Geomorphological context and formation history of Cloggs Cave: What was the cave like when people inhabited it?

New research undertaken at Cloggs Cave, in the foothills of the Australian Alps, employed an integrated geological-geomorphological-archaeological approach with manifold dating methods and fine resolution LiDAR 3D mapping. Long-standing questions about the site's chronostratigraphy (e.g. the exact relationship between basal megafaunal deposits and archaeological layers), sedimentation processes and geomorphic changes were resolved. The cave's formation history was reconstructed to understand its changing morphology and morphogenic processes, and to clarify how these processes shaped the cave's deposits. Key findings include the identification of: 1) the geomorphological processes that caused the lateral juxtaposition of 52,000 year-old megafaunal and later occupational layers; 2) the existence of one and possibly two (now-buried) palaeo-entrance(s) that enabled now-extinct megafauna and extant large fauna to enter the cave, most likely via a free-roaming passage rather than a pit drop; 3) morphological changes to the cave during the time of the Old People, including the timing of changes to the inclination of palaeo-surfaces; and 4) modifications to stalactites, crushing of calcite formations for the manufacture of powder, construction of a stone arrangement, and movement of large limestone blocks by the Old People. Ultimately, these findings demonstrate that to properly understand what Cloggs Cave was like when the Old People visited the site requires the construction of a narrative that spans some 400 million years and the development of an approach capable of integrating the many scales and processes (e.g. geological, geomorphological, archaeological) that configured to shape the site

Risk communication in tables vs. text: a Registered Report randomised trial on 'fact boxes'

Objectives Abstract Identifying effective summary formats is fundamental to multiple fields including science communication, systematic reviews, evidence-based policy, and medical decision making. This study will test whether table or text-only formats lead to better comprehension of the potential harms and benefits of different options, here in a medical context. Design Pre-registered, longitudinal experiment: between-subjects factorial 2 (message format) x 2 topic (topic: therapeutic or preventative intervention) on comprehension and later recall (CONSORT- SPI 2018). Setting Longitudinal online survey experiment. Participants [[ N ]] census-matched UK residents recruited through the survey panel firm YouGov. Primary outcome measure Comprehension of harms and benefits and knowledge recall after one month. Results Fact boxes—simple tabular messages—led to [[ less, equal, more ]] comprehension than text- only formats and [[ greater, equal, lower ]] knowledge recall after one month. Fact boxes led to [[more, equivalent, fewer]] treatment decisions compared to the text-only control. These patterns of results were [[ the same, different ]] between the two topics [[ explain any differences ]]. Conclusions The brief table format of the fact box [[ improved, did not improve ]] comprehension of harms and benefits relative to the text-only control. Effective communication supports informed consent and decision making and brings ethical and practical advantages. Fact boxes and other summary formats may be effective in a wide range of communication contexts

Synthesis of HyBeacons and dual-labelled probes containing 2'- fluorescent groups for use in genetic analysis

An FMOC-protected 2A-hydroxyethyl uridine phosphoramidite has been used to synthesise fluorescein-labelled HyBeacon probes and "FAM-ROX" dual-labelled fluorogenic oligonucleotides

Ancient DNA from bulk bone reveals past genetic diversity of vertebrate fauna on Kangaroo Island, Australia

It is indisputable that much of Australia's modern biodiversity decline was triggered by European settlement. However, the driver(s) of pre-European extinctions and extirpations are more challenging to identify, particularly on islands where animals are faced with the additional pressures imposed by isolation. Kangaroo Island, South Australia, has been identified as a potential haven for the reintroduction of endangered animals, but the genetic relationship between reintroduction candidates on the mainland and their extinct relatives on Kangaroo Island is poorly understood. Here, we present a late Pleistocene to mid-Holocene genetic record from Kangaroo Island based on bulk bone metabarcoding of two thousand bone fragments excavated from Kelly Hill Cave. We detect 33 species of bird, reptile, fish and mammal and report additional intra-specific genetic diversity in Kangaroo Island's now extinct population of spotted-tailed quoll. Furthermore, we provide genetic evidence that the Eastern grey kangaroo formerly inhabited Kangaroo Island. Taken together, these data establish a more complete baseline of local biodiversity against which reintroduction programmes and bushfire recovery measures can be evaluated, which is more important than ever in light of the recent fires that devastated much of Kangaroo Island's flora and fauna.Frederik V.Seersholma, Alicia Grealy, Matthew C.McDowell, Theresa L. Cole, Lee J.Arnold, Gavin J.Prideaux, Michael Bunc

Global abundance and size distribution of streams and rivers

To better integrate lotic ecosystems into global cycles and budgets, we provide approximations of the size-distribution and areal extent of streams and rivers. One approach we used was to employ stream network theory combined with data on stream width. We also used detailed stream networks on 2 continents to estimate the fraction of continental area occupied by streams worldwide and corrected remote sensing stream inventories for unresolved small streams. Our estimates of global fluvial area are 485 000 to 662 000 km2 and are +30–300% of published appraisals. Moderately sized rivers (orders 5–9) seem to comprise the greatest global area, with less area covered by low and high order streams, while global stream length, and therefore the riparian interface, is dominated by 1st order streams. Rivers and streams are likely to cover 0.30–0.56% of the land surface and make contributions to global processes and greenhouse gas emissions that may be +20–200% greater than those implied by previous estimates.