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Newsletter Issn 1834-4259 No ACN 067 894848 MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA NEWSLETTER ISSN 1834-4259 NO. 140 MARCH 2011 Note from the guest editor Dr Kirsten Benkendorff Email: [email protected] It has been a pleasure to edit the first issue of Aus- lished a taxonomic review of molluscan chemistry tralasian Shell news for 2011. There is so much excit- (Benkendorff 2010). The anticancer extract from the ing molluscan research going on in Australian at the whelk Dicathais orbita has recently passed through the moment that it was no trouble finding articles to in- clude in this issue. From the depths of Antarctica to the rain forest of Northern NSW, there should be something here to interest all our members! Molluscs have also featured prominently in the news over the last few months – but unfortunately the news is not so good, reporting large scale mortali- ties of molluscs in many areas around Australia, as well as overseas. In some cases the cause is known to be disease, with new Herpes viruses causing major problems for the abalone and oyster industries. In other cases the causes are more speculative, such as seismic activity in Tasmania and agricultural run-off in Northern NSW. All these mortality incidents highlight the urgent need for more research aimed at assessing Dr. Kirsten Benkendorff our molluscan diversity and better understanding the impact of anthropogenic stressors and the cumulative first preclinical trial in rodents. The extract was found effects of climate change. to prevent tumor formation in a model for colorectal As part of an Australian Seafood CRC project at cancer (Westley et al 2010) Flinders University, Ph.D. student Vinh Dang under References the cosupervision of virologist Dr Peter Speck and I, Benkendorff., K. 2010. Molluscan biological and has been investigating the antiviral properties of aba- chemical diversity: Secondary metabolites and lone (Dang et al., 2011). We have found substantial medicinal resources produced by marine variability in the antiviral activity between different molluscs. Biological Reviews 85: 757-775 individuals of abalone, which does not seem to be Doi:10.111/j.1469-185X.2010.00124x influenced by diet but is impacted by elevated tem- Dang, V.T., Benkendorff, K. and Speck, P.G. 2011. perature. Hopefully this may lead to the identification In vitro antiviral activity against herpes simplex of some relatively disease resistant for future breeding virus in abalone Haliotis laevigata J Gen Virol in and restocking projects. press doi: 10.1099/vir.0.025247-0 I have recently moved to Southern Cross Univer- Westley, C.B., McIver, C.M., Abbott, C.A., Le Leu, sity and hope to establish a productive research pro- R.K. and Benkendorff, K., 2010. Enhanced acute gram here looking at the impacts of climate change apoptotic response to azoxymethane-induced and other stressors on molluscan immunity. I am also DNA damage in rodent colonic epithelium by continuing research program into molluscan medi- Tyrian purple precursors: A potential colorectal cines for human application and have recently pub- cancer chemopreventative. Cancer Biology & 1 Society information Victorian Branch President: Rachel Przeslawski Secretary Michael Lyons, 19 Banksia Street, Black- Vice President Kirsten Berkendorff burn, VIC 3130. Phone (03) 9894 1526. (Michael Treasurer Don Colgan [email protected]). Meetings at the Melbourne Secretary Rebecca van Gelderen Camera Club, cnr. Dorcas and Farrars Streets, South Journal editor Winston Ponder Melbourne, on the third Monday of each month. No Newsletter editor Des Beechey meeting in January, July or December. Council members Andy Dunstan Queensland Branch Rosemary Golding Meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the last Tuesday of Candace McBride each month except December at the TLC Building, Chris Talbot 20 Peel Street, South Brisbane,. Correspondence: All enquiries and orders should be sent to Mala- Malacological Society of Australasia, Queensland cological Society of Australasia, c/o Dr. Don Col- Branch, PO Box 15064, City East, QLD 4002. gan, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW Phone (07) 3224 2923 (W); (07) 3848 9270 (H) or 2010. email [email protected] The Society‟s Newsletter and the journal Molluscan NSW Branch Research, both published three times a year, are sent NSW Branch meetings are held at 2 pm on the to all members. fourth Saturday of each month at the Ryde- Membership fees 2011 Eastwood Leagues Club, 117 Ryedale Rd, West Includes Molluscan Research and MSA Newsletter Ryde, Sydney. Contact Steve Dean, email Ordinary members (Aust., Asia, W.Pacific) $A70 [email protected] Ordinary members (Rest of the world) $A100 Newsletter Extra family member $A5 Affiliate organization $A100 Editor: Des Beechey, Malacology Department, Aus- Student member $A45 tralian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW 2010. Phone (02) 9320 6052, email Membership payments are preferred via the website, [email protected] but paper transactions can be sent to Malacological Society of Australasia, c/o