The ACER pollen and charcoal database: a global resource to document vegetation and fire response to abrupt climate changes during the last glacial period
By: Sánchez Goñi, M.F., Desprat, S., Daniau, A.L., Bassinot, F.C., Polanco-Martínez, J.M., Harrison, S.P., Allen, J.R., Anderson, R.S., Behling, H., Bonnefille, R. and Burjachs, F., 2017. Earth System Science Data Discussions. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
I hope you are all enjoying the relative peace of the mid-semester break. I’m on holidays all next week – Grant Hose is in complete charge of everything!
cheerio,
Michelle
Save the Date
This coming week 25th – 29th September
Mon 25th: MRes S2 Seminars; 9am – 4pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Wed 27th: Farewell to Suchitra and Phil Morning Tea; 10:30am – 11:30am; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Wed 27th: No seminar due to break.
Wed 27th: MQ Graduation ceremony for Biological Sciences
Thu 28th: Writing Workshop; 2:30-4:30pm, E8C-212.
Following week 2nd – 6th October
Tue 3rd: Special Seminar – A/Prof Maren Wellenreuther “Women in Science: Highlighting the changing face of evolutionary biology”; 1 – 2pm; C5C Forum Room (note: this is a new venue).
Tue 3rd: Departmental Meeting; 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Wed 4th: Department Morning Tea; 10:30am – 11:30am; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Wed 4th: Dr Lesley Lancaster, University of Aberdeen; 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Thu 5th: Writing Workshop; 2:30-4:30pm, E8C-212.
Coming up
Every Thursday for the next few months: Writing Workshop; 2:30-4:00pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Oct 9th: Maurizio Manuguerra – Commitment, engagement and learning in a large cohort of students; 4pm – 5pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Oct 11th: Faculty Safety Fair 10am to 2pm Biology Courtyard.
Nov 13-14: Department Retreat for Academic Staff; venue Kooindah Waters Central Coast.
Nov 23rd: Todd Philips – Embedding Indigenous content into the Biology curriculum; 4pm – 5pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Dec 5th: Formal Department Meeting for Grading, followed by the Christmas Party.
Department seminar schedule
October 11th: Dr John Martin, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
October 18th: Ayesha Tulloch
October 25th: Associate Professor Carla Sgro, Monash University
November 1st: Dr Marc Seid, University of Scranton, USA
November 8th: Associate Professor Bob Wong, Monash University
November 15th: Professor Dan Blumstein, UCLA
November 22nd: Associate Professor Nathan Lo, The University of Sydney
General News and Announcements
Advancing the Role of Women in Science – Dr Maren Wellenreuther
Free Public Lecture – Women have made significant contributions to science from the earliest times. However, they have not always been given the same recognition as their male counterparts, and still face many subtle barriers during their career. In this talk, Maren will discuss some of the reasons why contributions by women have been largely overlooked and showcase how we can help to show young female scientists that it can be done, and that things are changing for the better.
This free public lecture is open to the Macquarie community and general public. For information on transport and parking at Macquarie University please go here
Event to be held at the following time, date and location: Tuesday, 3 October 2017 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (AEDT), Macquarie University, Building C5C, Forum Room,Sydney, NSW 2109
MRes S2 Seminars on Monday
Day/Date/Time/Place: Monday, 25th September, 9:00 – 4:00pm (first talk starts 9:15), E8A-280 (Tea Room).
At these seminars our completing students will present their findings and our newly commenced students will present their plans. Please come and show your support.
Learning and Teaching Seminars
L&T seminar line up, so far we have:
Who: Maurizio Manuguerra
Date: Thursday 19th October, 4-5pm (E8A 280)
Title: Commitment, engagement and learning in a large cohort of students
Who: Todd Philips
Date: Thursday 23rd November, 4-5pm (E8A 280)
Title: Embedding Indigenous content into the Biology curriculum
Both talks will be followed by the Thursday Drinks, Department event!
Advanced Science Internships
Need some help with research for four weeks? Paid internships are available for our advanced science students to undertake an equivalent of four weeks paid work over summer. This can be full time or over more than four weeks.
