Pub Date : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2022.2035199
C. Krapf, S. Lang, Mario Werner
ABSTRACT A high-resolution record of fluvial, aeolian and lacustrine deposits of Late Pleistocene age is exposed along the Neales Cliff in the lower reaches of the Nappamurra-Neales River, western Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (KT-LE). Five major stratigraphic units reflect a variety of changes in sedimentary processes, depositional environments and hence palaeo-lake level fluctuations. This detailed record of a dryland terrestrial sedimentary succession in the northern part of KT-LE enables comparison to contemporaneous sequences in the southern part of KT-LE. The sedimentary record from the Neales Cliff area is placed into a continental stratigraphic framework, in which changes in sediment accumulation and depositional style are linked to climatically driven palaeo-lake level fluctuations independent of eustatic sea-level changes. Following the ~200 ka interglacial maximum, a drying-up systems tract is represented by a fluvial fining-upward trend, capped by palaeosols. A wettening-up systems tract followed, when lake level rose to +10 m AHD during the last interglacial, resulting in a lacustrine succession but punctuated by regular desiccation events. During the following drying-up systems tract, progressive lake-level fall resulted in deep incision around 100 ka, followed by enhanced fluvial deposition of fine-grained sediments. A brief rise in base level resulted in a wettening-up systems tract comprising a thin veneer of fluvial/alluvial sediments followed by extensive dune build-up and desert pavement development during the Last Glacial Maximum. Subsequent lake level fall to the present lake level of −15 m AHD, resulted in deep incision of up to 10 m by the modern day Nappamurra-Neales River.
{"title":"The interplay of fluvial, lacustrine and aeolian deposition and erosion along the Neales Cliffs and its relevance to the evolution of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, central Australia, during the Quaternary","authors":"C. Krapf, S. Lang, Mario Werner","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2022.2035199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2022.2035199","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A high-resolution record of fluvial, aeolian and lacustrine deposits of Late Pleistocene age is exposed along the Neales Cliff in the lower reaches of the Nappamurra-Neales River, western Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (KT-LE). Five major stratigraphic units reflect a variety of changes in sedimentary processes, depositional environments and hence palaeo-lake level fluctuations. This detailed record of a dryland terrestrial sedimentary succession in the northern part of KT-LE enables comparison to contemporaneous sequences in the southern part of KT-LE. The sedimentary record from the Neales Cliff area is placed into a continental stratigraphic framework, in which changes in sediment accumulation and depositional style are linked to climatically driven palaeo-lake level fluctuations independent of eustatic sea-level changes. Following the ~200 ka interglacial maximum, a drying-up systems tract is represented by a fluvial fining-upward trend, capped by palaeosols. A wettening-up systems tract followed, when lake level rose to +10 m AHD during the last interglacial, resulting in a lacustrine succession but punctuated by regular desiccation events. During the following drying-up systems tract, progressive lake-level fall resulted in deep incision around 100 ka, followed by enhanced fluvial deposition of fine-grained sediments. A brief rise in base level resulted in a wettening-up systems tract comprising a thin veneer of fluvial/alluvial sediments followed by extensive dune build-up and desert pavement development during the Last Glacial Maximum. Subsequent lake level fall to the present lake level of −15 m AHD, resulted in deep incision of up to 10 m by the modern day Nappamurra-Neales River.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"37 1","pages":"7 - 30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78465242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2022.2050506
J. May, S. M. May, S. Marx, T. Cohen, M. Schuster, A. Sims
ABSTRACT While shorelines around playa lakes have traditionally played a key role for reconstructing late Quaternary megalakes in drylands, little attention has been given to recent shorelines associated with episodic filling events of modern ephemeral playa lakes such as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in central Australia. We here present results from geomorphic mapping around the playa margin of Lake Eyre North and interpret these data regarding timescales and drivers of shoreline processes. The diversity and distribution of landforms point to lithology and variations in wave energies as major controls on large-scale shoreline geomorphology. Our results suggest that the presence or absence of shoreline features is an incomplete and inaccurate indicator of past lake levels. Instead, wave-built landforms in ephemeral playa lake settings need to be considered threshold-related phenomena, with differences in frequency, magnitude and rate of water level change leading to vertically differing potential for wave-driven geomorphic activity and thus topographic differences between landforms. While mainland barriers probably best represent rare peak lake levels, barrier spits or islands dominantly form at lower and intermediate levels through lower energy longshore drift, thus providing a more complete record of playa flood events. Additionally, the lowest magnitude events offer potential for frequent wetting and drying along playa margins that effectively drives salt-related production and aeolian sediment deflation. Therefore, in contrast to marine or perennial lake shorelines, the complete range of wind-driven sedimentary processes needs to be coupled with an accurate understanding of lake-specific flooding frequency and magnitude towards a comprehensive model of shoreline evolution around playa lakes.
