NSW Planning Laws Failing To Create Meaningful Nexus Between Words And Action On Climate Change
June 20. 2018: BY EDO NSWA Court decision has exposed serious flaws in NSW planning laws. The Court’s finding is that the State’s planning laws do not require decision-makers to consider the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework and Australia’s status as a signatory to the Paris Agreement when considering the approval of coal mining projects in NSW.
The Land and Environment Court has upheld the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) decision to approve the extension to Wilpinjong open-cut coal mine near Wollar in the Hunter Valley, despite a challenge on climate change grounds from the Wollar Progress Association, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO NSW).
EDO NSW argued in a February 2018 hearing that the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework and the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement were relevant policies that the PAC was required - but failed - to have regard to when considering the downstream greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of coal from Wilpinjong, a substantial proportion of which will be burnt at Bayswater Power Station in NSW.
In light of the finding, EDO NSW CEO David Morris emphasised the need for reform. “This is certainly not the judgment that we or our clients wanted. But perhaps it’s the judgment we needed. We now know that aspirational policy statements, like those contained in the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, fail to have any meaningful application to NSW mine approvals. It’s these approvals - and the coal which is consequently mined and burned - that represent NSW’s greatest contribution to global climate change. The Government can no longer claim, or proceed under the illusion, that their policies on climate change have an 'on-ground effect'. They don’t - the Court’s judgment shows they are merely words that do not translate to action.”
“This decision adds weight to the need for law reform to make climate change a critical factor in determinations about projects which will contribute to it. This case highlights the missing link between our aspirations to cut emissions and the actions we must take to get there.”
EDO NSW is proud to have brought this important case on behalf the Wollar Progress Association. “Our client brought this case in the public interest – coal mining’s contribution to climate change is self-evidently a matter of public interest. They are, understandably, extremely disappointed with the decision and will digest the decision carefully before considering their options.”
Wilpinjong mine 2013.
Background to the Wilpinjong caseWilpinjong coal mine in the south-western edge of the Hunter catchment is owned and operated by Peabody Energy US and has been in operation since 2006. The 28 square kilometre open-cut coal mine lies between Goulburn River National Park and Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
In April 2017, Wilpinjong Coal received permission from the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) [since replaced by the Independent Planning Commission] to expand its open-cut mining operations for an extra seven years and to develop a new open-cut pit that will clear protected native vegetation and bring the mine even closer to the village of Wollar. The Wollar Progress Association - represented by public interest environmental lawyers, EDO NSW - brought court action in August 2017 challenging this decision.
The Wollar Progress Association also argued – unsuccessfully - that the approval was invalid on two other grounds. Firstly, that the PAC was not properly constituted in accordance with legal requirements; and secondly, that the PAC did not undertake a proper assessment of the impacts on biodiversity, as the mine extension would clear endangered ecological communities.
Both grounds were affected by NSW Government amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) - clearly designed to nullify these aspects of our case before the hearing commenced.
June 20. 2018: BY EDO NSW
A Court decision has exposed serious flaws in NSW planning laws. The Court’s finding is that the State’s planning laws do not require decision-makers to consider the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework and Australia’s status as a signatory to the Paris Agreement when considering the approval of coal mining projects in NSW.
The Land and Environment Court has upheld the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) decision to approve the extension to Wilpinjong open-cut coal mine near Wollar in the Hunter Valley, despite a challenge on climate change grounds from the Wollar Progress Association, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO NSW).
EDO NSW argued in a February 2018 hearing that the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework and the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement were relevant policies that the PAC was required - but failed - to have regard to when considering the downstream greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of coal from Wilpinjong, a substantial proportion of which will be burnt at Bayswater Power Station in NSW.
In light of the finding, EDO NSW CEO David Morris emphasised the need for reform. “This is certainly not the judgment that we or our clients wanted. But perhaps it’s the judgment we needed. We now know that aspirational policy statements, like those contained in the NSW Climate Change Policy Framework, fail to have any meaningful application to NSW mine approvals. It’s these approvals - and the coal which is consequently mined and burned - that represent NSW’s greatest contribution to global climate change. The Government can no longer claim, or proceed under the illusion, that their policies on climate change have an 'on-ground effect'. They don’t - the Court’s judgment shows they are merely words that do not translate to action.”
“This decision adds weight to the need for law reform to make climate change a critical factor in determinations about projects which will contribute to it. This case highlights the missing link between our aspirations to cut emissions and the actions we must take to get there.”
EDO NSW is proud to have brought this important case on behalf the Wollar Progress Association. “Our client brought this case in the public interest – coal mining’s contribution to climate change is self-evidently a matter of public interest. They are, understandably, extremely disappointed with the decision and will digest the decision carefully before considering their options.”
Wilpinjong mine 2013.
Background to the Wilpinjong case
Wilpinjong coal mine in the south-western edge of the Hunter catchment is owned and operated by Peabody Energy US and has been in operation since 2006. The 28 square kilometre open-cut coal mine lies between Goulburn River National Park and Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
In April 2017, Wilpinjong Coal received permission from the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) [since replaced by the Independent Planning Commission] to expand its open-cut mining operations for an extra seven years and to develop a new open-cut pit that will clear protected native vegetation and bring the mine even closer to the village of Wollar. The Wollar Progress Association - represented by public interest environmental lawyers, EDO NSW - brought court action in August 2017 challenging this decision.