Dr. Don Colgan, Austra- This publication is not deemed to be valid for taxo- lian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, NSW 2010. nomic purposes (See article 8b in International Code of Zoological Nomenclature 3rd Edition (1985). Web Site www.malsocaus.org Society News Annual general meeting tem. All MSA members are strongly encouraged At the Annual General Meeting on 2 December to register at http://subscription.malsocaus.org 2010 all the office bearers from the previous year where they can pay renewals online, receive automatic renewal notices and update their con- were re-elected, with the exception of Nicholas tact details. Payne who stepped down to focus on completion of his Ph.D. Thus one position is open for another Work is underway to allow electronic access to member to join the Council. Molluscan Research to current MSA members. The newsletter was revamped with an increased Presidents report focus on current events. In addition, a guest edi- Rachel Przeslawski, MSA President tor now manages each issue, with Des Beechey Over the past year this council has strove to improve continuing to oversee production. All recent and update administrative and technological aspects newsletters are now freely available to download of the MSA: through the website. Further programming was undertaken on the We have updated the list of Directors with the website to improve the online membership sys- Australian Securities and Investments Commis- 2 Society News (Cont.) sion so that it includes current executive officers scientific program please email coun- of the council, rather than founding members [email protected] or Denis McCann mon- and previous council members. [email protected] We held a logo competition which not only in- Mollusc Research Grants creased the profile of the MSA but also allowed us to obtain a high-quality logo which further Mollusc Research Grants are open again for applica- increases the professionalism and consistency of tions – deadline 1st June 2011. Preference will be our organisation. given to students or early career researchers in need An effort was made to obtain membership lists of funding for any project which increases our for all branches in order to meet the require- knowledge of Australasian molluscs. Refer to the ments of the MSA Constitution and offer re- website for more information http:// bates. We received this from the Victorian www.malsocaus.org/research_support.htm branch and they were given the associated rebate New Society Members for all active MSA members in the branch. We received 20 applications for the annual mol- Ten new members were accepted into the MSA at luscan research grants, and the quality was ex- the annual general meeting in December 2010 tremely high this year. The MSA awarded $750 Mrs Zoe Squires, Victoria each to four research grant recipients. Mrs Sophie Teede, Western Australia Mr Chris and Mrs Karen Barnes, NSW MOLLUSCS 2012 Mr Peter Bray, Queensland The next Meeting of the Australasian Malacological Dr Matthew Kosnik, Macquarie University Society will be held in Victoria in late November- Dr Stephen Smith, National Marine Science Centre early December 2012. The council is already working Dr Robert V Dees, California, USA hard at planning the event, with significant contribu- Mrs Nina and Mr John Lynas, Queensland tions from Denis McCann.. If you are interesting in Newsletter Guest Editor joining the committee or volunteering to help with this meeting or have any ideas for symposia in the The next Guest Editor of the Newsletter will be Re- becca van Gelderen. Copy is due to Rebecca by 30 Upcoming Events AMS MEETING 2011 The 4th International Oyster Symposium IOS4 Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 23-28 July 2011 Hobart, Tasmania, 18 September 2011 The 2011 annual meeting of the American Mala- “Embracing the Future through Innovation" is the cological Society will be held in Pittsburgh, PA. Pitts- theme of the IOS4 organized jointly by the World burgh is home to the Carnegie Museum of Natural Oyster Society, Oysters Tasmania and NSW Industry History (and its world class collection of freshwater and Investment. Conference themes include: Innova- and terrestrial mollusks) as well as Duquesne Univer- tion in supply; Innovation in a changing environment sity, sitting on a bluff overlooking the Monongahela (Managing risks); Innovation in promotion, handling River and the downtown area. The meeting will be and marketing held at Duquesne University. There will be housing For further details refer to available in the student dorms and there is a nearby World Oyster Society website www.worldoyster.org/ hotel for those desiring more plush accommodations. index_e.html or Oysters Tasmania There will be sessions on gastropod behaviour, www.oysterstasmania.org life history strategies, ecology, and molluscan conser- 8th International Abalone Symposium vation. Other sessions are being planned. We also Hobart, Tasmania expect to host a late afternoon roundtable discussion on conservation issues. In addition to planned ses- 6-11 May 2012.
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