bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of surface zones with zero detachment on erosion by rain-impacted flow
Authors: Kinnell P. I. A.
Published: August 2004

Zones of zero detachment occur on the soil surface when cryptogamic cover
protects the soil surface from erosion by rain-impacted flow. The effect of
spatial variation in the distribution of these zones was examined through a
computer simulation of erosion by rain-impacted flow on small
(0·5-m-long) surfaces. The results from the simulations indicate that
the effect of spatial variations in cryptogam cover decreases as the
susceptibility of the exposed surfaces to detachment by rain-impacted flow
increases. They also indicate that when the sediment being transported is
dominated by fine particles, the effect of the cover on erosion will be more
closely related to the average cover than when the sediment is dominated by
coarse particles.
Availability of zinc and cadmium to different plant species
Authors: Hamon R. , Wundke J. , McLaughlin M. , Naidu R.
Published: August 2004

A pot study was conducted to investigate whether differences in the amounts of
Zn and Cd taken up by a number of plant species (canola, capeweed,
subterranean clover, lettuce, swiss chard, ryegrass, and wheat) growing in a
single soil could be explained as the result of plants having access to
different soil pools of Zn and Cd. Prior to potting, the soil was spiked with
carrier-free 65Zn and 109Cd. Total
shoot concentrations of both Zn and Cd varied greatly across the plant species
studied. The concentration of Cd in the shoots ranged from 0·075
mg/kg in wheat cv. RAC to 2·27 mg/kg in capeweed, while the
concentration of Zn in the shoots ranged from 33 mg/kg in wheat cv. RAC to
259 mg/kg in swiss chard. However, the specific activity of Zn in the
shoots was found to be the same in all cases. Hence the experiments showed
that all plant species were accessing the same pool of Zn in the soil, despite
differences in the total amounts of Zn taken up. In contrast, the specific
activity of Cd in canola was found to be nearly double the specific activity
of Cd in the other plants, suggesting that canola was unable to access a pool
of soil Cd that was available for uptake by the other species. The percentage
of total soil Zn and Cd that was in bioavailable pools was calculated to be
approximately 12 and 36 (or 20% for canola), respectively, implying
that significant percentages of these metals exist in non plant available
forms in this soil.
Evidence of accelerated soil acidification under Stylosanthes-dominated pastures
Authors: Noble A. D. , Cannon M. , Muller D.
Published: August 2004

In temperate Australia, accelerated soil acidification through the
introduction of legume-based pasture systems is a major limiting factor to
their sustainability. In this study, soil samples were collected from paired
sites (developed u. undeveloped) to a depth of 90 cm to assess acidification
rates under Stylosanthes spp. based pasture production
systems in the semi-arid tropics of central and northern Queensland and the
Northern Territory, Australia. Net acidification rates varied from 0·2
to 10·6 kmol H+ /ha· year for the
sites sampled. The highest rate of acidification was observed under an
irrigated Stylosanthes seed production system. Since
acidification was measured by difference between paired sites, the total
acidification rate of the developed sites is likely to have been
underestimated. The contribution from the export of meat products was
estimated to be 0·022-0·035 kmol H+
/ha· year on those sites with suitable records. Acidification
occurred to depth on all sites that exhibited accelerated acidification, which
makes conventional remediation methods impractical in these extensive grazing
systems. Pedotransfer functions to predict the pH buffering capacity of a soil
were developed for surface, subsoil, and the entire profile based on soil
organic carbon, clay, and silt content. Management strategies to minimise the
negative impact of Stylosanthes pastures are suggested.
Forms of phosphorus in virgin and fertilised calcareous soils of Western Australia
Authors: Samadi Abbas , Gilkes R. J.
Published: August 2004

Total phosphorus (P), inorganic P (Pi), organic P, and
several Pi fractions were determined for 8 fertilised
calcareous soils under agriculture and their virgin analogues under natural
bush to ascertain changes due to agricultural development. The relationships
between soil properties and forms of P were also determined. In general,
agricultural development of soils resulted in increases in total P (average
105% increase), Pi (154%), organic P
(49%), Olsen P (200%), Colwell P (100%), and all
Pi fractions compared with their virgin analogues. For
the virgin soils, the abundance of the Pi fractions was
in the order: Al-P>O-P (occluded P)>Fe-P>Ca10-P
= Ca2-P>Ca8-P, which
changed to
Al-P>Ca8-P>Ca2-P>Ca10-P>Fe-P>O-P
for fertilised soils. The average contribution of each fraction to the
increase in total Pi was Al-P (29%),
Ca8-P (26%), Ca2-P
(18%), Fe-P (13%), Ca10-P (13%),
and O-P (4%). The change in Ca8-P was closely
correlated with the content of the active fraction of calcite in the soil
(ACCE). The increase in Fe-P associated with agriculture was highly correlated
with citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate (CDB) extractable Fe
(Fed) and acid-ammonium oxalate extractable Fe
(Feo). The increase in Al-P was correlated with the
ratio of acid-ammonium oxalate extractable Al (Alo) to
Feo. Both Olsen and Colwell
NaHCO3-extractable P were highly correlated with
Ca2-, Al-, Fe-, and Ca10-P, and
total P values. Multiple regression analysis indicated that
Ca2-P and Ca10-P were major
contributors to available P as determined by the Olsen and Colwell soil tests.
Atrazine mineralisation in New Zealand topsoils and subsoils: influence of edaphic factors and numbers of atrazine-degrading microbes
Authors: Sparling Graham , Dragten Robert , Aislabie Jackie , Fraser Rhonda
Published: August 2004

