Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
370
result(s) for
"Robinson, Wayne"
Sort by:
Stream biomonitoring using macroinvertebrates around the globe: a comparison of large-scale programs
Water quality agencies and scientists are increasingly adopting standardized sampling methodologies because of the challenges associated with interpreting data derived from dissimilar protocols. Here, we compare 13 protocols for monitoring streams from different regions and countries around the globe. Despite the spatially diverse range of countries assessed, many aspects of bioassessment structure and protocols were similar, thereby providing evidence of key characteristics that might be incorporated in a global sampling methodology. Similarities were found regarding sampler type, mesh size, sampling period, subsampling methods, and taxonomic resolution. Consistent field and laboratory methods are essential for merging data sets collected by multiple institutions to enable large-scale comparisons. We discuss the similarities and differences among protocols and present current trends and future recommendations for monitoring programs, especially for regions where large-scale protocols do not yet exist. We summarize the current state in one of these regions, Latin America, and comment on the possible development path for these techniques in this region. We conclude that several aspects of stream biomonitoring need additional performance evaluation (accuracy, precision, discriminatory power, relative costs), particularly when comparing targeted habitat (only the commonest habitat type) versus site-wide sampling (multiple habitat types), appropriate levels of sampling and processing effort, and standardized indicators to resolve dissimilarities among biomonitoring methods. Global issues such as climate change are creating an environment where there is an increasing need to have universally consistent data collection, processing and storage to enable large-scale trend analysis. Biomonitoring programs following standardized methods could aid international data sharing and interpretation.
Journal Article
Patterns of Occurrence of Sharks in Sydney Harbour, a Large Urbanised Estuary
Information about spatial and temporal variability in the distribution and abundance of shark-populations are required for their conservation, management and to update measures designed to mitigate human-shark interactions. However, because some species of sharks are mobile, migratory and occur in relatively small numbers, estimating their patterns of distribution and abundance can be very difficult. In this study, we used a hierarchical sampling design to examine differences in the composition of species, size- and sex-structures of sharks sampled with bottom-set longlines in three different areas with increasing distance from the entrance of Sydney Harbour, a large urbanised estuary. During two years of sampling, we obtained data for four species of sharks (Port Jackson, Heterodontus portusjacksoni; wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus; dusky whaler, Carcharhinus obscurus and bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas). Only a few O. maculatus and C. obscurus were caught, all in the area closest to the entrance of the Harbour. O. maculatus were caught in all seasons, except summer, while C. obscurus was only caught in summer. Heterodontus portusjacksoni were the most abundant species, caught in the entrance location mostly between July to November, when water temperature was below 21.5°C. This pattern was consistent across both years. C. leucas, the second most abundant species, were captured in all areas of Sydney Harbour but only in summer and autumn when water temperatures were above 23°C. This study quantified, for this first time, how different species utilise different areas of Sydney Harbour, at different times of the year. This information has implications for the management of human-shark interactions, by enabling creation of education programs to modify human behaviour in times of increased risk of potentially dangerous sharks.
Journal Article
Contemporary Trends in the Spatial Extent of Common Riverine Fish Species in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin
As one of the world’s most regulated river basins, the semi-arid Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) in south-eastern Australia is considered at high ecological risk, with substantial declines in native fish populations already identified and climate change threats looming. This places great importance on the collection and use of data to document population trends over large spatial extents, inform management decisions, and provide baselines from which change can be measured. We used two medium-term data sets (10 MDB basin-wide fish surveys from 2004–2022) covering the 23 catchments and 68 sub-catchments of the MDB to investigate trends in the distribution of common riverine species at the entire basin scale. Fifteen native species were analysed for changes in their contemporary range, and whilst short-term changes were identified, all species showed no significant continuous trend over the study period. We further analysed the native species extent relative to their historic records, with bony herring and golden perch occurring in 78% and 68% of their historic river kilometres, respectively, whereas southern pygmy perch, northern river blackfish, silver perch, mountain galaxias, and freshwater catfish were all estimated to occur in less than 10% of their historic extent. Six established non-native species were also analysed and were very consistent in extent over the years, suggesting that they are near the available limits of expansion of their invasion. We provide effect sizes for the spatial extent index which can be used as baselines for future studies, especially those aiming to monitor changes in the spatial extent and population status of native species, or changes in the spatial extent of new or existing non-native species.
