DOCSLIB.ORG

Dynamic Ecosystems Student Workbook

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dynamic Ecosystems Student Workbook Dynamic Ecosystems Student Workbook VCE Environmental Science Unit 1: How are Earth’s systems connected? Area of Study 2: How is Earth a dynamic system? Pre-excursion Activities Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains – An overview. The Natural Temperate Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP) are endemic to south- western Victoria, primarily west of Melbourne. Trees are naturally sparse to absent in the grassland which primarily supports grass and herb (including wild flower) ground vegetation. Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains Grasslands were formerly extensive across the plain covering more than one-third of Victoria. Half of 1% per cent now remains, mostly as small and highly fragmented remnants. Many patches are found on private land with some patches on public sites such as roadsides, rail reserves and cemeteries. The grasslands provide vital support to a diverse range of native plants and animals, such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (EBB). Such species are important for maintaining regional, state and national biodiversity. The mainland species of EBB, Perameles gunnii, is now considered extinct in Source:the wild. www.environment.gov.au They are listed as Endangered federally (EPBC Act 1999). Putting in place favourable land use and management practices is essential at sites containing grasslands and grassy woodlands. Page 1 of 9 Please read and view the below references prior to the excursion a) EEV; 2016; Monitoring Environmental Systems. ‘Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains’. Pg: 118-119. b) For more information go to Australian Government. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/e97c2d51-08f2-45e0-9d2f- f0d277c836fa/files/grasslands-victoria.pdf c) For more information go to ‘Great Grasslands’ – A guide to education resources by Environmental Education Victoria at: http://eev.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/G-GL-E-R-Final-Nov-2014.pdf d) The Australian Trail precinct at Werribee Open Range Zoo is a 3.7ha enclosure (i.e. a large protected, predator proof enclosure containing natural habitat) that enables Zoo visitors to connect with Eastern Barred Bandicoots and their basalt plains environment. To find out more go to www.zoo.org.au/werribee/animals/eastern-barred-bandicoot e) Watch the videos – ‘Act Wild for Bandicoots’ and ‘Eastern Barred Bandicoots choosing their mates. https://vimeo.com/152242225 Questions 1 to 5 could be completed as a pre-visit activity. 1. Describe the environmental processes that contributed to the evolution of the Volcanic Plains over an extended scale of time. 2. How did the use and management style of Aboriginal Australians differ to that of early settlers and in more recent years? 3. The Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain represent one of Australia’s most threatened and fragmented ecosystems. What are the challenges in encouraging people to protect it? 4. How does fragmentation impact on this ecosystem? 5. Many faunal species of the grasslands have already been lost. What happened to the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and what is now being done to fight its extinction? 2 | P a g e At the Zoo – collecting data Education workshop – Australian Trail Threatened Grassland Species – Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction pledge states that no terrestrial vertebrate will go extinct on our watch. The mainland subspecies of Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, is now considered extinct in the wild. They are listed as Endangered federally (EPBC Act 1999). Bandicoots were once widespread across grasslands and grassy woodlands of western Victoria and South Australia. By 1991, the subspecies was on the brink of extinction, primarily due to habitat loss and predation by introduced foxes and cats. A captive breeding program was established sourcing Eastern Barred Bandicoots from the last known population at Hamilton. Since then, a coordinated Recovery program has focused on captive breeding, habitat management and predator control. There are currently reintroduced populations of Eastern Barred Bandicoots at Woodlands Historic Park, Hamilton Community Parklands, Mt Rothwell, Churchill Island and Phillip Island. Zoos Victoria coordinates the captive breeding program and so plays a key role in the recovery of this species through: Supplementing reintroduced wild populations through captive breeding. Maintaining an insurance population in captivity Conducting research to improve breeding and reintroduction success Increasing community awareness and support for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Werribee Open Range Zoo has committed to restoring a viable population in the wild through captive breeding and reintroduction. Eastern Barred Bandicoots have one of the shortest gestation periods of any mammal, at just 12-13 days. Females give birth to 2-4 young who remain in the pouch for approximately 60 days. At just 75 days old the young are independent, and at 90 days they are sexually mature and can begin breeding. Their life span is 2-3 years in the wild. This short life cycle makes them a good recovery species to be bred in captivity. 