Australian Endemic Species Research Articles

Estimated 1080 dose rate for the M-44 ejector for the control of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Recent studies have suggested that bait movement and caching by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) may increase the potential risk of off-target effects from 1080 meat baits close to urban habitats. The M-44 ejector is an alternative way to deliver 1080 to foxes that will eliminate bait movement and caching. Whilst the M-44 ejector has been used for the control of foxes using cyanide in the United States, we investigated its use with 1080 as a toxicant. Exotic eutherian carnivores are generally more sensitive to 1080 than are most Australian endemic wildlife species, yet no useful difference in sensitivity to cyanide exists for these groups. The lower risk associated with occupational exposure to 1080 compared with cyanide suggests that it is a more desirable toxicant for fox control. Pen trials were undertaken in order to establish an appropriate capsule dose of 1080 to be used in the ejector. A minimum capsule dose of 2.7 mg of 1080 is estimated to be consistently lethal to foxes weighing up to 8.3 kg. The recommended dose is below the current meat bait dose of 3.0 mg 1080 used in Victoria. This may represent an improvement in occupational safety and a reduction in non-target risk.

Bees of the Euhesma crabronica species-group (Hymenoptera: Colletidae: Euryglossinae)

– Seven endemic Australian species of Euhesma bees are described as new: E. evansi, E. lucida, E. sulcata, E. thala, E. undeneya, E. wowine and E. yeatesi. Line drawings and a key to females enable separation of species. Known distributions are mapped.

The use of ribosomal ITS to determine phylogenetic relationships within Sorghum

For the first time, a combined analysis of the ITS1 regions of all twenty-five Sorghum species has been undertaken. Parsimony analysis revealed a distinct lineage of Sorghum consisting of the cultivated species and their progenitors plus S. angustum, S. brachypodum, S. ecarinatum, S. macrospermum, S. laxiflorum and Saccharum officinarum. A second unsupported lineage consists of the Parasorghum and Stiposorghum species S. grande, S. leiocladum, S. nitidum, S. purpureosericeum, S. timorense, S. versicolor, S. amplum, S. bulbosum, S. interjectum, S. plumosum, S. stipoideum and the African grass Cleistachne sorghoides. Three Australian endemic species, S. angustum, S. brachypodum and S. ecarinatum, are closely related to S. bicolor, with S. angustum showing no difference to S. bicolor in ITS1 sequence. Sorghum macrospermum and S. laxiflorum form a strong clade within the Eusorghum branch indicating closer relationships to this group than to any of the Parasorghum or Stiposorghum species. Saccharum officinarum has shown closer relationships to Sorghum than to Zea mays, while the close relationship of Cleistachne sorghoides to Sorghum has been confirmed. These relationships between Sorghum species provide an important guide for plant breeders to exploit the wider Sorghum genepool through crosses between wild and cultivated species in an effort to improve sorghum production.

Morphology of Laurencia clavata and L. elata (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) in relation to generic circumscription in the Laurencia complex

Laurencia Lamouroux (Rhodophyta) was recently separated into three genera–Laurencia, Chondrophycus (Tokida et Saito) Garbary et Harper and Osmundea Stackhouse – each of which was newly defined based on vegetative and reproductive structures. In this study, the previously unknown vegetative and reproductive morphology of two Australian endemic species of Laurencia, L. clavata Sonder and L. elata (C. Agardh) Harvey, was studied, particularly in the context of the revised generic delineation. These species exhibit vegetative axes with four pericentral cells and trichoblast-type spermatangial development. Tetrasporangia are abaxially produced from the existing third and fourth pericentral cells. L. clavata has terete thalli with distinctive verticillate branching and is similar to Chondria C. Agardh, rather than to Laurencia, in having an unusually marked constriction at the base of the branches and starch accumulation in subcortical and medullary cells. Compared to Laurencia, apical cells of this species exhibit a less oblique division ; the resulting recognizable axial cell rows extend somewhat below the branches, and particularly at a young stage they are also clear throughout branchlets. However, other vegetative and spermatangial structures show that L. clavata is more closely allied to Laurencia than to Chondria, and it is placed in Laurencia. By contrast, L. elata exhibits morphology typical of Laurencia and is characterized by large, robust, compressed thalli with fastigiately distichous branching and an extensive secondary cortex. Furthermore, it appears to be distinct from similar species in sometimes having a parasitic species of Janczewskia Solms-Laubach (Rhodophyta). Taxonomy of Laurencia is discussed on the basis of these and previous studies.

