The School of Biological Sciences Newsletter

March 2000 issue

 

From the HoS

 


Janice Jacob's duties

Building Update

 

 

 

From the Head of School

Welcome to the first School Newsletter of the new year and of the "noughties".

Also - a hearty welcome to the School to all the people who have joined us recently, and whose first Newsletter this is. It is here to inform, enlighten and entertain, and particularly to link us all together, since our School is scattered across six buildings on this campus, as well as being responsible for two field stations and a number of students and staff who are on campus only rarely. I am very pleased that Mark Ahern has agreed to edit the Newsletter. From now on it will be available through the School's web site as well as in hard copy, and I hope this will make for easier access if you can't pick up a copy on campus. I know Mark would welcome contributions of all sorts, including cartoons, drawings, useful information and current events. And, whether or not you are new to the School, please contact Mark, or me, if there is anything in particular you would like to know (and cannot find on the School's web site). We will find you an answer, and ensure that the information goes on the web site or in the Newsletter if it would be of general interest.

We are probably all sick of hearing that "this will be a year of significant changes" - but for us it will. Many of these changes will be very positive for the School - in particular we can now foresee the end of the main part of the building projects in A12 and A08. Once the disruption caused by the work itself and the subsequent moves is over, we will see a big return in improved labs and offices, and in more efficient running of classes and of research facilities. So far the builders have completed each part of project exactly on time, and I certainly hope they can continue this miracle - a first in my experience of School building works! Later in the year, we will start to teach our first postgraduate courses, which will provide much-needed specialist training for students, and some extra income for the School.

We have some interesting things to do this year - most especially in responding to the new policies enshrined in the White Paper on research. That will force us to revisit the subject of forming research groupings; these are no longer just a good idea but an important strategy in winning competitive grants. The new policies also emphasize the importance of postgraduate completion rates; this does not refer simply to how many students finish their degrees, but also to how long they take. There is a clear expectation that students will finish PhDs in 4 years at most, regardless of subject area, and that they will be instructed in various generic skills during that time. Departments which cannot achieve this will suffer financially. We will need to consider how we can reshape our research degrees to maintain or improve our standards, and our completion rates, and our students' generic skills. The School's various committees are now looking at the report from the School Review and will be proposing responses to its recommendations over the next few months. Teaching Performance Indicators will start to play a part in the allocation of funding for teaching within this University. For the long term good of the School (which really is shorthand for "of each of us in the School") some energy and creativity are needed in these areas.

Finally, I would like to thank Paddy for his two exciting terms as Head, in which he achieved so many positive things for the School, and wish him a productive and enjoyable study leave.

 

Roz Hinde

 

 

 

 

Allocation of Janice Jacob's Duties

As a result of Janice Jacobs' retirement, her many responsibilities have been reassigned. This is to let you know who will be doing what.

1. Any staffing matters that Jan would have dealt with should now go to Maureen Claxton.

2. Any financial matters that Jan would have dealt with will now be dealt with by Louie Briskoski.

3. Michael Joseph will supervise the technical staff involved in teaching in Science Road. He will also supervise the School Photographer and the attendant in A12. Michael will be the first point of contact for all building matters in A11, A12 and A13, including internal keys. He will be safety officer for these buildings and will be the School's Radiation Safety Officer. He will deal with the disposal of hazardous waste in the School's Science Road buildings. He will be Fire Warden for A11, A12 and A13. He will continue to provide computer support in these buildings. Michael will also take over all lecture room bookings formerly done by Janice. He will organize work experience placements, and needs to be notified of any which come in through individual members of staff.

4. Mark Ahern will supervise the workshops, the Crommelin caretaker and the attendant in A08. He will be the first point of contact for building matters in A08 and A10 (the Cottage) and will be Safety Officer for A08 and A10, and Fire Warden for A08. He will take over responsibility for bookings for Crommelin (Warrah), car bookings, insurance, security (including lock changes) and external keys and swipe cards for all our Science Road buildings. He will be in charge of phones (including transfers when people move), photocopiers and faxes and the School Newsletter. He will look after library orders (which can now be placed on the Web, as advised recently). Mark will also look after the registration of volunteer workers in the School. He will continue to provide support for physiology lab classes.

5. Virginia Klomp will look after safety matters in the School's space in Carslaw, supported by Mike Joseph.

6. Leave forms should be submitted through your immediate supervisor - there is no change to the procedure unless you used to submit them through Janice. If you did, you should now submit them through either Michael or Mark, as appropriate. They will countersign them and pass them on to the School Office.

