved photoreceptors that might use some of the same amino acid sites for generating similar spectral phenotypes across 540 million years of evolution, when rhabdomeric and ciliary-type opsins radiated during the early Cambrian period. Considering the similarities between the two taxa, it is surprising that the eyes of birds are not more diverse. Additional taxonomic sampling of birds may help clarify this mystery 2009-03-27T00:00:00Z Frentiu, F. og Briscoe, A.D. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:81323 During oviposition, most endoparasitoid wasps inject maternal factors into their hosts to interfere with host immune reactions and ensure successful development of their progeny. Since encapsulation is a major cellular defensive response of insects against intruding parasites, parasitoids have developed numerous mechanisms to suppress the host encapsulation capability by interfering with every step in the process, including recognition, adherence and spreading. In previous studies, components of Cotesia rubecula venom were shown to inhibit melanization of host hemolymph by interfering with the prophenoloxidase activation cascade and facilitate expression of polydnavirus genes. Here we report the isolation and characterization of another venom protein with similarity to calreticulin. Results indicate that C rubecula calreticulin (CrCRT) inhibits hemocyte spreading behavior, thus preventing encapsulation of the developing parasitoid. It is possible that the protein might function as an antagonist competing for binding sites with the host hemocyte calreticulin, which mediates early-encapsulation reactions. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z Zhang, Guangmei og Schmidt, Otto og Asgari, Sassan http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:107725 2007-08-27T00:00:00Z http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:129967 Ascoviruses (AVs) are double-stranded DNA viruses causing a fatal disease in lepidopteran host larvae. A unique feature of AV infection is cleavage of host cells into membrane bound vesicles containing the virions. A recent study showed that a caspase from Spodoptera frugiperda AV (SfAV) is directly involved in initiation of apoptosis and eventually cell cleavage. Results shown here indicate that Heliothis virescens AV does not induce apoptosis in host cells. HvAV codes for a caspase-like protein but no apoptosis was observed when the gene was expressed in vitro. RNAi studies indicated that the gene is essential for virus replication. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 2008-02-18T00:00:00Z Asgari, S. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:184299 This paper discusses the following key messages. Taxonomy is (and taxonomists are) more important than ever in times of global change. Taxonomic endeavour is not occurring fast enough: in 250 years since the creation of the Linnean Systema Naturae, only about 20% of Earth’s species have been named. We need fundamental changes to the taxonomic process and paradigm to increase taxonomic productivity by orders of magnitude. Currently, taxonomic productivity is limited principally by the rate at which we capture and manage morphological information to enable species discovery. Many recent (and welcomed) initiatives in managing and delivering biodiversity information and accelerating the taxonomic process do not address this bottleneck. Development of computational image analysis and feature extraction methods is a crucial missing capacity needed to enable taxonomists to overcome the taxonomic impediment in a meaningful time frame. 2009-09-29T00:00:00Z La Salle, J og Wheeler, Q og Jackway, P og Winterton, S og Hobern, D og Lovell, D http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:192281 An important element in the measurement of energy budgets of free-living animals is the estimation of energy costs during locomotion. Using humans as a particularly tractable model species, we conducted treadmill experiments to test the validity of tri-axial accelerometry loggers, designed for use with animals in the field, to estimate rate of oxygen consumption (View the MathML source: an indirect measure of metabolic rate) and speed during locomotion. The predictive power of overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) obtained from loggers attached to different parts of the body was compared to that of heart rate (fH). When subject identity was included in the statistical analysis, ODBA was a good, though slightly poorer, predictor of View the MathML source and speed during locomotion on the flat (mean of two-part regressions: R2=0.91 and 0.91, from a logger placed on the neck) and View the MathML source during gradient walking (single regression: R2=0.77 from a logger placed on the upper back) than was fH (R2=0.96, 0.94, 0.86, respectively). For locomotion on the flat, ODBA was still a good predictor when subject identity was replaced by subject mass and height (morphometrics typically obtainable from animals in the field; R2=0.92 and 0.89) and a slightly better overall predictor than fH (R2=0.92 and 0.85). For gradient walking, ODBA predicted View the MathML source more accurately than before (R2=0.83) and considerably better than did fH (R2=0.77). ODBA and fH combined were the most powerful predictor of View the MathML source and speed during locomotion. However, ODBA