• • • communicating scientific research and natural history Publishers of quality research in ecology, conservation, biology, wildlife and research management and allied subjects World-wide facsimile service to libraries, institutions and researchers of papers in and out-of-print Publishers and distributors for the Ecological Society of Australia SURREY BEATTY & SONS 43-45 Rickard Road, Chipping Norton 2170, NSW, Australia Telephone: (02) 602 3888 Fax: (02) 821 1253 Australian EDITORIAL The Ultimate Inventor Natural History ife. That seemingly infinite study, classify, identify and examine structure whose boundaries we all aspects of it. We play a vital role in Published by continuously hope to conquer. its future direction for, being a part of The Australian Museum Trust L It is a kind of writhing, growing time it, we affect it, sometimes intention­ 6-8 College Street, ally, other times not. But in order to Sydney, .S.W. 2000 machine of which we are but a small Phone: (02) 339 8111 part. Mike Archer discusses his look after it, we need to understand Trust President: Robyn Williams 'Bioblob' concept of Life on p. 512. it; to know it intimately: any decision Museum Director: Desmond Griffin The beast called Life continu­ that we make about it must be based EDITOR ously changes form and develops on sound knowledge. One recent Fiona Doig new strategies in order to reach new quest for such knowledge was un­ SCIENTIFIC EDITOR dertaken by the A PWS using Aus­ Georgina Hickey, B.Sc. boundaries: fish have developed antifreeze in order to withstand tralian Museum staff to study the CIRCULATION Cathy McGahey the icy Antarctic waters (see article ecology of Elizabeth and Middleton ART DIRECTION p. 518); lizards have lost their legs Reefs (see article on p. 484). To the Watch This! Design and become snake-like (p. 524); and general populous, such a study may PRODUCTION ASSISTANT dragonflies and damselflies (see not seem to be of great conse­ Shan Wolody p. 506) have developed extraordi­ quence. Yet it is studies such as this TYPESETTING nary penis structures that ensure that that ultimately contribute towards Love Computer Typesetting Pty Ltd sperm deposited from the last the future direction of the beast. We FILM WORK mating is used to fertilise the eggs. are its guardians. South Sea International Press Ltd And we, in awe of the beast, -Fiona Doig, Editor PRI TING RodenPrint Pty Ltd ADVERTISING Voyage to Elizabeth & Middleton 484 (02) 339 8234 Reefs SUBSCRIPTIO S Pat Hutchings Annual subscription (4 issues) Supplication of the Crocodile: 490 Within Australia $A 16.00 A Curing Ritual from Papua Other Countries $A20.00 Two-year subscription (8 issues) New Guinea Within Australia $A30.00 Peter Dwyer and Monica Minnegal Other countries $A36.00 Dragons & Damsels: 506 For renewal or new subscription please An In-depth Penetration of forward credit card authority or cheque Their Sexual Strategies made payable to: David Thompson The Australian Museum P.O. Box A285 Sydney South Antarctic Fish : 518 .S.W. 2000, Australia Coping With Life In Icy Waters Subscribers from other countries please Richard Williams note that money must be paid in Life Without Legs 524 Australian currency. The Pygopodid Lizards All material appearing in Australian Michael Hutchins Natural History is copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is not FORUM permitted without written authorisation from the Editor. Hunting: A Conservation Strategy? 498 Opinions expressed by the authors are Sid Cowling their own and do not necessarily represent the policies or views of the VIEWS FROM THE FOURTH Australian Museum. DIME SION The Editor welcomes articles or The Four-Dimensional 'Bioblob' 512 photographs in any field of Australian Called Life natural history. Michael Archer Published 1988 AUSTRALIAN WILD FOODS ISSN-0004-9840 Native Fruiting Weeds 516 Tim Low Australian atural History 111111111 is audited by the RARE & ENDA GERED aoc Audit Bureau of Circulations Extinct Plants Rediscovered 522 Front Cover Mark Richardson Surf breaking over the reef crest at Middleton Reef, one of the two REGULAR FEATURES southernmost coral atolls in the world. Letters 482 Australian Museum scientists have been Quips, Quotes & Curios 496 studying the ecology of the two reefs in Photoart 501 a research project commissioned by Poster Article 504 A PWS (p. 484). Photo: Ed Lovell. Robyn Williams 505 Books 514 AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 481 LETTERS Confusion & Delusion Algal Blues As a mere practitioner of namer. Algal cells contain a and forget what they really Can you please clarify for what scientists tell me is an nucleus and chromo­ stand for in the education me an apparent contradic­ Art as opposed to a Sci­ somes. On closer examin­ of humans and the survival tion in the Spring 1988 ence, may I be permitted ation of what were once of our environment. issue of ANH (vol. 22, no. to comment on two articles called 'blue-green algae', As for the comment on 1O) concerning blue-green in your ANH of Spring the cells were found not to reductions in grants or algae and cyanobacteria. 