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Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales Newsletter No. 3, September 2000 |
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Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales Newsletter No. 3, September 2000 |
… to the third newsletter. As you can see, your newsletter continues to grow as we, your Council, strive to improve the relevance and timeliness of communication with the membership.
We begin with a word from RZS President, Dr Chris Dickman. Also included in this issue are: short reports on the prestigious 2000 Whitley Awards and the highly competitive 2000 round of the Ethel Mary Read Grants; and, a note from RZS Senior Editor, Dan Lunney on important cost-saving changes to the production of our flagship journals.
The 2000 AGM draws nigh and included with this issue are various business papers to be tabled at the meeting, and a proxy form.
Please also take the time to respond to the "New Logo Poll" – see the section at the end of the newsletter.
Finally, I welcome contributions to this, your newsletter, on any subject relating to zoology, fauna conservation, or RZS matters. The next newsletter will be published in early March 2001. Contributions can be sent by post to the RZS Office, or by email direct to me at pwilson@zeta.org.au, and should reach me by 15 February 2001.
Peter Wilson, Newsletter Editor and RZS Webmaster
From the President
Let me take this opportunity to highight two important events in the RZS calendar – one recently past, the other occurring in the near future. Both highlight the way in which your Society strives to fulfil its twin aims of promoting and advancing the science of zoology, and working to preserve our unique and diverse fauna.
A Zoological Revolution: using native fauna to assist in its own survival. This forum, held at the Australian Museum on 20 May 2000, was a resounding success and a very enjoyable day for all who participated. The proposition that we make greater use of our fauna, so as to conserve it, was debated by eight speakers and by many participants from the audience. Much of the early focus was on the presentation by Mike Archer, one of the most outspoken proponents for change, who argued that our current land use practices and approaches to conservation management are woefully inadequate and in need of revolutionary change. He was followed by proponents arguing cases for the keeping of native species as pets (Paul Hopwood), utilisation of kangaroos for food and, as a consequence, reducing sheep numbers in the rangelands (Gordon Grigg), marine bioprospecting (Kirsten Benkendorff), nurturing conservation using pets and tourism (Dick Braithwaite), and the effectiveness of National Parks (Penny Figgis). Harry Recher concluded with a provocative talk questioning whether we were being revolutionary enough in our thinking. The ideas presented by the speakers were challenged and supported by a final selection of participants and by the audience – there were some spirited exchanges. As with previous fora, we intend to publish the presentations, questions and answers in the Society's Transactions. Stay tuned for an exciting and controversial issue!
Honours/Postgraduate Student Conference on Zoological Research. On 14 October, the Society will hold its third conference to highlight the vital contribution of students to zoological research. All enrolled Honours, postgraduate and non-enrolled amateur students are eligible to present their work, and may do so either via talks or posters. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 6 October 2000. Flyers advertising the conference and providing full details of registration, prizes etc are posted on departmental noticeboards in the various universities and other tertiary institutions of the region, and are also posted on the Society's website.
For $15, the chance to hear some of the cutting-edge and exciting research being carried out by students, this will be a day to mark in your diaries!
The Society's AGM will be held immediately after the student conference, making this an important day to attend. We hope to see you at both events!
Dr Chris Dickman, RZS President
Changes to publication processes
Since the last newsletter there have been some changes to publication processes for the RZS journals, Australian Zoologist and Transaction of the RZS of NSW. Following a round of competitive quotes, the publication process will be managed entirely in-house. Layout and printing will be done by different people/firms. The full names will appear on the publications. At the moment we are in transition. This has delayed production of the Australian Zoologist, but it is underway, as are the various transactions arising from the successful forums run by the RZS. The size and production of "The Other 99%" and the Australian Zoologist "Business of Biodiversity" edition in 1999 consumed the publication budget, and this contributed to the slow start to production of publications in 2000-01 financial year. This has only meant delays, and RZS members will receive a full range of published material by the end of the year.
Also, co-editor Lyndall Dawson is resigning from Council and as co-editor. The issue of Australian Zoologist after the edition now going into production, will be her last as co-editor. The Council of the RZS, as well as her fellow editors, have been most grateful for her sustained contribution. The journal is the better for her consistent standard and timely dealing with material. There will be more on this at the AGM.