{"title":"Towards understanding desert shorelines - coastal landforms and dynamics around ephemeral Lake Eyre North, South Australia","authors":"J. May, S. M. May, S. Marx, T. Cohen, M. Schuster, A. Sims","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2022.2050506","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2022.2050506","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT While shorelines around playa lakes have traditionally played a key role for reconstructing late Quaternary megalakes in drylands, little attention has been given to recent shorelines associated with episodic filling events of modern ephemeral playa lakes such as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in central Australia. We here present results from geomorphic mapping around the playa margin of Lake Eyre North and interpret these data regarding timescales and drivers of shoreline processes. The diversity and distribution of landforms point to lithology and variations in wave energies as major controls on large-scale shoreline geomorphology. Our results suggest that the presence or absence of shoreline features is an incomplete and inaccurate indicator of past lake levels. Instead, wave-built landforms in ephemeral playa lake settings need to be considered threshold-related phenomena, with differences in frequency, magnitude and rate of water level change leading to vertically differing potential for wave-driven geomorphic activity and thus topographic differences between landforms. While mainland barriers probably best represent rare peak lake levels, barrier spits or islands dominantly form at lower and intermediate levels through lower energy longshore drift, thus providing a more complete record of playa flood events. Additionally, the lowest magnitude events offer potential for frequent wetting and drying along playa margins that effectively drives salt-related production and aeolian sediment deflation. Therefore, in contrast to marine or perennial lake shorelines, the complete range of wind-driven sedimentary processes needs to be coupled with an accurate understanding of lake-specific flooding frequency and magnitude towards a comprehensive model of shoreline evolution around playa lakes.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"18 1","pages":"59 - 89"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74778138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1995311
Nikolas P. Johnston, J. Wallman
ABSTRACT The adults and third instar larva of Calliphora pryori sp. nov., a new species of Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy endemic to south-eastern Australia, are described for the first time. This species breeds in carrion and is very closely allied to C. hilli, with which it is found sympatrically. However, it is less frequently encountered and has only been recorded from southern parts of both South Australia and Victoria. The evolutionary affinities of C. pryori with other members of the C. hilli group are discussed.
{"title":"A new species of carrion-breeding “golden blowfly” from south-eastern Australia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)","authors":"Nikolas P. Johnston, J. Wallman","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1995311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1995311","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The adults and third instar larva of Calliphora pryori sp. nov., a new species of Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy endemic to south-eastern Australia, are described for the first time. This species breeds in carrion and is very closely allied to C. hilli, with which it is found sympatrically. However, it is less frequently encountered and has only been recorded from southern parts of both South Australia and Victoria. The evolutionary affinities of C. pryori with other members of the C. hilli group are discussed.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"63 1","pages":"143 - 151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75104833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1996878
B. A. Hedges, A. Austin, J. Conran, G. Taylor, C. Madden, P. Weinstein
ABSTRACT The granite rock-holes (sometimes called gnammas) across northern Eyre Peninsula (EP), South Australia, are a unique but poorly studied ephemeral freshwater habitat containing a complex invertebrate community. Macroinvertebrate predator occurrence is often sporadic, both spatially and temporally. We aimed to determine if environmental conditions might predict predator occurrence in EP rock-holes. A total of 14 rock-holes were sampled across five granite outcrops along the Eyre Highway. Extensive dip-net sampling was undertaken and nymphs of three damselfly species were recorded from the rock-holes: Austrolestes annulosus (Lestidae), Ischnura aurora, and Xanthagrion erythroneurum (both Coenagrionidae), all in a single rock-hole at Pildappa Rock. This sole rock-hole contained a prominent floating-leaved, rooted aquatic macrophyte: the swamp lily, Ottelia ovalifolia (Hydrocharitaceae), which forms a complex, three-dimensional vegetative structure. Damselflies were hypothesised to be associated with the presence of O. ovalifolia, possibly as a result of the plant providing both suitable oviposition sites for the adults and habitat for nymphs throughout the water column, opportunities not afforded by the aquatic vegetation present in shallow rock-holes. Our findings contribute to the limited ecological information regarding EP rock-holes. We also briefly review potential threats to these ecosystems, an understanding of which will be critical to their management and conservation.