The mineralisation of 14C-ring-labelled atrazine to
14CO2 was measured in 3
contrasting New Zealand soils under controlled conditions of temperature and
moisture. The numbers of atrazine-degrading organisms were measured by a most
probable number technique. Decomposition rates were slow, with a maximum of
41% of atrazine being mineralised over 263 days. Mineralisation was
generally very low in subsoils and was much reduced by low moisture content.
However, one subsoil from 60–90 cm depth had unusually high numbers of
atrazine-degrading microbes and showed mineralisation greater than or
equivalent to the surface soil. Mineralisation was approximately doubled by a
10°C rise in temperature over the range 16–28°C. In general, the
rate of atrazine mineralisation over 7–96 days could be predicted from
the number of atrazine-degrading microbes and the cation exchange capacity of
the soil (R2 =
0·86). A large amount (54–77%) of
14C remained in the soil as non-extractable residues
after 263 days, but only trace amounts of the added atrazine or the
decomposition products de-ethyl atrazine and de-isopropyl atrazine were
detected by extraction in organic solvent.
Computed tomography data on soil structural and hydraulic parameters assessed for spatial continuity by semivariance geostatistics
Authors: Rasiah V. , Aylmore L. A. G.
Published: August 2004

Visual observations on the spatial distribution, at 1-cm intervals, of bulk
density (ρ), porosity (ε), fractal dimension
(D), water content (θ), and
unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (Kus) in uniformly
packed soil columns showed randomness. We explore the use of semivariance
geostatistics to clarify the issue of randomness and continuity on the spatial
distribution of ρ, ε, D, θ, and Kus data
obtained using a custom-built gamma scanner and computed tomography technique.
Semivariance increased with increasing lag distance and plots of semivariance
v. lag distance produced spherical semivariograms for
most of the soil parameters investigated. This indicated that even though
randomness existed in the spatial distribution of the soil parameters, there
existed specific trends in their spatial continuity. Higher spatial
continuity, in water stable aggregates, was characterised by smaller values of
semi-, sill-, and nugget-variances and larger values of span. Opposite trends
were observed for unstable aggregates. Wetting in unstable aggregates produced
further reductions in span increases for other geostatistical parameters,
indicating that wetting decreased spatial continuity. The results indicate
that geostatistical analysis is useful to clarify the issue of randomness at
very small scales and to quantify and discriminate the influence of
differences in structural stability and wetting-induced changes in the spatial
continuity of soil parameters, particularly ε .
Effects of spent mushroom substrate on soil chemical conditions and plant growth in an intensive horticultural system: a comparison with inorganic fertiliser
Authors: Stewart D. P. C. , Cameron K. C. , Cornforth I. S.
Published: August 2004

Between November 1991 and 1993, 4 consecutive vegetable crops (sweetcorn,
cabbage, potato, and cabbage) were grown in Lincoln, New Zealand. The
treatments included spent mushroom substrate (SMS, a by-product of the
mushroom industry) applications before each crop at rates of 0, 20, 40, or 80
t/ha (moist), both with and without 1 rate of inorganic fertiliser for
each crop (120-338, 40-100, 53-100, and 60-114 kg/ha, respectively, of
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur). SMS applications caused a rapid
increase in soil inorganic N concentration, but after this it had a variable
effect. There was some evidence of N immobilisation following initial SMS
applications of 20 t/ha. SMS applications increased both soil pH and CEC,
whereas inorganic fertiliser decreased both. Sweetcorn and cabbage yields were
increased by SMS when inorganic fertiliser was not used, and potato yield was
increased irrespective of fertiliser use (i.e. yield increases of 38%,
82-96%, and 26-46%, respectively, for sweetcorn cob, cabbage
head, and potato tuber fresh yields). Inorganic fertiliser increased crop
yields by a greater amount than SMS. A lack of soil inorganic N was the major
limitation to crop growth following SMS applications, so crops may require
additional N with SMS.
Effect of previous additions of superphosphate on sorption of phosphate
Authors: Barrow N. J. , Bolland M. D. A. , Allen D. G.
Published: August 2004

