Collecting history and distribution of the potentially invasive Disa bracteata (South African orchid) in Tasmania

The collecting history of Disa bracteata Sw. (South African orchid) in Tasmania (Australia), the state’s only naturalised member of the Orchidaceae family, is presented. Details of its distribution in Tasmania, since it was first discovered in 2005, are included and discussed with information on habitat, abundance and management. The species is primarily distributed across the north coast (Smithton to Musselroe) with an outlier in Huonville in the state’s south. Most sites are from verges along public roads and highways, but the species has also been detected on several private properties and other less disturbed habitats. Many sites with the species have been actively managed with the objective of eradication, although some sites are now well-established so eradication will require concerted effort. It is recommended that the species be added to the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999 as a declared species with the primary objective of eradication

Potential pollen vectors of the mass flowering tree Acacia dealbata, within its natural range in southern Tasmania.

In Tasmania, Acacia dealbata flowers from July to September when weather conditions are non-conducive to activity by the insects which are generally considered to be major pollinators of the genus. This paper examines the presence and behaviour of insect and bird visitors as potential pollen vectors. Very few insects were observed to visit the flowers. However, several bird species fed on the flower-heads and foraged for small invertebrates inhabiting the blossoms. These feeding behaviours resulted in adhesion of pollen to feathers likely to be transferred from one genet to another as birds moved. During feeding, rosellas were observed to not only ingest flower-heads but the presence of branchlet clip under 57% of A. dealbata trees surveyed is evidence of the widespread occurrence of these species foraging on flowers. However, given the profusion of flowers and the small numbers of birds observed, it is difficult to conclude that birds are wholly responsible for outcross pollination and we discuss the possibility that wind may also be an important pollen vector. Although the floral attributes of A. dealbata are more aligned with insect pollination, we failed to definitively identify any one major pollinator of the species in this environment and suggest that the pollination syndrome may most accurately be described as generalist

New records of lichens from Tasmania, principally from the 2018 TMAG Expedition of Discovery to Musselroe Bay

Nineteen lichen species are recorded for the first time from Tasmania: Amandinea conranensis Elix & P.M.McCarthy, Bacidia laurocerasi (Delise ex Duby) Zahlbr., Buellia extenuatella Elix & Kantvilas, Catinaria atropurpurea (Schaer.) Vězda & Poelt, Collema crispum (Huds.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg., Diploschistes euganeus (A.Massal.) J.Steiner, D. gyrophoricus Lumbsch & Elix, Endocarpon crassisporum P.M.McCarthy & Filson, Gyalecta pellucida (Coppins & Malcolm) Baloch & Lücking, Lecanora pseudogangaleoides Lumbsch subsp. pseudogangaleoides, L. strobilina (Spreng.) Kieff., Opegrapha niveoatra (Borrer) J.R.Laundon, O. spodopolia Nyl., O. varia Pers., Physcia austrostellaris Elix, Ramonia absconsa (Tuck.) Vězda, Trapelia concentrica Elix & P.M.McCarthy and Xanthoparmelia xerica (Elix) Elix. The new combination Austroparmelina corrugativa (Kurok. & Filson) Elix & Kantvilas is proposed and Austroparmelina euplectina (Kurok. ex Elix). A.Crespo et al. is reduced to synonymy. The salient morphological and anatomical features, ecology and distribution are discussed for each specie

Black Rats eradicated from Big Green Island in Bass Strait, Tasmania

Big Green Island is a 129-ha Nature Reserve and part of the Furneaux Group of islands in Bass Strait, southeastern Australia. Beginning in April 2016, Black Rats Rattus rattus were targeted for eradication using poisoning with 50 ppm brodifacoum wax blocks via a 25 x 25 m grid of bait stations (16 stations per ha) checked daily for a four-week period followed by three one-week visits over an eight-week period. After six weeks, rodent chew-cards were deployed exposing pockets of rat activity on the island. Island-wide monitoring led to the capture of six rats, the last known rat being killed in November 2016. Monitoring for signs of rats proceeded for a further two years and the island was declared rat-free in November 2018. The project encompassed partnerships between government agencies, industry and non-government organisations, and involved a significant volunteer contribution

The tourist and tourism gazes upon Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Park

The natural aesthetic resource is an important element of natural and cultural heritage and an attractor of tourists. It is important for heritage management to understand the scenic attractors of tourists. Photographs of Cradle Mountain (150) and Freycinet National Park (149) were collected from a range of sources to determine whether there is a constancy of gaze between those who promote tourism and those who tour, and between the two visually distinct destinations. Publicly available images from four different sources were used to compare content attributes and mise en scène attributes between localities using Chi-square and ANOSIM. The photographs were then ordinated using the same attributes, and the results were displayed using photographic average composites. The Discover Tasmania and Google Images photographs were similar, both better conforming to advanced compositional principles compared to the Instagram and promotional images, which were similar, especially in the featuring of people in landscape foregrounds. There may be a reciprocal interaction between promotional and tourist images, rather than a one-way process. The contrasting features in the images from the two places were largely a product of the very different physical environments. However, the photographs at Freycinet were taken from several geographic locations, whereas the vista of Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain dominated all image sources at Cradle Mountain. The content analysis of the images was consistent between places, except where a feature of an artefact or natural feature created opportunity for artistic expression

Overview of Tasmania’s offshore islands and their role in nature conservation

Since the 1970s, knowledge of Tasmania’s offshore islands has expanded greatly due to an increase in systematic and regional surveys, the continuation of several long-term monitoring programs and the improved delivery of pest management and translocation programs. However, many islands remain data-poor especially for invertebrate fauna, and non-vascular flora, and information sources are dispersed across numerous platforms. While more than 90% of Tasmania’s offshore islands are statutory reserves, many are impacted by a range of disturbances, particularly invasive species with no decision-making framework in place to prioritise their management. This paper synthesises the significant contribution offshore islands make to Tasmania’s land-based natural assets and identifies gaps and deficiencies hampering their protection. A continuing focus on detailed gap-filling surveys aided by partnership restoration programs and collaborative national forums must be strengthened if we are to capitalise on the conservation benefits islands provide in the face of rapidly changing environmental conditions and pressure for future use

Contents page for Volume 154, Council and Office Bearers from March 2020 to March 2021

Contents page for Volume 154 of the Papers and Proceedings of The Royal Society of Tasmania. Includes Office Bearers from March 2020 to March 202

Unviable feral cat population results in eradication success on Wedge Island, Tasmania

Wedge Island in southeast Tasmania is 43 ha in size and is habitat for Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) and Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) populations. The island was subject to a feral Cat (Felis catus) eradication attempt in 2003 when 13 cats were captured with the assistance of trained detection dogs. It was known at least one cat remained. No further cats were captured during two subsequent visits in 2003 and 2004 and a single dead cat was found in 2012. It appeared the cat population never recovered from the initial knockdown and this ultimately resulted in eradication success. Methods used and details of cats caught are provided and the program is discussed in terms of criteria required for a successful eradication

Interview with UTAS Library Staff

Interview with UTAS Library staf

Contents page for Volume 153 & Council and Office Bearers from March 2019 to March 2020

Contents page for Volume 153 & Council and Office Bearers from March 2019 to March 202