When the last known Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) died in Hobart Zoo, during the night of 7th September 1936, its body was reportedly forwarded to the Tasmanian Museum. The apparent failure of the museum to preserve the body has always been disquieting to thylacine researchers. A detailed examination of the unpublished zoo and museum archival records has resolved this anomaly. The apparent preservation failure being occasioned by searching for the wrong specimen: the much photographed and filmed penultimate thylacine on display. This research has resulted in the discovery and identification of a later thylacine arrival at the zoo, the endling of the species: an aged, adult female, whose body was indeed forwarded to the museum upon her death, and preserved therein; and we explain why no contemporary details of this arrival were recorded in the zoological collection registers. Now, for the first time, eighty-six years after the event, we present photographs identifying the skin and skeleton of the last-known living thylacine.
{"title":"The discovery of the remains of the last Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)","authors":"R. Paddle, Kathryn M. Medlock","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.017","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 When the last known Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) died in Hobart Zoo, during the night of 7th September 1936, its body was reportedly forwarded to the Tasmanian Museum. The apparent failure of the museum to preserve the body has always been disquieting to thylacine researchers. A detailed examination of the unpublished zoo and museum archival records has resolved this anomaly. The apparent preservation failure being occasioned by searching for the wrong specimen: the much photographed and filmed penultimate thylacine on display. This research has resulted in the discovery and identification of a later thylacine arrival at the zoo, the endling of the species: an aged, adult female, whose body was indeed forwarded to the museum upon her death, and preserved therein; and we explain why no contemporary details of this arrival were recorded in the zoological collection registers. Now, for the first time, eighty-six years after the event, we present photographs identifying the skin and skeleton of the last-known living thylacine.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41697052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The majority of Australia’s unique flora has evolved in isolation separated from many of the world’s major plant pathogens. As these pathogens have made their way into Australia the impact on plant species, ecological communities and the fauna that depends on them has been dramatic. Two plant diseases, Phytophthora root rot and Myrtle Rust, are used as examples to illustrate the impact diseases can have on fauna. As animals are either explicitly or implicitly dependent on plants for their survival the deleterious impacts of plant diseases on flora inevitably flows onto animals either limiting food resources, habitat or shelter for reproduction. The consequences, particularly for fauna already under threat, are that plant diseases will not only push plants towards extinction, but also those animals dependent on them.
{"title":"The impact of plant diseases on wildlife in Australia","authors":"B. Summerell","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.016","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The majority of Australia’s unique flora has evolved in isolation separated from many of the world’s major plant pathogens. As these pathogens have made their way into Australia the impact on plant species, ecological communities and the fauna that depends on them has been dramatic. Two plant diseases, Phytophthora root rot and Myrtle Rust, are used as examples to illustrate the impact diseases can have on fauna. As animals are either explicitly or implicitly dependent on plants for their survival the deleterious impacts of plant diseases on flora inevitably flows onto animals either limiting food resources, habitat or shelter for reproduction. The consequences, particularly for fauna already under threat, are that plant diseases will not only push plants towards extinction, but also those animals dependent on them.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48798848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Scanes, W. O'Connor, J. Seymour, N. Siboni, L. Parker, P. Ross
Oysters are a valuable and iconic seafood, deeply rooted in Australian culture. However, oysters have always been vulnerable to disease, with disease outbreaks leading to mass mortality events that regularly cost the oyster aquaculture industry millions of dollars and affect livelihoods. Notably, there is evidence that climate change is rapidly causing the emergence of new diseases alongside the amplification of impacts of existing diseases. This is because warming, acidification and freshening of coastal and estuarine habitats is affecting the three axes of disease; the host, the external environment and the pathogens. Here we explore how climate change is likely to impact all three axes of disease in Australian oyster aquaculture. Climate change is affecting oyster physiology, leading to weaker immune defences that allow for increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. For example, there is evidence that recent heavy rain events precede oyster disease in estuaries. In addition, climate change is increasing the abundance and virulence of bacterial and viral pathogens, potentially resulting in the introduction of novel disease into new habitats. In order to remain viable, we suggest that the Australian oyster industry needs to enhance selective breeding programs currently underway with a diversification of products and research on emerging diseases to ensure resilience in the sector.