Samples of the topsoil were collected from plots of 8 field experiments which
had been fertilised with P at several rates from 8 months to more than 4 years
previously. Phosphate sorption curves were measured and described by the
equation: S =
acbo-q
where S indicates sorption,
co observed concentration,
anda, b, and
q are parameters. From the fitted curves, sorption
between 0· 25 and 0·35 mg P/L and sorption at 0·3 mg
P/L were calculated. Also measured were: the P retention index (PRI),
oxalate-extractable aluminium, oxalate-extractable iron, and the pH of the
soil measured in a sodium fluoride solution.
The effects of the applications of P on the sorption of newly added P differed
between sites. On 5 of the 8 sites, the slope term (a)
of the fitted equation decreased with increasing levels of previously applied
P. Consequently, the P buffering, measured as P sorbed between 0·25 and
0·35 mg P/L, decreased. When the decrease in P buffering was large,
the indirect measures of buffering capacity (oxalate-extractable aluminium,
oxalate-extractable iron, and the pH of the soil measured in sodium fluoride)
also decreased.
On the other 3 sites, the slope term did not decrease significantly. Indeed on
one site there was a small increase. On these 3 sites, the effect of the P
application on the sorption curves was largely shown by increases in the
intercept term (q). The indirect measures of P buffering
sometimes increased with increasing application of P.
On all sites, both the P sorbed at 0· 3 mg P/L and the values of
PRI decreased with increasing P applications. This is because their values are
determined by the values of both a and
q. We argue that the decreases in P buffering observed
on 5 sites would increase the effectiveness of subsequently added fertilisers
and would limit the ability of such soils to act as sinks for phosphate
disposal.
We suggest that the differing behaviour on the other 3 sites may have occurred
because there was little continuing reaction between the soil and P.
Changes in dispersible clay content, organic carbon content, and electrolyte composition following incubation of sodic soil
Authors: Nelson P. N. , Baldock J. A. , Oades J. M.
Published: August 2004

Measurement of dispersible clay is important for the diagnosis of structural
stability problems in soil. However, clay dispersibility is known to change
with water content and time. The purpose of the present study was to determine
how incubation of sodic soil under different water content regimes influences
clay dispersibility. Two topsoils (depth 0-0·1 m), one sodic
[exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) 9 · 7] and the other
non-sodic (ESP 3·8), were collected from an experimental pasture at
Kyabram, Victoria, and 2 soils, a sodic topsoil (depth 0-0·1 m, ESP
6·9) and the corresponding subsoil (depth 0·2-0 m, ESP
25·7), were collected from a cropped field at Two Wells, South
Australia. The soils were incubated for 264 days in a split-plot design. The
main treatments were soil type and incubation water content: continuously
air-dry, continuously wet (-50 kPa), or with wet/dry cycles. The
subtreatment was water content at analysis: air dry or wet (-50 kPa). Clay
dispersion was greater when measured on wet soils than dry soils, irrespective
of water contents during the prior incubation. Electrical conductivity
increased, and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), pH, and organic carbon content
decreased as a function of the time for which the soils were wet. In the
Kyabram soils that were wet when analysed, easily dispersible clay content
increased with SAR. Decreases in moderately dispersible clay under the
wetting/drying regime were not related to electrolyte composition, and
were attributed to particle rearrangement and cementation. The decreases in
clay dispersibility with time occurred despite net losses of carbohydrate and
aliphatic materials. An implication of the work is that the decomposition of
soil organic matter, even in the absence of fresh additions, may reduce clay
dispersion in sodic soils by altering electrolyte concentration and
composition.
Achene Morphology and Pericarp Anatomy of the Type Specimens of the Australian and New Zealand Species of Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae)
Authors: Browning J. , Gordon-Gray K. D. , Smith S. G.
Published: August 2004

Three species of Bolboschoenus (Ascherson) Palla are
reported for Australia and New Zealand.
Bolboschoenus caldwellii (V.J.Cook) Soják and
B. medianus (V.J.Cook) Soják are based on types
from New Zealand (under Scirpus L.).
Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (Torrey) Soják has been
lectotypified by a specimen from North America.
Scirpus perviridis V.J.Cook, the type of which is also
from New Zealand has been considered conspecific with
Bolboschoenus fluviatilis. Achene morphology and
pericarp anatomy of achenes removed from isotypes of Cook’s three
species, Scirpus perviridis,
S. caldwellii and S. medianus, are
described and illustrated by electron micrographs. These achenes are compared
with a representative sample of achenes of each of the
Bolboschoenus species named above, taken from herbarium
specimens collected in Australia and New Zealand. Infraspecific taxa within
Bolboschoenus fluviatilis are briefly outlined. Features
of Bolboschoenus medianus suggest a possible hybrid
origin.
Morphological Variation within the Boronia grandisepala Group (Rutaceae) and the Description of Nine Taxa Endemic to the Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Duretto Marco F. , Ladiges Pauline Y.
Published: August 2004

Within Boronia Sm. section
Valvatae (Benth.) Engl. the
B. grandisepala F.Muell. species group is characterised
by a calyx as large or larger than the corolla, simple leaves, and
multiangular stellate hairs. The group includes
B. grandisepala, a related complex of species, and six
newly described species: B. amplectens Duretto,
B. quadrilata Duretto, B. suberosa
Duretto, B. verecunda Duretto,
B. viridiflora Duretto and
B. xanthastrum Duretto. All taxa are endemic to the
Northern Territory. A phenetic analysis using clustering techniques and
multidimensional scaling was used to define taxa within the
B. grandisepala species complex. Four taxa were
recognised in the complex and three, B. grandisepala
subsp. acanthophida Duretto,
B. laxa Duretto, and B. prolixa
Duretto, are described here. Boronia grandisepala is
lectotypified. A key to the species is provided. High levels of diversity and
endemism in the flora of the western portion of the Arnhem Land plateau are
discussed.
Eogonocormus—A new early cretaceous fern of Hymenophyllaceae from China
Authors: Deng Shenghui
Published: August 2004

