Photosynthetic temperature responses of tree species in Rwanda: evidence of pronounced negative effects of high temperature in montane rainforest climax species
Varhammar A, Wallin G, McLean CM, Dusenge ME, Medlyn BE, Hasper TB, Nsabimana D, Uddling J, 2015. Photosynthetic temperature responses of tree species in Rwanda: evidence of pronounced negative effects of high temperature in montane rainforest climax species. New Phytologist 206:1000-1012. doi: 10.1111/nph.13291. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
thank you for attending the Department meeting this week. I attach the slides. I will be in Auckland from Monday-Thursday (back Friday) and Michelle L will steer the good ship Biology while I am away!
cheerio
Mariella
General News and Announcements
Eurovision Ahoy!
The Blog is getting busy (Malta, Cyrpus, Georgia and Ireland have been reviewed), as are preparations for the Eurovision sweeps and Eurovision morning tea – Monday May 25, 10:30!
Informal marine fieldwork tea
Due to popular demand, the marine fieldwork informal tea will be held every Thursday at 2pm at the pool cafe. You are also more than welcome to join us as well for swimming a few laps beforehand! Otherwise, please come along to discuss anything marine-related.
Looking forward to seeing many of you there!
Amanda & Matt
New policy: Discrimination, Bullying & Harassment Prevention
The policy covers all sorts of unacceptable and in some instances criminal behaviour – check it out here
Put Your Smartphone to Work for Biodiversity
Become an iNaturalist with National Geographic – more info here
Climate Council fundraiser + Sustainability Network Rep
Hi all, many thanks to everyone who came to say goodbye to Julia and contribute to the Climate Council fundraiser. We raised $214,75 that have already been donated online on behalf of the Dept of Biological Sciences. A big shout out to all the baking volunteers for contributing with delicious treats!
For those of you who couldn’t make it to the Department meeting I just wanted to let people know that (together with Sam Newton) I am acting as a representative for Biology in the Sustainability Network. The members of the network will be meeting in 2 weeks time so feel free to email me (julieta.martinelli@mq.edu.au) with any queries/suggestions you may have. Otherwise stay tuned for events coming up in June!
New to the Department – Dr Vivan Cumbo
Contact: vivian.cumbo@mq.edu.au
Vivian started her marine science career in Sydney, where she received a BSc in Microbiology (Hons) and Marine Biology at the University of NSW. In 2006, she commenced a PhD at James Cook University exploring the establishment and development of the symbiosis between corals and their algal symbionts, including whether elevated temperatures alter establishment patterns. Vivian continued her research on corals as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Researcher at California State University, Northridge. Here, she investigated how rising temperatures and ocean acidification affect the physiology of the early life stages of corals. She continued her career as a Research Associate in the ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies in Townsville, where she worked on coral systematics, reproductive biology, larval ecology and symbiosis. Vivian commenced her postdoctoral position at Macquarie University in late April 2015, working with Melanie Bishop, David Raftos and Wayne O’Conner. Working on Sydney rock oysters, Vivian will be exploring whether genes associated with stress resistance and fast growth in selectively-bred farmed oysters are flowing into wild oyster populations, and how this potentially changes the structure and function of wild oysters.
Next week’s seminar – Wednesday May 13, 1-2pm
Sharon Cummins from Bio-Analysis will be giving an interesting seminar, on her work outside academia, with an environmental consultancy.
Consulting: Predicting and Measuring Ecological Responses to Managerial Actions on a Shoe-String
BIO-ANALYSIS PTY LTD was founded as an environmental consultancy business in 1987, specialising in ecological investigations in marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems. We focus on the design of scientifically rigorous monitoring programmes and analyses of complex ecological data associated with assessing the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on aquatic environments. We also provide general environmental monitoring and habitat assessment to measure management targets as well as the design and implementation of ecological and management experiments to gain an understanding of processes.
1st Year Master Student Presentations BIOL711: Topics in Evolution
Monday May 18th 1pm – 3.30pm in the Biology Tearoom
Bring your lunch and come and meet this year’s intake of MRes students as they present 10 min talks on recent developments across a range of fields, investigated in the light of Evolution.
