Diversity and Abundance of Club and Coral Fungi in the Upper Lane Cove Valley

The Kingdom Fungi are central players in the ecology and biogeochemistry of terrestrial ecosystems. Despite this importance, the diversity, distribution and abundance of fungal species are poorly known. Here, we undertook an intensive survey of club and coral fungi in the Upper Lane Cove Valley, Sydney, Australia. Over a two-year period, we collected more than 1100 specimens, and identified these to genus using a combination of DNA barcoding and morphology. The majority of specimens did not match any sequences in GenBank at more than 95% similarity, meaning that many of these fungi are either poorly represented in DNA databases, or are potentially novel species. A number of hotspots for fungal diversity and abundance were identified, largely along creek lines draining southwest through coachwood dominated vegetation. Notably, these hotspots all lie outside the adjacent Lane Cove National Park

Atropoisomerism of nitrogen-based ligands and natural products

This thesis details the attempt to design and synthesis a range of ligands and organocatalysts based on a common backbone design. Initial results were promising with a number of ligands being generated from our common C2-symmetric backbone. Unfortunately none of the molecules synthesises gave promising results in test reactions. Variations on the initial design also failed to give any encouraging results. More positively, work on phosphorus-nitrogen (P,N) ligands was successful, with a number of different ligands being synthesised and metal complexes prepared. Pleasingly we were able to obtain X-ray crystallography of one of these complexes indicating that the ligand was complexed to the metal via the phosphorus moiety. Work using the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction for coupling aryl bromides to both 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline was successful, with methodology being developed which we believe can be applied to the synthesis of Ancistrocladinium A. In particular the coupling between 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1-bromonaphthalene afforded us the full carbon skeleton of the ring system of the natural product in one step, from which we were able to generate the iminium salt. We also investigated an alternative route for the synthesis of Ancistrocladinium A achieving atropoisomerism. Experimental data is provided in chapter three, and all X-ray crystallography structures reported in chapter two are provided in the appendix

Spotlight on:guideline on current good radiopharmacy practice (cGRPP) for the small-scale preparation of radiopharmaceuticals published in EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry (2021)6:8

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Introducing visual neighbourhood configurations for total viewsheds

The Visual Neighbourhood Configurations (VNCs) approach is presented: a new approach for exploring complextheories of visual phenomena in landscapes by processing total viewsheds. Such theories most commonly con-cern the configuration of visual properties of areas around locations rather than solely the visual properties ofthe locations themselves. The typical approach to interpreting total viewshed results by classifying cell values istherefore problematic because it does not take cells’local areas into account. VNC overcomes this issue byenabling one to formally describe area-related aspects of the visibility theory, because it formally incorporatesthe area around a given viewpoint: the shape and size of neighbourhoods as well as, where relevant, thestructure and expectation of visual property values within the neighbourhood. Following a brief review thatserves to place the notion of the VNC in context, the method to derive visual neighbourhood configurations isexplained as well as theVNC analysis toolsoftware created to implement it. The use of the method is thenillustrated through a case-study of seclusion, hiding and hunting locales afforded by the standing stone settingsof Exmoor (United Kingdom

Experimental archeology and serious games: challenges of inhabiting virtual heritage

Experimental archaeology has long yielded valuable insights into the tools and techniques that featured in past peoples’ relationship with the material world around them. However, experimental archaeology has, hitherto, confined itself to rigid, empirical and quantitative questions. This paper applies principles of experimental archaeology and serious gaming tools in the reconstructions of a British Iron Age Roundhouse. The paper explains a number of experiments conducted to look for quantitative differences in movement in virtual vs material environments using both “virtual” studio reconstruction as well as material reconstruction. The data from these experiments was then analysed to look for differences in movement which could be attributed to artefacts and/or environments. The paper explains the structure of the experiments, how the data was generated, what theories may make sense of the data, what conclusions have been drawn and how serious gaming tools can support the creation of new experimental heritage environments