Eogonocormus gen. nov., a new Early Cretaceous fern of
Hymenophyllaceae from north-eastern China, is described based upon the type
species Eogonocormus cretaceum sp. nov. The frond is
small, thalloid, dichotomous and with a creeping rhizome. The sori are
rounded, borne marginally on the fan-like ends of pinnule lobes, with
8–12 sori in each lobe. The spores are rounded or subrounded, trilete,
with baculate, granulate, spinate and reticulate sculptures.
Hymenophyllites linearifolius Deng is re-examined and
transferred to the new genus as E. linearifolium based
upon the characteristics of its sori.
Batrachospermum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in Australia and New Zealand: New Taxa and Emended Circumscriptions in Sections Aristata, Batrachospermum, Turfosa and Virescentia
Authors: Entwisle Timothy J. , Foard Helen J.
Published: August 2004

Fifteen species of Batrachospermum from Australia and
New Zealand are documented, including (except for the recently described
B. antipodites Entwisle) descriptions, photomicrographs,
maps and keys. The temperate region particularly boasts many intriguing and
endemic taxa. Ten species are described as being new to science:
B. discorum, B. kraftii,
B. ranuliferum, B. antiquum,
B. theaquum, B. debilis,
B. campyloclonum, B. prominens,
B. terawhiticum and B. wattsii.
Diagnostic characters include trichogyne shape, carpogonium morphology and
disposition, carposporophyte morphology (including the presence of
indeterminate gonimoblast filaments), carposporangia morphology and some
vegetative features such as fascicle cell shape.
Batrachospermum cayennense Mont. ex KÜtz.,
B. arcuatum Kylin, B. anatinum
Sirodot are reported for the first time from the Australia–New Zealand
region, and the circumscription of the cosmopolitan
B. gelatinosum (L.) DC. is expanded. All species have
‘well-developed’ whorls, more or less straight carpogonial
branches, and carpogonia with a symmetrical base. Thus they are referable to
section Aristata, Batrachospermum,
Turfosa or Virescentia. However,
many of the new taxa are difficult to allocate in the existing sectional
system.
Chloroplast DNA polymorphism signals complex interspecific interactions in Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Steane D. A. , Byrne M. , Vaillancourt R. E. , Potts B. M.
Published: August 2004

Variation in the chloroplast genome of 44 accessions representing 14
Eucalyptus L'Hér. species from the series
Viminales (sensu Pryor and Johnson
1971) was investigated. Southern analysis of the chloroplast genomes
restricted with 12 enzymes revealed 20 restriction-site polymorphisms of which
7 were autapomorphic to individual trees. The 13 informative restriction-site
polymorphisms were distributed between individuals of different species, but
none was species-specific. Fourteen chloroplast haplotypes were identified for
south-eastern Australian individuals. In endemic Tasmanian species, five
haplotypes were identified. Chloroplast haplotypes appear to have a mosaic
distribution in south-eastern Australia, more closely associated with
geographical regions than with morphological species boundaries. The
biogeographic distribution of chloroplast haplotypes may be explained by a
combination of interspecific hybridisation and introgression, and convergent
evolution. The lack of species-specificity of cpDNA variation indicates that,
although cpDNA is not appropriate for species-level phylogeny analysis in the
series Viminales, it may provide useful information in
studies of biogeography and gene flow in Eucalyptus.
A molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Arundinoideae (Poaceae) based on sequences of rDNA
Authors: Hsiao C. , Jacobs S. W. L. , Barker N. P. , Chatterton N. J.
Published: August 2004

Phylogenetic relationships of the whole Poaceae family inferred from the
sequence data of rDNA (ITS) support the hypothesis that the arundinoids are
monophyletic, not polyphyletic as previously proposed. The ITS sequence
phylogeny of 42 arundinoid species demonstrates an early divergence of the
Aristideae and three major groupings, corresponding loosely to the tribes
Aristideae, Arundineae and Danthonieae. The Arundineae are resolved into two
paraphyletic clades. In one clade, Arundo,
Monachather, and Dregeochloa are
the sister group to Amphipogon and
Diplopogon. In the other clade,
Phragmites, Molinia,
Gynerium, Thysanolaena,
Spartochloa, and Cyperochloa are
the sister group to Eriachne and
Micraira. Arundo is not closely
related to Phragmites. The Danthonieae clade, including
taxa from Africa, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, the South American
Cortaderia, and the North American
Danthonia, appears to be monophyletic. However, the
genus Merxmuellera is polyphyletic.
What to do with protists?
Authors: Andersen Robert A.
Published: August 2004