The Wollar Progress Association also argued – unsuccessfully - that the approval was invalid on two other grounds. Firstly, that the PAC was not properly constituted in accordance with legal requirements; and secondly, that the PAC did not undertake a proper assessment of the impacts on biodiversity, as the mine extension would clear endangered ecological communities.
Both grounds were affected by NSW Government amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) - clearly designed to nullify these aspects of our case before the hearing commenced.
Lock The Gate Urges Reinstatement Of Legal Check And Balance In Wake Of Wollar Court Loss
Sydney Metro Northwest: Proposed SEPP Amendment
NOPSEMA - Open For Comment: Environment Plan Assessment Guidance
Budget Boost For Conservation
$1 Billion To Improve Liveability
Please Help: Contribute To Significant Trees Register For Our Area
Significant trees listings wanted
Avalon Preservation AssociationThe next step in the Avalon Preservation Association's Avalon Cultural Audit is to identify and list significant trees in the area.
Roger Sayers has nominated the Spotted Gums in the reserve opposite Careel Bay Wharf.
Please help us by contributing your pick of significant trees in the area so we can map them and enter into our database.
You can either post a picture/s on the APA Facebook page and identify location of tree/s and species type if known or email us with same at secretary@avalonpreservationassociation.org.au
Our new Avalon Preservation Association Noticeboard is finally installed on corner of Belle Property Building near Herforts Chemist Old Barrenjoey Rd Avalon Beach. Many thanks to Mark Griffin Belle Property for use of wall and Robert Adema for installation.
Significant trees listings wanted
Avalon Preservation Association
The next step in the Avalon Preservation Association's Avalon Cultural Audit is to identify and list significant trees in the area.
Roger Sayers has nominated the Spotted Gums in the reserve opposite Careel Bay Wharf.
Please help us by contributing your pick of significant trees in the area so we can map them and enter into our database.
You can either post a picture/s on the APA Facebook page and identify location of tree/s and species type if known or email us with same at secretary@avalonpreservationassociation.org.au
Our new Avalon Preservation Association Noticeboard is finally installed on corner of Belle Property Building near Herforts Chemist Old Barrenjoey Rd Avalon Beach. Many thanks to Mark Griffin Belle Property for use of wall and Robert Adema for installation.
Give Seals Space While They Rest
Have Your Say On The Management Of Forests
Extension Of Public Consultation For Draft Coastal IFOA
$196m For A Healthier Environment
Pittwater Reserves
Permaculture Northern Beaches 2018 Events
Manly • Warringah • Pittwater | Sydney
Permaculture Northern Beaches (PNB) is an active local group based on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Our parent body is Permaculture Sydney North.
PNB hold monthly permaculture related events on the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:15pm at the Nelson Heather Community Centre, Banksia Room, 5 Jacksons Rd, Warriewood
Manly • Warringah • Pittwater | SydneyPermaculture Northern Beaches (PNB) is an active local group based on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Our parent body is Permaculture Sydney North.
PNB hold monthly permaculture related events on the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:15pm at the Nelson Heather Community Centre, Banksia Room, 5 Jacksons Rd, Warriewood
Green Team Beach Cleans 2018!
Hosted by The Green TeamThe Green Team is back for 2018! It has been estimated that we will have more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050...These beach cleans are aimed at reducing the vast amounts of plastic from entering our oceans before they harm marine life.
Anyone and everyone is welcome! If you would like to come along, please bring a bucket, gloves and hat. Kids of all ages are also welcome!
The Green Team is a Youth-run, volunteer-based environment initiative from Avalon, Sydney. Keeping our area green and clean.
Marine Reserves Are Vital - But Under Pressure
June 22, 2018: James Cook UniversityA massive study of nearly 1800 tropical coral reefs around the world has found that marine reserves near heavily populated areas struggle to do their job -- but are a vast improvement over having no protection at all.
Professor Josh Cinner from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Australia led a team of 37 scientists examining the effectiveness of different reef conservation strategies.
"Fish stocks were extremely depleted on reefs that were accessible to large human populations. Compared to marine reserves far from these human pressures, reserves near high human pressure had only a quarter of the fish and were a hundred times less likely to have top predators such as sharks," said Professor Cinner.
The scientists also studied how differences in ecological conditions between marine reserves, where fishing is prohibited, and places open to fishing changed as human pressures increased. "This tells you where you can get the biggest impact from implementing conservation," said Professor Cinner.
"A really novel and exciting part of our study found that the greatest difference in fish biomass between marine reserves and places open to fishing was in locations with medium to high human pressure. This means that, for most fisheries species, marine reserves have the biggest bang where human pressures are medium to high," he said.
For example, on reefs subject to high human pressure, marine reserves had five times more fish than openly fished reefs -- a benefit that can spillover into the depleted fisheries in surrounding areas.
"However, top predators such as sharks were a different kettle of fish," said co-author Dr Aaron MacNeil from Dalhousie University.
The scientists encountered top predators on less than 30% of their surveys conducted all across the globe, and very rarely in locations where human pressures were high.
"You'd have to do about 200 dives to see a top predator in reserves with the highest human pressure. But where human pressure was low, you'd be likely to see predators more than half the time," said Dr MacNeil.
Dr Michele Barnes from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at JCU said that in many places, social, economic, and cultural realities mean that marine reserves that entirely prohibit fishing are not an option.
"So, we also looked at how effective other forms of reef conservation were, such as restricting the types of fishing gear that people use. Our results were promising -- these restrictions certainly had better outcomes than doing nothing, but not as good as marine reserves. They were a sort of compromise," she said.