{"title":"Emerging diseases in Australian oysters and the challenges of climate change and uncertain futures","authors":"E. Scanes, W. O'Connor, J. Seymour, N. Siboni, L. Parker, P. Ross","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.015","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Oysters are a valuable and iconic seafood, deeply rooted in Australian culture. However, oysters have always been vulnerable to disease, with disease outbreaks leading to mass mortality events that regularly cost the oyster aquaculture industry millions of dollars and affect livelihoods. Notably, there is evidence that climate change is rapidly causing the emergence of new diseases alongside the amplification of impacts of existing diseases. This is because warming, acidification and freshening of coastal and estuarine habitats is affecting the three axes of disease; the host, the external environment and the pathogens. Here we explore how climate change is likely to impact all three axes of disease in Australian oyster aquaculture. Climate change is affecting oyster physiology, leading to weaker immune defences that allow for increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. For example, there is evidence that recent heavy rain events precede oyster disease in estuaries. In addition, climate change is increasing the abundance and virulence of bacterial and viral pathogens, potentially resulting in the introduction of novel disease into new habitats. In order to remain viable, we suggest that the Australian oyster industry needs to enhance selective breeding programs currently underway with a diversification of products and research on emerging diseases to ensure resilience in the sector.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43019927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fossorial prey in an arboreal snake: an observation of earthworm consumption by a Northern Tree-Snake (Dendrelaphis calligastra)","authors":"Sam Wilson, Gary Stephenson, R. Shine","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.014","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42686568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Snakebite envenoming was recently included in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of 20 most neglected tropical diseases. These 20 conditions are a diverse group of diseases which affect or occur mainly in impoverished communities and tend to impact more upon women and children. It is estimated that every year almost 500,000 people are maimed, permanently injured, or disabled by snakebite envenoming. The WHO has set a roadmap for the prevention, reduction, and control of snakebite envenoming, aiming to reduce snakebite deaths and disability by 50% before 2030. An overview of the global impact of snakebite envenoming is given concluding with a report of snakebite envenoming in an Australian veterinarian.
{"title":"Snakebite – the most ignored way to die","authors":"R. Johnson","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.011","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Snakebite envenoming was recently included in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of 20 most neglected tropical diseases. These 20 conditions are a diverse group of diseases which affect or occur mainly in impoverished communities and tend to impact more upon women and children. It is estimated that every year almost 500,000 people are maimed, permanently injured, or disabled by snakebite envenoming. The WHO has set a roadmap for the prevention, reduction, and control of snakebite envenoming, aiming to reduce snakebite deaths and disability by 50% before 2030. An overview of the global impact of snakebite envenoming is given concluding with a report of snakebite envenoming in an Australian veterinarian.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48840307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“Opossums – An Adaptive Radiation of New World Marsupials” by Robert Voss and Sharon Jansa","authors":"V. Weisbecker","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.009","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42047869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Danaher, R. Schlagloth, M. Hewson, Charley Geddes
The value of the ‘collective’ nature of citizen science to wildlife monitoring, data collection and conservation is well established. However, one person’s practice can also be valuable to citizen science projects and is often overlooked in the literature. This paper explores and critically evaluates one person’s novel approach and contribution to Koala citizen science in Central Queensland and argues that her practice is doing much to advance knowledge on the identification of individual koalas and their condition as well as to promote Koala welfare and conservation. Employing an ethnographic method, the paper describes and evaluates Charley Geddes’ practice of learning to identify individual koalas and create detailed and longitudinal records of their location, health and the threats that they and their habitats face. These records are kept on the public database BioCollect, run by the Atlas of Living Australia, and are used by Koala ecologists. Through this constructed portrait of citizen science practice, the paper also highlights the considerable threats faced by Koala populations in parts of Central Queensland, which have previously not been well documented.
