Reef and Rainforest

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McCoy

Reef and Rainforest is a photographic portrayal of marine and terrestrial life in one of the world's most biodiverse regions – the tropics of north-eastern Australia, together with the South Pacific nations of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The photographs were taken over a period of more than 30 years while the author was living in the Solomon Islands and northern Australia. They depict life on the coral reefs, in the rainforests and in adjacent tropical savannahs. From detailed macro studies to sweeping scenics and aerials, the photographs are impressive for both their technical/compositional expertise and the unique insight they provide into the behavioural nuances of marine and terrestrial wildlife. Almost all the wildlife images are of free-living, non-posed subjects, photographed as they were encountered. Along with the stunning photography, the detailed and reflective captions are drawn from the author’s experiences. Reef and Rainforest conveys the richness and diversity of the natural world with maximum visual impact.

Brunonia ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
NT Burbidge

It is reported that Gaudichaud was correct in describing, under Brachycome Cass., three species, B. triloba, B. dentata and B. spathulata. Reference is made to the nomenclatural status of these species in accordance with the results of a revision of Brachycome by Davis (1948). De Candolle erred in transferring the species to Vittadinia A. Rich, for which the New Zealand V. australis is the type. Reasons are given for regarding V. triloba (Gaudich.) DC. as synonymous with V. australis var. dissecta Benth., and the variety is raised to specific rank. Included with V. australis and V. dissecta in Vittadinia s. str. (i.e. in Vittadinia subgenus Vittadinia) are V. cuneata DC. (a name which can be applied to a complex group of taxa widespread in southern and eastern Australia) and a further 17 species of which the following are new: V. cervicularis (with four varieties), V. constricta, V. condyloides, V. decora, V. eremaea, V. humerata, V. nullarborensis, V. pustulata, V. simulans and V. sulcata, while V. gracilis (J. D. Hook.) N. Burbidge and V. australasica (Turcz.) N. Burbidge are new combinations. V. scabra DC. and a group of taxa which have been referred to it or, incorrectly, to V. macrorhiza (DC.) A. Gray have been placed in a new subgenus of Vittadinia under the name Peripleura. Within this subgenus nine species are recognized: V. scabra DC., V, hispidula F. Muell. ex A. Gray (with two varieties), and the new species V. arida, V. bicolor, V. diffusa, V. obovata, V. sericea, V. spechtii (with two varieties) and V. virgata. With the exception of V. australis which is endemic to New Zealand and V. simulans, a New Caledonian species, all are endemic to Australia; however, V. hispidula has been reported for New Caledonia where it is deemed to be an alien and V. gracilis and possibly V. muelleri appear to have become naturalized in New Zealand. V. brachycomoides (F. Muell.) Benth. becomes the type of a new genus, Camptacra, with two species, both distributed in northern and north-eastern Australia. Eurybiopsis DC. is reinstated, with its single species, E. macrorhiza DC., found only in northern Australia.


1981 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
NC Duke ◽  
JS Bunt ◽  
WT Williams

Annual totals of the components of litter fall (leaves, reproductive parts, stipules, wood and residual debris) are presented for Rhizophora apiculata, R. lamarckii and R. stylosa as well as for Sonneratia alba, Avicennia sp., Ceriops tagal, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and B. parviflora from a large number of sites at Hinchinbrook Island (lat. 18°15'S.; long. 146°15'E.). Annual total litter fall among all species ranged from 3.8 to 19.6 Mg ha-1. The mean value among the Rhizophora spp., the most extensively sampled was 9.6 Mg ha-1 yr-1. Leaves, generally, made up the most important component of all litter materials. The results are compared with records in the literature for tidal as well as non-tidal forests elsewhere in the tropics.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. McGuigan ◽  
D. Zhu ◽  
G. R. Allen ◽  
C. Moritz

Phylogenetic analysis of melanotaeniid mtDNA cytochrome b and tRNA Pro-control region sequence is broadly consistent with the current taxonomy. However, the molecular phylogeny supports the elevation of M. s. australis to full species status and indicates either that it is a composite species or has introgressed with sympatric Melanotaenia species. Phenotypically cryptic mtDNA diversity in north-eastern Australia possibly represents an undescribed species. Six major monophyletic clades present in the phylogeny were strongly supported by morphological data. The clades represent three biogeographic regions. Fish from northern New Guinea form a monophyletic clade, within which Melanotaenia and Glossolepis are polyphyletic. The divergence of this clade from those in southern New Guinea is consistent with the final uplift of the Central Highlands 5 million years BP. North-western New Guinea and associated islands represent another highly divergent, monophyletic clade of a similar age to that in northern New Guinea. The remaining four clades form a monophyletic assemblage restricted to southern New Guinea and Australia: one in northern Australia, one with a disjunct distribution in north-western and eastern Australia, one widespread throughout Australia and southern New Guinea, and one in southern New Guinea with an outlying species in northern Australia. The phylogenetic relationships between Australia and southern New Guinea are consistent with episodic connection via the freshwater Lake Carpentaria during periods of low sea level.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1583 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
GREGORY I. HOLWELL ◽  
SCOTT G. GINN ◽  
MARIE E. HERBERSTEIN

