DOCSLIB.ORG

More Than 1000 Kilometres Until They Reach the Australian Alps in South Victoria and Kosciuszko National Park, in Summer, Where They Congregate in Huge Numbers

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
More Than 1000 Kilometres Until They Reach the Australian Alps in South Victoria and Kosciuszko National Park, in Summer, Where They Congregate in Huge Numbers AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE SOCIETY Funds a new strategy to save the mountain pygmy-possum from extinction The mountain pygmy-possum boulder fields and dense alpine rock Hibernating mountain pygmy-possums (Burramys parvus) is a small nocturnal crevices of southern Victoria and reduce their body temperatures from marsupial, endemic to the alpine Kosciuszko National Park in New the normal active temperature of 36°C regions of Australia, and has been South Wales. It survives winter by to approximately 2°C during torpor selected as the Society’s 2020 wildlife hibernating for up to seven months bouts. To hibernate successfully, of the year. and is dependent on the insulation mountain pygmy-possums require provided by snow, and its primary temperatures between 1.5°C and 2.5°C. Through sponsorship from Kinder food source, for its survival. Therefore, Hibernation can last between five to (Ferrero Australia), the Society is changes in climate pose a considerable seven months. The mountain pygmy- playing a key role in the preservation risk to this species. of the mountain pygmy-possum by funding a program to help save this Hibernation is a seasonal response Above: The mountain pygmy-possum is a species from a changing climate and to changes in climate and food small, mouse-sized nocturnal marsupial of possible extinction. availability. Hibernating mammals Australia found in dense alpine rock screes endure prolonged intervals of torpor, and boulder fields, mainly southern Victoria The mountain pygmy-possum has during which the body temperature, and around Mount Kosciuszko in Kosciuszko adapted to live exclusively in alpine metabolism, and other metabolic National Park in New South Wales at elevations habitat. It is found in highly elevated functions are significantly reduced. from 1,300 to 2,230 metres. Australian Wildlife Vol 2 - Autumn 2020 17 possum prepares for hibernation by doubling its bodyweight before winter begins. The mountain pygmy-possum will eat as much as it can to store enough energy to last through the duration of its dormant period. The survival of the mountain pygmy- possum depends not only on its immediate environment but also on the regional migratory patterns of its major food source, the bogong moth (Agrotis infusa). Each spring, the bogong moth leaves the heat of their breeding grounds in southern Queensland and north-western New South Wales to fly more than 1000 kilometres until they reach the Australian Alps in south Victoria and Kosciuszko National Park, in summer, where they congregate in huge numbers. Once there, they switch their bodies into a dormant state, not unlike hibernation (in summer this dormancy is called aestivation). The peaks of the boulder fields and rock crevices are used as their aestivation The mountain pygmy-possum is mainly grey-brown with paler grey/brown to cream underneath. Its sites. A few months later, the moths fur is fine but very dense keeping the animal warm in sometimes freezing temperatures. It has a migrate back north to breed as their darker ring of fur around its eyes, rounded ears and a long tail. larvae cannot tolerate cold conditions. The mountain pygmy-possum is the largest of Australia’s five species of pygmy-possum, yet it only weighs 45 grams and could easily fit in the palm of your hand. 18 Australian Wildlife Vol 2 - Autumn 2020 Hibernation, the insulation provided endangered on the International Union endangered mountain pygmy- by snow and the migratory patterns of for Conservation of Nature’s Red List possums at warmer, lowland rainforest the bogong moth, play a key role in the of Threatened Species. Its threatened conditions and lower altitude of mountain pygmy-possum’s survival. Dr status is one of the reasons why the 1000 metres. This strategy has been Hayley Bates, from the University of New Australian Wildlife Society selected the implemented to assist the mountain South Wales, stresses that if there isn’t mountain pygmy-possum as its 2020 pygmy-possum to adapt, shift and enough snowfall or snow melts early due wildlife of the year. acclimatise to a more temperate to a warming event, as climate modelling climate, like its ancestral habitat. This predicts, the cold air will penetrate the To combat the effects of climate strategy will provide the mountain alpine rock crevices and adversely affect change, scientists from the University pygmy-possums with the opportunity the survival of the mountain pygmy- of New South Wales have established to adapt to a warmer temperature, possum. Temperatures below 0.6°C a breeding program at Secret Creek providing it with the chance for survival will wake a mountain pygmy-possum Sanctuary, based on evidence provided and preventing it from becoming a from its hibernation and put it at risk of by the fossil record of its ancestors. potential victim of climate change. shivering to death. Furthermore, due to The Australian Wildlife Society is the migratory patterns of its food source, helping to fund this program to help While there are many