bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revision of Australian Clistoabdominalis (Diptera : Pipunculidae)
Authors: Skevington Jeffrey H.
Published: September 2002

The 29 Australian species of Clistoabdominalis
Skevington are revised and a phylogenetic analysis is presented. The following
23 new species are proposed: Clistoabdominalis ancylus,
C. angelikae, C. capillifascis,
C. carnatistylus, C. collessi,
C. colophus, C. condylostylus,
C. danielsi, C. dasymelus,
C. digitatus, C. exallus,
C. gaban, C. gremialis,
C. lambkinae, C. lingulatus,
C. mathiesoni, C. nutatus,
C. octiparvus, C. scalenus,
C. scintillatus, C. tasmanicus,
C. tharra, and C. yeatesi.
Pipunculus picrodes Perkins is proposed as a junior
synonym of C. trochanteratus (Becker). Diagnoses and an
illustrated key to species are provided. A summary of host records for all
Australian species of Pipunculidae is presented to clarify confusion in the
literature. Pipunculidae are documented hilltopping for the first time. This
mating strategy is used by many species of
Clistoabdominalis and patterns of hilltopping within the
genus are examined.
Calescharidae, a new family for the tertiary to recent genera Caleschara MacGillivray and Tretosina Canu & Bassler (Bryozoa : Cheilostomata)
Authors: Cook Patricia L. , Bock Philip E.
Published: September 2002

A new family of Cheilostomata, the Calescharidae, is introduced for the genusCaleschara MacGillivray and its Recent Australian typespecies, C. denticulata(MacGillivray), which isredefined from type and other material. The Australian Tertiary genusTretosina Canu & Bassler and its type species,T. arcifera Canu & Bassler, are closely related,and are also assigned to the Calescharidae. The history and significance offamily attributions of both genera are outlined, and RecentC. denticulata from Australian and other localities isdistinguished from the Late Tertiary Victorian speciesC. parva Maplestone.Caleschara lithconis, sp. nov., from the Late Eocene ofVictoria is one of the earliest known species: its morphology closelyresembles a Recent form from the Philippines,C. junctifera Canu & Bassler. Another Recentspecies, Caleschara minuta (Maplestone) from the GilbertIslands, is a senior synonym of three other Indo-Pacific species,C. levinseni Harmer, C. laxa Canu & Bassler and Floridinella arculifera Canu & Bassler, and resembles the European PaleoceneC. squamosa. Three other related species are brieflydiscussed. Close relationships to other families are problematic and arediscussed; divergence in the early history of the cheilostomes is inferred.
Revision of the Octopus horridus species-group, including erection of a new subgenus and description of two member species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Authors: Norman M. D. , Finn J.
Published: September 2002

The tropical Indo-West Pacific region contains a distinctive group of small to
moderate-sized octopuses referred to in the past as the
Octopus horridus species-group. Member species are found
primarily on intertidal reef flats. They possess small bodies, long arms and
complex skin sculpture and body patterns enabling excellent camouflage. When
attacked, these octopuses are capable of autotomising their arms at the base:
the writhing severed arm acting as a decoy to predators and aiding escape.
Lost arms regenerate within 2–3 months. Attributes of this group of
octopuses are described and the subgenus Abdopus,
subgen. nov. is here coined to define this group. Historically, many members
of this subgenus have been incorrectly identified as
Octopus horridus, a distinct large-egg species known
only from the Red Sea and the northwest Indian Ocean. Seven species are here
recognised as belonging in Abdopus, subgen. nov. Two
member species from Great Barrier Reef waters
(Octopus aculeatus d’Orbigny, 1834 and
Octopus capricornicus, sp. nov.) are described. A number
of additional, as yet undescribed, species occur throughout the Indo-West
Pacific region. Certain earlier works have linked other octopus genera and
species with members of this subgenus on the grounds of long arms and arm
autotomy. Significant differences occur in the morphologies of these taxa and
the nature of the arm autotomy processes. It is proposed that these groups
have evolved independently and that arm autotomy has arisen more than once
amongst the octopuses. The restriction of the subgenus
Abdopus to the tropical Indo-West Pacific region
suggests relatively recent origins and radiation.
Third-instar larvae of common carrion-breeding blowflies of the genus Calliphora (Diptera : Calliphoridae) in South Australia
Authors: Wallman J. F.
Published: September 2002

Detailed morphological study was conducted on the third-instar larvae of seven
common carrion-breeding species of blowflies of the genus
Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera : Calliphoridae)
found in South Australia. The larval morphology of five species is revised:
C. stygia (Fabricius),C. dubia
(Macquart), C. augur (Fabricius),
C. hilli hilli Patton and
C. vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, while that of
C. albifrontalis Malloch and
C. maritima Norris is described for the first time.
Examination of features neglected in descriptions by previous workers,
particularly cuticular spinulation, has provided characters that make it
possible to identify all species. An illustrated key is provided. Overall,
substantial morphological distinctness exists only at the species-group level.
Morphological differences at this level largely support species-group and
subgeneric arrangements previously proposed for these taxa, as well as the
separate status of C. vicina. However, the sister
species within the C. stygia- and
augur-groups are very difficult to separate, confirming
the need for molecular identification in certain cases.
Spawning dynamics of the eastern gemfish (Rexea solandri) in relation to regional oceanography in south-eastern Australia
Authors: Prince Jeremy D. , Griffin David A.
Published: September 2002