The journal continues to welcome papers on all aspects of zoology, and conserving fauna and faunal habitats.
Any detailed questions, please email me at dan.lunney@npws.nsw.gov.au, or dlunney@optushome.com.au.
Dan Lunney, Editor – RZS Journals
2000 Whitley Medal and Awards
The 22nd annual Whitley Awards for outstanding publications in Australasian zoology were presented in a ceremony at Taronga Zoo on the 1st of September this year. As usual, a range of publications were submitted for judging with a particularly large number of children’s titles submitted this year. The Whitley Committee, convened by Dr Lyn Dawson and consisting of Dr Arthur White, Professor Terence Dawson and Ms Erna Walraven awarded the prestigious Whitley Medal to:
Commendations were given to a number of categories of publications including:
Best Children’s Book (Educational)
Best Children’s Book (Story and Illustration)
Best Illustrated Children’s Book
Best Children’s Novel
Best Children’s Book (Environmental)
Best Natural History Periodical
Best Specialist Periodical
Best Field Guide
Best Natural History
Best Illustrated
The awards recognise outstanding publications in Australasian zoology and are coveted by authors and publishers alike. Society members should take special note of the above titles when looking to buy zoological works as these represent the best of the recent titles available in this country.
Dr Lyndall Dawson, RZS Council Member and Convenor, 2000 Whitley Awards Committee
2000 Ethel Mary Read Grants
An annual activity of the Society is the awarding of small research grants through the Ethel Mary Read Grants scheme. This year the Grants Committee was convened by Dr Arthur White and included Mr William Meikle, Ms Erina Walraven and Dr Brad Law and Mr Frank Lemckert. Fifty-seven grant applications were received from all over Australia. Nine grants were awarded as follows:
Sara Broomhall (University of Sydney) "Short and long-term effects of temperature and agricultural pesticides in some Australian anurans."
Carol Browne (UWS) "Impact of urbanisation on the Eastern Longneck Turtle: heavy metal accumulation and effects."
Michelle Cox (University of Sydney) "Diversity of non-flying mammals in fragments of warm temperate rainforest."
Sean Fitzgibbon (University of Queensland) "The ecology and physiology of bandicoots (Isoodon macrurus) surviving in the suburbs of Brisbane : a model for small mammals in urban areas."
Angela Hanley (Deakin University) "The status of Antechinus minimus maritimus (the Swamp Antechinus) within Victoria – implications for conservation management."
Kerilee Horskins (Queensland University of Technology) "The effectiveness of wildlife corridors in providing connectivity with a fragmented system."
Jane Jelbart (UWS) "Landscape ecology in the marine environment and will size and spatial structure of seagrass beds influence fish abundance and diversity."
Michael Kearney (University of Sydney) "How will ectotherms respond to climate change? Quantifying genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity for locomotor performance and thermoregulatory behaviour."
Bob Wong (Australian National University) "Reproductive ecology of the spotted pipefish Stigmatopora argus (Family Syngnathidae)."
The Society awards the grants to assist and encourage new and aspiring researchers to the field of Australasian zoology.
Dr Arthur White, Councilor and Convenor, 2000 EMR Grants Committee
Growth in website usage
Use of the RZS website has grown at a pleasing rate. In its first full month of operation (April 2000), it catered for 179 visits. This has grown steadily each month so that in August, it hosted 821 visits.
In August, about 25% of visitors were located in North America, about 37% in Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Islands, and a further 8% originating in Asia and Europe. A sizable portion of visitors (about 30%) were not referable to a specific country, state or province of origin, having logged-on to the RZS website via intermediate "proxy" servers. Probably, they have about the same mix of origins as indicated by the other users whose origins were recorded.
The most visited webpages within the RZS website have consistently been the indices to the RZS’s flagship publications – Australian Zoologist, Transactions of the RZS of NSW, and the defunct Proceedings of the RZS of NSW. The next most visited page is the short history of the RZS of NSW. Also, during a two or three week period leading-up to key events in the RZS calendar (eg the annual forum) those temporary webpages within the RZS website dealing with registration details, forum programs, etc., briefly become the most visited pages. For example, about 37% of the 133 people who pre-registered for the May 2000 Forum did so via direct email or the on-line registration form on the website.