I would like to thank Janice for working so hard to ensure a smooth transition and excellent continuity of record keeping.

 

Roz Hinde

 

 

 

 

Building Update

The Building renovations are well advanced. In the Macleay building we now have the Ashby AV lab, 207 A12, and the Robert Brown lab, 204 A12 on line. They are light and airy computer rooms with the added ability to be used for microscopy and other AV. There are still some finishing touches including; airconditioning to be commissioned, new notice boards to be installed and new ergonomic chairs to arrive. Both labs have state of the art computers with internet access, white boards and projection screens. On the ground floor of Macleay we will soon have extra male and female toilets. Next to these is the new wet prep room with storage, large sinks, dishwasher, dryer, Reverse osmosis and Milli-Q water on tap. The autopsy table from A08 has been relocated in this room, together with new halogen lighting, spray hose and specialized floor waste.

In the Heydon Laurence building the new aquaria facilities are almost complete and the structural works nearing completion. The new fourth floor will be poured in the next week, with an overall completion date for the end of May. The Project Users Group greatly appreciates the patience and understanding shown by the SoB's community and we look forward to a much improved facility for the school.

 

 

 

Feb ’00

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S REPORT, Febuary

 

Staffing

Academic

Associate Lectureship (vice Harvey)

10 applications have been shortlisted for referees’ reports.

Ms Lorena Gwyther took up an appointment on nomination as Associate Lecturer (vice Harvey) until 30 June or until the position is filled, whichever is the sooner.

Associate Lectureship (vice Danckwerts)

11 applications have been shortlisted for referees’ reports.

Dr John Harper took up an appointment on nomination as Associate Lecturer (vice Danckwerts) on 1 January (until 30 June).

General

Ms Claudia Morales has resigned, effective 31 January 2000. The position has been advertised and closed on 3 February.

U 2000 Fellowships

U 2000 Fellowships have been awarded to Dr Andrew Barron (with Dr Oldroyd) and Dr Stephen Wroe (with Dr Dickman). Dr Wroe commenced duties on 4 January.

Student prize

Ms Sharon Downes won the student prize for the best talk at the recent annual meeting of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, held in Alice Springs in December 1999.

Grants received

The Baxter Charitable Foundation

Dr A W Meats: $15,000

Degrees awarded

PhD

Ms N Holdaway (Overall)

Ms K Pitt (Kingsford)

Mr P Whitaker (Shine)

 

 

 

 

 

Mar ’00

 

HEAD OF SCHOOL’S REPORT, March

Staffing

Academic

Ms Keryn Wilkes took up an appointment on nomination on 17 January as Associate Lecturer (part-time, for ‘Biology Today’) until 31 December 2000.

Associate Lectureships/Lectureships (vice Harvey, vice Danckwerts)

Referees’ reports have been received and interviews/presentations will be held soon.

General

The position vice Morales has been advertised, but could not be filled, and will be readvertised in due course. In the interim Mr Richard Potts has been appointed to the position on a casual basis.

Award

Congratulations are extended to Professor Rick Shine who has been awarded the Clarke Medal of the Royal Society of New South Wales for 2000. It is for excellence in biological research within Australia and is to be awarded on 9 March.

Grant received

Australian Brain Foundation:

A/Professor Armati: $3,000

Honorary Appointments

Honorary Associate

Dr Donelle Trautman (nominated by A/Professor Hinde)

 

Publications Received by the School Office since the last Newsletter

BOOK

Hume, I.D.  (1999).  Marsupial Nutrition.   Cambridge Univ. Press Cambridge UK

CHAPTER

Dorfman, E.J. & C.E. Taylor  (1999).  Teaching communication in undergraduate biology. Ecology for everyone: communicating ecology to scientists, the public and the politicians. Wills, R. & R. Hobbs. Surrey Beatty Chipping Norton NSW 61-64.

Guillemin, G.J., Kerr, S.J., Smythe, G.A., Armati, P.J. & B. J. Brew.  (1999).  Kynurenine pathway metabolism in human astrocytes. Tryptophan,serotonin, and melatonin. Basic aspects and applications. Huether et al. Kluwer Academic/Plenum New York 125-131

Rouse, G.W.  (1999).  Polychaeta, including Pogonophora and Myzostomida. Reproductive biology of invertebrates. Jamieson, B.G.M. Oxford & IBH, New Delhi.