PhD students – this is a great way for you to get some supervision experience. Your supervisor needs to agree to this though.
Email <michelle.power@mq.edu.au> with project name and timing constraints by Sept 28.
Get Paid for Outreach Lesson Plans!
As a Department we want to offer a range of high quality learning activities, for outreach events, that are related to our research and teaching. We are looking for people to help create these lesson plans. We will pay (HDR, MRes, or excellent UG students) 10 hours at Dem rates to develop an idea into a lesson plan (please see attached form) and resources. If you are interested please contact Kath <katherine.mcclellan@mq.edu.au> or Matt <matthew.bulbert@mq.edu.au> to discuss your ideas.
Get Kids Interested in Science!
Many of you have children in day care or who attend the vacation care here on campus. The Biology Outreach Committee has been approached by Children’s Services at Macquarie to help develop science-based exploration-activities for Gumnut and Banksia Cottages, and science activities for the Junior Science Academy. If you are interested in helping to develop a science topic into an activity, Kylie Hurd <kylie.hurd@mq.edu.au> and Maria Bennett <maria.bennett@mq.edu.au> would love to hear from you! They would want to meet with you for 30 minutes to discuss how to turn your idea into 20 min day care activity, or a 30 min lesson plan for the Junior Science Academy.
An Additional HDR Supervision Enhancement Workshop Has Been Scheduled
HDR23 – Guiding students to Success in Intercultural Ethical Engagement (Indigenous Issues and Beyond):
Facilitated by Prof Richie Howitt and Dr Liza-Mare Syron
Wednesday 4 October 10:00 am – 11:30
Further details can be found at:
Register soon as places are limited!
Biological Sciences Administrative Team Roles and Responsibilities
The new team is now in place and is here to help you with administrative support. Please click on this document for the team’s contact details and a list of what each team member takes care of.
If you are still unsure of who to approach about something, please email <sci.bio-adm@mq.edu.au> and one of the helpful admin staff members will attend to it.
Biological Sciences – Administration Team as at 20 September 2017
Admin Team Update
Suchitra Patki will be finishing with our Department on Wednesday, 27 September 2017. Please direct any finance related question to Vincent D’Cruz.
Biology Morning Tea – Thank you and farewell to Suchitra Patki and Phil Dartnell – Biology Tearoom E8A 280.
We’ve had to move around the morning teas for the next couple of weeks, which I’ve updated on the biological sciences events calendar.
Plant of the Week
This week, Eremophila – Emu Bushes. Eremophila is an Australian endemic genus with more than 260 species, mostly shrubs with colourful flowers. White, mauve and blue flowered species are mostly pollinated by insects; red, yellow and orange species are mostly pollinated by birds. Display courtesy of Lorraine Hardwick.
STEM Speakers in Schools
What is it?
The Speakers in Schools program places Macquarie University academics in schools to connect students and teachers with researchers who inspire, inform and challenge students to question their thinking. Presentations discuss hot topics, global issues affecting society, have inspirational and significant impact for students.
How does it work?
We request that interested schools give us 4 weeks’ notice with some suggested dates, Alison Willard (FSE Future Students) will then liaise with you to see if any of those dates suit your schedule. The FSE Future Students Team provides transport for you (either someone will accompanying and drive you, or you can get a cab charge voucher).
Are you interested?
Please express your interest here:
Work experience_volunteer Application Form 2017
Special Seminar
Day/Date/Time/Place: Tuesday 26th September, 12:00 – 1:00pm, E7A801
Speaker: Judi Hewitt, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research New Zealand
Title: Using benthic macro-species biological traits: which traits and what for? (Judi Hewitt, Simon Thrush, Anna Villnäs)
Abstract: Use of the biological traits of marine species has expanded rapidly since the Bremner et al 2003 paper introduced the topic to a marine audience. However, specific biological traits have formed the basis of many ecological theories (e.g., habitat-related effects on biodiversity, succession theory) and impact assessment (responses to enrichment and fishing activities). Today, biological traits are used for a range of purposes, e.g.: assessing sensitivity of locations to various human activities; understanding resilience via functional diversity and redundancy; assessing ecosystem functionality and services; and predicting/modelling disturbance/recovery processes. Most studies demonstrate that results are dependent on which biological traits are included and whether they are grouped to functions. In reality, the traits or grouping used depends on the question(s) behind the study. Here I summarise some NZ and Finnish work that looks at what traits might be useful for particular questions, whether particular traits co-occur and how we assign species to traits.
