The taxonomy, ecology and biology of the 'Banksia spinulosa' SM. complex (Proteaceae)

The 'Banksia spinulosa' complex ranges from Mossman in north Queensland down the east coast of Australia to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, with four isolated populations in central Queensland. A morphometric analysis (SSH-MDS ordination and UPGMA clustering) of individuals for 34 characters and 234 specimens from mature plants collected across the full geographic and morphological range of the 'B. spinulosa' complex supports the recognition of 'Banksia vincentia' (Chapter 2), the recognition of the four other named entities ('B. neoanglica', 'B. spinulosa', 'B. collina sens. str.', 'B. cunninghamii'), and of 12 putative entities, viz. B. Julatten, B. Mount Mee, B. Tewantin, B. McPherson Range, B. Kungala, B. Putty Road, B. Carnarvon Gorge, B. Robinson Gorge, B. Isla Gorge, B. Cockatoo, B. Croajingolong, B. Wilsons Promontory (Chapter 3). The results in chapters 2–3 are considered and discussed in the context of competing species concepts. The integrated species concept of De Queiroz is favoured and informs the need for the study undertaken on seedling morphology (Chapter 4). Examination of seedling morphology illustrates the importance of looking at both adult and seedling morphology when delimiting species. While most entities in the 'B. spinulosa' complex are heteroblastic several are homoblastic. Aside from these developmental changes, leaf morphology is relatively fixed for entities in the 'B. spinulosa' complex regardless of biotic or abiotic influences (Chapter 4)

Ecology of seed germination for broad-acre restoration of native vegetation on cracking clay vertosols

In Australia, substantial ecological restoration of farmland is undertaken in conjunction with community-based natural resource management agencies, with the objective of balancing agricultural land use and biodiversity conservation through revegetation with native species. Across the North-West Plains of New South Wales (NSW), both large-scale and small-scale restoration efforts are frequently required. However, fragmented agricultural landscapes, the lack of sufficient scientific information on the seed ecology of native species and the environmental conditions associated with the region's vertosol soils are major challenges for revegetation. This thesis investigated germination traits in 73 plant species that are important components of endangered vegetation communities in north-western NSW to produce information useful for plant propagation and ecological restoration. In order to identify the optimum combination of environmental conditions to maximise the percentage and rate of germination in 14 'Eucalyptus' seedlots of ten species from north-western NSW, germination responses to seasonal temperature regimes and light were examined, and the relationship between these factors and seed size investigated. The effect of three alternating day/night temperature treatments (spring, summer, winter) and two light treatments (light/dark, dark) was investigated in growth cabinets. Germination patterns varied between species and seedlots. In general, the presence of light and winter and spring temperatures resulted in higher average germination than darkness and summer temperatures. However, some seedlots germinated consistently well under all treatments. Germination of small seeds was higher in the presence of light while larger seeds germinated better under continuous darkness. Time to germination was about threefold faster in response to summer and spring temperatures than winter temperatures. The seeds of many acacias, which are important in ecosystem regeneration due to the ability of 'Acacia' species to fix nitrogen, have a physical dormancy that must be broken prior to their use. In order to identify convenient methods to break seed dormancy in ten 'Acacia' species from north-west NSW, seed response was investigated to three dormancy-breaking treatments and two incubation temperatures. Mechanical scarification (two intensities) and hot water were applied as seed pre-treatments and seeds incubated under two temperature/light-controlled treatments in germination cabinets. The results varied with species but the three dormancy-breaking treatments significantly increased germination percentage or reduced the time to germination in all but one species. Temperature had an effect on only one species. Germination was greater or more rapid after mechanical scarification than after hot-water treatment. North-western NSW is one of Australia's biodiversity 'hotspots' due to the number of endemic plants and diversity of species, some of which lack seed ecology information for restoration and conservation purposes. Seeds of 49 species were investigated to identify limitations to germination, the pre-treatments needed to overcome such limitations, and determine the suitability of these species for direct seeding or propagation from seed. Seed viability, germination under different seasonal temperatures (winter, spring/autumn, summer) and a requirement for seed pretreatment to promote germination were all assessed experimentally in germination cabinets. Seed viability varied widely among the 49 species; temperature determined germination success in 27 species and various seed pre-germination treatments were effective in increasing germination percentage in 22 species. The results will be useful in propagating these species in the nursery and for direct seeding in the field. The decline in eucalypt-dominated woodlands across the wheat–sheep belt of southern and inland eastern Australia is of concern, and revegetation targets have been set to restore woody vegetation cover in over-cleared landscapes. In order to provide guidelines for direct-seeding eucalypts in large-scale revegetation of cracking clay soils in north-western NSW, seedling emergence was investigated in relation to moisture regime, sowing depth and seed size in six species of 'Eucalyptus' in a glasshouse experiment. Seedling emergence was low despite high seed viability and provision of optimum temperatures and soil moisture. All six species exhibited greatest emergence when sown at 0–6-mm depth, with seed size being less important than moisture (except under dry conditions) and proximity to the surface. Species responded differently to the three watering treatments. Success in direct-seeding these species in vertosol soils in the region may be unreliable. The findings of this research should contribute to seed management and direct seeding in large-scale revegetation projects on cracking clay soils in the agricultural districts of north-western NSW. The research variously examined the seed viability, quality, persistence and germination response of seeds in a range of species to light, temperature and sowing depth. It aimed to determine where release of germination constraints was necessary, as well as cost-effective techniques that can be applied to large quantities of seed required in broad-acre revegetation

ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma a

ARIA 2016 : Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease.Peer reviewe

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Reminiscences of Robb College

The first men's college at UNE was Wright College, and plans for the construction of the 'second men's college' were first displayed in October, 1958, and caused some excitement among the students who were to become the occupants. This college was to be built south-west of Wright College on the open expanse of a dairy farm which had been acquired by the recently autonomous University of New England. The concept was an ambitious one, provided by a new architectural graduate from the University of Sydney, Michael Dysart, who had just been appointed to the NSW Government Architect's Office. The new college was subsequently named Robb College after William Menzies Robb, appointed Registrar of the New England University College in 1948, and who guided NEUC through the process of becoming autonomous as the University of New England in 1954. Sadly, he died in 1958, and was honoured by the naming of the second men's college after him when it was officially opened in 1960. The first Master was B.C.J. (Ben) Meredith, the Warden of Students at UNE from 1956 to 1960, who was Master of Robb from 1960 to 1966

Some factors influencing landholder opinion of the native grass 'Microlaena stipoides'

'Microlaena stipoides' is widespread in the higher rainfall areas of Australia. It is consistently reported in the literature as providing high quality forage, yet anecdotal evidence suggests a wide range of opinions about the value of 'M. stipoides' among graziers who manage areas with abundant 'M. stipoides'. This paper addresses three questions relating to this divergence of opinion. Are landholders responding to inherent variability within 'M. stipoides'? Is M. stipoides responding to different site and management conditions, prompting landholders to value it preferentially where site or management suit? Or are the landholders' judgments of 'M. stipoides' influenced less by the actual performance of the grass on their properties than by social factors? Data collected from ten properties in the Victorian Upper Murray included a morphological assessment of 'M. stipoides' samples, quantitative site and pasture information and qualitative data from interviews with property managers. Ecotypic variation and responses to site and management variables were found, but there were no apparent relationships between these parameters and the value judgments made by the landholders. The only physical factor which appeared to have any influence on landholder opinion was the annual rainfall for their property, although this was not through direct impact on other site attributes. It seems that social rather than physical factors may need to be explored in order to understand the factors influencing landholder opinion of 'M. stipoides'

Introduction to the Special issue of The Rangeland Journal on 'Social and ecological aspects of grassland use in northern China: implications for adaptation to climate change'

The idea of this Special Issue was originally conceived by Xiangyang Hou, Director General of the Institute of Grassland Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IGR, CAAS), Hohhot, China to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the setting up of the Grassland Research Institute in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. The title, 'Social and ecological aspects of grassland use in northern China: implications for adaptation to climate change' was chosen to reflect the key issues of climate change and overgrazing by livestock of the grasslands of northern China and on the social and ecological impacts that they were having on grassland use. Professor Hou identified a list of topics and invited the authors of papers on these topics that reflected the issues raised in the title. The authors have acted as the Associate Editors of this Special Issue in evaluating the papers on the basis of the comments of the reviewers and using our expertise in reviewing and editing manuscripts

Native and natural pastures on the Northern Slopes and Tablelands of New South Wales: A review and annotated bibliography

This resource document is presented in two sections. Firstly, the physical characteristics and the native and rural pastures of the Northern Slopes and Tablelands of New South Wales are described. The topography, geology, soils and climate of the region are briefly outlined. Then the development and characteristics of the native and natural pastures and the important native and naturalised grasses are discussed in detail. These species arc classified into warm-season perennials, yearlong green perennials, cool-season perennials, warm-season annuals and cool-season annuals. The native warm-season perennials are the largest group of species present in the region and so those grasses characterise the structure and productivity of the native and natural pastures. Information drawn from a wide range of sources is used to indicate the grazing value of the predominant species of each of these groups. A schematic outline is presented showing the interrelationships between the original and present-day pastures and an extensive literature review examines the probable effects of grazing, fertiliser application and fire on pasture composition. Essential to pasture management is the manipulation of the species composition to obtain and maintain desirable species assemblages. Hence pasture management objectives need to be clearly defined and desirable species identified before these pastures can be managed effectively. The development and implementation of grazing management systems based on plant ecology and physiology is outlined together with research investigating the potential for domesticating and sowing the better quality, adapted, native perennial grasses. The second section comprises an annotated bibliography of either refereed scientific journals, bulletins and review papers, or theses and book chapters, published since 1970 and relevant to native and natural pasture research on the Northern Slopes and Tablelands of New South Wales. Over 50 scientific articles arc included, together with 25 theses and five book chapters. The general philosophy and principles of native pasture improvement and management are discussed and the future direction for research is outlined

A Model for Expanded Use of Native Grasses

Interest in native grasses is increasing in the US, Australia, Canada, and worldwide. We propose a model that can be used as a step-by-step guide for plant breeders, ecologists, seed producers, and others interested in developing expanded uses for native grasses. The following steps, with relevant examples from North America and Australia, are described in detail: 1) determine the need; 2) choose an appropriate species; 3) determine breeding system; 4) assess geographic and ecological range; 5) make a collection; 6) assess genetic diversity; 7) determine limitations of species; 8) develop appropriate breeding methods; 9) determine proper release strategy; 10) develop seed conditioning and establishment techniques; 11) develop management techniques; and 12) market development