The students have independently researched their topics and are preparing literature reviews. These seminars are an opportunity for all of us to give valuable feedback to our next generation of scientists, and hear about new ideas and research in diverse fields from plant ecology to animal behaviour, and even evolution in synthetic bacteria.
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Tory Clarke (Convenor BIOL711)
Draft – University Snorkelling Manual – open for public comment
At the request of the OHS unit and HoD Biological Sciences, the University Diving and Boating Safety Advisory Group has drafted a Snorkelling Manual to provide guidance on university snorkelling operations (also snorkeler induction form, snorkelling logs, and snorkelling pro forma risk assessment). We are encouraging as many people as possible to provide feedback on these documents.
The draft documents are posted for feedback:
http://marinescience.mq.edu.au/snorkelling/index.htm
DBSAG will be holding public feedback sessions:
May 13th from 12:00 – 13:00 in the Biology Tea Room (E8A level 2)
May 27th from 10:00 – 11:00 in the Biology Tea Room (E8A level 2)
May 29th from 13:00 – 14:00 in the Biology Tea Room (E8A level 2)
If you cannot make any of these sessions feel free to submit your feedback to me and/or any other member of the group (http://marinescience.mq.edu.au/DBSAG/).
Cheers,
Matthew
Finishing a PhD and looking for temporary job or internship
My name is Anna Rodrigues. I’m finishing a PhD in Forestry focusing on restoration ecology of native woody seedlings in former agricultural lands in New Zealand’s dryland zone.
I’ve been working with Prof. David Norton and Prof. Matthew Turnbull since 2012, and I’ll be finished by the end of July this year.
My future plans are still a bit in the grey because my fiance is a New Zealander and I’m from Brazil. But our intention is to continue living here in NZ, although we are both open to opportunities elsewhere.
I understand that in order to be eligible for a post-doc position, I need to have enough publications and a project in mind. I am currently working on the two articles that are based on my PhD research, but I also understand that it takes time to get your work published. In the meantime, I would like to gather more experience and take part in other researches where it’s possible.
That is why I decided to write to you to see if you’d be interested in hiring a temporary worker, field and/or research assistant. Or, in case you wouldn’t at this stage, would you possibly recommend me to someone else?
I have attached a copy of my CV in case you’re interested.
Repeat Transgender Awareness Session – 11th June, 12 – 2
Due to high demand for a repeat session for those that missed out previously, I will be presenting another Transgender Awareness Session, on the 11th June, 12 – 2, Manly Room Building C5C Level 4.
This workshop presented by the Equity and Diversity Unit is designed to increase our awareness of sex and gender diversity, and develop our skills and language in order to best support and include Transgender staff and students on campus.
As well as some skill development, this session will provide a refresher on the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity, and we will hear from Transgender individuals who are willing to share their story and highlight how our words and actions can better support them on campus.
Please RSVP to jon.papadopoulo@mq.edu.au
MQ Research Fellowships
The scheme has now opened. If you are being contacted by potential candidates but are already sponsoring someone, plese direct the candidate to colleagues who might be able to sponsor them.
Submission Timeline:
- Faculty of Science and Engineering deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest – Monday 25 May. Please email your EOI to sci.research@mq.edu.au for review and feedback.
- University closing date for submission of Expressions of Interest – Wednesday 10 June. Please email your EOI to research.preaward@mq.edu.au
Looking for employment: Mitch Francis
I have completed Honours in a B. Animal Science at Charles Sturt University in 2013, examining the impact of urbanisation on the use of habitat by squirrel gliders. Throughout the degree and in subsequent years, I have worked on numerous wildlife projects and studies, including Tasmanian devil and quoll surveys, skink capture and observation studies, wild bird surveys and vegetation surveys. I am current working as a Research Assistant in the Brain, Behaviour and Evolution lab, helping Lori Hurley with her study on finches, and this will be finishing up in the next couple of weeks. I currently live in Albury, but am willing to travel to Sydney for ongoing work, a permanent move may be on the cards soon. I am able to work full time, but understand funding may be limited so would be happy to help out on a part-time/casual basis. I am very interested in all work relating to animals and invertebrates, and would be keen to learn more about a wide range of species.