Experienced fishers believe the winter aggregations of gemfish are influenced
by the following: cold bottom currents from the south and east flowing up onto
the shelf; the edge of warm-core eddies; and topographic features along the
shelf break. These claims were tested through observations made at sea during
industry surveys of the winter gemfish seasons 1996 –98, and the study
of 250 m isotherm charts, sea surface temperature data, and historic catch
data. The study generally confirmed the anecdotal information collected from
the fishers. The first gemfish aggregations of the winter season often form on
the southern edge of a warm-core eddy. Secondarily, aggregations tend to form
around the northern edge of the warm-core eddy if it is interacting with the
shelf break. Finally, gemfish aggregate around the point at which the main
flow of the East Australian Current (EAC) detaches from the continental shelf.
This timing and location apparently coincides with conditions conducive to the
production of subsurface plumes of nutrient-rich deep Sub-Antarctic mode
Water. These plumes lead to seasonal enhancement of phytoplankton growth along
the edge of the continental shelf, which may offer the adaptive advantage of
enhancing the survival and growth of larval gemfish.
Macroalgae and submerged macrophytes from fresh and saline waterbodies of ephemeral streams ('ramblas') in semiarid south-eastern Spain
Authors: Moreno J. L. , Aboal M. , Vidal-Abarca M. R. , Suárez M. L.
Published: September 2002

Semiarid saline streams are uncommon and hence are seldom studied. Moreover,
most studies on filamentous algae have been carried out in permanent
freshwaters. Seventeen waterbodies from ephemeral streams of semiarid
south-eastern Spain (‘ramblas’) were surveyed from a botanical,
phycological and ecological point of view over a four-year period. Gradients
of environmental conditions ranged from fresh to saline water (0.27 to 47 mS
cm–1), from ephemeral to permanent and from pools
to streams. Most of the sites were springs or streams that appeared in certain
reaches as a result of the upwelling of groundwater. In total, 47 species of
submerged macrophytes and macroalgae were recorded, with 1–18 species
per site. The most diverse orders were Zygnematales, Oedogoniales and
Charales, although the importance and diversification of Vaucheriales in some
places was also of note. Multivariate analysis identified salinity as the main
factor explaining species distribution. Conductivity ranges for species were
compared with other saline habitats such as saline lakes, saltmarshes or
coastal lagoons. Finally, this study broadens the ecological range of some
taxa and highlights the ecological importance of these kinds of systems for
the preservation of biodiversity in arid lands.
Water quality and macroinvertebrate response to acidification following intensified summer droughts in a Western Australian wetland
Authors: Sommer Bea , Sommer Bea , Horwitz Pierre , Horwitz Pierre
Published: September 2002

A decline in pH from ˜6 –8 to ˜4 –5 over a
period of 4 years was detected during routine monitoring of surface waters at
Lake Jandabup.This was accompanied by lower water levels,shorter periods of
inundation and measurable changes in other attributes of the
water:sulfate,iron and ammonium concentrations increased markedly,and
filterable reactive phosphorus and colour (gilvin)decreased.Macroinvertebrate
family richness did not change notably over this period,but there were shifts
in community structure:ostracods,isopods and oligochaete worms became less
abundant;amphipods,mayflies and gastropods disappeared,while ceratopogonids
(Diptera)and macrothricid cladocerans increased in abundance.Historical
evidence suggests that at least one other acidification event has occurred in
the recent past.Mechanisms associated with the acidification,and the wetland
’s capacity to recover from such events,are discussed.
Age structures and reproductive patterns of two species of sea snake, Lapemis hardwickii Grey (1836) and Hydrophis elegans (Grey 1842), incidentally captured by prawn trawlers in northern Australia
Authors: Ward T. M.
Published: September 2002

Lapemis hardwickiiand
Hydrophis elegans caught by prawn trawlers reach at
least 6.7 and 8.9 years of age respectively.Most
L.hardwickii sampled were 2—4 years of age,and
most H.elegans were 3—5 years of age. Female
L.hardwickii and H.elegans appear
to reach sexual maturity after 2 years and minimum snout—vent
lengths of approximately 76 and 120 cm respectively.The reproductive cycles of
L.hardwickii and H.elegans are
similar:mating occurs between early May and the end of July;ovulation during
August —September;and gestation during September—December
and September—February
respectively.L.hardwickii and
H.elegans produce approximately 8.5 and 12.7 offspring
per clutch respectively.However,female L.hardwickii
breed annually whereas female H.elegans only breed every
2—3 years.The mean annual reproductive outputs of
L. hardwickii (8.4 offspring per year)and
H.elegans (7.5)are thus similar. Sea snakes appear to be
less fecund and more susceptible to trawler-induced effects than most by-catch
taxa,and should be a focus of future strategies to ameliorate the ecological
effects of prawn trawling in northern Australia.
Biogeochemistry of nitrogen and phosphorus in Australian catchments, rivers and estuaries: effects of land use and flow regulation and comparisons with global patterns
Authors: Harris Graham P.
Published: September 2002