CONFERENCE

Bannigan, A. & R.L. Overall.  (2000).  Reorientation of taxol stabilised microtubules in response to hydrostatic pressure.  micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy 91

Barton, D.A., Blackman, L.M. & R.L. Overall.  (2000).  Nuclear migrations in Coleus stems. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy.

Blackman, L.M., Lyon, B.R. & R.L. Overall.  (1999).  Towards the isolation of genes for plasmodesmata-associated proteins from Chara corallina. Integration of structure, physiology and molecular biology Int. Conf. on Assimilate Transport and Partitioning. Newcastle.

Blackman, L.M., Lyon, B.R. & R.L. Overall.  (2000).  Localisation of putative plasmodesmata-associated proteins from Chara corallina using HIS-tags. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy. 91

Blackman, L.M., Lyon, B.R. & R. L. Overall.  (1999).  Towards the isolation of genes for plasmodesmata-associated proteins from Chara corallina. Combined Conference Abstracts 43rd ASBMB, 18th ANZSCDB & 39th ASPP.  ComBio 99. ASBMB. Kent Town, SA.  

Brecknock, S.L., Dibbayawan, T.P. & R.L. Overall.  (2000).  Connections between the plasma membrane and the cell wall in Chara corallina plasmodesmata. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy. 91

Cantrill, L.C., Overall, R.L. & P.B. Goodwin.  (1999).  Cell to cell communication via plant endomembranes. Integration of structure, physiology and molecular biology.  Int. Conf. on Assimilate Transport and Partitioning. Newcastle.

Cantrill. L.C., Overall, R.L., & P.B. Goodwin.  (2000).  Cell to cell communication via plant endomembranes. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy.

Clift, A.D., Gleeson, P.J. & A. Meats.  (1999).  Risk analysis studies on banana fruit fly, Bactrocera musae, recolonising an area near Cairns, North Queensland after area-wide insecticidal treatments had ceased.  Modsim 99. Int. Cong. on Modelling and Simulation 3:649-653

Cox, G., Dibbayawan, T., Harper, J.D.I., Marc, J. & J. Feijo.  (2000).  Multiphoton microscopy of cell division in plant cells. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy.

Dibbayawan, T.P. Vesk, M., Vesk. P. & R.L. Overall.  (2000).  FESEM of plant cells: a new perspective of familiar structures. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy.  

Harper, J.D.I., Parker, K., Marc, J. & R. L. Overall.  (1999).  Functions of centrin in higher plant cells. Combined Conference Abstracts 43rd ASBMB, 18th ANZSCDB & 39th ASPP.  ComBio 99. ASBMB.  Kent Town, SA.  

Harper, J.D.I., Weerakoon, N.D., Parker, K., Marc, J. & R.L. Overall.  (2000).  Centrin in plants. micrOZcopy 2000. 16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy.

Larkum, A.W.D.  (1999).  The cyanobacteria of coral reefs.  Marine Cyanobacteria. Monaco Musee Oceanographique. Monaco. 149-167

Overall, R.L.  (2000).  Plasmodesmata and cell-cell communication. micrOZcopy 2000.  16th Aust. Conf. on Electron Microscopy. Aust. Soc. Electron Microscopy.

Thompson, M.B. & J.R. Stewart.  (1999).  Evolution of viviparity in lizards. New Zeal. J. Zool. 26:260-260

JOURNAL

Ambariyanto & O. Hoegh-Guldberg.  (1999).  Net uptake of dissolved free amino acids by the giant clam, Tridacna maxima: alternative sources of energy and nitrogen.  Coral Reefs. 17:1-6

Ashford, A.E., Vesk, P.A., Orlovich, D.A., Markovina, A-L. & W.G. Allaway.  (1999).  Dispersed polyphosphate in fungal vacuoles in Eucalyptus pilularis/Pisolithus tinctorius ectomycorrhizas.  Fungal Genet. Biol.  28:21-33

Baggen, L.R., Gurr, G.M. & A. Meats.  (1999).  Flowers in tri-trophic systems: mechanisms allowing selective exploitation by insect natural enemies for conservation biological control.  Entomol. Exp. App.  91:155-161

Branch, W.R., Shine, R., Harlow, P.S. & J.K. Webb.  1997  Sexual dimorphism, diet and aspects of reprodiction of the western keeled snake, Pythonodipsas carinata (Serpentes: Colubridae).  African J. Herpetol.  46:89--97

