2 AUSTRALIAN FIELD ORNITHOLOGY 2008, 25, 2–11 The Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus in East , , 1997–2002

MICHAEL D. BRAMWELL Department of Sustainability and Environment, Bairnsdale, Victoria 3875 (Email: [email protected])

Summary This paper presents results from surveys to determine the distribution and abundance of the Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus and its Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) preference from Howe Flat (5 km east of Mallacoota, Victoria) to Nadgee Nature Reserve in over the period 1997–2002. A total of 1055 ha was surveyed, yielding 50 Bristlebird detection sites. A clear preference for Riparian Scrub Complex was recorded, with 38 of 50 Bristlebirds being detected within that EVC. At Bristlebird detection sites, ground-cover sedge species were the plants recorded most frequently and at the highest cover/abundance values; shrubs >1.5 m tall were recorded with a higher cover/abundance than shrubs <1.5 m. Forty-six of the 50 detections were from Howe Flat, and an estimated 60–80 pairs at a population density of 15–20 birds/100 ha were found there. Habitat is mostly unsuitable over the 10 km between the eastern edge of Howe Flat and recorded Bristlebird habitat in Nadgee Nature Reserve. Hence, the southern population of Eastern Bristlebirds should be managed as two subpopulations. Six other areas throughout Gippsland were also surveyed for Eastern Bristlebirds, but no Bristlebirds were recorded at any of these sites.

Introduction The Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus is one of four bird species in Victoria considered endangered at both a state and national level (DSE 2003). It is also endangered in the other states where it occurs, New South Wales (NSW) (Baker 1997) and Queensland (critically so: Stewart et al. 2004). In response, conservation agencies and volunteer bird-watchers across south-eastern are working together to better understand and manage the species and its habitat (e.g. Stewart et al. 2004; Bain & McPhee 2005; Clarke & Bain 2006). This paper presents survey information for Eastern Bristlebirds in Victoria from 1997 to 2002. Eastern Bristlebirds, very poor flyers, are small (~40 g), shy, cryptic, predominantly ground-feeding insectivores that nest in grass and sedge tussocks <50 cm above the ground (see Garnett & Crowley 2000, Higgins & Peter 2003 and Gibson & Baker 2004 for details of biology). Population densities vary greatly depending on available habitat, with a maximum density of about four birds per 10 ha (Baker 2001). Detection largely involves knowledge of the Bristlebird’s vocal behaviour, with call-playback a useful supplementary survey technique (see Clarke & Bramwell 1998; Baker 2001; Higgins & Peter 2003; Bain & McPhee 2005). The Eastern Bristlebird was formerly distributed patchily from the Conondale Range, south-eastern Queensland, along the coast and adjacent ranges to Marlo in eastern Victoria (Baker 1997; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Higgins & Peter 2003). There are also unconfirmed reports from South Gippsland and Wilsons Promontory (Cooper 1975; Emison et al. 1987; Mitchell 1995; C. Doughty pers. comm.). Throughout its range the species has declined substantially over the last 50 years (Baker 1997; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Higgins & Peter 2003; Stewart et al. 2004). VOL. 25 (1) MARCH 2008Eastern Bristlebird in Victoria 3