Morphology of Laurencia clavata and L. elata (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) in relation to generic circumscription in the Laurencia complex

Laurencia Lamouroux (Rhodophyta) was recently separated into three genera–Laurencia, Chondrophycus (Tokida et Saito) Garbary et Harper and Osmundea Stackhouse – each of which was newly defined based on vegetative and reproductive structures. In this study, the previously unknown vegetative and reproductive morphology of two Australian endemic species of Laurencia, L. clavata Sonder and L. elata (C. Agardh) Harvey, was studied, particularly in the context of the revised generic delineation. These species exhibit vegetative axes with four pericentral cells and trichoblast-type spermatangial development. Tetrasporangia are abaxially produced from the existing third and fourth pericentral cells. L. clavata has terete thalli with distinctive verticillate branching and is similar to Chondria C. Agardh, rather than to Laurencia, in having an unusually marked constriction at the base of the branches and starch accumulation in subcortical and medullary cells. Compared to Laurencia, apical cells of this species exh...

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness among six endemic Pterostylis species (Orchidaceae; series Grandiflorae) of Western Australia, as revealed by allozyme polymorphisms.

Starch gel electrophoresis was employed to survey the allozyme polymorphism and phylogenetic relationships among 35 populations covering six closely related Western Australian endemic Pterostylis species (series Grandiflorae); viz P. rogersii, P. aspera, P. angusta, P. hamiltonii, P. scabra and P. aff. alata. The aim of this study was to determine intraspecific and interspecific genetic diversity and species relationships based on allozyme analysis. The frequencies of 56 alleles at 12 enzyme systems coded by 15 loci were determined along with a mean intraspecific genetic identity value. Allozyme markers clearly discriminated populations belonging to different species. Nei's genetic distance/identity co-efficient was used to measure the level of genetic differentiation among populations and species. Based on these values, a dendrogram was constructed which revealed that all the populations clustered into groups corresponding to the respective species. Gene diversity analysis among all the species revealed total genetic diversity H(t) of 0.23 with co-efficient of gene differentiation 10% (G(st)=0.10). Mean genetic variability (H(e)=0.136, P=40%) was also higher than for other outbreeding plant species. Mean genetic identity coefficient of populations of all species was 0.859 which increased to 0.877 upon exclusion of P. aff. alata, indicating a high degree of similarity among all species except P. aff. alata which segregated distinctively from the rest. Overall, the investigation provided independent support for the morphological segregation of these taxa.

Notes and new species of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) from Australia

Nine new endemic Australian species are described inEriocaulon as E. athertonense,E. carpentariae, E. clarksonii,E. inapertum, E. nematophyllum,E. odontospermum, E. patericola,E. scullioni and E. tricornum.Lectotypification and clarification of application of the nameE. depressum R.Br. ex Sm. is provided andE. arfakense Royen cited as a new synonym.Eriocaulon brunonis Britten is lectotypified and thetaxon suggested as of hybrid origin involvingE. spectabile F.Muell.Eriocaulon graphitinum F.Muell. & Tate ex Ewart & Cookson is lectotypified and established as a synonym ofE. pygmaeum Sol. ex Sm. Lectotypes are chosen forE. deustum R.Br., E. depressumR.Br., E. heterogynum F.Muell.,E. pygmaeum Sol. ex Sm. andE. scariosum R.Br.