The definition of ‘protists’ has changed over time, once including
all living organisms which were neither plant nor animal, now including a
multitude of organisms that cannot be assembled into a monophyletic group.
Protists were once subdivided into algae, fungi and protozoa, based upon mode
of nutrition, and further subdivided based upon the dominate life history
stage (e.g. flagellate, amoeboid, coccoid), however, studies during the past
40 years have shown that these divisions are artificial. Electron microscopic
studies, as well as a revival of the Endosymbiotic Theory for the origin of
organelles, have caused a demolition of classical protistan taxonomy. Numerous
new higher level taxa were described. Molecular studies, especially nucleotide
sequence comparisons, have provided a new means for determining phylogenetic
relationships. Although these molecular studies have not succeeded in
providing an overall consensus classification for the protists, many advances
have been made. It now appears that the protists are, at best, a grade, not a
clade, and they do not form a monophyletic taxon (i.e. the Kingdom Protista
cannot be recognised as a natural group). Despite this taxonomic limitation,
there are advantages to maintaining the protists as an assemblage for
ecological, biomedical or economic reasons. The biodiversity of protists is
discussed along with remarks on their ecological and economic significance.
Conospermeae (Proteoideae) pollen morphology and its phylogenetic implications
Authors: Milne Lynne A. , Martin A. R. H.
Published: August 2004

Pollen morphological trends in modern taxa, the fossil pollen record, andcomparative palynology can be useful aids to taxonomy and indicators ofevolutionary lineages. In Conospermeae, each species and genus has a distinctpollen morphology character set, although individual characters may not betaxon-specific. Aperture form in Conospermeae may be consistent or diversewithin a genus, and has limited or no taxonomic value above the generic level;whereas with the exception of Beauprea Brongn. & Gris., sculptural type is consistent within a genus and often withinsubtribes. In the light of generic characters, a review of fossil pollenaffiliates of Conospermeae indicates that the fossil record ofStirlingia Endl. and SymphionemaR.Br. is not as extensive as previously thought. Conospermeae pollenmorphology thus far investigated, together with the fossil record, suggeststhe tribe is not monophyletic but includes several evolutionary lineages.Synaphea R.Br. and Conospermum Sm.(Conosperminae), together with Stirlingia(Stirlingiinae), may have close ties with Persoonioideae.Isopogon R.Br. ex Knight andPetrophile R.Br. (Petrophilinae) can be sculpturallyaligned with Symphionema (Cenarrheninae) and severalProteeae genera, and to a lesser degree, AgastachysR.Br. (Cenarrheninae) with Aulax (Proteeae). Of themonotypic genera, pollen of Beaupreopsis Virot andCenarrhenes Labill. are alike, and that ofDilobeia Thouars. has similarities to these genera butis also not unlike pollen of Bellendena R.Br.(Bellendenoideae). Beauprea pollen is morphologicallyunique among the Proteaceae in having colpoid apertures and diverse sculpturaltypes. Pollen of Beauprea species so far investigatedappear to more closely resemble pollen of Persoonioideae than that of otherConospermeae genera. The fossil record, however, indicates thatBeauprea pollen has sculptural analogues in allProteaceae subfamilies, suggesting that its relationship to the rest of thefamily is complex. The fossil pollen record and patterns in modern pollenmorphology can confirm or suggest taxonomic and phyletic relationships, but for firmer resolution are best used in conjunction with other lines of evidence.
Fox control and rock-wallaby population dynamics — II. An update
Authors: Kinnear J. E. , Onus M. L. , Sumner Neil R.
Published: August 2004

Five remnant populations of rock-wallabies
(Petrogale lateralis) in the Western Australian
wheatbelt have been the subjects of an experiment designed to assess the
impact of fox predation on the population dynamics of this species. The effect
of a fox-control programme, initiated in 1982 at two rock-wallaby sites, was
first assessed in 1986 along with three other sites not subject to fox
control. It was concluded that fox predation was the principal factor limiting
the size and distribution of P. lateralis populations.
In 1990 after a further four years of fox control, the experiment was
reassessed and a comprehensive statistical analysis of the data set confirmed
this conclusion. These results reinforce the need for conservation authorities
across Australia to implement fox-control programmes to assure the survival of
rock-wallaby populations (and other likewise-threatened species).
Road-kills of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) in Tasmania: an index of abundance
Authors: Mallick Stephen A. , Hocking Gregory J. , Driessen Michael M.
Published: August 2004

The value of road-kill counts in monitoring changes in numbers of the eastern
barred bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, was investigated in
the Huon Valley, south-eastern Tasmania, by comparing population trends on two
trapping grids with trends in road-kills on adjacent segments of highway.
Between 1992 and 1996, both the number of P. gunnii on
the trapping grids and the number of road-kills on the adjacent highway
underwent a significant decline. While our data are preliminary, we suggest
that road-kills may provide a useful index of gross, long-term trends in
numbers of P. gunni. Such an index could be used to
track long-term trends in local populations adjacent to a segment of highway,
as in the present study. Alternatively, by considering a highway as a
continuous ‘chain’ of such segments, road-kills may provide an
index of trends over a larger (i.e. regional) scale.
The oral and dermal toxicity of selected chemicals to brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis)
Authors: Brooks Joe E. , Savarie Peter J. , Johnston John J.
Published: August 2004