The southern population near Cape Howe (, Victoria) occurs in Nadgee Nature Reserve, NSW, and at Howe Flat, east of Mallacoota in Croajingolong National Park, Victoria. The combined Nadgee/Mallacoota population has been estimated at <50 pairs, with 26 birds in Nadgee (Baker 1997; Gosper & Baker 1997). The species has been recorded in diverse vegetation types that provide low, dense cover, throughout its past and present range (see Baker 2000 and Higgins & Peter 2003 for detailed reviews, and Emison et al. 1987, Bramwell et al. 1992 and Pyke et al. 1995 for the central and southern populations). In East Gippsland there are Bristlebird records from coastal and foothill areas of dense heath, wet heathland, Melaleuca thickets, rainforest, lowland forest with a dense, heathy or teatree understorey, dense teatree thickets, coastal scrub and riparian forest. A common theme through all these vegetation types is a dense cover of understorey or ground vegetation or, in the case of rainforest, a refuge from fire. It appears that Eastern Bristlebird populations occur where a mosaic of vegetation types exists within a certain area. The central population requires specific structural vegetation characteristics, such as thick ground-cover with either tall shrub or low tree cover (Baker 2000). The vegetation types inhabited by Eastern Bristlebirds are fire-prone, with fire management a major issue for Bristlebird conservation. Bristlebird densities in the central population have steadily increased with increasing fire age of the vegetation (Baker 1997, 2000; Bain & McPhee 2005). Large-scale, intense fires have been implicated in the demise of the species throughout its range (Baker 1997, 2000; Clarke & Bramwell 1998; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Higgins & Peter 2003; Stewart et al. 2004). The only fire recorded on Howe Flat was on 16 September 1981, when the eastern half of the Flat was burnt (G. Cameron pers. comm.). In East Gippsland, 10 past record localities up to 1995 were surveyed for Eastern Bristlebirds, with the only positive record being for Howe Flat (Clarke & Bramwell 1998). Seven Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs: see Woodgate et al. 1994) have been mapped across Howe Flat, indicating the complex vegetation dynamics. Clarke & Bramwell (1998) identified Riparian Scrub as the most favoured EVC in which Eastern Bristlebirds were historically observed, and the EVC in which they were observed at Howe Flat. However, it is unknown whether other EVCs across their range also support Bristlebirds. Hence, the habitat preference for Bristlebirds at Howe Flat is largely unknown. Similarly, Clarke & Bramwell (1998) estimated a population density of six birds in 32 ha, based on a single visit. This result required a more systematic survey of the area to determine the population density and size. The first confirmed record of the Eastern Bristlebird in the Mallacoota area was of two specimens from near Barracoota in 1914 (Chaffer 1954; Wakefield 1958). In 1947 the species was recorded ‘7 miles from Mallacoota’ (Howe 1947), and in 1958–59 D.G. Morgan observed Eastern Bristlebirds in dense teatree at Howe Flat and at , Point Hicks and Shipwreck Creek (VORG 1962). Dorwood (1976) recorded the species ‘about 2 km north of Lake Barracoota’. No Bristlebird surveys or records exist for the coastal areas east of Howe Flat to the NSW border, although EVC maps indicate suitable habitat. Bristlebirds occur in the south of Nadgee Nature Reserve, near the Victorian border (Gosper & Baker 1997). AUSTRALIAN 4BRAMWELL FIELD ORNITHOLOGY

Since 1994, there have been four Eastern Bristlebird records in Gippsland away from the Howe Flat area: Bald Hills Wildlife Reserve in South Gippsland, two from Croajingolong National Park, and one from the Bushland Reserve. These require urgent checking and confirmation, as do historical unconfirmed records from Wilsons Promontory National Park and potential habitat identified in the Croajingolong National Park. The objectives of the surveys described in this paper were to: (1) determine the distribution and abundance of Eastern Bristlebirds in the Howe Flat to Nadgee Nature Reserve area; (2) determine whether the Howe Flat and Nadgee Nature Reserve subpopulations are linked as a single population; (3) determine the EVC preference, and other EVCs in close proximity, for Eastern Bristlebirds in the Howe Flat to Nadgee Nature Reserve area; and (4) determine the presence or absence of the species from localities with records since 1994 and in areas of potential habitat that had not been surveyed by Clarke & Bramwell (1998).