Brown, M.H., Paulsen, I.T. & R.A. Skurray.  (1999).  The multidrug efflux protein NorM is a prototype of a new family of transporters.  Mol. Microbiol.  31:393-395

Caton, J.M., Hume, I.D., Hill, D.M. & P. Harper.  (1999).  Digesta retention in the gastro-intestinal tract of the Orang Utan (Pongo pygmaeus).  Primates.  40:551-558

Firth, N., Berg, T. & R.A. Skurray.  (1999).  Evolution of conjugative plasmids from gram-positive bacteria.  Mol. Microbiol.  31:1589-1601

Forsman, A. & R. Shine.  (1997). Rejection of non-adaptive hypotheses for intraspecific variation in trophic morphology in gape-limited predators.  Biol. J. Linn. Soc.  62:209-223

Fraser, V.S., Kaufmann, B., Oldroyd, B.P. & R.H. Crozier.  (2000).  Genetic influence on caste in the ant Camponotus consobrinus.  Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.  47:188-194

Gibb, H. & D.F. Hochuli.  (1999).  Nesting analysis of arthropod assemblages in habitat fragments in the Sydney region.  Trans. Roy. Zool. Soc. NSW.   77-81

Hatty, S. & B. Oldroyd.  (1999).  Evidence for temperature-dependant selection for Malate dehydrogenase allele frequencies in Honeybee populations.  Journal of Heredity.  90:565-568

Hoegh-Guldberg, O.  (1999).  "Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world's coral reefs.  Mar. Freshwater Res.  50:839-866

How, R.A. & R. Shine.  (1999).  Ecological traits and conservation biology of five fossorial 'sand-swimming' snake species (Simoselaps: Elapidae) in south-western Australia.  J. Zool., Lond.  249:269-282

Jones, R.J. & O. Hoegh-Guldberg.  (1999).  Effects of cyanide on coral photosynthesis: implications for identifying the cause of coral bleaching and for assessing the environmental effects of cyanide fishing.  Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.  177:83-91

Kingsford, M.J.  (1999).  Fish attraction devices (FADs) and experimental designs.  Sci. Mar.  6: 181-190

Kingsford, M.J. & A. Defries.  (1999).  The ecology of and fishery for Coryphaena spp. in the waters around Australia and New Zealand.  Sci. Mar.  63:267-275

Kupferwasser, L.I., Skurray, R.A., Brown, M. H., Firth,N., Yeaman, M.R. & A.S. Bayer.  (1999).  Plasmid-mediated resistance to thrombin-induced platelet microbial protein in Staphylococci: role of the qacA locus.  Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.  43:2395-2399

Lee, M.S.Y. & R.Shine.  (1999).  Reptilian viviparity and Dollo's law.  Evolution.  52:1441-1450

Lee, W.J., Blackmore, R. & D.J. Patterson.  (1999).  Australian records of two lesser known genera of heterotrophic euglenids - Chasmostoma Massart, 1920 and Jenningsia Scheffer, 1918.  Protistol. 1:10-16

Lilje, O. & P.J. Armati.  (1999).  Restimulation of resting autoreactive T cells by Schwann cells in vitro.  Exp. Mol. Pathol.  67:164-174

Manwaring, N.P., Skurray, R.A. & N. Firth.  (1999).  Nucleotide sequence of the F plasmid leading region.  Plasmid.  41:219-225

McClelland, K.L., Hume, I.D. & N. Soran.  (1999).  Responses of the digestive tract of the omnivorous northern brown bandicoot, Isoodon macrourus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae), to plant- and insect-containing diets.  J. Comp. Physiol.B.  169:411-418

McGee, P.A., Torrisi, V. & G.S. Pattinson.  (1999).  The relationship between density of Glomus mosseae propagules and the initiation and spread of arbuscular mycorrhizas in cotton roots.  Mycorrhiza.  9:221-225

Mitchell, B. A., Paulsen, I.T., Brown, M.H. & R.A. Skurray.  (1999).  Bioenergetics of the staphylococcal multidrug export protein QacA.  J. Biol. Chem.  274:3541-3548

Olsson, M., Pagel, M., Shine, R., Madsen, T., Doums, C., Gullberg, A. & H. Tegelstrom.  (1999).  Sperm choice and sperm competition: suggestions for field and laboratory studies.  Oikos.  84:172-175