Speaker Bio: Judi is a soft-sediment benthic ecologist, with a statistical background and a PhD from Abo Akademi in Finland. She has worked mainly on issues of scale, study design and merging ecological theory with empirical observations. Her interests include: Coastal and estuarine marine ecology; Biological and ecological mapping; Spatial and temporal variation in populations and communities; Ecological impact assessment, particularly of diffuse source and/or broad-scale effects; Design and implementation of ecological monitoring programs; and Functional, community and habitat biodiversity.
Special Seminar
Day/Date/Time/Place: Wednesday 27th September, 1:00 – 2:00pm, E3A244
<Speaker: Asta Audzijonyte, University of Tasmania
Title: Reproduction cost as a fundamental species trait and how it can explain fish life-histories
Abstract: In many species reproductive behaviour, such as migration, mating, nest guarding or competition for mates entails remarkable energetic costs. These costs will set the minimum individual’s condition or energy required for reproduction and will affect the optimal maturation size and age. Further, at least in aquatic ectotherms and particular in fish, the relative reproduction cost often declines with individual’s size. It seems that a number of fish life-history strategies, such as delayed maturation, skipped spawning and indeterminate growth can be explained when the cost of reproduction is taken into account. Declining relative reproduction cost can also help explain why “big old fat fecund female fish (BOFFFs)” seem to provide disproportionally high contribution to population growth. Yet, most ecological models do not include energetic reproductive cost in individual’s energy budget and assume that spawn increases linearly with female’s body mass. I will present an ectotherm growth model with explicit energetic and survival cost of reproduction. The model can reproduce a range of emergent growth trajectories, maturation ages and reproductive outputs. The model is parameterised for the Baltic Sea cod (Gadus morhua) and used to explore optimal maturation age and size at different fishing mortality regimes. We find that under high fishing mortality the optimal maturation size of the Baltic Sea cod is ten times larger than what was suggested in earlier models that did not include reproduction cost. Moreover, since reproduction cost sets limits on how early maturation can occur, increasing fitness under high fishing mortality is instead achieved by diverting most energy to reproduction, even if that results in very low post-reproductive condition and high mortality.
Speaker Bio: Asta Audzijonyte has completed her MSc in zoology at the University of Vilnius (Lithuania) and received a PhD in 2006 in molecular ecology and zoology at the University of Helsinki. She then moved to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (USA) to study connectivity of deep sea chemosynthetic communities. Asta joined CSIRO in 2009, taking on a new research direction of applying ecosystem models to understand the effects of human induced evolution on the oceans and later also worked at the University of Helsinki to study similar questions in the Baltic Sea. In May 2017 Asta started as a research fellow at the University of Tasmania. Her work focuses on applying size spectrum models to illuminate the role of marine species redistributions on ecosystem dynamics and productivity. When not thinking about science, Asta spends time enjoying their off grid property in Tasmanian bush, growing vegetables, playing flute, and being a mum.
New Volunteers list
The latest volunteers list and updated volunteers form are available. Please contact Ray / Jenny for more information.
IPCC Call for Author Nominations for the Sixth Assessment Report: Due Tuesday 3 October 2017
The IPCC has issued a call for nominations for experts (authors and review editors) to participate in the development of the Working Group reports that comprise the Sixth Assessment Report. If anyone in the department is interested and would like more information about the IPCC and likely time commitment, please contact Lesley Hughes.
The IPCC has issued a call for nominations for experts (authors and review editors) to participate in the development of the Working Group reports that comprise the Sixth Assessment Report:
Working Group I assesses the scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change.
Working Group II assesses the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of vulnerabilities and impacts of climate change and the adaptation needs, options, opportunities and constraints to reduce current and future risks.