unanswered if woken early its food source will not save the mountain pygmy-possum questions and there is still so much be present, and therefore the mountain from extinction. The fossil records more to learn about this species, the pygmy-possum is also at risk of starving show that the prime habitat of the breeding program at Secret Creek to death. If the mountain pygmy-possum mountain pygmy-possum’s ancestors Sanctuary provides the opportunity experiences two consecutive winters of was rainforest environments. to study the animal and its breeding decreased snowfall, warming climate behaviours at a warmer temperature. and non-present key food source, then As Australia dried out, some animals If the program is a success and it can the species could collapse and go extinct. adapted, however some, including be demonstrated that the mountain As a result, in New South Wales, the the ancestors of the pygmy-possum, pygmy-possum can establish a foothold mountain pygmy-possum is listed as were so connected to the rainforest in a more temperate environment, an Endangered Species on Schedule 1 environment that they followed the UNSW Professor Mike Archer predicts of the Threatened Species Conservation environmental shift eastward. The that other threatened animals could be Act 1995 and is classified as critically program aims to breed the critically preserved using the same strategy. The mountain pygmy-possum is the only marsupial in the world known to store food and hibernate for extended periods. Australian Wildlife Vol 2 - Autumn 2020 19.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Corroboree Ground and Aboriginal Cultural Area, Queanbeyan River
    November 2017 ACT Heritage Council BACKGROUND INFORMATION Corroboree Ground and Aboriginal Cultural Area, Queanbeyan River Block 700 MAJURA Part Blocks 662, 663, 699, 680, 701, 702, 703, 704 MAJURA Part Blocks 2002, 2091, 2117 JERRABOMBERRA OAKS ESTATE Block 22, Section 2; Block 13, Section 3; Block 4, Section 13; Block 6, Section 13, Block 5, Section 14; Part Block 15, Section 2; Part Block 19, Section 2; Part Block 20, Section 2; Part Block 21, Section 2; Part Block 5, Section 13; Part Block 1, Section 14; Part Block 4, Section 14; Part Block 1, Section 17 At its meeting of 16 November 2017 the ACT Heritage Council decided that the Corroboree Ground and Aboriginal Cultural Area, Queanbeyan River was eligible for registration. The information contained in this report was considered by the ACT Heritage Council in assessing the nomination for the Corroboree Ground and Aboriginal Cultural Area, Queanbeyan River against the heritage significance criteria outlined in s 10 of the Heritage Act 2004. HISTORY The Ngunnawal people are traditionally affiliated with the lands within the Canberra region. In this citation, ‘Aboriginal community’ refers to the Ngunnawal people and other Aboriginal groups within the ACT who draw significance from the place. Whilst the term ‘Aboriginal community’ acknowledges these groups in the ACT, it is recognised that their traditional territories extend outside contemporary borders. These places attest to a rich history of Aboriginal connection to the area. Traditional Aboriginal society in Canberra during the nineteenth century suffered from dramatic depopulation and alienation from traditional land based resources, although some important social institutions like intertribal gatherings and corroborees were retained to a degree at least until the 1860s.
    [Show full text]
  • Husbandry Guidelines for Feathertail Gliders
    Husbandry Guidelines for (Photo: Luke Hogan, 1996) Feathertail Gliders Acrobates frontalis & Acrobates pygmaeus (Mammalia: Acrobatidae) Date By From Version 2012 Tom Patterson WSI Richmond v 1 Husbandry Manual for the Feathertail Glider DISCLAIMER These husbandry guidelines were produced by the compiler/author at TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute, Richmond College, N.S.W. Australia as part assessment for completion of Certificate III in Captive Animals, Course number 18913. Since the husbandry guidelines are the result of student project work, care should be taken in the interpretation of information therein. In effect, all care taken but no responsibility is assumed for any loss or damage that may result from the use of these guidelines. Care has been taken to acknowledge the correct ownership of work. Should It is offered to the ASZK Husbandry Manuals Register for the benefit of animal welfare and care. Husbandry guidelines are utility documents and are ‘works in progress’, so enhancements to these guidelines are invited. 2 Annual Cycle of Maintenance Breeding Torpor Exhibit Change Replace Scrub Replace Soil Decrease Pest Collect Scrub Leaf nesting Nest (if applicable) food Control Faecal (1) (2) Litter materials Boxes (Torpor) Samples January February March April May June July August September October November December Note: (1) Northern populations – most likely all Acrobates frontalis, (2) Southern populations – most likely all Acrobates pygmaeus. All maintenance cycle should be used as a guide only. These tasks are noted at a minimum, but should be done as required. Record keeping, weights, observations and environmental enrichment should occur all year round OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS OH&S hazards can include anything that may be seen as a potential risk to you as a keeper or a member of the public.