Atropoisomerism of nitrogen based ligands and natural products

This thesis details the attempt to design and synthesis a range of ligands and organocatalysts based on a common backbone design. Initial results were promising with a number of ligands being generated from our common C2-symmetric backbone. Unfortunately none of the molecules synthesises gave promising results in test reactions. Variations on the initial design also failed to give any encouraging results. More positively, work on phosphorus-nitrogen (P,N) ligands was successful, with a number of different ligands being synthesised and metal complexes prepared. Pleasingly we were able to obtain X-ray crystallography of one of these complexes indicating that the ligand was complexed to the metal via the phosphorus moiety. Work using the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction for coupling aryl bromides to both 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline was successful, with methodology being developed which we believe can be applied to the synthesis of Ancistrocladinium A. In particular the coupling between 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1-bromonaphthalene afforded us the full carbon skeleton of the ring system of the natural product in one step, from which we were able to generate the iminium salt. We also investigated an alternative route for the synthesis of Ancistrocladinium A achieving atropoisomerism. Experimental data is provided in chapter three, and all X-ray crystallography structures reported in chapter two are provided in the appendix.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A new framework of spatial targeting for single-species conservation planning

Context: Organisations acting to conserve and protect species across large spatial scales prioritise to optimise use of resources. Spatial conservation prioritization tools typically focus on identifying areas containing species groups of interest, with few tools used to identify the best areas for single-species conservation, in particular, to conserve currently widespread but declining species. / Objective: A single-species prioritization framework, based on temporal and spatial patterns of occupancy and abundance, was developed to spatially prioritize conservation action for widespread species by identifying smaller areas to work within to achieve predefined conservation objectives. / Methods: We demonstrate our approach for 29 widespread bird species in the UK, using breeding bird atlas data from two periods to define distribution, relative abundance and change in relative abundance. We selected occupied 10-km squares with abundance trends that matched species conservation objectives relating to maintaining or increasing population size or range, and then identified spatial clusters of squares for each objective using a Getis-Ord-Gi* or near neighbour analysis. / Results: For each species, the framework identified clusters of 20-km squares that enabled us to identify small areas in which species recovery action could be prioritized. / Conclusions: Our approach identified a proportion of species’ ranges to prioritize for species recovery. This approach is a relatively quick process that can be used to inform single-species conservation for any taxa if sufficiently fine-scale occupancy and abundance information is available for two or more time periods. This is a relatively simple first step for planning single-species focussed conservation to help optimise resource use

The JNCC terrestrial biodiversity surveillance schemes: an assessment of coverage

Biodiversity information is needed to provide a sound evidence base for decision-making, including operational needs, statutory reporting requirements and strategic needs. In this study we sought to assess aspects of coverage so as to identify gaps in taxonomic, thematic (habitat) and spatial coverage which might need to be addressed in future

Cell size, genome size, and maximum growth rate are near-independent dimensions of ecological variation across bacteria and archaea.

Among bacteria and archaea, maximum relative growth rate, cell diameter, and genome size are widely regarded as important influences on ecological strategy. Via the most extensive data compilation so far for these traits across all clades and habitats, we ask whether they are correlated and if so how. Overall, we found little correlation among them, indicating they should be considered as independent dimensions of ecological variation. Nor was correlation evident within particular habitat types. A weak nonlinearity (6% of variance) was found whereby high maximum growth rates (temperature-adjusted) tended to occur in the midrange of cell diameters. Species identified in the literature as oligotrophs or copiotrophs were clearly separated on the dimension of maximum growth rate, but not on the dimensions of genome size or cell diameter

What do students find difficult when they read Shakespeare?:Problems and solution

Teaching and learning Shakespeare takes place across the world. Pedagogical matters have been the subject of much discussion in the last few decades. This article begins by reviewing that discussion, showing how different approaches – textual, contextual and active (or performance) – connect with the language of the plays. No study, it is pointed out, has conducted an empirical investigation as to what exactly students find problematic when they read the language of Shakespeare’s plays, an obvious first step, one might think, in designing an approach. The main aim of this article was to describe a study designed to do exactly this. It was conducted with two groups of Shakespeare students, one with English as a first language and one with English as an additional language. Participants were asked to identify difficulties in extracts from plays, rate specific linguistic forms according to difficulty and discuss what they think of Shakespeare’s language. Common areas of difficulty included archaic words, borrowings from other languages, coinages and false friends. With these findings in mind, the article briefly reflects on pedagogical solutions that are corpus-related, arguing that these address some of the problems associated with traditional textual approaches by requiring the active involvement of learners, treating language in a contextualised fashion and focussing on the language itself. © The Author(s) 2020