This paper reviews the factors influencing the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)
exports from Australian catchments. Pristine, forested catchments export
little N and P and the predominant form of N is dissolved organic nitrogen
(DON). As catchments are cleared, exports increase and the predominant form of
N changes from DON to dissolved inorganic N (DIN). Soluble reactive P (SRP)
represents a roughly constant fraction of total P in these systems. As
catchments are cleared, DIN:SRP export ratios increase sharply and DIN comes
to represent a larger and larger fraction of the total N. The ratios of total
N:P and DIN:SRP in rivers reflect land use and the residence times of the
water. In Australian lakes and reservoirs, DON and total Kjeldahl N (TKN)are
consumed and DIN is exported downstream. Australian freshwater systems with
long residence times show stoichiometric evidence of N limitation, and the
frequent occurrence of N-fixing cyanobacterial blooms. Despite TN:TP loading
ratios equalling or exceeding Redfield stoichiometry, many Australian
estuaries and coastal lagoons also show extensive evidence of rapid
denitrification and N limitation. Coastal lagoons also have long water
residence times (up to 1 year) and a high proportion of the N load is
denitrified.
Large-scale patterns of erosion and sediment transport in river networks, with examples from Australia
Authors: Prosser Ian P. , Rutherfurd Ian D. , Olley Jon M. , Young William J. , Wallbrink Peter J. , Moran Chris J.
Published: September 2002

This paper examines the patterns of sediment transport in rivers in terms of
the sources of sediment and its transport and deposition through the river
network. The analysis is in the context of dramatic human influences on river
sediment transport and how they might influence freshwater ecosystems. The
review of Australian work shows that erosion of hillslopes and stream banks
has greatly increased in historical times, supplying vast quantities of
sediment to rivers, much of which is still stored within the river system. The
stored sediment will continue to effect in-stream and estuarine ecosystems for
many decades. In most Australian catchments the dominant source of sediment is
streambank erosion. An analysis of historical channel widening suggests that a
conceptual framework of relative stream power can explain the diversity of
behaviour observed in the numerous case studies. Sediment delivery through
catchments is considered first in a generic whole network sense, which
emphasizes the crucial role played by riverine deposition in determining
catchment sediment budgets. A method is then presented for analysing the
diverse spatial patterns of sediment storage in any river network. Finally,
the paper considers the temporal changes to channel morphology in response to
a human-induced pulse of sediment.
Phosphorus dynamics in Australian lowland rivers
Authors: Webster Ian T. , Ford Phillip W. , Hancock Gary
Published: September 2002

In freshwater systems, phosphorus is adsorbed predominantly to clay within the
sediments. Assuming a linear adsorption/desorption isotherm, rapid
equilibrium adsorption, and transport by molecular diffusion, estimates are
derived for (a) the rates of exchange between the
adsorbed phosphorus pool in the sediments and the dissolved pool in the water
column and (b) time scales to re-establish equilibrium
after a step change in the water column phosphorus concentration. For oxic
sediments, the time scale is of the order of tens of days. Anoxic release is
much faster;the time scale is tens of minutes. The release of treated sewage
at Narrabri abruptly raises the phosphorus concentration in the Namoi River.
The concentration only returns to its original level 10–20 km
downstream. A sediment adsorptive-uptake model underestimates the downstream
phosphorus uptake rates. An alternative model, based on biotic uptake by
Cladophora , describes reality better. It treats
phosphorus transfer as controlled by physical transport processes and by the
phosphorus uptake capacity of the biota. We show also that carp resuspension
is faster than diffusion (6 v. 28 days) in restoring
phosphorus concentrations in the water column after perturbation by rapid
algal drawdown.
Ecosystem of the South East Fishery (Australia), and fisher lore
Authors: Prince Jeremy D.
Published: September 2002

A description of the marine ecosystem that sustains fisheries production
around south-eastern Australia is based on a synthesis of fisher lore of the
demersal trawling sector, a review of the literature and a decade of the
author’s field observations. A wide range of species are fished
demersally in the South East Fishery (SEF). Until recently, managers and
researchers have often implicitly assumed that many of these demersally caught
species were neritic and lived in close association with the seabed. In
contrast, fisher lore emphasizes the pelagic and oceanic nature of the
commercial resource together with its environmentally forced variability. This
paper substantially supports the views of the fishers. Up to 90%of the
primary production of the SEF ecosystem may be garnered by fish foraging
through extensive, but relatively sparse, oceanic phytoplankton and gelatinous
zooplankton communities. Sporadically, climatic conditions cause oceanographic
features to interact with shelf-break features and create ephemeral hotspots
of primary production along the shelf break. Fish of the SEF take advantage of
these productivity events to aggregate for feeding and breeding and their
episodes of aggregation and dispersion cause the large seasonal variations in
catchability observed with the shelf-break species. Implications for ecosystem
management are briefly discussed.
Does nitrogen limit the growth of native eucalypt forests:some observations for mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans)
Authors: Attiwill P. M. , Attiwill P. M. , May B. M. , May B. M.
Published: September 2002