Professor Cinner said the study makes clear the benefits and limitations of implementing key coral reef conservation strategies in different types of locations. "Our research shows where managers will be able to maximise certain goals, such as sustaining top predators or improving the biomass of key fisheries species, and likewise, where they will be wasting their time," he said.
A grey reef shark swims over a reef in a large protected area far from humans. Photo credit: Nick Graham
Joshua E. Cinner, Eva Maire, Cindy Huchery, M. Aaron MacNeil, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Camilo Mora, Tim R. McClanahan, Michele L. Barnes, John N. Kittinger, Christina C. Hicks, Stephanie D’Agata, Andrew S. Hoey, Georgina G. Gurney, David A. Feary, Ivor D. Williams, Michel Kulbicki, Laurent Vigliola, Laurent Wantiez, Graham J. Edgar, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Stuart A. Sandin, Alison Green, Marah J. Hardt, Maria Beger, Alan M. Friedlander, Shaun K. Wilson, Eran Brokovich, Andrew J. Brooks, Juan J. Cruz-Motta, David J. Booth, Pascale Chabanet, Charlotte Gough, Mark Tupper, Sebastian C. A. Ferse, U. Rashid Sumaila, Shinta Pardede, David Mouillot. Gravity of human impacts mediates coral reef conservation gains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018; 201708001 DOI:10.1073/pnas.1708001115
June 22, 2018: James Cook University
A massive study of nearly 1800 tropical coral reefs around the world has found that marine reserves near heavily populated areas struggle to do their job -- but are a vast improvement over having no protection at all.
Professor Josh Cinner from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Australia led a team of 37 scientists examining the effectiveness of different reef conservation strategies.
"Fish stocks were extremely depleted on reefs that were accessible to large human populations. Compared to marine reserves far from these human pressures, reserves near high human pressure had only a quarter of the fish and were a hundred times less likely to have top predators such as sharks," said Professor Cinner.
The scientists also studied how differences in ecological conditions between marine reserves, where fishing is prohibited, and places open to fishing changed as human pressures increased. "This tells you where you can get the biggest impact from implementing conservation," said Professor Cinner.
"A really novel and exciting part of our study found that the greatest difference in fish biomass between marine reserves and places open to fishing was in locations with medium to high human pressure. This means that, for most fisheries species, marine reserves have the biggest bang where human pressures are medium to high," he said.
For example, on reefs subject to high human pressure, marine reserves had five times more fish than openly fished reefs -- a benefit that can spillover into the depleted fisheries in surrounding areas.
"However, top predators such as sharks were a different kettle of fish," said co-author Dr Aaron MacNeil from Dalhousie University.
The scientists encountered top predators on less than 30% of their surveys conducted all across the globe, and very rarely in locations where human pressures were high.
"You'd have to do about 200 dives to see a top predator in reserves with the highest human pressure. But where human pressure was low, you'd be likely to see predators more than half the time," said Dr MacNeil.
Dr Michele Barnes from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at JCU said that in many places, social, economic, and cultural realities mean that marine reserves that entirely prohibit fishing are not an option.
"So, we also looked at how effective other forms of reef conservation were, such as restricting the types of fishing gear that people use. Our results were promising -- these restrictions certainly had better outcomes than doing nothing, but not as good as marine reserves. They were a sort of compromise," she said.
Professor Cinner said the study makes clear the benefits and limitations of implementing key coral reef conservation strategies in different types of locations. "Our research shows where managers will be able to maximise certain goals, such as sustaining top predators or improving the biomass of key fisheries species, and likewise, where they will be wasting their time," he said.
A grey reef shark swims over a reef in a large protected area far from humans. Photo credit: Nick Graham
Joshua E. Cinner, Eva Maire, Cindy Huchery, M. Aaron MacNeil, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Camilo Mora, Tim R. McClanahan, Michele L. Barnes, John N. Kittinger, Christina C. Hicks, Stephanie D’Agata, Andrew S. Hoey, Georgina G. Gurney, David A. Feary, Ivor D. Williams, Michel Kulbicki, Laurent Vigliola, Laurent Wantiez, Graham J. Edgar, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Stuart A. Sandin, Alison Green, Marah J. Hardt, Maria Beger, Alan M. Friedlander, Shaun K. Wilson, Eran Brokovich, Andrew J. Brooks, Juan J. Cruz-Motta, David J. Booth, Pascale Chabanet, Charlotte Gough, Mark Tupper, Sebastian C. A. Ferse, U. Rashid Sumaila, Shinta Pardede, David Mouillot. Gravity of human impacts mediates coral reef conservation gains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018; 201708001 DOI:10.1073/pnas.1708001115
Coral Reefs Losing Ability To Keep Pace With Sea-Level Rise
June 14, 2018 ARC Coral Reef StudiesMany coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leaving tropical coastlines and low-lying islands exposed to increased erosion and flooding risk, new research suggests.
An international team, led by scientists from University of Exeter, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Lancaster University and the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE), compared the maximum upward growth rates of coral reefs with predicted rates of sea-level rise, and found many reefs will be unable to keep pace.
Eroding reef. Photo by Prof Chris Perry, University of Exeter.
The growth of coral reefs is strongly influenced by the amount and types of coral living on the reef surface. This growth is now being hampered by combinations of coral disease, deteriorating water quality and fishing pressure, along with severe impacts from “coral bleaching” caused by climate change.