Study area and methods

Howe Flat to Nadgee Nature Reserve survey Surveys for Eastern Bristlebirds were conducted in 28 areas of known and potential near-coastal habitat from Mallacoota to Cape Howe in East Gippsland (based on previous Bristlebird records and known habitat preference: Figure 1). Within this study area, surveys were completed in early spring to avoid the Victorian breeding season of the Bristlebird (and hence possible effects of disturbance on nesting). Surveys around the Howe Flat area were carried out on 23–26 September 1997 and 28 September–1 October 1998, and the Cape Howe and Lake Wau Wauka area on 29–30 September 1999. Surveys south and east of Lake Barracoota were carried out on 13–14 October 2000. Five people conducted the surveys; all were familiar with the calls of the Eastern Bristlebird and could distinguish these from similar calls such as those of Pilotbirds Pycnoptilus floccosus and New Holland Honeyeaters Phylidonyris novaehollandiae. Volunteers also assisted the survey team. Most surveys were conducted by two experienced surveyors, but occasionally one or three surveyors were employed. At each search area, surveyors walked through the area ~100 m apart (except for the Lake Wau Wauka area where a canoe was used in addition to walking). Radio contact was maintained between surveyors. In an attempt to elicit a response from Bristlebirds after mid morning, surveys after 0900 h were accompanied by playback of Bristlebird calls. On each occasion the tape was played for several minutes, followed by a short listening period. From a pilot study it seemed that the playback call could be heard for 100 m, as could any calling Bristlebirds (see Bramwell et al. 1992), so this distance was used in determining the area searched. The area covered during each search (9.5–103 ha) was plotted on 1:25 000 maps. All surveys were conducted between 0610 and 1230 h; most were concluded before 1000 h, and lasted between 30 and 300 minutes (for a total of 77 h of surveys). Only on cooler days when activity and vocalisation of other passerines remained high did surveys continue past 1000 h. Temperature range, cloud cover, wind velocity and precipitation levels were recorded for each survey. Generally, weather conditions were excellent for surveying: temperatures of 13–23°C; a full range of cloud cover, though mostly clear; wind mostly none to low, occasionally moderate (no surveys occurred in very windy conditions). Passing showers were recorded at times, though mostly no rain was recorded during the surveys. At each Bristlebird detection site the following information was collected: grid reference, VOL. 25 (1) MARCH 2008Eastern Bristlebird in Victoria 5

Table 1 The total area and percentage of each Ecological Vegetation Class in areas surveyed for Eastern Bristlebirds in the Howe Flat to Nadgee Nature Reserve study area, 1997–2000.

Ecological Vegetation Class Area surveyed % EVC in % EVC in (EVC) (ha) area surveyed study area

Banksia Woodland 66.8 6.3 9.1 Brackish Sedgeland 101.6 9.6 8.1 Coast Banksia Woodland 270.3 25.6 20.2 Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic 114.8 10.9 17.4 Coastal Saltmarsh 97.7 9.3 4.3 Coastal Vine-rich Forest 37.4 3.5 1.6 Damp Forest 4.8 0.5 1.5 Estuarine 11.6 1.1 0.6 Lowland Forest 137.0 13.0 21.7 Riparian Scrub Complex 160.2 15.2 10.7 Wet Heathland 52.8 5.0 4.8 TOTAL 1055 100 100 temperature, cloud cover, wind velocity, precipitation, time of detection, vegetation structure and floristics, whether the bird was seen or heard, whether call-playback was used, and whether a pair or one individual was detected. Vegetation structure and floristic information included the dominant plant species, their height and estimated cover/abundance (Braun- Blanquet) value (Mueller-Dombois & Ellenburg 1974). The EVC (from Woodgate et al. 1994) was also recorded at the detection site, along with adjacent EVCs if they were within 10 m. Vegetation structural data were collated into four strata: trees, high shrubs (>1.5 m tall), low shrubs (<1.5 m tall), and ground-cover (<0.25 m). In the Howe Flat area a 1:3000 vegetation-types map was drawn from aerial photographs, and detection sites were plotted on this map and onto a 1:25 000 topographic map. Aerial photographs where non-treed vegetation could be identified were used in targetting search areas east of Howe Flat. The area of each EVC in each survey area was determined from 1:100 000 EVC mapping of the study area. This mapping is indicative only, but adequate to ensure that the range of EVCs in the area was surveyed systematically. A total of 1055 ha of vegetation was surveyed, excluding dunes and waterbodies. Eleven EVCs were surveyed, with areas of Coast Banksia Woodland (270 ha) being the largest surveyed EVC and Damp Forest (4.8 ha) the smallest area. The proportion of each EVC in the search area ranged from 0.5% to 25.6% and averaged 9.1%. The total area surveyed and percentage searched of each EVC are shown in Table 1. The sampling of EVCs was reasonably representative of the proportions and types of the EVCs in the study area (see Table 1).