Working Group III assesses the scientific, technical, environmental, economic and social aspects of the mitigation of climate change.
The outline for the AR6 reports were approved by the IPCC at its 46th Session and are attached for information. The report development will take place over three years, from 2018 to 2020.
Australia’s IPCC National Focal Point is responsible for submitting nominations of potential Australian expert participants, to the IPCC Bureau. Mr Sturgiss therefore invites you to submit applications from experts from your institution, comprising:
1. a completed application form (attached), and
2. a CV (4 pages maximum) that includes examples of coordination and collaboration in national and international forums.
AR6_WGI_outlines_P46 AR6_WGII_outlines_P46 AR6_WGIII_outlines_P46 AR6 WGI nomination form AR6 WGII nomination form AR6 WGIII nomination form
To all Friends of RHHFFPS!
On Sunday 8 October, the Ryde-Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society is presenting walks and talks by Cathy Goswell of the Cumberland Bird Observers’ Club, introducing local birdlife on level areas of the Field of Mars Reserve, East Ryde.
Walks start at 8.30 and 10.30, BBQ at 9.30.
Meet at the Visitor Centre. Main entry is from Pittwater Road, opposite Buffalo Creek Reserve. If the weather is wet, Cathy will give an illustrated talk in the Visitor Centre. Children aged 5-12 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring water, closed shoes and a hat. Gold coin donations are welcome to cover costs!
Registration is essential as numbers are limited, so contact <rhhffps@gmail.com> as early as possible. Please indicate which of the two walks you prefer.
Did You Participate in an Outreach Activity Recently for the Department?
Don’t forget to fill in the super-quick form here – – ACCESS OUTREACH FORM HERE
REP masterclass: ‘On the Origins of Art’
Friday 20 October 2017 (12-noon – 4:30pm)
Engagement with and appreciation of art could be described as defining of all human cultures. Why? Can we ask or answer the question of where human art came from and why we are an artistic species. Elizabeth Pearce is the chief curator of an exhibition at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart which is exploring these issues. Her exhibition and thinking draw on contributions from philosophy, neuroscience and psychology to explore these issues. In this transdisciplinary workshop, we will explore where human artistic endeavour might have come from.
Click here to register for ‘On the Origins of Art.’
REP Masterclass: Making Your Science Matter: Linking Science with Action to Improve the World
Two-hour workshop running on Tuesday, October 24th (2-4 pm)
Instructors:
Dr. Elizabeth Madin, Macquarie University
Dr. Emily Darling, Wildlife Conservation Society
Dr. Marah Hardt, Future of Fish
Prof. Lesley Hughes, Macquarie University
Co-badged with MQU Marine Research Centre
We all want to feel like our research matters…but it is sometimes hard to know how to make it relevant to people and institutions beyond academia. How can we best make our science understood, appreciated, and perhaps even acted upon by policy-makers? These are the kinds of questions we will delve into. Inspired by the book “Escape from the Ivory Tower” by Nancy Baron, this short course will help you improve your ability to design and communicate your science to benefit the world at large.
Participant numbers will be capped (first-in secures a place).
Click here to register for ‘Making your science matter: Linking science with action to improve the world.’
Positions Vacant
There are five vacancies on the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council and the Minister is seeking nominations for the following categories:
- expertise and experience in Aboriginal cultural heritage conservation
- scientific qualifications in areas associated with the conservation of nature
- expertise and experience in environmental education and community involvement in environmental education
- expertise and experience in rural and regional development and planning issues
- expertise and experience in bush fire management
Positions are remunerated.
Closing date: 29 September 2017
Additions to the Department Matters
You may have noticed that we try to keep all the articles to the same format for the Department Matters, however, rest assured, they do NOT all turn up in this format! To help keep your Department Matters looking as good as possible, when sending in additions to the Newsletter, please try to keep these formatting guidelines in mind.
- Please write in third person. The information is coming from the Newsletter, not directly from you.
- Do not use fancy text formatting. Bold heading, normal text, and only italics or bold to highlight. No font size changes will make it through, sorry.
- If sending via email, set your email output to basic. HTML output will add all sort of formatting that will have to be removed before your article can go into the newsletter.