We evaluated the oral and dermal toxicity of 18 chemicals to brown tree snakes
(Boiga irregularis). Chemicals that produced mortality
when dosed orally were rotenone, propoxur, natural pyrethrins, allethrin,
resmethrin, diphacinone, warfarin, and aspirin. The lowest oral doses that
gave 100% mortality were: rotenone, 2.5 mg kg-1;
pyrethrins, 40 mg kg-1; propoxur, 40 mg
kg-1; diphacinone, 80 mg kg-1; and
aspirin, 1280 mg kg-1. Allethrin, resmethrin, and
warfarin produced 80% mortality at 40 mg kg-1,
the highest dose tested. Materials given orally that produced little mortality
were permethrin, fenvalerate, and carbaryl; those giving no mortality were
phenothrin, tetramethrin, piperonyl butoxide, propylene glycol, and
cholecalciferol. Chemicals that produced mortality when applied dermally at
doses of 40 mg kg-1 were rotenone, nicotine, propoxur,
natural pyrethrins, allethrin, and resmethrin; those that gave no mortality
were permethrin, fenvalerate, phenothrin, tetramethrin, piperonyl butoxide,
and diphacinone. Rotenone, at 10 mg kg-1, and nicotine,
at 40 mg kg-1, were the most toxic dermally, killing all
tested snakes. Piperonyl butoxide enhanced the oral toxicity of allethrin and
resmethrin and the dermal activity of resmethrin; it did not enhance the
activity of natural pyrethrins either orally or dermally.
Avoidance of novel objects by rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.)
Authors: Sunnucks Paul
Published: August 2004

Neophobia (fear of new stimuli) is an important component of mammalian
behavioural ecology. In addition, information on neophobia in pest species
could be of great significance in targetting control measures and predicting
changes in responses to them. Novel objects and an auditory stimulus were
presented to individually marked wild rabbits living socially in clumped
warrens in southern British farmland. Avoidance of stimuli was measured by
scan sampling of rabbits’ locations, in replicated experiments. Rabbits
avoided a variety of novel objects by staying below ground, and by changing
their activity ranges. Responses to different stimuli were correlated within
individuals. There were non-significant differences in the degree of avoidance
elicited by novel visual stimuli. The most important factors in avoidance were
distance from the stimulus, number of previous presentations, and rabbit
identity. Individual characteristics, including sex, social rank, and
trappability, were less important determinants of neophobia, although dominant
females were significantly more neophobic than were non-dominant ones. Only
one or two presentations were required for attenuation of avoidance, so novel
objects would be of limited application to crop protection. However, equipment
used for delivering control measures should also quickly become accepted by
rabbits. The measured avoidance and its attenuation indicate that rabbits
assessed and responded to their surroundings with high precision, with
significant individual variation consistent over stimuli.
Breeding biology, demography and success of the rufous-banded honeyeater, Conopophila albogularis, in Darwin, a monsoonal tropical city
Authors: Noske Richard A.
Published: August 2004

The rufous-banded honeyeater, Conopophila albogularis,
is probably the commonest small bird species in the suburbs of Darwin,
Northern Territory. Nearly twenty pairs of this species were colour-banded on
the Casuarina campus of the Northern Territory University, where they occupied
territories of 0.15–0.47 ha all year-round, indicating a density of up
to 12 birds ha-1. Six out of 48 birds survived 5 or more
years, one individual being 9 years old at the time of writing. Males were
larger in the four morphological dimensions measured. Breeding behaviour was
recorded in every month of the year, but was concentrated in the late dry and
wet seasons (September–March), commencing about two months before the
rains. Over half of 274 nests were built in black wattles,
Acacia auriculiformis, a common pioneer species both
within urban Darwin and monsoon rainforest ecotones of the Northern Territory.
Contrary to the literature, both sexes participated in building the nest, and
the incubation and nestling periods each lasted 14 days. The clutch size was
usually two (78%), and mean clutch size for 85 nests was 2.1 eggs. Nest
success was about 70%, hatching success of eggs was 74% and
fledging rate of nestlings 87%. Four broods per season were common, and
two pairs successfully raised five broods in one season. Average annual pair
productivity was 5.8 fledglings (possibly the highest yet recorded for an
Australian passerine species), one pair raising a remarkable 32 young over
five seasons (6.4 fledglings per season). The exceptionally high nest success
and productivity were probably mainly due to the scarcity of predators, and
the long breeding season, respectively, the latter being facilitated by
artificial watering of gardens and lawns during the dry season. The colonising
success of this species in Darwin is attributed to Darwin’s coastal
location and the close proximity of favoured natural habitats, as well as the
generalised diet of the species and its predilection for the abundant black
wattle.
The influence of annual rainfall upon capture rates of a nectar-dependent marsupial
Authors: Wooller R. D. , Richardson K. C. , Garavanta C. A. M. , Saffer V. M. , Anthony C. , Wooller S. J.
Published: August 2004

The capture rates of honey possums, Tarsipes rostratus,
on the south coast of Western Australia were significantly related to annual
rainfall in the preceding year. It is suggested that numbers of the
short-lived and aseasonally breeding honey possum fluctuate in relation to
nectar levels, which vary with cumulative water availability.
MED16 and MED23 of Mediator are coactivators of lipopolysaccharide- and heat-shock-induced transcriptional activators
Authors: Kim Tae Whan , Kwon Yong-Jae , Kim Jung Mo , Song Young-Hwa , Kim Se Nyun , Kim Young-Joon
Published: August 2004