Other areas surveyed for Eastern Bristlebirds Surveys for Eastern Bristlebirds were conducted at sites where the bird had previously been recorded since 1994, at historical record localities at Wilsons Promontory, and at potential habitat sites at , 20 km south-west of Mallacoota. Wherever possible, contact was made with the original observer to determine a more precise locality. Surveys were carried out between 25 October and 29 November 2001, and on 23–25 October 2002. Surveys involved slow walking along tracks, wetland edges and dune edges throughout a 500-m radius of the record or within the potential habitat. Playback of Eastern Bristlebird calls from Howe Flat was used at all sites except Benedore River; on each occasion calls were broadcast for several minutes followed by a short listening period. The area covered for each search area was mapped onto 1:25 000 EVC maps. All surveys were conducted between 0530 and 1530 h and between 1800 and 1845 h, and lasted 30–240 minutes each. Only on cooler days, when activity and vocalisation of other passerines remained high, did surveys continue past 1000 h. No surveys were completed on very windy days, which excluded several sites between Benedore River and Shipwreck Creek. AUSTRALIAN 6BRAMWELL FIELD ORNITHOLOGY

Results

Howe Flat to Nadgee Nature Reserve survey A total of 50 Eastern Bristlebird detection sites was recorded. A clear preference for Riparian Scrub Complex was recorded, with 38 of the 50 Bristlebirds being detected within that EVC (Figure 1, Table 1). Seven birds were recorded in Brackish Sedgeland, two in each of Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic and Lowland Forest, and one in Wet Heathland. Both Lowland Forest and four of the seven Brackish Sedgeland detections had Riparian Scrub Complex within 10 m of the site, indicating the importance of this EVC for Bristlebirds. Seventeen of the 38 Bristlebird records in Riparian Scrub Complex had adjacent EVCs within 10 m of the detection site, including Brackish Sedgeland, Coast Banksia Woodland, Coastal Saltmarsh, Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic and Lowland Forest. All records of Bristlebirds in Brackish Sedgeland were within 15 m of an adjacent EVC, indicating that Bristlebirds do not occur throughout the large areas of open Brackish Sedgelands but prefer the edges of these sedgelands where a range of habitats occurs. The two detections from Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic near Cape Howe did not have another EVC within 10 m of the site, although Riparian Scrub Complex was recorded 50 m from one of the sites. Most records of Bristlebirds were from thick, lower-stratum vegetation. A total of 30 flora species was recorded around the detection sites. Common tree species associated with Bristlebird detection sites included Red Bloodwood Corymbia gummifera, Rough-barked Apple Angophora floribunda and Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia. The most commonly recorded species of tall shrubs with a high cover/abundance value (>50% cover) included Giant Honey-myrtle Melaleuca armillaris, Scented Teatree M. squarrosa, Prickly Moses Acacia verticillata and Coast Wattle A. sophorae. Tall shrub species with a low cover/abundance value (<5%), yet frequently recorded at Bristlebird detection sites, included Sallow Wattle A. longifolia and Coast Banksia. Cover/abundance values did not exceed 50% for any low shrub species; the most commonly recorded species with a moderate cover/abundance value (25–50%) were Giant Honey-Myrtle, Scented Teatree, Coast Wattle and Shiny Cassinia Cassinia longifolia. Low shrubs of Prickly Moses were frequently recorded at low cover/abundance values throughout the Bristlebird detection sites. Ground-cover species were recorded the most frequently and at the highest cover/abundance values, and comprised species from the sedge family including Slender Twine-rush Leptocarpus tenax, Gahnia filum and Sea Rush Juncus kraussi. Forty-six of the 50 detections were from Howe Flat, indicating the importance of this area for the conservation of Bristlebirds in Victoria. The detections away from Howe Flat included one in Wet Heathland adjacent to Lowland Forest along the Lake Barracoota Track (see Figure 1), ~1 km north of the next closest detection. However, no Bristlebirds were detected at other Wet Heathland sites with adjacent Lowland Forest at search areas 9 and 11, and only three were recorded east of Lake Barracoota and the Howe Range. The two Bristlebirds detected near Cape Howe were in Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic adjacent to dunes, and one of these birds was seen by the observer. The Cape Howe site is ~800 m south of the known Bristlebird population along the edge of a large sedgeland south-east of the Bunyip Hole in Nadgee Nature Reserve, and is presumably part of that population. VOL. 25 (1) MARCH 2008Eastern Bristlebird in Victoria 7 CAPE HOWE line. 27 REF:F+F0405-11 December 5 2007 NADGEE NATURE RESERVE 00. Number of birds Produced by GIS Unit Gippsland NADGEE INLET 0.5 Kilometres 01 26 23 24 25 22 21 20

