·Australian~··· ·Systematic • ... ··Botany ·.···.·Society. ' ·.. ·. ·Newsletter. ·:- ., ' . .·No. 91 JUNE· 1997- . Price.: $5..00 . Registered by Australia Post Print Post Publication Number. PP 545545 - 0055 · · _ISSI';Jl034-1218 '· AUST-~LIAN. SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY iNCORPORATED Qffice Bearers Pr.esident · Vice President Dr T. J. Entwisle . Dr C. J, Puttock · National Herbarium ofVicto~ia, · Australian National Herbarium; -Birdwood Avenue, . _0PO Box 1600, South Yarra, Vic. 3141 . Can~erra,ACT 2601 tel.: (03) 925.2231.3 - tel.: (06) 2465497 ·fmc (03) 92522350 fax: (06) 2465249 e'mail: [email protected] email: [email protected] ·Secretary · Treasurer . Mrs R. M. Barker · Mr J. (:larkson- Botanic Garden of Adelaide · Queensland Herbarium, iuid State Herbarium; PO Box 1054, .. North Terrace, . Mareeba, Q1d 4~80 Ade1aid~, SA 5000 · ·tej.: (070) 928445 . tel.:_ (08) 2282303 fax: (070) 923593 fax: (08) 2231809 · email:[email protected]:au · _ · email:[email protected],au . Councillor · - :Councillor Dr T. Macfarlane · Dr P. Weston Western Australian Herbarium, Natioiial Herbarium ofNew South Wales,' Dept Conservation & Land Management; Mrs Macq1,umes Road; Manjimup, WA 6258 · Sydney, NSW 2000 ·. e~1ail: terrym@calm:wagov.au ·- <bmail; [email protected]()v.. au. Affil_iate SocietY Pajma New q-uinea Botanical Society .. Australian Botanicafqaison Officer · P~blic Officer ~nd Melllbership Officer . Dr D. B. Foreman MrA.Lyne Herbarium, · Al!siralian N atiorial Herbarium; Royal Botanic Gardens,-'Kew, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research - RichmoP,d; Surrey TW9 3AB, GPO Box 1600; -England· Canberra, ACT 2601 teJ.: 44-1S1c3325270 tel.:.(06) Q465508 faX:44-181-3325278 fax: (06) 2465249 .• · ein~l: [email protected] email: [email protected] . - ASBS Web site: http:/11-~5.187.10.1:~/asbs/asbs.html · Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) Funding for systematics and our institution, and why we study one With continuing cuts to Environment Australia's plant group and not another. Lobbying and budget, and in particular to the Australian spruiking certainly take time away from our Biological Resources Study, it is a sobering core business, but it is our responsibility to time for Australia systematists. Will any of the convince the widest possible audience of money from the sale ofTelstra go to research? the value of our science. If systematics At this stage it seems unlikely we will get more continues to decline it is not solely the fault than a few crumbs. I wrote recently on behalf of of government or voters, systematists must ASBS to Senator Hill, registering our concerns share the blame. about cuts toABRS. Such letters are necessary and sometimes lead to change, but they are not Newsletter enough. I recently sent out an urgent call to all chapter conveners and councillors, seeking a new editor It is equally important that we lobby on behalf (or brood of editors). The Darwin team, now of systematics in our own institutions, whether ably led by Philip Short, have announced that they be universities or herbaria/botanic gardens. after the December issue they want out. There Is it enough to say that you study a particular has been one nibble from the opposite genus because it is poorly known, or because extremity of Australia, but if there is an you suspect there are half a dozen undescribed enthusiastic editor somewhere in between, the species? There are hundreds of vascular plant job is theirs. genera like that. Why are you working on a particular genus? Is it because the genus has As newsletter editor you keep in regular contact important implications in biodiversity withASBS members from all over the place. You conservation? Will your research lead to keep up with what is happening in ASBS, plant sustainable use of natural resources? Will your systematics and (through the FASTS bulletins) studies provide fundamental advances in our Australian science. Even better, you get to knowledge of evolution and the origins of life inflict your wit and wisdom on a witty and wise on earth? I'm sure other reasons spring to audience. If you have any aspirations towards mind ... science journalism, or just plain enjoy writing or editing, give it a try. We have a duty to sell systematics to the government, to the general public and to our While waxing on this subject, I should also colleagues. Talks and seminars must be exciting lobby for contributions to the newsletter. and persuasive. Our research results must be Apparently everyone in the society agreed explained and interpreted in ways that everyone with Chris Quinn's recent letter. No one has can understand. It is quite reasonable to be concerns about cuts to the ABRS budget. asked why systematics is important, why it Nothing interesting, touching or funny happens should be supported by government funds in plant systematics in Australia. And was Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) there really an ASBS conference in Melbourne International Botanical Congress, to be held in last