    [Show full text]
  • Greater Glider Management Plan: South Gippsland. Draft
    1 Greater Glider Management Plan: South Gippsland. Draft Greater Glider, Mirboo Regional Park (HVP). Powerful Owls, Mirboo Regional Park (Dickies Hill). 2 INDEX 1. Aim……………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………. 2. Biology………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….. 3. Current Distribution South Gippsland…………………………………………………………….. P.2 4. Greater Glider Populations…………………………………………………....……………………... P.2 4.1. Mirboo Regional Park & Dickies Hill……………………………..…………………………..…. P.2 4.2. Hallston…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. P.3 4.3. Gunyah rainforest Reserve……………………………………………................................ P.3 5. Threats……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. P.3 5.1. Habitat Connectivity…………………………………………………..……………………………..… P.4 5.2. Habitat Destruction…………………………………………………………………………………..... P.5 5.3. Predators…………………………………………………………….………………………………….…... P.5 5.4. Climate Change………………………………………………………………………………………….... P.5 5.5. Firewood Collection………………………………………………………………………………….….. P.5 5.6. Timber Production…………………………………………………………………………………..…... P.6 5.7. Other Threats………………………………………………………………….……………………….….. P.6 P.6 6. Management Actions…………………………………………………………………………. P.6 5.1 Current and Future Habitat Restoration …………………………………………………………….… P.7 Hallston……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… P.8 Mirboo RP…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. P.8 5.2 Genetic diversity……………………………………………………………………………………………….... P.10 5.3 Predation………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….. P.13 5.4 Climate Change…………………………………………………………………………………………..………. P.14
    [Show full text]
  • Sugarloaf Pipeline Project Toolangi Habitat Linkage Monitoring Effectiveness of Glider Pole Linkages May 2017
    Melbourne Water Corporation Sugarloaf Pipeline Project Toolangi Habitat Linkage Monitoring Effectiveness of Glider Pole Linkages May 2017 Acknowledgements The following individuals or groups have assisted in the preparation of this report. However, it is acknowledged that the contents and views expressed within this report are those of GHD Pty Ltd and do not necessarily reflect the views of the parties acknowledged below: The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) for allowing access to records in the VBA database Melbourne Water Corporation staff including Andrea Burns, Paul Evans, Alex Sneskov, Anna Zsoldos, Mark Scida, Warren Tomlinson and Steve McGill for providing assistance, support and advice throughout the project GHD | Report for Melbourne Water Corporation - Sugarloaf Pipeline Project Toolangi Habitat Linkage Monitoring, 31/29843 | i Abbreviations DELWP Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (formerly DEPI) DEPI Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (now DELWP) DSE Department of Sustainability and Environment (now DELWP) EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 EVC Ecological Vegetation Class EWP Elevated Work Platform FFG Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 GHD GHD Pty Ltd ROW Right of Way MW Melbourne Water Corporation Spp. More than one species TSF Toolangi State Forest ii | GHD | Report for Melbourne Water Corporation - Sugarloaf Pipeline Project Toolangi Habitat Linkage Monitoring, 31/29843 Table of contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Brain of a Nocturnal Migratory Insect, the Australian Bogong Moth
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/810895; this version posted January 21, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The brain of a nocturnal migratory insect, the Australian Bogong moth Authors: Andrea Adden1, Sara Wibrand1, Keram Pfeiffer2, Eric Warrant1, Stanley Heinze1,3 1 Lund Vision Group, Lund University, Sweden 2 University of Würzburg, Germany 3 NanoLund, Lund University, Sweden Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract Every year, millions of Australian Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) complete an astonishing journey: in spring, they migrate over 1000 km from their breeding grounds to the alpine regions of the Snowy Mountains, where they endure the hot summer in the cool climate of alpine caves. In autumn, the moths return to their breeding grounds, where they mate, lay eggs and die. These moths can use visual cues in combination with the geomagnetic field to guide their flight, but how these cues are processed and integrated in the brain to drive migratory behavior is unknown. To generate an access point for functional studies, we provide a detailed description of the Bogong moth’s brain. Based on immunohistochemical stainings against synapsin and serotonin (5HT), we describe the overall layout as well as the fine structure of all major neuropils, including the regions that have previously been implicated in compass-based navigation. The resulting average brain atlas consists of 3D reconstructions of 25 separate neuropils, comprising the most detailed account of a moth brain to date.
