Gallery North

Abstract Plant translocations are used to mitigate extinction risk but are often unsuccessful, partly due to a failure to take the ecology and threats of species into account. For the endangered Caladenia formosa we used an integrated method that incorporated identification of the pollinator(s), possible threats, and population demographics to determine a suitable translocation site and subsequent management interventions. The thynnine wasp Phymatothynnus pygidialis, the sole pollinator, removed and deposited pollen while feeding from the labellum on small amounts of sucrose. We translocated 179 symbiotically propagated, flowering plants to a site where this pollinator was present and monitored the translocation and a wild site for 8 years. Monitoring revealed herbivory (6.4%) and florivory (11.8%) was high in the wild population, but negligible in the fenced translocated population. Protection from florivory enhanced fruit set in the translocation (37.2 ± 3.1% SE) compared with the wild (27.5 ± 6.5% SE) site. Population viability analysis informed the decision to supplement, which boosted overall fruit production. We demonstrate the importance of an integrated approach to translocations and highlight the role of monitoring to elucidate threats, prioritize actions and contribute to growing evidence for pollinator specialization in rewarding orchids.

Context We examined freshwater representatives from the family Ambassidae from across eastern Australia to test species boundaries and investigate biogeographic patterns. Aims To determine whether existing species boundaries are accurate, characterise introgression, and identify and contrast phylogeographic patterns. Methods Samples were obtained from 115 sites across the range of Ambassis agassizii, including representatives from other Ambassis spp. from river basins to the west and north. Data were obtained from three independent genetic approaches, allozymes (146 individuals), single nucleotide polymorphisms (239 individuals) and mitochondrial DNA (101 individuals). Key results Four groups of populations were identified as likely candidate species. The most widespread taxon, A. agassizii, had four phylogroups. Complex patterns of introgression were found in narrow contact zones, especially in the Burdekin Basin where all four candidate taxa occur. Conclusions Freshwater glassfishes have a complex evolutionary history in eastern Australia, with biogeographic patterns that are clearly different from those of the majority of other co-occurring species. Implications We provide clarification on the likely taxonomic diversity of the group in eastern Australia, thus providing a basis for more accurate understanding of biodiversity patterns and a solid basis on which to undertake taxonomic revisions and consider conservation issues across these taxa.

The extensive published works of Hedley Herbert Finlayson provide a major and widely recognised benchmark in the study of Australian mammals during the first half of the 1900s. His publications are still commonly cited in the literature, especially in relation to studies concerning the desert regions, but little has been documented of his extensive and extremely valuable private collection of almost 3000 expertly prepared study specimens. This paper provides a brief background to the man and reports a compilation of his surviving specimens, giving information on quantities, type and geographic origin of specimens, nomenclature and accession numbers. A transcription of his original register of specimens is also provided.

A new species of the hippolytid genus Lebbeus White, 1847, L. rubrodentatus sp. nov., is described and illustrated. Its colour pattern in life is diagnostic. The single specimen was sorted from a benthic trawl sample obtained in 360-396 m in the Timor Sea. A key to the five carinate species of the large genus Lebbeus is provided.

Four new species of land snails of the genus Torresitrachia (Pulmonata: Camaenidae) are described from the Northern Territory of Australia: T. danvini, T. wallacei, T. cuttacutta, T. alenae.The species are distinguished on the basis of differences in shell and animal morphology, and 16S DNA analysis.All four species occur in the Katherine District (Daly Basin Bioregion), and have remarkably small geographical ranges and fragmented populations.Though not all species of Torresitrachia arc associates of limestone, these four species arc obligately associated with limestone outcrops supporting monsoon/deciduous vine thicket vegetation.Annual grasses, which arc replacing the natural vegetation, do not offer suitable habitat for these land snails and they are much more prone to the 'grass/fire cycle', thus threatening the snails' long term survival.Presently all the known populations of two of these new snails, T. wallacei and T. alenae, appear to be under threat of extinction and none occurs within any reserve.

Weber's Mudskipper Periophthalmus weberi is found only in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea, and little is known about their preferred habitat. A Daly River project undertaken showed that Elizabeth Creek was the habitat for a single species of mudskipper, Periophthalmus weberi.

Abstract The Ariphron genus group is revised. The work of Kimsey is reviewed and emended including diagnoses, species lists by original combinations, distributions, a phylogenetic analysis and a key to the genera Ariphron Erichson, Tachynomyia Guérin, Tachynoides Kimsey and Tachyphron Brown. Takyomyia Kimsey is discussed and synonymised with Tachyphron, and Tachynoides is redefined. All species of Takyomyia are transferred to Tachyphron, except T. flavopicta Ritsema, which is transferred to Tachynoides, as is Ar. pauseris Montet. A lectotype is designated for Ar. pauseris. Phymatothynnus pygidiophorus Turner is transferred to Ariphron, Ar. bicolor propodealis Rohwer is synonymised with Ar. bicolor Erichson, and Ta. subfragilis Turner is removed from synonymy with Ta. evelinae Turner. Within the genus Tachynomyia, Ag. spinolae Guérin and T. fervidus Erichson are returned to synonymy with Ta. abdominalis Guérin, Aelurus vulpinus Smith (as T. schoberi Dalla Torre) and Ae. senex Smith (as T. schroederi Dalla Torre) are removed from synonymy with Ae. dentatus Smith, and Ae. dentatus and T. kaltenbrunneri Dalla Torre are returned to synonymy with Ta. punctatus Smith. The male of Ae. incanus Smith is designated as the lectotype and is considered a synonym of Ta. moerens (Westwood), while the paralectotype female is considered to be Ta. punctatus. The taxonomic decision to transfer Tachypterus albopictus Smith, Tachypterus australis Saussure, Tachypterus fasciatus Guérin, Ae. fulvifrons Smith, Ta. nitens Saussure and T. wieseri Dalla Torre to the genus Tachynomyia by Kimsey is not accepted. Kimsey’s claims to have newly synonymised Ar. rigidulus Turner with Ar. bicolor Erichson, T. fervidus Erichson with Agriomyia abdominalis Guérin, and Ae. pilosulus Smith with T. adustus Smith, are not accepted.

ABSTRACT Anthobosca nubilipennis Turner, 1910 (Anthoboscinae) is transferred to Austromyzinum Brown, 1985 (Myzininae) and two new species, A. aquilonium and A. austrinurn, described. The females of A. transversum Brown, 1985 and A. dissociatum (Turner, 1940). are described for the first time and the name A. flavum proposed for Austromyzinum species 1 of Brown (1985). A key to females is given.