{"title":"A likely association of damselflies with the habitat heterogeneity provided by the freshwater swamp lily, Ottelia ovalifolia, in Eyre Peninsula granite rock-holes, with a review of potential threats to this ephemeral habitat","authors":"B. A. Hedges, A. Austin, J. Conran, G. Taylor, C. Madden, P. Weinstein","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1996878","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1996878","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The granite rock-holes (sometimes called gnammas) across northern Eyre Peninsula (EP), South Australia, are a unique but poorly studied ephemeral freshwater habitat containing a complex invertebrate community. Macroinvertebrate predator occurrence is often sporadic, both spatially and temporally. We aimed to determine if environmental conditions might predict predator occurrence in EP rock-holes. A total of 14 rock-holes were sampled across five granite outcrops along the Eyre Highway. Extensive dip-net sampling was undertaken and nymphs of three damselfly species were recorded from the rock-holes: Austrolestes annulosus (Lestidae), Ischnura aurora, and Xanthagrion erythroneurum (both Coenagrionidae), all in a single rock-hole at Pildappa Rock. This sole rock-hole contained a prominent floating-leaved, rooted aquatic macrophyte: the swamp lily, Ottelia ovalifolia (Hydrocharitaceae), which forms a complex, three-dimensional vegetative structure. Damselflies were hypothesised to be associated with the presence of O. ovalifolia, possibly as a result of the plant providing both suitable oviposition sites for the adults and habitat for nymphs throughout the water column, opportunities not afforded by the aquatic vegetation present in shallow rock-holes. Our findings contribute to the limited ecological information regarding EP rock-holes. We also briefly review potential threats to these ecosystems, an understanding of which will be critical to their management and conservation.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"13 1","pages":"152 - 167"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91087870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1986286
L. Smales
ABSTRACT Two individuals of Rattus elaphinus Sody, 1941, one R. feliceus Thomas, 1920 and three R. tanezumi Temminck, 1844 collected from the Moluccas, Maluku Province, Indonesia were examined and 11 nematodes identified at least to genus were recovered. Those from R. feliceus and R. elaphinus were new host and locality records, and those from R. tanezumi new locality records. Eleven individuals of R. vandueseni (Taylor & Calaby, 1982) collected from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea were examined and an acanthocephalan and 10 species of nematode, 6 identified to at least genus were recovered. All were new host records. The following taxa were recovered: Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Travassos, 1914), Nippostrongylus spp., a nippostrongylin sp., Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1886, Mastophorus muris (Gmelin, 1790), Protospirura muricola Godölst, 1916, Spirosprattus scyphiformis Smales, 2004 and Strongyloides sp. from the Indonesian hosts; Capillaria s.l., Cyclodontostomum purvisi Adams, 1933, Heterakis sirawii Smales, 2016, nippostrongylin spp., Protospirura kaindiensis Smales, 2001, P. muricola, Toxocara sp. and Trichuris muris (Schrank, 1788) from the Papua New Guinean hosts. The helminth assemblage of R. vandeuseni was dominated by H. sirawii (54% prevalence) and C. purvisi (45% prevalence).
{"title":"The gastrointestinal helminths of Rattus spp. from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia with comments on the genera Cyclodontostomum (Chabertiidae) and Spirosprattus (Spirocercidae)","authors":"L. Smales","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1986286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1986286","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Two individuals of Rattus elaphinus Sody, 1941, one R. feliceus Thomas, 1920 and three R. tanezumi Temminck, 1844 collected from the Moluccas, Maluku Province, Indonesia were examined and 11 nematodes identified at least to genus were recovered. Those from R. feliceus and R. elaphinus were new host and locality records, and those from R. tanezumi new locality records. Eleven individuals of R. vandueseni (Taylor & Calaby, 1982) collected from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea were examined and an acanthocephalan and 10 species of nematode, 6 identified to at least genus were recovered. All were new host records. The following taxa were recovered: Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Travassos, 1914), Nippostrongylus spp., a nippostrongylin sp., Heterakis spumosa Schneider, 1886, Mastophorus muris (Gmelin, 1790), Protospirura muricola Godölst, 1916, Spirosprattus scyphiformis Smales, 2004 and Strongyloides sp. from the Indonesian hosts; Capillaria s.l., Cyclodontostomum purvisi Adams, 1933, Heterakis sirawii Smales, 2016, nippostrongylin spp., Protospirura kaindiensis Smales, 2001, P. muricola, Toxocara sp. and Trichuris muris (Schrank, 1788) from the Papua New Guinean hosts. The helminth assemblage of R. vandeuseni was dominated by H. sirawii (54% prevalence) and C. purvisi (45% prevalence).","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"34 1","pages":"168 - 182"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90920305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-07-03DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1998298
A. Roberts, Heather Burke, Megan Tutty, C. Westell, the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC)
ABSTRACT This paper examines Aboriginal connections to pastoral properties on the western central Murray River, with a focus on Calperum and Chowilla Stations. Station histories are presented, oral histories are explored and archaeological sites and material culture from the period are considered. The range of histories, interactions and “zones of encounter” are then compared to relevant interpretive models in order to highlight some of the myriad complexities relating to invasion, colonisation and pastoralism. In particular, we explore a range of themes, including conflict/violence, place names, traditional activities, rations, labour and more to demonstrate Aboriginal engagements and connection to Country throughout the pastoral era, even during times of significant duress – bringing to the fore otherwise “anonymised”, “hidden” and “contested” narratives. This research was undertaken in collaboration with the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC).
