Adrian Renshaw

Epizoochory, Algae and the Australian Eastern Long-Necked Turtle Chelodina Longicollis (Shaw)

ABSTRACT The role of animals in seed dispersal is widely acknowledged and turtles have been reported to act as vectors. All reports of turtles dispersing seeds to date have been via endozoochrony. The first evidence of turtles being epizoochronic dispersers of seeds via their carapacial algal mat is reported here. Chelodina longicollis is widespread and abundant throughout most of the eastern fringe of mainland Australia and throughout the largest inland river system, the Murray Darling Basin. They are the most terrestrially mobile of the Australian freshwater turtles and they are the most indiscriminate in habitat choice, inhabiting the entire range of water bodies from rivers to small ephemeral wetlands. Our results showed that turtles with even moderate carapacial algae can act as vectors in the dispersal of seeds associated with wetlands. However, as C. longicollis is unlikely to be unique among the freshwater turtles in this regard, we conclude that epizoochory is likely to occur in other turtle species.

Detection of latent bloodstains beneath painted surfaces using reflected infrared photography.

Bloodstain evidence is a highly valued form of physical evidence commonly found at scenes involving violent crimes. However, painting over bloodstains will often conceal this type of evidence. There is limited research in the scientific literature that describes methods of detecting painted‐over bloodstains. This project employed a modified digital single‐lens reflex camera to investigate the effectiveness of infrared (IR) photography in detecting latent bloodstain evidence beneath a layer or multiple layers of paint. A qualitative evaluation was completed by comparing images taken of a series of samples using both IR and standard (visible light) photography. Further quantitative image analysis was used to verify the findings. Results from this project indicate that bloodstain evidence can be detected beneath up to six layers of paint using reflected IR; however, the results vary depending on the characteristics of the paint. This technique provides crime scene specialists with a new field method to assist in locating, visualizing, and documenting painted‐over bloodstain evidence.

The investigation of a relative contrast index model for fingerprint quantification.

The quantification of fingerprint contrast is a relatively new concept in fingerprint enhancement research. It has emerged as a mode of fingerprint assessment to reduce the potential biased of visual qualitative assessment. Subjective qualitative methods that are currently reported in the literature include; side-by-side assessment, assigning a score to a treatment based on visible criteria and stating observed results without presenting supporting validation. These qualitative methods often do not state clearly the visual assessment parameters and produce a degree of ambiguity when defining the enhancement results. The relative contrast index model was constructed to empirically quantify the difference in contrast between fingerprint ridges and valleys, using measurements gained from a microspectrophotometer. This paper seeks to further investigate this recent research and test the model using three different microspectrophotometers. Data from these separate sources will determine whether the theoretical aspects of the model would pragmatically produce reliable and repeatable results across a range of microspectrophotometers found in forensic laboratories.

Population structure, seed loads and flowering phenology in three common (Melaleuca styphelioides, M. thymifolia, M. nodosa) and one rare (M. deanei) Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) species of the Sydney region

Melaleuca deanei F.Muell. is listed under state and national protection legislation occurring as small, disjunct populations restricted to the Central Coast botanical district of New South Wales. This paper reports on the population structure, reproductive output and phenology of large and small field populations of M. deanei, compared with three common congeneric species in the area, namely, Melaleuca nodosa (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Sm., Melaleuca thymifolia Sm. and Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. Both M. deanei and M. styphelioides had few seedlings per population at the sites studied. Results indicated that seedling recruitment is rare and would appear to require specific conditions. In addition, M. deanei had a low incidence of flowering within the small populations, significantly fewer fruiting plants per population and significantly lower numbers of viable seeds per square metre, most likely compounding its limited recruitment. Flowering, when it occurred in M. deanei, was from mid to late October through to late November–early December with increased flowering in response to fire and along road edges. Further study is needed to determine reproductive success at the individual-plant level, the breeding system and recruitment requirements of these species.

Effects of effluent contamination of wetlands on population level changes in Gambusia holbrooki

While presence/absence of endocrine disruption has been widely observed within polluted wetlands, relatively few data have addressed population level changes for any species. This paper investigated the effects of endocrine disruption on the phenotypic sex ratio, size structure, biomass, and density of Gambusia holbrooki populations in wetlands used for storage of 1) tertiary treated sewage effluent; 2) urban stormwater runoff; and 3) wetlands without effluent supplementation (control wetlands). Those wetlands that had previously been determined to have endocrine disruption effects on G. holbrooki had lower density and biomass of fish than other wetlands. In contrast, the pattern of variation in the average length and phenotypic sex ratio of fish was not consistent with the effects of endocrine disruption.

Enantiomorphy in Banksia (Proteaceae): flowers and fruits

There is a history of discrepancy in the interpretation of floral symmetry in the genus Banksia L.f. The variation arises not just from the potential nuances of symmetry terminology, as variation is also found in the diagrams that describe it. This paper clarifies the issue of the orientation of the ovaries within a Banksia unit inflorescence. Dissection of 2400 flowers in situ from four Banksia species has revealed the Banksia unit inflorescence to be enantiomorphic (having left-right asymmetry) due to the orientation of the ovaries. The asymmetry of the ovary and its pronounced development of the anterior side in fruit formation means that fruits are also readily distinguished as having arisen from either a left- or right-handed flower.

A novel method for the photographic recovery of fingermark impressions from ammunition cases using digital imaging.

The photographic preservation of fingermark impression evidence found on ammunition cases remains problematic due to the cylindrical shape of the deposition substrate preventing complete capture of the impression in a single image. A novel method was developed for the photographic recovery of fingermarks from curved surfaces using digital imaging. The process involves the digital construction of a complete impression image made from several different images captured from multiple camera perspectives. Fingermark impressions deposited onto 9‐mm and 0.22‐caliber brass cartridge cases and a plastic 12‐gauge shotgun shell were tested using various image parameters, including digital stitching method, number of images per 360° rotation of shell, image cropping, and overlap. The results suggest that this method may be successfully used to recover fingermark impression evidence from the surfaces of ammunition cases or other similar cylindrical surfaces.

Plant-level fecundity and andromonoecy in three common (Melaleuca styphelioides, M. thymifolia, M. nodosa) and one rare (M. deanei) Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) species of the Sydney region

This paper reports plant-level measures of reproductive performance from large and small field populations of the vulnerable species Melaleuca deanei F.Meull. compared with three common species within the genus: Melaleuca nodosa (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Sm., Melaleuca thymifolia Sm. and Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. Measures reported include average seed numbers per capsule and per plant; average fruit loads per plant; the proportion of buds that become flowers and thence fruits (fruit set); the number of ovules per flower and seed : ovule ratios (seed set); and floral morphologies. