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Online bibliography
This bibliography provides a list of known publications that have utilised data in the ALA or ALA infrastructure to support their research. The inclusion of publications remains a work in progress and this list will grow as the ALA works through historical data. If you have any questions please contact us at ala_references@csiro.au
2023
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Wang, L.-Y., Franklin, A. M., Hugall, A. F., Medina, I., & Stuart-Fox, D. (2023). Disentangling thermal from alternative drivers of reflectance in jewel beetles: A macroecological study. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 00, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13632Global Ecology and BiogeographyAbstractAim To predict future colour–climate relationships‚ it is important to distinguish thermal drivers of reflectance from other evolutionary drivers. We aimed to achieve this by comparing relationships between climate and coloration in ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) light‚ separately. Location Samples were distributed primarily across Australia and North America‚ with some from Africa and Asia. Major taxa studied Coleoptera: Buprestidae. Methods We used jewel beetles as models to identify climatic drivers of reflectance‚ because jewel beetles have highly diverse coloration and a wide distribution and are often active in hot conditions. Specifically‚ we tested the association between climate‚ body size and reflectance using a phylogenetic comparative analysis for three wavebands (UV–Vis‚ NIR and total). Results Reflectance of jewel beetles was more strongly predicted by body size than by climate. NIR reflectance and total reflectance were not associated with climate‚ but larger beetles had higher NIR reflectance. For UV–Vis reflectance‚ small beetles were darker in warmer and more humid environments‚ whereas there was no association with climate for large beetles. Main conclusions Our study suggests that variation in reflectance of jewel beetles is not driven by thermal requirements and highlights the importance of considering NIR reflectance when evaluating explanations of the effects of colour on thermoregulation.CitationWang, L.-Y., Franklin, A. M., Hugall, A. F., Medina, I., & Stuart-Fox, D. (2023). Disentangling thermal from alternative drivers of reflectance in jewel beetles: A macroecological study. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 00, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13632
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Decker, O., Foon, J. K., Köhler, F., Moussalli, A., Murphy, N. P., & Green, P. T. (2023). Fire severity is an important driver of land snail declines after the black summer bushfires in Australia. Biological Conservation, 279, 109906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109906Biological ConservationBiological ConservationAbstractMany ecosystems globally evolved with fire. However‚ there is a gap in our knowledge regarding the effect of fires on less mobile invertebrates. Land snails in Australia are a diverse group with a high level of endemism‚ but we understand very little of their ecology‚ especially how they are affected by large fires. We studied the short-term (one year after a fire event) response of 1) land snail species composition‚ 2) snail abundances‚ and 3) impacts on 18 priority species to an unprecedented large fire event throughout south-eastern Australia in 2019/2020 (Black Summer). Our study ranged over >100‚000 km2‚ surveying162 sites. Our study revealed that land snail species composition changed significantly depending on fire severity class‚ regardless of habitat type (rainforest or eucalypt forest) or climate. Medium and high severity fire caused snail abundance to decline significantly‚ with micro-snails being more sensitive to medium and high severity fires. Abundance dropped by 75 % and 64 % for micro-‚ and macro-snails respectively‚ but low severity fire did not have a significant impact on abundance. For most priority species‚ fires affected more than half of their known extent of occurrence although most species were found in all fire severities. However‚ severity category was an important driver in determining the probability of occurrence of priority species. To conserve Australia’s land snail species‚ we must know how they are affected by disturbances. Our results suggest that the total area and severity of fires will determine the impact of fires on land snails.CitationDecker, O., Foon, J. K., Köhler, F., Moussalli, A., Murphy, N. P., & Green, P. T. (2023). Fire severity is an important driver of land snail declines after the black summer bushfires in Australia. Biological Conservation, 279, 109906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109906
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Singh Ramesh, A., Cheesman, A., Flores-Moreno, H., Preece, N., Crayn, D., & Cernusak, L. (2023). Temperature, nutrient availability, and species traits interact to shape elevation responses of Australian tropical trees. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 6, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1089167Frontiers in Forests and Global ChangeFrontiers in Forests and Global ChangeAbstractElevation gradients provide natural laboratories for investigating tropical tree ecophysiology in the context of climate warming. Previously observed trends with increasing elevation include decreasing stem diameter growth rates (GR)‚ increasing leaf mass per area (LMA)‚ higher root-to-shoot ratios (R:S)‚ increasing leaf δ 13 C‚ and decreasing leaf δ 15 N. These patterns could be driven by decreases in temperature‚ lower soil nutrient availability‚ changes in species composition‚ or a combination thereof. We investigated whether these patterns hold within the genus Flindersia (Rutaceae) along an elevation gradient (0-1‚600 m) in the Australian Wet Tropics. Flindersia species are relatively abundant and are important contributors to biomass in these forests. Next‚ we conducted a glasshouse experiment to better understand the effects of temperature‚ soil nutrient availability‚ and species on growth‚ biomass allocation‚ and leaf isotopic composition. In the field‚ GR and δ 15 N decreased‚ whereas LMA and δ 13 C increased with elevation‚ consistent with observations on other continents. Soil C:N ratio also increased and soil δ 15 N decreased with increasing elevation‚ consistent with decreasing nutrient availability. In the glasshouse‚ relative growth rates (RGR) of the two lowland Flindersia species responded more strongly to temperature than did those of the two upland species. Interestingly‚ leaf δ 13 C displayed an opposite relationship with temperature in the glasshouse compared with that observed in the field‚ indicating the importance of covarying drivers in the field. Leaf δ 15 N increased in nutrient-rich compared to nutrient-poor soil in the glasshouse‚ like the trend in the field. There was a significant interaction for δ 15 N between temperature and species; upland species showed a steeper increase in leaf δ 15 N with temperature than lowland species. This could indicate more flexibility in nitrogen acquisition in lowland compared to upland species with warming. The distinguishing feature of a mountaintop restricted Flindersia species in the glasshouse was a very high R:S ratio in nutrient-poor soil at low temperatures‚ conditions approximating Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 01 frontiersin.org Singh Ramesh et al. 10.3389/ffgc.2023.1089167 the mountaintop environment. Our results suggest that species traits interact with temperature and nutrient availability to drive observed elevation patterns. Capturing this complexity in models will be challenging but is important for making realistic predictions of tropical tree responses to global warming.CitationSingh Ramesh, A., Cheesman, A., Flores-Moreno, H., Preece, N., Crayn, D., & Cernusak, L. (2023). Temperature, nutrient availability, and species traits interact to shape elevation responses of Australian tropical trees. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 6, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1089167
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Zhao, H., Xian, X., Liang, T., Wan, F., Shi, J., & Liu, W. (2023). Constructing an Ensemble Model and Niche Comparison for the Management Planning of Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer Phoracantha semipunctata under Climate Change. Insects, 14(1), 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14010084Number: 1
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteInsectsInsectsAbstractPhoracantha semipunctata is a destructive invasive alien forest pest worldwide. It primarily damages the eucalyptus via adults‚ affecting almost all parts of the eucalyptus. Its larvae develop in almost all major tissues of the plant. Phoracantha semipunctata spreads both via the migration of adults and global trade in intercontinental translocation. Currently‚ this pest has spread to six continents worldwide‚ except Antarctica‚ resulting in substantial economic losses. Based on global occurrence data and environmental variables‚ the potential global geographical distribution of P. semipunctata was predicted using an ensemble model. The centroid shift‚ overlap‚ unfilling‚ and expansion scheme were selected to assess niche dynamics during the global invasion process. Our results indicated that the AUC and TSS values of the ensemble model were 0.993 and 0.917‚ respectively‚ indicating the high prediction accuracy of the model. The distribution pattern of P. semipunctata is primarily attributed to the temperature seasonality (bio4)‚ mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10)‚ and human influence index variables. The potential geographical distribution of P. semipunctata is primarily in western and southwestern Asia‚ western Europe‚ western and southern North America‚ southern South America‚ southern Africa‚ and eastern and southern Oceania. The potential geographical distribution of P. semipunctata showed a downward trend in the 2030s and the 2050s. The distribution centroid showed a general tendency to shift southward from the near-current to future climate. Phoracantha semipunctata has largely conserved its niche during the global invasion process. More attention should be paid to the early warning‚ prevention‚ and control of P. semipunctata in the countries and regions where it has not yet become invasive.CitationZhao, H., Xian, X., Liang, T., Wan, F., Shi, J., & Liu, W. (2023). Constructing an Ensemble Model and Niche Comparison for the Management Planning of Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer Phoracantha semipunctata under Climate Change. Insects, 14(1), 84. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14010084 -
Feijó, A., Karlsson, C. M., Gray, R., Yang, Q., & Hughes, A. C. (2023). Extreme-sized anurans are more prone to climate-driven extinctions. Climate Change Ecology, 4, 100062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecochg.2022.100062Climate Change EcologyClimate Change EcologyabstractCitationFeijó, A., Karlsson, C. M., Gray, R., Yang, Q., & Hughes, A. C. (2023). Extreme-sized anurans are more prone to climate-driven extinctions. Climate Change Ecology, 4, 100062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecochg.2022.100062
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Patel, V., Boruff, B., Biggs, E., & Pauli, N. (2023). Data representing climate-induced changes in the spatial distribution of key bee forage species for southwest Western Australia. Data in Brief, 108783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108783Data in BriefData in BriefAbstractThe dataset includes (i) species occurrence points‚ and (ii) Species Distribution Model (SDM) outputs under current conditions and a moderate emission (RCP 6.0) climate scenario‚ for 30 key bee forage species in southwest Western Australia (WA). Occurrence data were obtained from open data sources and through stakeholder engagement processes. SDM outputs were predicted using the Maxent algorithm with the change in species range analysed using QGIS software. The model outputs provide insight into the potential implications of climate change on important bee forage species in southwest WA‚ including dominant melliferous tree and shrub species. Changes in these species are likely to have repercussions to the ecological and social systems where a facilitatory relationship exists. This dataset is important for informing conservation efforts within the southwest Australian biodiversity hotspot.CitationPatel, V., Boruff, B., Biggs, E., & Pauli, N. (2023). Data representing climate-induced changes in the spatial distribution of key bee forage species for southwest Western Australia. Data in Brief, 108783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108783
2022
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Baruch, Z., Guerin, G., Martín-Forés, I., Munroe, S., Sparrow, B., & Lowe, A. J. (2022). Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands. PLOS ONE, 17(12), e0278833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278833Publisher: Public Library of SciencePLOS ONEPLOS ONEAbstractMonitoring shifts in vegetation composition over time is essential for tracking biodiversity changes and for designing ecosystem management strategies. In Australia‚ the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) provides a continent-wide network of monitoring sites (AusPlots) that can be used to assess the shifts in vegetation composition and structure of Australian Major Vegetation Groups (MVGs). Here we use time-series site data to quantify the extent and rate of MVG shifts between repeat visits and to recommend the most appropriate sampling frequency for specific MVGs. The research area spans a \textasciitilde1‚500 km latitudinal gradient within south/central Australia from arid rangelands in the north to Mediterranean vegetation in the south. The standardized AusPlots protocol was employed to repeatedly survey 103 one-hectare plots‚ assessed between 2011 and 2019. Floristic and growth form dissimilarities between visits were calculated with distance metrics and then regressed against survey interval. Multivariate ordination was used to explore temporal floristic shifts. Rank-dominance curves were used to display variations in species’ importance. Between repeated visits‚ sites exhibited high variability for all vegetation parameters and trajectories. However‚ several trends emerged: (a) Species composition moved away from baseline linearly with intervals between surveys. (b) The rate of species turnover was approximately double in communities that are herbaceous versus woody-dominated. (c) Species abundances and growth forms shift at different speeds. All floristic and structural metrics shifted between re-visits‚ with varying magnitude and speed‚ but herbaceous-dominated plots showed higher floristic dynamism. Although the expanse‚ logistics‚ and the short time between visits constrained our analysis and interpretation‚ our results suggest that shorter revisit intervals may be appropriate for herbaceous compared to woody systems to track change most efficiently.CitationBaruch, Z., Guerin, G., Martín-Forés, I., Munroe, S., Sparrow, B., & Lowe, A. J. (2022). Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands. PLOS ONE, 17(12), e0278833. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278833
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St-Laurent, O., Mokany, K., & Pollock, L. J. (2022). Safeguarding eucalypt diversity through conservation-focused tree planting. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14337Journal of Applied EcologyAbstractThe UN decade on ecosystem restoration calls for the preservation of global biodiversity. Safeguarding biological diversity is crucial for the well-being of people and the persistence of nature. Tree planting offers a nature-based solution to carbon abatement with significant potential to benefit biodiversity‚ but how well different aspects of biodiversity are captured in plantings is not well known. We assemble a database of 218 species and >80‚000 observations from tree plantings in Australia‚ and investigate how well they capture eucalypt diversity‚ including possible climate change effects. We compare this to hypothetical planting scenarios that maximize biodiversity benefits for species of conservation interest. Eucalypt species that are rare‚ endemic‚ evolutionarily distinct or listed in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC) were prioritized. We find that environmental tree plantings are dominated by very common species likely to benefit from climate change‚ with less than 1 % of rare or evolutionarily distinct species represented. All conservation scenarios outperform business-as-usual. The scenario prioritizing endemic species while considering climate change more than doubles the average extent of occurrence for species of conservation interest. It allocates four times more planting area to species of conservation interest compared to a business-as-usual approach and decreases weighted endemism (a favourable outcome here) by 38 % on average‚ demonstrating the positive impact of conservation-focused tree planting on biodiversity. Synthesis and Applications. Everywhere‚ governments are making commitments to halt biodiversity loss. Conservation-focused tree planting can advance our goal of safeguarding biodiversity while still contributing to carbon capture. We show that eucalypt species of conservation interest can benefit substantially from tree planting where the primary goal is biodiversity conservation‚ compared to the current approach to planting‚ which we have found largely benefits common species. We measure potential distribution gains for eucalypt species that are rare‚ endemic‚ evolutionarily distinct and at risk of extinction‚ and identify the most important eucalypt species to plant across Australia‚ taking the effects of climate change into account. Our framework for selecting species to plant based on a range of conservation goals can serve as a guide for future environmental tree planting initiatives.CitationSt-Laurent, O., Mokany, K., & Pollock, L. J. (2022). Safeguarding eucalypt diversity through conservation-focused tree planting. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14337
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Gurdek-Bas, R., Benthuysen, J. A., Harrison, H. B., Zenger, K. R., & van Herwerden, L. (2022). The El Niño Southern Oscillation drives multidirectional inter-reef larval connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 21290. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25629-wPMID: 36494507
PMCID: PMC9734173Scientific ReportsSci RepAbstractThe El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest source of interannual global climate variability‚ and extreme ENSO events are projected to increase in frequency under climate change. Interannual variability in the Coral Sea circulation has been associated with ENSO‚ although uncertainty remains regarding ENSO’s influence on hydrodynamics and larval dispersal in the adjacent Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We investigated larval connectivity during ENSO events from 2010 to 2017 throughout the GBR‚ based on biophysical modelling of a widespread predatory reef fish‚ Lutjanus carponotatus. Our results indicate a well-connected system over the study period with high interannual variability in inter-reef connectivity associated with ENSO. Larval connectivity patterns were highly correlated to variations in the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). During El Niño conditions and periods of weak SOI‚ larval dispersal patterns were predominantly poleward in the central and southern regions‚ reversing to a predominant equatorward flow during very strong SOI and extreme La Niña conditions. These ENSO-linked connectivity patterns were associated with positive connectivity anomalies among reefs. Our findings identify ENSO as an important source of variation in larval dispersal and connectivity patterns in the GBR‚ which can influence the stability of population dynamics and patterns of biodiversity in the region.CitationGurdek-Bas, R., Benthuysen, J. A., Harrison, H. B., Zenger, K. R., & van Herwerden, L. (2022). The El Niño Southern Oscillation drives multidirectional inter-reef larval connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 21290. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25629-w -
García Molinos, J., Hunt, H. L., Green, M. E., Champion, C., Hartog, J. R., & Pecl, G. T. (2022). Climate, currents and species traits contribute to early stages of marine species redistribution. Communications Biology, 5(1), 1329. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04273-0Communications BiologyCommun BiolAbstractAbstract
Anthropogenic climate change is causing a rapid redistribution of life on Earth‚ particularly in the ocean‚ with profound implications for humans. Yet warming-driven range shifts are known to be influenced by a variety of factors whose combined effects are still little understood. Here‚ we use scientist-verified out-of-range observations from a national citizen-science initiative to assess the combined effect of long-term warming‚ climate extremes (i.e.‚ heatwaves and cold spells)‚ ocean currents‚ and species traits on early stages of marine range extensions in two warming ‘hotspot’ regions of southern Australia. We find effects of warming to be contingent upon complex interactions with the strength of ocean currents and their mutual directional agreement‚ as well as species traits. Our study represents the most comprehensive account to date of factors driving early stages of marine species redistributions‚ providing important evidence for the assessment of the vulnerability of marine species distributions to climate change.CitationGarcía Molinos, J., Hunt, H. L., Green, M. E., Champion, C., Hartog, J. R., & Pecl, G. T. (2022). Climate, currents and species traits contribute to early stages of marine species redistribution. Communications Biology, 5(1), 1329. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04273-0 -
Raymundo, M., Caballes, C. F., Mayfield, M. M., & Hock, K. (2022). Informed selection of corridors through network and graph analyses to enhance dispersal potential through an agricultural matrix. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01563-0Landscape EcologyLandsc EcolAbstractClimate change is causing range shifts in the distribution of many species‚ but fragmentation and human-altered landscapes are preventing the movement of many of these affected species to more suitable environments. The establishment of corridors to enable dispersal are often costly and laborious and generally prioritize large or highly mobile animals and trees but are rarely considered for herbaceous species which often have associated native insect communities. Further‚ assessing the quality of habitats is not often considered in landscape connectivity modeling but is important to ensure that species of interest are not only able to move through a landscape but are able to survive as well. Here‚ we present a novel concept of using road verges as corridors to connect high quality habitats.CitationRaymundo, M., Caballes, C. F., Mayfield, M. M., & Hock, K. (2022). Informed selection of corridors through network and graph analyses to enhance dispersal potential through an agricultural matrix. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01563-0
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Klunzinger, M. W., Whisson, C., Zieritz, A., Benson, J. A., Stewart, B. A., & Kirkendale, L. (2022). Integrated taxonomy reveals new threatened freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Hyriidae: Westralunio) from southwestern Australia. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 20385. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24767-5Scientific ReportsSci RepAbstractAbstract
The freshwater mussel
Westralunio carteri
(Iredale‚ 1934) has long been considered the sole
Westralunio
species in Australia‚ limited to the Southwest and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and under Australian legislation. Here‚ we used species delimitation models based on COI mtDNA sequences to confirm existence of three evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) within this taxon and conducted morphometric analyses to investigate whether shell shape differed significantly among these ESUs. “
W. carteri
” I was found to be significantly larger and more elongated than “
W. carteri
” II and “
W. carteri
” II + III combined‚ but not different from “
W. carteri
” III alone. We recognise and redescribe “
W. carteri
” I as
Westralunio carteri
(Iredale‚ 1934) from western coastal drainages and describe “
W. carteri
” II and “
W. carteri
” III as
Westralunio inbisi
sp. nov. from southern and lower southwestern drainages. Two subspecies are further delineated: “
W. carteri
” II is formally described as
Westralunio inbisi inbisi
subsp. nov. from southern coastal drainages‚ and “
W. carteri
” III as
Westralunio inbisi meridiemus
subsp. nov. from the southwestern corner. Because this study profoundly compresses the range of
Westralunio carteri
northward and introduces additional southern and southwestern taxa with restricted distributions‚ new threatened species nominations are necessary.CitationKlunzinger, M. W., Whisson, C., Zieritz, A., Benson, J. A., Stewart, B. A., & Kirkendale, L. (2022). Integrated taxonomy reveals new threatened freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Hyriidae: Westralunio) from southwestern Australia. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 20385. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24767-5 -
Qi, Y., Xian, X., Zhao, H., Wang, R., Huang, H., Zhang, Y., Yang, M., & Liu, W. (2022). Increased Invasion Risk of Tagetes minuta L. in China under Climate Change: A Study of the Potential Geographical Distributions. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(23), 3248. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233248PMID: 36501288
PMCID: PMC9737557Plants (Basel, Switzerland)Plants (Basel)AbstractTagetes minuta L.‚ a member of the Tageftes genus belonging to the Asteraceae family‚ is a well-documented exotic plant native to South America that has become established in China. In this study‚ 784 occurrence records and 12 environmental variables were used to predict the potential geographical distributions (PGDs) of T. minuta under current and future climatic changes using an optimized MaxEnt model. The results showed that (1) three out of the twelve variables contributed the most to the model performance: isothermality (bio3)‚ precipitation in the driest quarter (bio17)‚ and precipitation in the warmest quarter (bio18); (2) the PGDs of T. minuta under the current climate covered 62.06 × 104 km2‚ mainly in North‚ South‚ and Southwest China; and (3) climate changes will facilitate the expansion of the PGDs of T. minuta under three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP 1-2.6‚ SSP2-4.5‚ and SSP5-8.5) in both the 2030s and 2050s. The centroid of suitable habitats under SSP2-4.5 moved the longest distance. T. minuta has the capacity to expand in China‚ especially in Yunnan‚ where there exist no occurrence records. Customs‚ ports‚ and adjacent regions should strengthen the quarantine of imported goods and mobile personnel for T. minuta‚ and introduced seedlings should be isolated to minimize their introduction risk.CitationQi, Y., Xian, X., Zhao, H., Wang, R., Huang, H., Zhang, Y., Yang, M., & Liu, W. (2022). Increased Invasion Risk of Tagetes minuta L. in China under Climate Change: A Study of the Potential Geographical Distributions. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 11(23), 3248. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233248 -
Barnes, J. C., Sanders, M. G., & Burnett, S. E. (2022). Optimising camera trap surveys for the Carpentarian Pseudantechinus ( Pseudantechinus mimulus ) in northwest Queensland. Austral Ecology, aec.13263. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13263Austral EcologyAustral EcologyabstractCitationBarnes, J. C., Sanders, M. G., & Burnett, S. E. (2022). Optimising camera trap surveys for the Carpentarian Pseudantechinus ( Pseudantechinus mimulus ) in northwest Queensland. Austral Ecology, aec.13263. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13263
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Cacho, O., Hester, S., Tait, P., Kwong, R., Lefoe, G., Rutherford, P., & Kriticos, D. (2022). Re-evaluating management of established pests including the European wasp, Vespula germanica using biocontrol agents [Preprint]. Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.22.517291AbstractAbstract
Established pests such as the European wasp (
Vespula germanica
) are often overlooked as candidates for management programmes (eradication and/or containment) because the use of traditional surveillance and control techniques over very large areas becomes uneconomic. Use of biological control agents that persist in the environment is usually the only economically feasible option‚ however the processes around approvals for release of biocontrol agents can take significant amounts of time and resources‚ especially if screening and testing of potential agents is required.
This project investigates whether the European wasp could be a candidate for a renewed management programme in south-eastern Australia given the availability of a biocontrol agent following successful screening and testing of an agent‚
Sphecophaga vesparum vesparum
‚ in the 1980s. Whether a biological control programme is worthwhile pursuing depends on the size of the benefits to industry‚ community and the environment from a reduction in European wasp abundance. This project explores the benefits and costs of European wasp management using a biocontrol agent‚ and importantly‚ includes valuation of the social and environmental impacts of the pest.CitationCacho, O., Hester, S., Tait, P., Kwong, R., Lefoe, G., Rutherford, P., & Kriticos, D. (2022). Re-evaluating management of established pests including the European wasp, Vespula germanica using biocontrol agents [Preprint]. Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.22.517291 -
Furlong, M., Adamu, A., Hickson, R. I., Horwood, P., Golchin, M., Hoskins, A., & Russell, T. (2022). Estimating the Distribution of Japanese Encephalitis Vectors in Australia Using Ecological Niche Modelling. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 7(12), 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120393Tropical Medicine and Infectious DiseaseTropicalMedAbstractRecent Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreaks in southeastern Australia have sparked interest into epidemiological factors surrounding the virus’ novel emergence in this region. Here‚ the geographic distribution of mosquito species known to be competent JEV vectors in the country was estimated by combining known mosquito occurrences and ecological drivers of distribution to reveal insights into communities at highest risk of infectious disease transmission. Species distribution models predicted that Culex annulirostris and Culex sitiens presence was mostly likely along Australia’s eastern and northern coastline‚ while Culex quinquefasciatus presence was estimated to be most likely near inland regions of southern Australia as well as coastal regions of Western Australia. While Culex annulirostris is considered the dominant JEV vector in Australia‚ our ecological niche models emphasise the need for further entomological surveillance and JEV research within Australia.CitationFurlong, M., Adamu, A., Hickson, R. I., Horwood, P., Golchin, M., Hoskins, A., & Russell, T. (2022). Estimating the Distribution of Japanese Encephalitis Vectors in Australia Using Ecological Niche Modelling. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 7(12), 393. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7120393
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Fahey, P. S., Udovicic, F., Cantrill, D. J., & Bayly, M. J. (2022). A box on the river: The phylogenetics and phylogeography of Eucalyptus baueriana (Eucalyptus sect. Adnataria ser. Heterophloiae). PLOS ONE, 17(11), e0276117. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276117PLOS ONEPLoS ONEAbstractWe present a phylogeographic study of the tree species
Eucalyptus baueriana
Schauer‚ which occurs in disjunct areas on the near coastal plains and ranges of the south-east Australian mainland. DArTseq data are used to build a phylogeny including
E
.
baueriana
and closely related taxa to test its monophyly‚ test the genetic distinctness of the three subspecies of
E
.
baueriana
‚ and investigate relationships between its disjunct populations. Additionally‚ we use population structure analysis to investigate the genetic distinctness of populations‚ and MaxEnt to investigate the environmental factors potentially influencing the species’ distribution. We show
E
.
baueriana
is monophyletic and most closely related to three other Blue Box eucalypt species:
E
.
conica
H.Deane & Maiden‚
E
.
dalveenica
T.L.Collins‚ R.L.Andrew & J.J.Bruhl and
E
.
magnificata
L.A.S.Johnson & K.D.Hill‚ with some evidence for genetic introgression between these taxa. Within
E
.
baueriana
‚ the deepest genetic breaks do not correspond with the subspecies classification as the two geographically restricted subspecies‚ together with samples of the more widespread
E
.
baueriana
subsp.
baueriana
from west of the Gippsland lowlands‚ form a south-western clade with that is sister to other populations of subsp.
baueriana
. The oldest genetic break in the species occurs in far eastern Gippsland (Victoria)‚ corresponding to one of the shortest geographic disjunctions in the species’ distribution. Genetic breaks in other species have been observed in this region which is broadly referred to as the southern transition zone. Both total annual rainfall and the seasonality of this rainfall are hypothesised to affect the species’ distribution; gaps in its distribution are in areas of higher rainfall that support closed forest and in regions with more winter dominated rainfall.CitationFahey, P. S., Udovicic, F., Cantrill, D. J., & Bayly, M. J. (2022). A box on the river: The phylogenetics and phylogeography of Eucalyptus baueriana (Eucalyptus sect. Adnataria ser. Heterophloiae). PLOS ONE, 17(11), e0276117. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276117 -
Wawrzyczek, S., Holmes, G. D., & Hoebee, S. E. (2022). Reproductive biology and population structure of the endangered shrub Grevillea bedggoodiana (Proteaceae). Conservation Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-022-01480-4Conservation GeneticsConserv GenetAbstractNarrowly endemic species are particularly vulnerable to catastrophic events. Compared to widespread species‚ they may also be less capable of adapting to shifts in environmental pressures as a result of specialisation on a narrow range of local condition and limited ability to disperse. However‚ life-history traits‚ such as preferential outcrossing and high fecundity can maintain genetic diversity and evolutionary potential‚ and boost species resilience. The endangered Grevillea bedggoodiana (Enfield Grevillea) is an understorey shrub restricted to an area of ca. 150 km2 in south-eastern Australia with a legacy of large-scale anthropogenic disturbance. Prior to this study little was known about its biology and population structure. Here‚ its breeding system was assessed through a controlled pollination experiment at one of its central populations‚ and eight populations were sampled for genetic analysis with microsatellite markers. The species was found to be preferentially outcrossing‚ with no evidence of pollination limitation. In most populations‚ allelic richness‚ observed heterozygosity and gene diversity were high (Ar: 3.8–6.3; Ho: 0.45–0.65‚ He: 0.60 − 0.75). However‚ the inbreeding coefficients were significant in at least four populations‚ ranging from Fi -0.061 to 0.259 despite high outcrossing rates. Estimated reproductive rates varied among sampled populations but were independent of gene diversity and inbreeding. Despite its small geographic range‚ the species’ populations showed moderate differentiation (AMOVA: FST = 0.123)‚ which was largely attributable to isolation by distance. We interpret these results as suggesting that G. bedggoodiana is reproductively healthy and has maintained high levels of genetic diversity despite recent disturbance.CitationWawrzyczek, S., Holmes, G. D., & Hoebee, S. E. (2022). Reproductive biology and population structure of the endangered shrub Grevillea bedggoodiana (Proteaceae). Conservation Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-022-01480-4
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Waudby, C. M., Sherwood, S. C., Osborne, N. J., Beggs, P. J., Al-Kouba, J., Ebert, E. E., & Muscatello, D. J. (2022). Combined synoptic and regional weather patterns affecting atmospheric Poaceae pollen concentrations in Sydney, Australia. Aerobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-022-09764-5AerobiologiaAerobiologiaAbstractInhalation of grass pollen can result in acute exacerbation of asthma‚ prompting questions about how grass pollen reaches metropolitan areas. We establish typical atmospheric Poaceae (grass) pollen concentrations recorded at two pollen samplers within the Sydney basin in eastern Australia and analyse their correlation with each other and meteorological variables. We determine the effect of synoptic and regional airflow on Poaceae pollen transport during a period of extreme (≥ 100 grains m−3 air) concentration and characterise the meteorology. Finally‚ we tested the hypothesis that most Poaceae pollen captured by the pollen samplers originated from local sources. Fifteen months of daily pollen data‚ three days of hourly atmospheric Poaceae pollen concentrations and fifteen months of hourly meteorology from two locations within the Sydney basin were used. Weather Research Forecasting (WRF)‚ Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) modelling and conditional bivariate probability functions (CBPF) were used to assess Poaceae pollen transport. Most Poaceae pollen collected was estimated to be from local sources under low wind speeds. Extreme daily Poaceae pollen concentrations were rare‚ and there was no strong evidence to support long-distance Poaceae pollen transport into the Sydney basin or across the greater Sydney metropolitan area. Daily average pollen concentrations mask sudden increases in atmospheric Poaceae pollen‚ which may put a significant and sudden strain on the healthcare system. Mapping of Poaceae pollen sources within Sydney and accurate prediction of pollen concentrations are the first steps to an advanced warning system necessary to pre-empt the healthcare resources needed during pollen season.CitationWaudby, C. M., Sherwood, S. C., Osborne, N. J., Beggs, P. J., Al-Kouba, J., Ebert, E. E., & Muscatello, D. J. (2022). Combined synoptic and regional weather patterns affecting atmospheric Poaceae pollen concentrations in Sydney, Australia. Aerobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-022-09764-5
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Rosenfeld, S., Maturana, C. S., Spencer, H. G., Convey, P., Saucède, T., Brickle, P., Bahamonde, F., Jossart, Q., Poulin, E., & Gonzalez-Wevar, C. (2022). Complete distribution of the genus Laevilitorina (Littorinimorpha, Littorinidae) in the Southern Hemisphere: remarks and natural history. ZooKeys, 1127, 61–77. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1127.91310ZooKeysZKAbstractLittorinid snails are present in most coastal areas globally‚ playing a significant role in the ecology of intertidal communities.
Laevilitorina
is a marine gastropod genus distributed exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere‚ with 21 species reported from South America‚ the sub-Antarctic islands‚ Antarctica‚ New Zealand‚ Australia and Tasmania. Here‚ an updated database of 21 species generated from a combination of sources is presented: 1) new field sampling data; 2) published records; 3) the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA)‚ to provide a comprehensive description of the known geographic distribution of the genus and detailed occurrences for each of the 21 species. The database includes 813 records (occurrences)‚ 53 from field sampling‚ 174 from the literature‚ 128 from GBIF‚ and 458 from ALA. West Antarctica had the highest species richness (8 species)‚ followed by sub-Antarctic islands of New Zealand (4 species) and the south-east shelf of Australia (4 species). The provinces of Magellan‚ New Zealand South Island‚ and sub-Antarctic Islands of the Indian Ocean include two species each. This study specifically highlights reports of
L. pygmaea
and
L. venusta
‚ species that have been almost unrecorded since their description. Recent advances in molecular studies of
L. caliginosa
showed that this species does not correspond to a widely distributed taxon‚ but to multiple divergent lineages distributed throughout the Southern Ocean. Ongoing molecular and taxonomic studies are necessary for a better understanding of the diversity and biogeography of this genus.CitationRosenfeld, S., Maturana, C. S., Spencer, H. G., Convey, P., Saucède, T., Brickle, P., Bahamonde, F., Jossart, Q., Poulin, E., & Gonzalez-Wevar, C. (2022). Complete distribution of the genus Laevilitorina (Littorinimorpha, Littorinidae) in the Southern Hemisphere: remarks and natural history. ZooKeys, 1127, 61–77. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1127.91310 -
Canning, A. D. (2022). Rediscovering wild food to diversify production across Australia’s agricultural landscapes. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, 865580. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.865580Frontiers in Sustainable Food SystemsFront. Sustain. Food Syst.AbstractConventional agriculture currently relies on the intensive and expansive growth of a small number of monocultures‚ this is both risky for food security and is causing substantial environmental degradation. Crops are typically grown far from their native origins‚ enduring climates‚ pests‚ and diseases that they have little evolutionary adaptation to. As a result‚ farming practices involve modifying the environment to suit the crop‚ often
via
practices including vegetation clearing‚ drainage‚ irrigation‚ tilling‚ and the application of fertilizers‚ pesticides‚ and herbicides. One avenue for improvement‚ however‚ is the diversification of monoculture agricultural systems with traditional foods native to the area. Native foods benefit from evolutionary history‚ enabling adaptation to local environmental conditions‚ reducing the need for environmental modifications and external inputs. Traditional use of native foods in Australia has a rich history‚ yet the commercial production of native foods remains small compared with conventional crops‚ such as wheat‚ barley and sugarcane. Identifying what native crops can grow where would be a first step in scoping potential native food industries and supporting farmers seeking to diversify their cropping. In this study‚ I modeled the potentially suitable distributions of 177 native food and forage species across Australia‚ given their climate and soil preferences. The coastal areas of Queensland’s wet tropics‚ south-east Queensland‚ New South Wales‚ and Victoria were predicted to support the greatest diversity of native food and forage species (as high 80–120 species). These areas also correspond to the nation’s most agriculturally intensive areas‚ including much of the Murray-Darling Basin‚ suggesting high potential for the diversification of existing intensive monocultures. Native crops with the most expansive potential distribution include Acacia trees‚ Maloga bean‚ bush plum‚ Emu apple‚ native millet‚ and bush tomatoes‚ with these crops largely being tolerant of vast areas of semi-arid conditions. In addition to greater food security‚ if diverse native cropping results in greater ecosystem service provisioning‚ through carbon storage‚ reduced water usage‚ reduced nutrient runoff‚ or greater habitat provision‚ then payment for ecosystem service schemes could also provide supplemental farm income.CitationCanning, A. D. (2022). Rediscovering wild food to diversify production across Australia’s agricultural landscapes. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, 865580. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.865580 -
Backhouse, F., Welbergen, J. A., Magrath, R. D., & Dalziell, A. H. (2022). Depleted cultural richness of an avian vocal mimic in fragmented habitat. Diversity and Distributions, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13646Diversity and DistributionsAbstractAim Conservation has recently shifted to include behavioural or cultural diversity‚ adding substantial value to conservation efforts. Habitat loss and fragmentation can deplete diversity in learnt behaviours such as bird song by reducing the availability of song tutors‚ yet these impacts are poorly understood. Vocal mimicry may be particularly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation through the resulting reduction in both heterospecific models and conspecific tutors. Here we examine the relationship between habitat availability and both mimetic repertoire size and song composition in male Albert’s lyrebirds (Menura alberti)‚ a near-threatened species renowned for its remarkable mimetic abilities. Location Eastern Australia. Methods We calculated repertoire size and composition from recordings of male Albert’s lyrebirds from throughout the species’ range. We estimated patch size and local habitat availability using a species distribution model and remotely sensed vegetation types. We assessed the local model species assemblage through species distribution models and automated acoustic detectors. Results Individual males in smaller habitat patches‚ or in areas with a lower proportion of suitable habitat‚ mimicked fewer model species and fewer vocalization types. However‚ they mimicked comparatively more vocalizations from each model species than individuals in larger patches or with more intact habitats. All model species were likely to occur in most study sites‚ suggesting that repertoires are not driven by the availability of model species. Main Conclusions Our results suggest that mimetic repertoire sizes are influenced by habitat availability through the number of lyrebird tutors. Further‚ individuals in disturbed habitats may partially compensate for mimicking fewer species by mimicking more vocalizations from each species. This study supports the hypothesis that cultural diversity may be impoverished by habitat loss and fragmentation in a similar way to genetic diversity. Variation in song diversity may therefore indicate population health and highlight populations in particular need of conservation action.CitationBackhouse, F., Welbergen, J. A., Magrath, R. D., & Dalziell, A. H. (2022). Depleted cultural richness of an avian vocal mimic in fragmented habitat. Diversity and Distributions, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13646
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Torkkola, J. J., Chauvenet, A. L. M., Hines, H., & Oliver, P. M. (2022). Distributional modelling, megafires and data gaps highlight probable underestimation of climate change risk for two lizards from Australia’s montane rainforests. Austral Ecology, n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13123Austral EcologyAbstractSpecies endemic to high elevations are predicted to see declines in their suitable habitat under future global climate change‚ even in protected or little disturbed areas. However‚ such risks are often not included in conservation assessments‚ especially when appropriate models to predict climate change impacts are not available. Here‚ we use species distribution models to explore the likely impacts of climate change and recent megafires on the status of two high-elevation cloud forest-centred lizards from Australia that were listed as Least Concern in a recent (2017) IUCN Red List assessment of Australian reptiles. We found both species (Harrisoniascincus zia and Silvascincus tryoni) are predicted to lose all suitable habitat by 2050‚ under ‘optimistic’ future climate projections. We also found that 52.34–48.5% of H. zia modelled suitable habitat was potentially affected by recent and unprecedented megafires in eastern Australia‚ while only 0.02–0% of S. tryoni habitat was affected. Our results support upgrading the IUCN Red Listings of H. zia and S. tryoni to vulnerable and endangered‚ respectively. Our data also highlight an alarming paucity in the number of verified records for these species over the last decade‚ at precisely the time when these records are becoming critical to testing and validating predictions of declines. The next decade looms as a critical period to establish baseline data sets on the distribution and genetic diversity of these high-elevation taxa. For reasonably visible and easily identifiable species such as these skinks‚ citizen science approaches may offer a key path to addressing this challenge.CitationTorkkola, J. J., Chauvenet, A. L. M., Hines, H., & Oliver, P. M. (2022). Distributional modelling, megafires and data gaps highlight probable underestimation of climate change risk for two lizards from Australia’s montane rainforests. Austral Ecology, n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13123
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Cooley, M., Whiteley, P., Thornton, G., & Stevenson, M. (2022). Health surveillance representative of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) distribution in Victoria, Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13208Australian veterinary journalAbstractHealth surveillance of wildlife populations is essential for conservation and reduction of the impacts of disease. Population declines and areas of overabundance of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) can disrupt the overall survival of the species as well as its habitat. This retrospective study was conducted to describe population distributions‚ identify areas which need increased surveillance and improve koala health surveillance methodology by Wildlife Health Victoria: Surveillance (WHV:S) at the Veterinary School of The University of Melbourne. Twelve years of Victorian koala observation data from the Atlas of Living Australia combined with surveillance data from WHV:S were used to create choropleth maps‚ using Quantum Geographic Information Systems of populations and surveillance events‚ visually representing hot spots. This data was further used to calculate health surveillance efforts between 2008 to the beginning of 2020. Analysis ranked postcodes throughout Victoria from low surveillance efforts to high‚ using standardised surveillance ratio’s 95% confidence interval upper limits which were mapped using a colour gradient. This identified postcodes which need increased surveillance effort‚ corresponding to areas with high koala observations and low surveillance submissions. This analysis can guide surveillance for postcodes with koalas that were under-represented and inform improved methodology of future surveillance by WHV:S. The specific advice for improvements to WHV:S includes utilisation of citizen science and syndromic surveillance‚ website improvement‚ increasing community awareness and more. The limitations of this study were discussed.CitationCooley, M., Whiteley, P., Thornton, G., & Stevenson, M. (2022). Health surveillance representative of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) distribution in Victoria, Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13208
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Wijewardhana, U. A., Jayawardana, M., & Meyer, D. (2022). Modelling the recovery of resident shorebirds following a fox eradication program using citizen science data. Ecological Informatics, 101854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101854Ecological InformaticsEcological InformaticsAbstractHistorically‚ the land-based threat to shorebird colonies on Phillip Island‚ Victoria‚ Australia‚ was fox predation. As a result‚ a fox eradication programme consisting of three phases: knock-down (i.e.‚ 2006)‚ clean-up (i.e.‚ 2011)‚ and post-eradication. In 2011 an effective knock-down was declared‚ signalling the beginning of the clean-up phase. The purpose of this research is to assess the recovery of six resident shorebird species on Phillip Island following fox removal. The statistical methodologies used are novel for assessing bird species population recovery following a successful predator eradication program. We used citizen science data from 2003 to 2017‚ extracted from the Atlas of Living Australia. The first analysis method used INLA modelling‚ which relied on a Negative Binomial distribution for bird counts to look for upward trends in shorebird populations during the fox eradication operation. The second method use changepoint analysis techniques to see whether successive phases of the eradication process were associated with changes in bird population numbers. Four of the six shorebird species investigated responded positively to reduced fox populations over the 15-year study‚ and all changepoint approaches consistently recognised the start of the clean-up phase‚ with less consistency identifying the start of the knock-down phase. Since 2006‚ the INLA models indicate a significant increase in the upward trend of shorebird populations for three of the six shorebird species investigated. Agreement across the four changepoint techniques indicates that changes in bird numbers were associated with the date of the eradication program’s clean-up phase for all of these shorebird species. These results demonstrate some promise for these methods to monitor native species recovery during eradication programs.CitationWijewardhana, U. A., Jayawardana, M., & Meyer, D. (2022). Modelling the recovery of resident shorebirds following a fox eradication program using citizen science data. Ecological Informatics, 101854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101854
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Goodman, A. M., Kass, J. M., & Ware, J. (2022). Dynamic distribution modelling of the swamp tigertail dragonfly Synthemis eustalacta (Odonata: Anisoptera: Synthemistidae) over a 20-year bushfire regime. Ecological Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13216Ecological EntomologyAbstractIntensity and severity of bushfires in Australia have increased over the past few decades due to climate change‚ threatening habitat loss for numerous species. Although the impact of bushfires on vertebrates is well-documented‚ the corresponding effects on insect taxa are rarely examined‚ although they are responsible for key ecosystem functions and services. Understanding the effects of bushfire seasons on insect distributions could elucidate long-term impacts and patterns of ecosystem recovery. Here‚ the authors investigated the effects of recent bushfires‚ land-cover change‚ and climatic variables on the distribution of a common and endemic dragonfly‚ the swamp tigertail (Synthemis eustalacta) (Burmeister‚ 1839)‚ which inhabits forests that have recently undergone severe burning. The authors used a temporally dynamic species distribution modelling approach that incorporated 20 years of community-science data on dragonfly occurrence and predictors based on fire‚ land cover‚ and climate to make yearly predictions of suitability. The authors also compared this to an approach that combines multiple temporally static models that use annual data. The authors found that for both approaches‚ fire-specific variables had negligible importance for the models‚ while the percentage of tree and non-vegetative cover were most important. The authors also found that the dynamic model outperformed the static ones‚ based on cross-validation omission rate. Model predictions indicated temporal variation in area and spatial arrangement of suitable habitat‚ but no patterns of habitat expansion‚ contraction‚ or shifting. These results highlight not only the efficacy of dynamic modelling to capture spatiotemporal variables such as vegetation cover for an endemic insect species‚ but also provide a novel approach to mapping species distributions with sparse locality records.CitationGoodman, A. M., Kass, J. M., & Ware, J. (2022). Dynamic distribution modelling of the swamp tigertail dragonfly Synthemis eustalacta (Odonata: Anisoptera: Synthemistidae) over a 20-year bushfire regime. Ecological Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13216
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Farrell, C., Livesley, S. J., Arndt, S. K., Beaumont, L., Burley, H., Ellsworth, D., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Fletcher, T. D., Gallagher, R., Ossola, A., Power, S. A., Marchin, R., Rayner, J. P., Rymer, P. D., Staas, L., Szota, C., Williams, N. S. G., & Leishman, M. (2022). Can we integrate ecological approaches to improve plant selection for green infrastructure? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 76, 127732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127732Urban Forestry & Urban GreeningUrban Forestry & Urban GreeningAbstractModern cities are dominated by impervious surfaces that absorb‚ store and release heat in summer‚ create large volumes of runoff and provide limited biodiversity habitat and poor air quality can also be a health issue. Future climate change‚ including more frequent and extreme weather events will likely exacerbate these issues. Green infrastructure such as parks‚ gardens‚ street trees and engineered technologies such as green roofs and walls‚ facades and raingardens can help mitigate these problems. This relies on selecting plants that can persist in urban environments and improve stormwater retention‚ cooling‚ biodiversity and air pollution. However‚ plant selection for green infrastructure is challenging where there is limited information on species tolerance to heat and water variability or how these species can deliver multiple benefits. Therefore‚ we draw on research to illustrate how plant performance for green infrastructure can be inferred from plant attributes (i.e.‚ traits) or from analysis of their natural distribution. We present a new framework for plant selection for green infrastructure and use a case study to demonstrate how this approach has been used to select trees and shrubs for Australian cities. We have shown through the case study and examples‚ how plant traits and species’ natural distribution can be used to overcome the lack of information on tolerance to both individual and multiple stressors; and how species contribute to the provision of benefits such as stormwater retention‚ cooling‚ biodiversity and air pollution mitigation. We also discuss how planting design and species diversity can contribute to achieving multiple benefits to make the most of contested space in dense cities‚ and to also reduce the risk of failure in urban greening.CitationFarrell, C., Livesley, S. J., Arndt, S. K., Beaumont, L., Burley, H., Ellsworth, D., Esperon-Rodriguez, M., Fletcher, T. D., Gallagher, R., Ossola, A., Power, S. A., Marchin, R., Rayner, J. P., Rymer, P. D., Staas, L., Szota, C., Williams, N. S. G., & Leishman, M. (2022). Can we integrate ecological approaches to improve plant selection for green infrastructure? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 76, 127732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127732
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Mertin, A. A., Laurence, M. H., van der Merwe, M., French, K., & Liew, E. C. Y. (2022). The culturable seed mycobiome of two Banksia species is dominated by latent saprotrophic and multi-trophic fungi. Fungal Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2022.09.002Fungal BiologyFungal BiologyAbstractSeed fungal endophytes play an important beneficial role in the formation of the seedling mycobiome and contribute to plant establishment but can also occur as latent pathogens and saprotrophs. Current knowledge on the function and diversity of seed fungal endophytes has been gained through studies in agricultural systems whilst knowledge from natural systems is relatively less. We used two co-occurring species from the genus Banksia from four sites in Australia’s Sydney Basin Bioregion to investigate the abundance and diversity of seed fungal endophyte communities present in natural ecosystem hosts. Based on results from culturing and DNA sequence analysis of multiple loci‚ we found that Banksia seeds house a diverse range of fungal endophyte species‚ that when assigned to functional guilds belonged to multiple trophic modes. Thirty-one of the fungal taxa identified had not been previously reported as endophytes. Amongst the 58 Operational Taxonomic Units identified‚ Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes were the dominant classes and Banksiamyces (Leotiomycetes) and Penicillium (Sordariomycetes) the dominant genera‚ with many of the species isolated recorded in the literature as having a limited distribution. The two Banksias shared few fungal endophyte species‚ which were not always present across all study sites. We revealed a ‘hidden diversity’ within seeds of Banksia from natural ecosystems and provided insights into the influence host species can have on the seed mycobiome.CitationMertin, A. A., Laurence, M. H., van der Merwe, M., French, K., & Liew, E. C. Y. (2022). The culturable seed mycobiome of two Banksia species is dominated by latent saprotrophic and multi-trophic fungi. Fungal Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2022.09.002
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Cutajar, T. P., & Rowley, J. J. L. (2022). The Utility of Acoustic Citizen Science Data in Understanding Geographic Distributions of Morphologically Conserved Species: Frogs in the Litoria phyllochroa Species Group. Journal of Herpetology, 56(3), 318–323. https://doi.org/10.1670/21-067Journal of HerpetologyJournal of HerpetologyAbstractUnderstanding species’ geographic distributions is important for informing their conservation; however‚ an accurate understanding of where species occur is often precluded by a paucity of species records. For taxa that are difficult to visually distinguish at the species level‚ this problem can be compounded by misidentification of existing records. Citizen science has emerged as a potentially powerful tool to increase species observation data‚ but whether it can meaningfully add to our understanding of the distributions of species that are typically difficult to identify is contentious. We evaluated the volume‚ spread‚ and species identification accuracy of 3 yr of data from an acoustics-based citizen science dataset with a national aggregate of species observations collected over more than 140 yr (i.e.‚ unvouchered human observations‚ photo-vouchered citizen science observations‚ and preserved specimens) to demonstrate the boundaries of five small‚ morphologically conserved frog species in eastern Australia. The national aggregate contained the most species records; however‚ the annual rate of record collection was much greater in the acoustic citizen science dataset. A high proportion of likely misidentified records were detected in the national aggregate dataset. Spatial bias differed between datasets‚ with acoustic citizen science data more biased toward highly populated areas. We demonstrate that citizen science can collect large volumes of spatially and taxonomically valid data which‚ especially when used in combination with more traditionally collected species records‚ can inform the detailed delineation of ranges in historically confusing groups of frog species.CitationCutajar, T. P., & Rowley, J. J. L. (2022). The Utility of Acoustic Citizen Science Data in Understanding Geographic Distributions of Morphologically Conserved Species: Frogs in the Litoria phyllochroa Species Group. Journal of Herpetology, 56(3), 318–323. https://doi.org/10.1670/21-067
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Knapp, S. (2022). A revision of Lycianthes (Solanaceae) in Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific. PhytoKeys, 209, 1–134. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.209.87681Publisher: Pensoft PublishersPhytoKeysPhytoKeysAbstractThe genus Lycianthes (Dunal) Hassl. (Solanaceae) has in the past been treated as a section of the large genus Solanum L.‚ but is more closely related to Capsicum L. The eighteen species of Lycianthes occurring in Australia‚ New Guinea (defined as the island of New Guinea‚ comprising Papua New Guinea [incl. Bougainville] and the Indonesian provinces of Papua Barat and Papua‚ plus the surrounding islands connected during the last glacial maximum) and the Pacific Islands are here treated in full‚ with complete descriptions‚ including synonymy‚ typifications and synonyms‚ distribution maps and illustrations. The history of taxonomic treatment of the genus in the region is also discussed. These taxa occupy a diverse range of forested habitats‚ and are in diverse in habit‚ from small shrubs to large canopy lianas to epiphytic shrubs. They are for the most part rarely collected‚ and many are endemic (14 of the 18 species treated here). Australia has a single endemic Lycianthes species (L. shanesii (F.Muell.) A.R.Bean). Nine species are found in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea‚ one in Indonesia only‚ four in Papua New Guinea only‚ and L. vitiensis (Seem). A.R.Bean is known from Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) and the south Pacific as far east as Samoa. Lycianthes lucens S.Knapp sp. nov. is described from the islands of Lihir‚ New Ireland and the Louisiade Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. The cultivated L. rantonnetii (Carrière) Bitter is also treated in full‚ in this region known currently only from Australia; it is native to southern South America. Preliminary conservation assessments are presented for all species except the cultivated L. rantonnetii.CitationKnapp, S. (2022). A revision of Lycianthes (Solanaceae) in Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific. PhytoKeys, 209, 1–134. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.209.87681
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Diengdoh, V. L., Ondei, S., Hunt, M., & Brook, B. W. (2022). Predicted impacts of climate change and extreme temperature events on the future distribution of fruit bat species in Australia. Global Ecology and Conservation, 37, e02181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02181Global Ecology and ConservationGlobal Ecology and ConservationAbstractFruit bats are important pollinators and seed dispersers whose distribution may be affected by climate change and extreme-temperature events. We assessed the potential impacts of those changes and events on the future distribution of fruit bats in Australia. Correlative species distribution modelling was used to predict the distribution of seven (based on data availability) tropical and temperate fruit bat species. We used bioclimatic variables‚ the number of days where temperature ≥42 °C (known to induce extreme heat stress and mortality in fruit bats)‚ and land cover (a proxy for habitat) as predictors. An ensemble of machine-learning algorithms was used to make predictions for the current-day distribution and future (2050 and 2070) scenarios‚ using multiple emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) and global circulation models (Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator‚ Hadley Centre Global Environment Model Carbon Cycle‚ and the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate). Our results predict‚ under current conditions‚ on average‚ 9.1 % and 90.8 % of the area are suitable and unsuitable‚ respectively. Under future scenarios‚ on average‚ 6.7 % and 89.7 % continued to be suitable and unsuitable‚ respectively‚ while there was a 1.1 % gain and 2.4 % loss in suitable areas. Under current conditions‚ we predict‚ on average‚ 5.6 % and 3.4 % are suitable inside and outside species’ IUCN-defined range‚ respectively. While under future scenarios‚ 4.8 % (4.4 % stable and 0.4 % gain) and 2.9 % (2.2 % stable and 0.6 % gain) are suitable inside and outside the range respectively. On average‚ the gain in areas inside the range covers 2703.5 grid cells of size 5 km‚ while outside the range it is 4070.3 cells. Under future scenarios‚ the loss in areas is predicted to be 1.2 % and 1.1 % on average‚ inside and outside species range respectively. Fruit bats are likely to respond to climate change and extreme temperatures by migrating to more suitable areas‚ including regions not historically inhabited by those species. Our results can be used for identifying areas at risk of new fruit-bat colonisation‚ such as human settlements and orchards‚ as well as areas that might be important for habitat conservation.CitationDiengdoh, V. L., Ondei, S., Hunt, M., & Brook, B. W. (2022). Predicted impacts of climate change and extreme temperature events on the future distribution of fruit bat species in Australia. Global Ecology and Conservation, 37, e02181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02181
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Bastian, H., Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Leonie, S., Brandt, A., Scheu, S., & Hartke, T. R. (2022). Rapid diversification of the Australian Amitermes group during late Cenozoic climate change. Ecography, 2022(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.05944Place: Copenhagen, United States
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Section: ResearchEcographyEcographyAbstractLate Cenozoic climate change led to the progressive aridification of Australia over the past 15 million years. This gradual biome turnover fundamentally changed Australia’s ecosystems‚ opening new niches and prompting diversification of plants and animals. One example are termites of the Australian Amitermes group (AAG)‚ consisting of the Australian Amitermes and affiliated genera. Although the most speciose and diverse higher termite group in Australia‚ little is known about its evolutionary history. We used ancestral range reconstruction and diversification analyses to illuminate 1) phylogenetic relationships of the AAG‚ 2) biogeographical processes leading to the current continent‐wide distribution and 3) timing and pattern of diversification in the context of late Cenozoic climate change. By estimating the largest time‐calibrated phylogeny for this group to date‚ we demonstrate monophyly of the AAG and confirm that their ancestor arrived in Australia \textasciitilde11–10 million years ago (Mya) from Southeast Asia. Ancestral range reconstruction indicates that Australia’s monsoon region was the launching point for a continental radiation shaped by dispersal and within‐biome speciation rather than vicariance. We found that multiple arid‐zone species diversified from mesic and tropical ancestors in the Plio‐Pleistocene‚ but also observed diversification in the opposite direction. Finally‚ we show that diversification steadily increased from \textasciitilde8 to 9 Mya during the ‘Hill Gap’ and accelerated from \textasciitilde4 Mya in concert with major ecological change during the Pliocene. Consistent with rapid diversification‚ species accumulation then slowed down into the present‚ likely caused by progressive niche saturation. This study provides a stepping stone for predicting future responses of Australia’s termite fauna in the face of human‐mediated climate change.CitationBastian, H., Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Leonie, S., Brandt, A., Scheu, S., & Hartke, T. R. (2022). Rapid diversification of the Australian Amitermes group during late Cenozoic climate change. Ecography, 2022(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.05944 -
Davis, R. A., Joseph, L., & Johnstone, R. E. (2022). Status of Barking Owl Ninox connivens in south-west Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 142(3), 366–376. https://doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v142i3.2022.a9Publisher: British Ornithologists' ClubBulletin of the British Ornithologists’ ClubbbrcAbstractBarking Owl Ninox connivens has two recognised subspecies in Australia: N. c. connivens and N. c. peninsularis. N. c. connivens currently includes the isolated south-west Australian population‚ which is separated from eastern populations by the Nullarbor Plain and from N. c. peninsularis to the north. N. c. connivens in south-west Australia occurs from near Perth in the north‚ east to Northam and south-east to Katanning and Bremer Bay; it has been treated subspecifically as N. c. addenda Mathews‚ 1912‚ but this name is not currently in use. Given concern over the apparent rarity of the south-west Australian population‚ we sought to compile all known historical and contemporary records in order to assess its conservation status and ecology. We located the holotype of N. c. addenda Mathews‚ 1912‚ and found only ten sightings in the past 20 years that met our criteria for acceptance. No sound-recordings or photographs of wild birds are known.CitationDavis, R. A., Joseph, L., & Johnstone, R. E. (2022). Status of Barking Owl Ninox connivens in south-west Australia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 142(3), 366–376. https://doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v142i3.2022.a9
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Scott, S., Jones, H. T., Margetts, C., Regan, S. G., & Kirby, S. (2022). De Vis’ Banded Snake, Denisonia devisi (Squamata: Elapidae): an Addition to the Elapid Fauna of South Australia with Notes on Its Ecology and Conservation. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 8.Herpetological Conservation and BiologyAbstractHuman-mediated disturbances appear to be ever-increasing and wide-ranging‚ and if we are to mitigate biodiversity loss‚ it is essential that we continue to survey and monitor both poorly known and well-understood ecosystems. This recommendation may be especially relevant for Australian herpetofauna‚ including many snake taxa‚ as many species are small‚ morphologically and/or behaviorally cryptic‚ and occur in specialized ecosystems. Here‚ we describe a westerly range extension and present the first records of the De Vis’ Banded Snake (Denisonia devisi) in South Australia. We also describe the habitat and our observations of behavior‚ foraging‚ and refugia‚ and discuss potential conservation concerns and recommendations for this newly discovered population. Our discovery contextualizes the need for ongoing fauna surveys‚ especially near jurisdictional borders. Detection of new populations of fringing taxa will undoubtedly continue to occur across Australia and may have implications for conservation management.CitationScott, S., Jones, H. T., Margetts, C., Regan, S. G., & Kirby, S. (2022). De Vis’ Banded Snake, Denisonia devisi (Squamata: Elapidae): an Addition to the Elapid Fauna of South Australia with Notes on Its Ecology and Conservation. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 8.
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Garcia-Rojas, M. I., Keatley, M. R., & Roslan, N. (2022). Citizen science and expert opinion working together to understand the impacts of climate change. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0273822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273822Publisher: Public Library of SciencePLOS ONEPLOS ONEAbstractIn the absence of historical information on phenology available in Australia‚ expert opinion was used for selecting indicator species that would be suitable for monitoring phenology on a continental scale as part of ClimateWatch—a citizen science program. Jacaranda mimosifolia being the most frequently observed species was used in this study to test expert opinion and the adequacy of citizen science records in detecting the influence of climatic conditions on this species’ flowering phenology. Generalised Additive Models for Location Scale and Shape were used to explore the occurrence and intensity of flowering of Jacaranda in relation to rainfall‚ temperature‚ and sun exposure. Jacaranda flowering onset was influenced by winter cold exposure‚ while flowering intensity was related to increasing sun exposure as spring progresses‚ and both were influenced by the conditions for flowering in the former flowering seasons (i.e.‚ sun exposure and highest temperatures reached‚ respectively). Our models provide the first attempt to describe the climate drivers for Jacaranda mimosifolia flowering in the southern hemisphere and identify where climatic changes will most likely alter this tree’s phenology in Australia and benefit or challenge its reproductive ability. They also support the choice of species for citizen science programs based on expert opinion.CitationGarcia-Rojas, M. I., Keatley, M. R., & Roslan, N. (2022). Citizen science and expert opinion working together to understand the impacts of climate change. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0273822. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273822
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White, M. D., Hollings, T., Sinclair, S. J., Williams, K. J., Dickson, F., Brenton, P., Raisbeck-Brown, N., Warnick, A., Lyon, P., Mokany, K., Liu, C., & Pirzl, R. (2022). Towards a continent-wide ecological site-condition database using calibrated expert evaluations. Ecological Applications, e2729. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2729Ecological ApplicationsAbstractA cost-effective way of undertaking comprehensive‚ continental-scale‚ assessments of ecological condition is needed to support large scale conservation planning‚ monitoring‚ reporting and decision making. Currently‚ cross-jurisdictional inconsistency in assessment methods limits the capacity to scale-up monitoring. Here we present a novel way to build a coherent continent-wide site-level ecological condition dataset‚ using cross-calibration methods to integrate assessments from many observers. We focus on the use of condition assessments from individual expert observers‚ a currently untapped resource. Our approach has two components: 1) a simple on-line tool that captures expert assessments at specific locations; 2) a process of calibrating and rescaling disparate expert evaluations that can be applied to the data to provide a consistent dataset for use in conservation assessments. We describe a pilot study‚ involving twenty-eight experts‚ who contributed 314 individual site condition assessments across a wide range of ecosystems and regions throughout continental Australia. A correction factor for each expert was used to rescale the contributed site condition assessment scores‚ based on a set of 77 photographic images‚ each scored for their condition by multiple experts‚ using a linear mixed model. Our approach shows strong promise for delivering the volumes of data required to develop continental-scale reference libraries of site condition assessments. While developed from expert elicitation‚ the approach could also be used to harmonise the collation of existing condition datasets. The process we demonstrate can also facilitate on-line citizen scientists to make site condition assessments that can be cross-calibrated via contributed images.CitationWhite, M. D., Hollings, T., Sinclair, S. J., Williams, K. J., Dickson, F., Brenton, P., Raisbeck-Brown, N., Warnick, A., Lyon, P., Mokany, K., Liu, C., & Pirzl, R. (2022). Towards a continent-wide ecological site-condition database using calibrated expert evaluations. Ecological Applications, e2729. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2729
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Palmer, C. M. (2022). Phenology, distribution and conservation of the desert sand-skipper Croitana aestiva Edwards (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Journal of Insect Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-022-00422-2Journal of Insect ConservationJ Insect ConservAbstractThe desert sand-skipper Croitana aestiva Edwards is endemic to central Australia‚ a region with a semi-arid climate. The species was known from a total of eight specimens collected in 1966 and 1972 at three locations west of Alice Springs but was then not positively recorded for the next 35 years‚ leading to its listing nationally as an Endangered species. In February 2007 a population was rediscovered during targeted surveys following a significant rainfall event‚ leading to the broader question of how climate influences its life cycle. In this paper I describe the species’ distribution‚ listing all the localities at which the species was observed during targeted surveys from 2007 to 2010. Adult phenology of one population over this period is presented‚ along with that for the closely related inland sand-skipper Croitana arenaria arenaria Edwards‚ which occurs in the same area. The desert sand-skipper is now known from 13 extant locations‚ of which 11 are new. This species has a calculated Extent of Occurrence of 1141 square kilometres and an Area of Occupancy of 48 square kilometres‚ but the true distribution is likely to be greater. Adults of both Croitana Waterhouse taxa are entirely dependent on adequate rainfall for emergence‚ with more adults after greater rainfall. Both taxa are threatened by the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires promoted by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) (Poaceae) an exotic pasture grass‚ as well as climate change.CitationPalmer, C. M. (2022). Phenology, distribution and conservation of the desert sand-skipper Croitana aestiva Edwards (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Journal of Insect Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-022-00422-2
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da Silva Santos, K. C. B., Frost, E., Samnegård, U., Saunders, M. E., & Rader, R. (2022). Pollen collection by honey bee hives in almond orchards indicate diverse diets. Basic and Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2022.07.006Basic and Applied EcologyBasic and Applied EcologyAbstractAlmond is one of the world’s most economically valuable crops and many varieties require cross pollination for optimal fruit set. For this reason‚ western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) hives are often placed in almond orchards. However‚ little is known about the usage of almond and other pollen sources by individual hives during almond bloom. Here‚ we investigated the timing‚ identity and quantity of pollen collection associated with almond floral abundance and spatial location of individual hives by sampling 440 individual pollen tray samples and counting 45‚072 pollen grains from 13‚200 pollen pellets collected from 80 individual hives across the flowering season in Victoria‚ south-eastern Australia. A large proportion of hives collected non-almond pollen in addition to almond pollen (63/80 = 79%). The weight of almond pollen collected by the hives at each sampling time was positively related to the number of concurrently open almond flowers. However‚ non-almond pollen richness and abundance was not related to the number of almond flowers but had a positive relationship with the weight of almond pollen collected. There was no relationship between the distance among hives and identity of pollen collected. Yet‚ three plant families in the study area were found to account for a high percentage of the non-almond pollen collected‚ Euphorbiaceae‚ Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Understanding crop and non-crop pollen collection could inform honey bee diet needs and identify the plant species of importance to inform best practice bee management during almond flowering.Citationda Silva Santos, K. C. B., Frost, E., Samnegård, U., Saunders, M. E., & Rader, R. (2022). Pollen collection by honey bee hives in almond orchards indicate diverse diets. Basic and Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2022.07.006
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Poupin, J., & Lemaitre, R. (2022). A new hermit crab of the genus Calcinus from Rapa Island, French Polynesia with affinities to Calcinus dapsiles Morgan, 1989 and Calcinus sirius Morgan, 1991 (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae). Nauplius, 30. https://doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2022014Publisher: Sociedade Brasileira de CarcinologiaNaupliusNaupliusAbstractAbstract A new hermit crab of the genus Calcinus Dana‚ 1851 is described from a specimen collected at a depth of 100 m near Rapa Island‚ Austral Islands‚ French Polynesia. In a previous report‚ we had reported this specimen provisionally as Calcinus aff. sirius‚ pending availability of live color data for Calcinus sirius Morgan‚ 1991. Recently obtained color photographs of live C. sirius from the Solitary Islands‚ Eastern Australia‚ has shown that the specimen from Rapa Island is distinct from Morgan’s taxon and represents a new species which is fully illustrated and described herein as Calcinus shawi sp. nov. The morphology and coloration of this new species are compared with the closely allied C. sirius and Calcinus dapsiles Morgan‚ 1989.CitationPoupin, J., & Lemaitre, R. (2022). A new hermit crab of the genus Calcinus from Rapa Island, French Polynesia with affinities to Calcinus dapsiles Morgan, 1989 and Calcinus sirius Morgan, 1991 (Decapoda: Anomura: Diogenidae). Nauplius, 30. https://doi.org/10.1590/2358-2936e2022014
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Zhang, Y., England, N., Broadhurst, L., Li, L., Zhong, C., & Bush, D. (2022). Gene Flow and Recruitment Patterns among Disjunct Populations of Allocasuarina verticillata (Lam.) L.A.S. Johnson. Forests, 13(7), 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071152ForestsForestsAbstractAllocasuarina verticillata (Lam.) L.A.S. Johnson is a widespread species in south-eastern Australia providing vegetation cover‚ protecting fragile soils and providing food for birds. Understanding the effects of gene flow on the recruitment patterns‚ genetic differentiation and structure of fragmented populations provides fundamental guidelines to underpin plant conservation strategies and activities. In this study‚ four spatially disjunct populations of A. verticillata were sampled to explore the effects of population size‚ reproductive patterns and pollen and seed dispersal on among-population genetic diversity‚ genetic differentiation and structure‚ using field survey and microsatellite marker techniques. It was found that stands of A. verticillata were predominantly sexually reproductive‚ but asexual reproduction through root suckering was an additional mode of reproduction. The reproductive success of A. verticillata is positively correlated with the effective population size rather than actual population size. The reduction in effective population size and increment of spatial isolation resulted in lower genetic diversity and higher inbreeding coefficient of progenies. Moderate pairwise genetic differentiation and weak genetic structure were identified. The results suggest that exogenous‚ wind-mediated pollen flow provides some maintenance of genetic diversity in the isolated stands. Seed dispersal appears mainly to be over short distances (i.e.‚ within populations)‚ but the infrequent transport of seeds between disjunct locations cannot be ruled out as another factor that may help maintain genetic diversity.CitationZhang, Y., England, N., Broadhurst, L., Li, L., Zhong, C., & Bush, D. (2022). Gene Flow and Recruitment Patterns among Disjunct Populations of Allocasuarina verticillata (Lam.) L.A.S. Johnson. Forests, 13(7), 1152. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071152
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Heimburger, B., Maurer, S. S., Schardt, L., Scheu, S., & Hartke, T. R. (2022). Historical and future climate change fosters expansion of Australian harvester termites, Drepanotermes. Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14573EvolutionEvolutionAbstractPast evolutionary adaptations to Australia’s aridification can help us to understand the potential responses of species in the face of global climate change. Here‚ we focus on the Australian-endemic genus Drepanotermes‚ also known as Australian harvester termites‚ which are mainly found in semiarid and arid regions of Australia. We used species delineation‚ phylogenetic inference‚ and ancestral state reconstruction to investigate the evolution of mound-building in Drepanotermes and in relation to reconstructed past climatic conditions. Our findings suggest that mound-building evolved several times independently in Drepanotermes‚ apparently facilitating expansions into tropical and mesic regions of Australia. The phylogenetic signal of bioclimatic variables‚ especially limiting environmental factors (e.g.‚ precipitation of the warmest quarter)‚ suggests that the climate exerts a strong selective pressure. Finally‚ we used environmental niche modeling to predict the present and future habitat suitability for eight Drepanotermes species. Abiotic factors such as annual temperature contributed disproportionately to calibrations‚ while the inclusion of biotic factors such as predators and vegetation cover improved ecological niche models in some species. A comparison between present and future habitat suitability under two different emission scenarios revealed continued suitability of current ranges as well as substantial habitat gains for most studied species. Human-mediated climate change occurs more quickly than these termites can disperse into newly suitable habitat; however‚ their role in stabilizing arid ecosystems may allow them to mitigate effects on some other organisms at a local level.CitationHeimburger, B., Maurer, S. S., Schardt, L., Scheu, S., & Hartke, T. R. (2022). Historical and future climate change fosters expansion of Australian harvester termites, Drepanotermes. Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14573
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Platell, M. E., Maschette, D., Coulson, P. G., J.r, T., & Potter, I. C. (2022). Dietary characteristics of the ecologically-important fish species Centroberyx gerrardi, including discussion of resource partitioning among species of Berycidae in Australia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 107975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107975Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf ScienceEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf ScienceAbstractData for the Berycidae‚ collected during extensive past scientific surveys‚ were used to quantify the depth distributions of the four species of Centroberyx and two of Beryx found in Australian coastal waters and thus elucidate the extent to which these species are partitioned by region and depth. The dietary‚ jaw and dentitional characteristics of the ecologically and fishery-important Centroberyx gerrardi were then determined‚ providing the first such account for any Centroberyx species. While Centroberyx gerrardi‚ Centroberyx lineatus‚ Beryx splendens and Beryx decadactylus are found throughout southern Australia‚ the last two species extend further up the west and east coasts. Centroberyx australis occurs on the lower half of the west coast eastwards to the central south coast and Centroberyx affinis on the lower half of the east coast. The four Centroberyx species typically occur at depths <350 m and the two Beryx species at > 350 m. On the south coast of Western Australia‚ depth distributions undergo an overlapping progressive gradation‚ from C. lineatus in inshore and nearshore shallow waters‚ to C. gerrardi and C. australis in nearshore deep waters‚ and then B. splendens and B. decadactylus in offshore deep waters. The main dietary categories of C. gerrardi change with increasing body size from crabs and isopods in small fish to teleosts in the largest fish‚ in which volumetrically they constituted >60% of the stomach contents. The wide range of teleost prey (at least 39 species from 33 families) ingested by C. gerrardi would be valuable to this species if continuing climate change or other anthropogenic effects lead to alterations in the composition of potential prey. Differences between depth distributions account for the fish prey of C. gerrardi comprising nearshore species‚ such as those of clupeids‚ congrids‚ pomacentrids and platycephalids‚ whereas those of B. splendens (from studies elsewhere) are dominated by myctophids‚ which are abundant in deeper waters. The combination of a large mouth and numerous‚ exclusively small teeth (edentulate morphotype) strongly suggest that C. gerrardi is a suction feeder adapted to engulfing larger prey. While the co-occurring and likewise commercially-fished Oplegnathus woodwardi also ingests substantial volumes of crabs and teleosts‚ its diet is distinguished from C. gerrardi by large volumes of poriferans and appreciable volumes of echinoderms‚ likewise reflecting feeding specialisations. Although differing in depth distributions and dietary compositions‚ berycid species in general are close to the apex of the food web.CitationPlatell, M. E., Maschette, D., Coulson, P. G., J.r, T., & Potter, I. C. (2022). Dietary characteristics of the ecologically-important fish species Centroberyx gerrardi, including discussion of resource partitioning among species of Berycidae in Australia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 107975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107975
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Bush, D., Spencer, D., Doran, J., & Davis, R. (2022). Testing New Provenances of Eucalyptus polybractea: A Eucalypt Oil Mallee Adapted to Semi-Arid Environments. Forests, 13(7), 1109. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071109ForestsForestsAbstractNovel genetic accessions of Eucalyptus polybractea from a previously untested‚ hotter and drier part of the species’ natural range were tested in a common garden trial at a semi-arid site in NSW‚ Australia. Eucalyptus polybractea is a mallee eucalypt cultivated for essential oils (1‚8-cineole)‚ bioenergy and carbon sequestration on dryland sites in southern Australia (sites receiving about 450 mm mean annual rainfall‚ MAR). A trial of six previously untested provenances from the relatively hot‚ dry part of the species’ natural range in South Australia (SA) (250–450 mm MAR) was established alongside seven provenances from New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria within a commercial plantation in NSW. The trial was assessed at age 3.7 years for growth and oil characteristics. While survival was excellent‚ most of the SA sources were slower growing and of sub-standard oil concentration and quality relative to those from Victoria and NSW. However‚ a single SA provenance‚ with the highest oil concentration and 1‚8-cineole percentage of all provenances tested‚ may have potential as a source of selected germplasm. Infusion of SA material into the breeding populations of E. polybractea‚ which are currently based on NSW and Victorian selections only‚ may provide more resilience in the face of hotter and drier temperatures expected under projected climate change scenarios‚ and/or allow the introduction of the species to hotter and drier climates in Australia or other parts of the world with semi-arid climates. However‚ high-intensity selection of infusions will be required to maintain the growth and oil characteristics in the existing breeding population.CitationBush, D., Spencer, D., Doran, J., & Davis, R. (2022). Testing New Provenances of Eucalyptus polybractea: A Eucalypt Oil Mallee Adapted to Semi-Arid Environments. Forests, 13(7), 1109. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13071109
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Prober, S. M., Potts, B. M., Harrison, P. A., Wiehl, G., Bailey, T. G., Costa e Silva, J., Price, M. R., Speijers, J., Steane, D. A., & Vaillancourt, R. E. (2022). Leaf Economic and Hydraulic Traits Signal Disparate Climate Adaptation Patterns in Two Co-Occurring Woodland Eucalypts. Plants, 11(14), 1846. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141846PlantsPlantsAbstractWith climate change impacting trees worldwide‚ enhancing adaptation capacity has become an important goal of provenance translocation strategies for forestry‚ ecological renovation‚ and biodiversity conservation. Given that not every species can be studied in detail‚ it is important to understand the extent to which climate adaptation patterns can be generalised across species‚ in terms of the selective agents and traits involved. We here compare patterns of genetic-based population (co)variation in leaf economic and hydraulic traits‚ climate–trait associations‚ and genomic differentiation of two widespread tree species (Eucalyptus pauciflora and E. ovata). We studied 2-year-old trees growing in a common-garden trial established with progeny from populations of both species‚ pair-sampled from 22 localities across their overlapping native distribution in Tasmania‚ Australia. Despite originating from the same climatic gradients‚ the species differed in their levels of population variance and trait covariance‚ patterns of population variation within each species were uncorrelated‚ and the species had different climate–trait associations. Further‚ the pattern of genomic differentiation among populations was uncorrelated between species‚ and population differentiation in leaf traits was mostly uncorrelated with genomic differentiation. We discuss hypotheses to explain this decoupling of patterns and propose that the choice of seed provenances for climate-based plantings needs to account for multiple dimensions of climate change unless species-specific information is available.CitationProber, S. M., Potts, B. M., Harrison, P. A., Wiehl, G., Bailey, T. G., Costa e Silva, J., Price, M. R., Speijers, J., Steane, D. A., & Vaillancourt, R. E. (2022). Leaf Economic and Hydraulic Traits Signal Disparate Climate Adaptation Patterns in Two Co-Occurring Woodland Eucalypts. Plants, 11(14), 1846. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141846
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Marsh, J. R., & Glatz, R. V. (2022). Assessing the impact of the black summer fires on Kangaroo Island threatened invertebrates: towards rapid habitat assessments for informing targeted post-fire surveys. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2022.029Australian ZoologistAustralian ZoologistAbstractThe black summer fires of 2019–2020 burnt almost half of Kangaroo Island (KI)‚ impacting large areas of high-quality native vegetation supporting many rare‚ endemic and/or undescribed invertebrate species. In the aftermath there was a need to survey for a range of species with few prior records and variable amounts of biological information. Therefore‚ a project was undertaken to perform Rapid Habitat Assessments (RHAs) for 13 priority KI invertebrate species‚ followed by species-specific surveys. RHAs are a method employed to quickly assess the presence/absence of key habitat features required by various taxa at a given site. Here‚ we used RHAs to assess the habitat of the 13 priority KI species and to prioritise a number of sites for species-specific surveys. Published data‚ expert knowledge and our own experience with the taxa‚ were used to define habitat features important to each taxon to target survey effort. Eight of the 13 priority taxa were located during surveys‚ within the burn scar or adjacent intact vegetation‚ revealing range extensions for five species. Species varied in susceptibility to fire and there is significant concern regarding the conservation status of limited-range KI endemics Moggridgea rainbowi KI micro-trapdoor spider‚ Zephyrarchaea austini KI assassin spider‚ and Psacadonotus insulanus KI robust fan-winged katydid. Given predictions of increasing climatic volatility‚ there is a need for methods to assess multiple species with differing life histories and limited associated data that quickly and accurately prioritise habitats for surveys.CitationMarsh, J. R., & Glatz, R. V. (2022). Assessing the impact of the black summer fires on Kangaroo Island threatened invertebrates: towards rapid habitat assessments for informing targeted post-fire surveys. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2022.029
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Webster, P. T. D., Leseberg, N. P., Murphy, S. A., Joseph, L., & Watson, J. E. M. (2022). A review of specimens of Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix olivii suggests serious concern for its conservation outlook. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 0(0), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2090962Publisher: Taylor & Francis
_eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2090962Emu - Austral OrnithologyAbstractThe Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix olivii is arguably the rarest‚ most threatened bird species in Australia. Despite many reports over the last four decades‚ the species has never been reliably photographed nor its vocalisations definitively recorded. No records in contemporary literature are supported irrefutably. Consequently‚ examining historical museum specimens of skins and eggs is critical to ascertain the species’ distribution and autecology‚ understand potential threatening processes‚ and ultimately determine the species’ conservation status. We review all known specimens of Buff-breasted Button-quail and contextual information where available. Current literature suggests the holotype was collected in 1899‚ while the last collected specimens (six skins‚ four clutches of eggs) were collected by William Rae McLennan near Coen in 1921 and 1922. We found a total of 15 specimens: seven skins and eight clutches of eggs. Two specimens collected by McLennan previously documented as ‘missing’ were located in the Natural History Museum‚ Tring. An additional four clutches of eggs not previously reported were located. Two represented verified specimens while the other two require further analysis to determine identity. All specimens were collected in the Cape York Peninsula bioregion. There are no specimens from the more southern Wet Tropics and Einasleigh Uplands bioregions‚ where the majority of contemporary observations have been made. As there have been no verified specimens collected for nearly a century‚ we argue that considerable concern and urgent action are warranted to improve the conservation outlook of this species. The species should be listed as critically endangered in both state and federal legislation.CitationWebster, P. T. D., Leseberg, N. P., Murphy, S. A., Joseph, L., & Watson, J. E. M. (2022). A review of specimens of Buff-breasted Button-quail Turnix olivii suggests serious concern for its conservation outlook. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 0(0), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2090962 -
Saraeian, Z., Farrell, C., & Williams, N. S. G. (2022). Green roofs sown with an annual plant mix attain high cover and functional diversity regardless of irrigation frequency. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 73, 127594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127594Urban Forestry & Urban GreeningUrban Forestry & Urban GreeningAbstractAnnual plant species have great potential on green roofs as many are highly attractive‚ fast and cheap to establish via sowing and can provide rapid cover and growth‚ which is important for ecosystem service provision. While irrigation is essential for survival and growth of annual plants in seasonally hot or dry climates‚ it is also important to minimize water use as availability is often limited. Therefore‚ we evaluated how irrigation frequency affects plant cover‚ species abundance‚ richness and diversity‚ plant traits and functional diversity of a 16 species mixture of Australian annual species (4 g m−2 \textasciitilde 2100 seeds m−2) sown onto thirty 0.25 m2 green roof modules. The experiment was carried out in Melbourne‚ Australia‚ from January (summer) to July (winter) 2020. After a 2-month irrigated establishment phase (to ensure germination and seedling establishment)‚ three irrigation treatments (2‚ 4 and 6 days between irrigation) were applied to the modules for three months. Plant cover was reduced at lower irrigation frequency (6 days)‚ but ≥ 80% plant cover was achieved in all irrigation treatments. There was no effect of irrigation frequency on species abundance and richness; however‚ abundance‚ richness and diversity reduced over time‚ likely due to competition effects. Plant height and leaf area were also reduced by lower irrigation frequency. At the community level‚ functional diversity was unaffected by irrigation frequency. Our results indicate that green roofs sown with a mixture of annual plants can achieve good plant coverage‚ as recommended by green roof guidelines‚ and maintain high diversity when minimally irrigated in their first growing season.CitationSaraeian, Z., Farrell, C., & Williams, N. S. G. (2022). Green roofs sown with an annual plant mix attain high cover and functional diversity regardless of irrigation frequency. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 73, 127594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127594
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Perry, T., West, E., Eisenhofer, R., Stenhouse, A., Wilson, I., Laming, B., Rismiller, P., Shaw, M., & Grützner, F. (2022). Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.687115Frontiers in MicrobiologyAbstractThe gut microbiome plays a vital role in health and wellbeing of animals‚ and an increasing number of studies are investigating microbiome changes in wild and managed populations to improve conservation and welfare. The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is an iconic Australian species‚ the most widespread native mammal‚ and commonly held in zoos. Echidnas are cryptic animals‚ and much is still unknown about many aspects of their biology. Furthermore‚ some wild echidna populations are under threat‚ while echidnas held in captivity can have severe gastric health problems. Here‚ we used citizen science and zoos to collect echidna scats from across Australia to perform the largest gut microbiome study on any native Australian animal. Using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding of scat samples‚ we characterised and compared the gut microbiomes of echidnas in wild (n = 159) and managed (n = 44) populations‚ which were fed four different diets. Wild echidna samples were highly variable‚ yet commonly dominated by soil and plant-fermenting bacteria‚ while echidnas in captivity were dominated by gut commensals and plant-fermenting bacteria‚ suggesting plant matter may play a significant role in echidna diet. This work demonstrates significant differences between zoo held and wild echidnas‚ as well as managed animals on different diets‚ revealing that diet is important in shaping the gut microbiomes in echidnas. This first analysis of echidna gut microbiome highlights extensive microbial diversity in wild echidnas and changes in microbiome composition in managed populations. This is a first step towards using microbiome analysis to better understand diet‚ gastrointestinal biology‚ and improve management in these iconic animals.CitationPerry, T., West, E., Eisenhofer, R., Stenhouse, A., Wilson, I., Laming, B., Rismiller, P., Shaw, M., & Grützner, F. (2022). Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.687115
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Brown, A. J. (2022). Ronald Gunn’s Tasmanian ‘Agrostid’ Grass Collections (Poaceae). Muelleria: An Australian Journal of Botany, 40, 57–131. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.340580Muelleria: An Australian Journal of BotanyAbstractRonald Gunn made extensive plant collections across Tasmania during the mid-19th century for William Hooker of Glasgow and Kew. Gunn’s ‘Agrostid’ (subtribes Agrostidinae Fr. and Echinopogoninae Soreng) grass collections provide examples of how colonial benefactions were commonly subdivided and distributed to a broad network of botanists. The meagre collection details recorded by collectors of this period‚ and the practice of mounting mixed collections on the same sheet‚ results in current confusion when attempting to identify or locate specimens named in field notes or in published taxon descriptions. Nevertheless‚ 440 herbarium sheets‚ representing 110 Gunn collections and 495 duplicates‚ including type specimens‚ were located in Australian‚ European and North American herbaria. Lectotypes are designated from Gunn’s specimens for eight taxon names.CitationBrown, A. J. (2022). Ronald Gunn’s Tasmanian ‘Agrostid’ Grass Collections (Poaceae). Muelleria: An Australian Journal of Botany, 40, 57–131. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.340580
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Phillips, A. L., Ferguson, S., Watson-Haigh, N. S., Jones, A. W., Borevitz, J. O., Burton, R. A., & Atwell, B. J. (2022). The first long-read nuclear genome assembly of Oryza australiensis, a wild rice from northern Australia. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 10823. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14893-5Number: 1
Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupScientific ReportsSci RepAbstractOryza australiensis is a wild rice native to monsoonal northern Australia. The International Oryza Map Alignment Project emphasises its significance as the sole representative of the EE genome clade. Assembly of the O. australiensis genome has previously been challenging due to its high Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) retrotransposon (RT) content. Oxford Nanopore long reads were combined with Illumina short reads to generate a high-quality \textasciitilde 858 Mbp genome assembly within 850 contigs with 46× long read coverage. Reference-guided scaffolding increased genome contiguity‚ placing 88.2% of contigs into 12 pseudomolecules. After alignment to the Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare genome‚ we observed several structural variations. PacBio Iso-Seq data were generated for five distinct tissues to improve the functional annotation of 34‚587 protein-coding genes and 42‚329 transcripts. We also report SNV numbers for three additional O. australiensis genotypes based on Illumina re-sequencing. Although genetic similarity reflected geographical separation‚ the density of SNVs also correlated with our previous report on variations in salinity tolerance. This genome re-confirms the genetic remoteness of the O. australiensis lineage within the O. officinalis genome complex. Assembly of a high-quality genome for O. australiensis provides an important resource for the discovery of critical genes involved in development and stress tolerance.CitationPhillips, A. L., Ferguson, S., Watson-Haigh, N. S., Jones, A. W., Borevitz, J. O., Burton, R. A., & Atwell, B. J. (2022). The first long-read nuclear genome assembly of Oryza australiensis, a wild rice from northern Australia. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 10823. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14893-5 -
Desai, H. S., & Chauhan, B. S. (2022). Distinctive germination attributes of feather fingergrass (Chloris virgata) biotypes in response to different thermal conditions. Weed Science, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2022.38Publisher: Cambridge University PressWeed ScienceAbstractAn in-depth understanding of the germination response of troublesome weed species‚ such as feather fingergrass (Chloris virgata Sw.)‚ to environmental factors (e.g.‚ temperature‚ soil moisture‚ etc.)‚ could play an essential role in the development of sustainable site-specific weed control programs. A laboratory experiment was conducted to understand the germination response of 10 different biotypes of C. virgata to five temperature regimes (ranging from 15/5 to 35/25 C) under a 12 hour/12-hour (light/dark) photoperiod. No consistent germination behavior was observed between biotypes as some biotypes demonstrated high final cumulative germination (FCG) at low alternating temperature regimes (15/5 and 20/10 C) and some biotypes exhibited high FCG at a high alternating temperature regime (30/20 C). All the biotypes revealed late germination initiation (T10‚ time taken to reach 10% germination) at the lowest temperature range (15/5 C)‚ ranging from 171 to 173 h. However‚ they took less time to reach 90% germination (T90)‚ ranging from 202 to 756 h. At higher alternating temperature regimes (30/20 and 35/25 C)‚ all biotypes initiated the germination (T10) within 40 h‚ and a wide range of hours was required to reach 90% germination (T90); ranging from 284 to 1445 h. Differences in FCG of all the biotypes at all the temperature ranges showcased the differential germination nature between the biotypes of C. virgata. The cool temperatures delayed germination initiation compared to warmer temperatures even though FCGs were similar across a wide range of thermal conditions‚ indicating that this species will be problematic throughout the calendar year in different agronomic environments. The data from this study have direct implications on scheduling herbicide protocols‚ tillage timing‚ and planting time. Therefore‚ data generated from this study can aid in the development of area and species-specific weed control protocols to achieve satisfactory control of this weed species.CitationDesai, H. S., & Chauhan, B. S. (2022). Distinctive germination attributes of feather fingergrass (Chloris virgata) biotypes in response to different thermal conditions. Weed Science, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2022.38
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Guo, W.-Y., Serra-Diaz, J. M., Schrodt, F., Eiserhardt, W. L., Maitner, B. S., Merow, C., Violle, C., Anand, M., Belluau, M., Bruun, H. H., Byun, C., Catford, J. A., Cerabolini, B. E. L., Chacón-Madrigal, E., Ciccarelli, D., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Dang-Le, A. T., de Frutos, A., Dias, A. S., … Svenning, J.-C. (2022). High exposure of global tree diversity to human pressure. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(25), e2026733119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2026733119Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesProceedings of the National Academy of SciencesabstractCitationGuo, W.-Y., Serra-Diaz, J. M., Schrodt, F., Eiserhardt, W. L., Maitner, B. S., Merow, C., Violle, C., Anand, M., Belluau, M., Bruun, H. H., Byun, C., Catford, J. A., Cerabolini, B. E. L., Chacón-Madrigal, E., Ciccarelli, D., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Dang-Le, A. T., de Frutos, A., Dias, A. S., … Svenning, J.-C. (2022). High exposure of global tree diversity to human pressure. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(25), e2026733119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2026733119
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Salvi, A. M., Gosetti, S. G., Smith, D. D., Adams, M. A., Givnish, T. J., & McCulloh, K. A. (2022). Hydroscapes, hydroscape plasticity, and relationships to functional traits and mesophyll photosynthetic sensitivity to leaf water potential in Eucalyptus species. Plant, Cell & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14380Plant, Cell & EnvironmentAbstractThe isohydric-anisohydric continuum describes the relative stringency of stomatal control of leaf water potential (ψleaf) during drought. Hydroscape area (HA) – the water potential landscape over which stomata regulate ψleaf – has emerged as a useful metric of the iso/anisohydric continuum because it is strongly linked to several hydraulic‚ photosynthetic‚ and structural traits. Previous research on HA focused on broad ecological patterns involving several plant clades. Here we investigate relationships of HA to climatic conditions and functional traits across ecologically diverse but closely related species while accounting for phylogeny. Across a macroclimatic moisture gradient‚ defined by the ratio of mean annual precipitation to mean annual pan evaporation (P/Ep)‚ HA decreased with P/Ep for ten Eucalyptus species. Greater anisohydry reflects lower turgor loss points and greater hydraulic safety‚ mirroring global patterns. More isohydric species have mesophyll photosynthetic capacity that is more sensitive to ψleaf‚ consistent with an earlier model for optimal stomatal behavior. Hydroscapes exhibit little plasticity in response to variation in water supply‚ and the extent of plasticity does not vary with P/Ep of native habitats. These findings strengthen the case that HA is a useful metric for characterizing drought tolerance and water-status regulation.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.CitationSalvi, A. M., Gosetti, S. G., Smith, D. D., Adams, M. A., Givnish, T. J., & McCulloh, K. A. (2022). Hydroscapes, hydroscape plasticity, and relationships to functional traits and mesophyll photosynthetic sensitivity to leaf water potential in Eucalyptus species. Plant, Cell & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14380
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Webster, G. N., & Bool, I. (2022). A new genus for four myobatrachid frogs from the South Western Australian Ecoregion. Zootaxa, 5154(2), 127–151. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5154.2.2ZootaxaZootaxaAbstractThe southern Australian endemic genus Geocrinia Blake 1973 (Anura: Myobatrachidae) currently contains seven species‚ with five restricted to Western Australia and two in the south-eastern states covering parts of New South Wales‚ Victoria‚ Tasmania and South Australia. All species have a modified life history with at least some or all of the larval stage being completed terrestrially. Four of the Western Australian species have terrestrial‚ non-feeding tadpoles nourished by yolk until metamorphosis. The remaining species have a biphasic development with embryos developing on land followed by an aquatic tadpole stage. The presence of species groups within the Geocrinia has been recognised since the 1970s‚ with all relevant subsequent studies supporting a model of two groups within the genus‚ recovered as reciprocally monophyletic in phylogenetic analyses. We examined character traits of the seven recognised Geocrinia species‚ concluding that distinction of the two monophyletic groups is supported by differences in life history strategy‚ larval morphology‚ adult morphology‚ call structure‚ breeding season and geographic distribution. The differences between the two groups correspond to phylogenetic structuring for all traits except distribution. Given reciprocal monophyly‚ and greater variation in traits than present within other myobatrachid genera‚ we conclude that the two groups should be given generic distinction. We therefore describe a new genus‚ Anstisia gen. nov.‚ for four Western Australian Geocrinia species‚ retaining three species in Geocrinia. This increases the number of recognised myobatrachid genera to 14: five are endemic to south-western Australia.CitationWebster, G. N., & Bool, I. (2022). A new genus for four myobatrachid frogs from the South Western Australian Ecoregion. Zootaxa, 5154(2), 127–151. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5154.2.2
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Nawaz, M., Brookes, D. R., McCulloch, G. A., & Walter, G. H. (2022). Significant genetic structure in Macrobathra moths feeding on Acacia auriculiformis –implications for prioritising biological control agents. Biological Control, 104969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2022.104969Biological ControlBiological ControlAbstractAcacia auriculiformis is a native Australian tree that has now become a category 1 invasive weed in Florida‚ USA. Previous research has identified Macrobathra moths as potential biological control agents for this weed‚ but little is known about the genetic diversity and structuring of these moths. In this study‚ we compared the genetic structure of four common Macrobathra moth species across the geographic distribution of A. auriculiformis – and across regions where A. auriculiformis does not occur – to assess whether any of these moth species may comprise unrecognised cryptic species. We found contrasting patterns of genetic structuring among the four moth species‚ indicating that host-specific cryptic species could be present in Macrobathra arrectella and M. diplochrysa. Furthermore‚ we identified a deep genetic disjunction in both M. arrectella and M. callipetala across the Gulf of Carpentaria‚ a pattern that is also found in A. auriculiformis. The geographic distribution and host plant associations of the distinct mitochondrial lineages of each of these moth species should be further evaluated with additional ecological sampling‚ and the species status of these lineages tested directly‚ using additional molecular screening and/or carefully designed cross-mating tests.CitationNawaz, M., Brookes, D. R., McCulloch, G. A., & Walter, G. H. (2022). Significant genetic structure in Macrobathra moths feeding on Acacia auriculiformis –implications for prioritising biological control agents. Biological Control, 104969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2022.104969
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Johnson, J. B. (2022). Observations on the common brown butterfly (Heteronympha merope) in the early 1900s in Australia using digitized specimens. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 25(2), 101898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2022.101898Journal of Asia-Pacific EntomologyJournal of Asia-Pacific EntomologyAbstractThe Common Brown butterfly‚ Heteronympha merope (Fabricius 1775)‚ is a ubiquitous species from the family Nymphalidae‚ distributed across south-eastern Australia. Using online photographs of 33 digitized museum specimens provided by the Atlas of Living Australia‚ forewing length was found to be highly correlated with the total wing surface area (r = 0.962)‚ indicating that this metric can be used as an accurate estimate of body size. No significant relationship was found between body size and environmental temperatures‚ latitude‚ or the year of collection (1902–1948). The size of females was higher between October and December compared to the rest of the year‚ while the size of males did not change. Collection of contemporary data on the body size of H. merope would allow the assessment of whether the body size of this species has changed over the past 70 years.CitationJohnson, J. B. (2022). Observations on the common brown butterfly (Heteronympha merope) in the early 1900s in Australia using digitized specimens. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 25(2), 101898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2022.101898
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Southwell, D., Wilkinson, D., Hao, T., Valavi, R., Smart, A., & Wintle, B. (2022). A gap analysis of reconnaissance surveys assessing the impact of the 2019–20 wildfires on vertebrates in Australia. Biological Conservation, 270, 109573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109573Biological ConservationBiological ConservationAbstractLarge-scale disturbance events are forecast to increase in severity and frequency due to climate change. On-ground surveys are crucial for assessing the immediate impact of disturbances on biodiversity and for informing management responses. However‚ there are few examples where quantitative tools have guided post-disturbance survey design. In this study‚ we integrated species distribution modelling and spatial prioritisation to identify taxonomic and spatial gaps in surveys for 92 priority vertebrates 6 months after the 2019–20 wildfires in Australia. We predicted the pre-fire distribution of priority species‚ mapped locations of post-wildfire surveys that were already underway‚ and integrated this information with remotely-sensed fire severity maps in the tool‚ Zonation‚ to prioritise locations for new surveys across three fire severity classes (unburnt‚ low severity‚ high severity). Our results suggest that 6 months after the wildfires‚ surveys by government agencies had targeted 17 of 20 mammals (85%); 11 of 17 birds (65%); 10 of 17 frogs (59%); 10 of 23 reptiles (43%) and 5 of 17 fish (29%). We developed species distribution models for 63 of these species after collating 120‚118 occurrence records from 6 data repositories. By predicting their distribution before the wildfires‚ we most efficiently identified gaps in survey effort while ensuring representation across species and fire severity classes. Our analysis provided an important ‘stocktake’ of the response effort to the 2019–20 wildfires in Australia and helped inform the allocation of government-funded wildfire recovery programs. Although we focus on wildfire‚ our approach could assess gaps in survey effort following any large-scale disturbance.CitationSouthwell, D., Wilkinson, D., Hao, T., Valavi, R., Smart, A., & Wintle, B. (2022). A gap analysis of reconnaissance surveys assessing the impact of the 2019–20 wildfires on vertebrates in Australia. Biological Conservation, 270, 109573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109573
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Apgaua, D. M. G., Tng, D. Y. P., & Laurance, S. G. W. (2022). Tropical wet and dry forest tree species exhibit contrasting hydraulic architecture. Flora, 291, 152072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2022.152072FloraFloraAbstractForest tree species in wet and dry habitats are generally considered functionally divergent in leaf and stem functional traits such as leaf area‚ leaf mass per area‚ wood density and tree height. Yet‚ these traits have limited utility for characterizing plant water transport adaptations and strategies. We tested the hypothesis that wet and dry forest trees are functionally divergent in their water conducting apparatus. To assess trait differences and adaptations‚ we sampled branch wood from nine same-genus species-pairs‚ each species-pair occurring respectively in the wet (>1500 mm annual rainfall) and dry forest (<800 mm annual rainfall) in tropical Queensland‚ Australia. From branch wood sections‚ we measured anatomical traits involved in water conduction (stem vessel dimensions‚ fractions and their spatial distributions‚ theoretical water conductivities)‚ storage (parenchyma)‚ and providing hydraulic safety functions (fibres fractions‚ vulnerability index). Relative to wet forest species‚ we found on overall that dry forest trees had trait combinations showing adaptations to aridity such as more storage tissue and greater vessel connectivity which may provide alternative pathways for water transport should vessel embolism occur. Habitat is an environmental filter that influences trait behaviour across related species. However‚ depending on the genera‚ species in both dry and wet forest habitats also exhibit various tradeoffs in trait values‚ highlighting the existence of diverse hydraulic strategies within wet forest and dry forest trees.CitationApgaua, D. M. G., Tng, D. Y. P., & Laurance, S. G. W. (2022). Tropical wet and dry forest tree species exhibit contrasting hydraulic architecture. Flora, 291, 152072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2022.152072
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Gosper, C. R., Percy-Bower, J. M., Byrne, M., Llorens, T. M., & Yates, C. J. (2022). Distribution, Biogeography and Characteristics of the Threatened and Data-Deficient Flora in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Diversity, 14(6), 493. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14060493Number: 6
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteDiversityDiversityAbstractThe Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) supports an exceptional number of threatened and data-deficient flora. In this study‚ we: (i) collated statistics on the number‚ listing criteria and tenure of occurrence of threatened and data-deficient flora; (ii) conducted spatial and biogeographic analyses to address questions concerning patterns of diversity of threatened and data-deficient flora relative to the whole flora and evolutionary and threat drivers; and (iii) examined whether threatened and data-deficient flora richness is evenly distributed across plant lineages. We found that although threatened and data-deficient flora occurred across the breadth of the SWAFR‚ high richness was concentrated in a limited number of locations‚ which were not always strongly aligned with areas of higher land transformation. Data-deficient flora demonstrated different spatial patterns of occurrence to threatened flora. Approximately 70% of the populations of threatened and data-deficient flora occurred outside of lands managed primarily for conservation. Both evolutionary history and contemporary threats contribute to the current status and distribution of diversity of the threatened and data-deficient flora‚ with evolutionary history playing a significant role in predisposing a portion of the flora to having population traits that result in those flora meeting IUCN Red List criteria‚ along with ecological traits that predispose some to specific novel threats. An understanding of the distribution of species and threats‚ flora traits‚ and how these traits mediate susceptibility to threats‚ offers one potential way forward for an initial assessment of which of the 1819 data-deficient flora may be most at risk of extinction.CitationGosper, C. R., Percy-Bower, J. M., Byrne, M., Llorens, T. M., & Yates, C. J. (2022). Distribution, Biogeography and Characteristics of the Threatened and Data-Deficient Flora in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Diversity, 14(6), 493. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14060493 -
Marsh, J. R., Bal, P., Fraser, H., Umbers, K., Latty, T., Greenville, A., Rumpff, L., & Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2022). Accounting for the neglected: Invertebrate species and the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. Global Ecology and Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13550Global Ecology and BiogeographyAbstractAim Invertebrates make up the vast majority of fauna species but are often overlooked in impact assessment and conservation response. The extent to which the 2019–2020 Australian megafires overlapped with the range of vertebrate species has been well documented; consequently‚ substantial resourcing has been directed towards their recovery. Here‚ we attempt to document the extent of overlap of these megafires with invertebrate species. In doing so‚ we seek to demonstrate that it is possible and worthwhile to assess the effect of a catastrophic event on a large number of poorly known species. Location Temperate and subtropical Australia. Time period 2019–2020. Major taxa Australian invertebrates. Methods We adapted a published analytical pathway for the assessment of distributional fire overlap on vertebrate species. Overlaps with fire for 32‚163 invertebrate taxa were determined using point records and polygons. Results We found that 13‚581 invertebrate taxa had part of their range burnt in the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. Of these‚ 382 taxa had the whole of their known range burnt‚ and a further 405 taxa had 50–99.9% of their range burnt. Five examples are described. Main conclusions Poorly known groups of biodiversity can be impacted significantly by major disturbance events‚ but such impact is often overlooked. This oversight has the consequences of under-estimating the magnitude of impacts and the potential failure to direct conservation responses to those species most in need of them. Our analysis demonstrates that the 2019–2020 megafires burnt ≥50% of the known range of nearly 800 Australian invertebrate taxa‚ a tally far higher than for vertebrates (19 taxa). Assessment of the real impact (i.e.‚ beyond simply overlap with fire) requires more consideration of susceptibility and/or post-fire survey and monitoring. The magnitude of overlap of the 2019–2020 megafires on invertebrate species justifies a conservation response that is less biased towards iconic vertebrate species.CitationMarsh, J. R., Bal, P., Fraser, H., Umbers, K., Latty, T., Greenville, A., Rumpff, L., & Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2022). Accounting for the neglected: Invertebrate species and the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. Global Ecology and Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13550
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Foon, J. K., Moussalli, A., McIntosh, F., Laffan, S., & Köhler, F. (2022). Assessing the immediate impacts of the 2019/2020 bushfires on land snails in northeastern New South Wales. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2022.010Australian ZoologistAustralian ZoologistAbstractThis study aimed to improve our understanding of the immediate response of 26 priority species of land snail that may have been severely impacted by the 2019/2020 megafire event in north-eastern New South Wales. Our study covered a range of ecosystem types over an area of approximately 20‚400 km2.We searched 70 survey sites that differed in burn severity for all species of land snail visually on-site and by sifting leaf litter samples under a microscope in the laboratory. These survey sites were selected for representing pre-existing occurrence records of priority species at sites that differed in mapped fire severity classes as based on Fire Extent and Severity data available from public sources. We also surveyed unburnt sites for comparative purposes.We found that nearly all survey sites encompassed a patchwork of areas with different burn extent and severity and that more humid forest types were overall affected by lower fire extent and severity than surrounding more xeric forest types. Only one site with extreme fire extent and severity was surveyed.The survey covered 165 historical occurrence records‚ 96 of which (58%) were re-confirmed. We also found 55 new occurrence records‚ 11 of which were in burnt and 44 in unburnt sites. Burnt and unburnt sites showed slight‚ yet insignificant differences in the redetection rate of species‚ which was generally low (on average 50–65%). Our data does not reveal an association between the number of specimens found at sites and burn severity and extent (from unburnt to extreme burnt). While we infer that populations have declined in areas affected by more severe fires‚ we found proportions of the survey area to be affected by fires of lower severity‚ which likely did not substantially affect the size of local land snail populations. Based on this‚ we conclude that initial concerns that the bushfires had led to a substantial deterioration of the conservation status of land snails are not generally corroborated. Instead‚ we have assessed just 3 species (10% of all studied species) as of conservation concern and 7 species (23%) as near threatened due to direct impacts of the 2019/2020 megafires. However‚ the paucity of occurrence records for many species and our limited knowledge of their ecology hampers a more detailed assessment of the potential fire impacts on many species‚ including possible on-going threats. Long-term monitoring and research are critical to ensure effective management especially of narrow range endemics.CitationFoon, J. K., Moussalli, A., McIntosh, F., Laffan, S., & Köhler, F. (2022). Assessing the immediate impacts of the 2019/2020 bushfires on land snails in northeastern New South Wales. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2022.010
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Mahony, M., Gould, J., Beranek, C. T., Callen, A., Clulow, J., Clulow, S., Klop-Toker, K., Mahony, S., Wallace, S., Stock, S., Garnham, J., Lemckert, F., Thumm, K., Moses, B., & Pickett, E. (2022). A trait-based analysis for predicting impact of wildfires on frogs. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2022.021Australian ZoologistAustralian ZoologistAbstractAn increase in the frequency and intensity of catastrophic wildfires is associated with anthropogenic climate change. Wildfires are extreme environmental events that result in dramatic fluctuations in temperature and moisture‚ which are likely to disproportionately impact animals such as amphibians (Anura) whose distributions and ecology are strongly tied to climate. In response to the 2019/20 Australian summer wildfires‚ we used expert elicitation to analyse the traits of frogs that potentially influence fire sensitivity or resilience. Traits that were ranked high in terms of influencing fire sensitivity were range size‚ dominant adult habitat‚ reproductive mode‚ and relative abundance. While species restricted to cool‚ moist habitats are less exposed to the threat of wildfire‚ they had the highest sensitivity scores. This is due to their typically low fecundity‚ reliance on micro-refugia away from water for reproduction and shelter‚ and small‚ isolated distributions. The group considered least sensitive were those which occupy riparian zones as macro-refugia‚ which includes species with wide geographic distributions‚ general reproductive strategies‚ high fecundity‚ and moderate physiological capacity. Our findings suggest that it is the behavioural capacity of frogs to locate micro-refugia‚ a morphology that enables them to move into these safe spaces‚ and physiological adaptations to subsequently maintain water balance during and after wildfire that influence the probability of surviving wildfire. While many traits have evolved among amphibians to avoid climatic extremes and likely confer resistance to wildfire as “exaptations”‚ it remains unknown to what extent they protect populations from predicted hotter and drier climates. Our predictions should be tested by obtaining direct measures of the thermal and moisture buffering capacities of micro-refuges‚ along with the continued monitoring of species recovery post-fire‚ so that they can feedback into future trait-based analyses. We suggest that strategic management actions for mitigating the effect of climate-driven wildfires on amphibians should involve protection and enhancement of micro-refugia components of the landscape‚ which are used as shelter during times of heat and moisture stress‚ and provision of buffer zones around macro-refugia habitat‚ such as around streams.CitationMahony, M., Gould, J., Beranek, C. T., Callen, A., Clulow, J., Clulow, S., Klop-Toker, K., Mahony, S., Wallace, S., Stock, S., Garnham, J., Lemckert, F., Thumm, K., Moses, B., & Pickett, E. (2022). A trait-based analysis for predicting impact of wildfires on frogs. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2022.021
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Connors, M. G., Chen, H., Li, H., Edmonds, A., Smith, K. A., Gell, C., Clitheroe, K., Miller, I. M., Walker, K. L., Nunn, J. S., Nguyen, L., Quinane, L. N., Andreoli, C. M., Galea, J. A., Quan, B., Sandiford, K., Wallis, B., Anderson, M. L., Canziani, E. V., … Wishart, D. (2022). Citizen scientists track a charismatic carnivore: Mapping the spread and impact of the South African Mantis (Miomantidae, Miomantis caffra) in Australia. Journal of Orthoptera Research, 31(1), 69–82. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.31.79332Number: 1
Publisher: Pensoft PublishersJournal of Orthoptera ResearchAbstractThe recent integration of citizen science with modern technology has greatly increased its applications and has allowed more people than ever to contribute to research across all areas of science. In particular‚ citizen science has been instrumental in the detection and monitoring of novel introduced species across the globe. This study provides the first records of Miomantis caffra Saussure‚ 1871‚ the South African Mantis‚ from the Australian mainland and uses records from four different citizen science and social media platforms in conjunction with museum records to track the spread of the species through the country. A total of 153 wild mantises and oothecae were observed across four states and territories (New South Wales‚ Norfolk Island‚ Victoria‚ and Western Australia) between 2009 and 2021. The large number of observations of the species in Victoria and the more recent isolated observations in other states and territories suggest that the species initially arrived in Geelong via oothecae attached to plants or equipment‚ likely from the invasive population in New Zealand. From there it established and spread outwards to Melbourne and eventually to other states and territories‚ both naturally and with the aid of human transport. We also provide a comparison of M. caffra to similar native mantises‚ specifically Pseudomantis albofimbriata (Stål‚ 1860)‚ and comment on the potential impact and further spread of the species within Australia. Finally‚ we reiterate the many benefits of engaging directly with citizen scientists in biodiversity research and comment on the decision to include them in all levels of this research investigation.CitationConnors, M. G., Chen, H., Li, H., Edmonds, A., Smith, K. A., Gell, C., Clitheroe, K., Miller, I. M., Walker, K. L., Nunn, J. S., Nguyen, L., Quinane, L. N., Andreoli, C. M., Galea, J. A., Quan, B., Sandiford, K., Wallis, B., Anderson, M. L., Canziani, E. V., … Wishart, D. (2022). Citizen scientists track a charismatic carnivore: Mapping the spread and impact of the South African Mantis (Miomantidae, Miomantis caffra) in Australia. Journal of Orthoptera Research, 31(1), 69–82. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.31.79332 -
Walters, S. J., Robinson, T. P., Byrne, M., & Nevill, P. (2022). Seed sourcing in the genomics era: Multispecies provenance delineation for current and future climates. Restoration Ecology, n/a(n/a), e13718. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13718Restoration EcologyAbstractRestoration interventions require knowledge on the suitability of seed sources. Provenance delineation for ecological restoration of degraded environments including highly altered post-mined land has begun to incorporate genome-wide information on adaptive variation‚ but this has only been completed on a small number of plant species. Rarely is provenance delineation using a genomics approach applied to species occurring across different habitats‚ and in the context of future climate scenarios despite their potential importance for successful long-term restoration. Here‚ we use neutral genetic data for provenance delineation and putatively adaptive genetic data to estimate the predicted amount of change under future climate scenarios of two species co-occurring in a predominantly mesic environment and two species co-occurring in a semi-arid environment. We found that the spatial distribution of provenances and the amount of genomic change required to track the projected climatic conditions over time differed within the pairs of co-occurring species. Additionally‚ future climate scenarios had differing effects on provenance patterns between the two landscapes with the spatial distribution changing greatest in the pair occupying a predominantly mesic habitat. This implies that provenance guidelines can be both species and habitat dependent. We discuss how these results can be utilised to design seed sourcing strategies for successful restoration‚ and how these methods could be more broadly applied to delineate provenances of other species and locations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.CitationWalters, S. J., Robinson, T. P., Byrne, M., & Nevill, P. (2022). Seed sourcing in the genomics era: Multispecies provenance delineation for current and future climates. Restoration Ecology, n/a(n/a), e13718. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13718
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Gorman, J., & Ennis, G. (2022). Community engagement in Aboriginal enterprise development – Kakadu plum as a case analysis. Journal of Rural Studies, 92, 109–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.03.020Journal of Rural StudiesJournal of Rural StudiesAbstractCustomary and commercial use of wildlife supports millions of Indigenous people world-wide. However‚ in Australia‚ despite there being abundant natural resources and intricate Aboriginal ecological knowledge‚ there are relatively few financially viable Aboriginal wildlife-based enterprises. This research provides an example of how the Collective Impact (CI) Framework was used to retrospectively analyse the development of an Aboriginal enterprise in the Northern Territory of Australia over a fifteen-year period. We identified many parallels between the elements of the CI approach and the various development phases of this Aboriginal enterprise. This research demonstrates that there is a complex interplay of factors that influence the development of Indigenous enterprise in remote communities of northern Australia‚ and that the CI Framework can be useful for reflecting on this work because of its focus on collaboration with diverse stakeholders. It contributes to knowledge about the benefits and the difficulties of meaningful whole of community engagement as a core aspect of enterprise development.CitationGorman, J., & Ennis, G. (2022). Community engagement in Aboriginal enterprise development – Kakadu plum as a case analysis. Journal of Rural Studies, 92, 109–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.03.020
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Stobo‐Wilson, A. M., Murphy, B. P., Legge, S. M., Caceres‐Escobar, H., Chapple, D. G., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. A., Garnett, S. T., Gentle, M., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Rees, M. W., Ritchie, E. G., Speed, J., Stuart, J.-M., Suarez‐Castro, A. F., … Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2022). Counting the bodies: Estimating the numbers and spatial variation of Australian reptiles, birds and mammals killed by two invasive mesopredators. Diversity and Distributions, 28(5), 976–991. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13497Num Pages: 976-991
Place: Oxford, United States
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Section: RESEARCH ARTICLESDiversity and DistributionsAbstractAim
Introduced predators negatively impact biodiversity globally‚ with insular fauna often most severely affected. Here‚ we assess spatial variation in the number of terrestrial vertebrates (excluding amphibians) killed by two mammalian mesopredators introduced to Australia‚ the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus). We aim to identify prey groups that suffer especially high rates of predation‚ and regions where losses to foxes and/or cats are most substantial.
Location
Australia.
Methods
We draw information on the spatial variation in tallies of reptiles‚ birds and mammals killed by cats in Australia from published studies. We derive tallies for fox predation by (i) modelling continental‐scale spatial variation in fox density‚ (ii) modelling spatial variation in the frequency of occurrence of prey groups in fox diet‚ (iii) analysing the number of prey individuals within dietary samples and (iv) discounting animals taken as carrion. We derive point estimates of the numbers of individuals killed annually by foxes and by cats and map spatial variation in these tallies.
Results
Foxes kill more reptiles‚ birds and mammals (peaking at 1071 km−2 year−1) than cats (55 km−2 year−1) across most of the unmodified temperate and forested areas of mainland Australia‚ reflecting the generally higher density of foxes than cats in these environments. However‚ across most of the continent – mainly the arid central and tropical northern regions (and on most Australian islands) – cats kill more animals than foxes. We estimate that foxes and cats together kill 697 million reptiles annually in Australia‚ 510 million birds and 1435 million mammals.
Main conclusions
This continental‐scale analysis demonstrates that predation by two introduced species takes a substantial and ongoing toll on Australian reptiles‚ birds and mammals. Continuing population declines and potential extinctions of some of these species threatens to further compound Australia’s poor contemporary conservation record.CitationStobo‐Wilson, A. M., Murphy, B. P., Legge, S. M., Caceres‐Escobar, H., Chapple, D. G., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. A., Garnett, S. T., Gentle, M., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Rees, M. W., Ritchie, E. G., Speed, J., Stuart, J.-M., Suarez‐Castro, A. F., … Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2022). Counting the bodies: Estimating the numbers and spatial variation of Australian reptiles, birds and mammals killed by two invasive mesopredators. Diversity and Distributions, 28(5), 976–991. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13497 -
Staples, T. L., Mayfield, M. M., England, J. R., & Dwyer, J. M. (2022). Drivers of Acacia and Eucalyptus growth rate differ in strength and direction in restoration plantings across Australia. Ecological Applications, e2636. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2636Ecological ApplicationsAbstractFunctional traits are proxies for a species’ ecology and physiology and are often correlated with plant vital rates. As such they have the potential to guide species selection for restoration projects. However‚ predictive trait-based models often only explain a small proportion of plant performance‚ suggesting that commonly measured traits do not capture all important ecological differences between species. Some residual variation in vital rates may be evolutionarily conserved and captured using taxonomic groupings alongside common functional traits. We tested this hypothesis using growth rate data for 17‚299 trees and shrubs from 80 species of Eucalyptus and 43 species of Acacia‚ two hyper-diverse and co-occurring genera‚ collected from 497 neighborhood plots in 137 Australian mixed-species revegetation plantings. We modeled relative growth rates of individual plants as a function of environmental conditions‚ species-mean functional traits and neighbor density and diversity‚ across a moisture availability gradient. We then assessed whether the strength and direction of these relationships differed between the two genera. We found that the inclusion of genus-specific relationships offered a significant but modest improvement to model fit (1.6–1.7% greater R2 than simpler models). More importantly‚ almost all correlates of growth rate differed between Eucalyptus and Acacia‚ in strength‚ direction‚ or how they changed along the moisture gradient. These differences mapped onto physiological differences between the genera that were not captured solely by measured functional traits. Our findings suggest taxonomic groupings can capture or mediate variation in plant performance missed by common functional traits. The inclusion of taxonomy can provide a more nuanced understanding of how functional traits interact with abiotic and biotic conditions to drive plant performance‚ which may be important for constructing trait-based frameworks to improve restoration outcomes.CitationStaples, T. L., Mayfield, M. M., England, J. R., & Dwyer, J. M. (2022). Drivers of Acacia and Eucalyptus growth rate differ in strength and direction in restoration plantings across Australia. Ecological Applications, e2636. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2636
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Wijewardhana, U. A., Apputhurai, P., Jayawardana, M., & Meyer, D. (2022). Effectiveness of the conservation areas on the Mornington Peninsula for the common resident shorebird species using citizen science data. PLOS ONE, 17(5), e0267203. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267203PLOS ONEPLoS ONEAbstractConservation areas are critical for biodiversity conservation‚ but few citizen science studies have evaluated their efficiency. In the absence of thorough survey data‚ this study assessed which species benefit most from conservation areas using citizen science bird counts extracted from the Atlas of Living Australia. This was accomplished by fitting temporal models using citizen science data taken from ALA for the years 2010–2019 using the INLA approach. The trends for six resident shorebird species were compared to those for the Australian Pied Oystercatcher‚ with the Black-fronted Dotterel‚ Red-capped Dotterel‚ and Red-kneed Dotterel exhibiting significantly steeper increasing trends. For the Black-fronted Dotterel‚ Masked Lapwing‚ and Red-kneed Dotterel‚ steeper rising trends were recorded in conservation areas than in other locations. The Dotterel species’ conservation status is extremely favourable. This study demonstrates that‚ with some limits‚ statistical models can be used to track the persistence of resident shorebirds and to investigate the factors affecting these data.CitationWijewardhana, U. A., Apputhurai, P., Jayawardana, M., & Meyer, D. (2022). Effectiveness of the conservation areas on the Mornington Peninsula for the common resident shorebird species using citizen science data. PLOS ONE, 17(5), e0267203. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267203
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Butler, J. B., Harrison, P. A., Vaillancourt, R. E., Steane, D. A., Tibbits, J. F. G., & Potts, B. M. (2022). Climate Adaptation, Drought Susceptibility, and Genomic-Informed Predictions of Future Climate Refugia for the Australian Forest Tree Eucalyptus globulus. Forests, 13(4), 575. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040575Number: 4
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteForestsForestsAbstractUnderstanding the capacity of forest tree species to adapt to climate change is of increasing importance for managing forest genetic resources. Through a genomics approach‚ we modelled spatial variation in climate adaptation within the Australian temperate forest tree Eucalyptus globulus‚ identified putative climate drivers of this genomic variation‚ and predicted locations of future climate refugia and populations at-risk of future maladaptation. Using 812‚158 SNPs across 130 individuals from 30 populations (i.e.‚ localities) spanning the species’ natural range‚ a gradientForest algorithm found 1177 SNPs associated with locality variation in home-site climate (climate-SNPs)‚ putatively linking them to climate adaptation. Very few climate-SNPs were associated with population-level variation in drought susceptibility‚ signalling the multi-faceted nature and complexity of climate adaptation. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed 24% of the climate-SNP variation could be explained by annual precipitation‚ isothermality‚ and maximum temperature of the warmest month. Spatial predictions of the RDA climate vectors associated with climate-SNPs allowed mapping of genomically informed climate selective surfaces across the species’ range under contemporary and projected future climates. These surfaces suggest over 50% of the current distribution of E. globulus will be outside the modelled adaptive range by 2070 and at risk of climate maladaptation. Such surfaces present a new integrated approach for natural resource managers to capture adaptive genetic variation and plan translocations in the face of climate change.CitationButler, J. B., Harrison, P. A., Vaillancourt, R. E., Steane, D. A., Tibbits, J. F. G., & Potts, B. M. (2022). Climate Adaptation, Drought Susceptibility, and Genomic-Informed Predictions of Future Climate Refugia for the Australian Forest Tree Eucalyptus globulus. Forests, 13(4), 575. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040575 -
Chandel, A., Mann, R., Kaur, J., Norton, S., Auer, D., Edwards, J., & Spangenberg, G. (2022). The Role of Soil Microbial Diversity in the Conservation of Native Seed Bacterial Microbiomes. Microorganisms, 10(750). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10040750MicroorganismsMicroorganismsAbstractResearch into understanding the structure‚ composition and vertical transmission of crop seed microbiomes has intensified‚ although there is much less research into the seed microbiomes of crop wild relatives. Our previous study showed that the standard seed storage procedures (e.g.‚ seed drying and storage temperature) can influence the seed microbiome of domesticated Glycine max. In this study‚ we characterized the seed microbiota of Glycine clandestina‚ a perennial wild relative of soybean (G. max (L.) Merr.) to expand our understanding about the effect of other storage procedures such as the periodic regeneration of seed stocks to bulk up seed numbers and secure viability on the seed microbiome of said seed. The G. clandestina microbiota was analysed from Generation 1 (G1) and Generation 2 (G2) seed and from mature plant organs grown in two different soil treatments T (treatment [native soil + potting mix]) and C (control [potting mix only]). Our dataset showed that soil microbiota had a strong influence on next generation seed microbiota‚ with an increased contribution of root microbiota by 90% and seed transmissibility by 36.3% in G2 (T) seed. Interestingly‚ the G2 seed microbiota primarily consisted of an initially low abundance of taxa present in G1 seed. Overall‚ our results indicate that seed regeneration can affect the seed microbiome composition and using native soil from the location of the source plant can enhance the conservation of the native seed microbiota.CitationChandel, A., Mann, R., Kaur, J., Norton, S., Auer, D., Edwards, J., & Spangenberg, G. (2022). The Role of Soil Microbial Diversity in the Conservation of Native Seed Bacterial Microbiomes. Microorganisms, 10(750). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10040750
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De Kauwe, M. G., Sabot, M. E. B., Medlyn, B. E., Pitman, A. J., Meir, P., Cernusak, L. A., Gallagher, R. V., Ukkola, A. M., Rifai, S. W., & Choat, B. (2022). Towards species-level forecasts of drought-induced tree mortality risk. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18129New PhytologistAbstractPredicting species-level responses to drought at the landscape scale is critical to reducing uncertainty in future terrestrial carbon and water cycle projections. We embedded a stomatal optimisation model in the Community Atmosphere Biosphere Land Exchange (CABLE) land surface model and parameterised the model for 15 canopy dominant eucalypt tree species across South East Australia (mean annual precipitation range: 344–1424 mm yr-1). We conducted three experiments: applying CABLE to the 2017–2019 drought; a 20% drier drought; and a 20% drier drought with a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The severity of the drought was highlighted as for at least 25% of their distribution ranges‚ 60% of species experienced leaf water potentials beyond the water potential at which 50% of hydraulic conductivity is lost due to embolism. We identified areas of severe hydraulic stress within species’ ranges‚ but we also pinpointed resilience in species found in predominantly semi-arid areas. The importance of the role of CO2 in ameliorating drought stress was consistent across species. Our results represent an important advance in our capacity to forecast the resilience of individual tree species‚ providing an evidence base for decision-making around the resilience of restoration plantings or net-zero emission strategies.CitationDe Kauwe, M. G., Sabot, M. E. B., Medlyn, B. E., Pitman, A. J., Meir, P., Cernusak, L. A., Gallagher, R. V., Ukkola, A. M., Rifai, S. W., & Choat, B. (2022). Towards species-level forecasts of drought-induced tree mortality risk. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18129
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Bradley, H. S., Craig, M. D., Cross, A. T., Tomlinson, S., Bamford, M. J., & Bateman, P. W. (2022). Revealing microhabitat requirements of an endangered specialist lizard with LiDAR. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 5193. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08524-2Number: 1
Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupScientific ReportsSci RepAbstractA central principle of threatened species management is the requirement for detailed understanding of species habitat requirements. Difficult terrain or cryptic behaviour can‚ however‚ make the study of habitat or microhabitat requirements difficult‚ calling for innovative data collection techniques. We used high-resolution terrestrial LiDAR imaging to develop three-dimensional models of log piles‚ quantifying the structural characteristics linked with occupancy of an endangered cryptic reptile‚ the western spiny-tailed skink (Egernia stokesii badia). Inhabited log piles were generally taller with smaller entrance hollows and a wider main log‚ had more high-hanging branches‚ fewer low-hanging branches‚ more mid- and understorey cover‚ and lower maximum canopy height. Significant characteristics linked with occupancy were longer log piles‚ an average of three logs‚ less canopy cover‚ and the presence of overhanging vegetation‚ likely relating to colony segregation‚ thermoregulatory requirements‚ and foraging opportunities. In addition to optimising translocation site selection‚ understanding microhabitat specificity of E. s. badia will help inform a range of management objectives‚ such as targeted monitoring and invasive predator control. There are also diverse opportunities for the application of this technology to a wide variety of future ecological studies and wildlife management initiatives pertaining to a range of cryptic‚ understudied taxa.CitationBradley, H. S., Craig, M. D., Cross, A. T., Tomlinson, S., Bamford, M. J., & Bateman, P. W. (2022). Revealing microhabitat requirements of an endangered specialist lizard with LiDAR. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 5193. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08524-2 -
Buckley, S. J., Brauer, C. J., Unmack, P. J., Hammer, M. P., & Beheregaray, L. B. (2022). Variation in intraspecific demography drives localised concordance but species-wide discordance in response to past climatic change. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 22(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-01990-2BMC Ecology and EvolutionBMC Ecol EvoAbstractUnderstanding how species biology may facilitate resilience to climate change remains a critical factor in detecting and protecting species at risk of extinction. Many studies have focused on the role of particular ecological traits in driving species responses‚ but less so on demographic history and levels of standing genetic variation. Additionally‚ spatial variation in the interaction of demographic and adaptive factors may further complicate prediction of species responses to environmental change. We used environmental and genomic datasets to reconstruct the phylogeographic histories of two ecologically similar and largely co-distributed freshwater fishes‚ the southern (Nannoperca australis) and Yarra (N. obscura) pygmy perches‚ to assess the degree of concordance in their responses to Plio-Pleistocene climatic changes. We described contemporary genetic diversity‚ phylogenetic histories‚ demographic histories‚ and historical species distributions across both species‚ and statistically evaluated the degree of concordance in co-occurring populations.CitationBuckley, S. J., Brauer, C. J., Unmack, P. J., Hammer, M. P., & Beheregaray, L. B. (2022). Variation in intraspecific demography drives localised concordance but species-wide discordance in response to past climatic change. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 22(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-022-01990-2
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Keith, D. A., Allen, S. P., Gallagher, R. V., Mackenzie, B. D. E., Auld, T. D., Barrett, S., Buchan, A., English, V., Gosper, C., Kelly, D., McIllwee, A., Melrose, R. T., Miller, B. P., Neldner, V. J., Simpson, C. C., Tolsma, A. D., Rogers, D., van Leeuwen, S., White, M. D., … Tozer, M. G. (2022). Fire-related threats and transformational change in Australian ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography, n/a(n/a), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13500Global Ecology and BiogeographyAbstractAim Megafire events generate immediate concern for wildlife and human well-being‚ but their broader ecological impacts likely extend beyond individual species and single fire events. In the first mechanistic study of fire effects focussed on ecosystems‚ we aimed to assess the sensitivity and exposure of ecosystems to multiple fire-related threats‚ placing impacts in the context of changing fire regimes and their interactions with other threats. Location Southern and eastern Australia. Time period 2019–2020. Major species studied Australian ecosystems. Methods We defined 15 fire-related threats to ecosystems based on mechanisms associated with: (a) direct effects of fire regime components; (b) interactions between fire and physical environmental processes; (c) effects of fire on biological interactions; and (d) interactions between fire and human activity. We estimated the sensitivity and exposure of a sample of 92 ecosystem types to each threat type based on published relationships and spatial analysis of the 2019–2020 fires. Results Twenty-nine ecosystem types assessed had more than half of their distribution exposed to one or more threat types‚ and only three of those were listed as nationally threatened. Three fire-related threat types posed the most severe threats to large numbers of ecosystem types: high frequency fire; pre-fire drought; and post-fire invasive predator activity. The ecosystem types most affected ranged from rain forests to peatlands‚ and included some‚ such as sclerophyllous eucalypt forests and heathlands‚ that are traditionally regarded as fire-prone and fire-adapted. Main conclusions Most impacts of the 2019–2020 fires on ecosystems became apparent only when they were placed in the context of the whole fire regime and its interactions with other threatening processes‚ and were not direct consequences of the megafire event itself. Our mechanistic approach enables ecosystem-specific management responses for the most threatened ecosystem types to be targeted at underlying causes of degradation and decline.CitationKeith, D. A., Allen, S. P., Gallagher, R. V., Mackenzie, B. D. E., Auld, T. D., Barrett, S., Buchan, A., English, V., Gosper, C., Kelly, D., McIllwee, A., Melrose, R. T., Miller, B. P., Neldner, V. J., Simpson, C. C., Tolsma, A. D., Rogers, D., van Leeuwen, S., White, M. D., … Tozer, M. G. (2022). Fire-related threats and transformational change in Australian ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography, n/a(n/a), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13500
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Asaduzzaman, M., Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Wu, H., Koetz, E., Hopwood, M., & Shepherd, A. (2022). Phenology and Population Differentiation in Reproductive Plasticity in Feathertop Rhodes Grass (Chloris virgata Sw.). Agronomy, 12(3), 736. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030736Num Pages: 736
Place: Basel, Switzerland
Publisher: MDPI AGAgronomyAgronomyAbstractAn understanding of phenology and reproductive plasticity of a weed species can provide valuable information to manage it precisely. This study evaluated the phenotypic plasticity of feathertop Rhodes grass (Chloris virgata Sw.) where cohorts of four different populations (two from cropping and two from roadside situations) were initiated in early spring (4 September)‚ late spring (4 November)‚ mid-summer (4 January)‚ and early autumn (4 March) in southern New South Wales (NSW)‚ Australia. The team grew individual plants in the absence of competition under natural conditions. Life-history and fitness-related traits of both phenology and morphology were measured‚ and dry biomass of vegetative and reproductive parts were determined at physiological maturity. Among the four sowing times‚ the late-spring sowing treatment took the longest time from emergence to the first seed head emergence (70–110 days)‚ while it had the shortest seed maturity period (8–16 days). Length of reproductive and total life period of the four populations differed across the four sowing-time treatments. The plants that emerged in mid-summer had the longest reproductive period (30 days) whereas the early-autumn emerging plants died before the reproductive stage because of the cold temperatures during winter. The mid-summer cohort required slightly longer time (63–85 days) to achieve seed head formation and less time (19–24 days) for seed maturity than those plants that emerged in early or late spring. All the reproductive features were varied by sowing times and population. The number of seed heads (12–15 per plant) and spikelets (12–13 per seed head)‚ as well as the seed head biomass‚ re-productive biomass allocation pattern‚ and seed production‚ generally increased in the mid-summer-emerged cohort. Seed production in the mid-summer (9942 seeds/plant) cohort was 10% and 70% higher than the late spring (8000 seeds/plant) and early spring (3240 seeds/plant) cohorts‚ respectively. The ratio of reproductive biomass to vegetative biomass increased in the mid-summer sowing times in all populations‚ and this species displayed true plasticity in reproductive allocation. Additionally‚ the four populations of feathertop Rhodes grass differed significantly in phenological‚ vegetative‚ and reproductive traits‚ depending on the sowing time. The reproductive fitness of the four populations varied‚ with the two roadside populations (FELT 04/20 and STURT/16–17) appearing to be better adapted than the two cropping populations (PARK 01/20 and GLEN 03/18). The results from our study could help construct a basic framework for a variety of weed-management tactics to achieve successful control.CitationAsaduzzaman, M., Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Wu, H., Koetz, E., Hopwood, M., & Shepherd, A. (2022). Phenology and Population Differentiation in Reproductive Plasticity in Feathertop Rhodes Grass (Chloris virgata Sw.). Agronomy, 12(3), 736. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030736 -
Webster, P. T. D., Shimomura, R., Rush, E. R., Leung, L. K.-P., & Murray, P. J. (2022). Distribution of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in the Great Sandy Region, Queensland and associations with vegetation communities. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 0(0), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2047733Publisher: Taylor & Francis
_eprint: https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2047733Emu - Austral OrnithologyAbstractThe Black-breasted Button-quail is a threatened forest inhabiting button-quail endemic to the east coast of Australia. Their distribution in the largest undeveloped portion of littoral forest within their range has‚ until this study‚ remained unsurveyed. In addition‚ their use of littoral vegetation is poorly described. Here we present findings from targeted camera trapping surveys in the Great Sandy Region collectively; K’gari (Fraser Island)‚ Cooloola and Inskip Peninsula‚ Queensland. We also review all published and unpublished reports of this species in this region‚ and assess their veracity. The associations of high veracity records with vegetation communities are presented. The species was most readily associated with littoral forest along the eastern coast of K’gari and Cooloola. Our findings reaffirm the distribution of Black-breasted Button-quail along the coast of K’gari‚ further they are distributed along the Cooloola coast and in a few isolated inland sites. This study addresses one of the persistent knowledge gaps documented in the 2010 and 2020 Action Plan for Australian Birds‚ pertaining to the species use and distribution in littoral vegetation of the Great Sandy Region. We anticipate the proposed distribution presented here will prove valuable in future surveys and research on this species in the Great Sandy region.CitationWebster, P. T. D., Shimomura, R., Rush, E. R., Leung, L. K.-P., & Murray, P. J. (2022). Distribution of Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster in the Great Sandy Region, Queensland and associations with vegetation communities. Emu - Austral Ornithology, 0(0), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2022.2047733 -
Carlin, T., Bufford, J. L., Hulme, P. E., & Godsoe, W. K. (2022). Global assessment of three Rumex species reveals inconsistent climatic niche shifts across introduced ranges. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1358439/v1AbstractClimatic niche shifts occur when species occupy different climates in the introduced range than in their native range. Climatic niche shifts are known to occur across a range of taxa‚ however we do not currently understand whether climatic niche shifts can consistently be predicted across multiple introduced ranges. Using three congeneric weed species‚ we investigate whether climatic niche shifts in one introduced range are consistent in other ranges where the species has been introduced. We compared the climatic conditions occupied by Rumex conglomeratus ‚ R. crispus ‚ and R. obtusifolius between their native range (Eurasia) and three different introduced ranges (North America‚ Australia‚ New Zealand). We considered metrics of niche overlap‚ expansion‚ unfilling‚ pioneering‚ and similarity to determine whether climatic niche shifts were consistent across ranges and congeners. We found that the presence and direction of climatic niche shifts was inconsistent between introduced ranges for each species. Within an introduced range‚ however‚ niche shifts were qualitatively similar among species. North America and New Zealand experienced diverging niche expansion into drier and wetter climates respectively‚ whilst the niche was conserved in Australia. This work highlights how unique characteristics of an introduced range and local introduction history can drive different niche shifts‚ and that comparisons between only the native and one introduced range may misrepresent a species’ capacity for niche shifts. However‚ predictions of climatic niche shifts could be improved by comparing related species in the introduced range rather than relying on the occupied environments of the native range.CitationCarlin, T., Bufford, J. L., Hulme, P. E., & Godsoe, W. K. (2022). Global assessment of three Rumex species reveals inconsistent climatic niche shifts across introduced ranges. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1358439/v1
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Auld, J., Everingham, S. E., Hemmings, F. A., & Moles, A. T. (2022). Alpine plants are on the move: Quantifying distribution shifts of Australian alpine plants through time. Diversity and Distributions, ddi.13494. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13494Diversity and DistributionsDiversity and DistributionsabstractCitationAuld, J., Everingham, S. E., Hemmings, F. A., & Moles, A. T. (2022). Alpine plants are on the move: Quantifying distribution shifts of Australian alpine plants through time. Diversity and Distributions, ddi.13494. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13494
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Truong, T., Le, H., & Nguyen, T. (2022). CAMELLIA THUANANA (CAMELLIA SECT. CHRYSANTHA) – A NEW SPECIES FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, VIETNAM. Dalat University Journal of Science, 12, 18–26. https://doi.org/10.37569/DalatUniversity.12.3.931(2022)Dalat University Journal of ScienceDalat University Journal of ScienceAbstractCamellia thuanana‚ a new species of the genus Camellia L. (Theaceae) is described and illustrated from the Central Highlands‚ Vietnam. Morphological features of this species are small flowers and pedicellate; leaves stalked‚ anastomosing venation‚ blades oblong-elliptic to elliptic‚ sparsely hirsute along the midrib below; pedicel very short; bracteoles 2–3‚ triangular; sepals 4–(5) in opposite pairs; corolla light greenish-yellow color; petals 7–8‚ glabrous; androecium 190–200 stamens‚ light yellow‚ in 3–4 circles; gynoecium 3‚ ovary ovoid and pubescent; styles 3‚ free to the base‚ and glabrous. C. thuanana resembles C. thuongiana in some morphological characteristics. C. thuanana is classified into sect. Chrysantha by styles completely free‚ flowers yellow‚ ovaries 3–5 locular‚ and partially connate. The IUCN Redlist Category of C. thuanana was assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).CitationTruong, T., Le, H., & Nguyen, T. (2022). CAMELLIA THUANANA (CAMELLIA SECT. CHRYSANTHA) – A NEW SPECIES FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, VIETNAM. Dalat University Journal of Science, 12, 18–26. https://doi.org/10.37569/DalatUniversity.12.3.931(2022)
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Rozefelds, A. C., Rudall, P. J., Herne, M. C., Milroy, A. K., & Bridgeman, J. (2022). A Fossil Syncarpous Fruit from Australia Provides Support for a Gondwanan History for the Screw Pines (Pandanus, Pandanaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 000–000. https://doi.org/10.1086/719431Publisher: The University of Chicago PressInternational Journal of Plant SciencesAbstractPremise of research. The Capella region in central Queensland has yielded diverse‚ three-dimensionally preserved‚ permineralized floras that are associated with 32–28 Ma Cenozoic volcanics. A new fossil infructescence that was recently discovered from a new locality is shown to have affinities with Pandanus Parkinson‚ and it is described herein as Pandanus estellae sp. nov.
Methodology. The affinities of the material were assessed according to a literature review of families that have syncarpous fruits or cones. The specimen was studied and photographed using conventional macromorphological approaches. Micro–computed tomography scanning was used to ascertain whether the internal structure of the fruit was preserved.
Pivotal results. The single infructescence consists of several basally connate segments that lack a clear phyllotactic pattern and are variable in size and shape; the external surface of each segment is irregularly pentagonal-hexagonal and strongly coalescent. Each segment is interpreted as multicarpellate. Collectively‚ these features allow interpretation of the fossil as syncarpous‚ and the morphological features support placement in the monocot family Pandanaceae. The arrangement of segments is consistent with the polydrupes that characterize most species of Pandanus‚ but the small size of the infructescence of P. estellae differs from fruits of modern species in the genus‚ which are typically much larger. The anatomy of P. estellae is not preserved. The inferred Early Oligocene age for the fossil fruit predates current estimates‚ which are based on molecular data and limited calibration points‚ by about 8–10 Myr for the split of Benstonea Callm. and Buerki from Pandanus.
Conclusions. The new species P. estellae is significant because it provides credible pre-Pleistocene evidence of the genus and is the oldest unequivocal fruit of Pandanus currently known. Its occurrence in Australia supports a Gondwanan history for the family.CitationRozefelds, A. C., Rudall, P. J., Herne, M. C., Milroy, A. K., & Bridgeman, J. (2022). A Fossil Syncarpous Fruit from Australia Provides Support for a Gondwanan History for the Screw Pines (Pandanus, Pandanaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 000–000. https://doi.org/10.1086/719431 -
Andrew, S. C., Gallagher, R. V., Wright, I. J., & Mokany, K. (2022). Assessing the vulnerability of plant functional trait strategies to climate change. Global Ecology and Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13501Global Ecology and BiogeographyAbstractAim Our ability to understand how species may respond to changing climate conditions is hampered by a lack of high-quality data on the adaptive capacity of species. Plant functional traits are linked to many aspects of species life history and adaptation to environment‚ with different combinations of trait values reflecting alternate strategies for adapting to varied conditions. If the realized climate limits of species can be partially explained by plant functional trait combinations‚ then a new approach of using trait combinations to predict the expected climate limits of species trait combinations may offer considerable benefits. Location Australia. Time period Current and future. Methods Using trait data for leaf size‚ seed mass and plant height for 6‚747 Australian native species from 27 plant families‚ we model the expected climate limits of trait combinations and use future climate scenarios to estimate climate change impacts based on plant functional trait strategies. Results Functional trait combinations were a significant predictor of species climate niche metrics with potentially meaningful relationships with two rainfall variables (R2 = .36 & .45) and three temperature variables (R2 = .21‚ .28‚ .30). Using this method‚ the proportion of species exposed to conditions across their range that are beyond the expected climate limits of their trait strategies will increase under climate change. Main conclusions Our new approach‚ called trait strategy vulnerability‚ includes three new metrics. For example‚ the climate change vulnerability (CCV) metric identified a small but important proportion of species (4.3%) that will on average be exposed to conditions beyond their expected limits for summer temperature in the future. These potentially vulnerable species could be high priority targets for deeper assessment of adaptive capacity at the genomic or physiological level. Our methods can be applied to any suite of co-occurring plants globally.CitationAndrew, S. C., Gallagher, R. V., Wright, I. J., & Mokany, K. (2022). Assessing the vulnerability of plant functional trait strategies to climate change. Global Ecology and Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13501
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Ramm, T., Thorn, K. M., A. Hipsley, C., Müller, J., Hocknull, S., & Melville, J. (2022). Herpetofaunal diversity changes with climate: evidence from the Quaternary of McEachern’s Deathtrap Cave, southeastern Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2021.2009844Journal of Vertebrate PaleontologyAbstractThe Quaternary Period is characterized by dramatic global climatic changes. Quaternary fossil deposits‚ which can offer excellent stratigraphic resolution‚ provide a unique opportunity to understand how fauna respond to past environmental change. Here‚ we test if the herpetofauna of McEachern’s Deathtrap Cave‚ a late Pleistocene to Holocene pitfall trap deposit from Victoria‚ Australia‚ shows climate-related shifts in taxonomic relative abundance through time. During the last 14‚000 years‚ southeastern Australia experienced pronounced periods of aridity‚ while temperatures remained relatively stable. We show that the stratigraphic layers of this deposit are characterized by different relative abundances of reptile subfamilies‚ and that changes in subfamily abundance between layers correlate with known shifts to aridity‚ based on the percentage of C4 grasses present in the region. We further identify 13 lizard morphotypes from the fossil deposit and compare this diversity with the present-day lizard fauna. Our analyses indicate that gradual changes in community structure‚ which are typically observed in southeastern Australian vertebrate communities during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition‚ can partly be explained by changing aridity. These findings represent an important contribution to understanding Quaternary community change in Australia‚ particularly because evidence of faunal succession of reptile and amphibian communities in Victoria is lacking. Our results further demonstrate the utility of the Australian herpetofaunal fossil record for detecting community responses to past climate change on relatively shallow timescales and at higher levels of taxonomic identification. © 2022 Till Ramm‚ Kailah M. Thorn‚ Christy A. Hipsley‚ Johannes Müller‚ Scott Hocknull‚ and Jane Melville.CitationRamm, T., Thorn, K. M., A. Hipsley, C., Müller, J., Hocknull, S., & Melville, J. (2022). Herpetofaunal diversity changes with climate: evidence from the Quaternary of McEachern’s Deathtrap Cave, southeastern Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2021.2009844
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Cunningham, C. X., Perry, G. L. W., Bowman, D. M. J. S., Forsyth, D. M., Driessen, M. M., Appleby, M., Brook, B. W., Hocking, G., Buettel, J. C., French, B. J., Hamer, R., Bryant, S. L., Taylor, M., Gardiner, R., Proft, K., Scoleri, V. P., Chiu-Werner, A., Travers, T., Thompson, L., … Johnson, C. N. (2022). Dynamics and predicted distribution of an irrupting ‘sleeper’ population: fallow deer in Tasmania. Biological Invasions, 24(4), 1131–1147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02703-4Biological InvasionsBiol InvasionsAbstractSleeper populations of non-native species can remain at low abundance for decades before irrupting. For over a century‚ fallow deer (Dama dama) in the island state of Tasmania‚ Australia‚ remained at low abundance and close to the region in which they were released. Recently‚ there are indications the population has increased in abundance and distribution. Here‚ we spatially quantify the population change using a time series of annual spotlight counts from 1985 to 2019 (up to 172 transects annually‚ totalling of 5756 transect counts). Next‚ we predict the potential for further range expansion‚ using global occurrences to characterise the species’ climatic niche‚ and remote-camera surveys (3225 camera sites) to model fine-grained habitat suitability. Spotlight counts of fallow deer increased by 11.5% annually‚ resulting in a 40-fold increase from 1985 to 2019. The core distribution increased 2.9-fold during this 35-year period‚ and now spans c. 27% of Tasmania’s land area. Satellite populations have established in locations where farmed deer have escaped or been released‚ suggesting that humans have facilitated range expansion via new introduction events. Based on climate and habitat suitability‚ our models predict that 56% of Tasmania is suitable under the current climate. This suggests range expansion is likely to continue unless the population is actively managed‚ which could include the eradication of satellite populations and containment of core populations. This case study cautions that despite over a century of slow population growth‚ sleeper populations of non-native species can abruptly increase.CitationCunningham, C. X., Perry, G. L. W., Bowman, D. M. J. S., Forsyth, D. M., Driessen, M. M., Appleby, M., Brook, B. W., Hocking, G., Buettel, J. C., French, B. J., Hamer, R., Bryant, S. L., Taylor, M., Gardiner, R., Proft, K., Scoleri, V. P., Chiu-Werner, A., Travers, T., Thompson, L., … Johnson, C. N. (2022). Dynamics and predicted distribution of an irrupting ‘sleeper’ population: fallow deer in Tasmania. Biological Invasions, 24(4), 1131–1147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02703-4
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Cacho, O. J., & Hester, S. M. (2022). Modelling biocontrol of invasive insects: An application to European Wasp (Vespula germanica) in Australia. Ecological Modelling, 467, 109939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.109939Ecological ModellingEcological ModellingabstractCitationCacho, O. J., & Hester, S. M. (2022). Modelling biocontrol of invasive insects: An application to European Wasp (Vespula germanica) in Australia. Ecological Modelling, 467, 109939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.109939
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Preece, N., & Fitzsimons, J. (2022). Gaps in Monitoring Leave Northern Australian Mammal Fauna with Uncertain Futures. Diversity, 14, 158. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030158DiversityDiversityAbstractNorthern Australian biomes hold high biodiversity values within largely intact vegetation complexes‚ yet many species of mammals‚ and some other taxa‚ are endangered. Recently‚ six mammal species were added to the 20 or so already listed in the Australian endangered category. Current predictions suggest that nine species of mammal in northern Australia are in imminent danger of extinction within 20 years. We examine the robustness of the assumptions of status and trends in light of the low levels of monitoring of species and ecosystems across northern Australia‚ including monitoring the effects of management actions. The causes of the declines include a warming climate‚ pest species‚ changed fire regimes‚ grazing by introduced herbivores‚ and diseases‚ and work to help species and ecosystems recover is being conducted across the region. Indigenous custodians who work on the land have the potential and capacity to provide a significant human resource to tackle the challenge of species recovery. By working with non-Indigenous researchers and conservation managers‚ and with adequate support and incentives‚ many improvements in species’ downward trajectories could be made. We propose a strategy to establish a network of monitoring sites based on a pragmatic approach by prioritizing particular bioregions. The policies that determine research and monitoring investment need to be re-set and new and modified approaches need to be implemented urgently. The funding needs to be returned to levels that are adequate for the task. At present resourcing levels‚ species are likely to become extinct through an avoidable attrition process .CitationPreece, N., & Fitzsimons, J. (2022). Gaps in Monitoring Leave Northern Australian Mammal Fauna with Uncertain Futures. Diversity, 14, 158. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030158
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Dart, K., Latty, T., & Greenville, A. (2022). Citizen science reveals current distribution, predicted habitat suitability and resource requirements of the introduced African Carder Bee Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum in Australia. Biological Invasions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02753-2Biological InvasionsBiol InvasionsAbstractThe introduction of non-native bee species is a major driver of ecosystem change resulting in the spread of non-native weeds‚ alterations to plant-pollinator interactions and competition with native species for food and nesting resources. Our lack of ecological information for many non-native organisms hinders our ability to understand the impacts of species introductions. This is often compounded by the Wallacean Shortfall—a lack of adequate knowledge of a species’ distribution in geographic space. In Australia‚ the African carder bee (Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum) was first observed in 2000 and has since become one of the most common bees in some regions. Despite its rapid population increase and range expansion‚ little is known about the ecology or distribution of P. repetitum. In this study‚ we determine the flower preferences‚ current distribution and predicted areas at risk of future invasion of P. repetitum using opportunistic data collected from citizen science websites‚ social media and museum records. We found that the current distribution of P. repetitum in Australia encompasses approximately 332‚000 km2 concentrated along the eastern coast. We found considerable suitable habitat outside the current distribution including biodiversity hotspots and world heritage listed natural areas. Pseudoanthidium repetitum foraged on a wide range of plants from many families and can thus be classified as a generalist forager (polylectic). Our results suggest that P. repetitum is well suited for continued expansion in coastal Australia. Our results demonstrate the effective application of opportunistic data in overcoming knowledge gaps in species ecology and modelling of introduced species distribution.CitationDart, K., Latty, T., & Greenville, A. (2022). Citizen science reveals current distribution, predicted habitat suitability and resource requirements of the introduced African Carder Bee Pseudoanthidium (Immanthidium) repetitum in Australia. Biological Invasions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02753-2
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Ahl, L. I., & Enghoff, H. (2022). MS1.3 Corpus of previous studies on prioritisation of digitisation compiled. Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), University of Copenhagen. https://know.dissco.eu/bitstream/item/463/1/DPP_WP1_MS1.3%20Corpus%20of%20previous%20studies%20on%20prioritisation%20of%20digitisation%20compiled%20%281%29.pdfabstractCitationAhl, L. I., & Enghoff, H. (2022). MS1.3 Corpus of previous studies on prioritisation of digitisation compiled. Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD), University of Copenhagen. https://know.dissco.eu/bitstream/item/463/1/DPP_WP1_MS1.3%20Corpus%20of%20previous%20studies%20on%20prioritisation%20of%20digitisation%20compiled%20%281%29.pdf
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Leppitt, R., Einoder, L., Kyne, P. M., Woinarski, J. C. Z., & Garnett, S. (2022). Understanding habitat use of the Endangered Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea tunneyi to inform monitoring and management. Bird Conservation International, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270921000447Publisher: Cambridge University PressBird Conservation InternationalAbstractKnowledge of where a threatened species occurs in a landscape is crucial for determining its habitat requirements and informing its conservation planning and management. We conducted the first broad-scale survey of the Endangered Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea tunneyi across much of its known range on drying coastal floodplains in northern Australia. Presence-absence records from 257 sites surveyed in the late dry season (August–December) of 2018 and 2019 were modelled using occupancy/detectability models. Occupancy was estimated to be 0.10 ± 0.04 with a high detection probability (0.89 ± 0.07). Modelling of 13 site-level environmental covariates found that chats were more likely to be detected at sites where the native shrub Sesbania sesban was present‚ were close to hydrogeological features such as depressions or channels‚ were long unburnt (5+ years) and/or with topsoil damage caused by feral pigs. Our estimates of chat occupancy‚ detectability‚ and the covariates that influence their occupancy‚ have improved our understanding of the role that fire and feral animals have on chat distribution and habitat selection‚ and can be used as a baseline for future monitoring. We also provide recommendations on how to design and implement future monitoring of this subspecies.CitationLeppitt, R., Einoder, L., Kyne, P. M., Woinarski, J. C. Z., & Garnett, S. (2022). Understanding habitat use of the Endangered Alligator Rivers Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea tunneyi to inform monitoring and management. Bird Conservation International, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270921000447
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Sanaei, E., Albery, G., Yeoh, Y. K., Lin, Y.-P., Cook, L., & Engelstädter, J. (2022). Host phylogeny and ecological associations best explain Wolbachia host shifts in scale insects Running title: Wolbachia host shifts [Preprint]. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.164544146.67062526/v1AbstractWolbachia are among the most prevalent and widespread endosymbiotic
bacteria on earth. Wolbachia’s success in infecting an enormous number
of arthropod species is attributed to two features: the range of
phenotypes they induce in their hosts‚ and their ability to switch
between host species. Whilst much progress has been made in elucidating
their induced phenotypes‚ our understanding of Wolbachia host shifting
is still very limited: we lack answers to even fundamental questions
concerning Wolbachia’s routes of transfer and the importance of factors
influencing host shifts. Here‚ we investigate the diversity and
host-shift patterns of Wolbachia in scale insects‚ a group of arthropods
with intimate associations with other insects that make them well-suited
to studying host shifts. Using Illumina pooled amplicon sequencing of
Wolbachia-infected scale insects and their direct associates we
determined the identity of all Wolbachia strains. We then fitted a
Generalised Additive Mixed Model (GAMM) to our data to estimate the
influence of host phylogeny and the geographic distribution on Wolbachia
strain sharing among scale insect species. The model predicts no
significant contribution of host geography but strong effects of host
phylogeny‚ with high rates of Wolbachia sharing among closely related
species and a sudden drop-off in sharing with increasing phylogenetic
distance. We also detected the same Wolbachia strain in scale insects
and several intimately associated species (ants‚ wasps‚ beetles‚ and
flies). This indicates putative host shifts and potential routes of
transfers via these associates and highlights the importance of
ecological connectivity in Wolbachia host-shifting.CitationSanaei, E., Albery, G., Yeoh, Y. K., Lin, Y.-P., Cook, L., & Engelstädter, J. (2022). Host phylogeny and ecological associations best explain Wolbachia host shifts in scale insects Running title: Wolbachia host shifts [Preprint]. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.164544146.67062526/v1 -
Champion, C., Hobday, A. J., Zhang, X., & Coleman, M. A. (2022). Climate change alters the temporal persistence of coastal-pelagic fishes off eastern Australia. ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsac025. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac025ICES Journal of Marine ScienceICES Journal of Marine ScienceAbstractThe climate-driven redistribution of fisheries species is altering their availability to fishers‚ necessitating projections of species redistributions that directly relate to future fishing opportunities. We propose that a valuable proxy for fishing opportunity is the proportion of the year that target species are available to fishers‚ which can be approximated by the temporal persistence of suitable habitat in defined regions. Here‚ we quantify changes in temporal habitat persistence (months/year) within five eastern Australian bioregions over the period 2010–2060 for four coastal-pelagic fishes: bonito (Sarda australis)‚ spotted mackerel (Scomberomorus munroi)‚ Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) and dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus). When species were analysed collectively‚ a significant reduction in the temporal persistence of suitable environmental habitats was evident in the most equatorward (i.e. Tweed-Moreton) bioregion‚ while significant positive increases were found for poleward bioregions (e.g. Batemans and Twofold Shelf bioregions). The greatest increases in temporal habitat persistence were projected for bonito in the Batemans Shelf bioregion and Spanish mackerel in the Hawkesbury Shelf bioregion (+2.2 and + 1.5 months/year between 10-year averages centered on 2020 and 2050‚ respectively). By demonstrating temporal habitat persistence as a measure of fishing opportunity‚ we highlight the potential for this metric to be an effective means of communicating to fishing stakeholders the need to adapt to climate change.CitationChampion, C., Hobday, A. J., Zhang, X., & Coleman, M. A. (2022). Climate change alters the temporal persistence of coastal-pelagic fishes off eastern Australia. ICES Journal of Marine Science, fsac025. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac025
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Clark, N. J., Proboste, T., Weerasinghe, G., & Magalhães, R. J. S. (2022). Near-term forecasting of companion animal tick paralysis incidence: An iterative ensemble model. PLOS Computational Biology, 18(2), e1009874. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009874Publisher: Public Library of SciencePLOS Computational BiologyPLOS Computational BiologyAbstractTick paralysis resulting from bites from Ixodes holocyclus and I. cornuatus is one of the leading causes of emergency veterinary admissions for companion animals in Australia‚ often resulting in death if left untreated. Availability of timely information on periods of increased risk can help modulate behaviors that reduce exposures to ticks and improve awareness of owners for the need of lifesaving preventative ectoparasite treatment. Improved awareness of clinicians and pet owners about temporal changes in tick paralysis risk can be assisted by ecological forecasting frameworks that integrate environmental information into statistical time series models. Using an 11-year time series of tick paralysis cases from veterinary clinics in one of Australia’s hotspots for the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus‚ we asked whether an ensemble model could accurately forecast clinical caseloads over near-term horizons. We fit a series of statistical time series (ARIMA‚ GARCH) and generative models (Prophet‚ Generalised Additive Model) using environmental variables as predictors‚ and then combined forecasts into a weighted ensemble to minimise prediction interval error. Our results indicate that variables related to temperature anomalies‚ levels of vegetation moisture and the Southern Oscillation Index can be useful for predicting tick paralysis admissions. Our model forecasted tick paralysis cases with exceptional accuracy while preserving epidemiological interpretability‚ outperforming a field-leading benchmark Exponential Smoothing model by reducing both point and prediction interval errors. Using online particle filtering to assimilate new observations and adjust forecast distributions when new data became available‚ our model adapted to changing temporal conditions and provided further reduced forecast errors. We expect our model pipeline to act as a platform for developing early warning systems that can notify clinicians and pet owners about heightened risks of environmentally driven veterinary conditions.CitationClark, N. J., Proboste, T., Weerasinghe, G., & Magalhães, R. J. S. (2022). Near-term forecasting of companion animal tick paralysis incidence: An iterative ensemble model. PLOS Computational Biology, 18(2), e1009874. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009874
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Diengdoh, V. L., Ondei, S., Amin, R. J., Hunt, M., & Brook, B. W. (2022). Landscape functional connectivity for butterflies under different scenarios of land-use, land-cover, and climate change in Australia [Preprint]. Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.07.479372AbstractAbstract
Pollinating invertebrates are vital to terrestrial ecosystems but are impacted by anthropogenic habitat loss/fragmentation and climate change. Conserving and improving landscape connectivity is important to offset those threats‚ yet its assessment for invertebrates is lacking. In this study‚ we evaluated the functional connectivity between protected areas in Australia for 59 butterfly species‚ under present conditions and different future scenarios (for 2050 and 2090) of land-use‚ land-cover‚ and climate change. Using circuit-theory analysis‚ we found that functional connectivity under present conditions varies widely between species‚ even when their estimated geographical ranges are similar. Under future scenarios‚ functional connectivity is predicted to decrease overall‚ with negative changes worsening from 2050 to 2090‚ although a few species are positive exceptions. We have made our results available as spatial datasets to allow comparisons with taxa from other studies and can be used to identify priority areas for conservation in terms of establishing ecological corridors or stepping-stone habitat patches. Our study highlights the importance of considering pollinating invertebrates when seeking holistic conservation and restoration of a landscape’s functional connectivity‚ underscoring the need to expand and promote protected areas to facilitate functional connectivity under future scenarios of global change.
Research Data
The habitat suitability maps and functional connectivity maps are made available as GeoTiff images via Figshare (10.6084/m9.figshare.19130078).CitationDiengdoh, V. L., Ondei, S., Amin, R. J., Hunt, M., & Brook, B. W. (2022). Landscape functional connectivity for butterflies under different scenarios of land-use, land-cover, and climate change in Australia [Preprint]. Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.07.479372 -
Cazzolla Gatti, R., Reich, P. B., Gamarra, J. G. P., Crowther, T., Hui, C., Morera, A., Bastin, J.-F., de-Miguel, S., Nabuurs, G.-J., Svenning, J.-C., Serra-Diaz, J. M., Merow, C., Enquist, B., Kamenetsky, M., Lee, J., Zhu, J., Fang, J., Jacobs, D. F., Pijanowski, B., … Liang, J. (2022). The number of tree species on Earth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(6), e2115329119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2115329119Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesProc Natl Acad Sci USAAbstractOne of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However‚ due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition‚ the global numbers of species‚ including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees‚ still remain largely unknown. Here‚ based on global ground-sourced data‚ we estimate the total tree species richness at global‚ continental‚ and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ∼73‚000 tree species globally‚ among which ∼9‚000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover‚ almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare‚ with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate‚ which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus‚ global tree richness.CitationCazzolla Gatti, R., Reich, P. B., Gamarra, J. G. P., Crowther, T., Hui, C., Morera, A., Bastin, J.-F., de-Miguel, S., Nabuurs, G.-J., Svenning, J.-C., Serra-Diaz, J. M., Merow, C., Enquist, B., Kamenetsky, M., Lee, J., Zhu, J., Fang, J., Jacobs, D. F., Pijanowski, B., … Liang, J. (2022). The number of tree species on Earth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(6), e2115329119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2115329119
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Carvalho, C., Davis, R., Connallon, T., Gleadow, R. M., Moore, J. L., & Uesugi, A. (2022). Multivariate selection mediated by aridity predicts divergence of drought resistant traits along natural aridity gradients of an invasive weed. New Phytologist, nph.18018. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18018New PhytologistNew PhytologistabstractCitationCarvalho, C., Davis, R., Connallon, T., Gleadow, R. M., Moore, J. L., & Uesugi, A. (2022). Multivariate selection mediated by aridity predicts divergence of drought resistant traits along natural aridity gradients of an invasive weed. New Phytologist, nph.18018. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18018
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Sampson, J., & Byrne, M. (2022). Genetic Differentiation among Subspecies of Banksia nivea (Proteaceae) Associated with Expansion and Habitat Specialization. Diversity, 14(2), 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020098Number: 2
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteDiversityDiversityAbstractSubspecies are traditionally defined using phenotypic differences associated with different geographical areas. Yet patterns of morphological and genetic variation may not coincide and thereby fail to reflect species’ evolutionary history. The division of the shrub Banksia nivea Labill. into one widespread (B. nivea subsp. nivea) and two geographically localized subspecies (B. nivea subsp. uliginosa (A.S. George) A.R. Mast & K.R. Thiele and B. nivea subsp. Morangup (M. Pieroni 94/2)) in south-west Australia has been based mainly on variation in leaf shape and pistil length‚ although flowering time and habitat differences are also evident‚ and subsp. uliginosa occurs on a different substrate. To assess the genetic divergence of B. nivea subspecies‚ we genotyped representatives from each subspecies for nuclear microsatellite and non-coding chloroplast sequence variation. We used distance and parsimony-based methods to assess genetic relatedness. Patterns were consistent with the existing taxonomy of subsp. nivea and uliginosa but not subsp. Morangup. Phylogenetic analyses revealed evidence for a more recent divergence of subsp. uliginosa associated with expansion from dryer sandy soils into the winter-wet ironstone soils in the southwest of Western Australia‚ consistent with progressive long-term climatic drying. Nuclear microsatellites showed low to moderate diversity‚ high population differentiation overall‚ and genetic structuring of subspecies in different biogeographical areas. We propose this pattern reflects the predicted impact of a patchy distribution‚ small populations‚ and restrictions to gene flow driven by both distance and biogeographic differences in subspecies’ habitats.CitationSampson, J., & Byrne, M. (2022). Genetic Differentiation among Subspecies of Banksia nivea (Proteaceae) Associated with Expansion and Habitat Specialization. Diversity, 14(2), 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020098 -
Zhao, Y., Romero, J., & Mohammadian, M. (2022). Issues Related to Modelling and Parameter Settings of Models for Ecological Systems the Case of Distribution of Thorny Devil. 2022 2nd International Conference on Innovative Practices in Technology and Management (ICIPTM), 2, 669–674. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIPTM54933.2022.97541992022 2nd International Conference on Innovative Practices in Technology and Management (ICIPTM)ICIPTMAbstractEcological modelling is a kind of important framework applied in environmental protection decision-making and strategies generation. The data sets used for ecological systems are complex and mega‚ and the elements to affect modelling are multiple and complex. Optimizing ecological species modelling is difficult. Configuration selection is one step in ecological modelling‚ which might improve models. Researchers need to understand the importance of configuration selection‚ which require more investigation in this area. The purpose of this paper is to advance Thorny Devil distribution modelling by evaluating and providing several modelling techniques with robustness criteria operation framework to improve the modelling of Thorny Devil distribution in Australia. This paper provides the results of several models for Thorny Devil distribution models and compares the results of these models. It also discusses which models would be more suitable for a field-based implementation‚ based on the parameters set. It also provides more references for configuration selection strategies.CitationZhao, Y., Romero, J., & Mohammadian, M. (2022). Issues Related to Modelling and Parameter Settings of Models for Ecological Systems the Case of Distribution of Thorny Devil. 2022 2nd International Conference on Innovative Practices in Technology and Management (ICIPTM), 2, 669–674. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIPTM54933.2022.9754199
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Stewart, B. A., Ford, B. M., & Benson, J. A. (2022). Using species distribution modelling to identify ‘coldspots’ for conservation of freshwater fishes under a changing climate. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3793Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater EcosystemsAbstractLike other Mediterranean regions‚ south-western Australia is predicted to experience an increase in temperature and drought conditions as a result of climate change‚ leading to altered species distributions. This study provides the first assessment of the effectiveness of the reserve system in Australia for conserving native freshwater fish by considering the congruence between protected areas and potential climate refugia in a global biodiversity hotspot. Using species distribution modelling‚ exposure to climate change was predicted for 13 native fish taxa‚ and priority areas (refugia) for fish conservation were identified by overlapping the present and future suitable climate envelopes of these taxa. Areas with climate refugia for >70% of the native freshwater fish fauna were recognized as ‘coldspots’. Two taxa were predicted to lose all suitable climate in the region by 2080‚ and five other taxa were predicted to lose >80% of their area of suitable climate. A ‘coldspot’ was identified consisting of a core area where >80% of taxa were predicted to persist and a larger surrounding area where >70% of taxa were predicted to persist. Although 93% of the core area of the coldspot is at present contained within the established protected areas network‚ only 26% of the surrounding area is contained within reserve boundaries. Future conservation actions‚ including the design and implementation of the protected area network‚ should take this coldspot into consideration.CitationStewart, B. A., Ford, B. M., & Benson, J. A. (2022). Using species distribution modelling to identify ‘coldspots’ for conservation of freshwater fishes under a changing climate. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3793
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Whittington, C. M., Van Dyke, J. U., Liang, S. Q. T., Edwards, S. V., Shine, R., Thompson, M. B., & Grueber, C. E. (2022). Understanding the evolution of viviparity using intraspecific variation in reproductive mode and transitional forms of pregnancy. Biological Reviews, brv.12836. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12836Biological ReviewsBiological ReviewsabstractCitationWhittington, C. M., Van Dyke, J. U., Liang, S. Q. T., Edwards, S. V., Shine, R., Thompson, M. B., & Grueber, C. E. (2022). Understanding the evolution of viviparity using intraspecific variation in reproductive mode and transitional forms of pregnancy. Biological Reviews, brv.12836. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12836
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Zhao, Y., Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Antunes, A., & Link to external site, this link will open in a new window. (2022). Biomedical Potential of the Neglected Molluscivorous and Vermivorous Conus Species. Marine Drugs, 20(2), 105. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/md20020105Num Pages: 105
Place: Basel, Switzerland
Publisher: MDPI AGMarine DrugsAbstractWithin the Conidae family‚ the piscivorous Conus species have been a hotspot target for drug discovery. Here‚ we assess the relevance of Conus and their other feeding habits‚ and thus under distinctive evolutionary constraints‚ to highlight the potential of neglected molluscivorous and vermivorous species in biomedical research and pharmaceutical industry. By singling out the areas with inadequate Conus disquisition‚ such as the Tamil Nadu Coast and the Andaman Islands‚ research resources can be expanded and better protected through awareness. In this study‚ 728 Conus species and 190 species from three other genera (1 from Californiconus‚ 159 from Conasprella and 30 from Profundiconus) in the Conidae family are assessed. The phylogenetic relationships of the Conidae species are determined and their known feeding habits superimposed. The worm-hunting species appeared first‚ and later the mollusc- and fish-hunting species were derived independently in the Neogene period (around 23 million years ago). Interestingly‚ many Conus species in the warm and shallow waters become polyphagous‚ allowing them to hunt both fish and worms‚ given the opportunities. Such newly gained trait is multi originated. This is controversial‚ given the traditional idea that most Conus species are specialized to hunt certain prey categories. However‚ it shows the functional complexity and great potential of conopeptides from some worm-eating species. Pharmaceutical attempts and relevant omics data have been differentially obtained. Indeed‚ data from the fish-hunting species receive strong preference over the worm-hunting ones. Expectedly‚ conopeptides from the fish-hunting species are believed to include the most potential candidates for biomedical research. Our work revisits major findings throughout the Conus evolution and emphasizes the importance of increasing omics surveys complemented with further behavior observation studies. Hence‚ we claim that Conus species and their feeding habits are equally important‚ highlighting many places left for Conus exploration worldwide. We also discuss the Conotoxin drug discovery potentials and the urgency of protecting the bioresources of Conus species. In particular‚ some vermivorous species have demonstrated great potential in malaria therapy‚ while other conotoxins from several worm- and mollusc-eating species exhibited explicit correlation with SARS-CoV-2. Reclaiming idle data with new perspectives could also promote interdisciplinary studies in both virological and toxicological fields.CitationZhao, Y., Link to external site, this link will open in a new window, Antunes, A., & Link to external site, this link will open in a new window. (2022). Biomedical Potential of the Neglected Molluscivorous and Vermivorous Conus Species. Marine Drugs, 20(2), 105. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/md20020105 -
Booth, E. J., Sandoval-Castillo, J., Attard, C. R. M., Gilligan, D. M., Unmack, P. J., & Beheregaray, L. B. (2022). Aridification-driven evolution of a migratory fish revealed by niche modelling and coalescence simulations. Journal of Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14337Journal of BiogeographyAbstractAim Major knowledge gaps exist regarding the evolution of arid zone organisms. For freshwater species with high dispersal potential‚ little is known if historical aridification influenced connectivity across drainage divides and impacted on their divergence and diversification. We tested the hypothesis that the historical aridification of Australia promoted the isolation and influenced the demographic histories and evolutionary divergence of a migratory group of freshwater obligates. Location Central and eastern Australia; Murray–Darling Basin (MDB)‚ Lake Eyre Basin (LEB)‚ Fitzroy Basin (FIT). Taxon Three lineages of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua)‚ a widespread fishery resource from inland Australia. Methods We obtained genome-wide data for golden perch sampled throughout their range. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using maximum likelihood. Species distribution modelling was used to predict contemporary and past distributions for the three lineages and to develop hypotheses regarding their biogeographic and demographic histories. Hypotheses were independently tested using coalescent simulations in fastsimcoal and DIYABC with the genomic dataset. Results We found evidence for three reciprocally monophyletic lineages that have experienced little to nil genetic connectivity since divergence. Coalescent models suggest that the coastal (FIT) and inland (MDB and LEB) lineages diverged 103 thousand years ago (ka)‚ followed by the split of MDB and LEB lineages 58 ka. These timings agree with reductions of large freshwater environments in Australia during the late Pleistocene. Species distribution models show an extreme decrease in habitat during the Last Glacial Maximum 21 ka‚ consistent with inferred demographic contractions in coalescent tests. Main conclusions We reveal that aridification of Australia during the late Pleistocene has driven and reinforced the divergence of a migratory freshwater obligate. Our findings are important for informing the conservation management of aquatic organisms under climate change. This work further demonstrates the value of using species distribution modelling to formulate diversification hypotheses and to improve interpretation of coalescent analyses.CitationBooth, E. J., Sandoval-Castillo, J., Attard, C. R. M., Gilligan, D. M., Unmack, P. J., & Beheregaray, L. B. (2022). Aridification-driven evolution of a migratory fish revealed by niche modelling and coalescence simulations. Journal of Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14337
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Bradford, M., Venz, M., Bell, K. L., Hogan, L., Smith, G. C., Eby, P., Eyre, T. J., McKeown, A., Vanderduys, E., MacDonald, S., & Westcott, D. (2022). The diet of a specialist nectarivore in Australia: The little red flying‐fox (Pteropus scapulatus, Pteropodidae). Austral Ecology, aec.13143. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13143Austral EcologyAustral EcologyabstractCitationBradford, M., Venz, M., Bell, K. L., Hogan, L., Smith, G. C., Eby, P., Eyre, T. J., McKeown, A., Vanderduys, E., MacDonald, S., & Westcott, D. (2022). The diet of a specialist nectarivore in Australia: The little red flying‐fox (Pteropus scapulatus, Pteropodidae). Austral Ecology, aec.13143. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13143
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Kemper, C. M., Steele-Collins, E., Al-Humaidhi, A., Segawa Fellowes, T., Marsh, O., & Charlton, C. (2022). Encounter Bay, South Australia, an important aggregation and nursery area for the southern right whale,Eubalaena australis Balaenidae: Cetacea). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.2018759Transactions of the Royal Society of South AustraliaTransactions of the Royal Society of South AustraliaAbstractEndangered Australian southern right whales‚ Eubalaena australis‚ are vulnerable to threats from human activities‚ particularly at calving aggregation areas. As the population increases‚ new calving areas are being established‚ which are important to monitor. In the Encounter Bay/Lacepede Bay region‚ South Australia‚ distribution‚ rela- tive abundance‚ residency and site fidelity were studied using historical sightings (n = 1071‚ 1970–2013) and photo-identified individuals (n = 191‚ 2006–2019). Whales were observed throughout the study area and concentrated in Encounter Bay during April to November where an inshore core calving area was identified between Port Elliot and the River Murray Mouth. Annual maximum daily sightings increased from 2 to 8 (X� = 2.9) whales during 1983–1997 to 1–25 (X� = 8.6) after 2002. Numbers of identified female-calf pairs (CC) increased from 10 (2006–2012) to 31 (2013–2019). During 2013–2019‚ when survey effort increased‚ a mean of 4.4 (1–9 pairs/year) CC and 18.0 (7–40/year) unaccompanied animals (UA) visited Encounter Bay each season. Mean residency was greater for CC (51.3‚ 13–126 days) than UA (13.4‚ 2–40 days). Calving females that arrived pregnant had more than twice the residency time than those first sighted with a calf. A quarter of calving females returned in two or three subsequent seasons. Encounter Bay is an important calving area and requires re- classification by the Commonwealth from “emerging aggregation area” to “small‚ established aggregation area”. Ongoing research is needed to document southern right whale population dynamics at Encounter Bay in the context of the broader Australian population.CitationKemper, C. M., Steele-Collins, E., Al-Humaidhi, A., Segawa Fellowes, T., Marsh, O., & Charlton, C. (2022). Encounter Bay, South Australia, an important aggregation and nursery area for the southern right whale,Eubalaena australis Balaenidae: Cetacea). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.2018759
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Hall, M. A., Stavert, J. R., Saunders, M. E., Barr, S., Haberle, S. G., & Rader, R. (2022). Pollen–insect interaction meta‐networks identify key relationships for conservation in mosaic agricultural landscapes. Ecological Applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2537Ecological ApplicationsEcological ApplicationsabstractCitationHall, M. A., Stavert, J. R., Saunders, M. E., Barr, S., Haberle, S. G., & Rader, R. (2022). Pollen–insect interaction meta‐networks identify key relationships for conservation in mosaic agricultural landscapes. Ecological Applications. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2537
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Wang, W., Durden, L. A., & Shao, R. (2022). A new species of sucking louse (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Hoplopleuridae) from the pale field rat, Rattus tunneyi (Rodentia: Muridae), in Australia. Zootaxa, 5091(3), 477–486. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5091.3.7PMID: 35391235ZootaxaZootaxaAbstractWe describe and illustrate a new species of sucking louse‚ Hoplopleura tunneya new species‚ from the Australian pale field rat‚ Rattus tunneyi Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae). Currently‚ 22 species of the genus Hoplopleura Enderlein‚ 1904 (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Hoplopleuridae) are known from Australian endemic rodents. Among the seven new endemic rodent species of the genus Rattus in Australia‚ R. tunneyi is one of five hosts to Hoplopleura lice. In addition‚ we give a list of all the species of Hoplopleura known from Australian endemic rodents. Including the introduced species Polyplax spinulosa‚ the total number of sucking louse species known from Australian endemic rodents is now 24.CitationWang, W., Durden, L. A., & Shao, R. (2022). A new species of sucking louse (Psocodea: Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Hoplopleuridae) from the pale field rat, Rattus tunneyi (Rodentia: Muridae), in Australia. Zootaxa, 5091(3), 477–486. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5091.3.7
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Jolly, C. J., Moore, H. A., Cowan, M. A., Cremona, T., Dunlop, J. A., Legge, S. M., Linley, G. D., Miritis, V., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Nimmo, D. G., Calver, M., Jolly, C. J., Moore, H. A., Cowan, M. A., Cremona, T., Dunlop, J. A., Legge, S. M., Linley, G. D., Miritis, V., … Calver, M. (2022). Taxonomic revision reveals potential impacts of Black Summer megafires on a cryptic species. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21045Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHINGPacific Conservation BiologyPac. Conserv. Biol.AbstractContext Sound taxonomy is the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation. Without a fundamental understanding of species delimitations‚ as well as their distributions and ecological requirements‚ our ability to conserve them is drastically impeded. Cryptic species – two or more distinct species currently classified as a single species – present a significant challenge to biodiversity conservation. How do we assess the conservation status and address potential drivers of extinction if we are unaware of a species’ existence? Here‚ we present a case where the reclassification of a species formerly considered widespread and secure – the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) – has dramatically increased our understanding of the potential impacts of the catastrophic 2019–20 Australian megafires to this species.Methods We modelled and mapped the distribution of the former and reclassified sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). We then compared the proportional overlap of fire severity classes between the former and reclassified distribution‚ and intersected habitat suitability and fire severity to help identify areas of important habitat following the 2019–20 fires.Key results Taxonomic revision means that the distribution of this iconic species appears to have been reduced to 8% of its formerly accepted range. Whereas the 2019–20 Australian megafires overlapped with 8% of the formerly accepted range‚ they overlapped with 33% of the proposed range of the redefined Petaurus breviceps.Conclusions Our study serves as a sombre example of the substantial risk of underestimating impacts of mega-disturbance on cryptic species‚ and hence the urgent need for cataloguing Earth’s biodiversity in the age of megafire.CitationJolly, C. J., Moore, H. A., Cowan, M. A., Cremona, T., Dunlop, J. A., Legge, S. M., Linley, G. D., Miritis, V., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Nimmo, D. G., Calver, M., Jolly, C. J., Moore, H. A., Cowan, M. A., Cremona, T., Dunlop, J. A., Legge, S. M., Linley, G. D., Miritis, V., … Calver, M. (2022). Taxonomic revision reveals potential impacts of Black Summer megafires on a cryptic species. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21045
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Burns, H., Gibbons, P., Claridge, A., & McCreery, D. (2022). Predicting habitat suitability for wild deer in relation to threatened ecological communities in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20095Pacific Conservation BiologyPac. Conserv. Biol.abstractCitationBurns, H., Gibbons, P., Claridge, A., & McCreery, D. (2022). Predicting habitat suitability for wild deer in relation to threatened ecological communities in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20095
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Hopley, T., & Byrne, M. (2022). Implications of climate change on a floodplain shrub: Associations between genomic and environmental variation. Global Ecology and Conservation, 40, e02340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02340Global Ecology and ConservationGlobal Ecology and ConservationabstractCitationHopley, T., & Byrne, M. (2022). Implications of climate change on a floodplain shrub: Associations between genomic and environmental variation. Global Ecology and Conservation, 40, e02340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02340
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Mannaf, M., Zuo, A., & Wheeler, S. A. (2022). The spatial influences of organic farming and environmental heterogeneity on biodiversity in South Australian landscapes. Journal of Environmental Management, 324. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116414Journal of Environmental ManagementAbstractThe potential link between certified organic farming and biodiversity and conservation remains unexplored in Australia‚ despite the country having the world’s largest amount of certified organic farmland and unprecedented biodiversity loss. This study modelled the spatial effects of organic farming (intensity of local farming systems)‚ environmental heterogeneity‚ and urbanisation on two widely studied environmental taxa — vascular plant and bird species richness (surrogate measures of biodiversity) — in South Australia‚ using a unique certified organic farming postcode level dataset from 2001 to 2016 (N = 5440). The spatial Durbin error model results confirmed the positive spatial congruence of organic farming with greater vascular plant species richness‚ whereas only weak to no significant evidence was found for bird species richness. Landscape features (habitat heterogeneity) and green vegetation (a proxy indicator of resource availability) – rather than organic farming – appeared to be most associated with bird species richness. Both plant and bird species richness were positively associated with habitat heterogeneity (land cover diversity and elevation range)‚ plant productivity and proportion of conservation land and water bodies. Whereas‚ increased anthropogenic land use for cropping and horticultural farming‚ soil type diversity and proximity to the coast significantly reduced species richness of both taxa. The results suggest that a multi-scale spatially refined biodiversity conservation strategy‚ with spatial targeting that promotes low intensive farming systems and increases landscape heterogeneity to provide quality habitat (a whole of landscape approach by incorporating private agricultural landholders)‚ could be beneficial for biodiversity conservation. © 2022CitationMannaf, M., Zuo, A., & Wheeler, S. A. (2022). The spatial influences of organic farming and environmental heterogeneity on biodiversity in South Australian landscapes. Journal of Environmental Management, 324. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116414
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Fleming, P. A., Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. J. S., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Thompson, J. A., & Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2022). Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia. Royal Society Open Science, 9(10), 220792. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220792Royal Society Open ScienceR. Soc. open sci.AbstractIntroduction of the domestic cat and red fox has devastated Australian native fauna. We synthesized Australian diet analyses to identify traits of prey species in cat‚ fox and dingo diets‚ which prey were more frequent or distinctive to the diet of each predator‚ and quantified dietary overlap. Nearly half (45%) of all Australian terrestrial mammal‚ bird and reptile species occurred in the diets of one or more predators. Cat and dingo diets overlapped least (0.64 ± 0.27‚
n
= 24 location/time points) and cat diet changed little over 55 years of study. Cats were more likely to have eaten birds‚ reptiles and small mammals than foxes or dingoes. Dingo diet remained constant over 53 years and constituted the largest mammal‚ bird and reptile prey species‚ including more macropods/potoroids‚ wombats‚ monotremes and bandicoots/bilbies than cats or foxes. Fox diet had greater overlap with both cats (0.79 ± 0.20‚
n
= 37) and dingoes (0.73 ± 0.21‚
n
= 42)‚ fewer distinctive items (plant material‚ possums/gliders) and significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity over 69 years‚ suggesting the opportunity for prey switching (especially of mammal prey) to mitigate competition. Our study reinforced concerns about mesopredator impacts upon scarce/threatened species and the need to control foxes and cats for fauna conservation. However‚ extensive dietary overlap and opportunism‚ as well as low incidence of mesopredators in dingo diets‚ precluded resolution of the debate about possible dingo suppression of foxes and cats.CitationFleming, P. A., Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. J. S., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Thompson, J. A., & Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2022). Distinctive diets of eutherian predators in Australia. Royal Society Open Science, 9(10), 220792. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220792 -
Baird, I. R. C., & Benson, D. (2022). Root-suckering and clonality in a Blue Mountains Banksia Taxon (Proteceae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 144, 109–127. https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/LIN/indexProceedings of the Linnean Society of New South WalesAbstractWe report novel observations of widespread root-suckering from shallow lateral roots‚ and clonal morphology in 29 populations of plants ascribed to Banksia paludosa subsp. paludosa in the upper Blue Mountains‚ NSW‚ and differing from southern populations (Southern Highlands and Woronora Plateau) which are lignotuberous resprouters.
Following fire‚ Blue Mountains populations can resprout to form multi-stemmed shrubs appearing to be lignotuberous resprouters‚ but form root connected populations of sometimes closely spaced ramets in discrete areas. New single- or multiple-shoot root suckers frequently arise following fire from lateral roots at varying distances from the nearest established ramets. No lignotubers (developed on seed-grown plants) were observed‚ but multi-stemmed ramets which survive multiple fires may develop small‚ swollen‚ woody underground structures where they originate from lateral roots‚ but these are also frequently killed by fire and thus not reliably persistent regenerative organs. Cone development is rare‚ compared with southern populations‚ and no seedling recruitment was observed in any population.
Such geographically widespread and ubiquitous root-suckering has not previously been reported in Banksia species in eastern Australia‚ though it has been reported in southwestern Australian species and in an ecotype of Banksia marginata from western Victoria and South Australia. We suggest that Blue Mountains populations of this species may represent a distinct taxon with a different post-glacial history and recommend genetic and taxonomic studies to better understand the relationships with related species‚ including the identity and placement of the Blue Mountains root-suckering taxon reported here.CitationBaird, I. R. C., & Benson, D. (2022). Root-suckering and clonality in a Blue Mountains Banksia Taxon (Proteceae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 144, 109–127. https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/LIN/index -
Filer, A., Meyer, E. A., & van Rensburg, B. J. (2022). Distributional overlap and potential competition between a threatened habitat specialist and generalist frog species in coastal wallum habitats of South East Queensland, Australia. Austral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13236Austral EcologyAbstractCoastal wallum wetlands inhabited by the vulnerable wallum sedgefrog (Litoria olongburensis) are highly susceptible to habitat degradation owing to their unusual hydrology and water chemistry. Anthropogenic impacts on wallum wetland environs pose a significant threat to the wallum sedgefrog by allowing the eastern sedgefrog (Litoria fallax)‚ a habitat generalist and closely related competitor species‚ to colonise and displace the wallum sedgefrog from disturbed wallum habitat. To identify ‘at risk’ areas‚ overlapping species distribution models were utilised to highlight areas of sympatry between these species in south east Queensland‚ where competition with the eastern sedgefrog poses a particular threat to the wallum sedgefrog. Significant areas of distributional overlap (including 47% of the wallum sedgefrog’s modelled distribution) were identified‚ primarily in mainland areas where anthropogenic disturbance is highest. When overlayed with the boundaries of protected areas‚ 84% of the area exclusively inhabited by the wallum sedgefrog occurs within the bounds of protected lands. In contrast‚ 74% of overlapping distribution of the two species occurred outside of these parks‚ highlighting the importance of protected areas in the conservation of the wallum sedgefrog. This study highlights areas where competition with the eastern sedgefrog presents a particular threat to the wallum sedgefrog‚ helping inform effective conservation initiatives for this species.CitationFiler, A., Meyer, E. A., & van Rensburg, B. J. (2022). Distributional overlap and potential competition between a threatened habitat specialist and generalist frog species in coastal wallum habitats of South East Queensland, Australia. Austral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13236
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Hill, E., Murphy, N., Toop, S., Linacre, A., & Strugnell, J. M. (2022). Genetic analysis of hog deer (Axis porcinus) in Victoria, Australia, and its applications to invasive species and game management. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 68(4), 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01592-9European Journal of Wildlife ResearchEur J Wildl ResAbstractAbstract
Hog deer were introduced to Australia in the 1860s‚ where they have spread across the Gippsland region of Victoria. Due to its status as an introduced species and an important game animal within Victoria‚ management of the species is complex. Given this complexity‚ genetic studies can provide important information regarding population structure and diversity which can assist in controlling problematic populations of hog deer‚ while also ensuring viable game stock in sites managed as game reserves. The aim of this study was to investigate the population genetic structure and diversity of the Victorian hog deer 150 years after introduction using short tandem repeats (STRs). Hog deer samples were collected across 15 sites of differing management regimes in the Gippsland region of Victoria and genotyped for 13 polymorphic STR loci. Up to four distinct genetic clusters were identified across the sites sampled‚ suggesting that despite low observed genetic diversity‚ population structure is present across their range. It was also possible to detect evidence of recent translocations among populations. This study suggests that the presence of distinct genetic clusters may enable management of separate genetic units‚ considering invasive species and game management objectives.CitationHill, E., Murphy, N., Toop, S., Linacre, A., & Strugnell, J. M. (2022). Genetic analysis of hog deer (Axis porcinus) in Victoria, Australia, and its applications to invasive species and game management. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 68(4), 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-022-01592-9 -
Emmerson, K. M., Addison-Smith, E., Ebert, E., Milic, A., Vicendese, D., Lampugnani, E. R., Erbas, B., Medek, D. E., Huete, A., Beggs, P., Katelaris, C. H., Haberle, S. G., Newbigin, E., & Davies, J. M. (2022). Evaluation of the performance of short-term curated daily airborne grass pollen forecasts in diverse biogeographical regions during the AusPollen Partnership project 2016–2020. Atmospheric Environment: X, 100183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100183Atmospheric Environment: XAtmospheric Environment: XabstractCitationEmmerson, K. M., Addison-Smith, E., Ebert, E., Milic, A., Vicendese, D., Lampugnani, E. R., Erbas, B., Medek, D. E., Huete, A., Beggs, P., Katelaris, C. H., Haberle, S. G., Newbigin, E., & Davies, J. M. (2022). Evaluation of the performance of short-term curated daily airborne grass pollen forecasts in diverse biogeographical regions during the AusPollen Partnership project 2016–2020. Atmospheric Environment: X, 100183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100183
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Burke, H. M., Tingley, R., & Dorin, A. (2022). Tag Frequency Difference: Rapid estimation of image set relevance for species occurrence data using general-purpose image classifiers. Ecological Informatics, 69, 101598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101598Ecological InformaticsEcological InformaticsabstractCitationBurke, H. M., Tingley, R., & Dorin, A. (2022). Tag Frequency Difference: Rapid estimation of image set relevance for species occurrence data using general-purpose image classifiers. Ecological Informatics, 69, 101598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101598
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Sopniewski, J., Scheele, B. C., & Cardillo, M. (2022). Predicting the distribution of Australian frogs and their overlap with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis under climate change. Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13533Diversity and DistributionsAbstractAim Amphibians‚ with over 40% of assessed species listed as threatened‚ are disproportionately at risk in the global extinction crisis. Among the many factors implicated in the ongoing loss of amphibian biodiversity are climate change and the disease chytridiomycosis‚ caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). These threats are of particular concern in Australia‚ where Bd has been implicated in the declines of at least 43 frog species‚ and climate change is emerging as an additional threat. We explore how climate change is likely to affect the distributions of Australian frog species and Bd to the year 2100‚ and how the spatial and climatic niche overlap between chytridiomycosis-declined frogs and Bd could shift. Location Australia. Methods We used species distribution modelling to infer the current and future distribution of 141 Australian frog species and Bd‚ under two emissions scenarios. We used various metrics of niche similarity to quantify predicted alterations to spatial interactions between Bd and frog species. Results Climate change is likely to have a variable impact on frog distributions in Australia‚ with some 23 and 47 species‚ primarily in southern Australia‚ predicted to lose at least 30% of their current distributions under low and high emissions scenarios‚ respectively. In contrast‚ 69 and 68 species‚ respectively‚ have potential to increase their distributions‚ primarily in northern Australia. While the distribution of Bd is predicted to decrease‚ the proportional spatial and niche overlap between Bd and susceptible frog species is predicted to remain little changed‚ and in some cases‚ to increase. Main conclusions Although effects will be variable across the continent‚ climate change is likely to be a threatening factor to many Australian frog species. Additionally‚ chytridiomycosis is likely to remain a significant threat to many frog species‚ as any reductions to the pathogen’s distribution largely coincide with geographic range contractions of chytridiomycosis-susceptible species.CitationSopniewski, J., Scheele, B. C., & Cardillo, M. (2022). Predicting the distribution of Australian frogs and their overlap with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis under climate change. Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13533
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Xie, Q., Huete, A., Hall, C. C., Medlyn, B. E., Power, S. A., Davies, J. M., Medek, D. E., & Beggs, P. J. (2022). Satellite-observed shifts in C3/C4 abundance in Australian grasslands are associated with rainfall patterns. Remote Sensing of Environment, 273, 112983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.112983Remote Sensing of EnvironmentRemote Sensing of EnvironmentabstractCitationXie, Q., Huete, A., Hall, C. C., Medlyn, B. E., Power, S. A., Davies, J. M., Medek, D. E., & Beggs, P. J. (2022). Satellite-observed shifts in C3/C4 abundance in Australian grasslands are associated with rainfall patterns. Remote Sensing of Environment, 273, 112983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.112983
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Otto, J. C., & Hill, D. E. (2022). Maratus nubilis, a new peacock spider in the chrysomelas group from southwestern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini). Peckhamia, 264(1), 1–29. https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_264.1.pdfPeckhamiaPeckhamiaabstractCitationOtto, J. C., & Hill, D. E. (2022). Maratus nubilis, a new peacock spider in the chrysomelas group from southwestern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini). Peckhamia, 264(1), 1–29. https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_264.1.pdf
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Rajapakshe, R. P. V. G. S. W., Cross, A. T., Turner, S. R., & Tomlinson, S. (2022). Understanding the interplay of temperature and moisture on the germination niche to improve management of threatened species impacted by mining. Restoration Ecology, e13708. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13708Restoration EcologyAbstractThe return of vegetation to mined lands often requires broadcast seeding of diverse native seed mixes. However‚ seeds are highly adapted to germination windows with specific hydrothermal thresholds that maximize the likelihood of seedling survival‚ and post-mining landscapes typically offer markedly different hydrothermal conditions than pre-disturbance ecosystems. According to niche theory‚ generalist species should exhibit broader hydrothermal performance niches than specialist taxa‚ which may influence the success of recruitment from seeds in post-mining ecological restoration. To test this assumption‚ the impact of hydrothermal stress (incubation temperature (10–30°C) and osmotic potential (−0.8 to 0 MPa)) on the time to 50% germination (t50) and maximum germination (Gmax) was compared between two narrow-range species of conservation concern (Acacia woodmaniorum and A. karina) restricted to mining-impacted Banded Ironstone Formations (BIF) and three broadly distributed congenerics (A. assimilis‚ A. exocarpoides‚ and A. ramulosa). The hydrothermal germination niches of the study species were broadly congruent with hydrothermal conditions of their habitats. The two range-restricted taxa were more tolerant of hydrothermal stress compared to the three widely distributed taxa‚ suggesting that tolerance of greater hydrothermal stress by both range-restricted Acacia species is likely to be adaptive to establishment in uncontested niche space. Complex interactions between thermal and water stress suggest these environmental gradients may shape the germination niche as well as patterns of plant diversity in BIF ecosystems. This study highlights the importance of quantifying interactions between niche dimensions and their implications for species performance‚ which will aid future restoration efforts for micro-endemic species impacted by mining.CitationRajapakshe, R. P. V. G. S. W., Cross, A. T., Turner, S. R., & Tomlinson, S. (2022). Understanding the interplay of temperature and moisture on the germination niche to improve management of threatened species impacted by mining. Restoration Ecology, e13708. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13708
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Stojanovic, D., Neeman, T., Lacy, R., Farquharson, K. A., Hogg, C. J., & Heinsohn, R. (2022). Effects of non-random juvenile mortality on small, inbred populations. Biological Conservation, 268, 109504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109504Biological ConservationBiological ConservationabstractCitationStojanovic, D., Neeman, T., Lacy, R., Farquharson, K. A., Hogg, C. J., & Heinsohn, R. (2022). Effects of non-random juvenile mortality on small, inbred populations. Biological Conservation, 268, 109504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109504
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Tierney, D. A. (2022). Linking restoration to the IUCN red list for ecosystems: A case study of how we might track the Earth’s ecosystems. Austral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13168Austral EcologyAbstractGlobally‚ ecosystems are in decline and a capacity to track this decline and the progress of ecosystem restoration at this scale is critical. The IUCN Red List for Ecosystems (RLE) is the accepted standard for global ecosystem risk assessments and potentially could be used to track progress of ecosystem restoration. Ecosystem restoration progress to date has been assessed by a diversity of techniques that do not provide a coherent link to risk identified in RLE assessments. This study assesses the potential of the RLE as a benchmark for tracking recovery for an ecosystem. This is demonstrated using a case study ecosystem with complex and challenging restoration requirements. Box Gum Woodlands (BGW) in eastern Australia are critically endangered but occur across a large geographic area‚ often as small remnants on private land. RLE assessments were used to assess the extent of restoration required and if key altered ecological processes relating to soil properties‚ fragmentation and climate change must also be mitigated. This assessment clarified the scale of work required‚ the importance of private land conservation and a range of other factors (soil status; fragmentation pattern; climate change) critical to successful restoration. It is concluded that the RLE can provide a powerful benchmark for restoration goals‚ but an important aspect of its use is a capacity to manage uncertainty.CitationTierney, D. A. (2022). Linking restoration to the IUCN red list for ecosystems: A case study of how we might track the Earth’s ecosystems. Austral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13168
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Choury, Z., Wujeska-Klause, A., Bourne, A., Bown, N. P., Tjoelker, M. G., Medlyn, B. E., & Crous, K. Y. (2022). Tropical rainforest species have larger increases in temperature optima with warming than warm-temperate rainforest trees. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18077New PhytologistAbstractWhile trees can acclimate to warming‚ there is concern that tropical rainforest species may be less able to acclimate because they have adapted to a relatively stable thermal environment. Here we tested whether the physiological adjustments to warming differed among Australian tropical‚ subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest trees. Photosynthesis and respiration temperature responses were quantified in six Australian rainforest seedlings of tropical‚ subtropical and warm-temperate climates grown across four growth temperatures in a glasshouse. Temperature response models were fitted to identify mechanisms underpinning the response to warming. Tropical and sub-tropical species had higher temperature optima for photosynthesis (ToptA) than temperate species. There was acclimation of ToptA to warmer growth temperatures. The rate of acclimation (0.34-0.59°C per°C) was similar among groups and attributed to differences in underlying biochemical parameters‚ particularly increased temperature optima of Vcmax25 and Jmax25. The temperature sensitivity of respiration (Q10) was 24% lower in tropical and subtropical compared to warm-temperate species. Overall‚ tropical and subtropical species had a similar capacity to acclimate to changes in growth temperature as warm-temperate species‚ despite being grown at higher temperatures. Quantifying the physiological acclimation in rainforests can improve accuracy of future climate predictions and assess their potential vulnerability to warming.CitationChoury, Z., Wujeska-Klause, A., Bourne, A., Bown, N. P., Tjoelker, M. G., Medlyn, B. E., & Crous, K. Y. (2022). Tropical rainforest species have larger increases in temperature optima with warming than warm-temperate rainforest trees. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18077
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Wang, W.-T., Guo, W.-Y., Jarvie, S., Serra-Diaz, J. M., & Svenning, J.-C. (2022). Anthropogenic climate change increases vulnerability of Magnolia species more in Asia than in the Americas. Biological Conservation, 265, 109425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109425Biological ConservationBiological ConservationabstractCitationWang, W.-T., Guo, W.-Y., Jarvie, S., Serra-Diaz, J. M., & Svenning, J.-C. (2022). Anthropogenic climate change increases vulnerability of Magnolia species more in Asia than in the Americas. Biological Conservation, 265, 109425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109425
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Cannizzaro, C., Keller, A., Wilson, R. S., Elliott, B., Newis, R., Ovah, R., Inae, K., Kerlin, D. H., Bar, I., Kämper, W., Shapcott, A., & Wallace, H. M. (2022). Forest landscapes increase diversity of honeybee diets in the tropics. Forest Ecology and Management, 504, 119869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119869Forest Ecology and ManagementForest Ecology and ManagementabstractCitationCannizzaro, C., Keller, A., Wilson, R. S., Elliott, B., Newis, R., Ovah, R., Inae, K., Kerlin, D. H., Bar, I., Kämper, W., Shapcott, A., & Wallace, H. M. (2022). Forest landscapes increase diversity of honeybee diets in the tropics. Forest Ecology and Management, 504, 119869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119869
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Milla, L., Schmidt‐Lebuhn, A., Bovill, J., & Encinas‐Viso, F. (2022). Monitoring of honey bee floral resources with pollen DNA metabarcoding as a complementary tool to vegetation surveys. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12120Ecological Solutions and EvidenceEcol Sol and EvidenceabstractCitationMilla, L., Schmidt‐Lebuhn, A., Bovill, J., & Encinas‐Viso, F. (2022). Monitoring of honey bee floral resources with pollen DNA metabarcoding as a complementary tool to vegetation surveys. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12120
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Carmelet-Rescan, D., Morgan-Richards, M., Pattabiraman, N., & Trewick, S. A. (2022). Time-calibrated phylogeny and ecological niche models indicate Pliocene aridification drove intraspecific diversification of brushtail possums in Australia. Ecology and Evolution, 12(12), e9633. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9633Ecology and EvolutionAbstractMajor aridification events in Australia during the Pliocene may have had significant impact on the distribution and structure of widespread species. To explore the potential impact of Pliocene and Pleistocene climate oscillations‚ we estimated the timing of population fragmentation and past connectivity of the currently isolated but morphologically similar subspecies of the widespread brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). We use ecological niche modeling (ENM) with the current fragmented distribution of brushtail possums to estimate the environmental envelope of this marsupial. We projected the ENM on models of past climatic conditions in Australia to infer the potential distribution of brushtail possums over 6 million years. D-loop haplotypes were used to describe population structure. From shotgun sequencing‚ we assembled whole mitochondrial DNA genomes and estimated the timing of intraspecific divergence. Our projections of ENMs suggest current possum populations were unlikely to have been in contact during the Pleistocene. Although lowered sea level during glacial periods enabled connection with habitat in Tasmania‚ climate fluctuation during this time would not have facilitated gene flow over much of Australia. The most recent common ancestor of sampled intraspecific diversity dates to the early Pliocene when continental aridification caused significant changes to Australian ecology and Trichosurus vulpecula distribution was likely fragmented. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the subspecies T. v. hypoleucus (koomal; southwest)‚ T. v. arnhemensis (langkurr; north)‚ and T. v. vulpecula (bilda; southeast) correspond to distinct mitochondrial lineages. Despite little phenotypic differentiation‚ Trichosurus vulpecula populations probably experienced little gene flow with one another since the Pliocene‚ supporting the recognition of several subspecies and explaining their adaptations to the regional plant assemblages on which they feed.CitationCarmelet-Rescan, D., Morgan-Richards, M., Pattabiraman, N., & Trewick, S. A. (2022). Time-calibrated phylogeny and ecological niche models indicate Pliocene aridification drove intraspecific diversification of brushtail possums in Australia. Ecology and Evolution, 12(12), e9633. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9633
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Bryant, D., Sexton, C., & Sinclair, S. (2022). Small skink, expanding property portfolio: A range extension of Grey’s Skink Menetia greyii in Victoria. Victorian Naturalist, 139(5), 128–132. Scopus.Victorian NaturalistAbstractGrey’s Skink Menetia greyii is reported from 2 locations in grassland vegetation at Mount Cottrell on the Keilor Plains of southern Victoria. These records represent the most southern detections of this species‚ and the first reported south of the Great Dividing Range. One lizard was collected in a pitfall trap‚ the other under a roof tile‚ both within Natural Temperate Grassland dominated by Kneed-spear Grass Austrostipa bigeniculata and Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra. (The Victorian Naturalist 139(5)‚ 128–132). © 2022‚ Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. All rights reserved.CitationBryant, D., Sexton, C., & Sinclair, S. (2022). Small skink, expanding property portfolio: A range extension of Grey’s Skink Menetia greyii in Victoria. Victorian Naturalist, 139(5), 128–132. Scopus.
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Losso, A., Challis, A., Gauthey, A., Nolan, R. H., Hislop, S., Roff, A., Boer, M. M., Jiang, M., Medlyn, B. E., & Choat, B. (2022). Canopy dieback and recovery in Australian native forests following extreme drought. Scientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group), 12(1), 21608. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24833-yNum Pages: 21608
Place: London, United States
Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupScientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group)AbstractIn 2019‚ south-eastern Australia experienced its driest and hottest year on record‚ resulting in massive canopy dieback events in eucalypt dominated forests. A subsequent period of high precipitation in 2020 provided a rare opportunity to quantify the impacts of extreme drought and consequent recovery. We quantified canopy health and hydraulic impairment (native percent loss of hydraulic conductivity‚ PLC) of 18 native tree species growing at 15 sites that were heavily impacted by the drought both during and 8–10 months after the drought. Most species exhibited high PLC during drought (PLC:65.1 ± 3.3%)‚ with no clear patterns across sites or species. Heavily impaired trees (PLC > 70%) showed extensive canopy browning. In the post-drought period‚ most surviving trees exhibited hydraulic recovery (PLC:26.1 ± 5.1%)‚ although PLC remained high in some trees (50–70%). Regained hydraulic function (PLC < 50%) corresponded to decreased canopy browning indicating improved tree health. Similar drought (37.1 ± 4.2%) and post-drought (35.1 ± 4.4%) percentages of basal area with dead canopy suggested that trees with severely compromised canopies immediately after drought were not able to recover. This dataset provides insights into the impacts of severe natural drought on the health of mature trees‚ where hydraulic failure is a major contributor in canopy dieback and tree mortality during extreme drought events.CitationLosso, A., Challis, A., Gauthey, A., Nolan, R. H., Hislop, S., Roff, A., Boer, M. M., Jiang, M., Medlyn, B. E., & Choat, B. (2022). Canopy dieback and recovery in Australian native forests following extreme drought. Scientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group), 12(1), 21608. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24833-y -
Scambler, E. C., & Grant, J. D. A. (2022). ‘A live body with headquarters at Cairns’: the North Queensland Naturalists Club, 1932–1950. North Queensland Naturalist, 52, 49–68. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elinor-Scambler/publication/365196901_A_live_body_with_headquarters_at_Cairns’_the_North_Queensland_Naturalists_Club_1932-1950/links/636a0bab431b1f53007c1736/A-live-body-with-headquarters-at-Cairns-the-North-Queensland-Naturalists-Club-1932-1950.pdfNorth Queensland NaturalistAbstractThe North Queensland Naturalists Club was formed in Cairns in 1932‚ with noted radiologist Dr Hugo Flecker as founding President and Joseph (Joe) Wyer‚ an executive in the powerful Harbour Board‚ as Secretary. It aimed to “preserve the natural beauties of the district for all time” and inform residents and authorities about the region’s natural history features‚ which were not well-known or protected. From 1932–1950 there were almost 400 members in Far North Queensland (north of Cardwell‚ 18o16’S) from a wide range of occupations. About half the members joined in their 30s or 40s and a third were female. The club developed close networks in the region through cross-memberships of committee and ordinary members with local councils‚ businesses‚ the press and numerous other community associations. Through these networks and its expert and energetic leadership the club achieved a prominent profile in the region. It raised public awareness of the north’s special natural attributes locally‚ nationally and to an extent internationally‚ through lectures‚ excursions‚ nature shows‚ a popular newspaper column‚ a quarterly journal (the North Queensland Naturalist) and the creation of a significant herbarium of northern plants. Cooperation between the Club and other regional organisations on conservation and tourism may represent one of Australia’s earliest eco-tourism partnerships. We focus on the club’s membership‚ achievements and conservation initiatives in three periods: the formative years (1932–1939) during the Great Depression; WWII (1939–1945)‚ when despite many challenges the club engaged with military naturalists; and post-war (1946–1950)‚ with new members adding different areas of expertise to the club’s activities.CitationScambler, E. C., & Grant, J. D. A. (2022). ‘A live body with headquarters at Cairns’: the North Queensland Naturalists Club, 1932–1950. North Queensland Naturalist, 52, 49–68. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elinor-Scambler/publication/365196901_A_live_body_with_headquarters_at_Cairns’_the_North_Queensland_Naturalists_Club_1932-1950/links/636a0bab431b1f53007c1736/A-live-body-with-headquarters-at-Cairns-the-North-Queensland-Naturalists-Club-1932-1950.pdf
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Goldsworthy, S. D., Baring, R., Giatas, G., Nitschke, J., Bucater, L., & Qifeng, Y. (2022). Ecosystem models to inform the development of strategies to restore a functioning South Lagoon food web in the Coorong (Technical Report No. 22/11; Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series, p. 117). Goyder Institude for Water Research. http://www.goyderinstitute.org/_r5232/media/system/attrib/file/865/TI-3.4.2_TRS_Food%20Web%20Model_2022-06-29_Final_v1.0_Updated%20020922.pdfAbstractThe Coorong ecosystem is an important ecological component of the Murray-Darling Basin that provides
significant cultural‚ environmental‚ and economic values at local‚ national and international scales. Along
with the Murray Mouth and Estuary‚ and Lower Lakes it forms a wetland of International Importance under
the Ramsar Convention. The combined impacts of reduced flows from the River Murray and other
anthropogenic impacts‚ exacerbated during the Millennium Drought (particularly during the period 2001-
2010)‚ have resulted in long-term declines in the ecological condition of the Coorong. This is most notable in
the South Lagoon‚ where increased eutrophication‚ hypersalinity and other impacts have resulted in a
significant loss of ecosystem function.
The Healthy Coorong‚ Healthy Basin Program (HCHB) represents a government commitment to improve the
health of the Coorong. Part of the commitment is to conduct Scientific Trials and Investigations (T&I) to
provide knowledge that informs the future management of the Coorong and facilitate restoration and
maintenance of ecological condition‚ particularly for the South Lagoon. Investigations for ‘Restoring a
functioning Coorong food web’ forms Component 3 of the HCHB T&I Project. The primary objectives were to
improve understanding of food web dynamics by investigating the diet‚ prey availability and energy supply
for key biota (waterbirds and fish) in the Coorong and develop a quantitative food web model. This report
details the outputs of Activity 3.4 ‘Ecosystem models to inform the development of strategies to restore a
functioning South Lagoon food web in the Coorong’‚ which specifically aimed to develop quantitative food
web models for the North Coorong (Murray Estuary and North Lagoon) and South Lagoon and use these
models to inform the development of strategies to restore a functioning South Lagoon food web. This report
presents the results of work completed during the period from April 2021 to May 2022.
Trophic mass balance models of the North Coorong (i.e. Goolwa Barrages to Parnka Point North) and South
Lagoon (i.e. Parnka Point South to Salt Creek) sections of the Coorong ecosystem were developed using the
Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) software. The North Coorong and South Lagoon ecosystem models were
composed of 56 and 48 trophic groups respectively‚ including mammals‚ birds‚ chondrichthyans‚ teleosts‚
invertebrates‚ autotrophs‚ and detritus. The base Ecopath models used available data to estimate four key
parameters: biomass (B)‚ production per biomass (P/B)‚ consumption per unit of biomass (Q/B) and
ecotrophic efficiency (EE). A significant portion of this report details how these parameters were estimated
for each trophic group and will form important assumptions for future ecological studies. Each model
required a detailed dietary matrix and information on the landings and discard estimates for the commercial
fishing fleet (target species by fishing gear type). Models were balanced using three of the four key
parameters‚ with the final parameter value estimated by the model. Ecopath models were constructed to
represent the status of each ecosystem in 1984-85‚ to coincide with the initial year of commercial fishery
logbook data for the Lakes and Coorong fishery.
Ecopath models were used to develop time dynamic models in Ecosim‚ using a combination of best available
data from the commercial fishery‚ fish research sampling and bird abundance data obtained across a 37-year
time period (1984-85 to 2020-21). These provided a total of 67 and 44 individual reference time-series data
sets for the North Coorong and South Lagoon ecosystem models‚ respectively‚ including estimates of annual
catch‚ fishing effort‚ and relative biomass (CPUE) of key commercially targeted species (e.g. yelloweye mullet‚
mulloway‚ black bream‚ flounder); annual fish catch sampling data for other fish taxa‚ and annual data from
the Coorong waterbird monitoring program. Environmental forcing time-series for flow (barrage flow/Salt
Creek flow)‚ water level and salinity were fitted to the reference biological time-series using the nutrient
loading forcing function application of Ecosim. For both the North Coorong and South Lagoon models‚ the
addition of environmental time-series data (e.g. flow‚ water level‚ salinity) with the nutrient loading forcing
function and a primary production anomaly‚ provided the best models. Fits to annual mean salinity produced
better model fits than mean annual water level‚ and water level produced better model fits than total annual
barrage (North Coorong) or Salt Creek flows (South Lagoon).
To provide information to assist assessments of potential infrastructure developments on ecosystem
recovery‚ scenarios were developed that examined the response relationships between key bird and fishCitationGoldsworthy, S. D., Baring, R., Giatas, G., Nitschke, J., Bucater, L., & Qifeng, Y. (2022). Ecosystem models to inform the development of strategies to restore a functioning South Lagoon food web in the Coorong (Technical Report No. 22/11; Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series, p. 117). Goyder Institude for Water Research. http://www.goyderinstitute.org/_r5232/media/system/attrib/file/865/TI-3.4.2_TRS_Food%20Web%20Model_2022-06-29_Final_v1.0_Updated%20020922.pdf -
Fairbairn, A. S., & Florin, S. A. (2022). Archaeological identification of fragmented nuts and fruits from key Asia-Pacific economic tree species using anatomical criteria: Comparative analysis of Canarium, Pandanus and Terminalia. Archaeology in Oceania, 57(3), 160–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5273Archaeology in OceaniaAbstractThe fats‚ protein and carbohydrates afforded by tree nuts and fruits are key resources for communities from Southeast Asia‚ through Melanesia‚ Australia and across Oceania. They are important in long-distance marine trade networks‚ large-scale ceremonial gatherings‚ and are core resources in a wide range of subsistence economies‚ including foraging systems‚ horticulture and swidden agriculture. Recent archaeobotanical evidence has also shown their deep-time importance‚ being amongst the earliest foods used in the colonisation of novel environments in Australia and New Guinea‚ as well as the later colonisation of Near and Remote Oceania. The archaeobotanical methods used to identify fruit and nut-derived plant macrofossils have been largely limited to use of morphological characters of near whole or exceptionally preserved remains‚ most commonly endocarps‚ the hard‚ nutshell-like interior layer of the fruit protecting the seed. Here we detail how anatomical characteristics of endocarps‚ visible in light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)‚ can be used with surviving morphological features to identify confidently the use of key Asia-Pacific economic trees‚ in this case‚ Canarium‚ Pandanus and Terminalia. Systematic anatomical description allows the identification of these important economic taxa‚ and separation from the remains of others such as Aleurites and Cocos‚ when found in a range of archaeological assemblages. This includes the often highly fragmented charred assemblages that can be recovered routinely from most sites with appropriate fine-sieving and flotation methods. These methods provide the basis for a more representative and nuanced understanding of ancient plant use‚ economy and social systems operating in the region and‚ being particularly useful in tropical regions‚ will broaden the archaeobotanical database on ancient foods globally.CitationFairbairn, A. S., & Florin, S. A. (2022). Archaeological identification of fragmented nuts and fruits from key Asia-Pacific economic tree species using anatomical criteria: Comparative analysis of Canarium, Pandanus and Terminalia. Archaeology in Oceania, 57(3), 160–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5273
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Speed, C. W., Wilson, N. G., Somaweera, R., Udyawer, V., Meekan, M. G., Whisson, C., & Miller, K. (2022). Video surveys of sea snakes in the mesophotic zone shed light on trends in populations. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9(921542). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.921542Frontiers in Marine ScienceAbstractDeclines in abundance of sea snakes have been observed on reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific‚ although the reasons are unknown. To date‚ surveys have occurred on shallow reefs‚ despite sea snakes occurring over a large depth range. It is not known if populations of sea snakes in deep habitats have undergone similar declines. To address this‚ we analysed deep-water video data from a historical hotspot of sea snake diversity‚ Ashmore Reef‚ in 2004‚ 2016‚ and 2021. We collected 288 hours of video using baited remote underwater videos and a remotely operated vehicle at depths between 13 and 112 m. We observed 80 individuals of seven species with Aipysurus laevis (n = 30)‚ Hydrophis peronii (n = 8)‚ and H. ocellatus (n = 6) being the most abundant. Five of the species (A. duboisii‚ A. apraefrontalis‚ H. ocellatus‚ H. kingii‚ and Emydocephalus orarius) had not been reported in shallow waters for a decade prior to our study. We found no evidence of a decline in sea snakes across years in deep-water surveys‚ although abundances were lower than those in early shallow-water surveys. A comparison of BRUVS data from 2004 and 2016 was consistent with the hypothesis that predation by sharks may have contributed to the loss of sea snakes in shallow habitats. Our study highlights the use of underwater video to collect information on sea snakes in the mesophotic zone and also suggests that future monitoring should include these depths in order to capture a more complete representation of habitats occupied. Copyright © 2022 Speed‚ Wilson‚ Somaweera‚ Udyawer‚ Meekan‚ Whisson and Miller.CitationSpeed, C. W., Wilson, N. G., Somaweera, R., Udyawer, V., Meekan, M. G., Whisson, C., & Miller, K. (2022). Video surveys of sea snakes in the mesophotic zone shed light on trends in populations. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9(921542). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.921542
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Khan, M. K., & Ullah, M. O. (2022). Deep Transfer Learning Inspired Automatic Insect Pest Recognition. 6. https://inccst.muet.edu.pk/INCCST22/papers/8.pdf3rd International Conference on Computational Sciences and TechnologiesAbstractAgriculture is not only the source of living for many living organisms but is also the backbone of many economies. Since insect pest diseases knock down the growth and production of agricultural resources‚ there is a need to vanish the insects through pesticides after their accurate recognition. Fast and effective algorithms for insect pest recognition are now possible on account of improvements in computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI). The deep transfer learning models (DTLMs) based insect pest recognition system is proposed in this paper. Two deep transfer learning models i.e.‚ InceptionV3 and VGG19 are applied in this work. Pre-processing is used to locate areas containing the most relevant features. The IP102 dataset launched in 2019 is used in this research and a comparison is carried out to check the performance of the applied models. Experimental results show that the applied models outperform existing insect classification algorithms in terms of accuracy on large datasets.CitationKhan, M. K., & Ullah, M. O. (2022). Deep Transfer Learning Inspired Automatic Insect Pest Recognition. 6. https://inccst.muet.edu.pk/INCCST22/papers/8.pdf
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Olkola Aboriginal Corporation (Cairns). (2022). Draft Golden-shouldered Parrot Recovery Plan. Olkola Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Government Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment, Olkola Aboriginal Land Managers. https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/draft-recovery-plan-golden-shouldered-parrot.pdfabstractCitationOlkola Aboriginal Corporation (Cairns). (2022). Draft Golden-shouldered Parrot Recovery Plan. Olkola Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Government Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment, Olkola Aboriginal Land Managers. https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/draft-recovery-plan-golden-shouldered-parrot.pdf
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Hemming, K. (2022). Forecasting native and exotic plant species richness and interactions [University of Canberra]. https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/62608058/Hemming_Kyle.pdfAbstractFinally‚ I tested the effect of changes in a critical resource (water availability) on the competitive impacts of exotic species on a native community. Under drought conditions‚ the exotic grasses had higher survival and greater biomass than native species‚ and one exotic species still competitively suppressed the native community. These findings suggest that native species may not escape competitive effects of exotic species during resource-poor periods.CitationHemming, K. (2022). Forecasting native and exotic plant species richness and interactions [University of Canberra]. https://researchsystem.canberra.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/62608058/Hemming_Kyle.pdf
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Moir, M. L. (2022). Revision of the lacebug tribe Ceratocaderini (Hemiptera: Tingidae). Austral Entomology, 61(3), 277–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12613Austral EntomologyAbstractThe lacebug tribe Ceratocaderini (Tingidae: Cantacaderinae) is reviewed. The tribe comprises five genera from the Southern Hemisphere: Allocader Drake‚ Australocader Lis‚ Caledoderus Guilbert‚ Ceratocader Drake‚ and Coolacader gen. nov. The tribe is restricted to the Australian and New Caledonian regions. This revision includes the description of a new genus‚ Coolacader gen. nov. and six new species from three other genera: Australocader porchi sp. nov.‚ Ceratocader piae sp. nov.‚ Ceratocader spiculas sp. nov.‚ Coolacader cupido sp. nov.‚ Coolacader kardia sp. nov. and Coolacader valentine sp. nov. The nymph of Ceratocader is detailed for the first time‚ and the nymphs of three species of Coolacader gen. nov. are described. Allocader cordatus (Hacker‚ 1927) is transferred to Coolacader gen. nov.‚ resulting in a new combination Coolacader cordatus (Hacker‚ 1927) comb. nov.‚ and Allocader nesiotes Drake & Ruhoff‚ 1962 is transferred to the genus Caledoderus‚ resulting in a new combination Caledoderus nesiotes (Drake & Ruhoff‚ 1962) comb. nov.. This work increases the number of species in the tribe from 13 to 19. A revised key to the genera and species of the Ceratocaderini is provided.CitationMoir, M. L. (2022). Revision of the lacebug tribe Ceratocaderini (Hemiptera: Tingidae). Austral Entomology, 61(3), 277–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12613
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Phillips, A. L., Ferguson, S., Watson-Haigh, N. S., Jones, A. W., Borevitz, J. O., Burton, R. A., & Atwell, B. J. (2022). The first long-read nuclear genome assembly of Oryza australiensis, a wild rice from northern Australia. Scientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group), 12(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14893-5Place: London, United States
Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupScientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group)AbstractOryza australiensis is a wild rice native to monsoonal northern Australia. The International Oryza Map Alignment Project emphasises its significance as the sole representative of the EE genome clade. Assembly of the O. australiensis genome has previously been challenging due to its high Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) retrotransposon (RT) content. Oxford Nanopore long reads were combined with Illumina short reads to generate a high-quality \textasciitilde 858 Mbp genome assembly within 850 contigs with 46× long read coverage. Reference-guided scaffolding increased genome contiguity‚ placing 88.2% of contigs into 12 pseudomolecules. After alignment to the Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare genome‚ we observed several structural variations. PacBio Iso-Seq data were generated for five distinct tissues to improve the functional annotation of 34‚587 protein-coding genes and 42‚329 transcripts. We also report SNV numbers for three additional O. australiensis genotypes based on Illumina re-sequencing. Although genetic similarity reflected geographical separation‚ the density of SNVs also correlated with our previous report on variations in salinity tolerance. This genome re-confirms the genetic remoteness of the O. australiensis lineage within the O. officinalis genome complex. Assembly of a high-quality genome for O. australiensis provides an important resource for the discovery of critical genes involved in development and stress tolerance.CitationPhillips, A. L., Ferguson, S., Watson-Haigh, N. S., Jones, A. W., Borevitz, J. O., Burton, R. A., & Atwell, B. J. (2022). The first long-read nuclear genome assembly of Oryza australiensis, a wild rice from northern Australia. Scientific Reports (Nature Publisher Group), 12(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14893-5 -
McEvey, S. (2022). Southern distribution of Graphium eurypylus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.18954530.v2FigshareFigshareAbstractGraphium eurypylus (Linnaeus‚ 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) occurs throughout tropical Australia. The subspecies Graphium eurypylus lycaon (C. & R. Felder‚ 1865) occurs in eastern Australia from Cape York Peninsula to southern Queensland and less commonly in New South Wales; the southernmost museum-record reported in Atlas of Living Australia is Port Macquarie‚ NSW. Martin Purvis‚ has photographed the species in Royal Botanic Gardens‚ Sydney‚ -33.865° 151.218° (28 January 2008); Stephen Brown has listed (in 2005) the species from Mount Gibraltar near Bowral‚ NSW (-34.468° 150.429°; see The Gib: Mount Gibraltar: Southern Highlands); and it is reported in the Australian Faunal Directory as a rare vagrant in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra in Fig. 4). Two observations were made by the author of this species at localities further south than Port Macquarie during the unusually wet Summer of 2021-2022: (a) a female was observed ovipositing on Magnolia grandiflora (Fig. 1) in a Stroud garden (-32.408° 151.967°) on 30 December 2021‚ a larva (Fig. 2) was observed a week later; and (b) four first instar larvae (one of which shown in Fig. 3) were observed on potted Magnolia grandiflora in a plant nursery at Tilba Tilba‚ NSW (-36.325° 150.062°) on 14 January 2022‚ the plants had been delivered to the nursery from Melbourne more than three weeks earlier. Tilba Tilba is now the southernmost record for this species (Fig. 4). Copyright: CC BY 4.0CitationMcEvey, S. (2022). Southern distribution of Graphium eurypylus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae). Figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.18954530.v2
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Kaminskas, S. (2022). Alien fish ascendancy and native fish extinction: Ecological history and observations on the Lower Goodradigbee River, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21048Pacific Conservation BiologyAbstractContext: The Murray-Darling Basin - Australia’s largest river system - is heavily dominated by alien fish. Native fish species have suffered numerous localised extinctions and ∼47% are listed on federal and/or state threatened species lists. Aims: This paper explores the hypothesis that alien fish and alien fish stockings can be the primary cause of decline and localised extinction of large-bodied native fish species‚ as opposed to habitat degradation and river regulation. The Lower Goodradigbee River‚ which is unregulated‚ in excellent instream health over the great majority of its course‚ and replete with high quality habitat‚ is utilised as a case study. Methods: I investigated the hypothesis by synthesising historical records with contemporary scientific research and recent field observations. The role of alien fish species‚ particularly alien trout species (Oncorhynchus mykiss and Salmo trutta) and constant stockings of them‚ were closely examined. Results: Data support the hypothesis that domination by alien trout species and their continual stocking have lead to historical declines and localised extinctions of large-bodied native fish species. Continued alien trout stockings‚ along with more recent invasions of alien carp (Cyprinus carpio) and alien redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis)‚ are inhibiting native fish recovery. A suspected field sighting of the alien fish pathogen atypical Aeromonas salmonicida is reported‚ and the status of the declining native crayfish Murray cray (Euastacus armatus)‚ and potential alien fish impacts upon them‚ are examined. Conclusions: The impacts of alien fish and alien fish stocking in Australia require major re-evaluation and dedicated research. Implications: It is strongly recommended that stocking of alien trout into the Lower Goodradigbee River for angling cease in order to conserve surviving native fish and Murray cray populations. Conservation stockings to effect a Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) recovery in the Lower Goodradigbee River are warranted. © 2022 Journal of Physical Chemistry. All rights reserved.CitationKaminskas, S. (2022). Alien fish ascendancy and native fish extinction: Ecological history and observations on the Lower Goodradigbee River, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21048
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Wellington, C. N., Vaillancourt, R. E., Potts, B. M., Worledge, D., & O’grady, A. P. (2022). Genetic Variation in Flowering Traits of Tasmanian Leptospermum scoparium and Association with Provenance Home Site Climatic Factors. Plants, 11(8). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11081029PlantsPlantsAbstractLeptospermum scoparium is emerging as an economically important plant for the commercial production of mānuka honey and essential oils‚ both exhibiting unique antibacterial attributes. To support its domestication this is the first quantitative genetic study of variation for L. scoparium traits. It utilised plants from 200 open-pollinated families derived from 40 native populations‚ from across the species range in Tasmania‚ grown in a common garden field trial. The traits studied were survival‚ growth‚ and the flowering traits precocity‚ the timing of seasonal peak flowering‚ flowering duration‚ and flowering intensity. Significant genetic variation was evident at the population level for all traits studied and at the family level for three traits—growth‚ flowering precocity‚ and time to peak flowering. These three traits had moderate to high narrow-sense heritability estimates ranging from 0.27 to 0.69. For six of the traits studied‚ population differences were associated with climate attributes at the locations where seed was collected‚ suggesting adaptation to the local climate may have contributed to the observed population differentiation. Population level geographical trends suggest that genotypes to focus on for domestication originate from the eastern half of Tasmania for precociousness and the western half of Tasmania for earlier time to peak flowering and extended flowering duration. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI‚ Basel‚ Switzerland.CitationWellington, C. N., Vaillancourt, R. E., Potts, B. M., Worledge, D., & O’grady, A. P. (2022). Genetic Variation in Flowering Traits of Tasmanian Leptospermum scoparium and Association with Provenance Home Site Climatic Factors. Plants, 11(8). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11081029
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Hemming, K. (2022). Native and introduced Australian grass (Poaceae) records. https://www.webofscience.com/wos/drci/full-record/DRCI:DATA2022079024161381?AlertId=550fd645-229c-4423-a8fc-eb4d5484cf25&SID=EUW1ED0E85ZVf1xkqyxQb8DlxEj2jAbstractCleaned and filtered Australian grass (Poaceae) occurrence records from the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA)‚ downloaded 3 January 2020. The data file is in an R format (.RDS file). This can be converted and saved into a .csv file in R. I also assigned species photosynthetic pathway (either C3 or C4 photosynthesis) to each species in the data set.I converted the cleaned record into species richness (the number of unique species in 100 x 100 km areas across Australia). I tied native and introduced C3 and C4 grass species richness to key environmental variables to build species distribution models. I expected native and introduced grasses to have similar responses to environmental gradients meaning native species richness patterns could provide a template for potential introduced species richness. These records could be used for other SDM contexts (single-species or within States or Territories). Or for statistical analyses on the phylogenetic (species‚ generic) composition of grass records in Australia. The location tags on the records‚ however‚ provide use for assessing the geographic distribution of the records/species across Australia at different spatial scales and extents and with coupling to environmental data‚ as I did for these records. Nonnative = introduced (i.e. not native to Australia).CitationHemming, K. (2022). Native and introduced Australian grass (Poaceae) records. https://www.webofscience.com/wos/drci/full-record/DRCI:DATA2022079024161381?AlertId=550fd645-229c-4423-a8fc-eb4d5484cf25&SID=EUW1ED0E85ZVf1xkqyxQb8DlxEj2j
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European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Niers, T., Jakuschona, N., Stenkamp, J., Bartoschek, T., Schade, S., & Cardoso, A. C. (2022). Evaluating image-based species recognition models suitable for citizen science application to support European invasive alien species policy. Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/97305abstractCitationEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre, Niers, T., Jakuschona, N., Stenkamp, J., Bartoschek, T., Schade, S., & Cardoso, A. C. (2022). Evaluating image-based species recognition models suitable for citizen science application to support European invasive alien species policy. Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/97305
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Kindler, G., Kelly, Dr. N., Watson, Prof. J., & Carden, T. (2022). Threatened Australians. https://www.threatened.org.au/
2021
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Brim Box, J., Leiper, I., Nano, C., Stokeld, D., Jobson, P., Tomlinson, A., Cobban, D., Bond, T., Randall, D., & Box, P. (2021). Mapping terrestrial groundwater-dependent ecosystems in arid Australia using Landsat-8 time-series data and singular value decomposition. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.254Remote Sensing in Ecology and ConservationAbstractThe spatial extent of terrestrial vegetation types reliant on groundwater in arid Australia is poorly known‚ largely because they are located in remote areas that are expensive to survey. In previous attempts‚ the use of traditional remote sensing approaches failed to discriminate vegetation using groundwater from surrounding vegetation. Difficulties in discerning vegetation groundwater use by remote sensing may be exacerbated by the unpredictable rainfall patterns and lack of annual wet and dry seasons common in arid Australia. This study presents a novel approach to mapping terrestrial groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) by applying singular value decomposition (SVD) to time-series of vegetation indices derived from Landsat-8 data‚ to isolate the temporal and spatial sources of variation associated with groundwater use. In-situ data from 442 sites were used to supervise and validate logistic regression models and neural networks‚ to determine whether sites could be correctly classified as GDEs using components obtained from the SVD. These results were used to produce a probability map of GDE occurrence across a 557 000 ha study area. Overall accuracy of the final classification map was 79%‚ with 72% of sites correctly identified as GDEs (true positives) and 16% incorrectly classified as GDEs (false positives). The approach is broadly applicable in arid regions globally‚ and is easily validated if general background knowledge of regional vegetation exists. Globally‚ and going forward‚ increased water extraction is expected to severely limit water available for GDEs. Successfully mapping GDEs in arid environments is a critical step towards their sustainable management‚ and the human and natural systems reliant upon them.CitationBrim Box, J., Leiper, I., Nano, C., Stokeld, D., Jobson, P., Tomlinson, A., Cobban, D., Bond, T., Randall, D., & Box, P. (2021). Mapping terrestrial groundwater-dependent ecosystems in arid Australia using Landsat-8 time-series data and singular value decomposition. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.254
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Hansen, B. d., Rogers, D. i., Watkins, D., Weller, D. r., Clemens, R. s., Newman, M., Woehler, E. j., Mundkur, T., & Fuller, R. a. (2021). Generating population estimates for migratory shorebird species in the world’s largest flyway. Ibis. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13042IbisIbisAbstractPopulation estimates are widely used to underpin conservation decisions. However‚ determining accurate population estimates for migratory species is especially challenging‚ since they are often widespread and it is rarely possible to survey them throughout their full distribution. In the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF)‚ this problem is compounded by its size (85 million square kilometres) and the number of migratory species it supports (nearly 500). Here‚ we provide analytical approaches for addressing this problem‚ presenting a revision of the EAAF population estimates for 37 migratory shorebird species protected under Australian national environmental legislation. Population estimates were generated by (i) summarising existing count data in the non-breeding range‚ (ii) spatially extrapolating across uncounted areas‚ and (iii) modelling abundance on the basis of estimates of breeding range and density. Expert review was used to adjust modelled estimates‚ particularly in under-counted areas. There were many gaps in shorebird monitoring data‚ necessitating substantial use of extrapolation and expert review‚ the extent of which varied among species. Spatial extrapolation to under-counted areas often produced estimates that were much higher than the observed data‚ and expert review was used to cross-check and adjust these where necessary. Estimates of population size obtained through analyses of breeding ranges and density indicated that 18 species were poorly represented by counts in the non-breeding season. It was difficult to determine independently the robustness of these estimates‚ but these breeding ground estimates were considered the best available data for ten species‚ that mostly use poorly-surveyed freshwater or pelagic habitats in the non-breeding season. We discuss the rationale and limitations of these approaches to population estimation‚ and how they could be modified for other applications. Data available for population estimates will vary in quality and extent among species‚ regions and migration stage‚ and approaches need to be flexible enough to provide useful information for conservation policy and planning.CitationHansen, B. d., Rogers, D. i., Watkins, D., Weller, D. r., Clemens, R. s., Newman, M., Woehler, E. j., Mundkur, T., & Fuller, R. a. (2021). Generating population estimates for migratory shorebird species in the world’s largest flyway. Ibis. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13042
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Liu, Z., Ślipiński, A., & Pang, H. (2021). Salsolaius gen. nov. a new genus of Apalochrini (Coleoptera, Melyridae, Malachiinae) from the salt Lake Way of Western Australia. Zootaxa, 5082(4), 393–400. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5082.4.7ZootaxaZootaxaAbstractApalochrini comprises nearly half of the genera of Australian Melyridae‚ which are all recognized by male specific characters‚ and are commonly found on grasses‚ flowers and riverside or seashore rocks. Here we describe a new genus Salsolaius gen. nov. from Lake Way of Western Australia‚ representing the first known genus of Australian Melyridae inhabitating in salt lakes. The new genus can be easily distinguished by asymmetrically biserrate antennae and exposed apical abdomen from above in both male and female‚ the former characters is firstly found in Melyridae. Consequently‚ Salsolaius biserratus sp. nov. was described as the type species of this genus. An updated key to genera of Australian Apalochrini is provided.CitationLiu, Z., Ślipiński, A., & Pang, H. (2021). Salsolaius gen. nov. a new genus of Apalochrini (Coleoptera, Melyridae, Malachiinae) from the salt Lake Way of Western Australia. Zootaxa, 5082(4), 393–400. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5082.4.7
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Sleeth, M., Eipper, S., & Madani, G. (2021). Opportunistic observations of climbing behaviour and arboreality in Australian terrestrial elapid snakes (Elapidae:Hyrophiinae). Herpetology Notes, 14, 1407–1415.Herpetology NotesabstractCitationSleeth, M., Eipper, S., & Madani, G. (2021). Opportunistic observations of climbing behaviour and arboreality in Australian terrestrial elapid snakes (Elapidae:Hyrophiinae). Herpetology Notes, 14, 1407–1415.
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Cecino, G., Valavi, R., & Treml, E. A. (2021). Testing the Influence of Seascape Connectivity on Marine-Based Species Distribution Models. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 766915. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.766915Frontiers in Marine ScienceFront. Mar. Sci.AbstractSpecies distribution models (SDMs) are commonly used in ecology to predict species occurrence probability and how species are geographically distributed. Here‚ we propose innovative predictive factors to efficiently integrate information on connectivity into SDMs‚ a key element of population dynamics strongly influencing how species are distributed across seascapes. We also quantify the influence of species-specific connectivity estimates (i.e.‚ larval dispersal vs. adult movement) on the marine-based SDMs outcomes. For illustration‚ seascape connectivity was modeled for two common‚ yet contrasting‚ marine species occurring in southeast Australian waters‚ the purple sea urchin‚
Heliocidaris erythrogramma
‚ and the Australasian snapper‚
Chrysophrys auratus
. Our models illustrate how different species-specific larval dispersal and adult movement can be efficiently accommodated. We used network-based centrality metrics to compute patch-level importance values and include these metrics in the group of predictors of correlative SDMs. We employed boosted regression trees (BRT) to fit our models‚ calculating the predictive performance‚ comparing spatial predictions and evaluating the relative influence of connectivity-based metrics among other predictors. Network-based metrics provide a flexible tool to quantify seascape connectivity that can be efficiently incorporated into SDMs. Connectivity across larval and adult stages was found to contribute to SDMs predictions and model performance was not negatively influenced from including these connectivity measures. Degree centrality‚ quantifying incoming and outgoing connections with habitat patches‚ was the most influential centrality metric. Pairwise interactions between predictors revealed that the species were predominantly found around hubs of connectivity and in warm‚ high-oxygenated‚ shallow waters. Additional research is needed to quantify the complex role that habitat network structure and temporal dynamics may have on SDM spatial predictions and explanatory power.CitationCecino, G., Valavi, R., & Treml, E. A. (2021). Testing the Influence of Seascape Connectivity on Marine-Based Species Distribution Models. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 766915. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.766915 -
Woinarski, J. C. Z., Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. A., Garnett, S. T., Gentle, M. N., Legge, S. M., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Rees, M. W., Ritchie, E. G., Speed, J., Stuart, J.-M., Thompson, E., Turpin, J., & Murphy, B. P. (2021). Compounding and complementary carnivores: Australian bird species eaten by the introduced European red fox Vulpes vulpes and domestic cat Felis catus. Bird Conservation International, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270921000460Publisher: Cambridge University PressBird Conservation InternationalAbstractTwo introduced carnivores‚ the European red fox Vulpes vulpes and domestic cat Felis catus‚ have had extensive impacts on Australian biodiversity. In this study‚ we collate information on consumption of Australian birds by the fox‚ paralleling a recent study reporting on birds consumed by cats. We found records of consumption by foxes on 128 native bird species (18% of the non-vagrant bird fauna and 25% of those species within the fox’s range)‚ a smaller tally than for cats (343 species‚ including 297 within the fox’s Australian range‚ a subset of that of the cat). Most (81%) bird species eaten by foxes are also eaten by cats‚ suggesting that predation impacts are compounded. As with consumption by cats‚ birds that nest or forage on the ground are most likely to be consumed by foxes. However‚ there is also some partitioning‚ with records of consumption by foxes but not cats for 25 bird species‚ indicating that impacts of the two predators may also be complementary. Bird species ≥3.4 kg were more likely to be eaten by foxes‚ and those <3.4 kg by cats. Our compilation provides an inventory and describes characteristics of Australian bird species known to be consumed by foxes‚ but we acknowledge that records of predation do not imply population-level impacts. Nonetheless‚ there is sufficient information from other studies to demonstrate that fox predation has significant impacts on the population viability of some Australian birds‚ especially larger birds‚ and those that nest or forage on the ground.CitationWoinarski, J. C. Z., Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. A., Garnett, S. T., Gentle, M. N., Legge, S. M., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Rees, M. W., Ritchie, E. G., Speed, J., Stuart, J.-M., Thompson, E., Turpin, J., & Murphy, B. P. (2021). Compounding and complementary carnivores: Australian bird species eaten by the introduced European red fox Vulpes vulpes and domestic cat Felis catus. Bird Conservation International, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270921000460
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Dutson, G., Appleby, G., Byrne, A., & Lingham, B. (2021). A relict population of “Pseudophryne” toadlets in the ocean grove nature reserve, Southern Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist, 138(6), 176–180. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.225602348430603Publisher: Field Naturalists Club of VictoriaThe Victorian NaturalistAbstractSix individual ’Pseudophryne’ toadlets were heard calling in the Ocean Grove Nature Reserve‚ south of Geelong in Victoria‚ in autumn 2020. Three individuals had patterns intermediate between ’P. bibronii and P. semimarmorata’‚ and it is concluded that this population is an intergrade. Another five were detected in autumn 2021. This population is potentially at risk from a reduction in autumn rainfall and consequent changes to the local hydrology. Additional surveys for calling Pseudophryne at historical locations and other suitable habitat within 40 km of Ocean Grove failed to find any calling individuals.CitationDutson, G., Appleby, G., Byrne, A., & Lingham, B. (2021). A relict population of “Pseudophryne” toadlets in the ocean grove nature reserve, Southern Victoria. The Victorian Naturalist, 138(6), 176–180. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.225602348430603
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Castillo-Infante, F. R., Mendoza-González, G., Rioja-Nieto, R., & Gallego-Fernández, J. B. (2021). Range Shifts in the Worldwide Expansion of Oenothera drummondii subsp. drummondii, a Plant Species of Coastal Dunes. Diversity, 13(11), 603. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13110603DiversityDiversityAbstractOenothera drummondii is a coastal dunes plant species from the North American continent that has affected the natural structure and dynamics of Spanish‚ Israeli‚ and Chinese shores as an invasive species. In South Africa‚ Australia‚ New Zealand‚ and France‚ it is reported as a naturalized species. Ecological niche and species distribution modeling has been widely used as a tool to find potential global invasions and assess invasion effects. Herein‚ we modeled the ecological niche and the potential distribution of Oenothera drummondii‚ using the Köppen–Geiger climate classification‚ bioclimatic variables and occurrence records that have been validated in their native and non-native distribution. In the native area‚ the temperature and precipitation values are higher compared to non-native zones‚ where the low temperatures and the absence of humidity are the main climatic limitations for the species. In the environmental space‚ new distribution areas were identified and a partial overlap between the native and non-native niches detected. This suggests that climate matching is not occurring for the species‚ and that the potential invasion of coastal dune areas seems to be higher than previously observed. Therefore‚ new potential invasion areas‚ where the species is not yet distributed‚ were also identified. Our predictions could be used to establish ecosystem management measures to mitigate the invasion of Oenothera drummondii‚ helping to prevent possible negative impacts on fragile coastal ecosystems.CitationCastillo-Infante, F. R., Mendoza-González, G., Rioja-Nieto, R., & Gallego-Fernández, J. B. (2021). Range Shifts in the Worldwide Expansion of Oenothera drummondii subsp. drummondii, a Plant Species of Coastal Dunes. Diversity, 13(11), 603. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13110603
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Hao, T., Bal, P., & May, T. (2021). Data for chapter ’The impacts of the 2019-20 wildfires on Australian fungi ’ in “Australia’s 2019-20 megafires: biodiversity impacts and lessons for the future.” CSIRO publishing. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5651391DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5651391
Type: datasetAbstractDataset includes raw data downloaded from the following sources: Atlas of Living Australia occurrence download: https://doi.org/10.26197/ala.9e0ca388-9da2-4096-b1a3-26e2aaa51d8a. Accessed 2021-09-16. GBIF.org (16 September 2021) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.secenk Fungimap (https://fungimap.org.au/ (data obtained directly from Fungimap Inc.) MycoPortal (https://mycoportal.org/portal/index.php) iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/home)CitationHao, T., Bal, P., & May, T. (2021). Data for chapter ’The impacts of the 2019-20 wildfires on Australian fungi ’ in “Australia’s 2019-20 megafires: biodiversity impacts and lessons for the future.” CSIRO publishing. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5651391 -
Mahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Mahony, S. V., Moses, B., Catalano, S. R., Myers, S., & Donnellan, S. C. (2021). A new hip-pocket frog from mid-eastern Australia (Anura: Myobatrachidae: Assa). Zootaxa, 5057(4), 451–486. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5057.4.1ZootaxaZootaxaAbstractThe hip-pocket frog (Assa darlingtoni)‚ a small terrestrial myobatrachid frog found in mid-eastern Australia‚ has a highly derived‚ unusual‚ reproductive mode involving a unique form of male parental care. Males have subcutaneous pouches that open near the hip‚ and the developing tadpoles are carried in these pouches to post metamorphosis. It is found on several isolated mountain ranges in closed forest habitats‚ associated with high rainfall and temperate or sub-tropical climates. We established genetic relationships among specimens sampled across the range using phylogenetic analyses of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the nuclear genome and mitochondrial ND2 gene nucleotide sequences. These analyses uncovered two lineages that are genetically distinct in both nDNA and mtDNA analyses and that have low levels of divergence in male advertisement calls and are morphologically cryptic. Our data support separate species status for each lineage‚ based on the molecular genetic data. The first‚ which we name as a new species‚ Assa wollumbin sp. nov.‚ is restricted to a single mountain‚ Wollumbin (= Mount Warning)‚ the eroded cone of an ancient shield volcano—the Tweed Volcano. The second‚ the nominal species A. darlingtoni‚ has a wider distribution in five geographically disjunct subpopulations along 430 km of the Great Dividing Range in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. The distributions of the two species closely approach within 15 km of each other on the central plug and rim of the caldera of the Tweed Volcano. Assa wollumbin sp. nov. meets the conservation criteria for Critically Endangered [A3(e)‚ B2(a‚b)]. When all subpopulations of A. darlingtoni are combined the conservation assessment is Endangered [A3(e)‚ B2(a‚b)]. Because of the fragmented nature of the distribution of A. darlingtoni‚ combined with the genetic evidence of concordant sub-structuring‚ we also conducted a conservation assessment on the five subpopulations. Two were assessed as Critically Endangered (D’Aguilar Range and Conondale/Blackall Ranges)‚ and the remainder as Endangered (Dorrigo Plateau‚ McPherson Ranges‚ and Gibraltar Ranges/Washpool).CitationMahony, M. J., Hines, H. B., Mahony, S. V., Moses, B., Catalano, S. R., Myers, S., & Donnellan, S. C. (2021). A new hip-pocket frog from mid-eastern Australia (Anura: Myobatrachidae: Assa). Zootaxa, 5057(4), 451–486. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5057.4.1
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Nge, F. J., Biffin, E., Waycott, M., & Thiele, K. R. (2021). Phylogenomics and continental biogeographic disjunctions – insight from the Australian starflowers ( Calytrix ). American Journal of Botany, ajb2.1790. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1790American Journal of BotanyAm J BotabstractCitationNge, F. J., Biffin, E., Waycott, M., & Thiele, K. R. (2021). Phylogenomics and continental biogeographic disjunctions – insight from the Australian starflowers ( Calytrix ). American Journal of Botany, ajb2.1790. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1790
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Davies, C., Wright, W., Wedrowicz, F., Pacioni, C., & Hogan, F. E. (2021). Delineating genetic management units of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in south-eastern Australia, using opportunistic tissue sampling and targeted scat collection. Wildlife Research. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR19235Wildlife ResearchWildl. Res.AbstractContext. Invasive species are major drivers of biodiversity loss‚ requiring management to reduce their ecological impacts. Population genetics can be applied to delineate management units‚ providing information that can help plan and improve control strategies.CitationDavies, C., Wright, W., Wedrowicz, F., Pacioni, C., & Hogan, F. E. (2021). Delineating genetic management units of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in south-eastern Australia, using opportunistic tissue sampling and targeted scat collection. Wildlife Research. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR19235
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Hooker, N. (2021). Grasses of the Burra Range. James Cook University. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355338121_Grasses_of_the_Burra_Range?enrichId=rgreq-fa8af526818ff106a0ca94d667147fea-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzM1NTMzODEyMTtBUzoxMDc5NDMwNTc5NTMxNzc3QDE2MzQzNjc3MTMxODA%3D&el=1_x_2&_esc=publicationCoverPdfAbstractWelcome to the grasses of the Burra Range area. The species covered in this treatment are those found in southern and eastern part of White Mountains National Park area.
The aim of this book is to provide information about common species. The grasses belong to a very widespread and large family called the Poaceae. It is one of the largest flowering plant families of the world‚ comprising more than 10‚000 species. In Australia there are over 1300 species including non-native grasses‚ in the Burra Range area there are more than 75 species.CitationHooker, N. (2021). Grasses of the Burra Range. James Cook University. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355338121_Grasses_of_the_Burra_Range?enrichId=rgreq-fa8af526818ff106a0ca94d667147fea-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzM1NTMzODEyMTtBUzoxMDc5NDMwNTc5NTMxNzc3QDE2MzQzNjc3MTMxODA%3D&el=1_x_2&_esc=publicationCoverPdf -
Dorey, J. B., Rebola, C. M., Davies, O. K., Prendergast, K. S., Parslow, B. A., Hogendoorn, K., Leijs, R., Hearn, L. R., Leitch, E. J., O’Reilly, R. L., Marsh, J., Woinarski, J. C. Z., & Caddy‐Retalic, S. (2021). Continental risk assessment for understudied taxa post‐catastrophic wildfire indicates severe impacts on the Australian bee fauna. Global Change Biology, gcb.15879. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15879Global Change BiologyGlob Change BiolAbstractThe 2019–2020 Australian Black Summer wildfires demonstrated that single events can have widespread and catastrophic impacts on biodiversity‚ causing a sudden and marked reduction in population size for many species. In such circumstances‚ there is a need for conservation managers to respond rapidly to implement priority remedial management actions for the most-affected species to help prevent extinctions. To date‚ priority responses have been biased towards high-profile taxa with substantial information bases. Here‚ we demonstrate that sufficient data are available to model the extinction risk for many less well-known species‚ which could inform much broader and more effective ecological disaster responses. Using publicly available collection and GIS datasets‚ combined with life-history data‚ we modelled the extinction risk from the 2019–2020 catastrophic Australian wildfires for 553 Australian native bee species (33% of all described Australian bee taxa). We suggest that two species are now eligible for listing as Endangered and nine are eligible for listing as Vulnerable under IUCN criteria‚ on the basis of fire overlap‚ intensity‚ frequency‚ and life-history traits: this tally far exceeds the three Australian bee species listed as threatened prior to the wildfire. We demonstrate how to undertake a wide-scale assessment of wildfire impact on a poorly understood group to help to focus surveys and recovery efforts. We also provide the methods and the script required to make similar assessments for other taxa or in other regions.CitationDorey, J. B., Rebola, C. M., Davies, O. K., Prendergast, K. S., Parslow, B. A., Hogendoorn, K., Leijs, R., Hearn, L. R., Leitch, E. J., O’Reilly, R. L., Marsh, J., Woinarski, J. C. Z., & Caddy‐Retalic, S. (2021). Continental risk assessment for understudied taxa post‐catastrophic wildfire indicates severe impacts on the Australian bee fauna. Global Change Biology, gcb.15879. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15879
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Flores‐Rentería, L., Rymer, P. D., Ramadoss, N., & Riegler, M. (2021). Major biogeographic barriers in eastern Australia have shaped the population structure of widely distributed Eucalyptus moluccana and its putative subspecies. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.8169. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8169Ecology and EvolutionEcol EvolAbstractWe have investigated the impact of recognized biogeographic barriers on genetic differentiation of grey box (Eucalyptus moluccana)‚ a common and widespread tree species of the family Myrtaceae in eastern Australian woodlands‚ and its previously proposed four subspecies moluccana‚ pedicellata‚ queenslandica‚ and crassifolia. A range of phylogeographic analyses were conducted to examine the population genetic differentiation and subspecies genetic structure in E. moluccana in relation to biogeographic barriers. Slow evolving markers uncovering long term processes (chloroplast DNA) were used to generate a haplotype network and infer phylogeographic barriers. Additionally‚ fast evolving‚ hypervariable markers (microsatellites) were used to estimate demographic processes and genetic structure among five geographic regions (29 populations) across the entire distribution of E. moluccana. Morphological features of seedlings‚ such as leaf and stem traits‚ were assessed to evaluate population clusters and test differentiation of the putative subspecies. Haplotype network analysis revealed twenty chloroplast haplotypes with a main haplotype in a central position shared by individuals belonging to the regions containing the four putative subspecies. Microsatellite analysis detected the genetic structure between Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW) populations‚ consistent with the McPherson Range barrier‚ an east-west spur of the Great Dividing Range. The substructure was detected within QLD and NSW in line with other barriers in eastern Australia. The morphological analyses supported differentiation between QLD and NSW populations‚ with no difference within QLD‚ yet some differentiation within NSW populations. Our molecular and morphological analyses provide evidence that several geographic barriers in eastern Australia‚ including the Burdekin Gap and the McPherson Range have contributed to the genetic structure of E. moluccana. Genetic differentiation among E. moluccana populations supports the recognition of some but not all the four previously proposed subspecies‚ with crassifolia being the most differentiated.CitationFlores‐Rentería, L., Rymer, P. D., Ramadoss, N., & Riegler, M. (2021). Major biogeographic barriers in eastern Australia have shaped the population structure of widely distributed Eucalyptus moluccana and its putative subspecies. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.8169. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8169
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Calvert, B., Olsen, A., Whinney, J., & Rahimi Azghadi, M. (2021). Robotic Spot Spraying of Harrisia Cactus (Harrisia martinii) in Grazing Pastures of the Australian Rangelands. Plants, 10(10), 2054. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102054PlantsPlantsAbstractHarrisia cactus‚ Harrisia martinii‚ is a serious weed affecting hundreds of thousands of hectares of native pasture in the Australian rangelands. Despite the landmark success of past biological control agents for the invasive weed and significant investment in its eradication by the Queensland Government (roughly 156M since 1960)‚ it still takes hold in the cooler rangeland environments of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. In the past decade‚ landholders with large infestations in these locations have spent approximately 20‚000 to 30‚000 per annum on herbicide control measures to reduce the impact of the weed on their grazing operations. Current chemical control requires manual hand spot spraying with high quantities of herbicide for foliar application. These methods are labour intensive and costly‚ and in some cases inhibit landholders from performing control at all. Robotic spot spraying offers a potential solution to these issues‚ but existing solutions are not suitable for the rangeland environment. This work presents the methods and results of an in situ field trial of a novel robotic spot spraying solution‚ AutoWeed‚ for treating harrisia cactus that (1) more than halves the operation time‚ (2) can reduce herbicide usage by up to 54% and (3) can reduce the cost of herbicide by up to 18.15 per ha compared to the existing hand spraying approach. The AutoWeed spot spraying system used the MobileNetV2 deep learning architecture to perform real time spot spraying of harrisia cactus with 97.2% average recall accuracy and weed knockdown efficacy of up to 96%. Experimental trials showed that the AutoWeed spot sprayer achieved the same level of knockdown of harrisia cactus as traditional hand spraying in low‚ medium and high density infestations. This work represents a significant step forward for spot spraying of weeds in the Australian rangelands that will reduce labour and herbicide costs for landholders as the technology sees more uptake in the future.CitationCalvert, B., Olsen, A., Whinney, J., & Rahimi Azghadi, M. (2021). Robotic Spot Spraying of Harrisia Cactus (Harrisia martinii) in Grazing Pastures of the Australian Rangelands. Plants, 10(10), 2054. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102054
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Donoghue, S., & Turner, P. A. M. (2021). A review of Australian tree fern ecology in forest communities. Austral Ecology, aec.13103. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13103Austral EcologyAustral EcologyAbstractAustralian forest ecosystems cover almost 16% of Australia’s landmass. As the seventh-largest forested area worldwide‚ these forest ecosystems have largely evolved in the face of a changing climate and fire regime‚ drought and human land use practice. Australian tree ferns contribute to both the unique biodiversity of these forests and current forest product markets. We review the Australian tree fern literature including: the importance of tree ferns for other components of biodiversity; their response to disturbance such as fire and silviculture; and the management of tree ferns as a product for the horticultural market. Most studies focused on tree fern response to wildfire and clearfell burn and sow logging following management and horticultural industry changes. Survival and recruitment of tree ferns after a single fire/logging disturbance event found short-lived negative impacts. Studies of tree ferns over time include research on growth‚ with non-linear growth models found to best describe tree fern age; Cyathea australia grows 2.2 - 4.0 times faster than Dicksonia antarctica on average. Tree ferns perform a keystone function through habitat for epiphytes at the local scale‚ but it is unknown if this has an impact on biodiversity at the landscape scale. Our review found few studies on survival and recruitment following drought; multiple disturbance events such as repeated logging; and silvicultural techniques other than clearfell burn and sow. No studies had investigated the response of tree ferns to changing climate‚ invasive species‚ changes in fire frequency or effect of megafire. We conclude with recommendations for key areas of research including‚ future impacts due to changing climate‚ synecology‚ influence on forests‚ the impact of silvicultural techniques and the influence of megafires on survival. © 2021 Ecological Society of Australia.CitationDonoghue, S., & Turner, P. A. M. (2021). A review of Australian tree fern ecology in forest communities. Austral Ecology, aec.13103. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13103
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Salgotra, R., & Chauhan, B. S. (2021). The First Report of Target-Site Resistance to Glyphosate in Sweet Summer Grass (Moorochloa eruciformis). Plants, 10(9), 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091885PlantsPlantsAbstractSweet summer grass is a problematic weed in the central Queensland region of Australia. This study found glyphosate resistance in two biotypes (R1 and R2) of sweet summer grass. The level of resistance in these biotypes was greater than 8-fold. The glyphosate dose required to reduce dry matter by 50% (GR50) for the resistant populations varied from 1993 to 2100 g ha−1. A novel glyphosate resistance double point mutation in the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene was identified for the first time in sweet summer grass. Multiple mutations‚ including multiple amino acid changes at the glyphosate target site‚ as well as mutations involving two nucleotide changes at a single amino acid codon‚ were observed. Both resistant biotypes exhibited a nucleotide change of CAA to ACA in codon 106‚ which predicts an amino acid change of proline to a threonine (Pro-106-Thr). In addition‚ the R1 biotype also possessed a mutation at codon 100‚ where a nucleotide substitution of T for G occurred (GCT to TCT)‚ resulting in a substitution of serine for alanine (Ala-100-Ser). Understanding the molecular mechanism of glyphosate resistance will help to design effective management strategies to control invasive weeds.CitationSalgotra, R., & Chauhan, B. S. (2021). The First Report of Target-Site Resistance to Glyphosate in Sweet Summer Grass (Moorochloa eruciformis). Plants, 10(9), 1885. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091885
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Finlayson, G., Taggart, P., & Cooke, B. (2021). Recovering Australia’s arid‐zone ecosystems: Learning from continental‐scale rabbit control experiments. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13552Restoration EcologyRestor EcolAbstractIntroduced rabbits are a continuing threat to native Australian flora and fauna. Three interventions using biological control agents: myxomatosis‚ European rabbit fleas and rabbit hemorrhagic disease‚ have reduced rabbit abundance and kept numbers low over the last 70 years. We considered the benefits of biological control for native fauna to put the role of rabbits in influencing vegetation cover‚ food supply and predation into better perspective. Numerous examples exist demonstrating increases in native vegetation and the expansion and recovery of native animal populations at landscape scales following intense rabbit suppression. Ongoing research on methods for supplementing the impact of biological control agents and managing introduced predators are needed to restore Australia’s arid-zone ecosystems. However‚ many biologists and rangeland managers first need to re-evaluate the misconception that removing rabbits also introduces other serious and insurmountable problems such as prey-switching by introduced cats and foxes.CitationFinlayson, G., Taggart, P., & Cooke, B. (2021). Recovering Australia’s arid‐zone ecosystems: Learning from continental‐scale rabbit control experiments. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13552
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EcoCommons. (2021, September 7). How Australian mega-fires impacted the Superb Lyrebird and Greater Sooty Owl. EcoCommons. https://www.ecocommons.org.au/how-australian-mega-fires-impacted-the-superb-lyrebird-and-greater-sooty-owl/AbstractHow Australian mega-fires impacted the Superb Lyrebird and Greater Sooty OwlCitationEcoCommons. (2021, September 7). How Australian mega-fires impacted the Superb Lyrebird and Greater Sooty Owl. EcoCommons. https://www.ecocommons.org.au/how-australian-mega-fires-impacted-the-superb-lyrebird-and-greater-sooty-owl/
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Booth, T. H. (2021). A problem with variable selection in a comparison of correlative and process‐based species distribution models: Comments on Higgins et al., 2020. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.7496. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7496Ecology and EvolutionEcol EvolAbstractComments are presented on an article published in October 2020 in Ecology and Evolution (“Predictive ability of a process-based versus a correlative species distribution model”) by Higgins et al. This analyzed natural distributions of Australian eucalypt and acacia species and assessed the adventive range of selected species outside Australia. Unfortunately‚ inappropriate variables were used with the MaxEnt species distribution model outside Australia‚ so that large climatically suitable areas in the Northern Hemisphere were not identified. Examples from a previous analysis and from the use of the freely available spatial portal of the Atlas of Living Australia are provided to illustrate how the problem can be overcome. The comparison of methods described in the Higgins et al. paper is worthwhile‚ and it is hoped that the authors will be able to repeat their analyses using appropriate variables with the correlative model.CitationBooth, T. H. (2021). A problem with variable selection in a comparison of correlative and process‐based species distribution models: Comments on Higgins et al., 2020. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.7496. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7496
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Higgins, S. I., Larcombe, M. J., Beeton, N. J., & Conradi, T. (2021). Transferability of correlative and process‐based species distribution models revisited: A response to Booth. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.8081. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8081Ecology and EvolutionEcol EvolAbstractHere‚ we respond to Booth’s criticism of our paper‚
“Predictive ability of a process-based versus a correlative
species distribution model.” Booth argues that our usage of
the MaxEnt model was flawed and that the conclusions of
our paper are by implication flawed. We respond by clarifying that the error Booth implies we made was not made
in our analysis‚ and we repeat statements from the original
manuscript which anticipated such criticisms. In addition‚
we illustrate that using BIOCLIM variables in a MaxEnt
analysis as recommended by Booth does not change the
conclusions of the original analysis. That is‚ high performance in the training data domain did not equate to reliable predictions in novel data domains‚ and the process
model transferred into novel data domains better than the
correlative model did. We conclude by discussing a hidden
implication of our study‚ namely‚ that process-based SDMs
negate the need for BIOCLIM-type variables and therefore
reframe the variable selection problem in species distribution modeling.CitationHiggins, S. I., Larcombe, M. J., Beeton, N. J., & Conradi, T. (2021). Transferability of correlative and process‐based species distribution models revisited: A response to Booth. Ecology and Evolution, ece3.8081. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8081 -
Coleman, D., Merchant, A., & Salter, W. T. (2021). Vulnerability to cavitation is linked to home climate precipitation across eight eucalypt species [Preprint]. Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.05.459049AbstractVulnerability to cavitation in leaves is the result of highly adaptive anatomical and physiological traits that can be linked to water availability in a species’ climate of origin. Despite similar gross leaf morphology‚ eucalypt species are often confined to specific climate envelopes across the variable rainfall environments of Australia. In this study‚ we investigate how the progression of cavitation differs among eucalypts and whether this is related to other hydraulic and physical leaf traits. We used the Optical Visualisation technique to capture cavitation progression across the leaves of eight eucalypt species (
Angophora crassifolia‚ Corymbia tessellaris‚ Eucalyptus atrata‚ Eucalyptus grandis‚ Eucalyptus laevopinea‚ Eucalyptus longifolia‚ Eucalyptus macrandra‚ Eucalyptus tereticornis
) from a wide range of climates and grown in a common garden setting. Vulnerability to cavitation‚ represented by the leaf water potential required for 50% cavitation of leaf vessels‚ varied significantly among species (−3.48 MPa to −8.25 MPa) and correlated linearly with home climate precipitation and leaf SLA (
R
2
of 0.64 and 0.75‚ respectively). P12-P88‚ the range of water potentials between which 12% to 88% of cavitation occurs‚ was decoupled from P50 but also correlated with leaf SLA (
R
2
of 0.72). We suggest the magnitude of P12-P88 may be representative of a species’ drought strategy – a large P12-P88 signifying leaves that exhibit drought tolerance (retention of leaves under drought conditions) and a small P12-P88 signifying drought avoidance (leaf shedding after a threshold of drought is reached). Our results agree with other studies that highlight these cavitation metrics as genetically fixed traits. Turgor loss point‚ on the other hand‚ may be more plastic‚ as evidenced by the low variability of this trait across these eucalypt species grown in a common garden environment. Further study will help to establish the SLA-related anatomical traits that impart cavitation resistance and to extend these conclusions to a greater number of species and home climates.CitationColeman, D., Merchant, A., & Salter, W. T. (2021). Vulnerability to cavitation is linked to home climate precipitation across eight eucalypt species [Preprint]. Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.05.459049 -
Ward, S., Umina, P. A., Polaszek, A., & Hoffmann, A. A. (2021). Study of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Australian grain production landscapes. Austral Entomology, aen.12562. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12562Austral EntomologyAustral EntomologyAbstractAphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) were surveyed within grain production landscapes in Victoria‚ Australia‚ between 2017 and 2018‚ as well as more sporadically nationwide between 2016 and 2019. In addition‚ Aphidiinae records were collated from insect depositories around Australia and online databases. The 5525 specimens recorded constituted a total of 23 species and seven genera. Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) was the most common species‚ representing more than 70% of all Aphidiinae recorded. This species also showed a greater northerly geographical range than other Aphidiinae. During sampling between 2017 and 2019‚ Aphidiinae were reared from mummies to ascertain host–parasitoid relationships. Diaeretiella rapae was again the most commonly reared parasitoid‚ although parasitoid preference varied with aphid host and between states and territories. An illustrated dichotomous key to Australian Aphidiinae in grain production landscapes is provided for the 11 species sampled in our field surveys. This is the first comprehensive review of Aphidiinae sampled within Australia in over two decades. Knowledge about the diversity and distribution of these parasitoids is important for understanding their impact on current and future invasions of aphid species. In addition‚ understanding the interactions between grain aphids and their associated parasitoids will further support the inclusion of parasitoid wasps into integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.CitationWard, S., Umina, P. A., Polaszek, A., & Hoffmann, A. A. (2021). Study of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Australian grain production landscapes. Austral Entomology, aen.12562. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12562
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Morin, S., Ainsa, A., Radji, R., Archambeau, A.-S., Chevillotte, H., Chenin, E., Pamerlon, S., & Link to external site, this link will open in a new window. (2021). Connecting West and Central African Herbaria Data: A new Living Atlases regional data platform. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3897/biss.5.74362Place: Sofia, Bulgaria
Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
Section: Conference AbstractBiodiversity Information Science and StandardsAbstractThe label transcription and imaging of specimens in key African herbaria has been ongoing since the early 2000s. Many collections in Benin‚ Cameroon‚ Côte d’Ivoire‚ Gabon‚ Guinea Conakry‚ and Togo are now fully transcribed and partially digitized. More than 200 000 transcribed specimens are available with the following distribution:
Benin: 45 000
Cameroon: 70 000
Côte d’Ivoire: 18 000
Gabon: 70 000
Guinea Conakry: 5 000
Togo: 15 000
In April 2021‚ aBID projectwas started to deliver a regional data platform of West and Central African herbaria. Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) is a multi-year programme funded by the European Union and led by GBIF with the aim of enhancing capacity for effective mobilization and use of biodiversity data in research and policy in the ’ACP’ nations of sub-Saharan Africa‚ the Caribbean and the Pacific. Our project’s funding runs from April 2021 to April 2023.
At this stage of the project‚ we are working on defining the information technology (IT) architecture (Fig.1) and selecting the tools that we will be using to achieve our goals. In the talk‚ we will present our conclusions through architecture schemas and tools demonstrations.
Each of the 6 countries will have its own PostgreSQL database‚ storing its data. They will also have access to theRIHAdata management platform (Réseau Informatique des Herbiers d’Afrique / Digital Network of African Herbaria). This is a web application‚ developed inPHP‚ allowing full management of the data by herbarium administrators (Fig.2).
AnIntegrated Publishing Toolkit(IPT) will fetch these herbaria data from the databases‚ create theDarwin Corearchives‚ and connect these data automatically togbif.orgon a periodic basis (Fig.3).
On the databases‚ we will use a PostgreSQL view to ease conversion from the RIHA data model to the Darwin Core model. On the IPT‚ we will create one dataset per country‚ linked to each PostgreSQL view. The SQL query will be configured to only fetch validated data‚ depending on the herbarium administrator’s validation in the RIHA platform.
The automatic and periodic data transmission to gbif.org is a feature available in the IPT‚ and recently improved by the GBIF France team‚ which contributes to the IPT development.
Another part of the automatic data workflow will be to feed aLiving Atlasesportal for the West and Central African herbaria. This web application will allow public users to search‚ display and download herbaria data from West and Central Africa (Fig.4).
Internally‚ this Living Atlases application will reuse open source modules developed by theAtlas of Living Australia(ALA). The application is mainly written in Java‚ uses JQuery/Bootstrap for the interface and relies onSolRandSparkin the backend. It has been developed to be easily reusable‚ by only modifying configuration and doing web customization (HTML /CSS)‚ hiding most of the backend technological complexity.
The automatic data workflow will transfer datasets generated by the IPT‚ in Darwin Core Archive format‚ to the Living Atlases portal backend. A technical task orchestrator‚ yet to be selected‚ will implement this feature.
Living Atlasessubportals‚ limited to data of one participating country‚ could be easily set up‚ leveraging the existing backend resources (Fig.5).
One of the benefits of the Living Atlases portal is that we can easily deploy additional front end applications with limited data‚ configured by a filter (here‚ a filter on the data owner country). Only configuration and web customization (HTML / CSS) are required. All the backend modules‚ especially the ones storing data‚ are shared by the multiple front-ends‚ limiting the hardware consumption and data administration.
The full automation of the workflow will allow this platform to run at a very low maintenance cost for IT administrators. Moreover‚ adding a new herbarium member from West and Central Africa will be quite easy thanks to the architecture of theIntegrated Publishing ToolkitandLiving Atlasestools (Fig.6).CitationMorin, S., Ainsa, A., Radji, R., Archambeau, A.-S., Chevillotte, H., Chenin, E., Pamerlon, S., & Link to external site, this link will open in a new window. (2021). Connecting West and Central African Herbaria Data: A new Living Atlases regional data platform. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3897/biss.5.74362 -
Adam, A. A. S., Garcia, R. A., Galaiduk, R., Tomlinson, S., Radford, B., Thomas, L., & Richards, Z. T. (2021). Diminishing potential for tropical reefs to function as coral diversity strongholds under climate change conditions. Diversity and Distributions, ddi.13400. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13400Diversity and DistributionsDivers DistribAbstractAim
Forecasting the influence of climate change on coral biodiversity and reef functioning is important for informing policy decisions. Dominance shifts‚ tropicalization and local extinctions are common responses of climate change‚ but uncertainty surrounds the reliability of predicted coral community transformations. Here‚ we use species distribution models (SDMs) to assess changes in suitable coral habitat and associated patterns in biodiversity across Western Australia (WA) under present-day and future climate scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5).
Location
Coral reef systems and communities in WA.
Methods
We developed SDMs with model prediction uncertainty analyses‚ using specimen-based occurrence records of 188 hermatypic scleractinian coral species and seven variables to estimate present-day and future changes to coral species distribution and biodiversity patterns in WA under climate change conditions.
Results
We found that suitable habitat is predicted to increase across all regions in WA under urn:x-wiley:13669516:media:ddi13400:ddi13400-math-0001‚ urn:x-wiley:13669516:media:ddi13400:ddi13400-math-0002 and urn:x-wiley:13669516:media:ddi13400:ddi13400-math-0003 scenarios with all tropical and subtropical regions remaining coral biodiversity strongholds. Under the extreme urn:x-wiley:13669516:media:ddi13400:ddi13400-math-0004 scenario‚ however‚ a clear tropicalization trend could be observed with coral species expanding their range to mid-high latitude regions‚ while a substantial drop in coral species richness was predicted at low latitude tropical coral reefs‚ such as the inshore Kimberley and offshore NW reefs. Despite the predicted expansion south‚ we identified a net decline in coral biodiversity across the WA coastline.
Main conclusions
Results from the models predicted higher net coral biodiversity loss at low latitude tropical regions compared with net gains at mid-high latitude regions under urn:x-wiley:13669516:media:ddi13400:ddi13400-math-0005. These results are likely to be representative of latitudinal trends across the Southern Hemisphere and highlight that increases in habitat suitability at higher latitudes may not lead to equivalent biodiversity benefits. Urgent action is needed to limit climate change to prevent spatial erosion of tropical coral communities‚ extinction events and loss of tropical ecosystem services.CitationAdam, A. A. S., Garcia, R. A., Galaiduk, R., Tomlinson, S., Radford, B., Thomas, L., & Richards, Z. T. (2021). Diminishing potential for tropical reefs to function as coral diversity strongholds under climate change conditions. Diversity and Distributions, ddi.13400. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13400 -
van der Heyde, M., Bateman, P. W., Bunce, M., Wardell-Johnson, G., White, N. E., & Nevill, P. (2021). Scat DNA provides important data for effective monitoring of mammal and bird biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02264-xBiodiversity and ConservationBiodivers ConservAbstractDespite the roles they play in ecosystem function‚ animals have have long been neglected in the monitoring of ecological restoration. Vertebrate surveys can be time consuming and costly‚ often requiring multiple methodologies and taxonomic expertise‚ making comprehensive monitoring cost prohibitive. Here‚ we evaluate a new method of assessing mammal and bird diversity through the genetic identification of scat collections. Using DNA metabarcoding of scat collections from three bioregions‚ we generated bird and mammalian assemblage data and distinguished between sites with different restoration histories. However‚ scat detectability was affected by environmental conditions (e.g. rainfall and vegetative cover)‚ suggesting that our approach is most applicable at certain times of year or in arid (or semi-arid) environments with rocky soils‚ where conditions are favourable for scat preservation. Taken together these data provide a pathway to: plan‚ monitor and establish best-practice when restoring landscapes and add to the growing body of literature on the value of DNA metabarcoding in biomonitoring applications.Citationvan der Heyde, M., Bateman, P. W., Bunce, M., Wardell-Johnson, G., White, N. E., & Nevill, P. (2021). Scat DNA provides important data for effective monitoring of mammal and bird biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02264-x
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Kemp, C., Tibby, J., Barr, C., & Arnold, L. (2021). Climate, fire and vegetation history from subtropical North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), eastern Australia, during the last three interglacials. Journal of Quaternary Science, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3355Journal of Quaternary ScienceJ. Quaternary SciAbstractRecords of Australian palaeoclimate beyond the last glacial cycle are rare‚ limiting detailed analysis of
long‐term climate trends and associated ecosystem responses. This study analyses a discontinuous pollen and
charcoal record from Fern Gully Lagoon‚ North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)‚ subtropical Queensland‚ Australia‚
which covers much of the last \textasciitilde210 ‚000 years. Climate variation is inferred from changes in vegetation‚ while
analysis of micro‐ and macrocharcoal is used to infer fire activity. Pollen assemblages consist of \textasciitilde40% rainforest taxa
during marine isotope stage (MIS) 7a–c and early MIS 5. These are inferred to result from high rainfall in the
Australian subtropics‚ which was also evident in north‐east and central Australia. Human impact from 21 ‚000 years
ago likely supressed post‐MIS 2 rainforest expansion to some extent. However‚ the increased Holocene abundance of
herbs and grasses and reduced representation of aquatic taxa suggest that the Holocene was relatively dry when
compared with early MIS 5 and MIS 7a–c. Similar MIS 5 and early MIS 7a–c climates‚ in contrast to a notably drier
Holocene‚ suggest that the progressive interglacial drying trend most strongly recorded in central Australia was not a
major feature of subtropical eastern Australian climates.CitationKemp, C., Tibby, J., Barr, C., & Arnold, L. (2021). Climate, fire and vegetation history from subtropical North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), eastern Australia, during the last three interglacials. Journal of Quaternary Science, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3355 -
Reichgelt, T., & Lee, W. G. (2021). Geographic variation of leaf form among indigenous woody angiosperms in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2021.1960384New Zealand Journal of BotanyNew Zealand Journal of BotanyAbstractCorrelations of non-monocot woody angiosperm leaf traits to macroclimate are often used to reconstruct terrestrial paleoclimate under the assumption that macroclimate correlates with leaf phenotype are globally uniform‚ regardless of evolutionary history. Here‚ we evaluate if global trends in leaf trait variation with macroclimate are observed in the predominantly evergreen indigenous flora of New Zealand. A dataset of 557 indigenous woody dicot species and over 100‚000 occurrences was employed to investigate community-level relationships of four leaf characters (leaf pubescence‚ margin teeth‚ area and length-to-width ratio) with geographic variation in temperature‚ precipitation‚ water deficit and solar radiation. Leaf area and the frequency of toothed leaves decline at higher latitudes in New Zealand. Variation in leaf pubescence and leaf teeth is associated primarily with measures of water availability‚ such as annual rainfall and annual water deficit; whereas leaf size is associated primarily with temperature. Variation in leaf length-to-width ratio was weakly correlated to climate parameters. The New Zealand relationship of leaf area with temperature aligns with global patterns‚ highlighting the importance of small leaves in limiting night-time chilling. The global negative correlation of leaf teeth with temperature is apparent in New Zealand trees and vines‚ but not in shrubs or all woody dicots combined. However‚ the primary correlate of leaf teeth in New Zealand is water availability‚ showing that the response of this trait to macroclimate is not globally uniform. The high occurrence of pubescent leaves in low rainfall and drought-prone environments in New Zealand suggests that the trait is associated with water retention in drier climates.CitationReichgelt, T., & Lee, W. G. (2021). Geographic variation of leaf form among indigenous woody angiosperms in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2021.1960384
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Mokany, K., Ware, C., Harwood, T., Schmidt, B., Campbell Tetreault, S., & Ferrier, S. (2021). Biodiversity in the Gunbower-Koondrook Perricoota Forest Icon Site and the Murray-Darling Basin - A technical report for the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. (p. 89) [Technical Report]. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. https://doi.org/10.25919/nzg6-0819AbstractHere we provide a biodiversity assessment for the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Icon Site (GKP) and the Murray-Darling Basin‚ as the basis for biodiversity accounts in the Valuing Parks Case Study Project‚ part of the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. This biodiversity assessment links to associated assessments of land cover‚ ecosystem extent and ecosystem condition.CitationMokany, K., Ware, C., Harwood, T., Schmidt, B., Campbell Tetreault, S., & Ferrier, S. (2021). Biodiversity in the Gunbower-Koondrook Perricoota Forest Icon Site and the Murray-Darling Basin - A technical report for the Land and Ecosystem Accounts Project. (p. 89) [Technical Report]. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. https://doi.org/10.25919/nzg6-0819
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Osipitan, O., Hanson, B., Goldwasser, Y., Fatino, M., & Mesgaran, M. (2021). The potential threat of branched broomrape for California processing tomato: A review. California Agriculture, 75(2), 64–73. http://calag.ucanr.edu/Archive/?article=ca.2021a0012Publisher: University of California, Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCalifornia AgricultureAbstractBranched broomrape (Phelipanche ramosa)‚ a parasitic weed that was the focus of a 1.5 million eradication effort four decades ago in California‚ has recently re-emerged in tomato fields in several Central Valley counties. Processing tomatoes are important to the California agricultural economy; the state produced over 90% of the 12 million tons of tomatoes grown in the United States in 2018. Branched broomrape is listed as an “A” noxious weed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA); discovery of broomrape in California tomato fields leads to quarantine and crop destruction without harvest‚ resulting in significant economic loss to growers. In countries where broomrape is common‚ yield reductions caused by this parasitic weed can range from moderate to 80%‚ depending upon the infestation level‚ host and environmental conditions. Developing a detailed understanding of the biology of this weed under local conditions is an important step towards developing effective management plans for California. In this review‚ we discuss branched broomrape in the context of California production systems‚ particularly of tomato. We also discuss the potential management practices that could help to prevent or reduce the impacts of branched broomrape in tomatoes and other host crops.CitationOsipitan, O., Hanson, B., Goldwasser, Y., Fatino, M., & Mesgaran, M. (2021). The potential threat of branched broomrape for California processing tomato: A review. California Agriculture, 75(2), 64–73. http://calag.ucanr.edu/Archive/?article=ca.2021a0012
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Rahman, Z. U. (2021). Remote sensing analysis of unnamed crater in Eastern Australia. Natural and Applied Sciences International Journal (NASIJ), 2(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.nasij/2.1.1Natural and Applied Sciences International Journal (NASIJ)Nat. App. Sci. Int. J.AbstractRemote sensing (RS) can certainly provide deep insights about detecting the terrestrial structure of unknown origin. In this paper‚ we also detected impact crater of unknown origin in northeast Australia by RS techniques‚ specifically to enhance the credibility of scientific database on the possible impact craters in the continent of Australia. Following the RS procedures‚ a circular-shaped unnamed crater‚ hereafter the Winton crater‚ was detected with a diameter of approximately 130-km. Furthermore‚ the topographical parameter was obtained from RS data‚ which showed that the area‚ depth and volume of the crater are \textasciitilde100-m2‚ \textasciitilde130-m and \textasciitilde99.8-m3‚ respectively. The geological data revealed that inside the crater‚ the outcrops are mainly consisted of sedimentary and low grade metamorphic rock‚ specifically included the mixed sediments and conglomerates‚ limestone and siltstone of the Craterous period. However‚ the exterior of the circular shaped in the southern part is consisted of unconsolidated deposits of the Tertiary period. The positive value of gravity anomaly for the major part of the crater is 3000 mGal and Bouguer gravity onshore grid has an anomaly of 900 mGal over the impact crater. It showed that the Winton crater could not be the due to any volcanic or karstic processes. On the other hand‚ a detailed field and petrology investigation should need to distinguish the origin of the crater of old and fossil travertine or an impact crater.CitationRahman, Z. U. (2021). Remote sensing analysis of unnamed crater in Eastern Australia. Natural and Applied Sciences International Journal (NASIJ), 2(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.nasij/2.1.1
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Hopley, T., Webber, B. L., Raghu, S., Morin, L., & Byrne, M. (2021). Revealing the Introduction History and Phylogenetic Relationships of Passiflora foetida sensu lato in Australia. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 651805. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.651805Frontiers in Plant ScienceFront. Plant Sci.AbstractGenomic analysis can be a valuable tool to assistmanagement of non-native invasive species‚ through determining source and number of introductions as well as clarifying phylogenetic relationships. Here‚ we used whole chloroplast sequencing to investigate the introduction history of Passiflora foetida sensu lato in Australia and clarify its relationship with other Passiflora species present. Phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast genome data identified three separate genetic lineages of P. foetida present in Australia‚ indicating multiple introductions. These lineages had affinities to samples from three separate areas within the native range in Central and South America that represented phylogenetically distinct lineages. These results provide a basis for a targeted search of the native range of P.
foetida s. l. for candidate biological control agents that have co-evolved with this species and are thus better adapted to the lineages that are present in Australia. Results also indicated that the Passiflora
species native to Australia are in a separate clade to that of P. foetida s and other introduced Passiflora species cultivated in Australia. This knowledge is important to assess the likelihood of finding biological control agents for P. foetida that will be sufficiently host-specific for introduction in Australia. As
P. foetida s is a widespread non-native invasive species across many regions of the world‚ outcomes from this work highlight the importance of first evaluating the specific entities present in a country before the initiation of a biological control program.CitationHopley, T., Webber, B. L., Raghu, S., Morin, L., & Byrne, M. (2021). Revealing the Introduction History and Phylogenetic Relationships of Passiflora foetida sensu lato in Australia. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 651805. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.651805 -
Pettit, L., Crowther, M. S., Ward-Fear, G., & Shine, R. (2021). Divergent long-term impacts of lethally toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) on two species of apex predators (monitor lizards, Varanus spp.). PLOS ONE, 16(7), e0254032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254032PLOS ONEPLoS ONEAbstractBiological invasions can massively disrupt ecosystems‚ but evolutionary and ecological adjustments may modify the magnitude of that impact through time. Such post-colonisation shifts can change priorities for management. We quantified the abundance of two species of giant monitor lizards‚ and of the availability of their mammalian prey‚ across 45 sites distributed across the entire invasion trajectory of the cane toad (
Rhinella marina
) in Australia. One varanid species (
Varanus panoptes
from tropical Australia) showed dramatic population collapse with toad invasion‚ with no sign of recovery at most (but not all) sites that toads had occupied for up to 80 years. In contrast‚ abundance of the other species (
Varanus varius
from eastern-coastal Australia) was largely unaffected by toad invasion. That difference might reflect availability of alternative food sources in eastern-coastal areas‚ perhaps exacerbated by the widespread prior collapse of populations of small mammals across tropical (but not eastern) Australia. According to this hypothesis‚ the impact of cane toads on apex predators has been exacerbated and prolonged by a scarcity of alternative prey. More generally‚ multiple anthropogenically-induced changes to natural ecosystems may have synergistic effects‚ intensifying the impacts beyond that expected from either threat in isolation.CitationPettit, L., Crowther, M. S., Ward-Fear, G., & Shine, R. (2021). Divergent long-term impacts of lethally toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) on two species of apex predators (monitor lizards, Varanus spp.). PLOS ONE, 16(7), e0254032. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254032 -
Bajwa, A. A., Latif, S., Borger, C., Iqbal, N., Asaduzzaman, M., Wu, H., & Walsh, M. (2021). The Remarkable Journey of a Weed: Biology and Management of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Conservation Cropping Systems of Australia. Plants, 10(8), 1505. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081505PlantsPlantsAbstractAnnual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.)‚ traditionally utilised as a pasture species‚ has become the most problematic and difficult-to-control weed across grain production regions in Australia. Annual ryegrass has been favoured by the adoption of conservation tillage systems due to its genetic diversity‚ prolific seed production‚ widespread dispersal‚ flexible germination requirements and competitive growth habit. The widespread evolution of herbicide resistance in annual ryegrass has made its management within these systems extremely difficult. The negative impacts of this weed on grain production systems result in annual revenue losses exceeding 93 million (AUD) for Australian grain growers. No single method of management provides effective and enduring control hence the need of integrated weed management programs is widely accepted and practiced in Australian cropping. Although annual ryegrass is an extensively researched weed‚ a comprehensive review of the biology and management of this weed in conservation cropping systems has not been conducted. This review presents an up-to-date account of knowledge on the biology‚ ecology and management of annual ryegrass in an Australian context. This comprehensive account provides pragmatic information for further research and suitable management of annual ryegrass.CitationBajwa, A. A., Latif, S., Borger, C., Iqbal, N., Asaduzzaman, M., Wu, H., & Walsh, M. (2021). The Remarkable Journey of a Weed: Biology and Management of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Conservation Cropping Systems of Australia. Plants, 10(8), 1505. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081505
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Nyboer, E. A., Lin, H., Bennett, J. R., Gabriel, J., Twardek, W., Chhor, A. D., Daly, L., Dolson, S., Guitard, E., Holder, P., Mozzon, C. M., Trahan, A., Zimmermann, D., Kesner‐Reyes, K., Garilao, C., Kaschner, K., & Cooke, S. J. (2021). Global assessment of marine and freshwater recreational fish reveals mismatch in climate change vulnerability and conservation effort. Global Change Biology, gcb.15768. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15768Global Change BiologyGlob Change BiolabstractCitationNyboer, E. A., Lin, H., Bennett, J. R., Gabriel, J., Twardek, W., Chhor, A. D., Daly, L., Dolson, S., Guitard, E., Holder, P., Mozzon, C. M., Trahan, A., Zimmermann, D., Kesner‐Reyes, K., Garilao, C., Kaschner, K., & Cooke, S. J. (2021). Global assessment of marine and freshwater recreational fish reveals mismatch in climate change vulnerability and conservation effort. Global Change Biology, gcb.15768. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15768
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Scott, J. (2021). Conservation Assessment of Lobelia claviflora Albr. & R.W.Jobson (Campanulaceae) [Conservation Assessment]. NSW Threatened Species Scientific Comittee. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Scientific-Committee/Determinations/Preliminaries/conservation-assessment-lobelia-claviflora-preliminary-determination.pdf?la=en&hash=E41A14CE9F26EF8C13F79E2D35905CA8EF14BDD5AbstractSummary of Conservation Assessment
Lobelia claviflora was found to be eligible for listing as Critically Endangered under
Criterion B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii).
The main reasons for this species being eligible are: i) it has a very highly restricted geographical range; ii) it is only found at a single location; and (iii) there is inferred continuing decline due to habitat disturbance from feral pigs‚ stock grazing and further loss of potential habitat.CitationScott, J. (2021). Conservation Assessment of Lobelia claviflora Albr. & R.W.Jobson (Campanulaceae) [Conservation Assessment]. NSW Threatened Species Scientific Comittee. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Animals-and-plants/Scientific-Committee/Determinations/Preliminaries/conservation-assessment-lobelia-claviflora-preliminary-determination.pdf?la=en&hash=E41A14CE9F26EF8C13F79E2D35905CA8EF14BDD5 -
Xu, G.-Q., Farrell, C., & Arndt, S. K. (2021). Climate of origin has no influence on drought adaptive traits and the drought responses of a widely distributed polymorphic shrub. Tree Physiology, tpab085. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpab085Tree PhysiologyAbstractAbstract
Climate has a significant influence on species distribution and the expression of functional traits in different plant species. However‚ it is unknown if subspecies with different climate envelopes also show differences in their expression of plant functional traits or if they respond differently to drought stress. We measured functional traits and drought responses of five subspecies of a widely distributed‚ cosmopolitan polymorphic shrub‚ Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. in an experiment with one-year old plants. Functional traits‚ such as leaf size‚ specific leaf area‚ turgor loss point (ΨTLP)‚ maximum stomatal conductance and maximum plant hydraulic conductance differed among the five subspecies. However‚ while the were some differences among traits‚ these were not related to their climate of origin‚ as measured by mean annual temperature‚ mean annual precipitation and mean annual aridity index. Drought response was also not related to climate of origin‚ and all subspecies showed a combination of drought avoiding and drought tolerance responses. All subspecies closed their stomata at very high water potentials (between −1.0 to −1.3 MPa) and had large hydraulic safety margins (drought avoidance). All subspecies adjusted their ΨTLP via osmotic adjustment‚ and subspecies with inherently lower ΨTLP showed greater osmotic adjustment (drought tolerance). All subspecies adjusted their midday water potentials in response to drought but subspecies from more arid environments did not show greater adjustments. The results indicated that climate niche was not related to plant trait expression or response to drought. The combination of drought avoidance and drought tolerance behavior seems to be a successful strategy for this widely distributed species that occupies many different climate zones and ecosystems. Hence‚ the wide distribution of D. viscosa seems to be related to plasticity of trait expression and drought response rather than long-term genetic adaptations to different environmental conditions.CitationXu, G.-Q., Farrell, C., & Arndt, S. K. (2021). Climate of origin has no influence on drought adaptive traits and the drought responses of a widely distributed polymorphic shrub. Tree Physiology, tpab085. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpab085 -
Santos, A. A., Hancox, T. J. J., Picanço, M. C., Delaporte, K., & Hogendoorn, K. (2021). Potential distribution of Leptospermum species (Myrtaceae) in Australia for bioactive honey production purposes. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/01140671.2021.1951306New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural ScienceNew Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural ScienceAbstractThe genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) is widespread in Australia and contains several species that are of increasing interest to produce bioactive honey. Here‚ we used the Maxent algorithm to investigate bioclimatic‚ climatic‚ and soil variables as predictors for potential distributions of seven Leptospermum species that have been identified as useful for bioactive honey production in Australia (L. lanigerum‚ L. liversidgei‚ L. nitens‚ L. polygalifolium‚ L. scoparium‚ L. speciosum‚ and L. whitei). Bioclimatic and climatic variables‚ mainly those related to moist conditions‚ were the best predictors for the distribution of the species. Leptospermum lanigerum and L. scoparium were suitable species in areas in southwestern Australia and Tasmania‚ while L. polygalifolium was suitable for eastern Australia. For L. nitens‚ appropriate areas were found only in western and southern regions‚ whereas only border ranges in Queensland and New South Wales were considered suitable for L. liversidgei‚ L. speciosum‚ and L. whitei. Notably‚ the latter areas were identified as a potential ‘hotspot’ for Leptospermum species. Our study can assist the incipient Leptospermum honey industry in Australia in identifying suitable local species and the local maintenance requirements for the species chosen.CitationSantos, A. A., Hancox, T. J. J., Picanço, M. C., Delaporte, K., & Hogendoorn, K. (2021). Potential distribution of Leptospermum species (Myrtaceae) in Australia for bioactive honey production purposes. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/01140671.2021.1951306
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Köhler, M., & Font, F. (2021). Opuntia leoglossa sp. nov. (Cactaceae): a new identity for the aloctone “Lion’s Tongue” cactus. Phytotaxa, 510(3). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.510.3.8PhytotaxaPhytotaxaAbstractRecent studies have shown that a worldwide cultivated plant known as “Lion’s Tongue” has been historically and wrongly assigned to another taxon name (Opuntia schickendantzii). After a literature study and the examination of herbarium specimens‚ we propose to describe the “Lion’s Tongue” as Opuntia leoglossa sp. nov. Although a hybrid origin or artificial selection is speculated‚ further studies must be carried out to better understand this taxon which has a hitherto unknown origin.CitationKöhler, M., & Font, F. (2021). Opuntia leoglossa sp. nov. (Cactaceae): a new identity for the aloctone “Lion’s Tongue” cactus. Phytotaxa, 510(3). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.510.3.8
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Buckley, S. J., Brauer, C., Unmack, P. J., Hammer, M. P., & Beheregaray, L. B. (2021). The roles of aridification and sea level changes in the diversification and persistence of freshwater fish lineages. Molecular Ecology, 30(19), 4866–4883. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16082Molecular EcologyAbstractWhile the influence of Pleistocene climatic changes on divergence and speciation has been well-documented across the globe‚ complex spatial interactions between hydrology and eustatics over longer timeframes may also determine species evolutionary trajectories. Within the Australian continent‚ glacial cycles were not associated with changes in ice cover and instead largely resulted in fluctuations from moist to arid conditions across the landscape. We investigated the role of hydrological and coastal topographic changes brought about by Plio-Pleistocene climatic changes on the biogeographic history of a small Australian freshwater fish‚ the southern pygmy perch Nannoperca australis. Using 7958 ddRAD-seq (double digest restriction-site associated DNA) loci and 45‚104 filtered SNPs‚ we combined phylogenetic‚ coalescent and species distribution analyses to assess the various roles of aridification‚ sea level and tectonics and associated biogeographic changes across southeast Australia. Sea-level changes since the Pliocene and reduction or disappearance of large waterbodies throughout the Pleistocene were determining factors in strong divergence across the clade‚ including the initial formation and maintenance of a cryptic species‚ N. ’flindersi’. Isolated climatic refugia and fragmentation due to lack of connected waterways maintained the identity and divergence of inter- and intraspecific lineages. Our historical findings suggest that predicted increases in aridification and sea level due to anthropogenic climate change might result in markedly different demographic impacts‚ both spatially and across different landscape types.CitationBuckley, S. J., Brauer, C., Unmack, P. J., Hammer, M. P., & Beheregaray, L. B. (2021). The roles of aridification and sea level changes in the diversification and persistence of freshwater fish lineages. Molecular Ecology, 30(19), 4866–4883. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16082
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Roycroft, E., MacDonald, A. J., Moritz, C., Moussalli, A., Portela Miguez, R., & Rowe, K. C. (2021). Museum genomics reveals the rapid decline and extinction of Australian rodents since European settlement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(27), e2021390118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2021390118Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesProc Natl Acad Sci USAAbstractAustralia has the highest historically recorded rate of mammalian extinction in the world‚ with 34 terrestrial species declared extinct since European colonization in 1788. Among Australian mammals‚ rodents have been the most severely affected by these recent extinctions; however‚ given a sparse historical record‚ the scale and timing of their decline remain unresolved. Using museum specimens up to 184 y old‚ we generate genomic-scale data from across the entire assemblage of Australian hydromyine rodents (i.e.‚ eight extinct species and their 42 living relatives). We reconstruct a phylogenomic tree for these species spanning ∼5.2 million years‚ revealing a cumulative total of 10 million years (>10%) of unique evolutionary history lost to extinction within the past ∼150 y. We find no evidence for reduced genetic diversity in extinct species just prior to or during decline‚ indicating that their extinction was extremely rapid. This suggests that populations of extinct Australian rodents were large prior to European colonization‚ and that genetic diversity does not necessarily protect species from catastrophic extinction. In addition‚ comparative analyses suggest that body size and biome interact to predict extinction and decline‚ with larger species more likely to go extinct. Finally‚ we taxonomically resurrect a species from extinction‚ Gould’s mouse (
Pseudomys gouldii
Waterhouse‚ 1839)‚ which survives as an island population in Shark Bay‚ Western Australia (currently classified as
Pseudomys fieldi
Waite‚ 1896). With unprecedented sampling across a radiation of extinct and living species‚ we unlock a previously inaccessible historical perspective on extinction in Australia. Our results highlight the capacity of collections-based research to inform conservation and management of persisting species.CitationRoycroft, E., MacDonald, A. J., Moritz, C., Moussalli, A., Portela Miguez, R., & Rowe, K. C. (2021). Museum genomics reveals the rapid decline and extinction of Australian rodents since European settlement. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(27), e2021390118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2021390118 -
Wilde, B. C., & Barrett, R. L. (2021). Hiding in plain sight, Ficus desertorum (Moraceae), a new species of rock fig for Central Australia. Telopea, 24(0), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea14668Number: 0TelopeaTelopeaAbstractA new species of lithophytic fig‚ Ficus desertorum B.C.Wilde & R.L.Barrett‚ endemic to arid Central Australia‚ is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from other species in Ficus section Malvanthera Corner by having stiff lanceolate‚ dark green‚ discolorous leaves; many parallel‚ often obscure lateral veins; petioles that are continuous with the midrib; with minute‚ usually white hairs and non- or slightly sunken intercostal regions on the lower surface. Previously included under broad concepts of either Ficus platypoda (Miq.) Miq. or Ficus brachypoda (Miq.) Miq.‚ this species has a scattered distribution throughout Central Australia on rocky outcrops‚ jump-ups (mesas) and around waterholes. This culturally significant plant‚ colloquially referred to as the desert fig‚ grows on elevated landscapes in central Australia‚ including Uluru (Ayers Rock)‚ Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles)‚ three of Central Australia’s best-known natural landmarks. Evidence is provided to show these plants are geographically and morphologically distinct from Ficus brachypoda‚ justifying the recognition of F. desertorum as a new species. Taxonomic issues with F. brachypoda and F. atricha D.J.Dixon are also discussed. Lectotypes are selected for Urostigma platypodum forma glabrior Miq. and Ficus platypoda var. minor Benth.CitationWilde, B. C., & Barrett, R. L. (2021). Hiding in plain sight, Ficus desertorum (Moraceae), a new species of rock fig for Central Australia. Telopea, 24(0), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea14668
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Hassan, R. A., & Hamdy, R. S. (2021). Synoptic Overview of Exotic Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoid Clade, Fabaceae) in Egypt. Plants, 10(7), 1344. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071344PlantsPlantsAbstractFor the first time‚ an updated checklist of Acacia‚ Senegalia and Vachellia species in Egypt is provided‚ focusing on the exotic species. Taking into consideration the retypification of genus Acacia ratified at the Melbourne International Botanical Congress (IBC‚ 2011)‚ a process of reclassification has taken place worldwide in recent years. The review of Acacia and its segregates in Egypt became necessary in light of the available information cited in classical works during the last century. In Egypt‚ various taxa formerly placed in Acacia s.l.‚ have been transferred to Acacia s.s.‚ Acaciella‚ Senegalia‚ Parasenegalia and Vachellia. The present study is a contribution towards clarifying the nomenclatural status of all recorded species of Acacia and its segregate genera. This study recorded 144 taxa (125 species and 19 infraspecific taxa). Only 14 taxa (four species and 10 infraspecific taxa) are indigenous to Egypt (included now under Senegalia and Vachellia). The other 130 taxa had been introduced to Egypt during the last century. Out of the 130 taxa‚ 79 taxa have been recorded in literature. The focus of this study is the remaining 51 exotic taxa that have been traced as living species in Egyptian gardens or as herbarium specimens in Egyptian herbaria. The studied exotic taxa are accommodated under Acacia s.s. (24 taxa)‚ Senegalia (14 taxa) and Vachellia (13 taxa). Identification keys for the studied genera‚ generic groups and species have been provided using different taxonomic criteria. For each taxon‚ the validated name with the first citation followed by relevant Egyptian citations‚ typification‚ synonyms‚ distinctive features‚ origin‚ ecology (when available)‚ utilisation and selected specimens are provided. The study revealed the presence of 22 newly recorded taxa in Egypt. Additionally‚ a list of excluded‚ unvalidated and unresolved names is given.CitationHassan, R. A., & Hamdy, R. S. (2021). Synoptic Overview of Exotic Acacia, Senegalia and Vachellia (Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoid Clade, Fabaceae) in Egypt. Plants, 10(7), 1344. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071344
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Fischer, S. E., Edwards, A. C., Weber, P., Garnett, S. T., & Whiteside, T. G. (2021). The Bird Assemblage of the Darwin Region (Australia): What Is the Effect of Twenty Years of Increasing Urbanisation? Diversity, 13(7), 294. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13070294DiversityDiversityAbstractThere has been considerable urban development in the Darwin region over the last twenty years; as for most fauna in Australia since colonisation‚ the potential effects to the bird assemblage were expected to be disastrous. To provide a broad overview of changes‚ bird survey data from 1998 and 2018 were extracted from BirdLife Australia’s ‘Atlas of Australian Birds’ database. A total of 165 species were categorised into primary food source feeding guilds and levels of food specialisation. This was integrated into ArcGIS along with land use change mapping from 1998 and 2018 to investigate its impact on bird assemblages. There was no significant change in overall species numbers when all sites were analysed. However‚ when sites were separated into those with increased urbanisation or decreased greenspace‚ several sites showed a significant change in the number of species. For the majority of species‚ analysis of primary food types found no difference in the proportion of species within the assemblages between 1998 and 2018‚ regardless of the level of urbanisation or greenspace; the exception being those species that primarily feed on insects‚ where the difference was just significant. An analysis using bird community data sorted into levels of food specialisation also found no difference between 1998 and 2018 despite habitat changes. These findings suggest that although there has been considerable urban development in the Darwin region‚ bird communities are remaining relatively stable.CitationFischer, S. E., Edwards, A. C., Weber, P., Garnett, S. T., & Whiteside, T. G. (2021). The Bird Assemblage of the Darwin Region (Australia): What Is the Effect of Twenty Years of Increasing Urbanisation? Diversity, 13(7), 294. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13070294
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Hogg, C. J., Morrison, C., Dudley, J. S., Alquezar‐Planas, D. E., Beasley‐Hall, P. G., Magrath, M. J. L., Ho, S. Y. W., Lo, N., Johnson, R. N., & Grueber, C. E. (2021). Using phylogenetics to explore interspecies genetic rescue options for a critically endangered parrot. Conservation Science and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.483Conservation Science and PracticeConservat Sci and PracAbstractAs the global biodiversity crisis deepens‚ with increasing habitat fragmentation and a changing climate‚ innovative options for conserving species are being explored. One such conservation action is genetic rescue: introduction of new alleles to promote population fitness. However‚ for critically endangered species where only one viable population remains‚ options for introducing new alleles are limited. Interspecies hybridization offers a potential solution but requires resolution of evolutionary relationships‚ a sound understanding of species biology‚ social license‚ and permissive legislative frameworks. Here‚ we show how phylogenetics and species biology can inform genetic rescue options for the orange-bellied parrot (OBP; Neophema chrysogaster)‚ a critically endangered Australian bird with one small remaining wild population. Our phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genomes and nuclear loci for all congeneric species provided strong support for OBPs being the sister species to a group comprising elegant‚ rock‚ and blue-winged parrots. Accounting for species distribution‚ behavior‚ and ecology‚ a captive trial of interspecific hybridization with the blue-winged parrot is recommended‚ including assessment of the fitness of hybrid individuals. Introduction of new alleles into the OBP genome would achieve the conservation goal of improving genetic diversity in a critically endangered species. Concurrently‚ legislative issues will need to be resolved.CitationHogg, C. J., Morrison, C., Dudley, J. S., Alquezar‐Planas, D. E., Beasley‐Hall, P. G., Magrath, M. J. L., Ho, S. Y. W., Lo, N., Johnson, R. N., & Grueber, C. E. (2021). Using phylogenetics to explore interspecies genetic rescue options for a critically endangered parrot. Conservation Science and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.483
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Hsieh, J., Krause, S. T., Kainer, D., Degenhardt, J., Foley, W. J., & Külheim, C. (2021). Characterization of terpene biosynthesis in Melaleuca quinquenervia and ecological consequences of terpene accumulation during myrtle rust infection. Plant-Environment Interactions, pei3.10056. https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10056Plant-Environment InteractionsPlant-Environment InteractionsAbstractPlants use a wide array of secondary metabolites including terpenes as defense against herbivore and pathogen attack‚ which can be constitutively expressed or induced. Here‚ we investigated aspects of the chemical and molecular basis of resistance against the exotic rust fungus Austropuccinia psidii in Melaleuca quinquenervia‚ with a focus on terpenes. Foliar terpenes of resistant and susceptible plants were quantified‚ and we assessed whether chemotypic variation contributed to resistance to infection by A. psidii. We found that chemotypes did not contribute to the resistance and susceptibility of M. quinquenervia. However‚ in one of the chemotypes (Chemotype 2)‚ susceptible plants showed higher concentrations of several terpenes including α-pinene‚ limonene‚ 1‚8-cineole‚ and viridiflorol compared with resistant plants. Transcriptome profiling of these plants showed that several TPS genes were strongly induced in response to infection by A. psidii. Functional characterization of these TPS showed them to be mono- and sesquiterpene synthases producing compounds including 1‚8-cineole‚ β-caryophyllene‚ viridiflorol and nerolidol. The expression of these TPS genes correlated with metabolite data in a susceptible plant. These results suggest the complexity of resistance mechanism regulated by M. quinquenervia and that modulation of terpenes may be one of the components that contribute to resistance against A. psidii.CitationHsieh, J., Krause, S. T., Kainer, D., Degenhardt, J., Foley, W. J., & Külheim, C. (2021). Characterization of terpene biosynthesis in Melaleuca quinquenervia and ecological consequences of terpene accumulation during myrtle rust infection. Plant-Environment Interactions, pei3.10056. https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10056
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White, H. A., Scott, J. K., & Didham, R. K. (2021). Evidence of Range Shifts in Riparian Plant Assemblages in Response to Multidecadal Streamflow Declines. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 605951. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.605951Frontiers in Ecology and EvolutionFront. Ecol. Evol.AbstractRiparian corridors are thought to form hydrological refugia that may buffer species and communities against regional climate changes. In regions facing a warming and drying climate‚ however‚ the hydrological regime driving riparian communities is also under threat. We examined recruitment in response to streamflow declines for species inhabiting the riparian zone in southwest Western Australia‚ testing the extent to which the riparian system has buffered riparian communities from the drying climate. We stratified 49 vegetation transects across the >600 mm per annum regional rainfall gradient encompassed by the Warren River Catchment. Local hydrological conditions were estimated over two 10-year periods; 1980–1989‚ and 2001–2010‚ to quantify changes in the flood regime. Mixed effects models tested the relationship between rainfall and flooding on the relative frequency of immature to mature individuals of 17 species of trees and shrubs common to the riparian zones. At the low-rainfall extent of their geographic range‚ the relative frequency of immature riparian species decreased with declining flow‚ whereas at the high-rainfall extent of their geographic range the relative frequency of immature individuals increased with declining flow. These results suggest that the geographic ranges of riparian species may be contracting at the low-rainfall margin of their range‚ while at the high-rainfall margin of their geographic range‚ reduced flooding regimes appear to be opening up new habitat suitable for recruitment and narrowing the river corridor. No such patterns were observed in upland species‚ suggesting the river may be buffering upland species. We discuss these findings and their implications for ongoing management and species conservation in a region projected to face further‚ significant rainfall declines.CitationWhite, H. A., Scott, J. K., & Didham, R. K. (2021). Evidence of Range Shifts in Riparian Plant Assemblages in Response to Multidecadal Streamflow Declines. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 605951. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.605951
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Peristiwady, T. (2021). Ichthyological Research and Biodiversity of Marine Fishes in Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 789(1), 012009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/789/1/012009IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental ScienceIOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.abstractCitationPeristiwady, T. (2021). Ichthyological Research and Biodiversity of Marine Fishes in Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 789(1), 012009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/789/1/012009
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Cunningham, M., Aisthorpe, R., Johnson, R., Hardwick, L., & Eddie, C. (2021). Broad-scale Ecological Assessment Report: Fariview Optimisation and Electrification Project (pp. 1–74) [Consultants Report]. Boobook Ecological Consulting. https://www.santos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ecological-Assessment-Report-Fairview-Optimisation-and-Electrification-Project.pdfabstractCitationCunningham, M., Aisthorpe, R., Johnson, R., Hardwick, L., & Eddie, C. (2021). Broad-scale Ecological Assessment Report: Fariview Optimisation and Electrification Project (pp. 1–74) [Consultants Report]. Boobook Ecological Consulting. https://www.santos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ecological-Assessment-Report-Fairview-Optimisation-and-Electrification-Project.pdf
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Haff, T. M., Tees, N., Wood, K., Cawsey, E. M., Joseph, L., & Holleley, C. E. (2021). Collection, curation and the use of humidification to restore nest shape in a research museum bird nest collection. Avian Research, 12(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00266-5Avian ResearchAvian ResAbstractAbstract
Background
Bird nests are an important part of avian ecology. They are a powerful tool for studying not only the birds that built them‚ but a wide array of topics ranging from parasitology‚ urbanisation and climate change to evolution. Despite this‚ bird nests tend to be underrepresented in natural history collections‚ a problem that should be redressed through renewed focus by collecting institutions.
Methods
Here we outline the history and current best practice collection and curatorial methods for the nest collection of the Australian National Wildlife Collection (ANWC). We also describe an experiment conducted on nests in the ANWC using ultrasonic humidification to restore the shape of nests damaged by inappropriate storage.
Results
The experiment showed that damaged nests can be successfully reshaped to close to their original dimensions. Indeed‚ restored nests were significantly closer to their original shape than they were prior to restoration. Thus‚ even nests damaged by years of neglect may be fully incorporated into active research collections. Best practice techniques include extensive note taking and photography in the field‚ subsampling of nests that cannot or should not be collected‚ appropriate field storage‚ metadata management‚ and prompt treatment upon arrival at the collection facility.
Conclusions
Renewed focus on nest collections should include appropriate care and restoration of current collections‚ as well as expansion to redress past underrepresentation. This could include collaboration with researchers studying or monitoring avian nesting ecology‚ and nest collection after use in bird species that rebuild anew each nesting attempt. Modern expansion of museum nest collections will allow researchers and natural history collections to fully realise the scientific potential of these complex and beautiful specimens.CitationHaff, T. M., Tees, N., Wood, K., Cawsey, E. M., Joseph, L., & Holleley, C. E. (2021). Collection, curation and the use of humidification to restore nest shape in a research museum bird nest collection. Avian Research, 12(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-021-00266-5 -
Lee, J. S., Letnic, M., & Mills, C. H. (2021). Diet and occurrences of the letter-winged kite in a predation refuge. The Science of Nature, 108(6), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-021-01772-8The Science of NatureSci NatAbstractNomadism is an advantageous life history strategy for specialised predators because it enables the predator to respond rapidly to changes in prey populations. The letter-winged kite (Elanus scriptus) is a nomadic nocturnal bird of prey endemic to arid and semi-arid zones of Australia. Letter-winged kites prey almost exclusively on nocturnal rodents and are often associated with rodent irruptions‚ but little is known about the ecology of letter-winged kites inside their core range. The Strzelecki Desert contains a known dingo-mediated predation refuge for native rodents. In this manuscript‚ we compare kite sightings‚ predator activity‚ and small mammal populations across survey sites in the Strzelecki Desert where dingoes were common and where dingoes were rare and use publicly available data from the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) to assess trends in the occurrence of kites in the region. Ninety-five percent of ALA observations occurred in areas where dingoes were common. Similarly‚ all our observations of kites occurred where dingoes were common and during an extended population irruption of Notomys fuscus. Notomys fuscus was the most frequent item in the letter-winged kite diet at our study sites. We suggest that there is significant evidence that these sites in the Strzelecki Desert form part of the core range for the letter-winged kite whose use of this area is facilitated by a predation refuge for rodents mediated by the dingo. We conclude that predation refuges mediated by dingoes could be a factor driving the distributions of letter-winged kites and other predators of rodents‚ particularly nomadic predators.CitationLee, J. S., Letnic, M., & Mills, C. H. (2021). Diet and occurrences of the letter-winged kite in a predation refuge. The Science of Nature, 108(6), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-021-01772-8
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Andres, S. E., Powell, J. R., Emery, N. J., Rymer, P. D., & Gallagher, R. V. (2021). Does threatened species listing status predict climate change risk? A case study with Australian Persoonia (Proteaceae) species. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, e01862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01862Global Ecology and ConservationGlobal Ecology and ConservationabstractCitationAndres, S. E., Powell, J. R., Emery, N. J., Rymer, P. D., & Gallagher, R. V. (2021). Does threatened species listing status predict climate change risk? A case study with Australian Persoonia (Proteaceae) species. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, e01862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01862
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McCulloch-Jones, E., Kraaij, T., Crouch, N., & Fritz, H. (2021). The effect of horticultural trade on establishment success in alien terrestrial true ferns (Polypodiophyta). Biological Invasions, 23(11), 3583–3596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02599-0Biological InvasionsBiol InvasionsAbstractWildlife trade imposes direct and indirect negative impacts on the environment but particularly through the continual introduction of species beyond their native range. The high demand for various ornamental plant species at global scale‚ combined with modern and more efficient modes of trade (i.e.‚ e-commerce) highlight the horticultural trade industry as a point of major conservation concern. Historically‚ ferns are well documented as being a popular ornamental plant group and recent studies have highlighted their high propensity towards invasion. Despite this‚ no studies have considered the role of trade as a driver of invasiveness in this large plant group. In this study we developed an inventory of traded terrestrial true ferns (Polypodiophyta) using catalogues from on-ground (i.e.‚ brick and mortar) and e-commerce (i.e.‚ online) nurseries across 6 major trading countries: Australia‚ Canada‚ New Zealand‚ South Africa‚ the United Kingdom‚ and the United States of America. A total of 382 traded ferns including alien and native species were identified. Generalised linear models were used to determine which market and species traits influenced the probability of establishment success in the country of trade. The final model highlighted that various market traits positively affected the likelihood of establishment success in alien ferns‚ i.e.‚ the number of varieties and cultivars available for a species (a proxy for the effects of horticultural manipulation and ecotypic variation)‚ a high market presence‚ and trade via e-commerce. Species traits such as a broad native range and successful establishment elsewhere were also important predictors. Three families (Dryopteridaceae‚ Pteridaceae‚ and Polypodiaceae) were identified as the most popular fern families in trade. These families have also contributed a significant portion of alien and invasive ferns in this and previous studies and are commonly promoted by horticulturalists. Twenty-nine out of 261 traded alien fern species were identified as having successfully invaded regions other than the country of trade as well as having a high market presence‚ with Dryopteris erythrosora‚ Dryopteris cycadina‚ Polystichum polyblepharum‚ and Cyrtomium falcatum being of particular concern. This study emphasised the role of horticultural trade in invasion success in alien ferns and highlighted the value of early detection through screening horticultural catalogues to identify introduced and potentially invasive species that should be monitored in trade.CitationMcCulloch-Jones, E., Kraaij, T., Crouch, N., & Fritz, H. (2021). The effect of horticultural trade on establishment success in alien terrestrial true ferns (Polypodiophyta). Biological Invasions, 23(11), 3583–3596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02599-0
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Kolanowska, M., Michalska, E., & Konowalik, K. (2021). The impact of global warming on the niches and pollinator availability of sexually deceptive orchid with a single pollen vector. Science of The Total Environment, 795, 148850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148850Science of The Total EnvironmentScience of The Total EnvironmentabstractCitationKolanowska, M., Michalska, E., & Konowalik, K. (2021). The impact of global warming on the niches and pollinator availability of sexually deceptive orchid with a single pollen vector. Science of The Total Environment, 795, 148850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148850
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Baxter, P. W. J., Rogers, A. M., & Kark, S. (2021). Saving Species on Australian islands Final Report. Threatened Species Recovery Hub (National Environmental Science Programme), The University of Queensland, Charles Darwin University. https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/d4dh0lqg/4-2-1-saving-species-on-australian-islands-final-report_v4.pdfabstractCitationBaxter, P. W. J., Rogers, A. M., & Kark, S. (2021). Saving Species on Australian islands Final Report. Threatened Species Recovery Hub (National Environmental Science Programme), The University of Queensland, Charles Darwin University. https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/d4dh0lqg/4-2-1-saving-species-on-australian-islands-final-report_v4.pdf
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Hao, T., Elith, J., Guillera-Arroita, G., Lahoz-Monfort, J. J., & May, T. W. (2021). Enhancing repository fungal data for biogeographic analyses. Fungal Ecology, 53, 101097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2021.101097Fungal EcologyFungal EcologyAbstractOpen-access occurrence data are useful for studying spatial patterns of fungi‚ but often have quality issues. These include errors in taxonomy and geo-coordinates‚ and incomplete coverage across areas and taxonomic groups. We identify 15 quality issues that can lead to incorrect biogeographic inference‚ and develop a reproducible pipeline that flags and removes problematic entries. This pipeline tests accuracy of geographic records and names. Then‚ if information on non-native status is unavailable or unreliable‚ it detects non-native species via a predictive model. Finally‚ it identifies spatial and environmental outliers and removes them when biologically improbable. We test the pipeline by cleaning data for Australian fungi‚ with 251‚642 records retained after cleaning the initial 1‚034‚601 records. Exploratory analysis showed that the cleaned data is useful for analyses such as biogeographic regionalisation‚ but recording gaps and lack of saturation in collection effort also caution that more surveys are needed to improve collection completeness.CitationHao, T., Elith, J., Guillera-Arroita, G., Lahoz-Monfort, J. J., & May, T. W. (2021). Enhancing repository fungal data for biogeographic analyses. Fungal Ecology, 53, 101097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2021.101097
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Lohr, C. A., Dziminski, M., Dunlop, J., Miller, E., & Morris, K. (2021). Reintroduction of Bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) to Matuwa, an Indigenous Protected Area in Western Australia. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 78, 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.05.005Rangeland Ecology & ManagementRangeland Ecology & ManagementAbstractThe greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) once occupied much of Australia’s mainland. Bilbies are now listed as vulnerable and only occur in 20% of their former range. Operation Rangeland Restoration aims to to restore an ex −pastoral lease; reintroduce several species of locally extirpated fauna‚ including the bilby; and maintain the area in perpetuity for the conservation of Australian arid zone species. Bilbies were reintro- duced to the Matuwa Indigenous Protected Area between 2007 and 2010 and‚ with ongoing landscape- scale control of feral predators‚ herbivores‚ and fire‚ have thrived. Here‚ we present a detailed account of the methods used during the reintroduction‚ showing that between 2007 and 2019 there has been an 88% increase in the area of occupancy by bilbies at Matuwa. The results of 2-ha track plot surveys conducted by the traditional owners of Matuwa suggest that the reintroduced bilbies are emigrating out of Matuwa. In addition‚ in 2018 and 2019 we used 120 camera-traps over 18 mo and occupancy analysis to confirm the widespread presence of bilbies across Matuwa and define significant habitat correlates. Bilbies were more likely to be detected on sandplains with Eucalyptus species as overstorey vegetation and Triodia as understorey vegetation. Bilbies were not detected in habitats with ≥75% bare ground. We attribute the success of the bilby reintroduction at Matuwa to the consistent implementation of landscape-scale control of feral predators.CitationLohr, C. A., Dziminski, M., Dunlop, J., Miller, E., & Morris, K. (2021). Reintroduction of Bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) to Matuwa, an Indigenous Protected Area in Western Australia. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 78, 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2021.05.005
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Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Murphy, B. P., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. A., Gentle, M. N., Legge, S. M., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Rees, M. W., Ritchie, E. G., Speed, J., Stuart, J.-M., Thompson, E., Turpin, J., & Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2021). Sharing meals: Predation on Australian mammals by the introduced European red fox compounds and complements predation by feral cats. Biological Conservation, 261, 109284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109284Biological ConservationBiological ConservationAbstractTwo introduced carnivores‚ the European red fox Vulpes vulpes and domestic cat Felis catus‚ have had‚ and continue to have‚ major impacts on wildlife‚ particularly mammals‚ across Australia. Based mainly on the contents of almost 50‚000 fox dietary samples‚ we provide the first comprehensive inventory of Australian mammal species known to be consumed by foxes‚ and compare this with a similar assessment for cats.
We recorded consumption by foxes of 114 species of Australian land mammal (40% of extant species)‚ fewer than consumed by cats (173 species). Foxes are known to consume 42 threatened mammal species (50% of Australia’s threatened land mammals and 66% of those within the fox’s Australian range). Reflecting the importance of mammals in their diet‚ foxes are known to consume a far higher proportion of Australian mammal species (40%) than of Australian birds (24%) and reptiles (16%).
Both foxes and cats were most likely to consume medium-sized mammals‚ with the likelihood of predation by foxes peaking for mammals of ca. 280 g and by cats at ca. 130 g. For non-flying mammals‚ threatened species had a higher relative likelihood of predation by foxes than non-threatened species. Using trait-based modelling‚ we estimate that many now-extinct Australian mammal species had very high likelihoods of predation by foxes and cats‚ although we note that for some of these species‚ extinction likely pre-dated the arrival of foxes. These two predators continue to have compounding and complementary impacts on Australian mammals. Targeted and integrated management of foxes and cats is required to help maintain and recover the Australian mammal fauna.CitationStobo-Wilson, A. M., Murphy, B. P., Crawford, H. M., Dawson, S. J., Dickman, C. R., Doherty, T. S., Fleming, P. A., Gentle, M. N., Legge, S. M., Newsome, T. M., Palmer, R., Rees, M. W., Ritchie, E. G., Speed, J., Stuart, J.-M., Thompson, E., Turpin, J., & Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2021). Sharing meals: Predation on Australian mammals by the introduced European red fox compounds and complements predation by feral cats. Biological Conservation, 261, 109284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109284 -
Hale, J. (2021). Lake Colac Water Reclamation Plant Upgrade: Ecological Risk Assessment [Consultants Report]. Jennifer Hale Aquatic Ecology Consultant.AbstractThe Colac Wastewater Reclamation Plant (WRP) is located on the south eastern shore of Lake Colac in the Western Victorian town of Colac. The WRP treats industrial and domestic wastewater from the town of Colac‚ producing Class C recycled water discharged to Lake
Colac under a Victorian EPA Licence. Barwon Water is planning an upgrade of the Colac WRP‚ which will require a Works Approval and an associated licence amendment from EPA Victoria. As a part of the works approval‚ an environmental risk assessment (ERA)‚ consistent with the Victorian EPA Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Wastewater Discharges to
Waterways (EPA Victoria 2009) is required.
This report provides an ERA on the potential environmental impacts (both positive and negative) associated with Barwon Water’s proposed upgrade to the Colac WRP to the receiving waters (Lake Colac) in accordance with EPA Guidelines for Risk Assessment of
Wastewater Discharges to Waterways (EPA Victoria 2009). Lake Colac was once a permanent waterbody‚ but the effects of climate change and drainage
schemes have resulted in a lake that periodically dries and has a more variable water regime.The lake is turbid‚ alkaline and eutrophic‚ but supports several beneficial uses and values including: a diversity and abundance of waterbirds‚ commercial and recreational fishing and
water-based recreation. The Colac WRP has operated within its EPA discharge licence conditions for the past five
years but has occasional peak ammonia concentrations above guideline values. The planned upgrade will increase the discharge volume over time from a maximum of 5.7 ML/day to
7 ML/day. Barwon Water have made a commitment to reduce the licence quality limits associated with the discharge with a reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations.The upgrade will also result in a significant improvement in the worst-case peak ammonia concentration in the effluent.CitationHale, J. (2021). Lake Colac Water Reclamation Plant Upgrade: Ecological Risk Assessment [Consultants Report]. Jennifer Hale Aquatic Ecology Consultant. -
Wassens, S., Poynter, C., Brooks, S., & McGinness, H. (2021). Basin-scale evaluation of 2019–20 Commonwealth environmental water: Species Diversity (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office: Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program). Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and Flow Monitoring and Research. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/202766228/202764172_Published_report.pdfabstractCitationWassens, S., Poynter, C., Brooks, S., & McGinness, H. (2021). Basin-scale evaluation of 2019–20 Commonwealth environmental water: Species Diversity (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office: Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Program). Commonwealth Environmental Water Office and Flow Monitoring and Research. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/202766228/202764172_Published_report.pdf
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Richards, Z. T., Juszkiewicz, D. J., & Hoggett, A. (2021). Spatio-temporal persistence of scleractinian coral species at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 40(4), 1369–1378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02144-4Coral ReefsCoral ReefsAbstractThe Great Barrier Reef is a diverse ecosystem of outstanding universal value that is under an increasing level of cumulative threat. The status of biodiversity‚ particularly that of habitat-forming taxa is not known‚ and more data are needed to evaluate this. Here‚ we summarize scleractinian coral distribution records in the Lizard Island reef system from 1976 to 2020 to explore the persistence of the local species pool across 44 years. By undertaking replicated spatio-temporal biodiversity surveys (2011‚ 2015‚ 2017‚ 2020) at 14 sites and compiling published species records from this location (1976–2020)‚ we determine that 368 species of hermatypic scleractinian coral have been recorded from Lizard Island and/or nearby reefs over the last 44 years. Two hundred and eighty-four of those species (77.2%) have ongoing records across this time period indicating temporal persistence at the local scale. However‚ 28 species (7.6%) that were reliably recorded prior to 2011 have not been recorded in subsequent years and may be at risk of local extinction. A further 31 species (8.4%) may be at risk of local range reduction as they have not been recorded at Lizard Island and/or at nearby reefs since 2015. The remaining 25 species (6.8%) were deemed taxonomically unreliable records. Fifty-three species are recorded from Lizard Island for the first time in the 2011–2020 surveys‚ however‚ further integrated taxonomic research is required to verify some of these records. At a site level‚ species diversity has been in a state of flux over the 2011–2020 period with significant declines in species richness notable from 2011 to 2017‚ and significant recovery from 2017 to 2020. Overall‚ this dataset indicates local extinction or local range reduction is a tangible risk for 59 species (16% of the species pool) in the Lizard Island region. Additional targeted searching for these species along with temporal monitoring of species abundance and size structure is warranted to better understand the status of coral biodiversity at this globally significant location.CitationRichards, Z. T., Juszkiewicz, D. J., & Hoggett, A. (2021). Spatio-temporal persistence of scleractinian coral species at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 40(4), 1369–1378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02144-4
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Erickson, K. D., & Smith, A. B. (2021). Accounting for imperfect detection in data from museums and herbaria when modeling species distributions: combining and contrasting data‐level versus model‐level bias correction. Ecography, ecog.05679. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.05679EcographyEcographyabstractCitationErickson, K. D., & Smith, A. B. (2021). Accounting for imperfect detection in data from museums and herbaria when modeling species distributions: combining and contrasting data‐level versus model‐level bias correction. Ecography, ecog.05679. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.05679
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Kirk, H., Garrard, G. E., Croeser, T., Backstrom, A., Berthon, K., Furlong, C., Hurley, J., Thomas, F., Webb, A., & Bekessy, S. A. (2021). Building biodiversity into the urban fabric: A case study in applying Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127176Urban Forestry & Urban GreeningUrban Forestry & Urban GreeningAbstractBiodiversity within cities is fundamental for human health and well-being‚ and delivers a wide range of critical
ecosystem services. However‚ biodiversity is often viewed as an afterthought or final addition once an urban development nears completion. As such‚ provisions for biodiversity are typically tokenistic and do not achieve the experience of everyday nature that people need. Considering biodiversity requirements at the start of an urban development allows for strategic‚ intentional design with biodiversity enhancement in mind. Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD) is a protocol that aims to create urban areas that deliver on-site benefit to native species and ecosystems through the provision of essential habitat and food resources. Here we present a case
study demonstrating how BSUD methods can be used to (a) encourage successful outcomes for nature‚ (b) improve the aesthetics and liveability of the urban form‚ and (c) engage stakeholders in a process that supports other aspects of urban design including park and streetscape design. Fishermans Bend (Melbourne) is the largest urban renewal project in Australia‚ and one of the first of this scale to explicitly include biodiversity targets. We outline the methods used to co-create biodiversity objectives with diverse stakeholders‚ and how these‚ combined with a quantitative analysis of their potential biodiversity impact‚ were translated into clear design and planning recommendations. We critically reflect on the success of this method for 1) communicating and facilitating provisions for biodiversity across different stakeholders and 2) providing clear messaging around biodiversity across different planning disciplines.CitationKirk, H., Garrard, G. E., Croeser, T., Backstrom, A., Berthon, K., Furlong, C., Hurley, J., Thomas, F., Webb, A., & Bekessy, S. A. (2021). Building biodiversity into the urban fabric: A case study in applying Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD). Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127176 -
Bello, C., Cintra, A. L. P., Barreto, E., Vancine, M. H., Sobral-Souza, T., Graham, C. H., & Galetti, M. (2021). Environmental niche and functional role similarity between invasive and native palms in the Atlantic Forest. Biological Invasions, 23(3), 741–754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02400-8PMID: 33679211
PMCID: PMC7900028Biological InvasionsBiol InvasionsAbstractInvasive species can significantly affect native species when their niches are similar. Ecological and morphological similarities between the invasive Australian palm‚ Archontophoenix cunninghamiana‚ and the native palm from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest‚ Euterpe edulis‚ suggest that they have similar environmental requirements and functional roles (i.e.‚ the function a species performs in an ecosystem). This similarity raises concerns about how the invasive palm could impact the native species in the present and future. We used spatial (species occurrences) and ecological information (frugivory events) to characterize the environmental niche and functional role of the two palms and assess their overlap. In addition‚ we predicted the potential area of occurrence of each palm within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest under current and future climate conditions.We estimated the environmental conditions used by the invasive plant based on its native distribution only‚ and based on all areas where the species is able to establish across the globe. We found that the environmental niches of the two palm species overlap up to 39%‚ which corresponds to 50% of the current geographic distribution of E. edulis in the Atlantic Forest. In the areas where the two species potentially co-occur‚ the impact of the invasive species on the native should be influenced by the invasive species interactions with frugivores. We found that the frugivory functional role of the two palms was similar (84% overlap) which suggest that A. cunninghamiana might disrupt the seed dispersal of the native palm. However‚ co-occurrence between the palms may decline with future climate change‚ as the potentially environmental suitable area for the invasive palm is predicted to decline by 10% to 55%. Evaluating the similarity in both the environmental niche‚ of the native and global extent‚ and the functional role of native and invasive plants provides a detailed understanding of the potential impact of invasive species on native species now and in the future.CitationBello, C., Cintra, A. L. P., Barreto, E., Vancine, M. H., Sobral-Souza, T., Graham, C. H., & Galetti, M. (2021). Environmental niche and functional role similarity between invasive and native palms in the Atlantic Forest. Biological Invasions, 23(3), 741–754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02400-8 -
Freitas, J. R. S. (2021). Web-Based Interface for Environmental Niche Modelling [M.E., Universidade da Madeira (Portugal)]. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2675223293/abstract/D612A39219BD4744PQ/1ISBN: 9798819341315AbstractMarine species are subject to anthropogenic impacts‚ such as noise pollution‚ marine litter‚ and direct impact collisions. While there are efforts in the marine community and crowd-sourcing to report the occurrence of marine species‚ not enough projects explore the prediction of where such animals may be.
This dissertation analyzes the state of the art in species distribution model ing (SDM) systems‚ capable of reporting and predicting marine biodiversity. The proposal implements the algorithms for predicting species through publicly avail able repositories of data‚ provides means to ease the upload and management of occurrence points as well as methods for prediction analysis. A web-based user interface is proposed using Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) as an automated alerting mechanism towards ecological awareness.
Performed user studies evaluate marine biodiversity concerns from fisherman and whale-watching sea-vessels‚ assessing attitudes‚ threats‚ values‚ and motiva tion of both samples. Further‚ biologists and experts on ENMs will evaluate the workflow and interface‚ reviewing the proposal’s potential to enable ecologists to create solutions for their custom problems using simple protocols without the need for any third-party entities and extensive knowledge in programming.
Alternate abstract:
Espécies marinhas estão sujeitas a impactos antropogênicos‚ tais como poluição sonora‚ lixo marinho‚ e colisões com tráfego marinho. Apesar de existirem al guns esforços da comunidade marinha e crowdsourcing relativamente ao registo de ocorrências de biodiversidade marinha‚ não existem projeto suficientes que exploram as previsões de onde estas espécies poderão estar.
Esta dissertação analisa o estado da arte em sistemas de modelação de dis tribuição de espécies‚ capazes de relatar e prever biodiversidade marinha. A pro posta implementa os algoritmos para prever espécies por meio de repositórios consolidados de dados disponíveis online‚ fornece meios para facilitar o carrega mento e gestão de pontos de ocorrência‚ bem como métodos para análise das previsões. Uma interface web de utilizador é proposta utilizando Ecological Niche Modeling como um mecanismo de alerta automatizado para incrementar a con sciência ecológica.
Os estudos do sistema irão avaliar as preocupações relativas a biodiversi dade marinha de embarcações de pesca e navios de observação de baleias. Desta forma é possível determinar atitudes‚ ameaças‚ valores e motivação de ambas as amostras para com a biodiversidade marinha. Além disso‚ biólogos e espe cialistas nesta tipologia de sistemas‚ avaliarão o fluxo de trabalho e a inter face desenvolvida‚ avaliando o potencial do sistema‚ permitindo aos ecologistas criar soluções personalizados através de protocolos simples‚ sem a necessidade de quaisquer entidades terceirizadas e conhecimento em programação.CitationFreitas, J. R. S. (2021). Web-Based Interface for Environmental Niche Modelling [M.E., Universidade da Madeira (Portugal)]. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2675223293/abstract/D612A39219BD4744PQ/1 -
Zhao, Y., Mohammadian, M., Romero, J., & Sarbazhosseini, H. (2021). Issues Related to Modelling and Parameter Settings of Models for Ecological Systems the Case of Distribution of Koalas. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1109/CSDE53843.2021.9718495AbstractEcological modelling assists in providing better environmental protection strategy and decision-making criteria frameworks. Data sets that are collected about ecological systems and species are large and complex. This increases the difficulties in ecological species modelling. The purpose of this paper is to advance Koala distribution modelling by evaluating and providing several modelling techniques with robustness criteria operation framework‚ to improve modelling of Koala distribution in Australia. This paper develops and compares different modelling techniques for Koala distribution. It also discusses which models would be more suitable for a field-based implementation‚ based on parameters setting. © IEEE 2022.CitationZhao, Y., Mohammadian, M., Romero, J., & Sarbazhosseini, H. (2021). Issues Related to Modelling and Parameter Settings of Models for Ecological Systems the Case of Distribution of Koalas. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1109/CSDE53843.2021.9718495
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Maxwell, S. J., Watt, J., Rymer, T. L., & Congdon, B. B. (2021). A checklist of near-shore strombidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neostromboidae) on Green Island, Queensland. Biogeographia : The Journal of Integrative Biogeography, 36. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.21426/B636050688Place: Berkeley, United States
Publisher: University of California Digital Library - eScholarship
Section: ArticlesBiogeographia : the Journal of Integrative BiogeographyAbstractThis study provides a checklist of the distribution and relative abundance of Strombidae from the near-shore environment of Green Island‚ Queensland‚ Australia. Historical records indicate that this island has not been surveyed for at least half a century. We used an opportunistic sighting survey method‚ where we walked the path of the receding tidal line around the island‚ counting and measuring all species that we observed directly. We also recorded the substrate on which each individual was collected as sand‚ sand-seagrass or seagrass. Eleven species of Strombidae were found. The survey provided the first record of Ministrombus athenius (Duclos‚ 1844) from North Queensland. This study provides base-line data on the presence and distribution of near-shore Stromboidea that will enable future studies to detect and monitor changes in the composition of near-shore strombid species.CitationMaxwell, S. J., Watt, J., Rymer, T. L., & Congdon, B. B. (2021). A checklist of near-shore strombidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neostromboidae) on Green Island, Queensland. Biogeographia : The Journal of Integrative Biogeography, 36. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.21426/B636050688 -
Weinstein, A. M. (2021). Pollination Ecology of Australian Sexually Deceptive Orchids with Contrasting Patterns of Pollinator Exploitation [Ph.D., The Australian National University (Australia)]. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2665127530/abstract/E74CDEA8739D49FCPQ/1ISBN: 9798426881938AbstractSexual deception‚ entailing the pollination of flowers through mimicry of female insects‚ is one of the most remarkable pollination strategies to have evolved. This thesis explores two Australian sexually deceptive orchid systems with contrasting patterns of pollinator exploitation.
The first three chapters focus on the orchid genus Cryptostylis‚ a system with a unique case of pollinator sharing - five Australian species‚ four of which are largely sympatric‚ all deceive the same male ichneumonid wasp pollinator Lissopimpla excelsa. In Chapter One (published in Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society)‚ mark-recapture experiments were used to investigate the consequences of ichneumonid pollination on pollen movement in C. ovata. A high pollinator revisitation rate indicated some potential for self-pollination. In Chapter Two‚ reproductive barriers contributing to the absence of hybrids between Cryptostylis species were investigated. Pre-pollination barriers‚ assessed in field experiments‚ did not prevent hybridisation. Hand cross-pollinations conducted among the four common Cryptostylis species in a greenhouse all produced fruits‚ however seed mass and the percentage of formed embryos were reduced in hybrids. Major differences in ploidy and chromosome number likely explain this post-pollination fitness reduction. Two species of Cryptostylis were found to be self-incompatible‚ marking the first case of self-incompatibility in the Diurideae. The unique reproductive biology of Australian Cryptostylis‚ encompassing pollinator sharing‚ self-incompatibility‚ and post-pollination reproductive isolation driven by large ploidy differences‚ may indicate that its mode of diversification may differ greatly to those in other sexually deceptive genera. Chapter Three presents the first phylogeny to encompass both Australian and Asiatic Cryptostylis. An Australian origin of Cryptostylis is supported‚ with a likely single subsequent dispersal event to Asia. Ploidy variation and geographic barriers appear to have played a role in diversification across Cryptostylis.
In Chapter Four‚ the potential presence of pollination ecotypes in the sexually deceptive Drakaea livida was tested for. Patterns of chemical diversity and pollinator availability across the distribution of the species were investigated. Pollinator choice trials revealed the presence of three discrete ecotypes each attracting its own pollinator species. Patterns of pollinator availability did not correlate with ecotype distribution. Each ecotype possessed a significantly different floral volatile composition. Using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA)‚ the presence-absence of a subset of taxonomically informative compounds could be used to accurately predict the ecotype of a flower. Different classes of electrophysiologically active compounds were present in different ecotypes. These marked differences in chemical composition between the ecotypes suggest either a long time since their divergence and may hint at a scenario of convergent evolution of floral morphology. In Chapter Five‚ the ecotype geographic ranges and methods of identifying the ecotypes were investigated. Species distribution modelling predicted each ecotype to have a different core range. Two ecotypes were widespread‚ while one had a limited distribution within extensively cleared agricultural land‚ raising conservation concerns. PLS-DA correctly identified the ecotype of a flower when labella extracts were made from pollinated flowers‚ thereby providing a non-destructive identification technique. The pollinator specificity‚ morphology‚ floral chemistry‚ and ranges of the ecotypes supported them as Evolutionary Significant Units.
In conclusion‚ the ecological and evolutionary consequences of pollination by sexual deception may vary extensively between plant taxa in accordance with their different patterns of pollinator exploitation. The taxonomy‚ species richness of the pollinator group‚ and the plant species to pollinator species ratio all influence the evolution and diversification of sexually deceptive orchids.CitationWeinstein, A. M. (2021). Pollination Ecology of Australian Sexually Deceptive Orchids with Contrasting Patterns of Pollinator Exploitation [Ph.D., The Australian National University (Australia)]. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2665127530/abstract/E74CDEA8739D49FCPQ/1 -
Lázaro-Lobo, A., Ervin, G. N., Caño, L., & Panetta, F. D. (2021). Biological invasion by Baccharis. In G. W. Fernandes, Y. Oki, & M. Barbosa (Eds.), Baccharis: From Evolutionary and Ecological Aspects to Social Uses and Medicinal Applications. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83511-8AbstractIn this chapter‚ we present and discuss information regarding biological
invasions by species in the genus Baccharis L. around the world: in native‚ expansive‚ and introduced distributional ranges. Baccharis halimifolia L. is the invasive
species par excellence of this genus. Therefore‚ we dedicate a great part of the chapter to describe (1) its distribution and introduction history; (2) abiotic and biotic
factors that affect its invasion; (3) types of ecosystems invaded and environmental‚
economic‚ and social impacts; and (4) management of the species. Lastly‚ we collate
all the available information in the literature regarding other species of this genus
that are considered invasive or potentially invasive in both native and introduced
areas. Those species are Baccharis coridifolia DC.‚ Baccharis dracunculifolia DC.‚
Baccharis neglecta Britton.‚ Baccharis pilularis DC.‚ Baccharis pteronioides DC.‚
Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.‚ Baccharis salicina Torr. & A.Gray‚
Baccharis sarothroides A.Gray‚ Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill.‚ and Baccharis
ulicina Hook. & Arn.CitationLázaro-Lobo, A., Ervin, G. N., Caño, L., & Panetta, F. D. (2021). Biological invasion by Baccharis. In G. W. Fernandes, Y. Oki, & M. Barbosa (Eds.), Baccharis: From Evolutionary and Ecological Aspects to Social Uses and Medicinal Applications. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83511-8 -
Singor, M. (2021). Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo: A review of recent records from Western Australia and Australian external territories. Australian Field Ornithology, 38, 119–123. https://doi.org/10.20938/afo38119123Australian Field OrnithologyAustralian Field OrnithologyAbstractAll Australian records of the Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo are summarised. Before 2016‚ the only Australian records of the Eurasian Hobby were on external territories to the north-west of the mainland. Each year between 2016 and 2021 a single Eurasian Hobby was observed as an austral summer visitor to the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Western Australia. These sightings involved an adult in 2016‚ 2019 and 2020‚ and single immature birds in 2017–2018. The age of the Hobby seen in 2020–2021 was undetermined. As it appears that multiple individuals have been recorded across years‚ it is likely that the species is now more than just an accidental vagrant to Australia.CitationSingor, M. (2021). Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo: A review of recent records from Western Australia and Australian external territories. Australian Field Ornithology, 38, 119–123. https://doi.org/10.20938/afo38119123
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Yasui, S.-L. E. (2021). Managing the community: Assessing the efficacy of invasive plant control strategies in Australian grassy ecosystems from deserts to dairy country [PhD, Queensland University of Technology]. https://doi.org/10.5204/thesis.eprints.213051abstractCitationYasui, S.-L. E. (2021). Managing the community: Assessing the efficacy of invasive plant control strategies in Australian grassy ecosystems from deserts to dairy country [PhD, Queensland University of Technology]. https://doi.org/10.5204/thesis.eprints.213051
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Bally, J., Marks, C. E., Jung, H., Jia, F., Roden, S., Cooper, T., Newbigin, E., & Waterhouse, P. M. (2021). Nicotiana paulineana, a new Australian species in Nicotiana section Suaveolentes. Australian Systematic Botany, 34(5), 477. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB20025Australian Systematic BotanyAust. Systematic Bot.abstractCitationBally, J., Marks, C. E., Jung, H., Jia, F., Roden, S., Cooper, T., Newbigin, E., & Waterhouse, P. M. (2021). Nicotiana paulineana, a new Australian species in Nicotiana section Suaveolentes. Australian Systematic Botany, 34(5), 477. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB20025
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Tarburton, M. (2021). Recent increase in knowledge about numbers and flight behaviour in the White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus. Australian Field Ornithology, 38, 124–130. https://doi.org/10.20938/afo38124130Australian Field OrnithologyAustralian Field OrnithologyAbstractI have reviewed data from Australian and Asian published sources and from my own observations in Victoria‚ New South Wales and Queensland as well as from hundreds of observers who have sent their observations directly to me for the decade 2011–2020. These data show that the average flock size of the White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus in Australia was 33‚ being nine smaller than the average for the previous decade. In the decade 2011–2020‚ we have also learnt that many of these birds migrate through southern Thailand to Malaysia‚ then into Indonesia following the archipelago to Papua New Guinea and then across Torres Strait to Cape York. We have also learnt that at least some of those breeding in northern Japan fly from various parts of Japan westwards to China‚ then southwards‚ then back eastwards over the Pacific Ocean passing north of the Philippines until north of New Guinea. Then they fly southwards over New Guinea to reach Cape York. When departing‚ these birds fly westwards over Australia‚ then northwards‚ leaving Australia from Western Australia or the Northern Territory. While in Australia‚ they are almost constantly on the move and‚ because they fly for 1–2 hours after dark as well as before sunrise‚ they can collide with and be killed by the blades of wind turbines. The ongoing loss of nesting hollows in the Needletail’s breeding grounds is still likely to be a major cause of the species’ decline‚ but wind turbines in Australia may present a new and emerging risk and further research is required to determine whether or not the numbers killed are significant. Experiments in Japan have shown for the first time that this species will nest in man-made nest boxes.CitationTarburton, M. (2021). Recent increase in knowledge about numbers and flight behaviour in the White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus. Australian Field Ornithology, 38, 124–130. https://doi.org/10.20938/afo38124130
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Geyle, H. M., Hoskin, C. J., Bower, D. S., Catullo, R., Clulow, S., Driessen, M., Daniels, K., Garnett, S. T., Gilbert, D., Heard, G. W., Hero, J.-M., Hines, H. B., Hoffmann, E. P., Hollis, G., Hunter, D. A., Lemckert, F., Mahony, M., Marantelli, G., McDonald, K. R., … Gillespie, G. R. (2021). Red hot frogs: identifying the Australian frogs most at risk of extinction. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21019Pacific Conservation BiologyPac. Conserv. Biol.AbstractMore than a third of the world’s amphibian species are listed as Threatened or Extinct‚ with a recent assessment identifying 45 Australian frogs (18.4% of the currently recognised species) as ‘Threatened’ based on IUCN criteria. We applied structured expert elicitation to 26 frogs assessed as Critically Endangered and Endangered to estimate their probability of extinction by 2040. We also investigated whether participant experience (measured as a self-assigned categorical score‚ i.e. ‘expert’ or ‘non-expert’) influenced the estimates. Collation and analysis of participant opinion indicated that eight species are at high risk (>50% chance) of becoming extinct by 2040‚ with the disease chytridiomycosis identified as the primary threat. A further five species are at moderate–high risk (30–50% chance)‚ primarily due to climate change. Fourteen of the 26 frog species are endemic to Queensland‚ with many species restricted to small geographic ranges that are susceptible to stochastic events (e.g. a severe heatwave or a large bushfire). Experts were more likely to rate extinction probability higher for poorly known species (those with <10 experts)‚ while non-experts were more likely to rate extinction probability higher for better-known species. However‚ scores converged following discussion‚ indicating that there was greater consensus in the estimates of extinction probability. Increased resourcing and management intervention are urgently needed to avert future extinctions of Australia’s frogs. Key priorities include developing and supporting captive management and establishing or extending in-situ population refuges to alleviate the impacts of disease and climate change.CitationGeyle, H. M., Hoskin, C. J., Bower, D. S., Catullo, R., Clulow, S., Driessen, M., Daniels, K., Garnett, S. T., Gilbert, D., Heard, G. W., Hero, J.-M., Hines, H. B., Hoffmann, E. P., Hollis, G., Hunter, D. A., Lemckert, F., Mahony, M., Marantelli, G., McDonald, K. R., … Gillespie, G. R. (2021). Red hot frogs: identifying the Australian frogs most at risk of extinction. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21019
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Cargill, D. C., Beckmann, K., & Seppelt, R. (2021). Taxonomic revision of Riccia (Ricciaceae, Marchantiophyta) in the monsoon tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Systematic Botany. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB20030Australian Systematic BotanyAust. Systematic Bot.AbstractThe genus Riccia L. in the monsoon tropics of the Northern Territory north of the 18°S latitude is revised. Sixteen species are described in detail‚ including four new species (R. abdita Cargill‚ R. chrysocrinita Cargill‚ R. obchantiana Cargill and R. verrucosa Cargill)‚ with accompanying images and line drawings. A key to the species and distribution maps are provided.CitationCargill, D. C., Beckmann, K., & Seppelt, R. (2021). Taxonomic revision of Riccia (Ricciaceae, Marchantiophyta) in the monsoon tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. Australian Systematic Botany. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB20030
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Walton, L., Jacobsen, I., & Lawson, A. (2021). Level 2 Ecological Risk Assessment Reef Line Fishery (p. 83) [Technical Report]. Fisheries Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. http://era.daf.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/8206/1/Reef%20Line%20Fishery%20Level%202%20ERA%20%5BFINAL%20AUGUST%202021%5D.pdfAbstractA Scoping Study and Level 1 Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) for the Reef Line Fishery was released in July 2019 (Jacobsen et al. 2019). The Level 1 assessment identified ecological components at higher risk from line fishing activities‚ and these were progressed to a Level 2 assessment. Level 2 ERAs are focused at the species level with risk evaluations based on a Productivity & Susceptibility Analysis (PSA). The PSA evaluates risk for each species through an assessment of seven biological attributes and up to seven fisheries-specific attributes.
This Level 2 ERA examined the risk posed to 35 target & byproduct species (Other Species quota management unit)‚ and four protected teleosts. Collectively‚ 17 species were found to be at high risk from line fishing activities‚ and the remaining 22 species were assessed as a medium risk. Risk profiles were influenced by data deficiencies‚ an underdeveloped management regime‚ and cumulative fishing pressures. For a portion of these species‚ final risk ratings were precautionary and are more representative of the potential risk. Management of precautionary risks beyond what is already being undertaken as part of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017–2027 is not considered a priority.
The Level 2 ERA made a list of recommendations to assist in the management and mitigation of risk in the Reef Line Fishery. A number of these measures are already being discussed or addressed through the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017–2027 and the Reef Line Fishery Harvest Strategy. As the Level 2 ERA commenced prior to the implementation of the harvest strategy‚ the results are based on the previous management regime. The harvest strategy will be taken into consideration is subsequent ERAs.CitationWalton, L., Jacobsen, I., & Lawson, A. (2021). Level 2 Ecological Risk Assessment Reef Line Fishery (p. 83) [Technical Report]. Fisheries Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. http://era.daf.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/8206/1/Reef%20Line%20Fishery%20Level%202%20ERA%20%5BFINAL%20AUGUST%202021%5D.pdf -
Briggs, A., & Noske, R. A. (2021). The avifauna of Rockhampton revisited after 45 years: additions, deletions and a checklist covering 135 years. Sunbird, 49(1), 39. https://birdsqueensland.org.au/sunbird_issues/articles/Vol_49/Briggs_2021_v49_1_1-39.pdfSunbirdSunbirdAbstractThe avifauna of the Rockhampton region‚ in central coastal Queensland‚ was first documented in 1887‚ based on six months of observations‚ then again in 1924‚ based on sightings made during a campout of one week. These and other historical records of birds in the region (comprising c.10‚500 km2)‚ as well as in the neighbouring Shoalwater Bay Training Area‚ were summarised by Longmore (1978)‚ who resided in Rockhampton for 20 months during 1973-1974‚ adding 88 species to previous lists. Longmore listed 324 currently recognised species‚ but after scrutinising the literature and available online data‚ we conclude that 17 of these species are insufficiently documented to be considered valid. On the other hand‚ we found reports of eight species that were recorded prior to the 1970s‚ yet were not listed by Longmore‚ and all have since been recorded at least once. Since 1975‚ no fewer than 35 species have been added to the region’s checklist‚ doubtless the result of larger numbers of resident and visiting birdwatchers‚ as well as birding sites. Of the 35 additional species‚ 13 (37%) are shorebirds and seven (20%) are seabirds‚ most of which were added during the late 1970s and 1980s‚ during and after the first national atlas of Australian birds. Twelve species (35%) are Palearctic migrants. Only seven of the additional species have been added since 2000. At least five tropical species‚ including three mangrovedependent sedentary species‚ appear to have expanded their range southwards into the region in recent decades‚ possibly due to increasing temperatures associated with climate change. Eleven species have been extirpated from the region over 135 years‚ resulting in one of the highest regional extinction rates in Australia. A checklist‚ summarising the past and present status of all 350 validated species of the region‚ is provided in the appendix.CitationBriggs, A., & Noske, R. A. (2021). The avifauna of Rockhampton revisited after 45 years: additions, deletions and a checklist covering 135 years. Sunbird, 49(1), 39. https://birdsqueensland.org.au/sunbird_issues/articles/Vol_49/Briggs_2021_v49_1_1-39.pdf
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Nguyen, H.-T.-M., Ha, P. V., & Kompas, T. (2021). Optimal surveillance against bioinvasions: a sample average approximation method applied to an agent-based spread model. Ecological Applications, 31(8), e02449. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2449Ecological ApplicationsAbstractTrade-offs exist between the point of early detection and the future cost of controlling any invasive species. Finding optimal levels of early detection‚ with post-border active surveillance‚ where time‚ space and randomness are explicitly considered‚ is computationally challenging. We use a stochastic programming model to find the optimal level of surveillance and predict damages‚ easing the computational challenge by combining a sample average approximation (SAA) approach and parallel processing techniques. The model is applied to the case of Asian Papaya Fruit Fly (PFF)‚ a highly destructive pest‚ in Queensland‚ Australia. To capture the non-linearity in PFF spread‚ we use an agent-based model (ABM)‚ which is calibrated to a highly detailed land-use raster map (50 m × 50 m) and weather-related data‚ validated against a historical outbreak. The combination of SAA and ABM sets our work apart from the existing literature. Indeed‚ despite its increasing popularity as a powerful analytical tool‚ given its granularity and capability to model the system of interest adequately‚ the complexity of ABM limits its application in optimizing frameworks due to considerable uncertainty about solution quality. In this light‚ the use of SAA ensures quality in the optimal solution (with a measured optimality gap) while still being able to handle large-scale decision-making problems. With this combination‚ our application suggests that the optimal (economic) trap grid size for PFF in Queensland is ˜0.7 km‚ much smaller than the currently implemented level of 5 km. Although the current policy implies a much lower surveillance cost per year‚ compared with the 2.08 million under our optimal policy‚ the expected total cost of an outbreak is 23.92 million‚ much higher than the optimal policy of roughly 7.74 million.CitationNguyen, H.-T.-M., Ha, P. V., & Kompas, T. (2021). Optimal surveillance against bioinvasions: a sample average approximation method applied to an agent-based spread model. Ecological Applications, 31(8), e02449. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2449
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Foster, N. J., Maloney, R. F., Seddon, P. J., Recio, M. R., Khan, S. I., & van Heezik, Y. (2021). Altitudinal distribution of the entire invasive small mammal guild in the eastern dryland zone of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Biological Invasions, 23(6), 1837–1857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02474-y10.1007/s10530-021-02474-yBiological InvasionsAbstractNew Zealand faces significant ecological problems caused by the introduction of a variety of invasive small mammal species. Many of these species originate from temperate to subarctic climates and occur across wide elevations in their native range‚ and so arrived predisposed to adapt to a variety of habitats and bioclimatic zones in their new environs‚ including the alpine zone. Almost all of New Zealand’s invasive small mammal species have been recorded in the country’s alpine zones‚ yet neither the altitudinal distribution nor the extent to which such species use high elevation areas has been clearly defined. We conducted extensive camera trap surveys in summer to autumn periods of 2019 and 2020 across an elevation range of 500–2250 m above sea level‚ and used detection rates and occupancy modelling to reveal the altitudinal distributions and habitat associations of all 10 invasive small mammals that occur in the dryland zone of the central South Island. We found altitudinal distributions varied greatly across species‚ and that while most exhibited decreasing detection rates and site occupancy probabilities with increasing elevation‚ some used the subalpine and alpine zones to a greater degree than adjacent lower elevations. There were clear habitat associations‚ as well as interspecific associations that helped to explain the altitudinal distribution of some species. Understanding how such factors influence the distribution of invasive small mammals has both broad implications for invasive species management‚ and direct applications in evaluating threats to native taxa‚ advancing management strategies‚ and benchmarking distributions in a changing climate.CitationFoster, N. J., Maloney, R. F., Seddon, P. J., Recio, M. R., Khan, S. I., & van Heezik, Y. (2021). Altitudinal distribution of the entire invasive small mammal guild in the eastern dryland zone of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Biological Invasions, 23(6), 1837–1857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02474-y
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Booth, T. (2021). doi:10.5061/dryad.6m905qfzt">Western Australian distribution of Acacia saligna. John Wiley & Sons, 438060 bytes. https://doi.org/10.5061/DRYAD.6M905QFZTArtwork Size: 438060 bytes
Version Number: 5
Type: datasetJohn Wiley & SonsAbstractComments were presented on an article published in October 2020 in Ecology and Evolution (“Predictive ability of a process-based versus a correlative species distribution model”) by Higgins et al. This analyzed natural distributions of Australian eucalypt and acacia species and assessed the adventive range of selected species outside Australia. Unfortunately‚ inappropriate variables were used with the example MaxEnt species distribution model of Acacia saligna when applied outside Australia‚ so that large climatically suitable areas in the Mediterranean area of the Northern Hemisphere were not identified. To illustrate the problem‚ data from the natural distribution of A. saligna in Western Australia were accessed using the spatial portal of the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA‚ spatial.ala.org.au). The MaxEnt analysis method available in the ALA was used to show that large areas of the Mediterranean Basin are climatically suitable for A. saligna.CitationBooth, T. (2021). Western Australian distribution of Acacia saligna. John Wiley & Sons, 438060 bytes. https://doi.org/10.5061/DRYAD.6M905QFZT -
White, K., Waters, J., Willsher, S., Penson, D., & Meiklejohn, R. (2021). Vegetation, Flora, Fauna and Environmental Considerations, and Targeted Flora Report. Shire of Esperance. https://ftp.dwer.wa.gov.au/permit/9341/CPS%209341-1%20-%20Supporting%20Information%20-%20Survey%20-%20Site%20P,%20Merivale%20Rd%20Widening,%20Enviro%20assessment%20and%20targeted%20flora%20survey.PDFAbstractThis ‘Vegetation‚ Flora‚ Fauna and Environmental Considerations and Targeted Flora Report’ has been
undertaken in accordance with the ‘Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Technical Guidance‚
Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia
(2016)’ as part of the application to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulations (DWER)
to clear 5.18 ha of native vegetation within a 10.91 ha footprint for the purpose of road widening.CitationWhite, K., Waters, J., Willsher, S., Penson, D., & Meiklejohn, R. (2021). Vegetation, Flora, Fauna and Environmental Considerations, and Targeted Flora Report. Shire of Esperance. https://ftp.dwer.wa.gov.au/permit/9341/CPS%209341-1%20-%20Supporting%20Information%20-%20Survey%20-%20Site%20P,%20Merivale%20Rd%20Widening,%20Enviro%20assessment%20and%20targeted%20flora%20survey.PDF -
Hutley, L. B., Duvert, C., Setterfield, S. A., Bourke, A., Canham, C. A., Freestone, F. L., Cavalieri, O. O., Alvarez-Cortez, D., & Brand, M. (2021). Ecohydrology and sensitivity of riparian flora, Magela Creek, Ranger uranium mine [Environmental Assessment]. Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub “National Environmental Science Programme”, Charles Darwin University, The University of Western Australia, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.abstractCitationHutley, L. B., Duvert, C., Setterfield, S. A., Bourke, A., Canham, C. A., Freestone, F. L., Cavalieri, O. O., Alvarez-Cortez, D., & Brand, M. (2021). Ecohydrology and sensitivity of riparian flora, Magela Creek, Ranger uranium mine [Environmental Assessment]. Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub “National Environmental Science Programme”, Charles Darwin University, The University of Western Australia, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
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Catullo, R., & Moritz, C. (2021). Genetic assessment of bushfire-impacted vertebrate species (Final Report 8.3.3). NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub Project. https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/knef0ifv/8-3-3-genetic-assessment-of-bushfire-impacted-vertebrate-species-final-report_v2.pdfabstractCitationCatullo, R., & Moritz, C. (2021). Genetic assessment of bushfire-impacted vertebrate species (Final Report 8.3.3). NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub Project. https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/media/knef0ifv/8-3-3-genetic-assessment-of-bushfire-impacted-vertebrate-species-final-report_v2.pdf
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Watson, D. M., Whisson, D., Driscoll, D., & Watson, M. J. (2021). Feral horses will rule one third of the fragile Kosciuszko National Park under a proposed NSW government plan. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/feral-horses-will-rule-one-third-of-the-fragile-kosciuszko-national-park-under-a-proposed-nsw-government-plan-169248The ConversationAbstractFeral horses trample endangered plant communities‚ destroy threatened species’ habitat and damage Aboriginal cultural heritage — and their numbers are increasing.CitationWatson, D. M., Whisson, D., Driscoll, D., & Watson, M. J. (2021). Feral horses will rule one third of the fragile Kosciuszko National Park under a proposed NSW government plan. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/feral-horses-will-rule-one-third-of-the-fragile-kosciuszko-national-park-under-a-proposed-nsw-government-plan-169248
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Trees for Life. (2021). Bush For Life Management Plan for Lower Field River (pp. 1–48). City of Marion. https://cdn.marion.sa.gov.au/sp/FoLFR_BFL-Action-Plan_March_2021.pdfabstractCitationTrees for Life. (2021). Bush For Life Management Plan for Lower Field River (pp. 1–48). City of Marion. https://cdn.marion.sa.gov.au/sp/FoLFR_BFL-Action-Plan_March_2021.pdf
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von Takach, B., Penton, C. E., Murphy, B. P., Radford, I. J., Davies, H. F., Hill, B. M., & Banks, S. C. (2021). Population genomics and conservation management of a declining tropical rodent. Heredity, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-021-00418-9HeredityHeredityAbstractConservation management is improved by incorporating information about the spatial distribution of population genetic diversity into planning strategies. Northern Australia is the location of some of the world’s most severe ongoing declines of endemic mammal species‚ yet we have little genetic information from this regional mammal assemblage to inform a genetic perspective on conservation assessment and planning. We used next-generation sequencing data from remnant populations of the threatened brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) to compare patterns of genomic diversity and differentiation across the landscape and investigate standardised hierarchical genomic diversity metrics to better understand brush-tailed rabbit-rat population genomic structure. We found strong population structuring‚ with high levels of differentiation between populations (FST = 0.21–0.78). Two distinct genomic lineages between the Tiwi Islands and mainland are also present. Prioritisation analysis showed that one population in both lineages would need to be conserved to retain at least \textasciitilde80% of alleles for the species. Analysis of standardised genomic diversity metrics showed that approximately half of the total diversity occurs among lineages (δ = 0.091 from grand total γ = 0.184). We suggest that a focus on conserving remnant island populations may not be appropriate for the preservation of species-level genomic diversity and adaptive potential‚ as these populations represent a small component of the total diversity and a narrow subset of the environmental conditions in which the species occurs. We also highlight the importance of considering both genomic and ecological differentiation between source and receiving populations when considering translocations for conservation purposes.Citationvon Takach, B., Penton, C. E., Murphy, B. P., Radford, I. J., Davies, H. F., Hill, B. M., & Banks, S. C. (2021). Population genomics and conservation management of a declining tropical rodent. Heredity, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-021-00418-9
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McDonald, P. J., Jobson, P., Köhler, F., Nano, C. E. M., & Oliver, P. M. (2021). The living heart: Climate gradients predict desert mountain endemism. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7333Ecology and EvolutionAbstractMountain regions are centers of biodiversity endemism at a global scale but the role of arid-zone mountain ranges in shaping biodiversity patterns is poorly understood. Focusing on three guilds of taxa from a desert upland refugium in Australia‚ we sought to determine: (a) the relative extent to which climate‚ terrain or geological substrate predict endemism‚ and (b) whether patterns of endemism are complimentary across broad taxonomic guilds. We mapped regional endemism for plants‚ land snails‚ and vertebrates using combined Species Distribution Models (SDMs) for all endemic taxa (n = 82). We then modelled predictors of endemism using Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) and geology‚ terrain‚ and climate variables. We tested for the presence of inter- and intraguild hotspots of endemism. Many individual plant and land snail taxa were tightly linked with geology‚ corresponding to small distributions. Conversely‚ most vertebrate taxa were not constrained to specific geological substrates and occurred over larger areas. However‚ across all three guilds climate was the strongest predictor of regional endemism‚ particularly for plants wherein discrete hotspots of endemism were buffered from extreme summer temperatures. Land snail and vertebrate endemism peaked in areas with highest precipitation in the driest times of the year. Hotspots of endemism within each guild poorly predicted endemism in other guilds. We found an overarching signal that climatic gradients play a dominant role in the persistence of endemic taxa in an arid-zone mountain range system. An association with higher rainfall and cooler temperatures indicates that continuing trends toward hotter and drier climates may lead to range contractions in this‚ and potentially other‚ arid-zone mountain biotas. Contrasting patterns of endemism across guilds highlight the need to couple comprehensive regional planning for the protection of climate refugia‚ with targeted management of more localized and habitat specialist taxa.CitationMcDonald, P. J., Jobson, P., Köhler, F., Nano, C. E. M., & Oliver, P. M. (2021). The living heart: Climate gradients predict desert mountain endemism. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7333
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Nawaz, M., McCulloch, G. A., Brookes, D. R., Zonneveld, R., & Walter, G. H. (2021). Native range surveys for host-specific Acacia auriculiformis biocontrol agents – A role for DNA barcoding. Biological Control, 158, 104594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104594Biological ControlAbstractAcacia auriculiformis is a native Australian tree that has developed into a damaging environmental weed in Florida‚ USA. We conducted field surveys to collect insect herbivores from A. auriculiformis and three closely related allopatric congeners (A. crassa‚ A. leiocalyx‚ and A. concurrens) across the native distribution of each plant species. We collected over 800 specimens‚ comprising a diversity of herbivorous insect groups‚ and successfully sequenced 480 specimens for DNA barcoding to group them into molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) as a first step in documenting this diversity. Most herbivores (85%) were found on only a single Acacia species‚ suggesting each Acacia species hosts its own unique herbivore complex. The Northern Territory and Far North Queensland A. auriculiformis populations are allopatric in relation to one another but hosted a similar suite of herbivores. Calomela intemerata and seven lepidopteran species (including three species of Macrobathra moths) were particularly abundant across both regions. These herbivores look promising as potential biological control agents‚ though their host-specificity and genetic diversity should be investigated further.CitationNawaz, M., McCulloch, G. A., Brookes, D. R., Zonneveld, R., & Walter, G. H. (2021). Native range surveys for host-specific Acacia auriculiformis biocontrol agents – A role for DNA barcoding. Biological Control, 158, 104594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104594
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Dorph, A., Swan, M., Di Stefano, J., & Penman, T. D. (2021). Relating mammal species richness to landscape patterns across multiple spatial scales. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-021-01208-8Landscape EcologyAbstractUnderstanding the relationships between spatial pattern‚ spatial scale and biodiversity can help ecologists to assess the impacts of environmental change and inform management plans. Spatial pattern research has often focussed on the effect of modified landscapes on species diversity. However‚ few studies have examined species responses to spatial pattern from other sources‚ including those which vary over time‚ such as fire.CitationDorph, A., Swan, M., Di Stefano, J., & Penman, T. D. (2021). Relating mammal species richness to landscape patterns across multiple spatial scales. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-021-01208-8
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Gallagher, R. V., Allen, S., Mackenzie, B. D. E., Yates, C. J., Gosper, C. R., Keith, D. A., Merow, C., White, M. D., Wenk, E., Maitner, B. S., He, K., Adams, V. M., & Auld, T. D. (2021). High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity. Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13265Diversity and DistributionsAbstractAim To quantify the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity by assessing burnt area across 26‚062 species ranges and the effects of fire history on recovery potential. Further‚ to exemplify a strategic approach to prioritizing plant species affected by fire for recovery actions and conservation planning at a national scale. Location Australia. Methods We combine data on geographic range‚ fire extent‚ response traits and fire history to assess the proportion of species ranges burnt in both the 2019–2020 fires and the past. Results Across Australia‚ suitable habitat for 69% of all plant species was burnt (17‚197 species) by the 2019–2020 fires and herbarium specimens confirm the presence of 9‚092 of these species across the fire extent since 1950. Burnt ranges include those of 587 plants listed as threatened under national legislation (44% of Australia’s threatened plants). A total of 3‚998 of the 17‚197 fire-affected species are known to resprout after fire‚ but at least 2‚928 must complete their entire life cycle—from germinant to reproducing adult—prior to subsequent fires‚ as they are killed by fire. Data on previous fires show that‚ for 257 species‚ the historical intervals between fire events across their range are likely too short to allow regeneration. For a further 411 species‚ future fires during recovery will increase extinction risk as current populations are dominated by immature individuals. Main conclusion Many Australian plant species have strategies to persist under certain fire regimes‚ and will recover given time‚ suitable conditions and low exposure to threats. However‚ short fire intervals both before and after the 2019–2020 fire season pose a serious risk to the recovery of at least 595 species. Persistent knowledge gaps about species fire response and post-fire population persistence threaten the effective long-term management of Australian vegetation in an increasingly pyric world.CitationGallagher, R. V., Allen, S., Mackenzie, B. D. E., Yates, C. J., Gosper, C. R., Keith, D. A., Merow, C., White, M. D., Wenk, E., Maitner, B. S., He, K., Adams, V. M., & Auld, T. D. (2021). High fire frequency and the impact of the 2019–2020 megafires on Australian plant diversity. Diversity and Distributions. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13265
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Dong, C. M., Johnston, G. R., Stuart-Fox, D., Moussalli, A., Rankin, K. J., & McLean, C. A. (2021). Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 109(1), 43–54. https://doi.org/10.1643/h2020064Ichthyology & HerpetologyAbstractThe Australian Tawny Dragon lizard (Ctenophorus decresii)‚ as currently recognized‚ comprises two genetically divergent lineages‚ northern and southern‚ that differ notably in male coloration. A narrow contact zone exists between the lineages with asymmetric and limited hybridization‚ indicating incompatibility and highlighting the need for further taxonomic assessment. Here‚ we evaluate morphological variation in C. decresii and elevate the lineages to separate species. The southern lineage retains the name C. decresii (Duméril and Bibron‚ 1837)‚ and we formally reinstate C. modestus for the northern lineage‚ which was previously a synonym of C. decresii (Amphibolurus modestus‚Ahl‚ 1926). We redescribe C. modestus and C. decresii and highlight important considerations for reevaluation of their conservation statuses. Recognition of C. modestus represents another species that may have differentiated in relatively mesic mountainous refugia during Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles‚ and underscores the importance of divergence in male coloration as a driver of speciation in the rock dragon species group.CitationDong, C. M., Johnston, G. R., Stuart-Fox, D., Moussalli, A., Rankin, K. J., & McLean, C. A. (2021). Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 109(1), 43–54. https://doi.org/10.1643/h2020064
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Dorey, J. B. (2021). Missing for almost 100 years: the rare and potentially threatened bee, Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Hymenoptera, Colletidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 81, 165–180. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.81.59365Journal of Hymenoptera ResearchAbstractThe Australian endemic bee‚ Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Colletidae: Hylaeinae) is a rare species that requires conservation assessment. Prior to this study‚ the last published record of this bee species was from 1923 in Queensland‚ and nothing was known of its biology. Hence‚ I aimed to locate extant populations‚ provide biological information and undertake exploratory analyses relevant to its assessment. Pharohylaeus lactiferus was recently rediscovered as a result of extensive sampling of 225 general and 20 targeted sampling sites across New South Wales and Queensland. Collections indicate possible floral and habitat specialisation with specimens only found near Tropical or Sub-Tropical Rainforest and only visiting Stenocarpus sinuatus (Proteaceae) and Brachychiton acerifolius (Malvaceae)‚ to the exclusion of other available floral resources. Three populations were found by sampling bees visiting these plant species along much of the Australian east coast‚ suggesting population isolation. GIS analyses used to explore habitat destruction in the Wet Tropics and Central Mackay Coast bioregions indicate susceptibility of Queensland rainforests and P. lactiferus populations to bushfires‚ particularly in the context of a fragmented landscape. Highly fragmented habitat and potential host specialisation might explain the rarity of P. lactiferus. Targeted sampling and demographic analyses are likely required to thoroughly assess the status of this species and others like it.CitationDorey, J. B. (2021). Missing for almost 100 years: the rare and potentially threatened bee, Pharohylaeus lactiferus (Hymenoptera, Colletidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 81, 165–180. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.81.59365
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Senior, K. L., Giljohann, K. M., McCarthy, M. A., Rainsford, F. W., & Kelly, L. T. (2021). Predicting mammal responses to pyrodiversity: From microbats to macropods. Biological Conservation, 256, 109031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109031Biological ConservationAbstractFire has shaped Australia’s diverse mammal fauna for millennia. However‚ ongoing changes to fire regimes threaten native mammal populations‚ and a significant conservation challenge is to understand and promote desirable forms of pyrodiversity (variation in fire regimes). A way forward is to quantify how different aspects of pyrodiversity influence whole mammal assemblages and produce dynamic maps of species distributions to inform conservation. We aimed to determine and map how spatial and temporal variation in fire regimes correlates with a diverse mammal assemblage comprising macropods‚ microbats‚ rodents‚ small marsupials and a monotreme. We built species distribution models for 17 species against fire‚ climate and environmental covariates in fire-prone woodlands of semi-arid Australia. Spatial measures of fire included the area‚ diversity and configuration of landscape elements‚ and temporal measures included time since fire and fire frequency. Native mammals showed a variety of responses to pyrodiversity. Microbats were more likely to occur as time since fire increased‚ whereas rodents were correlated with recently burned areas. Small dasyurid marsupials were correlated with the area of older post-fire age-classes‚ while western grey kangaroo occurrence was positively associated with high diversity of post-fire ages. Our new approach‚ using predictive models to map mammal distributions in relation to spatial and temporal variation in fire regimes‚ provides outputs that managers can use to improve conservation planning. This enables the positive and negative effects of fire to be better understood and will assist in achieving desirable forms of pyrodiversity that meet the needs of whole mammal assemblages.CitationSenior, K. L., Giljohann, K. M., McCarthy, M. A., Rainsford, F. W., & Kelly, L. T. (2021). Predicting mammal responses to pyrodiversity: From microbats to macropods. Biological Conservation, 256, 109031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109031
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Swan, M., Le Pla, M., Di Stefano, J., Pascoe, J., & Penman, T. D. (2021). Species distribution models for conservation planning in fire‐prone landscapes. Biodiversity and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02136-4Biodiversity and ConservationAbstractSpecies distribution models are an essential tool for biodiversity conservation‚ with important applications such as spatial prioritisation of conservation actions and elucidating relationships between environmental predictors and species responses. These models are most useful to conservation managers when they include factors that can be readily manipulated‚ such as fire. In this study‚ we collated a comprehensive dataset of mammal records from a fire-prone region in south-east Australia where mammals have suffered declines in recent decades. We used species distribution modelling to (1) determine the relative influence of climate‚ fire‚ vegetation and topography on ground-dwelling mammal distributions; (2) determine species responses to time since fire‚ and; (3) provide spatial predictions of habitat suitability for conservation planning. Climate was the predominant driver of habitat suitability for most species‚ although other factors were influential in some cases. Time since fire was an important factor driving the distribution of only two of 16 modelled species which were more likely to be recorded in recently burnt vegetation. Habitat suitability varied spatially among species however multi-species habitat suitability was highest in the drier and hotter eastern section of the landscape‚ highlighting a key area for conservation efforts. The outputs from our models can be used for practical conservation actions such as finding new populations or identifying sites for reintroductions. We conclude that presence-only species distribution models are useful for determining species fire responses‚ complementing more systematic methods‚ and that including dynamic variables‚ such as time since fire‚ can increase their conservation relevance.CitationSwan, M., Le Pla, M., Di Stefano, J., Pascoe, J., & Penman, T. D. (2021). Species distribution models for conservation planning in fire‐prone landscapes. Biodiversity and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02136-4
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Noske, R. (2021). New localities for nine bird species in Arnhem Land, including those for the notable Gouldian Finch, Red Goshawk and Hooded Robin. Northern Territory Naturalist, 30, 50–70.Northern Territory NaturalistAbstractDue to its remoteness and restricted access‚ Arnhem Land remains one of the least ornithologically explored regions of Australia. This paper documents records of nine bird species which result from bird tours and surveys in the area surrounding Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge‚ south of Maningrida‚ western Arnhem Land‚ from 2008 to 2018‚ and assesses their significance based on the historical literature‚ two national bird atlases and online database records. Three species‚ Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus Accipitridae)‚ Rufous Owl (Ninox rufa Strigilidae) and Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae Estrildidae)‚ are historically known from localities to the west (Gunbalanya and King River) and east (Gove Peninsula)‚ so their presence in the study area might be expected. Observations of two nesting pairs of Red Goshawks represent the first breeding records of this rare species for Arnhem Land. Annual sightings of predominantly juvenile Gouldian Finches and a record of recently-fledged birds suggest local breeding. Four other species‚ Hooded Parrot (Psephotellus dissimilis Psittaculidae)‚ Yellow-tinted Honeyeater (Ptilotula flavescens Meliphagidae)‚ Black-chinned Honeyeater (Melithreptus gularis laetior Meliphagidae) and Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata Petroicidae)‚ are largely known in the Top End from the semi-arid Katherine-Mataranka region‚ and the near-coastal observations documented here represent considerable extensions of the geographical ranges of all but the Hooded Parrot. All four species were associated with the seasonally-inundated paperbark woodland of the Tomkinson floodplain‚ though only the Yellow-tinted Honeyeater was abundant. The small population of Hooded Robins appears to be highly isolated and thus vulnerable to local‚ if not regional‚ extinction. Finally‚ I summarise records of the Mangrove Grey Fantail (Rhipidura phasiana Rhipiduridae) and the migratory Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa Rhipiduridae) in Arnhem Land‚ which help to define their ranges in the Top End of the Northern Territory.CitationNoske, R. (2021). New localities for nine bird species in Arnhem Land, including those for the notable Gouldian Finch, Red Goshawk and Hooded Robin. Northern Territory Naturalist, 30, 50–70.