Transcriptional activators interact with diverse proteins and recruit transcriptional machinery to the activated promoter. Recruitment of the Mediator complex by transcriptional activators is usually the key step in transcriptional activation. However, it is unclear how Mediator recognizes different types of activator proteins. To systematically identify the subunits responsible for the signal- and activator-specific functions of Mediator in
Drosophila melanogaster
, each Mediator subunit was depleted by RNA interference, and its effect on transcriptional activation of endogenous as well as synthetic promoters was examined. The depletion of some Mediator gene products caused general transcriptional defects, whereas depletion of others caused defects specifically related to activation. In particular, MED16 and MED23 were required for lipopolysaccharide- and heat-shock-specific gene expression, respectively, and their activator-specific functions appeared to result from interaction with specific activators. The corequirement of MED16 for other forms of differentiation-inducing factor-induced transcription was confirmed by microarray analysis of differentiation-inducing factor (DIF)- and MED16-depleted cells individually. These results suggest that distinct Mediator subunits interact with specific activators to coordinate and transfer activator-specific signals to the transcriptional machinery.
Auxin-induced SCF
TIR1
–Aux/IAA interaction involves stable modification of the SCF
TIR1
complex
Authors: Kepinski Stefan , Leyser Ottoline
Published: August 2004

The plant hormone auxin can regulate gene expression by destabilizing members of the Aux/IAA family of transcriptional repressors. Auxin-induced Aux/IAA degradation requires the protein-ubiquitin ligase SCF
TIR1
, with auxin acting to enhance the interaction between the Aux/IAAs and SCF
TIR1
. SKP1, Cullin, and an F-box-containing protein (SCF)-mediated degradation is an important component of many eukaryotic signaling pathways. In all known cases to date, the interaction between the targets and their cognate SCFs is regulated by signal-induced modification of the target. The mechanism by which auxin promotes the interaction between SCF
TIR1
and Aux/IAAs is not understood, but current hypotheses propose auxin-induced phosphorylation, hydroxylation, or proline isomerization of the Aux/IAAs. We found no evidence to support these hypotheses or indeed that auxin induces any stable modification of Aux/IAAs to increase their affinity for SCF
TIR1
. Instead, we present data suggesting that auxin promotes the SCF
TIR1
–Aux/IAA interaction by affecting the SCF component, TIR1, or proteins tightly associated with it.
An Overview of Traditional Chinese Herbal Formulae and a Proposal of a New Code System for Expressing the Formula Titles
Authors: Yi Yeong-Deug , Chang Il-Moo
Published: August 2004

Traditional Chinese herbal therapy can be characterized by the use of a large number of multi‐herb formulae. To provide modern and Western scientists without knowledge of Chinese literature and cultural background easy access to information, a database with a total of 11 810 traditional Chinese herbal formulae was constructed. All the information was then translated into understandable scientific terms in English. While coining the formula titles in English, we discovered some principles governing the naming of titles by using computer analysis. In addition, we observed that about 92% of the formulae are in the range of single‐herb formulae to thirteen‐herb formulae. Most large number‐herb formulae are formulated by combining pre‐existing smaller number‐herb formulae. The King herbs (neh019‐inl‐01) with major therapeutic activity in a multi‐herb formula were identified by the formulation concept using two parameters: the herbal dose and the herbal drug property (the degree of toxicity). Based on such analytical data, we established an English code system representing all formula titles written in ideographic Chinese characters: an array of important key words such as ‘Herbal name in Latin + Efficacy (Target organs) + Preparation form + Number of herbs.’ By searching the English version of the database with any of the above key words, a variety of information on the status of traditional Chinese herbal therapy can be accessed.
Gender earnings differentials across individuals over time in British cohort studies
Authors: Makepeace Gerry , Dolton Peter , Joshi Heather
Published: August 2004

This paper analyses gender wage differentials in full‐time employment using recently released data from the National Child Development Study and the British Cohort Study 1970. The paper compares the situations of individuals in their early thirties in 1991 and 2000 and the position of full‐time employees in NCDS as the cohorts aged between 33 and 42. The distribution of individuals' experiences of unequal pay is emphasised by comparing distributions of gender differentials of an “index of unequal treatment”. Passing from age 33 to 42, unequal treatment increased substantially, across the whole distribution.
Wage differentials between male‐female and native‐foreign workers in pre‐unification Germany
Authors: Mavromaras Kostas G.
Published: August 2004

This paper investigates the relative remuneration of migrants and German nationals in paid employment in pre‐unification Germany. Using microdata it shows that migrants typically earn higher wages than comparable German nationals. The paper also shows the distinction between genders and skill levels to be crucial in the determination of wage gaps. Wage gaps are decomposed in the standard Oaxaca‐Blinder way and their development is examined using counterfactual analysis. The paper also shows that conventionally defined wage discrimination works in favour of migrants. Counterfactuals show that, largely, the remunerative advantage of migrants survived the 1981‐1983 recession. However, when employment developments are considered, a much bleaker picture arises. The 1981‐1983 recession destroyed jobs that have been traditionally occupied by migrants (manual and skilled jobs). Post‐recession restructuring generated jobs that went almost exclusively to German nationals (salaried jobs).
Education, family background and racial earnings inequality in Brazil
Authors: Arias Omar , Yamada Gustavo , Tejerina Luis
Published: August 2004

