108 research outputs found
An interview with Dr. Richard Shapcott : the international ethics of 'Basic Democracy'
No full textDr. Richard Shapcott is the senior lecturer in International \ud
Relations at the University of Queensland. His areas of interest in research concern international ethics, cosmopolitan political theory and cultural diversity. He is the author of the recently published book titled International Ethics: A Critical Introduction; \ud
and several other pieces, such as, “Anti-Cosmopolitanism, the Cosmopolitan Harm Principle and Global Dialogue,” in Michalis’ and Petito’s book, Civilizational Dialogue \ud
and World Order. He’s also the author of “Dialogue and International Ethics: Religion, Cultural Diversity and Universalism, in Patrick Hayden’s, The Ashgate Research \ud
Companion to Ethics and International Relations
Behaviour and ecology of the blue mudskipper, Scartelaos histophorus (Pisces: Gobiidae)
No full textThere is a lack of knowledge of basic ecological and behavioural aspects of these amphibious gobies (Townsend & Tibbetts, 1995). This study sets out to comprehensively document and analyse the behaviours of Scartelaos histophorus while exposed at low tide and to investigate the possible sexual differentiation in both the behaviour and anatomy of this species. Study of the behaviours of S. histophorus identified feeding, crawling and resting as the most common behaviours. S. histophorus are territorial; resident animals were observed to defend their territory from both conspecifics and fiddler crabs. Physical factors such as tide, weather and temperature influence behaviours exhibited by S. histophorus. Rolling increased significantly with increased temperature, clear weather and during midday. Resting increased significantly during late afternoon relative to morning and midday. Proportion of time spent skipping was affected by tide, temperature and time of day. Sexual dimorphism and sex-specific behaviours were observed in S. histophorus. Males have white eyes and are larger; while females have black eye borders, are smaller and possess white lateral patches on the body. Significant differences were found between the feeding, crawling, social and agonistic behaviours of males and females. One behaviour-tail stands was performed only by males
Genetic and Ecological Variation in Atherosperma moschatum and the Implications for Conservation of Its Biodiversity
No full textPopulation genetics and ecology of Atherosperma moschatum Labill. (sassafras), a major canopy tree of Australian temperate rainforests, were examined and used to identify priorities and strategies for conservation of its genetic diversity. The genetic diversity among populations was fairly low, but higher than average for long-lived late successional or wind dispersed species (Hamrick and Godt 1989). Genetic distances between populations were correlated with geographic distances and climatic differences. The major genetic differentiation was between the mainland populations and those in Tasmania, with the New South Wales populations being quite genetically distinct. Most genetic variation was found within populations, however, most populations were inbred. This is likely to be due to selfing and spatial genetic substructure resulting from vegetative spread and local dispersal. There was evidence of regeneration in all populations, however no consistent regeneration patterns emerged. Population density was inexplicably correlated with genetic distance. There was as much diversity in all variables (ecological and genetic) measured in small isolated populations as there was in stands within larger assemblages; therefore, population size does not appear to be a major factor affecting viability. Genetic variation was spread throughout the distribution of A. moschatum. Therefore, populations from throughout its range would need to be conserved to retain the genetic diversity within this species
The spatial genetic structure in natural populations of the Australian temperate rainforest tree Atherosperma moschatum (Labill.) (Monimiaceae)
No full textThe spatial distribution of genotypes at six enzyme loci was investigated in 17 natural populations of the temperate rainforest tree Atherosperma moschatum using spatial autocorrelation. The results from the different enzymes were consistent at each population as well as among populations, particularly at short distances. There were stronger associations overall between like homozygous trees than like heterozygous trees. Unlike trees were generally significantly negatively autocorrelated at short distances. Two consistent patterns of associations were found with increasing distances between trees. A highly consistent average patch length was found in most populations for the enzymes studied. The results suggest that there are small neighbourhood sizes in this species and therefore small stands are worth conserving. In addition, larger populations are unlikely to be homogenous. Therefore, conserving one part of a population may not adequately sample its genetic variability
Major vegetation management issues in Queensland: tree clearing, grazing and weeds
No full textHabitat alteration is the major vegetation management issue in Queensland. Alteration takes many forms: from physical alteration through clearing, to composition and productivity changes due to grazing, through to complete species replacement by exotic species. While the issue of tree clearing is widely debated in scientific circles and the general public, grazing and weed management are much less prominent issues. Consequently, the debate about vegetation management is unbalanced. Attempts to protect the environmental and production resources of Queensland must involve the analysis of all issues if sound management practices are to be developed. The history, current issues and future trends for each of the forms of habitat alteration are discussed
Environmental Weed risk assessment in the Wet Tropics: addressing problems of invasive alien species as a major threat to landscape integrity and health
No full textThe issue of alien plant species invasions of the Wet Tropics bioregion was examined, and the implications for World Heritage management considered. The paper presents a brief review of Risk Assessment Systems (RASs) currently applied or being developed, with a view to formulating a robust system to screen alien species that have naturalised within the bioregion. The rationale behind the proposed Wet Tropics environmental weed RAS, which was derived from existing systems, is considered prior to its application as a screening tool. A list was compiled comprising 508 taxa of exotic (alien) plants that have established self-maintaining populations within the Wet Tropics bioregion. The paper reports on a preliminary ranking, employing the proposed RAS, of 7 aquatic and 50 terrestrial weed species. The six highest ranked species included Annona glabra (a weed of national significance or WONS) and the introduced forage legume Leucaena leucacepha/a; followed by the highly invasive Cliromolaena odorata (a very high priority declared plant); Miconia calvescens (similarly classified); Hymenachne amplexicau/is (a ponded pasture species now classified as a WONS); and Sphagneticola trilobata (a ground-cover species formerly used as- a _bank stabiliser but under consideration for declaration as a plant requiring control in environmentally sensitive areas under new State legislation). Consideration was also given to weed management issues, particularly with respect to some of the worst environmental weeds, and recommendations for further research are presente
Impacts of exotic weeds on wildlife
No full textIn the last two decades, there has been an increasing realisation worldwide that invasions by exotic weeds are second only to landscape destruction through clearing and development as a threat to biodiversity. Recognition of the massive impact of exotic weeds is only slowly filtering down to on-ground land managers and the general public, where there is still a view that all plants are more or less equally desirable. The major impact of exotic weeds is displacement of the native flora. Displacement directly reduces the population of native plant species, which may become endangered or extinct in all or part of their ranges.