alone appears to be a good predictor and suitable for use in the field in particular, given that accelerometry traces also provide information on the timing, frequency and duration of locomotion events, and also the gait being used. 2010-01-12T00:00:00Z Halsey, Lewis G. og Shepard, Emily L. C. og Hulston, Carl J. og Venables, Michelle C. og White, Craig R. og Jeukendrup, Asker E. og Wilson, Rory P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:10217 Groups of tadpoles of Limnodynastes peronii (Anura, Myobatrachidae) were kept at two temperatures (15 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius) for 45-105 days. In a thermal gradient (6-36 degrees C), initial thermal preferenda were significantly different in 15 degrees and 25 degrees C history groups, approximately 13 degrees C and 21 degrees C respectively. However, after 2.5 hours, these initial differences were no longer seen and the final thermal preferendum was approximately 18 degrees C regardless of previous thermal history. Considering these results and the lack of metabolic acclimation reported elsewhere, these tadpoles can be seen as ecotherms whose thermal strategies are behavioural rather than physiological or biochemical. The rapid loss of acclimation of preferred temperature is discussed in relation to Fry's 'final preferendum' paradigm. 2004-11-12T00:00:00Z Marshall, Elizabeth og Grigg, Gordon C. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:228884 2011-02-11T00:00:00Z Grantham, HS og Game, ET og Lombard, AT og Hobday, AJ og Richardson, AJ og Beckley, LE og Pressey, RL og Huggett, JA og Coetzee, JC og van der Lingen, CD og Petersen, SL og Merkle, D og Possingham, HP http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:200262 2010-03-22T00:00:00Z Possingham, Hugh P. og Moilanen, Atte og Wilson, Kerrie Wilson http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:82514 Traditional sensitivity and elasticity analyses of matrix population models have been used to p inform management decisions, but they ignore the economic costs of manipulating vital rates. For exam le, the growth rate of a population is often most sensitive to changes in adult survival rate, but this does not mean that increasing that rate is the best option for managing the population because it may be much more expensive than other options. To explore how managers should optimize their manipulation of vital rates, we incorporated the cost of changing those rates into matrix population models. We derived analytic expressions for locations in parameter space where managers should shift between management of fecundity and survival, for the balance between fecundity and survival management at those boundaries, and for the allocation of management resources to sustain that optimal balance. For simple matrices, the optimal budget allocation can often be expressed as simple functions of vital rates and the relative costs of changing them. We applied our method to management of the Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix; an endangered Australian bird) and the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as examples. Our method showed that cost-efficient management of the Helmeted Honeyeater should focus on increasing fecundity via nest protection, whereas optimal koala management should focus on manipulating both fecundity and survival simultaneously, These findings are contrary to the cost-negligent recommendations of elasticity analysis, which would suggest focusing on managing survival in both cases. A further investigation of Helmeted Honeyeater management options, based on an individual-based model incorporating density dependence, spatial structure, and environmental stochasticity, confirmed that fecundity management was the most cost-effective strategy. Our results demonstrate that decisions that ignore economic factors will reduce management efficiency. 2007-08-15T00:00:00Z Baxter, Peter W. J. og McCarthy, Michael A. og Possingham, Hugh P. og Menkhorst, Peter W. og McLean, Natasha http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:191777 2010-01-08T00:00:00Z MacFarlane, Geoff R. og Koller, Claudia E. og Blomberg, Simon P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:299574 2013-05-09T14:49:58Z Tillett, Bree J. og Field, Iain C. og Bradshaw, Corey J. A. og Johnson, Grant og Buckworth, Rik C. og Meekan, Mark G. og Ovenden, Jennifer R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:145651 2008-06-10T00:00:00Z McCallum, H. I. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:96247 2007-08-24T00:00:00Z Walter, D. E. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:185662 2009-11-11T00:00:00Z Whan, Jennifer A. og Dann, Elizabeth K. og Smith, Linda J. og Aitken, Elizabeth A. B. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:165057 During exposure to elevated water CO2 levels (hypercapnia), blood pH and tissue intracellular pH (pHi) in fish are initially reduced due to the rapid development of a respiratory acidosis. Blood pH recovery is associated with acid–base relevant ion transfer at the gills (i.e., Na+/H+ or Cl−/HCO3−), and generally occurs over 24–48 h during which time pHi recovery closely follows pH recovery of the blood. In the armoured catfish, Liposarcus pardalis, hypercapnia induces a large respiratory acidosis, but intracellular pH (pHi) of tissues such as the liver, heart and muscle is tightly regulated despite large reductions in plasma pH. Using an in situ perfused heart preparation, maximum cardiac performance (power output, cardiac output and stroke volume) was maintained at levels of up to 5% CO2 in L. pardalis. Maintenance of heart function under these conditions was associated with preferential pHi regulation. Following exhaustive exercise and 2 h of anoxia, there was little evidence for lactate incorporation into the skull or bony plates, but liver, heart and brain pHi were preferentially regulated despite a large uncompensated plasma acidosis, indicating that the type of acidosis does not alter the pattern of acid–base regulation in this species. This pattern of preferential pHi regulation differs markedly from that of most fish investigated to date; however, it has also been observed in two other facultative air-breathing fishes, Synbranchus marmoratus and Amia calva, and may be associated with the evolution of air-breathing. 2009-02-25T00:00:00Z Brauner, C. J. og Baker, D. og Hanson, L. og Kuchel, L. og Jackson, D. og Farrell, A. P. og Val, V. L. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:61431 The vascular and bryophyte floras of subantarctic Heard Island were classified using cluster analysis into six vegetation communities: Open Cushion Carpet, Mossy Feldmark, Wet Mixed Herbfield, Coastal Biotic Vegetation, Saltspray Vegetation, and Closed Cushion Carpet. Multidimensional scaling indicated that the vegetation communities were not well delineated but were continua. Discriminant analysis and a classification tree identified altitude, wind, peat depth, bryophyte cover and extent of bare ground, and particle size as discriminating variables. The combination of small area, glaciation, and harsh climate has resulted in reduced vegetation variety in comparison to those subantarctic islands north of the Antarctic Polar Front Zone. Some of the functional groups and vegetation communities found on warmer subantarctic islands are not present on Heard Island, notably ferns and sedges and fernbrakes and extensive mires, respectively. 2007-08-14T00:00:00Z Bergstrom, D. M. og Whinam, J. og Belbin, L. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:38143 Polydnaviruses are associated with certain parasitoid wasps and are introduced into the body cavity of the host caterpillar during oviposition. Some of the viral genes are expressed in host tissues and corresponding proteins are secreted into the hemocoel causing suppression of the host immune system. The Cotesia rubecula polydnavirus gene product, CrV1, effectively inactivates hemocytes by mediating cytoskeleton break-down. A precondition for the CrV1 function is the incorporation of the extracellular protein by hemocytes. Here, we show that a coiled-coil domain containing a putative leucine zipper is required for CrV1 function, since removal of this domain abolishes binding and uptake of the CrV1 protein by hemocytes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Asgari, S. og Schmidt, O. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:147369 2008-06-06T00:00:00Z Kawamata, Y. og McCutcheon, M. og Kikkawa, J. og Razafindratsira, A. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:136428 Background: Molecular genetic maps provide a means to link heritable traits with underlying genome sequence variation. Several genetic maps have been constructed for Brassica species, yet to date, there has been no simple means to compare this information or to associate mapped traits with the genome sequence of the related model plant, Arabidopsis. Description: We have developed a comparative genetic map database for the viewing, comparison and analysis of Brassica and Arabidopsis genetic, physical and trait map information. This web- based tool allows users to view and compare genetic and physical maps, search for traits and markers, and compare genetic linkage groups within and between the amphidiploid and diploid Brassica genomes. The inclusion of Arabidopsis data enables comparison between Brassica maps that share no common markers. Analysis of conserved syntenic blocks between Arabidopsis and collated Brassica genetic maps validates the application of this system. This tool is freely available over the internet on http://bioinformatics.pbcbasc.latrobe.edu.au/cmap. Conclusion: This database enables users to interrogate the relationship between Brassica genetic maps and the sequenced genome of A. thaliana, permitting the comparison of genetic linkage groups and mapped traits and the rapid identification of candidate genes. 2008-04-28T00:00:00Z Lim, Geraldine A. C. og Jewell, Erica G. og Li, Xi og Erwin, Timothy A. og Love, Christopher og Batley, Jacqueline og Spangenberg, German og Edwards, David http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:211709 2010-08-15T00:00:00Z Veal, C. J. og Holmes, G. og Nunez, M. og Hoegh-Guldberg, O. og Osborn, J. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:286982 Estimates of population size are frequently used in conservation. Volunteer-conducted surveys are often the only source of information available, but their reliability is unclear. We compare data from a weakly structured national bird atlas collected by volunteer surveyors free to choose where and when to visit with data from an independent suite of monitoring surveys that used a stratified sampling design. We focus on the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, a region that has lost most of its native vegetation. Both datasets comprise several thousand 20-min 2-ha searches carried out between 1999 and 2007. The atlas dataset reported more species, and covered habitats more comprehensively, but showed greater variability in the temporal and spatial distribution of survey effort. However, after we restricted the atlas dataset to native eucalypt woodlands, reporting rates from the two schemes were very strongly correlated. The structured surveys tended to record more species that are normally detected by call and the unstructured surveys recorded more species using edges and open habitats. Minimum population estimates from the two datasets agreed very well. The strength of concordance depended on whether overflying birds were included, highlighting the importance of distinguishing such records in future surveys. We conclude that appropriate calibration using selected regional surveys, including surveys to estimate absolute densities, can enable volunteercollected and weakly structured atlas data to be used to generate robust occupancy and minimum population estimates for many species at a regional scale. 2012-12-09T00:45:45Z Szabo, Judit K. og Fuller, Richard A. og Possingham, Hugh P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:183033 2009-09-03T00:00:00Z Arthur, Karen E. og Balazs, George H. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:41280 Field trials and laboratory bioassays were undertaken to compare the performance and efficacy (mortality of diamondback moth larvae) of insecticides applied to cabbages with three high volume hydraulic knapsack sprayers (NS-16, PB-20 and Selecta 12V) and a controlled droplet application (CDA) sprayer. In field experiments, the high volume knapsack sprayers (application rate 500-600 L ha(-1)) provided better spray coverage on the upper and lower surfaces of inner leaves, the upper surfaces of middle and outer leaves, and greater biological efficacy than the CDA sprayer (application rate 20similar to40 L ha(-1)). The PB-20 provided better spray coverage on the upper surface of middle leaves and both surfaces of outer leaves when compared with the Selecta 12V. However, its biological efficacy in the field was not significantly different from that of the other high volume sprayers. Increasing the application rate from 20 to 40 L ha(-1) for the CDA sprayer significantly increased droplet density but had no impact on test insect mortality. Laboratory evaluations of biological efficacy yielded higher estimates than field evaluations and there was no significant difference between the performance of the PB-20 and the CDA sprayer. Significant positive relationships were detected between insect mortality and droplet density deposited for both the PB-20 and the CDA sprayers. 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Shi-Jian, Guo og Geitz, Glenn og Franklin, Tom og Yin-Quan, Liu og Furlong, Michael J. og Zalucki, Myron P. og Cooper, Larry http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:292558 Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often managed using several management zones, each of which allows different human-uses. Decision support tools can be applied to provide advice on potential zoning configurations. However, few studies used decision support tools to systematically determine good locations for different types of zones that accommodate multiple and often conflicting objectives. Previous studies have mostly used scores to integrate multiple objectives and identify different zoning configurations or explored priority areas for each zone separately. Neither of these approaches ensure that solutions meet both biodiversity and human-use objectives. Nor do they deal with the fact that in zoning plans the whole is not the same as the sum of the parts, the importance of a site depends on how the rest of the sites are managed. The aim of this study was to identify different zoning configurations for the Raja Ampat MPA network in Eastern Indonesia that address biodiversity, sustainable fisheries and community resource access objectives. Identifying zoning configurations is particularly difficult here given the importance of protecting high biodiversity reefs and other conservation values, and the high reliance of local communities on their marine resources. Potential areas for no-take zones were identified that have a small and equitable impact across the fishing grounds of different fishing communities whilst ensuring each community has access to a ‘sustainable fishing zone’. Access to fishing grounds for each community is complicated due to marine tenure restricting where individuals can fish and reliance on traditional types of fishing vessels that restrict long distance travel. This approach for zoning was compared to three others. The first focused on identifying areas only for the no-take zone, a traditional systematic planning approach, and the second on both zones without explicitly accounting for the issue of resource access for each community. The solutions unfairly impacted particular communities. Finally, it is demonstrated how a pre-existing zoning proposal, driven by negotiation can be integrated into systematic planning. 