Keeping to these guidelines will streamline your article’s addition to the newsletter. Thank you.
New Publications
Combining dispersal, landscape connectivity and habitat suitability to assess climateinduced changes in the distribution of Cunningham’s skink, Egernia cunninghami
By; Ofori, Benjamin Y., Adam J. Stow, John B. Baumgartner, and Linda J. Beaumont. PloS one 12, no. 9 (2017): e0184193. | Find with Google Scholar »Spatial variation in the temporal resolution of subtropical shallow-water molluscan death assemblages
By: RITTER, MATIAS DO NASCIMENTO, FERNANDO ERTHAL, MATTHEW A. KOSNIK, JOÃO CARLOS COIMBRA, and DARRELL S. KAUFMAN. Palaios 32, no. 9 (2017): 572-583. | Find with Google Scholar »Towards a universal model for carbon dioxide uptake by plants
By: Wang, Han, I. Colin Prentice, Trevor F. Keenan, Tyler W. Davis, Ian J. Wright, William K. Cornwell, Bradley J. Evans, and Changhui Peng. Nature Plants 3, no. 9 (2017): 734-741. | Find with Google Scholar »Direct and trans-generational effects of male and female gut microbiota in Drosophila melanogaster
By; Morimoto, Juliano, Stephen J. Simpson, and Fleur Ponton. Biology letters 13, no. 7 (2017): 20160966. | Find with Google Scholar »Proxies of energy expenditure for marine mammals: an experimental test of “the time trap”
By: Monique A. Ladds, David A. S. Rosen, David J. Slip & Robert G. Harcourt. 2017. SCIentIFIC RePorts | 7: 11815 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-11576-4 | Find with Google Scholar »Marine Mammals Exploring the Oceans Pole to Pole: A Review of the MEOP Consortium
By Anne M. Treasure, Fabien Roquet, Isabelle J. Ansorge, Marthán N. Bester, Lars Boehme, Horst Bornemann, Jean-Benoit Charrassin, Damien Chevallier, Daniel P. Costa, Mike A. Fedak, Christophe Guinet, Mike O. Hammill, Robert G. Harcourt, Mark A. Hindell, Kit M. Kovacs, Mary-Anne Lea, Phil Lovell, Andrew D. Lowther, Christian Lydersen, Trevor McIntyre, Clive R. McMahon, Mônica M.C. Muelbert, Keith Nicholls, Baptiste Picard, Gilles Reverdin, Andrew W. Trites, Guy D. Williams, and P.J. Nico de Bruyn. 2017. Oceanography 30(2):132–138 | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Martin Whiting was featured in the New York Post
Research by Associate Professor Martin Whiting from the Department of Biological Sciences was featured in the New York Post in an article on how a species of male frogs change colour when mating.
Phil Taylor was interviewed on ABC regional radio and featured on ABC online
Professor Phil Taylor from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on ABC regional radio and featured on ABC online on the development of a new type of fly food that could help double the number of sterile fruit flies that are in need in science labs.
Michael Gillings contributed an article for The Conversation, and also spoke to ABC Radio National PM, ABC Radio Canberra and Radio New Zealand
Professor Michael Gillings from the Department of Biological Sciences contributed the article ‘Bacterial baggage: how humans are spreading germs all over the globe’ to The Conversation, and also spoke to ABC Radio National PM, ABC Radio Canberra and Radio New Zealand in relation to his new article which outlines the situation that human activities are disseminating microbes around the globe with potentially detrimental impacts.
Lesley Hughes was interviewed on Radio National Breakfast, 4BC, 5AA, 6PR, 3AW, ABC Radio Canberra Afternoons and ABC Illawarra’s NSW Country Hour.
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on Radio National Breakfast, 4BC, 5AA, 6PR and 3AW on a Climate Council report that reveals that Australia has recorded its hottest winter on record. See page 1 of this report.
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on ABC Radio Canberra Afternoons and ABC Illawarra’s NSW Country Hour in further coverage of a Climate Council report that reveals that Australia has recorded its hottest winter on record. See page 5 of this report.