“For many reefs across the Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions, where the study focused, rates of growth are slowing due to coral reef degradation,” said lead author Professor Chris Perry, of the University of Exeter.
“Meanwhile, rates of sea-level rise are increasing – and our results suggest reefs will be unable to keep up. As a result, water depths above most reefs will increase rapidly through this century.”
“Even under modest climate change prediction scenarios (RCP4.5) only about 3% of Indian Ocean reefs will be able to track local sea-level rise projections without sustained ecological recovery, whilst under continued high emission scenarios (RCP8.5) most reefs will experience water depth increases in excess of half a metre,” added co-author Dr Aimée Slangen of NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
“This is now of critical concern because reefs play a key role as natural sea defences by limiting coastal wave energy exposure,” commented Professor Nick Graham, of Lancaster University, another co-author of the study.
“Efforts to tackle climate change must therefore be coupled with careful management of fishing and water quality protection to prevent widespread submergence through this century.”
The researchers calculated growth rates for more than 200 tropical western Atlantic and Indian Ocean reefs.
“Now more than ever, we must limit global greenhouse gas emissions. Our predictions, even under the best case scenarios, suggest that by 2100 the inundation of reefs will expose coastal communities to significant threats of shoreline change,” said co-author Professor Peter Mumby of Coral CoE at The University of Queensland. “Healthier coral reefs will reduce the rate of seawater inundation.”
Professor Perry concluded: “The most worrying end-point scenario in this respect is that if predictions of increasing bleaching frequency are realised, many reefs may become locked into permanent low growth rate states, leading to more submergence under all future sea-level rise scenarios.”
The paper, published in the journal Nature, is entitled: “Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track sea-level rise under climate change.”
Citation: Perry, Chris T., Alvarez-Filip, Lorenzo, Graham, Nicholas A. J., Mumby, Peter J.,..Macdonald, Chancey et al. (2018). Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track future increases in sea level. Nature, 1476-4687 DOI – 10.1038/s41586-018-0194-z
June 14, 2018 ARC Coral Reef Studies
Many coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leaving tropical coastlines and low-lying islands exposed to increased erosion and flooding risk, new research suggests.
An international team, led by scientists from University of Exeter, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Lancaster University and the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE), compared the maximum upward growth rates of coral reefs with predicted rates of sea-level rise, and found many reefs will be unable to keep pace.
Eroding reef. Photo by Prof Chris Perry, University of Exeter.
The growth of coral reefs is strongly influenced by the amount and types of coral living on the reef surface. This growth is now being hampered by combinations of coral disease, deteriorating water quality and fishing pressure, along with severe impacts from “coral bleaching” caused by climate change.
“For many reefs across the Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions, where the study focused, rates of growth are slowing due to coral reef degradation,” said lead author Professor Chris Perry, of the University of Exeter.
“Meanwhile, rates of sea-level rise are increasing – and our results suggest reefs will be unable to keep up. As a result, water depths above most reefs will increase rapidly through this century.”
“Even under modest climate change prediction scenarios (RCP4.5) only about 3% of Indian Ocean reefs will be able to track local sea-level rise projections without sustained ecological recovery, whilst under continued high emission scenarios (RCP8.5) most reefs will experience water depth increases in excess of half a metre,” added co-author Dr Aimée Slangen of NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
“This is now of critical concern because reefs play a key role as natural sea defences by limiting coastal wave energy exposure,” commented Professor Nick Graham, of Lancaster University, another co-author of the study.
“Efforts to tackle climate change must therefore be coupled with careful management of fishing and water quality protection to prevent widespread submergence through this century.”
The researchers calculated growth rates for more than 200 tropical western Atlantic and Indian Ocean reefs.
“Now more than ever, we must limit global greenhouse gas emissions. Our predictions, even under the best case scenarios, suggest that by 2100 the inundation of reefs will expose coastal communities to significant threats of shoreline change,” said co-author Professor Peter Mumby of Coral CoE at The University of Queensland. “Healthier coral reefs will reduce the rate of seawater inundation.”
Professor Perry concluded: “The most worrying end-point scenario in this respect is that if predictions of increasing bleaching frequency are realised, many reefs may become locked into permanent low growth rate states, leading to more submergence under all future sea-level rise scenarios.”
The paper, published in the journal Nature, is entitled: “Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track sea-level rise under climate change.”
Citation: Perry, Chris T., Alvarez-Filip, Lorenzo, Graham, Nicholas A. J., Mumby, Peter J.,..Macdonald, Chancey et al. (2018). Loss of coral reef growth capacity to track future increases in sea level. Nature, 1476-4687 DOI – 10.1038/s41586-018-0194-z
Bogong Moths First Insect Known To Use Magnetic Sense In Long-Distance Nocturnal Migration
June 21, 2018Each spring, millions of nocturnal Bogong moths hatch across breeding grounds throughout southeastern Australia before flying over 1,000 kilometers through the dark night to reach a limited number of high alpine caves in the Australian Alps. After a few months of summer dormancy in those cool mountain caves, the moths fly right back to the breeding grounds where they were born. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on June 21 have found that the moths, like migratory birds, depend on the Earth's magnetic field to guide them on their way.
The discovery offers the first reliable evidence that nocturnal insects can use the Earth's magnetic field to steer flight during migration, the researchers say.