Journal Article
Markedly different patterns of imbibition in seeds of 48 Acacia species
The seeds of most Australian acacias have pronounced physical dormancy (PY). While fire and hot water (HW) treatments cause the lens to ‘pop’ almost instantaneously, for many Acacia species the increase in germination percentage can be gradual. If PY is broken instantly by HW treatment, why is germination often an extended process? Control and HW treatments were performed on seeds of 48 species of Acacia . Seeds were placed on a moist substrate and imbibition was assessed by frequently weighing individual seeds. In the two soft-seeded species all control seeds were fully imbibed within 6–24 h, while in hard-seeded species very few control seeds imbibed over several weeks. In 10 species over 50% of the HW-treated seeds imbibed within 30 h, but mostly the percentage of imbibed seeds gradually increased over several weeks. Some seeds in a replicate would imbibe early, while others would remain unimbibed for many days or weeks then, remarkably, become fully imbibed in less than 24 h. While HW treatment broke PY almost instantaneously, it appeared that in many Acacia species some other part of the testa slowed water from reaching the embryo. This process of having staggered imbibition may be a way of ensuring not all seeds in a population germinate after small rain events. Thus it appears the lens acts as a ‘fire gauge’ while some other part of the seed coat acts as a ‘rain gauge’.
Journal Article
When Generative AI Goes to the Museum: Visual Stereotyping of Curators and Museum Spaces
Based on 350 visualizations, this paper examines the depiction of museum curators by the popular generative artificial intelligence (AI) model, ChatGPT4o. While the AI-generated representations do not reiterate popular stereotypes of curators as nerdy, conservative in dress, and stuck in time, rummaging through collections, they contrast sharply with real-world demographics. AI-generated imagery severely under-represents women (3.5% vs. 49–72% in reality) and disregards ethnic communities outside of Caucasian communities (0% vs. 18–36%). It not only over-represents young curators (79% vs. approx. 27%) but also renders curators to resemble yuppie professionals or people featured in fashion advertising. Stereotypical attributes are prevalent, with curators widely depicted as having beards and holding clipboards or digital tablets. The findings highlight biases in the generative AI image creation data sets, which are poised to shape an inaccurate portrayal of museum professionals if the images were to be taken uncritically at ‘face value’.
Journal Article
Sensor Fish Deployments at the Xayaburi Hydropower Plant: Measurements and Simulations
Fish protection is a priority in regions with ongoing and planned development of hydropower production, like the Mekong River system. The evaluation of the effects of turbine passage on the survival of migratory fish is a primary task for informing hydropower plant operators and authorities about the environmental performance of plant operations. The present work characterizes low pressures and collision rates through the Kaplan-type runners of the Xayaburi hydropower station. Both an experimental method based on the deployment of Sensor Fish and a numerical strategy based on flow and passage simulations were implemented on the analysis of two release elevations at one operating point. Nadir pressures and pressure drops through the runner were very sensitive to release elevation, but collision rates on the runner were not. The latter showed a frequency of occurrence of 8.2–9.3%. Measured magnitudes validated the corresponding simulation outcomes in regard to the averaged magnitudes as well as to the variability. Central to this study is that simulations were conducted based on current industry practices for designing turbines. Therefore, the reported agreement helps turbine engineers gain certainty about the prediction power of flow and trajectory simulations for fish passage assessments. This can accelerate the development of environmentally enhanced technology with minimum impact on natural resources.