It is often stated that the availability of N limits the rate of growth of
native forests. We discuss this hypothesis with particular reference to the
mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of
south-eastern Australia. The abundance of 15 N in leaves and soil of mountain
ash forest is in accord with data for Northern Hemisphere temperate forests
and for tropical forests,and indicates that N availability is relatively
high.None of the nutrient elements has limited the rate of growth of mountain
ash forest regenerating after major disturbance (clear-felling and intense
wild-fire). There is some evidence that P may be limiting to some ecological
processes (e.g. the rate of litter decomposition). We conclude that phosphorus
is more likely to be limiting than nitrogen in mountain ash forest because
nitrogen cycling is conservative and continual inputs of N through biological
fixation supplement this conservative N supply, and the stands never become
N-deficient. The development of methodologies to determine the rate of
N2-fixation in forests should be of high priority in
ecological research.
Assessing techniques for estimating the extent of mangroves: topographic maps, aerial photographs and Landsat TM images
Authors: Manson F. J. , Loneragan N. R. , McLeod I. M. , Kenyon R. A.
Published: September 2002

Coastal habitats are critical to the sustained production of many fisheries.
It is important, therefore, that fishery managers obtain accurate estimates of
the extent of these habitats. This study investigated three methods of
estimating the linear extent and area of mangroves (commercially available
topographic data, aerial photographs and Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite
imagery) in two regions in northern Australia: the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf (in
particular, the Berkeley and Lyne Rivers) with typically narrow fringes of
mangroves (<50 m wide), and the Embley River on Cape York
Peninsula,with much broader mangrove stands (50–1000 m wide).
Ground-truthing verified that aerial photographs provided the most accurate
estimates of extents of mangroves in all rivers,because of their high spatial
resolution (2 m). Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery gave good estimates of the
area of habitats, but, because of the 30 m pixel resolution, it underestimated
the linear extent in places where the mangrove fringe was narrow. Topographic
data gave good estimates of the extent of mangroves where the forests were
more extensive and less linear in shape, but were very poor otherwise at this
scale. These findings have implications for the use of remote sensing
techniques in ecological studies in these regions.
Impacts of agriculture on aquatic systems: lessons learnt and new unknowns in Northern Ireland
Authors: Heaney S. I. , Foy R. H. , Kennedy G. J. A. , Crozier W. W. , Connor W. C. K. O'
Published: September 2002

Agriculture in Northern Ireland depends on grass-based production, but since
1980, expansion of output has been effectively constrained by production
limits set by the European Union agricultural policy. Despite this, long-term
monitoring over several decades has shown significant degradation of water
quality in Lough Neagh, with persistent high biomass of blue-green algae.
Similar long-term studies have revealed a marked decline in the freshwater
survival of salmon in the nearby River Bush. These changes may be related and
reflect the impact of farming on water quality and salmonid production.
Regular sampling of the inflowing rivers to Lough Neagh has shown that
continued increase in lake phosphorus concentration has been primarily due to
an increase in the soluble reactive phosphorus loading from agricultural
diffuse sources. Similar diffuse inputs of agriculturally derived nutrients to
the River Bush, leading to increased plant growth together with the
accumulation of fine sediment in salmon spawning redds, are considered to be
important in the decline of freshwater survival of salmon from egg to smolt.
The impact of farming practices on lakes and rivers is considered in relation
to understanding of the complex and interacting factors that link land use to
water quality.
Tracing terrestrial compounds leaching from two reservoir catchments as input to dissolved organic matter
Authors: Page D. W. , van Leeuwen J. A. , Spark K. M. , Mulcahy D. E.
Published: September 2002

Conventional pyrolysis—GC—MS,thermochemolysis and alkaline
CuO oxidation were applied to determine differences between dissolved organic
matter (DOM)from terrestrial plants,soil horizons and drinking water
reservoirs in two catchments in South Australia.These two reservoir-catchment
systems were selected on the basis of contrasting vegetation and land
use.Pyrolysis of DOM yielded furans,aliphatic products and N-containing
compounds,which are indicative of polysaccharides,lipids and
proteins,respectively.Thermo-chemolysis enabled detection of methoxy-benzyl
compounds derived from various sources of DOM,indicating that these compounds
can be used as bio-markers of vascular plant sources.Vanillic acid was
detected from DOM isolates from the vegetation,soils and reservoir waters of
the two catchments,using CuO oxidation,and hence this compound also appears to
be a suitable bio-marker for tracing allochthonous DOM input into the
reservoirs. Each of the three techniques resulted in the formation of
different compounds from the DOM isolates,which indicated the type of
precursor bio-polymer and/or some of the methoxyphenol structures of
lignin.
Fungal biomass and productivity in standing-decaying leaves of black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)
Authors: Newell Steven Y.
Published: September 2002

Ascomycetous fungal decomposers generate the major part of the microbial
biomass on and in standing naturally decaying shoots for one (smooth
cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora ) of the two major
ramet-forming marsh plants of the south-eastern USA. Evidence from frequency
of occurrence of sexual structures (ascomata) in the second major
ramet-forming marsh plant (black needlerush,
Juncus roemerianus ) suggests that fungi are major
secondary producers in the needlerush decomposition system also. To test this,
samples of needlerush blades at three stages of decay were collected
seasonally for three years. Average living-fungal standing crop (as
ergosterol) of needlerush blades (254 µ g g
– 1 organic mass of decay system) was
~65%of a comparable average for smooth cordgrass, but fungal mass
was equally active between the two species (near 30 pmol acetate incorporated
into ergosterol µ g – 1 ergosterol h
–1 ). Although maximum living-fungal crop for
needlerush was found in winter, and in winter and spring for smooth cordgrass,
in many other respects, patterns of change in needlerush fungal variables were
quite different from those for smooth cordgrass. For example, living-fungal
standing crop rose 1.5-fold with decay stage for needlerush, but was constant
for cordgrass, perhaps because of lesser mycophagous activity and lesser
competition from bacterioplankton associated with tidal flooding in the
high-marsh, needlerush zones.
Effect of freshwater flow on the succession and biomass of phytoplankton in a seasonal estuary
Authors: Chan Terence U. , Hamilton David P.
Published: September 2002