{"title":"From loop-holes to labour: Aboriginal connections to Calperum and Chowilla pastoral stations, South Australia","authors":"A. Roberts, Heather Burke, Megan Tutty, C. Westell, the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC)","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1998298","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1998298","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper examines Aboriginal connections to pastoral properties on the western central Murray River, with a focus on Calperum and Chowilla Stations. Station histories are presented, oral histories are explored and archaeological sites and material culture from the period are considered. The range of histories, interactions and “zones of encounter” are then compared to relevant interpretive models in order to highlight some of the myriad complexities relating to invasion, colonisation and pastoralism. In particular, we explore a range of themes, including conflict/violence, place names, traditional activities, rations, labour and more to demonstrate Aboriginal engagements and connection to Country throughout the pastoral era, even during times of significant duress – bringing to the fore otherwise “anonymised”, “hidden” and “contested” narratives. This research was undertaken in collaboration with the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC).","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"49 1","pages":"218 - 241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84077693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-06-23DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1940751
A. Roberts, Jessica Barnard-Brown, I. Moffat, Heather Burke, C. Westell, the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
ABSTRACT This article presents the results of historical research, as well as archaeological and geophysical surveys, in order to explore a number of frontier conflict events at Dead Man’s Flat in South Australia (SA). The historical records reveal the cruelty and complexity of the period and expose the concealments, contradictions, euphemistic language, denials and silences that are typical of the Australian frontier. Further disparities are revealed in more recent commemorative efforts. Archaeological investigations in the study area provided an ‘absence of evidence’. Whilst the geophysical survey revealed that there are potential graves located on the flat, no interment was located in the area commemorated by local non-Indigenous community members. The combined results of this multi-method approach uncovered new dissonances, raised new questions and provided new exegeses about the frontier in this region. For traditional owners, the sum of the evidence reveals a history of invasion, killings and massacre, theft, deceit and cover-up – Dead Man’s Flat is, therefore, a place to be approached with deep respect in order to honour the experiences of their ancestors.
{"title":"Invasion, retaliation, concealment and silences at Dead Man's Flat, South Australia: A consideration of the historical, archaeological and geophysical evidence of frontier conflict","authors":"A. Roberts, Jessica Barnard-Brown, I. Moffat, Heather Burke, C. Westell, the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1940751","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1940751","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This article presents the results of historical research, as well as archaeological and geophysical surveys, in order to explore a number of frontier conflict events at Dead Man’s Flat in South Australia (SA). The historical records reveal the cruelty and complexity of the period and expose the concealments, contradictions, euphemistic language, denials and silences that are typical of the Australian frontier. Further disparities are revealed in more recent commemorative efforts. Archaeological investigations in the study area provided an ‘absence of evidence’. Whilst the geophysical survey revealed that there are potential graves located on the flat, no interment was located in the area commemorated by local non-Indigenous community members. The combined results of this multi-method approach uncovered new dissonances, raised new questions and provided new exegeses about the frontier in this region. For traditional owners, the sum of the evidence reveals a history of invasion, killings and massacre, theft, deceit and cover-up – Dead Man’s Flat is, therefore, a place to be approached with deep respect in order to honour the experiences of their ancestors.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"8 1","pages":"194 - 217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76464523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-06-22DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1935585
P. Plummer
ABSTRACT Vertical burrowing is a biological activity deemed to have evolved during the earliest Cambrian, the older soft-bodied fossils of the Ediacaran Period, that thrived between 575 and 541 Ma, seemingly being restricted to occupying the seafloor/ocean interface. Yet at two levels within the pre-Ediacaran sequence of the Amadeus Basin, central Australia, are vertical tubular features that have previously been reported as possibly of biogenic origin: a suite of such tubes occurs within the Areyonga Formation, dated at about 700 Ma, while two other tubular structures occur within the older Heavitree Formation that is perhaps 970–950 million years old. Should these structures prove, on re-examination, to indeed have been biologically formed, then vertical burrowing initially evolved possibly as much as 435 million years earlier than previously believed and these features would make the Amadeus Basin an isolated crucible of, seemingly, two evolutionary trials of vertical burrowing, albeit trials that ultimately failed for reasons that are discussed. Additionally, the same two stratigraphic levels each contain another structure that was also initially described as of biogenic origin, one being a possible body-fossil.