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Crates, R., Langmore, N., Ranjard, L., Stojanovic, D., Rayner, L., Ingwersen, D., & Heinsohn, R. (2021). Loss of vocal culture and fitness costs in a critically endangered songbird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1947), 20210225. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.0225Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological SciencesAbstractCultures in humans and other species are maintained through interactions among conspecifics. Declines in population density could be exacerbated by culture loss‚ thereby linking culture to conservation. We combined historical recordings‚ citizen science and breeding data to assess the impact of severe population decline on song culture‚ song complexity and individual fitness in critically endangered regent honeyeaters (Anthochaera phrygia). Song production in the remaining wild males varied dramatically‚ with 27% singing songs that differed from the regional cultural norm. Twelve per cent of males‚ occurring in areas of particularly low population density‚ completely failed to sing any species-specific songs and instead sang other species’ songs. Atypical song production was associated with reduced individual fitness‚ as males singing atypical songs were less likely to pair or nest than males that sang the regional cultural norm. Songs of captive-bred birds differed from those of all wild birds. The complexity of regent honeyeater songs has also declined over recent decades. We therefore provide rare evidence that a severe decline in population density is associated with the loss of vocal culture in a wild animal‚ with concomitant fitness costs for remaining individuals. The loss of culture may be a precursor to extinction in declining populations that learn selected behaviours from conspecifics‚ and therefore provides a useful conservation indicator.CitationCrates, R., Langmore, N., Ranjard, L., Stojanovic, D., Rayner, L., Ingwersen, D., & Heinsohn, R. (2021). Loss of vocal culture and fitness costs in a critically endangered songbird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1947), 20210225. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.0225
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Andrew, S. C., Mokany, K., Falster, D. S., Wenk, E., Wright, I. J., Merow, C., Adams, V., & Gallagher, R. V. (2021). Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate. Journal of Vegetation Science, e13018. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13018Journal of Vegetation ScienceAbstractQuestions The taxonomic and functional composition of plant communities capture different dimensions of diversity. Functional diversity (FD) – as calculated from species traits – typically increases with species richness in communities and is expected to be higher in less extreme environments‚ where a broader range of functional strategies can persist. Further‚ woody and herbaceous plant families may contribute disproportionately to FD in different bioregions. To build an understanding of these questions using Australia as a case study we aimed to quantify how FD varies: (1) with species richness‚ (2) with climate‚ and (3) between major plant families representing different growth forms. Location Australia. Methods Data on species distribution and functional traits for 14‚003 species were combined and FD approximated using hypervolumes (i.e. multidimensional species assemblage trait niche) based on three traits key to understanding plant ecological strategies: leaf size‚ seed mass and adult height. Plant assemblage hypervolumes were calculated including all species with suitable habitat in each 10 × 10 km grid cell across Australia‚ and in each of 85 bioregions. Within bioregions FD was also calculated separately for a suite of largely woody and herbaceous plant families. Relationships between FD‚ species richness and climate were explored. Results As predicted‚ FD was positively related to species richness and annual precipitation‚ and negatively related to summer maximum temperature‚ both in analyses of 10 × 10 km grid cells and of bioregions (all p <0.005). However‚ FD was lowest at intermediate winter minimum temperatures. Patterns identified in families representing different growth forms varied to those observed for all species analysed together. Conclusions Strong links between FD and climate could mean significant shifts in the FD of ecosystems with climate change. Monitoring changes in FD and associated ecosystem functions requires a detailed understanding of FD‚ which we begin to develop in this study.CitationAndrew, S. C., Mokany, K., Falster, D. S., Wenk, E., Wright, I. J., Merow, C., Adams, V., & Gallagher, R. V. (2021). Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate. Journal of Vegetation Science, e13018. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13018
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Champion, C., Brodie, S., & Coleman, M. A. (2021). Climate-Driven Range Shifts Are Rapid Yet Variable Among Recreationally Important Coastal-Pelagic Fishes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.622299Frontiers in Marine ScienceAbstractShifts in species distributions are occurring globally in response to climate change‚ but robust comparisons of redistribution rates among species are often prevented by methodological inconsistences‚ challenging the identification of species that are most rapidly undergoing range shifts. In particular‚ comparable assessments of redistributions among harvested species are essential for identifying climate-driven changes in fishing opportunities and prioritising the development of management strategies. Here we utilise consistent datasets and decision rules to comparably analyse rates of climate-driven range shifts over 21 years for four recreationally important coastal-pelagic fishes (Australian bonito‚ Australian spotted mackerel‚ narrow-barred Spanish mackerel and common dolphinfish) from the eastern Australian ocean warming hotspot. Latitudinal values corresponding to the poleward edge of species’ core oceanographic habitats were extracted from species distribution models. Rates of poleward shifts in core oceanographic habitats ranged between 104.3 (i.e. common dolphinfish) and 289.1 (i.e. narrow-barred Spanish mackerel) km per decade for all species over the study period. However‚ rates of redistribution varied by approximately 180 km per decade among species‚ demonstrating that subtle differences in species’ environmental responses can manifest in highly variable rates of climate-driven range shifts. These findings highlight the capacity for coastal-pelagic species to undergo rapid‚ yet variable‚ poleward range shifts‚ which have implications for ecosystem structure and the changing availability of key resources to fisheries.CitationChampion, C., Brodie, S., & Coleman, M. A. (2021). Climate-Driven Range Shifts Are Rapid Yet Variable Among Recreationally Important Coastal-Pelagic Fishes. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.622299
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Madani, G. F. (2021). Range extensions and habitat use of Forrest’s mouse (Leggadina forresti) in New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM20036Australian MammalogyAbstractRodent populations are dynamic‚ and fluctuate with environmental conditions and threatening processes‚ so their numbers and distributions are not spatially static. Many arid and semi-arid areas also remain poorly surveyed‚ limiting our understanding of species’ distributions. Fauna surveys in the western division of New South Wales recorded new localities for a previously undetected species – Forrest’s mouse (Leggadina forresti) – in Culgoa and Ledknapper National Parks‚ equating to an easterly range extension of 430 km. Forrest’s mouse appears to persist in riverine plains‚ and this habitat may serve as important residual intact habitat within the rangelands of NSW. As a native and vulnerable rodent species that occurs at low density‚ has low trapping success and occurs in an area that is poorly sampled outside of the reserve system‚ it should be the target of future survey and conservation efforts within the region.CitationMadani, G. F. (2021). Range extensions and habitat use of Forrest’s mouse (Leggadina forresti) in New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM20036
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Canning, A. D., & Waltham, N. J. (2021). Ecological impact assessment of climate change and habitat loss on wetland vertebrate assemblages of the Great Barrier Reef catchment and the influence of survey bias. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7412Ecology and EvolutionAbstractWetlands are among the most vulnerable ecosystems‚ stressed by habitat loss and degradation from expanding and intensifying agricultural and urban areas. Climate change will exacerbate the impacts of habitat loss by altering temperature and rainfall patterns. Wetlands within Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment are not different‚ stressed by extensive cropping‚ urban expansion‚ and alteration for grazing. Understanding how stressors affect wildlife is essential for the effective management of biodiversity values and minimizing unintended consequences when trading off the multiple values wetlands support. Impact assessment is difficult‚ often relying on an aggregation of ad hoc observations that are spatially biased toward easily accessible areas‚ rather than systematic and randomized surveys. Using a large aggregate database of ad hoc observations‚ this study aimed to examine the influence of urban proximity on machine-learning models predicting taxonomic richness and assemblage turnover‚ relative to other habitat‚ landscape‚ and climate variables‚ for vertebrates dwelling in the wetlands of the GBR catchment. The distance from the nearest city was‚ by substantial margins‚ the most influential factor in predicting the richness and assemblage turnover of all vertebrate groups‚ except fish. Richness and assemblage turnover was predicted to be greatest nearest the main urban centers. The extent of various wetland habitats was highly influential in predicting the richness of all groups‚ while climate (predominately the rainfall in the wettest quarter) was highly influential in predicting assemblage turnover for all groups. Bias of survey records toward urban centers strongly influenced our ability to model wetland-affiliated vertebrates and may obscure our understanding of how vertebrates respond to habitat loss and climate change. This reinforces the need for randomized and systematic surveys to supplement existing ad hoc surveys. We urge modelers in other jurisdictions to better portray the potential influence of survey biases when modeling species distributions.CitationCanning, A. D., & Waltham, N. J. (2021). Ecological impact assessment of climate change and habitat loss on wetland vertebrate assemblages of the Great Barrier Reef catchment and the influence of survey bias. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7412
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Stenhouse, A., Perry, T., Grützner, F., Lewis, M., & Koh, L. P. (2021). EchidnaCSI – Improving monitoring of a cryptic species at continental scale using Citizen Science. Global Ecology and Conservation, 28, e01626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01626Global Ecology and ConservationAbstractShort-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are a cryptic and iconic monotreme found throughout the continent of Australia. Despite observational records spanning many years aggregated in national and state biodiversity databases‚ the spatial and temporal intensity of sightings is limited. Although the species is of least conservation concern at the global level‚ a subspecies has been declared endangered on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. We need better population data over the whole continent to inform this species’ conservation management. To increase the temporal and spatial resolution of observations which may be used for more accurate population assessments‚ we developed a mobile app for citizen scientists to easily record echidna sightings and improve the quantity‚ quality and distribution of data collected for monitoring this species. EchidnaCSI is a free‚ cross-platform (Android & iOS)‚ open-source app that we developed to collect echidna observational data around Australia. EchidnaCSI has been in use since September 2017 and uses mobile phone sensors to transparently and automatically record metadata‚ such as species observation location and time and GPS location precision. We examine differences in spatial coverage between these observations and those in existing data repositories in the Atlas of Living Australia and state biodiversity databases‚ especially in relation to observations in protected areas and to an index of remoteness and accessibility. EchidnaCSI has contributed over 8000 echidna observations from around Australia‚ more than recorded in all state systems combined‚ with similar spatial distribution. Although coverage was more limited in some protected areas than the reference data sources‚ numbers of observations in all remote areas were greater than the reference scientific data except for very remote regions. EchidnaCSI has improved the spatial and temporal intensity of observations for this iconic species and provides a complement to scientific surveys‚ which might usefully focus on highly protected areas and very remote regions.CitationStenhouse, A., Perry, T., Grützner, F., Lewis, M., & Koh, L. P. (2021). EchidnaCSI – Improving monitoring of a cryptic species at continental scale using Citizen Science. Global Ecology and Conservation, 28, e01626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01626
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Teo, E. J. M., Hailu, S., Kelava, S., Zalucki, M. P., Furlong, M. J., Nakao, R., Barker, D., & Barker, S. C. (2021). Climatic requirements of the southern paralysis tick, Ixodes cornuatus, with a consideration of its host, Vombatus ursinus, and the possible geographic range of the tick up to 2090. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 12(5), 101758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101758Ticks and Tick-borne DiseasesAbstractThe southern paralysis tick‚ Ixodes cornuatus‚ is a tick of veterinary and medical importance in Australia. We use two methods‚ CLIMEX‚ and an envelope-model approach which we name the ‘climatic-range method’ to study the climatic requirements of I. cornuatus and thus to attempt to account for the geographic distribution of I. cornuatus. CLIMEX and our climatic-range method allowed us to account for 94% and 97% of the records of I. cornuatus respectively. We also studied the host preferences of I. cornuatus which we subsequently used in conjunction with our species distribution methods to account for the presence and the absences of I. cornuatus across Australia. Our findings indicate that the actual geographic distribution of I. cornuatus is smaller than the potential geographic range of this tick‚ and thus‚ that there are regions in Australia which may be suitable for I. cornuatus where this tick has not been recorded. Although our findings indicate that I. cornuatus might be able to persist in these currently unoccupied regions‚ our findings also indicate that the potential geographic range of I. cornuatus may shrink by 51 to 76% by 2090‚ depending on which climate change scenario comes to pass.CitationTeo, E. J. M., Hailu, S., Kelava, S., Zalucki, M. P., Furlong, M. J., Nakao, R., Barker, D., & Barker, S. C. (2021). Climatic requirements of the southern paralysis tick, Ixodes cornuatus, with a consideration of its host, Vombatus ursinus, and the possible geographic range of the tick up to 2090. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 12(5), 101758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101758
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Stobo-Wilson, A. M., Cremona, T., Murphy, B. P., & Carthew, S. M. (2021). Resource availability drives variation in a marsupial glider’s home-range size. Journal of Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12906Journal of ZoologyAbstractNumerous studies have detailed the home-range size of a variety of species. However‚ few have been able to determine the underlying contribution of species’ traits (e.g. body mass and diet) versus the external environment (e.g. resource availability) on variation in home-range size. We investigated the importance of body mass and resource availability on the home-range size of a marsupial‚ the savanna glider (Petaurus ariel)‚ in the tropical savannas of northern Australia. A strong rainfall gradient occurs over the region‚ resulting in substantial variation in resource availability throughout the geographic range of P. ariel. To determine P. ariel home-range size‚ we radio-tracked individuals from populations at the climatic extremes of the species’ geographic range‚ representing areas of high and low rainfall (mean annual rainfall: 1695 mm and 1074 mm‚ respectively). Additionally‚ we conducted spotlight surveys at each site to determine population density and collated live-trapping data to model the body mass of P. ariel over its geographic range. We found an almost 10-fold increase in P. ariel’s seasonal home-range size between the two study areas (high rainfall: 2.5 ha vs. low rainfall: 23.0 ha). Body mass (67.5 g vs. 101.1 g) and density (1.1 individuals ha–1 vs. 0.2 individuals ha–1) also varied significantly between the high and low rainfall populations‚ respectively. The mean seasonal home-range size of P. ariel was larger than any other similar-sized Australian Petaurid and was in the top 6% of home-range size‚ relative to body mass‚ of terrestrial‚ omnivorous mammals globally. The disproportionately large home-range size of P. ariel is most likely driven by low resource availability within the species’ geographic range. Our findings highlight that when resources are limiting‚ home-range size can far exceed what is predicted by body mass and diet alone.CitationStobo-Wilson, A. M., Cremona, T., Murphy, B. P., & Carthew, S. M. (2021). Resource availability drives variation in a marsupial glider’s home-range size. Journal of Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12906
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Scott, S., & Biffin, R. (2021). Notes on a newly discovered population of the Pygmy Copperhead Austrelaps labialis (Jan, 1859) in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2021.013Australian ZoologistAbstractThe Pygmy Copperhead Austrelaps labialis is South Australia’s only endemic snake‚ being native to the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula; with an additional allopatric population on Kangaroo Island. Within the AMLR‚ it inhabits stringybark forests and adjacent dense vegetation‚ occupying a total area of \textasciitilde150 km2. Here‚ we document a newly discovered and seemingly isolated population at the north-eastern extent of its known mainland distribution. We visited Lobethal Bushland Park from 2013–2018 and observed snakes of varying age and size‚ while documenting their ecology and behaviour. In late 2019‚ the site was decimated by catastrophic wildfire and its persistence here remains unknown. Alongside descriptions of our observations‚ we suggest measures for the conservation of this vulnerable population in its remnant habitat if it has survived the impacts of wildfire.CitationScott, S., & Biffin, R. (2021). Notes on a newly discovered population of the Pygmy Copperhead Austrelaps labialis (Jan, 1859) in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Australian Zoologist. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2021.013
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Wilde, B. C., Rutherford, S., Yap, J. Y. S., & Rossetto, M. (2021). Allele Surfing and Holocene Expansion of an Australian Fig (Ficus—Moraceae). Diversity, 13(6), 250. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13060250DiversityDiversityAbstractThe creek sandpaper fig of southeastern Australia‚ Ficus coronata Spin‚ is culturally significant to Australian traditional owners who made use of the leaves to smooth timber and ate the fruit. The species is thought to have a long history on the continent‚ with some suggesting a Gondwanan origin. However‚ distributional patterns and overall ecology suggest a recent expansion across suitable habitats. We used landscape genomic techniques and environmental niche modelling to reconstruct its history and explore whether the species underwent a recent and rapid expansion along the east coast of New South Wales. Genomic analysis of 178 specimens collected from 32 populations throughout the species’ New South Wales distribution revealed a lack of genetic diversity and population structure. Some populations at the species’ southern and western range limits displayed unexpected diversity‚ which appears to be the result of allele surfing. Field work and genetic evidence suggest a Holocene expansion which may have increased since European colonisation. We also present a novel method for detecting allele surfing—MAHF (minor allele at highest frequency).CitationWilde, B. C., Rutherford, S., Yap, J. Y. S., & Rossetto, M. (2021). Allele Surfing and Holocene Expansion of an Australian Fig (Ficus—Moraceae). Diversity, 13(6), 250. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13060250
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Haug, G. T., Haug, C., van der Wal, S., Müller, P., & Haug, J. T. (2021). Split-footed lacewings declined over time: indications from the morphological diversity of their antlion-like larvae. PalZ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-021-00550-1PalZPalZAbstractNymphidae‚ the group of split-footed lacewings‚ is a rather species-poor group. Split-footed lacewings nowadays are restricted to Australasia‚ while fossil forms are also known from other areas of the world‚ indicating that the group was more species-rich and therefore likely diverse in the past. Split-footed lacewings have rather distinct larvae‚ roughly resembling antlion larvae‚ but differing from the latter especially with regard to the mandibles. Antlion larvae usually have three prominent teeth on each mandible‚ while at least extant larvae of split-footed lacewings only have a single prominent tooth per mandible. Fossils interpreted as larvae of split-footed lacewings are well known from amber from Myanmar (ca. 100 myr; Burmese amber) and by a single specimen from Baltic amber (about 40 myr). We here report additional fossil specimens from Myanmar amber‚ expanding the known record of fossil forms from six depicted specimens to 15. For the extant fauna‚ we could compile 25 larvae. We compare the diversity of shape of extant and fossil larvae through time using an outline analysis (based on elliptic Fourier transformation) of the head. The results of this analysis indicate that the morphological diversity‚ or disparity‚ of split-footed lacewing larvae was higher in the past than it is today. With this type of analysis‚ we can show a loss of diversity over time‚ without the necessity to identify the fossil larvae down to a narrow taxonomical range. A similar pattern has already been recognised in silky lacewings‚ Psychopsidae. This might indicate a general loss of diversity of lacewing larvae.CitationHaug, G. T., Haug, C., van der Wal, S., Müller, P., & Haug, J. T. (2021). Split-footed lacewings declined over time: indications from the morphological diversity of their antlion-like larvae. PalZ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-021-00550-1
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Blyth, C., Christmas, M. J., Bickerton, D. C., Breed, M. F., Foster, N. R., Guerin, G. R., Mason, A. R. G., & Lowe, A. J. (2021). Genomic, Habitat, and Leaf Shape Analyses Reveal a Possible Cryptic Species and Vulnerability to Climate Change in a Threatened Daisy. Life, 11(6), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060553LifeLifeAbstractOlearia pannosa is a plant species listed as vulnerable in Australia. Two subspecies are currently recognised (O. pannosa subsp. pannosa (silver daisy) and O. pannosa subsp. cardiophylla (velvet daisy))‚ which have overlapping ranges but distinct leaf shape. Remnant populations face threats from habitat fragmentation and climate change. We analysed range-wide genomic data and leaf shape variation to assess population diversity and divergence and to inform conservation management strategies. We detected three distinct genetic groupings and a likely cryptic species. Samples identified as O. pannosa subsp. cardiophylla from the Flinders Ranges in South Australia were genetically distinct from all other samples and likely form a separate‚ range-restricted species. Remaining samples formed two genetic clusters‚ which aligned with leaf shape differences but not fully with current subspecies classifications. Levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding differed between the three genetic groups‚ suggesting each requires a separate management strategy. Additionally‚ we tested for associations between genetic and environmental variation and carried out habitat suitability modelling for O. pannosa subsp. pannosa populations. We found mean annual maximum temperature explained a significant proportion of genomic variance. Habitat suitability modelling identified mean summer maximum temperature‚ precipitation seasonality and mean annual rainfall as constraints on the distribution of O. pannosa subsp. pannosa‚ highlighting increasing aridity as a threat for populations located near suitability thresholds. Our results suggest maximum temperature is an important agent of selection on O. pannosa subsp. pannosa and should be considered in conservation strategies. We recommend taxonomic revision of O. pannosa and provide conservation management recommendations.CitationBlyth, C., Christmas, M. J., Bickerton, D. C., Breed, M. F., Foster, N. R., Guerin, G. R., Mason, A. R. G., & Lowe, A. J. (2021). Genomic, Habitat, and Leaf Shape Analyses Reveal a Possible Cryptic Species and Vulnerability to Climate Change in a Threatened Daisy. Life, 11(6), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060553
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Sritharan, M. S., Hemmings, F. A., & Moles, A. T. (2021). Few changes in native Australian alpine plant morphology, despite substantial local climate change. Ecology and Evolution, 11(9), 4854–4865. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7392Ecology and EvolutionAbstractRapid evolution is likely to be an important mechanism allowing native species to adapt to changed environmental conditions. Many Northern Hemisphere species have undergone substantial recent changes in phenology and morphology. However‚ we have little information about how native species in the Southern Hemisphere are responding to climate change. We used herbarium specimens from 21 native alpine plant species in Kosciuszko National Park‚ Australia‚ to make over 1‚500 measurements of plant size‚ leaf thickness‚ leaf mass per area‚ leaf shape‚ and leaf size across the last 126 years. Only two out of 21 species (9%) showed significant changes in any of the measured traits. The number of changes we observed was not significantly different to what we would expect by chance alone‚ based on the number of analyses performed. This lack of change is not attributable to methodology—an earlier study using the same methods found significant changes in 70% of species introduced to southeast Australia. Australia’s native alpine plants do not appear to be adapting to changed conditions‚ and because of the low elevation of Australia’s mountains‚ they do not have much scope for uphill migration. Thus‚ our findings suggest that Australia’s native alpine plants are at even greater risk in the face of future climate change than was previously understood.CitationSritharan, M. S., Hemmings, F. A., & Moles, A. T. (2021). Few changes in native Australian alpine plant morphology, despite substantial local climate change. Ecology and Evolution, 11(9), 4854–4865. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7392
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Bradshaw, C. J. A., Johnson, C. N., Llewelyn, J., Weisbecker, V., Strona, G., & Saltré, F. (2021). Relative demographic susceptibility does not explain the extinction chronology of Sahul’s megafauna. ELife, 10, e63870. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63870eLifeeLifeAbstractThe causes of Sahul’s megafauna extinctions remain uncertain‚ although several interacting factors were likely responsible. To examine the relative support for hypotheses regarding plausible ecological mechanisms underlying these extinctions‚ we constructed the first stochastic‚ age-structured models for 13 extinct megafauna species from five functional/taxonomic groups‚ as well as 8 extant species within these groups for comparison. Perturbing specific demographic rates individually‚ we tested which species were more demographically susceptible to extinction‚ and then compared these relative sensitivities to the fossil-derived extinction chronology. Our models show that the macropodiformes were the least demographically susceptible to extinction‚ followed by carnivores‚ monotremes‚ vombatiform herbivores‚ and large birds. Five of the eight extant species were as or more susceptible than the extinct species. There was no clear relationship between extinction susceptibility and the extinction chronology for any perturbation scenario‚ while body mass and generation length explained much of the variation in relative risk. Our results reveal that the actual mechanisms leading to the observed extinction chronology were unlikely related to variation in demographic susceptibility per se‚ but were possibly driven instead by finer-scale variation in climate change and/or human prey choice and relative hunting success.CitationBradshaw, C. J. A., Johnson, C. N., Llewelyn, J., Weisbecker, V., Strona, G., & Saltré, F. (2021). Relative demographic susceptibility does not explain the extinction chronology of Sahul’s megafauna. ELife, 10, e63870. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63870
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Nolan, R. H., Gauthey, A., Losso, A., Medlyn, B. E., Smith, R., Chhajed, S. S., Fuller, K., Song, M., Li, X., Beaumont, L. J., Boer, M. M., Wright, I. J., & Choat, B. (2021). Hydraulic failure and tree size linked with canopy die-back in eucalypt forest during extreme drought. New Phytologist, 230(4), 1354–1365. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17298New PhytologistAbstractEastern Australia was subject to its hottest and driest year on record in 2019. This extreme drought resulted in massive canopy die-back in eucalypt forests. The role of hydraulic failure and tree size on canopy die-back in three eucalypt tree species during this drought was examined. We measured pre-dawn and midday leaf water potential (Ψleaf)‚ per cent loss of stem hydraulic conductivity and quantified hydraulic vulnerability to drought-induced xylem embolism. Tree size and tree health was also surveyed. Trees with most‚ or all‚ of their foliage dead exhibited high rates of native embolism (78–100%). This is in contrast to trees with partial canopy die-back (30–70% canopy die-back: 72–78% native embolism)‚ or relatively healthy trees (little evidence of canopy die-back: 25–31% native embolism). Midday Ψleaf was significantly more negative in trees exhibiting partial canopy die-back (−2.7 to −6.3 MPa)‚ compared with relatively healthy trees (−2.1 to −4.5 MPa). In two of the species the majority of individuals showing complete canopy die-back were in the small size classes. Our results indicate that hydraulic failure is strongly associated with canopy die-back during drought in eucalypt forests. Our study provides valuable field data to help constrain models predicting mortality risk.CitationNolan, R. H., Gauthey, A., Losso, A., Medlyn, B. E., Smith, R., Chhajed, S. S., Fuller, K., Song, M., Li, X., Beaumont, L. J., Boer, M. M., Wright, I. J., & Choat, B. (2021). Hydraulic failure and tree size linked with canopy die-back in eucalypt forest during extreme drought. New Phytologist, 230(4), 1354–1365. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17298
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Ryan, A., Colloff, M. J., Pittock, J., Ryan, A., Colloff, M. J., & Pittock, J. (2021). Flow to nowhere: the disconnect between environmental watering and the conservation of threatened species in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF21057Marine and Freshwater ResearchAbstractThe Murray–Darling Basin Plan was established with the objective of restoring water from irrigation to the environment‚ thereby conserving wetlands and biodiversity. We examined whether the Plan is achieving this objective by assessing whether environmental watering has helped conserve threatened flow-dependent fauna. Two frog species‚ two waterbirds and four fishes‚ were assessed for their conservation status in relation to (1) whether they were targeted in environmental watering plans‚ (2) whether population monitoring had occurred and (3) evidence of population recovery. We determined indicators of abundance and occurrence of species between 2012–13 and 2018–19 and found widespread inconsistencies in the targeting of environmental watering for these species‚ including their being overlooked in watering plans and actions in several catchments. Environmental watering had some positive outcomes for some threatened species in some locations on some occasions‚ but benefits‚ and their monitoring and reporting‚ are patchy and inconsistent. Monitoring of temporal trends in distribution‚ occurrence and abundance of species is inadequate to evaluate success. If the Plan is to achieve its objective and uphold Australia’s international environmental treaty obligations‚ more needs to be done to target and deliver environmental water for threatened species and improve the monitoring and reporting of outcomes.CitationRyan, A., Colloff, M. J., Pittock, J., Ryan, A., Colloff, M. J., & Pittock, J. (2021). Flow to nowhere: the disconnect between environmental watering and the conservation of threatened species in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF21057
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Brunton, M. A. L., Gaskett, A. C., & O’Hanlon, J. C. (2021). Museum records indicate male bias in pollinators of sexually deceptive orchids. The Science of Nature, 108(4), 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-021-01737-xThe Science of NatureAbstractDeception has evolved in a range of taxa. When deception imposes costs‚ yet persists over generations‚ exploited species typically have traits to help them bear or minimise costs. The sexually deceptive orchids‚ Cryptostylis spp.‚ are pollinated by tricking male haplodiploid wasps (Lissopimpla excelsa) into mating with flowers‚ which offer no reward and often elicit sperm wastage. We hypothesise that by attracting haplodiploid species‚ orchids have a pollinator ideally suited to withstand the costs of sexual deception—and a selective advantage compared to other orchids. Haplodiploid females can reproduce with or without sperm—albeit when spermless‚ females can only have sons. Through orchid deception and sperm wastage‚ deceived haplodiploid populations could become male biased‚ providing enough males to share between orchids and females. In this way‚ pollinator populations can persist despite high densities of sexually deceptive orchids. Here‚ we aim to broadly test this prediction using museum and digital records of the pollinator‚ L. excelsa‚ from sites with or without orchids. For robustness‚ we also analyse the sex ratio of a sister ichneumonid species that occurs in the same areas but is not deceived by orchids. We found that at sites with orchids‚ L. excelsa was significantly more male biased than at sites without orchids and significantly more male biased than the sister ichneumonid. This survey is the first to test the population-level effects of sexually deceptive orchids on their pollinator. It supports our prediction that orchid deception can drive male-biased sex ratios in exploited pollinators.CitationBrunton, M. A. L., Gaskett, A. C., & O’Hanlon, J. C. (2021). Museum records indicate male bias in pollinators of sexually deceptive orchids. The Science of Nature, 108(4), 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-021-01737-x
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Milla, L., Sniderman, K., Lines, R., Mousavi-Derazmahalleh, M., & Encinas-Viso, F. (2021). Pollen DNA metabarcoding identifies regional provenance and high plant diversity in Australian honey. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7679Ecology and EvolutionAbstractAccurate identification of the botanical components of honey can be used to establish its geographical provenance‚ while also providing insights into honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) diet and foraging preferences. DNA metabarcoding has been demonstrated as a robust method to identify plant species from pollen and pollen-based products‚ including honey. We investigated the use of pollen metabarcoding to identify the floral sources and local foraging preferences of honeybees using 15 honey samples from six bioregions from eastern and western Australia. We used two plant metabarcoding markers‚ ITS2 and the trnL P6 loop. Both markers combined identified a total of 55 plant families‚ 67 genera‚ and 43 species. The trnL P6 loop marker provided significantly higher detection of taxa‚ detecting an average of 15.6 taxa per sample‚ compared to 4.6 with ITS2. Most honeys were dominated by Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae species‚ with a few honeys dominated by Macadamia (Proteaceae) and Fabaceae. Metabarcoding detected the nominal primary source provided by beekeepers among the top five most abundant taxa for 85% of samples. We found that eastern and western honeys could be clearly differentiated by their floral composition‚ and clustered into bioregions with the trnL marker. Comparison with previous results obtained from melissopalynology shows that metabarcoding can detect similar numbers of plant families and genera‚ but provides significantly higher resolution at species level. Our results show that pollen DNA metabarcoding is a powerful and robust method for detecting honey provenance and examining the diet of honeybees. This is particularly relevant for hives foraging on the unique and diverse flora of the Australian continent‚ with the potential to be used as a novel monitoring tool for honeybee floral resources.CitationMilla, L., Sniderman, K., Lines, R., Mousavi-Derazmahalleh, M., & Encinas-Viso, F. (2021). Pollen DNA metabarcoding identifies regional provenance and high plant diversity in Australian honey. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7679
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Chowdhury, S., Zalucki, M. P., Amano, T., Woodworth, B. K., Venegas-Li, R., & Fuller, R. A. (2021). Seasonal spatial dynamics of butterfly migration. Ecology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13787Ecology LettersAbstractUnderstanding the seasonal movements of migratory species underpins ecological studies. Several hundred butterfly species show migratory behaviour‚ yet the spatial pattern of these migrations is poorly understood. We developed climatic niche models for 405 migratory butterfly species globally to estimate patterns of seasonal movement and the distribution of seasonal habitat suitability. We found strong seasonal variation in habitat suitability for most migratory butterflies with >75% of pixels within their distributions showing seasonal switching in predicted occupancy for 85% of species. The greatest rate of seasonal switching occurred in the tropics. Several species showed extreme range fluctuations between seasons‚ exceeding 10-fold for 53 species (13%) and more than 100-fold for nine species (2%)‚ suggesting that such species may be at elevated extinction risk. Our results can be used to search for the ecological processes that underpin migration in insects‚ as well as to design conservation interventions for declining migratory insects.CitationChowdhury, S., Zalucki, M. P., Amano, T., Woodworth, B. K., Venegas-Li, R., & Fuller, R. A. (2021). Seasonal spatial dynamics of butterfly migration. Ecology Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13787
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Guilbault, E., Renner, I., Mahony, M., & Beh, E. (2021). How to make use of unlabeled observations in species distribution modeling using point process models. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7411Ecology and EvolutionAbstractSpecies distribution modeling‚ which allows users to predict the spatial distribution of species with the use of environmental covariates‚ has become increasingly popular‚ with many software platforms providing tools to fit such models. However‚ the species observations used can have varying levels of quality and can have incomplete information‚ such as uncertain or unknown species identity. In this paper‚ we develop two algorithms to classify observations with unknown species identities which simultaneously predict several species distributions using spatial point processes. Through simulations‚ we compare the performance of these algorithms using 7 different initializations to the performance of models fitted using only the observations with known species identity. We show that performance varies with differences in correlation among species distributions‚ species abundance‚ and the proportion of observations with unknown species identities. Additionally‚ some of the methods developed here outperformed the models that did not use the misspecified data. We applied the best-performing methods to a dataset of three frog species (Mixophyes). These models represent a helpful and promising tool for opportunistic surveys where misidentification is possible or for the distribution of species newly separated in their taxonomy.CitationGuilbault, E., Renner, I., Mahony, M., & Beh, E. (2021). How to make use of unlabeled observations in species distribution modeling using point process models. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7411
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Moore, M. D., Beaver, E. P., Velasco-Castrillón, A., & Stevens, M. I. (2021). Two new endemic species of Abantiades Herrich-Schäffer (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) from Kangaroo Island, Australia. Zootaxa, 4951(3), 571–597. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4951.3.9ZootaxaZootaxaAbstractAbantiades penneshawensis Moore & Beaver sp. nov. and Abantiades rubrus Moore & Beaver sp. nov. are described as new. Both species are endemic to Kangaroo Island‚ and although both are related to species that occur on the Australian mainland and other islands‚ they are distinguished from those sister and phenotypically similar species by morphology and mtDNA (COI) barcodes. These two new species raise the number of Abantiades species on Kangaroo Island to six‚ three being endemic‚ and 45 species in the genus for the whole of Australia. There are now 13 species of Hepialidae (one undescribed) known from Kangaroo Island and we discuss the potential effects of recent catastrophic fire on some distributions.CitationMoore, M. D., Beaver, E. P., Velasco-Castrillón, A., & Stevens, M. I. (2021). Two new endemic species of Abantiades Herrich-Schäffer (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) from Kangaroo Island, Australia. Zootaxa, 4951(3), 571–597. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4951.3.9
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Hope, B., Bilney, R. J., & Peterie, J. (2021). Targeted survey for the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) in the Nungatta and Yambulla areas of southern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM20060Australian MammalogyAbstractFollowing the report of a photograph of an eastern quoll in 2013 from the Nungatta area‚ near Eden in southern New South Wales‚ we investigated whether the species may persist in the area. This involved reviewing existing wildlife records‚ speaking to landholders and ecologists who have recently surveyed the area‚ and performing a targeted survey totalling 1893 camera-nights across 59 sites in May–July 2019 in the general vicinity of the sighting. We were not able to independently verify the presence of a wild population as no additional record of an eastern quoll was obtained.CitationHope, B., Bilney, R. J., & Peterie, J. (2021). Targeted survey for the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) in the Nungatta and Yambulla areas of southern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1071/AM20060
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Hunter, J. T., & Growns, I. (2021). Semi-supervised delineation of riparian Macrogroups in plot deficient regions within eastern Australia using generalised dissimilarity modelling. Australian Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1071/BT20029Australian Journal of BotanyAbstractIn areas of poor plot data‚ limited funding and expertise‚ alternate approaches are needed to create elements of a hierarchical classification schema to assist in landscape planning. This is especially important for vulnerable systems under pressure from human activities. Within this paper we introduce an approach to help create a consistent classification section for riparian vegetation at a subcontinental scale‚ within the context of low plot data availability. We collated occurrence data for selected dominant plants known to occur within riparian environments from electronic databases and our own unpublished survey data. We used generalised dissimilarity modelling (GDM)‚ which models species turnover between pairs of 0.01° grid cells as a function of environmental differences between those cells. Eight climatic and landscape variables were derived for each grid cell. Average temperature and average rainfall had the greatest contribution to species turnover followed by elevation. A model incorporating eight climatic‚ physiognomic and spatial variables accounted for 48% of the turnover of species. Six ecoregions were defined and used to circumscribe the equivalent number of interim Macrogroups based on the GLM outputs and diagnostic species.CitationHunter, J. T., & Growns, I. (2021). Semi-supervised delineation of riparian Macrogroups in plot deficient regions within eastern Australia using generalised dissimilarity modelling. Australian Journal of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1071/BT20029
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Bazyari, N., & Sajedi, H. (2021). A Reconcile of Density Based and Hierarchical Clustering Based on the Laws of Physics. 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Management and Communication (IMCOM), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/IMCOM51814.2021.937741715th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Management and Communication (IMCOM)IMCOMAbstractIn this paper a new approach toward data processing is proposed that is inspired by all the prominent data clustering algorithms proposed by scholars. The main motif that drove this approach was to mix hierarchical clustering methods with Gaussian Estimators as to find a hidden structure in data that was not reachable using traditional bandwidth estimators. Instead the criteria for assessing similarity among data was the principles for Newtonian Physics.CitationBazyari, N., & Sajedi, H. (2021). A Reconcile of Density Based and Hierarchical Clustering Based on the Laws of Physics. 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Information Management and Communication (IMCOM), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/IMCOM51814.2021.9377417
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Beckmann, C., Major, R. E., Frankham, G. J., Thomas, S., Biro, P. A., Ujvari, B., & Neaves, L. (2021). Genetic structure and gene flow in the Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea). Emu, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2021.1925921EmuEmuAbstractRobins in the family Petroicidae are characteristic of the woodland bird community that is threatened in Australia as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation. Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea) populations declined by 56% between 1980 and 2000‚ with habitat loss likely being the primary cause. Given that Flame Robins primarily breed at high elevation‚ populations may become more isolated due to anthropogenic change‚ resulting in increased inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity that may accelerate local extinction. We estimated the genetic structure and recent gene flow among four populations (n = 70 birds) of this vulnerable (NSWSC) species across a 670 km portion of its range in temperate south-eastern Australia using 14 genetic markers. We found no significant differences in genetic diversity amongst populations and little population structuring – only the northernmost population showing a weak signal of differentiation. However‚ we detected little recent migration between the northern and southern sites‚ possibly due to recent fragmentation. We conclude that habitat loss is a conservation concern for this Vulnerable species and further work and ongoing genetic monitoring is needed‚ particularly given high elevation breeding sites that are vulnerable in the face of a changing climate.CitationBeckmann, C., Major, R. E., Frankham, G. J., Thomas, S., Biro, P. A., Ujvari, B., & Neaves, L. (2021). Genetic structure and gene flow in the Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea). Emu, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2021.1925921
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Allsopp, P. G. (2021). The Australian endemic genera Mesystoechus Waterhouse, 1878, Amblochilus Blanchard, 1851, and Bilobatus Machatschke, 1970 revisited (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini). Zootaxa, 4965(2), 363–374. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4965.2.9ZootaxaZootaxaAbstractThe endemic Australian ruteline genus Mesystoechus Waterhouse‚ 1878 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini: Schizognathina) is revised and compared with Amblochilus Blanchard‚ 1851 and Bilobatus Machatschke‚ 1970. Mesystoechus lithgowae new species is described from inland southeastern Queensland. Diagnostic characters and information on the distribution‚ natural history‚ and ecology of the two previously described species (M. ciliatus Waterhouse‚ 1878 and M. costatus Carne‚ 1958) and a description of the female of M. costatus are given. A key to males of the genus is proposed. Lectotypes are designated for Amblochilus bicolor Blanchard‚ 1851‚ Mesystoechus ciliatus Waterhouse‚ 1878‚ Homotropus luridipennis Waterhouse‚ 1878 (now Bilobatus luridipennis)‚ and Homotropus testaceipennis Ohaus‚ 1901 (now Bilobatus testaceipennis)‚ and their distributions are clarified.CitationAllsopp, P. G. (2021). The Australian endemic genera Mesystoechus Waterhouse, 1878, Amblochilus Blanchard, 1851, and Bilobatus Machatschke, 1970 revisited (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini). Zootaxa, 4965(2), 363–374. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4965.2.9
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Joseph, L. (2021). Challenges for research on the Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum in north Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology, 38. https://doi.org/10.20938/afo38059065Australian Field OrnithologyAbstractA case is made for why researchers should consider the possibilities that the north Queensland population of Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum discovered in 2008 may be neither geographically or genetically isolated nor taxonomically distinct. Field and museum work are clearly needed to address these questions as well as the biology of the
north Queensland population itself.CitationJoseph, L. (2021). Challenges for research on the Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum in north Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology, 38. https://doi.org/10.20938/afo38059065 -
Kriesner, P., & Weeks, A. (2021). Assessing genetic risks to Victorian flora and fauna (p. 58).
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5 nocturnal birds found in South Australia that love the winter solstice. (2021).
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Udyawer, V., Oxenham, K., Hourston, M., & Heupel, M. R. (2021). Distribution, fisheries interactions and assessment of threats to Australia’s sea snakes. nespmarine.edu.au.AbstractThis project integrated existing sea snake occurrence data‚ field surveys and trawl interaction data to define the habitat suitability‚ distribution and area of occurrence of 27 species of sea snakes within the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ). Areas of high diversity and endemism within the North-west and Northern marine region were defined‚ identifying south-west Gulf of Carpentaria as a region with the highest diversity‚ with the North-west Shelf region (i.e. Scott Reef and the north-west shoals) as a region of high sea snake endemism. Habitat suitability model spatial outputs were overlayed with annual fishing effort data using Automated Identification System (AIS) data from fishing vessels‚ to assess sea snake species exposure to trawl fishing. Overlap analysis identified regions along the Pilbara coastline and within the Gulf of Carpentaria as regions with significant overlap between trawl fishing effort and highly suitable habitats for sea snakes. Species with restricted ranges that fell within fishing grounds within the North-west marine region were identified to have high levels of spatial exposure to fishing activities.CitationUdyawer, V., Oxenham, K., Hourston, M., & Heupel, M. R. (2021). Distribution, fisheries interactions and assessment of threats to Australia’s sea snakes. nespmarine.edu.au.
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Post, A., Przeslawski, R., Huang, Z., Smith, D., Kirkendale, L., & Wilson, N. (2021). An eco-narrative of the Gascoyne Marine Park, North-west marine region. nespmarine.edu.au.AbstractThis report is one in a series of eco-narratives that synthesise our existing knowledge of Australian Marine Parks. Eco-narratives are intended to enable managers and practitioners to rapidly ascertain the ecological characteristics of each park‚ and to highlight knowledge gaps for future research focus. Gascoyne Marine Park is dominated by two submarine canyons that incise the continental slope of the western Australian margin and provide some degree of connectivity between the continental shelf and abyssal plain. The park is characterised by a range of benthic environments‚ including near-vertical cliffs of exposed bedrock in the canyons‚ and sediment covered slopes on the continental slope that grade to abyssal plains that occupy the greater proportion of the park.CitationPost, A., Przeslawski, R., Huang, Z., Smith, D., Kirkendale, L., & Wilson, N. (2021). An eco-narrative of the Gascoyne Marine Park, North-west marine region. nespmarine.edu.au.
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Farquhar, J. E., Russell, W., & Gale, N. (2021). A significant range extension for the mountain skink Liopholis montana (Donnellan, Hutchinson, Dempsey & Osborne, 2002) on the Western Uplands of Victoria. Herpetology Notes, 14, 877–882. https://doi.org/-Herpetology Notes
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Tierney, D. A., Gallagher, R. V., Allen, S., & Auld, T. D. (2021). Multiple analyses redirect management and restoration priorities for a critically endangered ecological community. Austral Ecology, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13003Austral EcologyAbstractAccurately assessing community diversity patterns across distributional ranges is critically important for informed and effective management of ecological communities. Yet‚ for many wide-ranging communities diversity patterns across broad ranges are poorly known. We apply a range of analytical approaches to an extensively studied ecological community to determine the relative utility and complementarity of these analytical approaches and their applicability for improved management. White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland (herein abbreviated to BGW) occurs across seven bioregions in New South Wales‚ eastern Australia. Previous work has suggested either small levels of regional variation in floristic patterns or‚ contrastingly‚ up to 80 variants determined by expert-driven assessment. We undertook floristic survey and analysed floristic patterns using multivariate dispersion‚ diversity metrics (alpha (α) diversity‚ beta (β) diversity‚ gamma (γ) diversity and zeta (ζ) diversity; including assessments of β turnover and nestedness and higher order ζ diversity). Expert-derived BGW variants were not clearly related to patterns of floristic variation. In this study‚ multivariate interactions were critical to identifying patterns of floristic variation. ζ diversity provided insights into bioregional variation not detected via other analytics and was more robust to unbalanced data than β diversity. However‚ β diversity provided important insights‚ detecting changing community patterns within a bioregion that would otherwise not be detected and allowing for some comparison of our results with other studies. This study highlights the value of applying multiple analytical approaches to the understanding of floristic patterns. Conservation of floristic diversity in BGW requires protection and management across its range‚ something which has not previously been adequately addressed.CitationTierney, D. A., Gallagher, R. V., Allen, S., & Auld, T. D. (2021). Multiple analyses redirect management and restoration priorities for a critically endangered ecological community. Austral Ecology, n/a(n/a). https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13003
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Venter, S. (2021). A taxonomic revision of the Australasian genera Dracophyllum and Richea (Richeeae: Styphelioideae: Ericaceae). Australian Systematic Botany, 34(2), 1–205. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB19049Australian Systematic BotanyAbstractThe genus Dracophyllum Labill. is revised‚ with a total of 61 species being recognised in four subgenera and two species (Dracophyllum minimum F.Muell. and D. strictum Hook.f.) are listed as incertae sedis. The genus Richea R.Br. is reduced to synonymy under Dracophyllum where it is divided into two new subgenera‚ namely‚ Dracophyllum subgenus Cystanthe (R.Br.) S.Venter and D. subgenus Richea (R.Br.) S.Venter. Replacement names published here are Dracophyllum laciniatum S.Venter‚ D. persistentifolium S.Venter and D. tasmanicum S.Venter‚ and new combinations published here are Dracophyllum alpinum (Menadue) S.Venter‚ D. continentis (B.L.Burtt) S.Venter‚ D. desgrazii (Hombr. ex Decne.) S.Venter‚ D. gunnii (Hook.f.) S.Venter‚ D. pandanifolia (Hook.f.) S.Venter‚ D. procerum (F.Muell.) S.Venter‚ D. sprengelioides (R.Br.) S.Venter and D. victorianum (Menadue) S.Venter. Nomenclature‚ descriptions‚ illustrations‚ photographs and distribution maps are provided for each species and lectotypes are designated where necessary. A key to the subgenera and keys to species within these are provided.CitationVenter, S. (2021). A taxonomic revision of the Australasian genera Dracophyllum and Richea (Richeeae: Styphelioideae: Ericaceae). Australian Systematic Botany, 34(2), 1–205. https://doi.org/10.1071/SB19049
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Oyanoghafo, O. O., O’ Brien, C., Choat, B., Tissue, D., & Rymer, P. D. (2021). Vulnerability to xylem cavitation of Hakea species (Proteaceae) from a range of biomes and life-histories predicted by climatic niche. Annals of Botany, mcab020. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab020Annals of BotanyAbstractExtreme drought conditions across the globe are impacting biodiversity with serious implications for the persistence of native species. However‚ quantitative data on physiological tolerance is not available for diverse flora to inform conservation management. We quantified physiological resistance to cavitation in the diverse Hakea genus (Proteaceae) to test predictions based on climatic-origin‚ life history and functional traits.We sampled terminal branches of replicate plants of 16 species in a common garden. Xylem cavitation was induced in branches under varying water potential (tension) in a centrifuge and the tension generating 50% loss of conductivity (stem P50) was characterized as a metric for cavitation resistance. The same branches were used to estimate plant functional traits‚ including wood density‚ specific leaf area‚ and Huber value (sap flow area to leaf area ratio).There was significant variation in stem P50 among species‚ which was negatively associated with the species climate-origin (rainfall and aridity). Cavitation resistance did not differ among life histories; however‚ a drought avoidance strategy with terete leaf form and greater Huber value may be important for species to colonize and persist in the arid biome.This study highlights climate (rainfall and aridity)‚ rather than life history and functional traits‚ as the key predictor of variation in cavitation resistance (stem P50). Rainfall for species origin was the best predictor of cavitation resistance‚ explaining variation in stem P50‚ which appears to be a major determinant of species distribution. This study also indicates that stem P50 is an adaptive trait‚ genetically determined‚ and hence reliable and robust for predicting species vulnerability to climate change. Our findings will contribute to future prediction of species vulnerability to drought and adaptive management under climate change.CitationOyanoghafo, O. O., O’ Brien, C., Choat, B., Tissue, D., & Rymer, P. D. (2021). Vulnerability to xylem cavitation of Hakea species (Proteaceae) from a range of biomes and life-histories predicted by climatic niche. Annals of Botany, mcab020. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab020
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Muscatello, A., Elith, J., & Kujala, H. (2021). How decisions about fitting species distribution models affect conservation outcomes. Conservation Biology, n/a(n/a). http://dx.doi.org/10.26188/11864643.v1. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13669Conservation BiologyAbstractSpecies distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly used in conservation and land-use planning as inputs to describe biodiversity patterns. These models can be built in different ways‚ and decisions about data preparation‚ selection of predictor variables‚ model fitting‚ and evaluation all alter the resulting predictions. Commonly‚ the true distribution of species is unknown and independent data to verify which SDM variant to choose are lacking. Such model uncertainty is of concern to planners. We analyzed how 11 routine decisions about model complexity‚ predictors‚ bias treatment‚ and setting thresholds for predicted values altered conservation priority patterns across 25 species. Models were created with MaxEnt and run through Zonation to determine the priority rank of sites. Although all SDM variants performed well (area under the curve >0.7)‚ they produced spatially different predictions for species and different conservation priority solutions. Priorities were most strongly altered by decisions to not address bias or to apply binary thresholds to predicted values; on average 40% and 35%‚ respectively‚ of all grid cells received an opposite priority ranking. Forcing high model complexity altered conservation solutions less than forcing simplicity (14% and 24% of cells with opposite rank values‚ respectively). Use of fewer species records to build models or choosing alternative bias treatments had intermediate effects (25% and 23%‚ respectively). Depending on modeling choices‚ priority areas overlapped as little as 10–20% with the baseline solution‚ affecting top and bottom priorities differently. Our results demonstrate the extent of model-based uncertainty and quantify the relative impacts of SDM building decisions. When it is uncertain what the best SDM approach and conservation plan is‚ solving uncertainty or considering alterative options is most important for those decisions that change plans the most.CitationMuscatello, A., Elith, J., & Kujala, H. (2021). How decisions about fitting species distribution models affect conservation outcomes. Conservation Biology, n/a(n/a). http://dx.doi.org/10.26188/11864643.v1. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13669
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Llewelyn, J., Strona, G., McDowell, M. C., Johnson, C. N., Peters, K. J., Stouffer, D. B., Visser, S. N., Saltré, F., & Bradshaw, C. J. A. (2021). Sahul’s megafauna were vulnerable to extinction due to their position in the trophic network. BioRxiv, 2021.01.19.427338. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.19.427338bioRxivbioRxivAbstractExtinctions stemming from environmental change often trigger trophic cascades and coextinctions. However‚ it remains unclear whether trophic cascades were a large contributor to the megafauna extinctions that swept across several continents in the Late Pleistocene. The pathways to megafauna extinctions are particularly unclear for Sahul (landmass comprising Australia and New Guinea)‚ where extinctions happened earlier than on other continents. We investigated the role of bottom-up trophic cascades in Late Pleistocene Sahul by constructing pre-extinction (\textasciitilde 80 ka) trophic network models of the vertebrate community of Naracoorte‚ south-eastern Australia. These models allowed us to predict vertebrate species9 vulnerability to cascading extinctions based on their position in the network. We tested whether the observed extinctions could be explained by bottom-up cascades‚ or if they should be attributed to other external causes. Species that disappeared from the community were more vulnerable‚ overall‚ to bottom-up cascades than were species that survived. The position of extinct species in the network - having few or no predators - also suggests they might have been particularly vulnerable to a new predator. These results provide quantitative evidence that trophic cascades and naivety to predators could have contributed to the megafauna extinction event in Sahul.CitationLlewelyn, J., Strona, G., McDowell, M. C., Johnson, C. N., Peters, K. J., Stouffer, D. B., Visser, S. N., Saltré, F., & Bradshaw, C. J. A. (2021). Sahul’s megafauna were vulnerable to extinction due to their position in the trophic network. BioRxiv, 2021.01.19.427338. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.19.427338
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Pettit, L., Ward-Fear, G., & Shine, R. (2021). Invasion of cane toads (Rhinella marina) affects the problem-solving performance of vulnerable predators (monitor lizards, Varanus varius). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 75(2), 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-021-02978-6Behavioral Ecology and SociobiologyAbstractVariation in morphological‚ genetic‚ or behavioural traits within and among native species can modify vulnerability to impacts from an invasive species. If an individual’s vulnerability depends upon its cognitive performance‚ we may see adaptive shifts in cognitive traits post-invasion. Commonly‚ animals with enhanced cognitive abilities perform better in novel tasks‚ often by prioritising decision accuracy over decision speed. In eastern Australia‚ giant monitor lizards (Varanus varius) are fatally poisoned if they ingest invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina)‚ but vulnerability is lower for individuals that carefully evaluate the novel prey type before swallowing it. To test if toad-imposed selection for neophobia and caution affected cognitive performance‚ we tested free-ranging monitors with a device that required lizards to manipulate the apparatus in order to obtain food. Success at accomplishing that task‚ and the speed of that success‚ was lower and slower in lizards from long-colonised sites than from uninvaded sites. Our results suggest that toad invasion has modified cognitive phenotypes within populations of this apex predator‚ a change that might have substantial effects on other species.CitationPettit, L., Ward-Fear, G., & Shine, R. (2021). Invasion of cane toads (Rhinella marina) affects the problem-solving performance of vulnerable predators (monitor lizards, Varanus varius). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 75(2), 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-021-02978-6
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Hopper, S. D., Fiedler, P. L., & Yates, C. J. (2021). Inselberg floristics exemplify the coast to inland OCBIL transition in a global biodiversity hotspot. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, blaa188. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blaa188Biological Journal of the Linnean SocietyAbstractWe examined the floristics of granitoid inselbergs in the hitherto poorly documented south-eastern region of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR) and adjacent Great Western Woodlands‚ addressing several hypotheses of OCBIL (old‚ climatically buffered‚ infertile landscapes) theory. We found exceptional taxon richness (1550 taxa on 89 inselbergs‚ with 58 well-sampled inselbergs and 1493 taxa chosen for detailed analyses). Granite inselberg endemism declined towards the arid inland‚ although taxon richness did not. OCBILs are likely to be found up to 500 km inland‚ not \textasciitilde300 km as previously hypothesized. Hybrids were extremely rare on the 58 inselbergs analysed‚ whereas rare species‚ including singletons‚ were abundant. Conversely‚ exotic weeds were less common than in the whole SWAFR flora (8.2% vs 12.8%). Granite plant communities were distributed in bands parallel to the south coast‚ approximating the general transition from the Esperance and Boylya Floristic Districts across the SWAFR boundary north into the Arid Zone’s Great Western Woodlands. Positive correlations were found between several plant life forms and inselberg area. There was a decrease from the coast inland for most life forms‚ except for annual and graminoid herbs that increased in taxa inland. Thus‚ inselberg floristics exemplify the coast-to-inland OCBIL transition in this global biodiversity hotspot.CitationHopper, S. D., Fiedler, P. L., & Yates, C. J. (2021). Inselberg floristics exemplify the coast to inland OCBIL transition in a global biodiversity hotspot. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, blaa188. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blaa188
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Cowan, M. F., Blomstedt, C. K., Møller, B. L., Henry, R. J., & Gleadow, R. M. (2021). Variation in production of cyanogenic glucosides during early plant development: A comparison of wild and domesticated sorghum. Phytochemistry, 184, 112645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112645PhytochemistryAbstractDomestication has narrowed the genetic diversity found in crop wild relatives‚ potentially reducing plasticity to cope with a changing climate. The tissues of domesticated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)‚ especially in younger plants‚ are cyanogenic and potentially toxic. Species of wild sorghum produce lower levels of the cyanogenic glucoside (CNglc) dhurrin than S. bicolor at maturity‚ but it is not known if this is also the case during germination and early growth. CNglcs play multiple roles in primary and specialised metabolism in domesticated sorghum and other crop plants. In this study‚ the temporal and spatial distribution of dhurrin in wild and domesticated sorghum at different growth stages was monitored in leaf‚ sheath and root tissues up to 35 days post germination using S. bicolor and the wild species S. brachypodum and S. macrospermum as the experimental systems. Growth parameters were also measured and allocation of plant total nitrogen (N%) to both dhurrin and nitrate (NO3−) was calculated. Negligible amounts of dhurrin were produced in the leaves of the two wild species compared to S. bicolor. The morphology of the two wild sorghums also differed from S. bicolor‚ with the greatest differences observed for the more distantly related S. brachypodum. S. bicolor had the highest leaf N% whilst the wild species had significantly higher root N%. Allocation of nitrogen to dhurrin in aboveground tissue was significantly higher in S. bicolor compared to the wild species but did not differ in the roots across the three species. The differences in plant morphology‚ dhurrin content and re-mobilisation‚ and nitrate/nitrogen allocation suggest that domestication has affected the functional roles of dhurrin in sorghum.CitationCowan, M. F., Blomstedt, C. K., Møller, B. L., Henry, R. J., & Gleadow, R. M. (2021). Variation in production of cyanogenic glucosides during early plant development: A comparison of wild and domesticated sorghum. Phytochemistry, 184, 112645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112645
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Florin, S. A., Roberts, P., Marwick, B., Patton, N. R., Shulmeister, J., Lovelock, C. E., Barry, L. A., Hua, Q., Nango, M., Djandjomerr, D., Fullagar, R., Wallis, L. A., Fairbairn, A. S., & Clarkson, C. (2021). Pandanus nutshell generates a palaeoprecipitation record for human occupation at Madjedbebe, northern Australia. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01379-8Nature Ecology & EvolutionAbstractLittle is known about the Pleistocene climat