Cheers,
Mitch Francis
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New Publications
First Record of Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans) for the Brazilian Coast
Ferreira CEL, Luiz OJ, Floeter SR, Lucena MB, Barbosa MC, Rocha CR, Rocha LA, 2015. First Record of Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans) for the Brazilian Coast. PLoS ONE 10:e0123002. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123002. | Find with Google Scholar »Evaluation of the realism of climate reconstruction using the Coexistence Approach with modern pollen samples from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Zhang Z-Y, Harrison SP, Mosbrugger V, Ferguson DK, Paudayal KN, Trivedi A, Li C-S, 2015. Evaluation of the realism of climate reconstruction using the Coexistence Approach with modern pollen samples from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 219:172-182. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.03.011. | Find with Google Scholar »Broad Anatomical Variation within a Narrow Wood Density Range—A Study of Twig Wood across 69 Australian Angiosperms
Ziemińska K, Westoby M, Wright IJ, 2015. Broad Anatomical Variation within a Narrow Wood Density Range—A Study of Twig Wood across 69 Australian Angiosperms. PLoS ONE 10:e0124892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124892. | Find with Google Scholar »First records of the grey nurse shark Carcharias taurus (Lamniformes: Odontaspididae) from oceanic coral reefs in the Timor Sea
Momigliano, P. and V. F. Jaiteh (2015). "First records of the grey nurse shark Carcharias taurus (Lamniformes: Odontaspididae) from oceanic coral reefs in the Timor Sea." Marine Biodiversity Records 8: e56 | Find with Google Scholar »On the Importance of First Principles in Ecological Theory Development
Marquet PA, Allen AP, Brown JH, Dunne JA, Enquist BJ, Gillooly JF, Gowaty PA, Harte J, Hubbell SP, Okie JG, Ostling A, Ritchie M, Storch D, West GB, 2015. On the Importance of First Principles in Ecological Theory Development. Bioscience 65:342-343. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biv015be. | Find with Google Scholar »The Value of Artificial Stimuli in Behavioural Research: Making the Case for Egg Rejection Studies in Avian Brood Parasitism
Hauber ME, Tong LG, Ban M, Croston R, Grim T, Waterhouse GIN, Shawkey MD, Barron AB, Moskat C, 2015. The Value of Artificial Stimuli in Behavioural Research: Making the Case for Egg Rejection Studies in Avian Brood Parasitism. Ethology 121:521-528. doi: 10.1111/eth.12359. | Find with Google Scholar »Effect of plant oils on quality parameters of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) reared on liquid larval diet
Khan M, 2015. Effect of plant oils on quality parameters of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) reared on liquid larval diet. Journal of Applied Entomology 139:280-288. doi: 10.1111/jen.12154. | Find with Google Scholar »Microhabitat use affects goby (Gobiidae) cue choice in spatial learning task
White GE, Brown C, 2015. Microhabitat use affects goby (Gobiidae) cue choice in spatial learning task. Journal of Fish Biology 86:1305-1318. doi: 10.1111/jfb.12638. | Find with Google Scholar »Rarefaction and extrapolation of phylogenetic diversity
Chao A, Chiu CH, Hsieh TC, Davis T, Nipperess DA, Faith DP, 2015. Rarefaction and extrapolation of phylogenetic diversity. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 6:380-388. doi: 10.1111/2041-210x.12247 | Find with Google Scholar »The Gini index brings asymmetric competition to light
Cordonnier T, Kunstler G, 2015. The Gini index brings asymmetric competition to light. Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics 17:107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.ppees.2015.01.001. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Invasive lionfish arrive in Brazil
Biologist Ozmas Luiz contributed to important conservation work that identified the origin of the highly invasive lionfish, recently discovered in Brazil.
Common lionfish at Shaab El Erg reef (landscape crop)” by Alexander Vasenin
Read more »
Animal Homes – film by PBS Nature
Siobhan Dennison was the consulting Biologist for this excellent episode on animal homes. Her expertise on Australian skins feature at 21:45.