"When we began this study, we were convinced that the Bogong moth would exclusively use celestial cues in the sky, such as the stars and the moon, for navigation during migration," says Eric Warrant of the University of Lund, Sweden. "This, it turned out, was not the case. We were very surprised when we discovered that these moths could sense the earth's magnetic field just like night-migratory birds -- and probably for the same reason."
Bogong moths and monarch butterflies are the only known insects to migrate over such long distances, and along such a specific route, to a distinct and geographically restricted destination visited by thousands of previous generations. In the new study, Warrant, David Dreyer, and colleagues set out to explore how such a small animal, with its tiny brain and nervous system, could travel so precisely and so far, having never been to their destination before. How could the same individuals then find their way back again after months in the mountains?
The researchers tethered migrating moths in an outdoor flight simulator. They found that the moths' flight direction turned predictably when dominant visual landmarks and a natural Earth-strength magnetic field were turned together. When those two cues were turned in conflicting ways, the moths became disoriented within minutes. The findings led the researchers to conclude that Bogong moths rely on a magnetic sense.
This photograph shows Bogong Moths on a cave wall. Credit: Eric Warrant
The findings suggest that nocturnally migrating insects might use the Earth's magnetic field as a compass during migration just as nocturnally migrating birds do. The researchers suspect the moths use a magnetic compass to determine their migratory direction and then align this direction with a celestial or terrestrial landmark in the same or a similar direction, which they then use as a visual beacon.
"This is essentially the same strategy we use when hiking in wilderness terrain: we determine our direction with a compass and then look for some distant landmark in roughly the same direction -- for instance a mountaintop or a distant tree -- and then head for this as we walk," Dreyer said. "When this landmark is no longer reliable, we again check our direction with the compass and choose a new landmark to orient towards."
The researchers say they would now like to dissect in more detail how and which visual and magnetic cues the moths use and how they are integrated in the brain. Due to the moth's relatively simple nervous system, they also hope to learn how the insects detect magnetic information, something that hasn't yet been achieved in any animal.
"The discovery of the magnetic sensor is one of the Holy Grails of sensory physiology," Warrant says.
David Dreyer, Barrie Frost, Henrik Mouritsen, Anja Günther, Ken Green, Mary Whitehouse, Sönke Johnsen, Stanley Heinze, Eric Warrant.The Earth’s Magnetic Field and Visual Landmarks Steer Migratory Flight Behavior in the Nocturnal Australian Bogong Moth. Current Biology, 2018; DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.030
June 21, 2018
Each spring, millions of nocturnal Bogong moths hatch across breeding grounds throughout southeastern Australia before flying over 1,000 kilometers through the dark night to reach a limited number of high alpine caves in the Australian Alps. After a few months of summer dormancy in those cool mountain caves, the moths fly right back to the breeding grounds where they were born. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on June 21 have found that the moths, like migratory birds, depend on the Earth's magnetic field to guide them on their way.
The discovery offers the first reliable evidence that nocturnal insects can use the Earth's magnetic field to steer flight during migration, the researchers say.
"When we began this study, we were convinced that the Bogong moth would exclusively use celestial cues in the sky, such as the stars and the moon, for navigation during migration," says Eric Warrant of the University of Lund, Sweden. "This, it turned out, was not the case. We were very surprised when we discovered that these moths could sense the earth's magnetic field just like night-migratory birds -- and probably for the same reason."
Bogong moths and monarch butterflies are the only known insects to migrate over such long distances, and along such a specific route, to a distinct and geographically restricted destination visited by thousands of previous generations. In the new study, Warrant, David Dreyer, and colleagues set out to explore how such a small animal, with its tiny brain and nervous system, could travel so precisely and so far, having never been to their destination before. How could the same individuals then find their way back again after months in the mountains?
The researchers tethered migrating moths in an outdoor flight simulator. They found that the moths' flight direction turned predictably when dominant visual landmarks and a natural Earth-strength magnetic field were turned together. When those two cues were turned in conflicting ways, the moths became disoriented within minutes. The findings led the researchers to conclude that Bogong moths rely on a magnetic sense.
This photograph shows Bogong Moths on a cave wall. Credit: Eric Warrant
The findings suggest that nocturnally migrating insects might use the Earth's magnetic field as a compass during migration just as nocturnally migrating birds do. The researchers suspect the moths use a magnetic compass to determine their migratory direction and then align this direction with a celestial or terrestrial landmark in the same or a similar direction, which they then use as a visual beacon.
"This is essentially the same strategy we use when hiking in wilderness terrain: we determine our direction with a compass and then look for some distant landmark in roughly the same direction -- for instance a mountaintop or a distant tree -- and then head for this as we walk," Dreyer said. "When this landmark is no longer reliable, we again check our direction with the compass and choose a new landmark to orient towards."
The researchers say they would now like to dissect in more detail how and which visual and magnetic cues the moths use and how they are integrated in the brain. Due to the moth's relatively simple nervous system, they also hope to learn how the insects detect magnetic information, something that hasn't yet been achieved in any animal.
"The discovery of the magnetic sensor is one of the Holy Grails of sensory physiology," Warrant says.
David Dreyer, Barrie Frost, Henrik Mouritsen, Anja Günther, Ken Green, Mary Whitehouse, Sönke Johnsen, Stanley Heinze, Eric Warrant.The Earth’s Magnetic Field and Visual Landmarks Steer Migratory Flight Behavior in the Nocturnal Australian Bogong Moth. Current Biology, 2018; DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.030
Six New Species Of Goblin Spiders Named After Famous Goblins And Brownies
June 22, 2018Fictional characters originally 'described' by famous English children's writer Enid Blyton have given their names to six new species of minute goblin spiders discovered in the diminishing forests of Sri Lanka.