The genus Ciulfina Giglio-Tos includes a number of small tree-trunk dwelling species of praying mantids that are found through eastern Queensland and northern Australia. Three new species of Ciulfina: C. baldersoni, C. klassi and C. rentzi and one existing species C. biseriata (Westwood) are formally described on the basis of male genital morphology. A key to the identification of Ciulfina based on genital morphology is also provided.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh W. McGregor ◽  
Hannah B. Cliff ◽  
John Kanowski

Context Feral cats are implicated in the decline of terrestrial native mammals across northern Australia. Research in the Kimberley region of north-western Australia found feral cats strongly selected for fire scars when hunting, suggesting that intensifying fire regimes will have severe consequences for declining prey species. Aims We tested the generality of cat–fire interaction beyond the Kimberley, by measuring habitat selection of feral cats in relation to fire scars and habitat types in north-eastern Australia. Methods Our study was conducted at Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary, Cape York Peninsula. We live-captured feral cats during the dry season of 2015, released them with GPS collars set to record fixes at 15-min intervals, and recaptured cats 4 months later. We created dynamic habitat maps of vegetation types, fire and wetlands, and compared cat habitat selection using discrete choice modelling. We also measured cat density from arrays of camera traps and examined cat diet by analysis of stomach contents. Key results We obtained GPS movement data from 15 feral cats. Feral cats selected strongly for recent fire scars (1 or 2 months old), but avoided fire scars 3 months old or older. Three long-distance movements were recorded, all directed towards recent fire scars. Cats also selected for open wetlands, and avoided rainforests. Density of cats at Piccaninny Plains was higher than recorded elsewhere in northern Australia. All major vertebrate groups were represented in cat diet. Conclusions We showed that feral cats in north-eastern Australia strongly select for recent fire scars and open wetlands. These results are consistent with those from the Kimberley. Together, these studies have shown that amplified predation facilitated by loss of cover is likely to be a fundamental factor driving mammal decline across northern Australia. Implications Reducing the frequency of intense fires may indirectly reduce the impact of feral cats at a landscape scale in northern Australia. We also suggest that managers target direct cat control towards open wetlands and recently burnt areas, which cats are known to favour.


1986 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 701-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Booth ◽  
R. D. Pope

AbstractCryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant is a well-known and historically important predator of mealybugs. It is indigenous to eastern Australia, and has been introduced throughout the world for biological control. In contrast, the other members of the genus, including those which resemble C. montrouzieri, remain poorly known. The genus Cryptolaemus, with seven previously described species, is redefined and two species-groups are recognized. The first, the montrouzieri group, comprising C. montrouzieri, C. affinis Crotch (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and northern Queensland, Australia). C. wallacei Crotch (Indonesia) and C. simplex Blackburn (northern Australia), is revised; C. crotchi sp. n. (Indonesia) and C. sinestria sp. n. (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands) are described as new, and C. simplex is reduced to a subspecies of C. montrouzieri. A key to these species is provided. The second group comprises two of the remaining species. C. subviolaceus Crotch and C. concinnus Weise, but lack of sufficient material precludes a revision of this group at present. The final species, C. engelhardi Gorham. is transferred to the chilocorine genus Brumoides Chapin. Lectotypes are selected where appropriate.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
GLENN B. MCGREGOR

This volume provides the first detailed account of the Chroococcales of north-eastern Australia. It provides keys, morphological and ecological data for 6 families, 33 genera and 112 species, and photomicrographs and original illustrations to enable the identification of natural populations based on stable and recognizable characters observable with the aid of light microscopy. Distributional data are based on extensive surveys at 270 sites representing the major freshwater habitats including rivers and streams, palustrine and lacustrine wetlands, thermal springs, and man-made reservoirs in Queensland and the Northern Territory as well as a review of the Australian phycological literature. 


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