Physico-chemical factors affecting phytoplankton succession and dynamics are
examined in the upper Swan River estuary, Western Australia. Freshwater
discharge affects the residence time available for different phytoplankton
taxa to grow. It also influences succession between marine, estuarine and
freshwater phytoplankton taxa according to the extent that it hinders
intrusion of marine water into the estuary. The three major phytoplankton
groups, Bacillariophyta, Dinophyta and Chlorophyta, are strongly separated
temporally by season, and spatially along the estuary according to flow and
salinity. Bacillariophyta exhibit the widest range of maximum potential growth
rates and occur under a wide range of discharges. Dinophyta, dominated by
relatively few brackish water species, have the lowest growth rates, and occur
only at very low discharges. Chlorophyta, dominated by
Chlamydomonas globulosa, are intermediate in their
potential growth rates, and are restricted to freshwater conditions. In the
Swan River estuary, nutrients appear to be less important than flow and
salinity in regulating phytoplankton succession and biomass. It is highly
likely that anthropogenic effects on freshwater discharge to Australian
estuaries have had a significant impact on composition and biomass of
phytoplankton communities. Control of freshwater discharge thus has the
potential to control species assemblages, phytoplankton bloom potential, and
eutrophication.
Steam trawl catches from south-eastern Australia from 1918 to 1957: trends in catch rates and species composition
Authors: Klaer N. L.
Published: September 2002

Haul-by-haul steam trawler catch and effort data for 1918–23,
1937–43 and 1952–57, which cover a large portion of the history of
steam trawling in the Australian South East Fishery, were examined in detail
for the first time. There were 64371 haul records in total. The catch-rate for
all retained catch combined shows a strong decline overall, with a brief
recovery during World War II, probably due to increased retention of
previously discarded species. The fishing fleet moved to more distant fishing
grounds and deeper waters as the catch-rate declined. The catch-rates of the
main commercial species followed a similar pattern in a number of regions
within the fishery. The catch-rate of the primary target species – tiger
flathead (Neoplatycephalus richardsoni) – dropped
considerably from the early, very high, catch-rates. Chinaman leatherjacket
(Nelusetta ayraudi) and latchet
(Pterygotrigla polyommata) – species that were
apparently abundant in the early years of the fishery, virtually disappeared
from catches in later years. The appearance of greater catches of jackass
morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus), redfish
(Centroberyx affinis) and shark/skate during the war
and afterwards was probably due to increased retention of catches of these
species. The disappearance of certain species from the catch may be due to
high fishing pressure alone, or to a combination of fishing pressure, changes
in the shelf habitat possibly caused by the trawl gear, and environmental
fluctuations.
Occurrence of blooms of the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya and Subba Raju in a north Queensland domestic water supply
Authors: Saker Martin L. , Griffiths Dilwyn J.
Published: September 2002

This paper describes seasonally recurring blooms of the potentially toxic
cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in
relation to some limnological characteristics of Lake Julius, a large man-made
water impoundment in Australia’s semi-arid tropics. These blooms have
occurred each year since 1991, with subsurface concentrations of >50 000
cells mL–1. Periods of greater cyanobacterial
abundance are characterized by reduced rates of vertical mixing of the water
column, reduced mixed:euphotic depth ratios and high epilimnetic temperatures
(>25˚C). Surface scums were not observed and, in general, this species
displays a fairly uniform distribution throughout the euphotic zone and below.
An isolate of C. raciborskii taken from Lake Julius
during a bloom in November 1995 and grown in pure culture produced no symptoms
of poisoning when tested by mouse bioassay, and absence of detectable
concentrations of the hepatotoxin cylindrospermopsin was confirmed by
HPLC/MS-MS. Low concentrations of cylindrospermopsin (~1–2 g
L–1) were detected in the lake during blooms of
C. raciborskii.
Factors controlling the hydrochemistry of Louie Creek, a travertine-depositing stream in the seasonally wet tropics of northern Australia
Authors: Drysdale Russell N.
Published: September 2002

Relationships among wet-season recharge, hydrochemistry and the distribution
of travertines at Louie Creek were investigated from water samples collected
during four campaigns between April 1993 and November 1997. pH, temperature
and major cation and anion data reveal that the springs feeding the creek rise
with high concentrations of CO2 and dissolved calcium
carbonate. The pattern of downstream changes in hydrochemistry was similar
during each campaign: rapid outgassing of CO2 over the
˜1.3 km of surface flow increases calcite saturation, triggering
extensive travertine deposition over ˜1.5 km. At low discharge, the
creek sinks then re-emerges at the downstream limit of travertine deposition
in a more CO2-rich state. Together with a low stream
gradient and high magnesium concentrations, this chemical change arrests the
evolution of the waters and inhibits further accumulation of travertine
downstream. Significant wet-season recharge dilutes spring water
concentrations and retards their downstream evolution, resulting in a
downstream shift of the reach of deposition. Following a wet season of low
magnitude, the spring waters rise with higher concentrations of dissolved
carbonate and evolve to a supersaturated state over a shorter distance. This
results in an upstream migration of the travertine reach. These results have
significance for the interpretation of fossil Quaternary travertines at Louie
Creek.
Effects of sediment copper on a tube-dwelling estuarine amphipod, Paracorophium excavatum
Authors: Marsden Islay D. , Wong Carol H. T.
Published: September 2002