2013-03-03T00:16:03Z Grantham, Hedley S. og Agostini, Vera N. og Wilson, Joanne og Mangubhai, Sangeeta og Hidayat, Nur og Muljadi, Andreas og Muhajir og Rotinsulu, Chris og Mongdong, Meity og Beck, Michael W. og Possingham, Hugh P. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:275470 2012-06-10T16:00:07Z Hunter, Janet A. og Hall, Kathryn A. og Cribb, Thomas H. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:135224 2008-04-14T00:00:00Z Crisp, M. D. og Cook, L. G. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:110730 We produced a conservation plan that achieved conservation targets for biodiversity pattern and process in the species- and endemic-rich Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Features given quantitative conservation targets were land classes, localities of Proteaceae and selected vertebrate (freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles) species, population sizes for medium- and large-sized mammals, and six types of spatial surrogates for ecological and evolutionary processes. The plan was developed in several stages using C-Plan, a decision support system linked to a geographic information system. Accepting the existing reserve system as part of the plan, we first selected spatially fixed surrogates for biodiversity processes; then we included those planning units that were essential for achieving targets for land classes, Proteaceae and vertebrate species; next we included areas required to accommodate population and design targets for large and medium-sized mammals; we then selected planning units required to conserve entire upland-lowland and macroclimatic gradients; and finally we resolved the options for achieving remaining targets while also consolidating the design of conservation areas. The result was a system of conservation areas, requiring, in addition to the existing reserve system, 52% of the remaining extant habitat in the planning domain, as well as restorable habitat, that will promote the persistence and continued diversification of much of the region's biota in the face of ongoing habitat loss and climate change. After describing the planning process, we discuss implementation priorities in relation to conservation value and vulnerability to habitat loss, as well as socio-economic, political and institutional. constraints and opportunities. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 2007-09-19T00:00:00Z Cowling, R. M. og Pressey, R. L. og Rouget, M. og Lombard, A. T. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:284621 2012-11-09T14:16:50Z Schlipalius, David I. og Valmas, Nicholas og Tuck, Andrew G. og Jagadeesan, Rajeswaran og Ma, Li og Kaur, Ramandeep og Goldinger, Anita og Anderson, Cameron og Kuang, Jujiao og Zuryn, Steven og Mau, Yosep S. og Cheng, Qiang og Collins, Patrick J. og Nayak, Manoj K. og Schirra, Horst Joachim og Hilliard, Massimo A. og Ebert, Paul R. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:222142 Since 1986, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) has utilized a workforce of over 900 specially-trained volunteer divers to collect detailed topographic, bathymetric and biological data for the establishment of management plans for selected areas of the Belize barrier reef. The biological data recorded are ordinal and reflect the abundance of reef organisms including fish, macroalgae and hermatypic corals on a scale of 0-5. Substrate composition and the coverage of principal biotic classes are also visually assessed using an ordinal scale of 0-5. An exercise was carried out to assess the accuracy and consistency of data recorded by volunteers. Transects were laid in each of the major reef zones and in lagoon habitats. Each transect was surveyed independently by six teams of trained volunteers and compared to a reference obtained by experienced CCC staff. Analyses were carried out to test the accuracy and consistency of the coral, macroalgal and habitat data. Further analyses sought to quantify the proportion of species correctly identified, the frequency of erroneous species recordings and the variation of abundance ratings. The overall accuracy of coral surveys varied from 52-70% with the poorer values obtained in deeper outer and inner drop-off reef zones. The trend of reduced surveyor performance in deeper water is discussed in terms of physical, physiological and psychological phenomena. Inter-group consistency exhibited a similar bathymetric trend to that found for coral accuracy. Macroalgae were generally accurately and consistently recorded. No clear trend of improved accuracy and consistency following greater survey experience was apparent. Substrate composition and biological cover were recorded with an accuracy exceeding 90% in seagrass habitats and 70-90% in reef sites. A number of recommendations are made to improve survey methodology and volunteer training. 2010-11-23T00:00:00Z Mumby, Peter J. og Harborne, Alastair R http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:151448 2008-06-19T00:00:00Z Salisbury, S. W. og Agnolin, F. og Ezcurra, M. og Pias, D. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:136406 Wildlife deaths associated with cyanide-bearing mine waste solutions have plagued the gold mining industries for many years, yet there is little published data showing the relationship between wildlife mortality and cyanide toxicity. A gap of knowledge exists in monitoring, understanding the causal relationships and managing risks to wildlife from cyanide-bearing waste solutions and tailings. There is a need for the gold industry to address this issue and to meet the International Cyanide Management Code (ICMC) guidelines. The perceived extent of the issue varies, with one study finding the issue inadequately monitored and wildlife deaths grossly underestimated. In Nevada, USA during 1990 and 1991, 9512 carcasses were reported of over 100 species, although there was underestimation due to reporting being voluntary. Of these, birds comprised 80–91% of vertebrate carcasses reported annually. At Northparkes, Australia in 1995, it was initially estimated that 100 bird carcasses were present by mine staff following a tailings incident; when a thorough count was conducted, 1583 bird carcasses were recorded. Eventually, 2700 bird deaths were documented over a four-month period. It is identified that avian deaths are usually undetected and significantly underestimated, leading to a perception that a risk does not exist. Few guidelines and information are available to manage the risks of cyanide to wildlife, although detoxification, habitat modification and denying wildlife access have been used effectively. Hazing techniques have proven ineffective. Apparently no literature exists that documents accurate wildlife monitoring protocols on potentially toxic cyanide-bearing mine waste solutions or any understanding on the analysis of any derived dataset. This places the onus on mining operations to document that no risk to wildlife exists. Cyanide-bearing tailings storage facilities are environmental control structures to contain tailings, a standard practice in the mining industry. Cyanide concentrations below 50 mg/L weak-acid-dissociable (WAD) are deemed safe to wildlife but are considered an interim benchmark for discharge into tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Cyanide is a fast acting poison, and its toxicity is related to the types of cyanide complexes that are present. Cyanide in biota binds to iron, copper and sulfur-containing enzymes and proteins required for oxygen transportation to cells. The accurate determination of cyanide concentrations in the field is difficult to achieve due to sampling techniques and analytical error associated with loss and interferences following collection. The main WAD cyanide complexes in gold mine tailings are stable in the TSF environment but can release cyanide ions under varying environmental conditions including ingestion and absorption by wildlife. Therefore distinction between free, WAD and total cyanide forms in tailings water for regulatory purposes is justified. From an environmental perspective, there is a distinction between ore bodies on the basis of their copper content. For example, wildlife deaths are more likely to occur at mines possessing copper–gold ores due to the formation of copper–cyanide complexes which is toxic to birds and bats. The formation of copper–cyanide complex occurs preferentially to gold cyanide complex indicating the relative importance of economic vs. environmental considerations in the tailings water. Management of cyanide to a perceived threshold has inherent risks since cyanide has a steep toxicity response curve; is difficult to accurately measure in the field; and is likely to vary due to variable copper content of ore bodies and ore blending. Consequently, wildlife interaction needs to be limited to further reduce the risks. A gap in knowledge exists to design or manage cyanide-bearing mine waste solutions to render such facilities unattractive to at-risk wildlife species. This gap may be overcome by understanding the wildlife behaviour and habitat usage of cyanide-bearing solutions. 2008-04-28T00:00:00Z Donato, D. B. og Nichols, O. og Possingham, H. og Moore, M. og Ricci, P. F. og Noller, B. N. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:270596 2012-03-20T12:07:48Z Hunter, Janet A. og Cribb, Thomas H. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:219885 2010-11-07T00:00:00Z Hunter, J. A. og Ingram, E. og Adlard, R. D. og Bray, R. A. og Cribb, T. H. http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:283689 Failure to act quickly on evidence of rapid population decline has led to the first mammal extinction in Australia in the last 50 years, the Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi). The fate of another iconic species, the migratory Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), monitored intensively for over 20 years, hangs in the balance. To inform future conservation management and decision making, we investigate the decision process that has led to the plight of both species. Our analysis suggests three globally relevant recommendations for minimizing species extinction worldwide: (1) informed, empowered, and responsive governance and leadership is essential; (2) processes that ensure institutional accountability must be in place, and; (3) decisions must be made whilst there is an opportunity to act. The bottom line is that, unless responsive and accountable institutional processes are in place, decisions will be delayed and extinction will occur. 2012-10-21T00:11:36Z Martin, Tara G. og Nally, Simon og Burbidge, Andrew A. og Arnall, Sophie og Garnett, Stephen T. og Hayward, Matt W. og Lumsden, Linda F. og Menkhorst, Peter og McDonald-Madden, Eve og Possingham, Hugh P.