3 | P a g e 6. Complete the information about this species below: Species name: Conservation status: Threats: Details of conservation measures in place: Limiting factors that determine the carrying capacity for Eastern Barred Bandicoots in the Australian Journey release site. What can you do to help the species? Grasslands are considered one of the most threatened ecosystems in Australia. Less than 0.5% of the original Western Volcanic Plains grasslands remain. This ecosystem is listed as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and as a Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999. 7. Why do we need to preserve ecosystems such as grasslands? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4 | P a g e Grassland ecosystem 8. As you move through the Australian Journey observe the biotic and abiotic components of the grassland ecosystem. In the table below record any evidence of two biotic components (plant & animal) that may interact within the grassland ecosystem. Record the details in the table below: Organism Evidence e.g. Trophic level Inputs, i.e. what Outputs, i.e. what scats, sighting, (circle) does the does the organism feather, call, etc. organism take in release into its to survive? environment? Producer Primary consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer Producer Primary consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer 9. List the human induced factors that are responsible for the loss of grasslands over a short timescale _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the grasslands of the Victorian volcanic plains functioned as an ecosystem where many different organisms interacted and depended upon each other including the abiotic factors that affected them. a) Show the correct sequence of energy transfer between an Eastern Barred Bandicoot, grass, cricket, wedge-tailed eagle. b) How did this food web change with the introduction of livestock (sheep)? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ 5 | P a g e Data collection sites in the Australian Trail at Werribee Open Range Zoo 1 12 2 11 10 3 0 9 8 4 7 5 6 Page 6 of 9 Eastern Barred Bandicoot Habitat Preference Aim: To determine if the ecological requirements for Eastern Barred Bandicoots are currently exist within the Australian Trail Exhibit. 11. Each school participating in this program will collect field data. Quadrats are set at particular sites indicated on the map and will be allocated to ensure an even distribution of data. The accumulated data will be collected using EpiCollect and made available to view online. The factors below are considered important for Bandicoot interaction with a site. These factors will be measured in 1m2 quadrats adjacent to the trapping sites to determine the characteristics of sites that the Bandicoots interact with. Quadrat number: Quadrat number: Air Temperature (oC) Air Temperature (oC) Percentage Plant cover <15cm Percentage Plant cover <15cm % % Percentage Plant cover > 15cm Percentage Plant cover > 15cm % % Woody debris cover (eg. branches, bark, etc.) Woody debris cover(eg. branches, bark, etc) % % Plant litter cover (eg. dead leaves, stems, Plant litter cover (eg. dead leaves, stems, flowers) % f lowers) % Artificial cover (cement, bricks, fence palings) Artificial cover (cement, bricks, fence palings) % % Bare ground cover (including rocks) % Bare ground cover % Distance to the nearest cover that would Distance to the nearest cover that would conceal an EBB , ie clusters of plants >15cm m conceal an EBB , ie clusters of plants >15cm m in height in height Number of species of plants Number of species of plants Number of surface invertebrates Number of surface invertebrates Number of different type/
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Size Relationship of the Tympanic Bullae and Pinnae in Bandicoots and Bilbies (Marsupialia: Peramelemorphia)
    Size Relationship of the Tympanic Bullae and Pinnae in Bandicoots and Bilbies (Marsupialia: Peramelemorphia) by Melissa Taylor BSc This thesis is presented for the degree of Bachelor of Science Honours, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, of Murdoch University Perth, Western Australia, 2019 Author’s Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own account of my research and contains as its main content work which has not previously been submitted for a degree at any tertiary education institution. Melissa Taylor iii Abstract Hearing is an important factor allowing species to obtain information about their environment. Variation in tympanic bullae and external pinnae morphology has been linked with hearing sensitivity and sound localisation in different mammals. Bandicoots and bilbies (Order Peramelemorphia) typically occupy omnivorous niches across a range of habitats from open, arid deserts to dense, tropical forests in Australia and New Guinea. The morphology of tympanic bullae and pinnae varies between peramelemorphian taxa. Little is known about the relationship between these structures, or the extent to which they vary with respect to aspects of ecology, environment or behaviour. This thesis investigated the relationship between tympanic bulla and pinna size in 29 species of bandicoot and bilby. Measurements were taken from museum specimens to investigate this relationship using direct measuring methods and linear dimensions. It was hypothesised that an inverse relationship between bullae and pinnae may exist and that species residing in arid regions would have more extreme differences. Environmental variables were examined to determine the level of influence they had on bullae and pinnae. This study found that there was a phylogenetic correlation between the structures and that they were significantly influenced by temperature (max/average) and precipitation (average).
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened Species Mammals Property Planning Guide
    LANDHOLDER SERIES - PROPERTY PLANNING GUIDE LANDHOLDER SERIES THREATENED SPECIES MAMMALS PROPERTY PLANNING GUIDE THREATENED SPECIES - MAMMALS There are 33 native terrestrial and 41 marine The main threats to mammals are via disease (e.g. Facial tumour disease mammals which are known to occur in in Tasmanian Devils, aquatic fungus Mucoramphiborum in Platypus or Tasmania, of these, 7 marine mammals and toxoplasmosis from cats), road kill and predation from foxes and cats. The clearance of native vegetation and inappropriate use of fire are also 3 terrestrial mammals are threatened under contributing to the decline in the range and/or populations of native state and federal law. mammals in Tasmania. EXAMPLES OF THREATENED MAMMALS OF TASMANIA EXAMPLES OF THREATENED MAMMALS OF TASMANIA State status Commonwealth status (TSPA listing) (EPBCA listing) Thylacinus cynocephalus Thylacine X EX Perameles gunnii gunnii Eastern-barred Bandicoot VU Dasyurus maculatus maculatus Spotted-tailed Quoll R VU Pseudomys novaehollandiae New Holland Mouse E VU Sarcophilus harrisii Tasmanian Devil E EN Vombatus ursinus ursinus Common Wombat VU TSPA: E=Endangered, V=Vulnerable. EPBCA: EN=Endangered, CR=Critically Endangered, VU=Vulnerable. See Threatened Species Management Fact sheet for further explanation. TASMANIAN DEVIL There is no doubt that persecution led to the extinction of the Thylacine in Tasmania and the process may have been accelerated by a distemper-type disease. The second largest marsupial carnivore the Tasmanian Devil, whilst also suffering some persecution, exacerbated by road-kill, is now also under dire threat from the facial tumour disease. This species is listed as endangered under both the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
    [Show full text]
  • Predicting Suitable Release Sites for Assisted Colonisations: a Case Study of Eastern Barred Bandicoots
    Predicting suitable release sites for assisted colonisations: a case study of eastern barred bandicoots Citation: Rendall, Anthony R, Coetsee, Amy L and Sutherland, Duncan R 2018, Predicting suitable release sites for assisted colonisations: a case study of eastern barred bandicoots, Endangered species research, vol. 36, pp. 137-148. DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.3354/esr00893 ©2018, The Authors Reproduced by Deakin University under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence Downloaded from DRO: http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30111470 DRO Deakin Research Online, Deakin University’s Research Repository Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B Vol. 36: 137–148, 2018 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Published July 10 https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00893 Endang Species Res OPENPEN ACCESSCCESS Predicting suitable release sites for assisted colonisations: a case study of eastern barred bandicoots Anthony R. Rendall1,*, Amy L. Coetsee2, Duncan R. Sutherland1 1Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, 3922 Victoria, Australia 2Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, Elliott Avenue, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia ABSTRACT: Assisted colonisations are increasingly being used to recover endangered or func- tionally extinct species. High quality habitat at release sites is known to improve the success of assisted colonisations, but defining high quality habitat can be challenging when species no longer inhabit their historical range. A partial solution to this problem is to quantify habitat use at release sites, and use results to inform assisted colonisation in the future. In this study, we quanti- fied habitat use by the eastern barred bandicoot Perameles gunnii, functionally extinct on the Australian mainland, immediately after translocation to an island ecosystem.
    [Show full text]
  • Discovering Marsupials Snout, and Enlarged Front Legs
    Discovered by Mark Harvey, Western Australian Museum ustralia, New Guinea and some They delved deeper into nearby islands are home to the the status of the quenda, which Avast majority of living marsupials, is endemic to south-western a group of mammals that separated from Australia. It has usually been other mammals in the Mesozoic, about considered as a subspecies 160 million years ago. Elsewhere, marsupials known as Isoodon obesulus are only known from the Americas, although fusciventer, with the other fossils have been found in Asia and Europe. subspecies found in south- Many Australian marsupials have become eastern Australia. However, iconic and are much-loved symbols of Kenny and Matthew raised our nation. Sadly, many are imperilled by it to a full species, finding land clearing and threats from introduced consistent differences in predators. the shape of some of the One of the most distinctive (and teeth and some previously perhaps cute) marsupial groups comprises published molecular data. the bandicoots and bilbies which This species is now known as are classified in their own order, the Isoodon fusciventer. Peramelemorphia. They have long ears and They then turned their Discovering marsupials snout, and enlarged front legs. There are attention to the other only about 22 living species of bandicoots genus, Perameles. Previous and they are only found in the Australo- classifications recognised only Papuan region. Their size and relatively a few modern species, including the long- Above A western barred bandicoot. placid nature has made them vulnerable nosed bandicoot (P. nasuta) from eastern Photo – Jiri Lochman to land-clearing and introduced predators Australia, the eastern barred bandicoot such as feral cats and foxes, and many (P.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles Gunnii
    Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018) Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii Key Findings The mainland subspecies of Eastern Barred Bandicoot faced near- extinction in the late 1980s due to predation by foxes and feral cats, habitat loss, and impacts from livestock grazing. A captive breeding program commenced in 1991, providing Eastern Barred Bandicoots to 11 different translocation sites. Where successful, the new sites have significantly improved recovery prospects. Photo: Victorian DELWP Significant trajectory change from 2005-15 to 2015-18? No significant change. Population recovering in 2005-15, with continuing recovery over the period 2015-18. Priority future actions • Continue captive breeding to provide insurance against extinction in the wild, and to provide animals for translocations. • Maintain biosecurity of fenced exclosures and island release sites, expand translocation sites. • Develop conservation strategies to allow coexistence with low levels of feral cats and foxes Full assessment information Background information 2018 population trajectory assessment 1. Conservation status and taxonomy 8. Expert elicitation for population trends 2. Conservation history and prospects 9. Immediate priorities from 2019 3. Past and current trends 10. Contributors 4. Key threats 11. Legislative documents 5. Past and current management 12. References 6. Support from the Australian Government 13. Citation 7. Measuring progress towards conservation The primary purpose of this scorecard is to assess progress against achieving the year three targets outlined in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy, including estimating the change in population trajectory of 20 mammal species. It has been prepared by experts from the National Environmental Science Program’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, with input from a number of taxon experts, a range of stakeholders and staff from the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, for the information of the Australian Government and is non-statutory.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Barred Bandicoots
    the ground. They can turn over up to 13kg Island Ark of soil each night! This behaviour makes them Fox-free islands, such as Phillip Island, excellent ‘ecosystem engineers’ which means provide the best long-term opportunity to they play an important role in maintaining the save this special species from extinction soil structure of their habitats, helping to create by allowing populations to thrive in the healthy and functioning ecosystems. wild. Using islands as threatened species reintroduction sites helps to mitigate the Habitat issues of predation by introduced predators, A mixture of grasslands and woodlands such as foxes, by providing a safe, fox-free provides the highly complex habitat preferred area that is protected by a large water barrier. by Eastern Barred Bandicoots. For nesting, the bandicoots use their clawed forepaws to Securing a brighter future scrape out a depression which they line with In August 2015, 20 male and female grass. These nests are tucked away under bandicoots were released onto Churchill tussocks of grass to protect the bandicoots Island (off Phillip Island) which is fox, cat during the day while they sleep. and rabbit free. In less than two years, the population reached around 120 individuals Eastern Diet and has now stabilised. In 2017, 67 male Eastern Barred Bandicoots are omnivorous and female bandicoots were translocated though primarily insectivorous. At night, they to the Summerland Peninsula on Phillip Barred use their strong claws and pointed nose to Island where they share their home with dig for insects and worms, leaving many small Little Penguins, Cape Barren Geese, Swamp Bandicoot cone-shaped holes in the soil.
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Potential of the Peroryctidae Family to Improve Food Security in Papua New Guinea
    JMHT Vol. XVI, (3): 155–160, Desember 2010 Pemikiran Konseptual ISSN: 2087-0469 Status and Potential of the Peroryctidae Family to Improve Food Security in Papua New Guinea David Lopez Cornelio* Forestry Department, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Lae-411, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea Abstract As the importance and threats of wildlife resources in Melanesia are widely recognized, their appropriate use is critical to achieve sustainable development in the country. An underestimated relationship between the status of the species with forest condition and food security is discussed. Being as nutritious as conventional imported red meats, bandicoots are also considered as the most rapidly breeding marsupial. The taxonomy, morphology, habitat, and reproductive characteristics of the family Peroryctidae (bandicoots) are succinctly described in order to elucidate the species potential in continuous controlled harvests in the wild and its eventual farming, until now successful abroad with one species from a related family. This effort requires the application of proper regulations that guarantee continuous harvests in accordance to the population dynamics. Keywords: wildlife, food security, bandicoots, meat sources, forest degradation *Correspondence author, email: [email protected], phone: +675-47-34661, fax: +675-47-34669 -1 Introduction the overall international trade is of K10 billion year . Hunt- ing provides 20–80% of overall protein intake by rural house- Well adapted, underutilized resources that have the po- holds in Central Africa (Inamdar et al. 1999). Bush meat has tential to strengthen food security in the country have been been also a fundamental source of protein in Melanesia, where poorly assessed, and their implied short and long term costs villagers often cannot afford investment on livestock, chicken and benefits poorly understood (NARI 2003).
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1: Introduction 1
    Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 General introduction Forty-two species of mammals worldwide have suffered extinction since 1600 (IUCN 2003). Almost half of the world’s mammal extinctions in the last two hundred years have occurred in Australia, coinciding with European settlement of the continent (Short and Smith 1994). Seventeen species are extinct, 10 survive only as island populations, and a further 17 have been reduced to remnant populations of less than 10% of their range prior to European settlement. The decline and extinction of these species has been documented by a number of early authors (e.g. Finlayson 1935, 1961; Jones 1923-25; Krefft 1866; Shortridge 1909), and has typically been associated with the impact of European settlement of Australia. Soulé (1983, p. 112) noted: "As far as I know, no biologist has documented the extinction of a continental species of plant or animal caused solely by non- human agencies such as competition, disease or environmental perturbation in situations unaffected by man". Possible causes for the losses in our native mammal fauna have been widely debated over the last century, yet the causal factors for the decline and extinction of individual species are rarely known (Caughley and Gunn 1996). In many cases, the biology of a species has been so poorly known, that any threatening processes identified have been rarely more than a guess. Predation by introduced feral cats Felis catus and the European fox Vulpes vulpes, habitat modification and fragmentation (destruction by clearing for agriculture, the impacts of introduced livestock and European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, changes in fire regimes), competition from introduced species, hunting pressure, pest control, pollution, and disease, or a combination of any of these factors, have commonly been implicated in the loss of mammal species in Australia (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Barred Bandicoot PVA Bandicoot Barred Eastern
    Oct. 2 – 2012 Workshop, Zoos Victoria,Workshop, 30 Zoos Sept. Eastern Barred Bandicoot PVA Bandicoot Barred Eastern This document reports on a workshop hosted by Zoos Victoria from September 30 to October 2, 2012. The workshop, which brought together members of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Group, captive management specialists and scientists experienced in bandicoot biology, explored a range of recovery strategies for the species using the computerised population simulation program Vortex (Lacy et al, 2009). Staff of the IUCN/SSC/Conservation Breeding Specialist Group facilitated the workshop and constructed and analysed the models. The results of these analyses are to be made available to the recovery group as a planning tool. Workshop Contributors Peter Courtney, Graeme Coulson, Dan Harley, Caroline Lees, Michael McGrath, Marissa Parrott, Charles Todd, Kathy Traylor-Holzer, Andrew Weeks, Madelon Willemsen, Amy Winnard A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group and Zoos Victoria, in collaboration with the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team and the University of Melbourne. Cover photo: Zoos Victoria © Copyright 2013 CBSG IUCN encourages meetings, workshops and other fora for the consideration and analysis of issues related to conservation, and believes that reports of these meetings are most useful when broadly disseminated. The opinions and views expressed by the authors may not necessarily reflect the formal policies of IUCN, its Commissions, its Secretariat or its members. The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher Notes