{"title":"One Person and a Camera: a relatively non-intrusive approach to Koala citizen science","authors":"M. Danaher, R. Schlagloth, M. Hewson, Charley Geddes","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.006","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The value of the ‘collective’ nature of citizen science to wildlife monitoring, data collection and conservation is well established. However, one person’s practice can also be valuable to citizen science projects and is often overlooked in the literature. This paper explores and critically evaluates one person’s novel approach and contribution to Koala citizen science in Central Queensland and argues that her practice is doing much to advance knowledge on the identification of individual koalas and their condition as well as to promote Koala welfare and conservation. Employing an ethnographic method, the paper describes and evaluates Charley Geddes’ practice of learning to identify individual koalas and create detailed and longitudinal records of their location, health and the threats that they and their habitats face. These records are kept on the public database BioCollect, run by the Atlas of Living Australia, and are used by Koala ecologists. Through this constructed portrait of citizen science practice, the paper also highlights the considerable threats faced by Koala populations in parts of Central Queensland, which have previously not been well documented.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47095957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The choice of methods used for biodiversity assessments and monitoring are an important consideration for an effective inventory of species. There is little published data comparing trapping and active searching for reptile surveys. In this study we used data collected from 509 sites between 2000 and 2012 in Queensland’s tropical savannas to examine the relative success of trapping versus searching for surveying reptiles. Sampling comprised pitfall and funnel trapping, and diurnal and nocturnal active searching within a 1-ha quadrat over a five-day period. We used summary data, mixed model regression and Chi-squared tests to examine variation in abundance, richness, and frequency in captures. A total of 167 species representing nine families were recorded from 9986 captures or observations (3127 records from pitfall traps, 1813 from funnel traps and 5046 from active searching). Our results indicated that different methods were more appropriate depending on taxa (i.e., pitfall trapping for terrestrial skinks, funnel traps for Elapids), its habit (i.e., pitfalls or active searching for fossorial species, active searching for arboreal species) or rarity (i.e., Typhlopidae). We conclude that multiple survey methods are required for a full inventory of species; however, using the most appropriate method that address specific management questions in relation to target species or taxa, the reptile’s habit and different habitats being surveyed, should be a component in planning and approach to any research or monitoring.
{"title":"Hunting or gathering? A comparison of reptile survey techniques suggests the survey aims should direct the monitoring method","authors":"A. Kutt, N. Colman","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.010","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The choice of methods used for biodiversity assessments and monitoring are an important consideration for an effective inventory of species. There is little published data comparing trapping and active searching for reptile surveys. In this study we used data collected from 509 sites between 2000 and 2012 in Queensland’s tropical savannas to examine the relative success of trapping versus searching for surveying reptiles. Sampling comprised pitfall and funnel trapping, and diurnal and nocturnal active searching within a 1-ha quadrat over a five-day period. We used summary data, mixed model regression and Chi-squared tests to examine variation in abundance, richness, and frequency in captures. A total of 167 species representing nine families were recorded from 9986 captures or observations (3127 records from pitfall traps, 1813 from funnel traps and 5046 from active searching). Our results indicated that different methods were more appropriate depending on taxa (i.e., pitfall trapping for terrestrial skinks, funnel traps for Elapids), its habit (i.e., pitfalls or active searching for fossorial species, active searching for arboreal species) or rarity (i.e., Typhlopidae). We conclude that multiple survey methods are required for a full inventory of species; however, using the most appropriate method that address specific management questions in relation to target species or taxa, the reptile’s habit and different habitats being surveyed, should be a component in planning and approach to any research or monitoring.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44242789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Niko Kasalo, Nicholas John Fisher, Evan Creek, Matthew G. Connors
Australia is a biogeographically interesting region in which Tetrigidae are understudied. This paper provides numerous new records of the species Tepperotettix reliqua Rehn, 1952 and expands the information about its distribution and habitat. With nearly 300 hundred published records, this species becomes one of the most well-known tetrigid from Australia. The literature regarding the species is critically reviewed and discussed. A discussion comparing T. reliqua to similar species is carried out to review the hypotheses regarding its taxonomy and evolution. The species Devriesetettix dorreus Tumbrinck, 2014a is found to be a probable close relative of T. reliqua but their evolutionary history remains a mystery. Both species do not possess the morphology that would allow them to be classified under Cladonotinae but without a comprehensive review, it is difficult to properly place them.
{"title":"Tepperotettix reliqua (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), a lonely Papuan relict in Australia","authors":"Niko Kasalo, Nicholas John Fisher, Evan Creek, Matthew G. Connors","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.008","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Australia is a biogeographically interesting region in which Tetrigidae are understudied. This paper provides numerous new records of the species Tepperotettix reliqua Rehn, 1952 and expands the information about its distribution and habitat. With nearly 300 hundred published records, this species becomes one of the most well-known tetrigid from Australia. The literature regarding the species is critically reviewed and discussed. A discussion comparing T. reliqua to similar species is carried out to review the hypotheses regarding its taxonomy and evolution. The species Devriesetettix dorreus Tumbrinck, 2014a is found to be a probable close relative of T. reliqua but their evolutionary history remains a mystery. Both species do not possess the morphology that would allow them to be classified under Cladonotinae but without a comprehensive review, it is difficult to properly place them.","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47178868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"BARBARA TRIGGS 1931-2022 an obituary and a tribute","authors":"","doi":"10.7882/az.2023.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7882/az.2023.007","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35849,"journal":{"name":"Australian Zoologist","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44840126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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