There are also very serious flow-on effects to the wildlife. Every native plant has a large associated fauna feeding on it, but most weeds contain bitter-tasting and/or poisonous chemicals that make them unsuitable for generalist herbivores such as wallabies and possums. The populations of these animals therefore fall in proportion to the replacement of the native flora by unpalatable exotic weeds. The arthropod fauna (mites and insects) are often highly species-specific, and also cannot transfer to the invading weed. Replacement of native vegetation by exotics thus results in an enormous reduction in the arthropod fauna, both in diversity and actual numbers, and unrecorded local and widespread extinctions are undoubtedly happening as a result.
Other flow-on effects on wildlife result from the absence in weeds of particular features of native plants, such as nectaries. For example, nectar-feeding birds, bats, and gliders will be seriously affected by the replacement of eucalypts, grevilleas and bottlebrushes by exotic trees or shrubs. Conversely, the exotic trees camphor laurel and Brazilian pepper produce abundant small fruit, resulting in increases in fruit-eating bird populations, with flow-on effects to their predators and competitors.
The reduction in arthropod numbers has further flow-on effects on parasitoid and predator species, including spiders, wasps, lizards, birds and insectivorous mammals. These feed on a variety of prey, so are not critically affected by the loss of any single species, but are affected by the loss of groups of species and the overall fall in abundance of invertebrates. Populations of species in higher trophic levels can therefore be expected to fall in proportion to the replacement of native flora by exotic weeds.
In summary, invasion of an ecosystem by exotic weeds has enormous flow-on effects on the wildlife, and these effects need to be more widely appreciated and understood
The assessment of riparian vegetation as an indicator of stream condition, with particular emphasis on the rapid assessment of flow-related impacts
No full textRiparian systems have an intimate connection with in-stream systems and appear to be sensitive indicators of environmental change. Riparian attributes should therefore contribute candidate metrics in any comprehensive measure of stream condition and change, yet assessment of the condition of riparian vegetation in monitoring programs aimed at ascertaining river ecosystem health is not well advanced. This paper reviews methodologies aimed at assessment of the contribution of riparian vegetation to river health, including integrated assessment protocols employed by government agencies, techniques developed from particular research perspectives as well as within multidisciplinary approaches to riverine condition assessment. While some approaches currently in use hold promise, there is no suitable protocol for rapid riparian vegetation assessment that can be incorporated into a multi-metric index of stream condition, or used to assess the impacts of flow regulation, in particular, on ecosystem integrity. We derive a standard multi-metric approach to rapid assessment of riparian vegetation as distinguished from the more detailed methods applied in longer term research programs. Our approach is configured to assist in determining stream condition, the extent of flow regulation impacts and to provide positive and negative benchmarks against which water infrastructure development can be assessed i n a manner to progress ecological sustainability in Queensland streams
Environmental Weed risk assessment in the Wet Tropics: addressing problems of invasive alien species as a major threat to landscape integrity and health
No full textThe issue of alien plant species invasions of the Wet Tropics bioregion was examined, and the implications for World Heritage management considered. The paper presents a brief review of Risk Assessment Systems (RASs) currently applied or being developed, with a view to formulating a robust system to screen alien species that have naturalised within the bioregion. The rationale behind the proposed Wet Tropics environmental weed RAS, which was derived from existing systems, is considered prior to its application as a screening tool. A list was compiled comprising 508 taxa of exotic (alien) plants that have established self-maintaining populations within the Wet Tropics bioregion. The paper reports on a preliminary ranking, employing the proposed RAS, of 7 aquatic and 50 terrestrial weed species. The six highest ranked species included Annona glabra (a weed of national significance or WONS) and the introduced forage legume Leucaena leucacepha/a; followed by the highly invasive Cliromolaena odorata (a very high priority declared plant); Miconia calvescens (similarly classified); Hymenachne amplexicau/is (a ponded pasture species now classified as a WONS); and Sphagneticola trilobata (a ground-cover species formerly used as- a _bank stabiliser but under consideration for declaration as a plant requiring control in environmentally sensitive areas under new State legislation). Consideration was also given to weed management issues, particularly with respect to some of the worst environmental weeds, and recommendations for further research are presente
The assessment of riparian vegetation as an indicator of stream condition, with particular emphasis on the rapid assessment of flow-related impacts
No full textNo Full Tex
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