    TEACHER NOTES BOUNCING BACK AN EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOT STORY Rohan Cleave (Author) and Coral Tulloch (Illustrator) About the book A beautifully illustrated story of this marsupial’s plight and how it was saved from extinction. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of Australia’s most threatened species. When their existence came under extreme threat from habitat loss, predators and human development, Eastern Barred Bandicoots found refuge in the most unlikely of places – a rubbish tip. This captivating true story details the plight these small, nocturnal marsupials faced, and the outstanding efforts that ensured their protection. Written by Rohan Cleave and illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Bouncing Back shows that even on the brink of extinction, there is hope for the survival of our most vulnerable species. Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch’s first book, Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, won a Whitley Award for Children’s Natural History Book and was an Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Awards (Eve Pownall Information Book category). Bouncing Back is perfect for primary aged readers. Locked Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia Tel: 1300 788 000 (local call in Australia) Fax: +61 (0)3 9545 8550 Email: [email protected] TEACHER NOTES Written by Dianne Gordon The grasses shiver and part as a twitching black nose sniffs the night air. A pair of bright, beady eyes blink in the darkness, checking that all is safe before darting from her nest, ready to snuffle through the undergrowth for juicy grubs and crunchy beetles. Perhaps this night will provide rich pickings for the young Eastern Barred Bandicoot….
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Long-Nosed Bandicoot)
    Consultation on Species Listing Eligibility and Conservation Actions Perameles nasuta (Southern Long-nosed Bandicoot) You are invited to provide your views and supporting reasons related to: 1) the eligibility of Perameles nasuta (Southern Long-nosed Bandicoot) for inclusion on the EPBC Act threatened species list; and 2) the necessary conservation actions for the above species. The purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the status of the species and help inform on conservation actions and further planning. As such, the below draft assessment should be considered to be tentative as it may change following responses to this consultation process. Evidence provided by experts, stakeholders and the general public are welcome. Responses can be provided by any interested person. Anyone may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) or for a transfer of an item already on the list to a new listing category. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes the assessment of species to determine eligibility for inclusion in the list of threatened species and provides its recommendation to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment. Responses are to be provided in writing by email to: [email protected]. Please include species scientific name in Subject field. or by mail to: The Director Bushfire Affected Species Assessments Section Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Responses are required to be submitted by 24 June 2021.
    [Show full text]
  • RUNX2 Repeat Variation Does Not Drive Craniofacial Diversity in Marsupials Axel H
    Newton et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2017) 17:110 DOI 10.1186/s12862-017-0955-6 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access RUNX2 repeat variation does not drive craniofacial diversity in marsupials Axel H. Newton, Charles Y. Feigin and Andrew J. Pask* Abstract Background: Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is a transcription factor essential for skeletal development. Variation within the RUNX2 polyglutamine / polyalanine (QA) repeat is correlated with facial length within orders of placental mammals and is suggested to be a major driver of craniofacial diversity. However, it is not known if this correlation exists outside of the placental mammals. Results: Here we examined the correlation between the RUNX2 QA repeat ratio and facial length in the naturally evolving sister group to the placental mammals, the marsupials. Marsupials have a diverse range of facial lengths similar to that seen in placental mammals. Despite their diversity there was almost no variation seen in the RUNX2 QA repeat across individuals spanning the entire marsupial infraclass. The extreme conservation of the marsupial RUNX2 QA repeat indicates it is under strong purifying selection. Despite this, we observed an unexpectedly high level of repeat purity. Conclusions: Unlike within orders of placental mammals, RUNX2 repeat variation cannot drive craniofacial diversity in marsupials. We propose conservation of the marsupial RUNX2 QA repeat is driven by the constraint of accelerated ossification of the anterior skeleton to facilitate life in the pouch. Thus, marsupials must utilize alternate pathways to placental mammals to drive craniofacial evolution. Keywords: Marsupial, Craniofacial, Evolution, RUNX2, CBFA1, Repeat variation, Repeat purity Background length and the ratio of polyglutamines (Q) to polyala- Mammals have evolved a diverse array of craniofacial nines (A) in the QA repeat domain of the Runt-related morphologies in response to their specialist diets.
    [Show full text]