    [Show full text]
  • Cercartetus Lepidus (Diprotodontia: Burramyidae)
    MAMMALIAN SPECIES 842:1–8 Cercartetus lepidus (Diprotodontia: Burramyidae) JAMIE M. HARRIS School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, 2480, Australia; [email protected] Abstract: Cercartetus lepidus (Thomas, 1888) is a burramyid commonly called the little pygmy-possum. It is 1 of 4 species in the genus Cercartetus, which together with Burramys parvus form the marsupial family Burramyidae. This Lilliputian possum has a disjunct distribution, occurring on mainland Australia, Kangaroo Island, and in Tasmania. Mallee and heath communities are occupied in Victoria and South Australia, but in Tasmania it is found mainly in dry and wet sclerophyll forests. It is known from at least 18 fossil sites and the distribution of these reveal a significant contraction in geographic range since the late Pleistocene. Currently, this species is not listed as threatened in any state jurisdictions in Australia, but monitoring is required in order to more accurately define its conservation status. DOI: 10.1644/842.1. Key words: Australia, burramyid, hibernator, little pygmy-possum, pygmy-possum, Tasmania, Victoria mallee Published 25 September 2009 by the American Society of Mammalogists Synonymy completed 2 April 2008 www.mammalogy.org Cercartetus lepidus (Thomas, 1888) Little Pygmy-possum Dromicia lepida Thomas, 1888:142. Type locality ‘‘Tasma- nia.’’ E[udromicia](Dromiciola) lepida: Matschie, 1916:260. Name combination. Eudromicia lepida Iredale and Troughton, 1934:23. Type locality ‘‘Tasmania.’’ Cercartetus lepidus: Wakefield, 1963:99. First use of current name combination. CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Order Diprotodontia, suborder Phalangiformes, superfamily Phalangeroidea, family Burra- myidae (Kirsch 1968). No subspecies for Cercartetus lepidus are currently recognized.
    [Show full text]
  • The Australian Bogong Moth Agrotis Infusa: a Long-Distance Nocturnal Navigator
    REVIEW published: 21 April 2016 doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00077 The Australian Bogong Moth Agrotis infusa: A Long-Distance Nocturnal Navigator Eric Warrant 1*, Barrie Frost 2, Ken Green 3, Henrik Mouritsen 4, David Dreyer 1, Andrea Adden 1, Kristina Brauburger 1 and Stanley Heinze 1 1 Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden, 2 Department of Psychology, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada, 3 New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Jindabyne, NSW, Australia, 4 Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany The nocturnal Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) is an iconic and well-known Australian insect that is also a remarkable nocturnal navigator. Like the Monarch butterflies of North America, Bogong moths make a yearly migration over enormous distances, from southern Queensland, western and northwestern New South Wales (NSW) and western Victoria, to the alpine regions of NSW and Victoria. After emerging from their pupae in early spring, adult Bogong moths embark on a long nocturnal journey towards the Australian Alps, a journey that can take many days or even weeks and cover over 1000 km. Once in the Alps (from the end of September), Bogong moths seek out the shelter of selected and isolated high ridge-top caves and rock crevices (typically at elevations above 1800 m). In hundreds of thousands, moths Edited by: Miriam Liedvogel, line the interior walls of these cool alpine caves where they “hibernate” over the Max Planck Gesellschaft, Germany summer months (referred to as “estivation”). Towards the end of the summer (February Reviewed by: and March), the same individuals that arrived months earlier leave the caves and Christine Merlin, begin their long return trip to their breeding grounds.
