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Role of Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) in the nocturnal plant-pollinator network of Kosciuszko National Park
Get PDFNocturnal pollinators are essential for the maintenance of ecosystems because they allow for plant reproduction and play a crucial role in trophic interactions. Moths (Lepidoptera) are important nocturnal pollinators yet have been largely overlooked by researchers due to difficulties associated with field sampling at night. The endangered Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) has recently been found to forage on local flowers during its summer aestivation period in the Australian Alps, but its role as a pollen vector is not yet well understood relative to other nocturnal moths. Understanding plant-pollinator interactions is of particular importance for species likely to be impacted by anthropogenic climate change and will help direct conservation efforts. This study examined how Bogong moths vary in their capacity as pollen vectors compared to other nocturnal moths in Kosciuszko National Park. This was achieved by comparing moth abundance, pollen grain abundance, and pollen richness between different taxa, as well as using network metrics to identify species of structural importance. Using UV light trapping, 132 individuals from 42 moth species were captured and swabbed for pollen, which was then identified and counted using light microscopy. Our findings indicated that Bogong moths were present in greater abundance and carried a more diverse range of pollen taxa than other moths. They had high among- and between-module connectivity in the network, indicating that they are playing an important pollen vector role. Bogong moths were also the only species to carry significant amounts of Eucalyptus pauciflora pollen, possibly suggesting the existence of a mutualistic relationship between two at-risk species
Indiana Jones and the magical artefacts: Powerful objects in popular media and their dangerous connotations
Get PDFPopular media is pervaded by magical artefacts. They drive the narratives of films, television shows, and streaming series, enhance their plots, inform the actions of their characters, and provide the viewer with an entertaining and engaging story. However, constant inclusion of these mystical objects provesdangerous to real-world material culture, whether intentional or not. This essay explores how seemingly innocent fictional objects can harm the discipline of archaeology and damage real artefacts through the narratives they tell. Firstly, I detail the tropes involving these artefacts: the lost object, legitimising power through an object, and the need to destroy an object on religious grounds. Secondly, I discuss the impact of mass media on the interpretation of magical artefacts by archaeologists and curators, and how these narratives can harm archaeology as a discipline. Ultimately, I demonstrate how the uses of magical artefacts in popular media have notable ramifications for vulnerable communities across the globe, and the responsibilities we have—as either archaeologists, creators of entertainment, or consumers of popular media—to consider how cultural groups will be affected by the stereotypes and magical objects we attribute to them
Investigating the impact of soil moisture on the thermal tolerance of alpine Ranunculus species and hybrids in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia.
No full textEscalating extreme temperature events significantly impact organisms, driving species selection and adaptation. To predict global species distributions in a warmer future, understanding differences in metabolic temperature tolerance and plasticity is crucial. Chlorophyll fluorescence can be used to measure critical temperature of photosynthetic heat tolerance (PHT) in plants. The upper (CTmax) and lower (CTmin) critical temperature, as well as the difference between these two limits, the thermal tolerance breadth (TTB), were measured for five Ranunculus species and four hybrid types, using a high-throughput chlorophyll fluorescence imaging method and apparatus. This study compares PHT between species and hybrids and analyses the correlation of PHT to soil moisture to gain insight into how local microclimatic factors and hybridisation might allow vulnerable species to leverage adaptive traits. Our results show very significant differences between the CTmax, CTmin and TTB of species, with hybrids often having intermediate values between their parent species. The correlation between soil moisture and CTmin was negative and significant, while the correlation with CTmax and TTB were both slightly positive, but not significant. Soil moisture marginally increasing thermal tolerance indicates that small pockets with higher soil moisture than the surrounding landscape (such as gullies and intermittent stream beds) may become increasingly important for the persistence of Ranunculus populations. This is concerning, given predictions of a drier climate in the future, especially for those species identified as having comparatively lower thermal tolerance. This study demonstrates how plant physiological measurements could aid in the identification of species that are more at risk of climate induced range shifts or local extinction and assist with setting conservation priorities
Austen embodied: Class and gender performances in Emma and Persuasion
Get PDFThis essay analyses gender performances in Jane Austen’s Emma and Persuasion. It uses Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity, which argues that masculinity and femininity are constituted of a series of repeated bodily acts. Through such acts, characters like Emma Woodhouse, Anne Elliot, Sir Walter Elliot, and Mr Knightley blur or traverse gendered lines. This essay further argues that gender performances in Emma and Persuasion carry class implications. Through their ‘incorrect’ embodiments of gender, Jane Austen’s characters offer critiques of class structures. Austen’s depictions of such characters also provide insight on exactly how masculinity and femininity, upper class and lower, are constructed
Indigenous diplomacy: A framework for rethinking Australia’s engagement with Asia
Get PDFThis article explores the potential of an Indigenous-led approach to Australia’s foreign policy and diplomacy, specifically in the context of the country’s engagement with Asia. Acknowledging the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism, the article advocates for a paradigm shift that incorporates Indigenous perspectives at every level of policymaking. Drawing from Indigenous precepts, the concept of ‘First Nations Diplomacy’ is introduced, emphasising relational governance, reciprocity, and cultural preservation. The article delves into historical Indigenous inter-polity relations, highlighting nuanced, non-hierarchical approaches, contrasting with Western paradigms. It argues that embracing Indigenous concepts could reshape Australia’s security outlook, emphasising human security and sustainability. The article further suggests leveraging shared colonial histories and cultural linkages for more respectful and equal international relations, promoting mutual benefit and respect. An Indigenous-led approach can redefine Australia’s engagement with Asia, showcasing the nation’s maturity, openness, and willingness to address historical complexities. By prioritising respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefit, Australia can forge deeper, more meaningful relationships in the region, fostering a future built on understanding, equity, and shared prosperity.