Amphipods, Paracorophium excavatum, were exposed for 10
days to copper-spiked sediments in the concentration range 3–84 µg
g –1 dry wt of sediment. Percent emergence was
low, ranging from 0.18% to 2.1%, but increased with
exposure time and with copper concentration. Amphipod mortality increased with
exposure time and sediment copper concentration, following a linear
relationship; the Cu 10-day LC 50 value was 55 µg
g –1 . Mortality was <5% in the
control (natural) sediment containing 3µg
g–1 copper. >85% of surviving
amphipods reburied themselves within 1 h, and therefore this behaviour was not
a good discriminator for potentially toxic sediments. The concentration of
copper within the whole-body tissues of P. excavatum
(µg Cu g –1 ) was mostly independent of dry
body weight within the range 0.12–0.37 mg. Average copper concentrations
within the tissues ranged from 169 to 490 µg Cu g
–1 , with higher variability in amphipods exposed
to sediment copper concentrations of 16 and 32 µg g
–1 . Amphipod tissue copper concentration
increased with sediment copper concentration. It was concluded that
P. excavatum is a suitable indicator species for use in
ecotoxicological tests for potentially toxic marine and estuarine sediments.
Short Communication: Variable palatability of coral eggs to a planktivorous fish
Authors: Baird Andrew H. , Pratchett Morgan S. , Gibson Deborah J. , Koziumi Noriko , Marquis Christopher P.
Published: September 2002

Predation by fish is generally assumed to be an important source of mortality
of coral propagules. Field observations have confirmed that fish feed within
the slicks of gametes that form following the annual mass spawning of corals
on the Great Barrier Reef. However, these studies cannot determine which
species are being consumed. To test whether the eggs of coral species were
equally palatable, the eggs of eight common broadcast spawning scleractinian
corals were fed to a planktivorous fish.
Pomacentrus moluccensis readily consumed the eggs of
five acroporid species and two faviid species, but often rejected the eggs of
the agariciid Pachyseris speciosa; only 60% of
the P. speciosa eggs were ingested compared with
90% of eggs of the other species. Assay testing for chemical defence
showed that P. speciosa eggs were chemically distasteful
to P. moluccensis.
Approach and process for stock assessment in the South East Fishery, Australia: a perspective
Authors: Smith David C. , Smith Anthony D. M. , Punt André E.
Published: September 2002

The stock assessment process in the South East Fishery involves scientists,
industry, fishery managers, economists and non-government organizations. A
comparison with such processes in other countries, where stakeholder
involvement ranges from government scientists only to involvement of
scientists, industry and conservation non-government organizations, suggests
that Australia is the only country in which fishery managers are active and
integral stock-assessment participants. In Australia, as in several other
countries, the form of advice is comparative (consequences of alternative
decisions) rather than prescriptive. Although all approaches have advantages
and disadvantages, the South East Fishery process has advantages that appear
to clearly outweigh the disadvantages. The advantages include better
communication among interest groups, improved ownership of and hence support
for outcomes and better interactions among groups. The disadvantages include
the cost of the process, lack of consistency among assessments, vulnerability
of scientists and the frustrations of industry.
Comparison of chemosensory activation of antennular grooming behaviour in five species of decapods
Authors: Daniel Peter C. , Shineman Meghan , Fischetti Melissa
Published: September 2002

Many, if not all, decapod crustaceans engage in antennular grooming behaviour
(AGB). It consists of two repetitive components: antennule wiping followed by
autogrooming of the third maxillipeds. We have shown previously that, in
Panulirus argus, AGB can be strongly induced only by a
chemical found in prey extracts, L-glutamate (Glu). In contrast many chemicals
induce other behaviours in crustaceans, such as foraging. We have examined
whether other decapods, including the lobsters
P. guttatus, P. interruptus, and
Homarus americanus and the brachyuran
Callinectes sapidus, exhibit chemically mediated AGB.
Individuals were tested with 14 putative chemical stimuli found in prey
extracts and with artificial seawater as a control stimulus, and the number of
wipes in 2 min was recorded. Only Glu (0.5 mmol) elicited significant AGB in
the three lobster species. In contrast C. sapidus
exhibited no significant responses to chemical stimuli presented at 0.5 or 5
mmol, although it was frequently observed to wipe its antennules. We propose
that chemosensory activation of AGB by Glu may be the typical behaviour for
most lobsters but have been lost in the crabs.
Diet of three commercially important shark species from Western Australian waters
Authors: Simpfendorfer Colin A. , Goodreid Adrian , McAuley Rory B.
Published: September 2002