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The remaining Bristlebird detection was from a Riparian Scrub Complex patch 4 km east of Lake Barracoota and 4.5 km south-west of the Bristlebirds detected near Cape Howe. This patch (~20 ha) is one of four patches of Riparian Scrub Complex between Lake Barracoota and Cape Howe. No Bristlebirds were detected in the other Riparian Scrub Complex patches, which included two small (<10 ha) areas on the eastern side of Lake Barracoota and Lake Wau Wauka and a large area (50 ha) in the upper reaches of Wau Wauka Creek (search areas 24 and 26). This larger area is part of a drainage line that continues in a north-easterly direction into Nadgee Nature Reserve. Bristlebirds have been detected in this drainage line ~2 km from the northern edge of the search area (Lyn Evans pers. comm.). The most productive time for detecting Bristlebirds was between 0800 and 0900 h, with 15 detections occurring between these times. Fewer detections occurred during later hours up to 1100 h. Half of the detections after 0900 h occurred during call-playback or within a few minutes of the tape finishing, which indicates the potential value of call-playback in late morning to elicit a response from a Bristlebird. Fourteen detections involved the presence of a pair of Bristlebirds, defined as a male call and a female call within close proximity (<100 m) of each other. The complex mosaic of vegetation floristics and structure at Howe Flat and the lack of detailed habitat information and vegetation mapping made it difficult to accurately determine the population size of Bristlebirds at Howe Flat. Hence, a simplistic approach was taken. Firstly, an area in which Bristlebirds could potentially occur was mapped, enclosing all the terrestrial vegetation types of Howe Flat west of Lake Barracoota and adjacent sedgelands, and a 100-m buffer on the Lowland Forest to the north and Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic to the south with Mallacoota Inlet forming the western boundary. Within this area 557 ha were surveyed, yielding 46 Bristlebird localities. The remaining 263 ha were unsurveyed and, assuming that similar habitat occurs in this area, a further 21 Bristlebird localities may occur there. This unsurveyed area contains seven EVCs, including 65 ha of Riparian Scrub Complex. As not all Bristlebirds were detected during this single survey, a reasonable population estimate of Eastern Bristlebirds in the Howe Flat area is 60–80 pairs or 120–160 birds, and a population density of 15–20 birds/100 ha (assuming a pair of Bristlebirds at each locality).

Other surveyed areas Six other areas in Gippsland were surveyed for Eastern Bristlebirds, following up on unconfirmed records. The details of the unconfirmed records and their habitat and survey location are shown in Table 2. Potential habitat areas of Wet Heathland and Riparian Scrub Complex 100 m each side of the walking track east of the Benedore River estuary, Croajingolong National Park, were also surveyed. No Bristlebirds were detected at any of these sites.

Discussion In the present study Eastern Bristlebirds were not detected at any historical locations west of Howe Flat, suggesting that the species is now either extremely rare or no longer exists at these sites. This apparent range contraction is consistent with other recent findings for the northern and central populations of the species, VOL. 25 (1) MARCH 2008Eastern Bristlebird in Victoria 9

Table 2 Location and details of six unconfirmed Eastern Bristlebird records for Gippsland. NP = National Park.