Why size doesn’t matter: The importance of the Pacific Island states to Taiwan’s diplomatic strategy
Get PDFOf the 13 sovereign states that continue to recognise Taiwan over the People’s Republic of China (PRC), four are located in the Pacific, giving the region outsized importance to Taiwan’s international diplomatic strategy. This article examines the ways in which Pacific Island states are able to exercise their power through their influence on Taiwan’s international standing, due to their role in reaffirming Taiwan’s external sovereignty and sustaining its presence on the international stage. This approach emphasises the agency of Pacific Island states in international affairs and challenges the common misconception that Pacific Island states are too small to have a strong influence on global politics. In fact, the article argues that Pacific Island states have been able to leverage their smallness to their advantage, using the issue of diplomatic recognition to create mutually beneficial partnerships with larger states like Taiwan, the PRC, and the United States, and secure a significant role in international affairs.
Australian subalpine soil invertebrate diversity and abundance under simulated drought
Get PDFThe impact of climate change, notably more frequent and extreme drought, on soil invertebrate communities essential to the survival of the Australian subalpine ecosystem, remains a relatively unexplored concept. Using samples collected from the AMRF FutureClim site near Mt Perisher, we studied how a simulated drought environment influences soil invertebrate community composition, diversity and abundance, to predict what may occur in Kosciuszko National Park’s near future. The significant decrease in overall abundance of soil invertebrates observed under drought conditions, coupled with variations in the composition of orders and feeding guilds suggests possible negative impacts of decreased moisture availability on these communities. Whilst only preliminary findings, this research is beneficial in raising awareness on how every aspect of the environment, whether as big as the trees or as small as the grains of soil, is a significant contributor toward the ecosystem’s survival
A linguistic analysis of get over it: how a phrase can influence Pauline Hanson, Indigenous rights, and our beliefs about personal autonomy
Get PDFGet over it is an important phrase in modern English-speaking societies. This paper explores how the phrase implicitly promotes the value of personal autonomy in Anglo cultures such as Australia. First, the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM), a linguistic theory that proposes that the words of all languages can be analysed in more basic and translatable terms, is established to be an appropriate method of analysis for culturally specific phrases such as get over it. Then, it is shown that existing dictionary definitions are insufficient to conduct any cultural analysis of get over it. The prominent place of get over it in Anglo discourse, including Pauline Hanson’s commentary on ‘Australia Day’ and other dismissals of Australia’s Indigenous history, shows the expression’s centrality in Anglo-Australian culture. Based on this and other discourses, as well as existing dictionary definitions, an NSM definition can be established. Comparing get over it to French reveals its specificity to English, as no single French expression is perfectly equivalent to the English concept. As a cultural keyword, get over it reflects particular cultural values relating to personal autonomy; in particular, the assumption that people can control their lives and that there are ways to tell people to do things without compromising their autonomy. Get over it is a key expression in our culture, and it promotes the Anglo belief in personal autonomy, blinding English-speakers to alternative ways of thinking
The First Nations Voice: Investigating constitutional reform through the lens of proceduralism
Get PDFLaw is dependent upon the collective consciousness of the people it governs. It is enacted in the legislatures of this country, elected by the people and enforced by the officials of the executive. For much of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history since 1770, Indigenous Australians have lived outside the recognition afforded by the law while simultaneously being victims of its worst excesses. Yet, in spite of the progress we have made in combatting systemic injustice, Indigenous Australians continue to be left without constitutional recognition, without a voice, and without representation. This article will argue in favour for the establishment of a First Nations Voice (‘FNV’), as proposed by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, arguably Australia’s most critical constitutional law reform initiative in recent years. Rather than outlining all of its empirical benefits, of which there are presumably many, this article will instead seek to consider the FNV from a theoretical perspective of proceduralism and establish that its quality as a procedural right grants it special complementarity with the Australian legal–political framework. Ultimately, my hope is to offer a legally proceduralist rationale for the FNV and reiterate its necessity as the next step in constitutional law reform
Applying moral foundations theory to the 2019 Australian federal election
Get PDFMoral foundations theory argues that human moral judgement is based on at least five ethical concerns: care, fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity. Surveys find that left-wing individuals primarily endorse the care and fairness foundations when making moral judgements, while right-wing individuals ground their sense of morality in loyalty, authority, and sanctity. Moral reframing is a persuasive technique that takes these differences into account. It involves taking a left-wing (right-wing) political position and framing it in right-wing (left-wing) moral foundations. Research finds that moral reframing can increase electoral support for political candidates by making a politician’s political positions more appealing to voters who would typically lean towards the candidate’s opposition. Although much evidence points to moral reframing’s utility, little is known if politicians implement it in practice. Therefore, this paper investigates the question ‘what moral foundations do politicians appeal to during election campaigns?’ and focuses specifically on the case of the 2019 Australian federal election. Through qualitative content analysis of the campaign launch speeches of the Australian Labor Party (ALP; Australia’s primary leftwing party) and the Liberal Party of Australia (the Liberal Party; Australia’s primary right-wing party), I find that the ALP relies heavily on appeals to the care and fairness foundation while largely ignoring loyalty, authority, and sanctity. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party mentions loyalty, authority, and sanctity significantly more than the ALP but also relies heavily on care and fairness appeals. This suggests that, in practice, the ALP does not tend to use moral reframing, while the Liberal Party does.