The diets of dusky (Carcharhinus obscurus), whiskery
(Furgaleus macki) and gummy
(Mustelus antarcticus) sharks from south-western Western
Australia were examined by analysis of stomach contents. The majority of
samples were obtained from catches of commercial gill-net fishers.
Carcharhinus obscurus had a diverse diet dominated by
pelagic teleosts and cephalopods. A wide range of demersal and benthic prey
were also consumed, but represented only a small portion of the diet. As body
size increased, importance of elasmobranchs in the diet of
C. obscurus increased, while most other groups remained
at similar levels. Furgaleus macki had a specialized
diet, feeding almost exclusively on octopus and other cephalopods. The diet of
M. antarcticus was dominated by benthic and epibenthic
prey, including crabs, lobsters, tetraodontid fishes and octopus. As
M. antarcticus increased in size there was an increase
in the occurrence of rock lobster and a decrease in the occurrence of crabs in
the diet. Differences in the diet were also noted between male and female
M. antarcticus, but were confounded with differences
between size classes.
Review: Gelling polysaccharides from Australian seaweeds: research and potential
Authors: Chiovitti Anthony , Kraft Gerald T. , Bacic Antony , Liao Ming-Long
Published: September 2002

This review briefly characterizes the major Australian seaweed groups that
elaborate gelling non-fibrillar wall components; it surveys the research,
mostly conducted in the past decade, into the structure and potential
applications of their polysaccharides. Recent emphasis has been placed on the
chemistry of red-algal galactans, which has provided a chemotaxonomic data set
against which hypotheses of algal taxonomy and phylogeny derived from
classical morphology can be tested. Although there are ongoing environmental
and economic impediments to the establishment of seaweed-based industries in
Australia, the phycocolloids from Australian-endemic algae show a chemical
diversity and potentially exploitable properties unmatched by species from
other world regions. Novel gelling polysaccharides are leading to the
exploration of structure–property relationships that will in time
promote the development of whole new classes of commercial applications.
Future advances in the technologies of commercial processing are likely to
result from a deeper understanding of the phycocolloid biosynthesis pathways
displayed by Australia’s rich genetic store of native seaweeds.
Blood refractive index and ratio of weight to carapace length as indices of nutritional condition in juvenile rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii)
Authors: Oliver M. D. , Oliver M. D. , MacDiarmid A. B. , MacDiarmid A. B.
Published: September 2002

Nutritional condition reflects food quality and quantity and influences growth
rate. Therefore, the ability to measure nutritional condition would be
valuable in estimating the potential for growth of captive and wild lobsters.
To assess potential indices of nutritional condition, we examined changes in
blood refractive index and ratio of weight to carapace length of juvenile rock
lobsters to treatments of varying food supply. Blood refractive index was
strongly correlated with blood protein concentrations and was a reliable proxy
for the circulating protein that is metabolized and diluted during periods of
low food and starvation. The moult cycle imposes constraints on blood
refractive index, however, so it is essential that the moult stage of the
animal be assessed concurrently. Ratios of weight to carapace length were
slower to respond to reduced food intake than was blood refractive index but
were independent of the moult cycle and may, therefore, be a more direct
reflection of nutritional health. These results showed that both blood
refractive index and ratio of weight to carapace length are reliable and
nondestructive indices of nutritional condition in juvenile rock lobsters.
Relationship between settlement of southern rock lobster pueruli, Jasus edwardsii, and recruitment to the fishery in Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Gardner C. , Frusher S. D. , Kennedy R. B. , Cawthorn A.
Published: September 2002

Puerulus catches on artificial collectors were measured monthly at four sites
around Tasmania from 1991 to April 2000, with the aim of predicting future
changes in recruitment to the fishery. Support for the potential of catch-rate
prediction in Tasmania was provided at the two sites that have overlap of
several years between indices of puerulus settlement and indices of the
abundance of recruits to the fishery. At Bicheno, on the northeast coast,
correlations between annual puerulus index and commercial catch rates were
highly significant, with a lag of 5 years (P< 0.01).
Similar interannual trends in puerulus index and estimates from a
stock-assessment model of the biomass of recruits to the fishery provided
additional support for a link with puerulus index. A 5-fold interannual
variation in puerulus index detected at Bicheno, with a peak in 1995, was
preceded by 3 years of relatively low puerulus catch. The peak in puerulus
index appears to lead to an increase in the abundance of sublegal males in
research sampling 3 years later. Correlation between annual measures of
puerulus index and catch rate also appeared significant at King Island
(P= 0.06) although data at this site had less
contrast.
Comment on 'Spawning dynamics of the eastern gemfish (Rexea solandri) in relation to regional oceanography'
Authors: Rowling Kevin R.
Published: September 2002

A comment on ‘Spawning dynamics of the eastern gemfish
(Rexea solandri) in relation to regional oceanography in
south-eastern Australia’ by J. D. Prince and D. A. Griffin,
Marine and Freshwater Research 52, 611–22.
Temporal trends through the winter seasons in commercial landings of eastern
gemfish (Rexea solandri) during the years 1977–79,
1982–85, 1986–87 and 1989–92 were reasonably stable for
given latitudes, despite variable oceanographic influences, as depicted by 250
m isotherm data. This suggests that the overall pattern of occurrence of
pre-spawning aggregations of eastern gemfish in these periods was determined
by a combination of time of the season and latitude, rather than by
oceanographic factors. Between 1986 and 1996, only four instances were
identified where gemfish catches contained >10%of ‘running
ripe’ females, and the variety of oceanographic conditions under which
these catches were made provides little support for the hypothesis that
eastern gemfish spawn into subsurface plumes of upwelled sub-Antarctic water.
Cooperative defence and other benefits among exposed spiny lobsters: inferences from group size and behaviour
Authors: Herrnkind William F. , Childress Michael J. , Lavalli Kari L.
Published: September 2002