These usage statistics provided by our Internet Service Provider or ISP, give us vital clues about how the RZS website could, or should, be improved or developed. However, Council values most the views of RZS members, so please do send any observations, comments or advice about the RZS website to me.
Peter Wilson, RZS Webmaster
pwilson@zeta.org.au, or webmaster@rzsnsw.org.au, or by post to the RZS Office.
New RZS Logo Poll
We have found a problem with reproducing artwork for the current RZS of NSW logo. So, the RZS Council has decided to take the opportunity to produce a new logo. We asked graphic artist Rebecca Hale to prepare some ideas for a new logo. Council has short-listed three of these designs, and we are seeking your opinion to guide us in the final selection.
You can send us your preferences by looking at Rebecca Hale's working sketches for the three short-listed designs. These are shown on the included reply form. Some thoughts on what we might look for in a logo are:
Select your preferred logo by ticking the check box under that logo. You can select more than one preference – we will make a tally from all votes received to see what the collective view is. When you have made your selection(s), post your response to the RZS Office.
You can also send us your preferences electronically. Just visit the RZS website and click on the link appearing on the title page. This takes you to an on-line form that automatically emails your preferences to the RZS Office.
Please send your response to the RZS Office by 6 October 2000.
An Australian conservation ideal?
In our fast-paced world, you may be forgiven for thinking that a conservation ethic is a recent phenomenon. We hear and read so much about the eloquent, pro-conservation messages uttered by North American "gurus" such as Thoreau, Aldo Leopold and John Muir. Some have bemoaned the lack of an authentic and passionate Australian pro-conservation voice. But as the following passage illustrates, this is a false view. It was published in a now defunct local newspaper during the long, long battle to preserve the Blue Mountains in a national park:
"We cannot live for commerce alone, nor will our civilisation be deemed great until we thoroughly recognise the fact that the bushlands and all they naturally contain are gifts of Nature far transcending in value all monetary and commercial considerations. The humanising gifts of Nature are necessary for our interests, education, adventure, romance and peace of mind. They constitute the antidote for the evils of our semi-artificial existence. As we destroy our bushland environment we destroy just so much of ourselves. The balance of Nature is finely adjusted; upset it, and there will be a desert at our doors. All the glory of canyons, caves and rolling plateaux of our great Blue Mountains is not nearly so much a commercial asset as it is Nature's heritage for legitimate enjoyment, and our gift to posterity." (The Katoomba Daily, 24 August 1934.)
Even further back, such sentiments were being expressed in colonial scientific circles. The renowned Victorian botanist Baron Sir Ferdinand Jakob von Mueller wrote in his appendix to R.W. Emerson MacIvor’s The chemistry of Agriculture published in Melbourne in 1879 an appeal to readers to "tread lightly":
"Let us regard the forests as an inheritance, given to us by nature, not to be despoiled or devastated, but to be wisely used, reverently honoured and carefully maintained. Let us regard the forests as a gift, entrusted to any of us only for transient care, to be surrendered to posterity as an unimpaired property, increased in riches and augmented in blessings, to pass as a sacred patrimony from generation to generation." (Ibid, Page 275.)
Today, we sophisticates would think of this as espousing the fundamental principle of "inter-generational equity". However, even as von Mueller was publishing his pro-conservation sentiments, others argued strenuously and as elegantly against them. It seems that the conflict between pro-conservation and pro-development views of how to manage natural resources is deeply embedded in our society.
The history of the RZS reflects that tension between opposing views. In the same year that von Mueller published his fine sentiments, the Zoological Society of NSW, as it was known until 1909, was founded as an acclimatisation society to import all manner of song birds and game species "…as shall afford sport and amusement, without doing injury to the Agriculturalist or Gardener." Slowly, attitudes changed, and after numerous revision spanning the past 122 years, the RZS of NSW now pursues a strongly pro-conservation objective which is embedded in the Society’s Articles of Association.