1988. contain a nucleus or funding, it is very amusing In his review of Evol­ In a book review, we chromosomes and thus that our politicians can eas­ ution in the Outback: Time are informed by Ken were not algae. They were ily muster enough funds to in the North-West of Aus­ McNamara that stroma­ instead photosynthetic tour the globe, yet refuse tralia, Ken McNamara tolites are not made by bacteria, hence the term to accept the importance points out that Jan Taylor blue-green algae, but by 'cyanobacteria'. Reference of things that really count "perpetrates a number cyanobacteria, which are to 'blue-green algae' only in society. of myths", specifically organisms from a com­ confuses the issue. It Congratulations on the "... stromatolites are made pletely different kingdom. should be dropped from magazine, and keep up the by blue-green algae. In Later, in an article, Ken scientific nomenclature good work. fact they are largely con­ McNamara tells us that and be replaced with structed by organisms in a stromatolites at Hamelin 'cyanobacteria'. This was -Jim Bigelow completely different king­ Pool are formed principally the point Ken McNamara Coorparoo, Qld dom, the cyanobacteria". by cyanobacteria "for­ was making in his book re­ Then some pages later, merly known as blue­ view. presumably the same Ken green algae". -C.H. Confronting Criticism McNamara says in his Is this a case of 'a rose by I found it a trifle annoy­ article on stromatolites: any other name', as with ing that Tim Flannery "These [stromatolites] at Monilia and Candida, or A Potter's Request should use his space in a Hamelin Pool are formed does Ken McNamara come I congratulate you on the book review to launch an principally by cyano­ in two sub-types? recent article concerning unnecessarily sarcastic at­ bacteria (formerly known La pita pottery (ANH vol. tack against creation sci­ as blue-green algae)".I am -Dr Grahame P. Dodd 22, no. 9) and encourage ence and the Christian left to assume that some Broadbeach Waters, Qld you to continue with more churches that teach it to finer point of definition has articles on ancient pottery. school students (ANH vol. been omitted here, one Perhaps now is the time to 22, no. 8, 1988). ot only is that I would like to know. Ken McNamara in his re­ further expand by giving us it extremely rude to refer to Apart from this point I view of Evolution in the (the readers) a full-size the well-mannered (unlike would like to say how Outback takes to task Jan poster of some of the many Dr Flannery) and well­ much I have enjoyed read­ Taylor for stating that excellent pieces available. groomed representatives ing Australian Natural His­ stromatolites are made by It would make a welcome of these churches as Paul tory. As far as I am con­ blue-green algae. He change from the usual Keating look-alikes, it is cerned I think it leaves writes "in fact they are wildlife shots. By the way, also highly contentious to other 'competitors' in the largely constructed by or­ the poster of the early Aus­ imply that the churches natural history stakes, such ganisms in a completely tralian plant drawings was that support creation sci­ as Australian Geographic different kingdom, the excellent. ence are "outlandish" or and Ceo, for dead! I think cyanobacteria". It is unfor­ -Sharon Williams "fringe". the main reason is that you tunate that such a basic Busselton, WA Dr Flannery may have cover such a wide range of error has crept into his ex­ had a bad experience with topics including items on cellent review. Those or­ religion that biases his invertebrates and suchlike ganisms formerly known as opinions somewhat, but rarely i;:overed elsewhere. blue-green algae are the this is no forum to air his The quality of photo­ same organisms that are Grants not for views. The unscientific and graphic art in the publi­ now known as cyano­ Granted emotive appraisal of the cation is outstanding; the bacteria. Ken McNamara I wish to convey my ap­ book also does little to en­ photo of the breaching should check his own facts preciation and enjoyment courage people who were Killer Whale by A. Rus before calling the kettle of Robyn Williams' article educated poorly about Hoelzel is magnificent. As black. 'What are Museums for?' evolutionary science to you can see I'm a con­ -Harold Spies (ANH vol. 22, no. 9). I fully read it. While assaulting us firmed fan and I look for­ Castlecrag, NSW support his comments. It is with his personal views of ward to future issues from unfortunate that many religious education, he has your team.