Caribbean spiny lobsters show strikingly coordinated queuing behaviour and
resting, outward-facing radial formations, especially during mass migrations
when large numbers cross shelter-poor substrate in daylight. The close
association of individual lobsters during these behaviours could be due to
chance or some benefit of association such as dilution (and associated
selfish-herd effects), group vigilance, cooperative defence, and/or drag
reduction during migration. To infer probable beneficial functions, we
examined the frequency distributions of individuals and groups using a
seven-year set of field data and additional behavioural observations in large
seawater enclosures. Group size distributions were not significantly
aggregated in dens during the non-migratory period but became highly
aggregated during migration. The group size distributions of lobsters
initially leaving dens and those observed moving in the open were
statistically different from one another, indicating that group sizes at each
of these steps in the migration are not simply the result of previous group
sizes. The distribution of group sizes suggests that, during movement in the
open, dilution, vigilance, cooperative defence, and/or drag reduction may
all favour the formation of queues. During resting in the open, dilution,
vigilance, and cooperative defence may continue to favour individuals that
remain in formation within the group.
Impact of the v-notch technical conservation measure on reproductive potential in a lobster (Homarus gammarus L.) fishery in Ireland
Authors: Tully Oliver
Published: September 2002

In total, 7619 v-notched lobsters were released in the Wexford lobster fishery
in Ireland between 1994 and 1999 in order to increase egg production. These
lobsters were legally protected from fishing. Annual reproductive potential
(RP) from these lobsters, based on numbers and size at release, was
2.6×107 eggs. Average ( 95% confidence
limit) standing stock, between 1994 and 1999, from 31 Petersen population
estimates was 29427 3871 female lobsters. Population RP was
6.9×107 eggs per year. After discounting numbers
for natural mortality and incorporating increases in size of surviving
lobsters, RP of v-notched lobsters in 1999 was
4.13×107 eggs per year. Catch rates of v-notched
lobsters were correlated with numbers available for re-capture between 1994
and 1998. In 1999 catch rates were lower than expected, possibly because of
repair and disappearance of the mark during moulting. Catch rates of
undersized lobsters were 37% higher in 1998–99 than in
1994–97.
In highly exploited small-scale lobster fisheries, substantial increases in RP
can be achieved by v-notching. Demonstrating a dependency between local
increases in RP and local recruitment is problematic and requires more
information on the early life history and the recruitment process.
A spatially disaggregated, length-based, age-structured population model of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the western and central Pacific Ocean
Authors: Hampton John , Fournier David A.
Published: September 2002

A spatially disaggregated, length-based, age-structured model for yellowfin
tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the western and central
Pacific Ocean is described. Catch, effort, length-frequency and tagging data
stratified by quarter (for the period 1962–99), seven model regions
and 16 fisheries are used in the analysis. The model structure includes
quarterly recruitment in each region, 20 quarterly age classes, independent
growth patterns for juveniles and adults, structural time-series variation in
catchability for all non-longline fisheries, age-specific natural mortality,
and age-specific movement among the model regions. Acceptable fits to each
component data set comprising the log-likelihood function were obtained. The
model results suggest that declines in recruitment, and as a consequence,
population biomass, have occurred in recent years. Although not obviously
related to over-exploitation, the recruitment decline suggests that the
productivity of the yellowfin tuna stock may currently be lower than it has
been previously. Recent catch levels appear to have been maintained by
increases in fishing mortality, possibly related to increased use of fish
aggregation devices in the purse-seine fishery. A yield analysis indicates
that average catches over the past three years may have slightly exceeded the
maximum sustainable yield. The model results also reveal strong regional
differences in the impact of fishing. Such heterogeneity in the fisheries and
the impacts on them will need to be considered when future management measures
are designed.
Size-structured population modelling and risk assessment of the Victorian southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, fishery
Authors: Hobday David , Punt André E.
Published: September 2002

Current annual landings of southern rock lobster,
Jasus edwardsii, from southeastern Australia are around
5000 tonnes valued at A$140 million. The Victorian component of this
catch during the 1998-99 fishing season was 550 t, valued at A$18
million. During the past 20 years catch rates have declined from 0.8 kg per
pot lift to 0.6 and 0.3 kg per pot lift in the western and eastern management
zones respectively. The fishery has been managed with input controls during
this period, but at the time of writing, the direction of future management is
not clear. A size-structured model was developed to assess risk associated
with both effort (input) and catch (output) controlled harvest strategies in
each zone. The stock-assessment model was fitted to historical catch data (in
weight and by number) from 1951, catch rates, and the length-frequency by sex.
The uncertainty associated with the estimates of exploitable biomass and egg
production was assessed according to Bayesian methods. The output of the
assessment formed the basis for projections intended to determine the risk
associated with different future levels of effort and catch. Reference points
based on estimated biomass and egg production relative to the start of the
data series in 1951 were considered.