This study investigates the role of race, family background and education in earnings inequality between whites and the African descendent population in Brazil. It uses quantile Mincer earnings regressions to go beyond the usual decomposition of average earnings gaps. Differences in human capital, including parental education and education quality, and in its returns, account for most but not all of the racial earnings gaps. There appears to be greater pay discrimination at the higher salary jobs for any skill level. Returns to education vary with the gradient of skin color. While returns are similar for white and mixed race workers at the top of the adjusted wage scale, mixed race workers at the bottom are rewarded similar to blacks. Thus, while equalizing access to quality education is key to reduce racial earnings inequality in Brazil, specific policies are also needed to facilitate equal access of non‐whites to good quality jobs.
Internet newsletters and spam
Authors: Andrew Alex M.
Published: August 2004

The centenary of Gregory Bateson is noted, with reference to a mailing list and relevant Web sites. Various means of combating spam are reviewed.
Cognitive and neuropsychological basis for quantum mechanics
Authors: Fidelman Uri
Published: August 2004

It was suggested by Fidelman that Kantian ideas, namely, actual Infinity, the cosmos, a reason for the cosmos and consciousness, involve a cognitive conflict. This cognitive conflict is caused by a competition between the left‐ and right‐hemispheric cerebral mechanisms, and it causes us to feel that we encounter a paradox. It is suggested in this study that quantum particles too are Kantian ideas. According to Kant the logic of experience does not necessarily apply to Kantian ideas, which are not part of experience. Thus, Kant explained the paradoxes related to them. It is suggested that the cognitive paradoxes related to quantum particles are also related to a conflict between the hemispheric mechanisms.
Solving a class of linear partial differential equations with Dirichlet‐boundary conditions by the Adomian method
Authors: Benabidallah Mohamed , Cherruault Yves
Published: August 2004

Considers the Adomian decomposition method to be a powerful technique that can solve efficiently a large class of linear and nonlinear differential equations. Describes a general method for approximating the solution of the Laplace equation with Dirichlet‐boundary conditions and which can be applied to a large class of problems.
Research topics in pictorial databases
Authors: Lee Edward T.
Published: August 2004

Pictures are natural and effective means of communication among people, computers, and robotics. A pictorial database is a collection of sharable pictorial data encoded in various formats. During the past several years, pictorial databases have attracted growing attention as an important component in building pictorial information systems as well as intelligent information systems. Eight research tasks are presented. They are comparing the numerical and the linguistic variable approaches, examining new linguistic hedges, studying the similarity of various similarity measures, investigating pictorial data compression techniques, performing pictorial data compression using array grammars, applying the entity‐relationship (ER) model to picture description; further investigating the relationship hierarchy for picture representation using ER diagrams, and extracting pictorial knowledge from pictorial databases. The research results may have a major impact on the development of object‐oriented pictorial databases.
Re‐scaling regeneration
Authors: Coaffee Jon
Published: August 2004

The city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, has become an urban laboratory where numerous nationally prescribed regeneration partnerships and strategies have been “tried‐out” over the last 30 years. This paper unpacks the different and often contradictory spatial scales that such responses have taken, be they area‐based or city‐wide, as well as how “ways of doing” regeneration have been subsequently recast by this range of new partnerships, structures and processes. These developments have subsequently transformed the linkages between both central government and localities, and between local authorities and citizens, especially with regard to issues of trust‐based relationships. This paper will exemplify these changes by highlighting how the Government's flagship community‐centred regeneration partnership collided with an ambitious and far‐reaching local authority‐led city‐wide regeneration strategy. This paper concludes by discussing and how this has implications for managing regeneration partnerships per se in the current urban policy context.
Economic rationalism: serving tertiary business education needs? The Australian case
Authors: Richter Ewa Maria , Buttery Ernest Alan
Published: August 2004

Economic rationalism is a major driver of the education system in many parts of the world. In the scramble to facilitate economic rationalism, the education needs required at national level to keep nations, like Australia, competitive into the twenty‐first century have not been fully considered. Such countries have ignored the needs of education for the first‐tier requirements of global organisations. First‐tier decision making is that aspect of centralized decision making activities, usually in highly developed countries, undertaken by those who can direct and control organizations, confining the rest of the world to lower levels of activity and income. Income, status, authority and consumption patterns radiate out from this tier along a declining curve. Neglecting the needs of the first tier has relegated education users to a follower, second‐ or third‐tier position. This paper considers this three‐tier system and how it relates to the Australian context that aspires to a first‐tier position.
A critical evaluation of academic internal audit
Authors: Blackmore Jacqueline Ann
Published: August 2004

This account of internal audit is set within the context of higher education in the UK and a fictitiously named Riverbank University. The study evaluates the recent introduction of “Internal Academic Audit” to the University and compares the process with that of the internationally recognised ISO 19011 Guidelines for Auditing Quality Management Systems, used both in the private and public sectors. A thorough review of the literature on audit theory was conducted in order to gauge best and worst practices. The aim was to identify any theory‐practice gaps between the British Standard guidelines and actual internal academic audit performance, as well as any possible reasons for them. Finally, it is suggested that when compared with the British Standard's model the internal academic audit process is somewhat less robust, particularly in terms of auditor selection and training.