Journal Article
Diversity of Upstream-Migrating Fish Passing Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant in Northern Laos
The Mekong River is one of the most fish-species-rich rivers on Earth, yet most of our knowledge on fish diversity and migrations comes from fishery catch data, and fishery-independent, standard effort surveys are needed. Specifically, migratory fish data sets are heavily biased by the influence of fisher gear types and by fisher location, with most major Mekong fisheries, and consequently fishing effort, being in southern Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Fish using the Xayaburi Hydroelectric Power Plant (XHPP) fish pass have been monitored since commencing operations in 2019. This programme offers a unique, eventual long-term data set, with standard effort, aimed at migrating fish species, and capable of providing data on the scarcely studied fish migration patterns of northern Laos. Species that migrate from floodplain feeding and spawning habitats to the main channel were dominant in the dry season, but used the fish pass throughout the year. On the other hand, known long-distance migratory species were infrequently collected in the fish pass, but showed very strong affiliations with the flood season from May to July. We demonstrate that fish passage mitigation in tropical southeast Asia can, and should be, designed for use by a multitude of species, including resident species that are not classified as migratory. If changes in connectivity from future downstream barriers (i.e., scheduled hydropower dams) occur, then the monitoring program at XHPP will be able to detect the impact on migratory fish populations. We identify several species whose presence and relative abundance have potential to serve as indicators for future downstream connectivity issues.
Journal Article
Protecting larval fish at water intakes: hydraulic and biological evidence for the effectiveness of modern fish-protection screens
Water intakes entrain large numbers of fish larvae in waterways where drift coincides with large-scale extraction. While modern fish-protection screens can reduce these losses, many are not designed for larvae and were developed or evaluated primarily for juveniles and adults. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Australia's fish screen design criteria (which specify a maximum approach velocity of 0.1 m s−¹ and slot widths of 2–3 mm) for protecting drifting larval Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii). Larvae were tested in a large flume under combinations of approach velocity (0.1 or 0.2 m s−¹), slot width (2 or 3 mm), and proximity. Entrainment rose sharply with velocity; slot size had a smaller interactive effect. The most protective combination (0.1 m s−¹ and 2 mm) reduced entrainment by up to 94% relative to unscreened conditions. Three-dimensional flow measurements helped explain how velocity vectors interact to influence larval fate. The results demonstrate that Australia's current standards, although developed for juveniles, can provide strong larval protection when strictly followed, but that even modest departures can sharply increase risk. More broadly, since the criteria tested here are less conservative than those adopted in many other countries, where empirical evidence on larval behaviour does not exist, targeted research could determine whether existing guidelines warrant revision.
Journal Article
The Impact of Herbicide Application and Defoliation on Barley Grass (Hordeum murinum subsp. glaucum) Management in Mixed Pasture Legumes
Barley grass (Hordeum murinum subsp. glaucum.) is an annual weed associated with grain revenue loss and sheep carcass damage in southern Australia. Increasing herbicide resistance led to a recent investigation into effective integrated weed management strategies for barley grass in southern Australia. Field studies in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales (NSW) during 2016 and 2017 examined the effect of post-emergent herbicide applications and strategic defoliation by mowing on barley grass survival and seed production in a mixed legume pasture. Statistically significant differences between herbicide-only treatments in both years showed propaquizafop to be more than 98% effective in reducing barley grass survival and seed production. Paraquat was not effective in controlling barley grass (58% efficacy), but led to a 36% and 63.5% decrease in clover and other weed biomass, respectively, after 12 months and increased lucerne biomass by over three-fold after 24 months. A single repeated mowing treatment resulted in a 46% decline in barley grass seedling emergence after 12 months and, when integrated with herbicide applications, reduced other weed biomass after 24 months by 95%. Resistance to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides observed in local barley grass populations led to additional and more focused investigation comparing the efficacy of other pre- and post-emergent herbicides for barley grass management in legume pastures. Haloxyfop-R + simazine or paraquat, applied at early tillering stage, were most efficacious in reducing barley grass survival and fecundity. Impact of defoliation timing and frequency on barley grass seedlings was also evaluated at various population densities, highlighting the efficacy of repeated post-inflorescence defoliations in reducing plant survival and seed production. Results highlight the importance of optimal environmental conditions and application timing in achieving efficacious control of barley grass and improving pasture growth and biomass accumulation.
Journal Article