BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH Newsletter of the NSW Biodiversity Research Network Issue No. 25 April 2008 Contents EDITORIAL ................................................................................................................................... 2 NSW Scientific Committee final determinations...................................................................... 3 FEATURES ................................................................................................................................... 3 Indigenous Sea Rangers Return from Mexico........................................................................... 3 One-third of NSW Flora Banked for our Future ......................................................................... 4 The Occurrence and Cultivation of Native Figs ( Ficus sp.) in Southeastern Australia.............. 5 CULTURAL HERITAGE NEWS ................................................................................................... 5 Recognising Aboriginal Cultural Values of Wetlands ................................................................ 5 Request to Repatriate Carved Trees......................................................................................... 6 Bermagui Waterhole Declared as Aboriginal Place................................................................... 6 Inglebah Aboriginal Place .......................................................................................................... 6 Landscape Mapping for Culgoa National Park .......................................................................... 6 FAUNA NEWS .............................................................................................................................. 7 INVERTEBRATES ................................................................................................................. 7 First Record of Leafhopper Tribe in Australia............................................................................ 7 Beetle Extinctions on Lord Howe Island .................................................................................... 7 BIRDS .................................................................................................................................... 7 Significant Waterbird Breeding Still Under Threat ..................................................................... 7 Are Regent Honeyeaters Assured of their Foothold in the Capertee Valley? ........................... 8 Research for the Endangered Plains-Wanderer........................................................................ 8 Indian Ringneck – Potential Future Pest Alert........................................................................... 8 MAMMALS ............................................................................................................................. 8 Toads Could Wipe Out Quolls ................................................................................................... 8 New Ideas Needed for Fox Control at Uluru.............................................................................. 9 GENERAL FAUNA NEWS..................................................................................................... 9 Spotted Tree Frog – a Hop Back from Extinction...................................................................... 9 Fish in Brazil Responsible for Seed Dispersal........................................................................... 9 FORESTS & FLORA .................................................................................................................... 9 Austrodanthonia research queries necessity of local seed sources.......................................... 9 Linking Restoration and Stabilisation at Taronga Zoo............................................................... 9 Updated NSW Vegetation Classification and Assessment Database ..................................... 10 Climate Change and Fire: Impacts on Vegetation in the Greater Blue Mountains.................. 10 New Guidelines for Identifying EECs....................................................................................... 11 GM Crops Still Banned in South Australia............................................................................... 11 Rainforest Biodiversity Shows Differing Patterns .................................................................... 11 Dam to Threaten Cambodian Forests ..................................................................................... 11 FRESHWATER RIVERS & WETLANDS NEWS........................................................................ 12 Food Web Functions of the Macquarie Marshes..................................................................... 12 The Future of the Lakes at the Mouth of the Murray ............................................................... 12 Good Policy and Regulation can Save the Floodplains........................................................... 12 OCEANS & MARINE NEWS ...................................................................................................... 12 Plan to Reduce Threatened Fish Catch in Western Australia ................................................. 12 Funds for Sea Turtle Tracking Research................................................................................. 12 ‘Rabbit fish’ can Help Australia’s Reefs................................................................................... 13 Algae may Help Coral Survive Warming Waters..................................................................... 13 South Australian Scientists Join Forces to Solve Seagrass Mystery ...................................... 13 Acid Oceans Could Endanger One-third of Marine Life .......................................................... 13 OTHER BIODIVERSITY NEWS.................................................................................................. 13 1 Biodiversity Management Plans in the North East .................................................................. 13 Climate Change Threatens Threatened Species .................................................................... 14 Proposed Development at Significant Site in Southern Moonee Forest ................................. 14 Caring for Country.................................................................................................................... 14 $180 million to go to Nature Reserves..................................................................................... 14 Biodiversity Hotspot Program to be Abandoned...................................................................... 15 Australia joins the International Barcode of Life Project.......................................................... 15 Atlas of Living Australia ........................................................................................................... 15 Biodiversity Research Appointment at the Australian Museum............................................... 15 Cities – the ‘New’ Ecosystems?............................................................................................... 15 CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS ............................................................................................ 16 Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc (ANPC) - 7th National Conference ................ 16 National Parks Association Conference – Travelling Stock Networks ..... Error! Bookmark not defined. Hunter Wetlands Centre School Holiday Activity Program...................................................... 16 Wolli Creek Regional Park Site Tour ....................................................................................... 16 Tree-planting for Regent Honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley................................................ 16 Community Biodiversity Survey – Mid North Coast................................................................. 16 16 th Australian Weeds Conference .......................................................................................... 16 Birds Australia Conservation Forum........................................................................................ 16 14 th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference ........................................................................ 16 Australasian Raptor Association National Conference............................................................ 17 GRANTS & PRIZES.................................................................................................................... 17 The Australian Museum Chadwick Biodiversity Fellowship .................................................... 17 The Nature Conservancy Young Scientist Grants – Protecting Biodiversity........................... 17 The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes ................................................................................... 17 RESOURCES.............................................................................................................................. 18 Native Plant of Weed? ............................................................................................................. 18 Coastal Councils Planning for Climate Change – Report........................................................ 18 Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country........................................................................................ 18 Woodlands: A Disappearing Landscape ................................................................................. 18 Bowerbirds ..............................................................................................................................