The morphology, reproduction and small-subunit rRNA gene sequence of Cephalocystis (Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyta), a new genus based on Cordylecladia furcellata J. Agardh from Australia

The southeastern Australian endemic species Cordylecladia furcellata J. Agardh differs in habit, minor anatomical, and significant small-subunit rRNA-sequence details from the European type species of the genus, Cordylecladia erecta (Greville) J. Agardh. Particularly conspicuous in C. furcellata are the colourless, apical, pod-like structures to which all reproductive stages are confined, in contrast to C. erecta in which spermatangia and tetrasporangia occur in linear, subterminal swellings and cystocarps form in dense aggregates along otherwise unmodified axes. The new genus Cephalocystis is proposed to include, as type species, C. furcellata (J. Agardh) comb. nov., plus an undescribed New South Wales species, C. leucobotrys sp. nov. The latter differs mainly in the position of the cystocarps, which occur in subterminal clusters on major axes rather than in terminal hyaline pods. Given the similarity of habit, vegetative anatomy and cystocarp position in the European type species of Cordylecladia and Cephalocystis leucobotrys from eastern Australia, the molecular data indicating substantial phylogenetic distance between the European and Australian species are accorded major taxonomic weight.

The population genetic structure of the rust fungus Melampsora lini as revealed by pathogenicity, isozyme and RFLP markers

Isozyme and RFLP markers were used to investigate genetic variation underlying the racial structure of populations of Melampsora lini occurring on the Australian endemic host species, Linum marginale. Previous studies of the pathogenicity of isolates occurring in a series of discrete but interconnected populations detected an overall structure characterized by linkage disequilibrium—indicative of a pathogen population reproducing asexually as a number of clonal lines (Burdon & Jarosz, 1992), Using samples from that study, we detected two isozyme multi‐locus phenotypes. One of these was restricted to two closely related races which appear to be examples of recent migrants into the area. Variation was also detected among and between races of the pathogen using two RFLP markers. Differences detected by one of these markers suggested the occurrence of a previous migrational event. Variation in the other marker detected two phenotypes within three common, widespread races. However, not all possible phenotypes were recovered, suggesting that the variation detected was not generated by recent sexual recombination.

The Rediscovery and Distribution of Rumex drummondii (Polygonaceae) in South-Western Australia

Rumex drummondii Meisn., a south-western Australian endemic vascular plant species recorded from widely separated localities, had not been collected for 46 years and was considered possibly extinct. The methods developed from search theory, which has been used for finding lost people or objects, were applied to finding R. drummondii, starting from previous records. Eleven populations of the species were discovered within a 50 km radius in the Kalgan River and Manypeaks region. A disjunct population of six plants was found in 1992 in a parking area at a crossing of the Moore River, 480 km north north west of the others, but had disappeared by 1994. Surveys in the Gingin Brook and Moore River region and between Kalannie and Kulja, another disjunct record, failed to find further plants. The species occupies temporarily wet depressions, lake edges and roadside excavations and dam edges protected from grazing by sheep; habitats also occupied by congeneric weedy species. The species occurs on road verges and farmland and is known from one nature reserve. The rediscovery of R. drummondii enables it to be included in the assessment of potential biological control agents for related weed species in the genera Emex and Rumex.

Temporal Changes of Floral Nectar-sugar Composition in Polyscias sambucifolia (Sieb. ex Dc.) Harms (Araliaceae)

Polyscias sambucifolia (Sieb. ex DC.) Harms, an endemic Australian species of the Araliaceae, is strongly dichogamous and andromonoecious. Petals and stamens are present only in the male sexual phase, although nectar is secreted in both the male and female sexual phases. This study characterised the changes of the major nectar-sugars secreted in each sexual phase. The implications of such shifts in nectar composition with respect to the morphological dissimilarity of the two sexual phases are considered.Field based sampling with HPLC analysis was employed to characterise the major sugar content of nectar. During flowering, nectar consisted of equal amounts of fructose and glucose, with negligible amounts of sucrose. There was statistically significant variation in the concentration of fructose and glucose in each sexual phase. Male phase nectar had approximately 6% of the sugar concentration of the female phase nectar in hermaphrodite flowers. The effect of pollination upon nectar secretion was also investigated. Hand pollinations resulted in an attenuated nectar secretion duration and the production of nectar with a reduced sugar content.

CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia

The book is an authority on scientific and vernacular names for Australian plants of economic significance including: crop plants; fodder; trees and shrubs; forest trees; pasture and forage plants; oil bearing plants; honey producing plants; plants poisonous to livestock; weeds of pasture, cultivation and irrigation; Aboriginal food and medicinal plants. Additional information is provided on plant distribution (by state), life form and duration. Plants are identified as native, endemic Australian species or introduced species. The book is a completely revised and expanded edition following A Checklist of Economic Plants in Australia by W. Hartley. It should prove a useful reference for everyone associated with agriculture and the plant sciences in Australia.

Larsenaikia, a new genus of the Rubiaceae from Australia

A new genus, Larsenaikia, (tribe Gardenieae, sensu stricto) is described on material from Queensland and the Northern Territory for three endemic Australian species of Gardenia, recently transferred to Kailarsenia. Description and affinities of the new genus and Kailarsenia, as well as distribution map and illustrations are given. Keys to the species of both Larsenaikia and Kailarsenia are provided. Larsenaikia has three species confined to tropical Australia; Kailarsenia with six to seven species has a wider distribution in tropical Asia.

The Kellerberrin project on fragmented landscapes: A review of current information

Overall, the wheatbelt of Western Australia occupies 14 million ha and has had 93% of its native vegetation removed over the past 100 years, much of it disappearing within the last 50 years. This rapid and extensive clearing, together with the introductions of exotic and Australian endemic species to the region, have resulted in a significant loss of native species—both plants and animals. The vegetation which remains is present as small remnant patches. The resulting collection of remnants significantly under-represents several of the major vegetation types. In addition, many of the remnants are severely degraded as a result of grazing and other disturbances (such as nutrient enrichment and other impacts from surrounding agricultural lands), and species are still being lost. The Kellerberrin area is the focus of a study by CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology into the conservation potential of remnants of native vegetation and the options available for their management. The study has centred on a 1680 km 2 area and examines the structure and dynamics both of individual remnants and of remnant networks within the agricultural matrix. Without active management, many remnants will be unable to continue to support native plant and animal communities. Management must be based on existing information and refined as more data become available. Research and management must, therefore, interact strongly.

Branchioglossum epiphyticum sp. nov. (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta), with a discussion of the generic boundaries between Branchioglossum and Hypoglossum

Abstract Branchioglossum epiphyticum sp. nov. (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta), a diminutive, creeping epiphyte, is described from subtidal habitats at Split Solitary Island (30°14′S; 153°11′E), New South Wales, Australia. The new species regularly demonstrates two modes of branching: marginal, in which a second-order initial converts into a first-order initial, and endogenous, in which branches arise from the primary cell row. These branch modes have been employed traditionally to define the genera Branchioglossum and Hypoglossum, respectively. It has been necessary to broaden the circumscription of Branchioglossum to include B. epiphyticum because of the presence of both marginal and endogenous branching. The difficulties regarding the continued separation of Bran-chioglossum and Hypoglossum are discussed. Examination of type and recently collected material of the poorly known Western Australian endemic species Branchioglossum crispatulum reveals plants that have exogenous branching and we provisionally exc...

Phylogeny of Australian species of flatheads (Teleostei, Platycephalidae) as determined by allozyme electrophoresis

Phylogenetic relationships of 24 taxa of Platycephalid fish were examined for up to 40 loci using starch and polyacrylarnide gel electrophoresis. Over 400 different enzyme mobilities were scored. The extent of homoplasy was estimated to be between 5 and 12%. Polymorphism at the 1% level was observed at 26 of the 40 loci. The importance of shared polymorphic alleles in cladistic analysis was endorsed by the different results obtained from multistate and binary coding of alleles. Many loci were shown to contain phylogenetically informative ancestral alleles which appear irregularly in extant species. The polymorphism parsimony method provided the most informative results. Genetic similarities between endemic Australian species from each family stem provide the basis for a major revision of subfamilies and genera within the family.