    [Show full text]
  • Mammals of the Avon Region
    Mammals of the Avon Region By Mandy Bamford, Rowan Inglis and Katie Watson Foreword by Dr. Tony Friend R N V E M E O N G T E O H F T W A E I S L T A E R R N A U S T 1 2 Contents Foreword 6 Introduction 8 Fauna conservation rankings 25 Species name Common name Family Status Page Tachyglossus aculeatus Short-beaked echidna Tachyglossidae not listed 28 Dasyurus geoffroii Chuditch Dasyuridae vulnerable 30 Phascogale calura Red-tailed phascogale Dasyuridae endangered 32 phascogale tapoatafa Brush-tailed phascogale Dasyuridae vulnerable 34 Ningaui yvonnae Southern ningaui Dasyuridae not listed 36 Antechinomys laniger Kultarr Dasyuridae not listed 38 Sminthopsis crassicaudata Fat-tailed dunnart Dasyuridae not listed 40 Sminthopsis dolichura Little long-tailed dunnart Dasyuridae not listed 42 Sminthopsis gilberti Gilbert’s dunnart Dasyuridae not listed 44 Sminthopsis granulipes White-tailed dunnart Dasyuridae not listed 46 Myrmecobius fasciatus Numbat Myrmecobiidae vulnerable 48 Chaeropus ecaudatus Pig-footed bandicoot Peramelinae presumed extinct 50 Isoodon obesulus Quenda Peramelinae priority 5 52 Species name Common name Family Status Page Perameles bougainville Western-barred bandicoot Peramelinae endangered 54 Macrotis lagotis Bilby Peramelinae vulnerable 56 Cercartetus concinnus Western pygmy possum Burramyidae not listed 58 Tarsipes rostratus Honey possum Tarsipedoidea not listed 60 Trichosurus vulpecula Common brushtail possum Phalangeridae not listed 62 Bettongia lesueur Burrowing bettong Potoroidae vulnerable 64 Potorous platyops Broad-faced
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Carers Dictionary
    Your guide to using the Wildlife Carers Dictionary. The Each dictionary word is highlighted in bold text . The phonetic pronunciation of a word is highlighted in italic text . Wild life Diseases and illnesses are highlighted in red text . Medications are highlighted in green text . Scientific names of Australian native animals most regularly Carers into care are highlighted in purple text . Native animals often have more than one “common” name which are used in different areas of Australia. Some names Dictionary can be quite quirky! You can find these names in blue text . Nouns – a naming word are coded (n.). Verbs – a doing word are coded (v.). Adjectives – a describing word are coded (adj.). Information on Australian habitats can be found in the green boxes. Photographs of Australia’s native animals can be found in the blue boxes. Please note: photos are not necessarily in alphabetical order. Did you know? Quirky, interesting wildlife facts can be found in the orange boxes with red text. Fauna First Aid is supported by the Wildlife Preservation by Linda Dennis Society of Australia and the Australian Geographic Society. Version One 2011 With thanks... About Linda Dennis... This dictionary has been a labour of love and has taken me quite My passion for Australian native animals started nearly 20 some time to write. I’ve loved each and every challenging minute of years ago with my very first raptor experience at Eagle it! Heritage near Margaret River in Western Australia. After an up close and personal experience with a Black Kite perching on I’m excited to bring you this wildlife resource as it’s so very new, to my gloved hand I vowed that I would soon work closely with my knowledge nothing like it has been done in the wildlife community these magnificent creatures.
    [Show full text]
  • Edible Insects and Other Invertebrates in Australia: Future Prospects
    Alan Louey Yen Edible insects and other invertebrates in Australia: future prospects Alan Louey Yen1 At the time of European settlement, the relative importance of insects in the diets of Australian Aborigines varied across the continent, reflecting both the availability of edible insects and of other plants and animals as food. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle adopted by the Australian Aborigines, as well as their understanding of the dangers of overexploitation, meant that entomophagy was a sustainable source of food. Over the last 200 years, entomophagy among Australian Aborigines has decreased because of the increasing adoption of European diets, changed social structures and changes in demography. Entomophagy has not been readily adopted by non-indigenous Australians, although there is an increased interest because of tourism and the development of a boutique cuisine based on indigenous foods (bush tucker). Tourism has adopted the hunter-gatherer model of exploitation in a manner that is probably unsustainable and may result in long-term environmental damage. The need for large numbers of edible insects (not only for the restaurant trade but also as fish bait) has prompted feasibility studies on the commercialization of edible Australian insects. Emphasis has been on the four major groups of edible insects: witjuti grubs (larvae of the moth family Cossidae), bardi grubs (beetle larvae), Bogong moths and honey ants. Many of the edible moth and beetle larvae grow slowly and their larval stages last for two or more years. Attempts at commercialization have been hampered by taxonomic uncertainty of some of the species and the lack of information on their biologies.