The newly discovered goblin spider species Xestaspis kandy in its natural habitat. Credit: Suresh P. Benjamin CC-BY 4.0
The goblins Bom, Snooky and Tumpy and the brownies Chippy, Snippy and Tiggy made their way from the pages of: "The Goblins Looking-Glass" (1947), "Billy's Little Boats" (1971) and "The Firework Goblins" (1971) to the scientific literature in a quest to shed light on the remarkable biodiversity of the island country of Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean.
As a result of their own adventure, which included sifting through the leaf litter of the local forests, scientists Prof. Suresh P. Benjamin and Ms. Sasanka Ranasinghe of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka, described a total of nine goblin spider species in six genera as new to science. Two of these genera are reported for the very first time from outside Australia.
Their paper is published in the open access journal Evolutionary Systematics.
With a total of 45 species in 13 genera, the goblin spider fauna in Sri Lanka -- a country taking up merely 65,610 km2 -- is already remarkably abundant. Moreover, apart from their diversity, these spiders amaze with their extreme endemism. While some of the six-eyed goblins can only be found at a few sites, other species can be seen nowhere outside a single forest patch.
"Being short-range endemics with very restricted distributions, these species may prove to be very important when it comes to monitoring the effects of climate change and other threats for the forest habitats in Sri Lanka," explain the researchers.
In European folklore, goblins and brownies are known as closely related small and often mischievous fairy-like creatures, which live in human homes and even do chores while the family is asleep, since they avoid being seen. In exchange, they expect from their 'hosts' to leave food for them.
Similarly, at size of a few millimetres, goblin spiders are extremely tough to notice on the forest floors they call home. Further, taking into consideration the anthropogenic factors affecting their habitat, the arachnids also turn out to be heavily dependent on humans.
U.G.S.L. Ranasinghe, Suresh P. Benjamin. Taxonomic descriptions of nine new species of the goblin spider genera Cavisternum, Grymeus, Ischnothyreus, Opopaea, Pelicinus and Silhouettella (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Sri Lanka. Evolutionary Systematics, 2018; 2 (1): 65 DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.2.25200
June 22, 2018
Fictional characters originally 'described' by famous English children's writer Enid Blyton have given their names to six new species of minute goblin spiders discovered in the diminishing forests of Sri Lanka.
The newly discovered goblin spider species Xestaspis kandy in its natural habitat. Credit: Suresh P. Benjamin CC-BY 4.0
The goblins Bom, Snooky and Tumpy and the brownies Chippy, Snippy and Tiggy made their way from the pages of: "The Goblins Looking-Glass" (1947), "Billy's Little Boats" (1971) and "The Firework Goblins" (1971) to the scientific literature in a quest to shed light on the remarkable biodiversity of the island country of Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean.
As a result of their own adventure, which included sifting through the leaf litter of the local forests, scientists Prof. Suresh P. Benjamin and Ms. Sasanka Ranasinghe of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka, described a total of nine goblin spider species in six genera as new to science. Two of these genera are reported for the very first time from outside Australia.
Their paper is published in the open access journal Evolutionary Systematics.
With a total of 45 species in 13 genera, the goblin spider fauna in Sri Lanka -- a country taking up merely 65,610 km2 -- is already remarkably abundant. Moreover, apart from their diversity, these spiders amaze with their extreme endemism. While some of the six-eyed goblins can only be found at a few sites, other species can be seen nowhere outside a single forest patch.
"Being short-range endemics with very restricted distributions, these species may prove to be very important when it comes to monitoring the effects of climate change and other threats for the forest habitats in Sri Lanka," explain the researchers.
In European folklore, goblins and brownies are known as closely related small and often mischievous fairy-like creatures, which live in human homes and even do chores while the family is asleep, since they avoid being seen. In exchange, they expect from their 'hosts' to leave food for them.
Similarly, at size of a few millimetres, goblin spiders are extremely tough to notice on the forest floors they call home. Further, taking into consideration the anthropogenic factors affecting their habitat, the arachnids also turn out to be heavily dependent on humans.
U.G.S.L. Ranasinghe, Suresh P. Benjamin. Taxonomic descriptions of nine new species of the goblin spider genera Cavisternum, Grymeus, Ischnothyreus, Opopaea, Pelicinus and Silhouettella (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Sri Lanka. Evolutionary Systematics, 2018; 2 (1): 65 DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.2.25200
Midwinter Madness – Antarctic Expeditioners Plunge Into Icy Pool
June 21, 2018Australian Antarctic expeditioners have plunged into a pool cut into the sea ice to celebrate the winter solstice.
With the temperature hovering around minus 22 degrees and the water temperature nearly minus 2 degrees, Casey research station expeditioners took a deep breath before dipping into the icy waters.
Casey Station Leader, Rebecca Jeffcoat, said midwinter day is the most anticipated occasion on the Antarctic calendar and has been celebrated from the time of the early explorers, such as Sir Douglas Mawson, right through to modern day expeditioners.
“Swimming in Antarctica’s below freezing waters is something of a mad tradition, but our hardy expeditioners look forward to it, with 21 of the 26 people on station brave enough to take an icy dip this year,” Ms Jeffcoat said.
“Midwinter day is really important in Antarctica because it marks the halfway point of our year here on the ice and it means the sun will spend slightly longer in the sky each day.”