{"title":"Was the Amadeus Basin of Central Australia a crucible for pre-Ediacaran macro-biotic evolutionary trials?","authors":"P. Plummer","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1935585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1935585","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Vertical burrowing is a biological activity deemed to have evolved during the earliest Cambrian, the older soft-bodied fossils of the Ediacaran Period, that thrived between 575 and 541 Ma, seemingly being restricted to occupying the seafloor/ocean interface. Yet at two levels within the pre-Ediacaran sequence of the Amadeus Basin, central Australia, are vertical tubular features that have previously been reported as possibly of biogenic origin: a suite of such tubes occurs within the Areyonga Formation, dated at about 700 Ma, while two other tubular structures occur within the older Heavitree Formation that is perhaps 970–950 million years old. Should these structures prove, on re-examination, to indeed have been biologically formed, then vertical burrowing initially evolved possibly as much as 435 million years earlier than previously believed and these features would make the Amadeus Basin an isolated crucible of, seemingly, two evolutionary trials of vertical burrowing, albeit trials that ultimately failed for reasons that are discussed. Additionally, the same two stratigraphic levels each contain another structure that was also initially described as of biogenic origin, one being a possible body-fossil.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"48 1 1","pages":"125 - 142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77454139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-06-18DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1934629
G. Norval, B. Halliday, R. Sharrad, M. Gardner
ABSTRACT The snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis (Acari: Macronyssidae) is an ectoparasite of veterinary significance because infestations can cause abnormal shedding and anaemia in its hosts. The snake mite has also been implicated in the transmission of pathogens. In this study, 59 sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) were caught at a study site in the vicinity of Mt. Mary in the Mid North region of South Australia and Hallet Cove Conservation Park in Adelaide, and examined for the presence of snake mites. About 10% of the lizards were found to be infested by snake mites. This study confirms that sleepy lizards are competent hosts of this ectoparasite and presents additional distribution records for South Australia.
{"title":"Additional instances of snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis) parasitism on sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) in South Australia","authors":"G. Norval, B. Halliday, R. Sharrad, M. Gardner","doi":"10.1080/03721426.2021.1934629","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2021.1934629","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis (Acari: Macronyssidae) is an ectoparasite of veterinary significance because infestations can cause abnormal shedding and anaemia in its hosts. The snake mite has also been implicated in the transmission of pathogens. In this study, 59 sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) were caught at a study site in the vicinity of Mt. Mary in the Mid North region of South Australia and Hallet Cove Conservation Park in Adelaide, and examined for the presence of snake mites. About 10% of the lizards were found to be infested by snake mites. This study confirms that sleepy lizards are competent hosts of this ectoparasite and presents additional distribution records for South Australia.","PeriodicalId":49425,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia","volume":"13 1","pages":"183 - 193"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2021-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85996303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/03721426.2021.1889347
B. H. Alhajeri, H. Alhaddad, Randa Alaqeely, Huda Alaskar, Zainab Dashti, T. Maraqa
ABSTRACT Camel populations can be found in large parts of the arid regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia. In this broad distribution, they exhibit large phenotypic variation, which so far has mostly been examined using traditional distance based morphometric approaches. The main pitfalls of previous studies include (1) the relatively few and ambiguously defined morphometric measurements, which often do not cover all functionally important traits, and (2) the narrow sampling of breeds and geographic regions. In this work, we provide some recommendations on how to standardise morphometric data collection, and also overview more advanced methods for capturing morphometric data in camels – this would greatly ease the process of data collection in these animals, which can sometimes be difficult to work with. As the morphometrics of camels can be studied for different purposes, we focus this review on its applicability to breed identification and delimitation, which is commonly studied on living camels. We also review methods commonly used in camel morphometrics, suggest a set of best practices, and outline novel methods. Finally, we suggest potential applied uses for these morphometric studies, particularly within the context of developing breeds specialised for different purposes, such as the production of meat, milk, and leather. While we focus this review on dromedaries, we anticipate that most recommendations will be widely applicable to other camelids, and livestock in general. The methods described in this review provide a detailed characterisation of phenotype in an efficient manner, allowing for the compilation of large morphometric data banks that would improve the understanding of the phenotypic structure of camel populations.
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