Olsson, M. & R. Shine.  (1999).  Timing of parturition as a maternal care tactic in an alpine lizard species.  Evolution.  52:1861-1864

Osborne, K. & B.P. Oldroyd.  (1999).  Possible causes of reproductive dominance during emergency queen rearing by honeybees.  Anim. Behav.  58:267-272

Patterson, D.J.  (1999).  The diversity of eukaryotes.  Am. Nat.  154:S96-S124

Qualls, F.J. & R. Shine  1997 Geographic variation in 'costs of reproduction' in the scincid lizard Lampropholis guichenoti.  Funct. Ecol.  11:757-736

Qualls, F.J. & R. Shine.  (1999).  Geographic variation in lizard phenotypes: importance of the incubation environment.  Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 64:477-491

Rouse, G.  (1999).  Polychaete sperm: phylogenetic and functional considerations.  Hydrobiologia 402:215-224

Shine, R., Olsson, M.M., Moore, I.T., LeMaster, M.P. & R.T. Mason.  (1999).  Why do male snakes have longer tails than females? Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B.  266:2147-2151

Simon, P., Whittaker R. & R. Shine.  (1999).  Morelia spilota (Australian carpet python) Caudal luring.  Herpetol. Rev.  30:102-103

Speake, B.K. & M.B. Thompson.  (1999).  Comparative aspects of yolk lipid utilisation in birds and reptiles.  Poultry Avian Biol. Rev.  10:181-211

Speake, B.K., Thompson, M.B. & R.J. McCartney.  (1999).  Lipid composition of eggs of an oviparous lizard (Bassiana duperryi) Lipids.  34:1207-1210

Sues, L. & R. Shine.  (1999).  Morelia amethistina (Australian scrub python). Male-male combat.  Herpetol. Rev.  30:102-102

Sumner, J., Moritz, C. & R. Shine.  (1999).  Shrinking forest shrinks skink: morphological change in response to rainforest fragmentation in the prickly forest skink (Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae).  Biol. Conserv.  91:159-167

Thomas, B.J. & A. Meats.  (1999).  The effect of simulated 'wash off' from spot-sprays containing either Malathion or Phloxine B on ground-dwelling arthropods in an orchard.  Agric. Forest Entomol.  1:55-60

Thompson, M.B., Speake, B.K., Stewart, J.R., Russell, K.J., McCartney, R.j. & P.F. Surai.  (1999).  Placental nutrition in the viviparous lizard Niveoscincus metallicus: the influence of placental type.  J. Exp. Biol.  202:2985-2992

Wang, S. & M.J. Henwood.  (1999).  The taxonomic utility of micromorphological characters in Australian and New Zealand Elymus species (Poaceae).  Telopea.  8:351-362

Weerakoon, N.D., Harper, J.D.I., Simpson, A.G.B. & D.J. Patterson.  (1999).  Centrin in the groove: immunolocalisation of centrin and microtubules in the putatively primitive protist Chilomastix cuspidata (Retortamonadida).  Protoplasma.  210:75-84

Westeide, W., McHugh, D., Purschke, G. & G.Rouse.  (1999).  Systematization of the Annelida: different approaches.  Hydrobiologia.  402:291-307

 

 

SOBs Script

The year has begun in a cloud of dust and the flurry of hammers. Yes the long awaited and much bemoaned renovations are not only in full swing but in some instances have actually been completed. The Robert Brown Room and the Ashby Audio Visual Room have been commisssioned and the students are already marvelling at the new and much improved facilities. While there is still some way to go, I think we should be pleased with the results and progress thus far.

There were flurry's of a different sort at the annual School of Biological Sciecnes Cricket Match. The day was a huge success with a very enthusiastic crowd and participants, although many players were bewildered to say the least by the concept of a "roving sledger!"

As you can see, the game was far from civilised but we did manage to avoid any serious injuries- although the Schools safety officer was noted to be heavily bandaged the following day. There were some truly amazing examples athleticism but none surpassing that of Les Edwards, his sportsmanship was an inspiration to us all.

Congratulations are due to Retno Murwani. Retno was a PhD student of Assoc. Prof. Armati and. Dr Murwani is currently: Lecturer, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. Prof. Armati's research group also enjoyed a visit from Prof. Austin Sumner, Professor of Neurology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centre. Prof Sumner is a world leader in elctrophysiology and pioneered many techniques commonly used to diagnose patients with peripheral nerve disease. He spent time with Patsi's students discussing their projects and "exhorting the merits of pigeon racing."