Temperature responses and distribution of Australian species of Cladophora (Cladophorales: Chlorophyta)

Temperature ranges for survival, growth and sporulation of isolates of 11 Cladophora species from Australia, as well as one isolate from Japan, were tested in constant temperature conditions from 0 to 35°C at 5°C intervals over 3 months. These ranges were compared with those previously determined for Cladophora isolates from the North Atlantic Ocean. The Australian endemic species, Cladophora feredayi Harvey, Cladophora valonioides Sonder and Cladophora rhizoclonioidea van den Hoek et Womersley, had stenothermal responses. They are unable to survive below 5–10°C or above 20–25°C and have a very narrow growth range (∼ 15–20°C) which confines them to the southern coasts of Australia. Another group of species occurs in both hemispheres, or has closely related “sister” species in each hemisphere, but is absent from the intervening tropics. Cladophora att. ad pellucida, Cladophora hutchinsioides van den Hoek et Womersley and Cladophora flexuosa (Mueller) Kuetzing from Australia, were less cold tolerant and/or more heat tolerant than their North Atlantic counterparts ( Cladophora pellucida (Hudson) Kuetzing, Cladophora hutchinsiae (Dillwyn) Kuetzing, C. flexuosa and the related species, Cladophora sericea (Hudson) Kuetzing). A third group of species occurs in both hemispheres and is widely distributed through the tropics. Cladophora vagabunda (L.) van den Hoek, Cladophora laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kuetzing and Cladophora lehmanniana (Lindenberg) Kuetzing isolates from Australia, and Cladophora albida (Hudson) Kuetzing isolates from Australia and Japan had similar responses to isolates from the North Atlantic. In contrast, Cladophora montagneana Kuetzing, from Australia and Curaçao, had very different responses. Only two of the 11 species studied ( C. feredayi and C. vagabunda) have sufficient collections in Australia to show that they occur over the full potential geographic range allowed by their physiological tolerance. All other species could be expected to extend beyond their present known range on the basis of their temperature responses and the seasonal sea temperatures around the Australian coast.

The Identity of Lasianthus graciliflorus Bailey (Rubiaceae)

Summary. Using morphological (inflorescences, flowers, fruit), anatomical (seed-coat) and palynological data it is shown that the Australian endemic species Lasianthus graciliflorus (Rubiaceae), despite some anomalies, is better placed in the genus Ixora. The combination I. graciliflora being preoccupied, a new name, I. baileyana, is provided.

Olfactory response and resource utilization in Drosophila: interspecific comparisons

Olfactory response and resource utilization in Drosophila were compared among three domestic (D. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. immigrans) and one Australian endemic (D. lativittata) species. Olfactory response was measured in a choice type olfactometer (Fuyama, 1976). The following chemicals common in Drosophila resources were used as odourants: acetaldehyde, acetic acid, propionic acid, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol. Resource status of these chemicals was determined either from the literature or by adult longevity tests. All species were attracted by acetaldehyde, while methanol, isopropanol and n-butanol were unattractive. Ethanol attracted all species except D. immigrans, while only D. lativittata and D. melanogaster were attracted to n-propanol, propionic acid and acetic acid Methanol and isopropanol were not utilized as resources by any of the species, while D. melanogaster and D. lativittata showed greater utilization/tolerance of the other chemicals. Some correlation between resource utilization and olfactory response was found at the interspecific level, although not all chemicals utilized as resources are attractants. The adaptive significance of the interspecific variation in olfactory response is discussed, especially in relation to habitats selected. The results provide suggestions for habitat selection studies at the intraspecific level.

A NEW SPECIES OF ORNITHONYSSUS SAMBON FROM TASMANIA (ACARI: DERMANYSSIDAE)

Abstract O. dasyuri sp. n. is figured and described from the dasyurid marsupial Dasyurus viverrinus (Shaw) in Tasmania. It shares with the 3 known endemic Australian species the character setae j3 retained on dorsal shield, and a key to this group is provided. O. petauri Micherdzinski is newly recorded from the petaurid marsupial Schoinobates volans (Kerr).