NewsBlog
National Geographic funds lizard sex
Posted in Pogona Research on Mar 15, 2018
Congratulations to IAE student, Duminda Dissanayake, on receiving a grant from the National Geographic to progress understanding of sex reversal by temperature in the three-lined skink and to advance broader implications of sex reversal more generally. Sex reversal in the XX/XY skink complements sex reversal in the ZZ/ZW dragon very nicely indeed.
Asian-New Guinea Turtle Makeover
Posted in Turtle Research on Mar 13, 2018
Conservationists, wildlife biologists and other experts converted on Singapore Zoo this week for intensive scrutiny of what is known of the freshwater turtles of Asia, New Guinea and environs. They paint a sober picture, with many species moving to vulnerable or from vulnerable to endangered, or from endangered to critically endangered.
Profiling a rapid extinction event
Posted in Turtle Research on Mar 13, 2018
The Bellinger River Turtle, Myuchelys georgesi, is in trouble. A virus recently decimated the population, virtually extirpating the adult population from its restricted native range. Effectively, only juveniles remain. In this article, which appeared today an Biological Conservation, we outline our views on the causes of the decline.
Turtles in Trouble
Posted in Turtle Research on Mar 03, 2018
There is no vertebrate group facing greater survival problems today than turtles. Turtles saw the great dinosaurs come and go and are now facing their own extinction crisis -- John Behler. Scientists have now revised their assessment of the 25 turtles most at risk of extinction, to increase the imperative for governments to take action. Two Australian freshwater turtles are on the list.
IAE students awarded CSIRO Scholarships
Posted in Pogona Research on Jan 24, 2018
Congratulations to Sarah Whiteley and Duminda Dissanayake on the receipt of CSIRO Scholarships in support of their PhD work. These scholarships carry both a top-up to living allowance and project funds. Both students are working within Team Pogona.
dartR -- an R package for SNP data
Posted in Uncategorized on Jan 14, 2018
An announcement of an exciting new R package appeared today in Molecular Ecology Resources -- dartR for facilitating analysis of SNP data generated from reduced representation genome sequencing prepared by the Institute for Applied Ecology.
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund supports pig-nosed turtle conservation
Posted in Turtle Research on Dec 18, 2017
Congratulations to Matt Young and Yolarnie Amepou on securing funding from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund for their work in Papua New Guinea. The project is administered by the Institute for Applied Ecology at the University of Canberra in partnership with the Piku Biodiversity Network in PNG.
Masters in Automation of High-throughput Genotyping
Posted on Nov 29, 2017
Welcome to Julian Hausner who begins his Masters degree in the IAE working on automation of high-throughput genotyping. His is an applied Co-Op masters degree with industry partner Diversity Arrays Technology. Julian plans to bring his existing expertise in laboratory chemistry and chemical safety procedures and experience and knowledge of laboratory automation to bear on new applications for automation of the laboratory workflow for UC associate, Diversity Arrays Technology Pty Ltd.
Pogona development under sex reversal
Posted in Pogona Research on Nov 21, 2017
Congratulations to Sarah Whiteley on acceptance by the journal EvoDevo of her honours work. In it she not only characterizes in great detail the embryonic development of the dragon but shows that sex reversal does not interfere with body or genital development in a way that might compromise viability.
Holsworth Endowment supports Pignosed Turtle Research
Posted in Turtle Research on Nov 17, 2017
Next-Generation DNA Sequencing is going to be brought to bear on wildlife trafficking for Australian freshwater turtles thanks to a grant to Matt Young from the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Fund. Well done Matt Young on securing this support.