    [Show full text]
  • Skulls of Tasmania
    SKULLS of the MAMMALS inTASMANIA R.H.GREEN with illustrations by 1. L. RAINBIRIJ An Illustrated Key to the Skulls of the Mammals in Tasmania by R. H. GREEN with illustrations by J. L. RAINBIRD Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania Published by Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 1983 © Printed by Foot and Playsted Pty. Ltd., Launceston ISBN a 7246 1127 4 2 CONTENTS Page Introduction . 4 Acknowledgements.......................... 5 Types of teeth........................................................................................... 6 The illustrations........................................ 7 Skull of a carnivore showing polyprotodont dentition 8 Skull of a herbivore showing diprotodont dentition......................................... 9 Families of monotremes TACHYGLOSSIDAE - Echidna 10 ORNITHORHYNCHIDAE - Platypus 12 Families of marsupials DASYURIDAE - Quolls, devil, antechinuses, dunnart 14 THYLACINIDAE - Thylacine 22 PERAMELIDAE - Bandicoots 24 PHALANGERIDAE - Brushtail Possum 28 BURRAMYIDAE - Pygmy-possums 30 PETAURIDAE - Sugar glider, ringtail 34 MACROPODIDAE - Bettong, potoroo, pademelon, wallaby, kangaroo 38 VOMBATIDAE - Wombat 44 Families of eutherians VESPERTILIONIDAE - Bats 46 MURIDAE - Rats, mice 56 CANIDAE - Dog 66 FELIDAE - Cat 68 EQUIDAE - Horse 70 BOVIDAE - Cattle, goat, sheep 72 CERVIDAE - Deer 76 SUIDAE - Pig 78 LEPORIDAE - Hare, rabbit 80 OTARIIDAE - Sea-lion, fur-seals 84 PHOCIDAE - Seals 88 HOMINIDAE - Man 92 Appendix I Dichotomous key 94 Appendix II Index to skull illustrations . ........... 96 Alphabetical index of common names . ........................................... 98 Alphabetical index of scientific names 99 3 INTRODUCTION The skulls of mammals are often brought to museums for indentification. The enquirers may be familiar with the live animal but they are often quite confused when confronted with the task of identifying a skull or, worse, only part of a skull. Skulls may be found in the bush with, or apart from, the rest of the skeleton.
    [Show full text]
  • The Brain of a Nocturnal Migratory Insect, the Australian Bogong Moth
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/810895; this version posted October 21, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The brain of a nocturnal migratory insect, the Australian Bogong moth Andrea Adden1, Sara Wibrand1, Keram Pfeiffer2, Eric Warrant1, Stanley Heinze1 1 Lund Vision Group, Lund University, Sweden 2 University of Würzburg, Germany Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract Every year, millions of Australian Bogong moths (Agrotis infusa) complete an astonishing journey: in spring, they migrate from their breeding grounds to the alpine regions of the Snowy Mountains, where they endure the hot summer in the cool climate of alpine caves. In autumn, the moths return to their breeding grounds, where they mate, lay eggs and die. Each journey can be over 1000 km long and each moth generation completes the entire roundtrip. Without being able to learn any aspect of this journey from experienced individuals, these moths can use visual cues in combination with the geomagnetic field to guide their flight. How these cues are processed and integrated in the brain to drive migratory behaviour is as yet unknown. Equally unanswered is the question of how these insects identify their targets, i.e. specific alpine caves used as aestivation sites over many generations. To generate an access point for functional studies aiming at understanding the neural basis of these insect’s nocturnal migrations, we provide a detailed description of the Bogong moth’s brain. Based on immunohistochemical stainings against synapsin and serotonin (5HT), we describe the overall layout as well as the fine structure of all major neuropils, including all regions that have previously been implicated in compass-based navigation.
    [Show full text]