Midwinter celebrations at Australia’s three Antarctic research stations and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, include a feast, exchange of handmade gifts, midwinter play and messages from home.
Celebrations also take place at the Division’s headquarters in Tasmania. There are 75 expeditioners currently living and working in Antarctica as part of the Australian Antarctic Program.
Ms Jeffcoat, who is experiencing her first Antarctic winter, said the continent is extraordinary.
“The environment is spectacular and harsh, and we experience the most incredible range of conditions, from below freezing blizzards to auroras, or the midwinter twilight as the sun skims the horizon,” she said.
“It is challenging being so far from family and friends, but we have built a really close knit community of friends on station that we’ll likely have for the rest of our lives as we’ve shared this great experience together.
“We’re all really proud to be counted as one of the small number or people who have been lucky enough to winter in Antarctica, keeping the station running through the long cold months so we can then support the science of the Australian Antarctic Program.”
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg MP sent video greetings to the expeditioners for their midwinter celebrations.
Barry Balkin during his midwinter dip (Photo: George Brettingham-Moore)
June 21, 2018
Australian Antarctic expeditioners have plunged into a pool cut into the sea ice to celebrate the winter solstice.
With the temperature hovering around minus 22 degrees and the water temperature nearly minus 2 degrees, Casey research station expeditioners took a deep breath before dipping into the icy waters.
Casey Station Leader, Rebecca Jeffcoat, said midwinter day is the most anticipated occasion on the Antarctic calendar and has been celebrated from the time of the early explorers, such as Sir Douglas Mawson, right through to modern day expeditioners.
“Swimming in Antarctica’s below freezing waters is something of a mad tradition, but our hardy expeditioners look forward to it, with 21 of the 26 people on station brave enough to take an icy dip this year,” Ms Jeffcoat said.
“Midwinter day is really important in Antarctica because it marks the halfway point of our year here on the ice and it means the sun will spend slightly longer in the sky each day.”
Midwinter celebrations at Australia’s three Antarctic research stations and sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, include a feast, exchange of handmade gifts, midwinter play and messages from home.
Celebrations also take place at the Division’s headquarters in Tasmania. There are 75 expeditioners currently living and working in Antarctica as part of the Australian Antarctic Program.
Ms Jeffcoat, who is experiencing her first Antarctic winter, said the continent is extraordinary.
“The environment is spectacular and harsh, and we experience the most incredible range of conditions, from below freezing blizzards to auroras, or the midwinter twilight as the sun skims the horizon,” she said.
“It is challenging being so far from family and friends, but we have built a really close knit community of friends on station that we’ll likely have for the rest of our lives as we’ve shared this great experience together.
“We’re all really proud to be counted as one of the small number or people who have been lucky enough to winter in Antarctica, keeping the station running through the long cold months so we can then support the science of the Australian Antarctic Program.”
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) and Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg MP sent video greetings to the expeditioners for their midwinter celebrations.
Barry Balkin during his midwinter dip (Photo: George Brettingham-Moore)
A New Era For Antarctic Science
Whether Wheat Weathers Heat Waves
June 20, 208A heat wave sweeps through a city and people swelter, running indoors to find air conditioning. But crops out in a field aren't so lucky. For them, there is no escape.
Scientists in Australia are working to understand how heat waves impact wheat. They are mixing observational studies with techniques from computer science. This will allow them to create models to understand how wheat will respond in certain conditions.
Heat can affect plants and the soil, water, air, and microbes around them in many different ways. Knowing how all of these factors affect crops could help farmers protect their plants against heat waves' effects.
"Heat waves can greatly reduce wheat in growing regions and modeling could aid in finding strategies to limit the impact of extreme weather and climate change," says James Nuttall. Nuttall works for Australia's Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. "This can specifically come in handy during the sensitive periods of crop flowering and the grain filling phase."
Wheat is an important crop with a worldwide production of 729 million tons in 2014. It is a major source of human nutrition. Nuttall says that maintaining stable production into the future includes finding ways to reduce the effects of heat stress to plants.
Nuttall and his team performed three experiments. They tried to get a complete picture of the different characteristics of heat stress, such as timing, intensity, and duration. They tested how plants responded to a multi-day heat wave and if it affected plants more during their flowering or grain-filling phase. They also studied how water availability during the heat wave affected the wheat.
Results showed that high temperatures five days before the wheat began to flower reduced the number of wheat grains on a plant. Also, a high-temperature event while the grain of wheat was growing reduced how big it got.
They then put all the results together into a computer simulation model. This allowed them to predict how wheat beyond just the plants in their experiment could be impacted by a heat wave.
Nuttall explains: "Crop modeling allows you to test responses for environment or treatment combinations, and also test how those interact with each other."
He says a good example is in climate change studies where scientists are interested in plants' response to carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and rainfall. A crop model allows them to test combinations of these factors on growth and yield.
"These models allow us to make a prediction of crop growth and yield," he says. "In finding ways to combat heat waves, modeling provides a tool to see the effects of climate and weather changes on wheat production. It helps us predict how wheat will react so we can try to stop any negative effects beforehand."
Nuttall says the next step in their research is to test their models using fields of wheat rather than a smaller sample of plants. They ultimately want to include their work in larger crop models to improve them.
"As a scientist, there is satisfaction in finding relationships between crop growth and stresses like heat waves," he says. "I also think the work is valuable because we can help crop models identify possible ways that allow us to keep producing the food our planet needs."
