Statistics of extremal intensities for Gaussian interfaces

The extremal Fourier intensities are studied for stationary Edwards-Wilkinson-type, Gaussian, interfaces with power-law dispersion. We calculate the probability distribution of the maximal intensity and find that, generically, it does not coincide with the distribution of the integrated power spectrum (i.e. roughness of the surface), nor does it obey any of the known extreme statistics limit distributions. The Fisher-Tippett-Gumbel limit distribution is, however, recovered in three cases: (i) in the non-dispersive (white noise) limit, (ii) for high dimensions, and (iii) when only short-wavelength modes are kept. In the last two cases the limit distribution emerges in novel scenarios.Comment: 15 pages, including 7 ps figure

Pelagic distribution of Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera): linking shipboard and onshore observations with remote-tracking data

This study describes and compares the pelagic distribution and migratory patterns of the two subspecies of Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera), and contrasts data obtained from tracking birds at sea using geolocators with observational data (shipboard sightings, by-catch records and beachcast specimens). While breeding, tracked individuals of both subspecies (P. l. leucoptera and P. l. caledonica) foraged within the Tasman Sea and south of the Australian continent, with forays west into the Indian Ocean before laying. After breeding, both subspecies migrated to distinct non-breeding ranges within the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Observational data identified the general pattern of migration and foraging areas of the species, whereas data from geolocators provided details of routes and timing of migration, core foraging ranges, and marked spatial and temporal segregation between the two subspecies. However, by attaching geolocators only to established breeders, as is typical of studies of small and medium-sized seabirds, these devices failed to identify that non-breeding birds (pre-breeders and adults that are deferring breeding) may not follow the same migratory schedules or have the same at-sea distribution. We conclude that integrating data from electronic tracking with observational data substantially improves our understanding of the pelagic distribution of seabird populations

The rise of Public History: an international perspective

This article explores the birth and development of public history and presents the different criteria of its internationalization from the 1970s to the more recent creation of the International Federation of Public History. Based mostly on North America and Europe, the international perspective sets the development of public history in the United States into a broader context of debates about the changing role of historians. While public history was mostly perceived in the 1980s as the application – through consulting – of history to present- day issues, the more recent internationalization is made of a variety of local and national approaches to the field

Interspecific fostering of a wedge-tailed shearwater ardenna pacifica by white-necked petrels pterodroma cervicalis on Phillip Island, Norfolk Island group

We report the cross-fostering of a Wedge-tailed Shearwater chick by White-necked Petrels during the 2016/17 breeding season in the Norfolk Islands. Our finding highlights the possibility that cross-fostering of these procellariids can be used in conservation applications

Breeding ecology of the Chestnut-crowned Babbler: a cooperative breeder in the desert

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Habitat use and life-history of Hall's babbler (Pomatostomus halli) - a group-living passerine of the Australian arid zone

Australo-Papuan babblers have been the focus of considerable research in avian behaviour and ecology, yet our knowledge of this group is biased toward two species: grey-crowned (Pomatostomus temporalis) and white-browed (P. superciliosus) babblers (Chapter 1). In this thesis, I investigated the geographic range, habitat use, morphology, social organisation and life-history of Hall's babbler (P. halli), the least-studied Australian species. To define the geographic range and examine habitat use therein, I used a novel approach that combined species locality records, climatic envelope modelling, vegetation maps, and existing bird survey data (Chapter 2). Hall's babbler occurred primarily in vegetation communities dominated by mulga (Acacia aneura) and those of Acacia species occurring on residual soils. In the remainder of this thesis, I present results from an intensive three-year study of colour-banded individuals within a population in south-western Queensland. At a macrohabitat scale, multivariate analyses of vegetation structure and floristic composition indicated the distribution of Hall's babbler within my study site was primarily associated with increased abundance of mulga trees and coarse woody debris. At the microhabitat scale, nest-site selection appeared to be influenced principally by tree density (Chapter 3). I found the species is sexually size dimorphic with males slightly larger than females, and dimorphism was disproportionally greater in bill length than other traits (Chapter 4). This sexual size dimorphism has practical utility in that the sex of individuals could be identified with 88% accuracy using linear discriminant analysis. Hall's babblers bred cooperatively in small (2-5 adults), kin-structured breeding units, which usually coalesced to form social groups when not breeding (Chapter 5). A comparison of the social organisations of all babbler species revealed they varied markedly in many fundamental attributes. Life-history characteristics of Hall's babbler – nestling growth rate and development (Chapter 6), clutch size, incubation and nestling periods, annual productivity, and survival – were generally similar to those of other babblers species, and typical of the 'slow' life-history strategy of old endemic Australian passerines (Chapter 7). I conclude by discussing the implications of my research on our understanding of the behavioural ecology of Australo-Papuan babblers and suggest future avenues of research within this group (Chapter 8)