year? StLouis, USA, in August 1999. In particular, the organisers have called for topics for symposia. A Hansjorg Eichler Scientific Research Fund HISCOM-based session has already been With too little fanfare, the application forms for suggested. If you are interested in finding out the inaugural Eichler Fund grants were included more about the Congress or in contributing to in the last newsletter. Applications were due in the program for the Congress, look at the by 12 June and the successful candidates will website http://www.ibc99.org. be announced at the Adelaide conference. The full Council will act as selection panel (except You might also consider whereASBS might on applications where there may be a conflict of meet in 1999, and how or if that meeting should interest). We propose to favour honours and relate to the IBC. There are a few options. The post-graduate students, or newly established Society of Australian Systematic Biologists botanists, to keep with the spirit of the (SASB, rather than the unfortunate acronym proposals discussed at various council meetings ASS I inadvertently chose last time) is at present over the years. Inevitably we will learn from this organising its future conference program and we first selection process. The lack of background could plan another meeting with them (but information in the newsletter is certainly one where?). Bob Hill has floated the idea of a pair aspect which will be have to be improved next of symposia focusing on systematics to be time. jointly hosted by the Korean Botanical Society and ASBS. The proposal involves a meeting in It is opportune to thank again Marlies Eichler South Korea next year, with a follow-up in for her establishment of, and substantial Australia in 1999. This may have an impact on contributions to, this fund. If anyone would like any meeting of ASBS associated with Monocots to join Marlies in fostering the research of II in Sydney next year. young and new systematic botanists, please send donations to the Treasurer. Tax Historical proposals abound. We could deductibility for the fund is currently under commemorate Dampier's landing in Western investigation. Australia with a conference in Perth (or maybe Dirk Hartog Island to tie in even more history) National Biodiversity Council in 1999. Reenactments of the Flinders voyage I neglected to mention in the last newsletter that are proposed for the year 2002, and ASBS Peter Weston is another ASBS member in the clearly has a role in these. It has been noted that NBC assembly. He was chosen as an Australian cities in need of an ASBS conference independent member. Although he does not include Alice Springs, Darwin, Armidale and represent the society, I am sure he will happily Townsville. Plenty to think about before the relay the concerns of society members. Our ASBS meeting in Adelaide. If you have ideas or society representatives are Bob Hill and Darren suggestions contact your chapter convener or an Crayn. ASBS councillor. Conferences Tim Entwisle ASBS has been invited to participate in the next Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) 1\.SBS 1110 Bl:JSINESS - PAROORIVER Participating speakers include Professor Brian Timms (Geography, Newcastle University), Dr In my capacity as secretary of the Society, an John Pickard (Environmental Planning, Mac­ invitation has just (4th June) been received from quarie University), Dr Bill Young (CSIRO Land the Paroo River Association to attend a Scien­ & Water, Canberra), Dr Martin Thoms (CRC for tific Workshop to be held in Hungerford, Freshwater Ecology, Canberra University), Dr Queensland, from 7th-9th July 1997. Its text Sue Briggs (NSWNPWS), Mr JimPuckeridge reads as follows. (Zoology, Adelaide University), Dr Stuart Bunn (Catchment and In-Stream Research, Griffith "The workshop is a result of concerns raised by University), Dr Margaret Brock Botany, Univer­ the Paroo River Association over water manage­ sity of New England), Dr Michelle Casanova ment of the Paroo River. It is our understanding (Botany, University ofNew England), Dr Jane that there are currently 2 applications for Roberts (CSIRO Land & Water, Canberra), Dr commercial irrigation submitted for considera­ Andrew Boulton (Zoology, University of New tion by the Department of Water Resources in England), Dr Richard Kingsford (NSWNPWS), Queensland. The extraction of substantial of Dr Peter Fairweather (CSIRO Land & Water, water from the Paroo would have disastrous Griffith)and Mr Mark Morrison (Economics & consequences for all downstream and the fragile Management, University ofNSW). ecology of the river. The Paroo River remains the only river in the Murray-Darling Basin Unfortunately I will be unable to attend and by untouched by such water management. the time this newsletter is distributed the We hope the workshop will provide the local workshop will be over. community with information which will guide As a footnote, members might be interested in decision-making processes within government Siobhan McHugh's book 'Cottoning On', which aim to manage river systems.