This research was funded by the Australian Grains Research and Development Corporation and Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.
James G. Nuttall, Kirsten M. Barlow, Audrey J. Delahunty, Brendan P. Christy, Garry J. O’Leary. Acute High Temperature Response in Wheat. Agronomy Journal, 2018; DOI: 10.2134/agronj2017.07.0392
Audrey Delahunty examines wheat exposed to acute high temperature, Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. Credit: James Nuttall
June 20, 208
A heat wave sweeps through a city and people swelter, running indoors to find air conditioning. But crops out in a field aren't so lucky. For them, there is no escape.
Scientists in Australia are working to understand how heat waves impact wheat. They are mixing observational studies with techniques from computer science. This will allow them to create models to understand how wheat will respond in certain conditions.
Heat can affect plants and the soil, water, air, and microbes around them in many different ways. Knowing how all of these factors affect crops could help farmers protect their plants against heat waves' effects.
"Heat waves can greatly reduce wheat in growing regions and modeling could aid in finding strategies to limit the impact of extreme weather and climate change," says James Nuttall. Nuttall works for Australia's Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. "This can specifically come in handy during the sensitive periods of crop flowering and the grain filling phase."
Wheat is an important crop with a worldwide production of 729 million tons in 2014. It is a major source of human nutrition. Nuttall says that maintaining stable production into the future includes finding ways to reduce the effects of heat stress to plants.
Nuttall and his team performed three experiments. They tried to get a complete picture of the different characteristics of heat stress, such as timing, intensity, and duration. They tested how plants responded to a multi-day heat wave and if it affected plants more during their flowering or grain-filling phase. They also studied how water availability during the heat wave affected the wheat.
Results showed that high temperatures five days before the wheat began to flower reduced the number of wheat grains on a plant. Also, a high-temperature event while the grain of wheat was growing reduced how big it got.
They then put all the results together into a computer simulation model. This allowed them to predict how wheat beyond just the plants in their experiment could be impacted by a heat wave.
Nuttall explains: "Crop modeling allows you to test responses for environment or treatment combinations, and also test how those interact with each other."
He says a good example is in climate change studies where scientists are interested in plants' response to carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and rainfall. A crop model allows them to test combinations of these factors on growth and yield.
"These models allow us to make a prediction of crop growth and yield," he says. "In finding ways to combat heat waves, modeling provides a tool to see the effects of climate and weather changes on wheat production. It helps us predict how wheat will react so we can try to stop any negative effects beforehand."
Nuttall says the next step in their research is to test their models using fields of wheat rather than a smaller sample of plants. They ultimately want to include their work in larger crop models to improve them.
"As a scientist, there is satisfaction in finding relationships between crop growth and stresses like heat waves," he says. "I also think the work is valuable because we can help crop models identify possible ways that allow us to keep producing the food our planet needs."
This research was funded by the Australian Grains Research and Development Corporation and Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.
James G. Nuttall, Kirsten M. Barlow, Audrey J. Delahunty, Brendan P. Christy, Garry J. O’Leary. Acute High Temperature Response in Wheat. Agronomy Journal, 2018; DOI: 10.2134/agronj2017.07.0392
Audrey Delahunty examines wheat exposed to acute high temperature, Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. Credit: James Nuttall
Powerful Owl Release
March 18, 2018: Avalon Preservation AssociationPNHA's Jacqui Marlow has advised that a Powerful Owl chick has been released in Plateau Park following its recuperation in Taronga Park.
If you see it there being harassed, or even if you see it at all, can you please phone her on 0458 194 127.
Powerful owl family - photo courtesy PNHA
March 18, 2018: Avalon Preservation Association
PNHA's Jacqui Marlow has advised that a Powerful Owl chick has been released in Plateau Park following its recuperation in Taronga Park.
If you see it there being harassed, or even if you see it at all, can you please phone her on 0458 194 127.
Powerful owl family - photo courtesy PNHA
AUSTRALIA – EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
June 18, 2018
Prime Minister of Australia
The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull
The Turnbull Government is backing Australian businesses and Australian jobs by launching negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.
We are seeking an ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement to drive Australian exports, economic growth and create new Australian jobs.
A trade agreement with the EU will open the door to a market of half a billion consumers and a GDP of US$17.3 trillion - making it one of Australia’s biggest trade agreements once concluded.
Australian exporters are currently at a disadvantage to many of our biggest competitors because Australia lacks preferential access into the EU.
We will be working to secure better access for Australian food and agriculture products, creating the framework for open, fair and equitable trade.
Making Australian exports more competitive means our farmers can sell more produce, our professionals can provide more services and our manufacturers can make and sell more goods. The more Australia sells to the world, the more Australian jobs are created.
We will look to lock in access and create new commercially meaningful opportunities for Australian services exporters, with a focus on education, financial and professional services. We will also explore rules and initiatives to support the digital economy, innovation and increase opportunities for high-technology start ups.
As a bloc, the EU is Australia’s second largest trading partner, third largest export destination, and second largest services market. The EU was Australia’s largest source of foreign investment in 2017.
The EU is one of the best opportunities for Australian businesses and is a key part of the Turnbull Government’s ambitious trade agenda. We will now have agreements, or negotiations underway, with all of our top ten trading partners. The Turnbull Government is pursuing Australia’s most ambitious trade agenda to open more markets, create a stronger economy and more Australian jobs.
The first round of negotiations will be held in Brussels in early July. We invite stakeholders to provide their views throughout the negotiating process.