Location Record details Habitat and survey location details

Bald Hills Wildlife Two sighted 5 Jan. Melaleuca scrub and low woodlands Reserve, S Gippsland 1995 (Mitchell 1995) of Bald Hills Wildlife Reserve Vereker Heathlands, Observed on Vereker Melaleuca scrub and heathlands Wilsons Promontory Heathlands (Cooper 1975) along Five Mile Road and NP, S Gippsland Vereker Track Cotters Beach, Two observed 19 July 1980 Cotters Track, south of Cotters Wilsons Promontory (C. Doughty pers. comm.) Lake and along dune edge near NP, S Gippsland Buckleys Rock, north end of Derby Beach Cann River Bushland One seen 31 Dec. 1999 Riparian Forest along circuit Reserve, Cann River, (Bird Atlas unusual track within Bushland Reserve. E Gippsland record form) Point Hicks, One seen 17 July 1999 Coastal Dune Scrub Mosaic along Croajingolong (Bird Atlas unusual Lighthouse Track near NP, E Gippsland record form) West Beach Track Mueller River, One heard Sept. 2000 Heathland areas along Croajingolong (M. Barter pers. comm.) Track west of Mueller River NP, E Gippsland campsite where the apparent number of Bristlebirds is decreasing (Baker 1997; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Higgins & Peter 2003; Stewart et al. 2004). The population density of 15–20 birds/100 ha is similar to densities recorded in coastal areas near Jervis Bay, NSW (6–32 birds/100 ha), but lower than densities recorded for inland areas of the central population at Barren Grounds Nature Reserve/Budderoo National Park, NSW (25 birds/100 ha: Baker 1997, 2000, 2001). Bristlebirds appear to be in greater densities at Howe Flat than in the adjacent Nadgee Nature Reserve population, estimated at six birds/100 ha (Gosper & Baker 1997). The estimated population of 60–80 pairs at Howe Flat is greater than the previous estimate of <50 pairs for Nadgee/Mallacoota combined, but much smaller than the central population of ~1500 birds (cf. Baker 1997, 2001; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Higgins & Peter 2003). Habitat is mostly unsuitable over the 10 km between the eastern edge of Howe Flat and recorded Bristlebird habitat in Nadgee Nature Reserve. Hence, the southern population of Eastern Bristlebirds should be managed as two subpopulations. This study has clearly identified Riparian Scrub Complex as a preferred EVC for Eastern Bristlebirds in the Howe Flat area. This result contrasts with the vegetation type preference of other Eastern Bristlebird populations, which includes woodland and heath communities in southern and central NSW and open forest in northern NSW/Queensland (cf. Baker 2000). At Howe Flat, Bristlebirds were detected at sites of high cover/abundance for ground-cover species such as sedges, and tall shrubs such as Melaleuca species. Lower cover/abundance levels were recorded for low shrubs (<1.5 m). In Nadgee Nature Reserve, Bristlebirds were detected in a range of heath structural types including taller heaths with emergent shrubs and low heath, but not in dense low AUSTRALIAN 10BRAMWELL FIELD ORNITHOLOGY heath which may be too thick for Bristlebirds to inhabit (Miles 2004). Structural vegetation information from Barren Grounds Nature Reserve in central NSW indicates that both ground-cover (<0.25 m) and low cover (0.25–1.0 m) species are generally present at Bristlebird sites, and that tall shrub cover (>1 m) is also important but recorded less often (Baker 2000). The total understorey cover, height of major grass species and the basal diameter of tussocks of significant grass species such as Wild Sorghum Sorghum leiocladum are important structural characteristics for northern populations of the Eastern Bristlebird (Baker 2000; Garnett & Crowley 2000; Higgins & Peter 2003).

Acknowledgements I express my appreciation to Peter Kambouris, Raz Martin, Peter Mitchell, Phil Reichelt and Phil Tennant for assisting me with the fieldwork of this project. I also thank Andrew Fay, Cathy Zwick, Jenny Mason and Bob Semmens for assistance, and Anne Williams who completed the map.

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VORG (1962), The Rarer Birds of Victoria, Victorian Ornithological Research Group, Melbourne. Wakefield, N.A. (1958), ‘Erroneous or doubtful records of birds of Gippsland, Victoria’, Emu 58, 271–276. Woodgate, P.W., Peel, W.D., Ritman, K.T., Coram, J.E., Brady, A., Rule, A.J. & Banks, J.C.G. (1994), A Study of the Old-growth Forests of East Gippsland, Dept Conservation & Natural Resources, Melbourne.

Received 12 January 2006 !

Notice — Editor: bush birds, parrots and general ecology. Graham Cam is taking a break from editorial duties, so until further notice authors are requested to direct relevant manuscripts to the Co-ordinating Editor (see inside front cover).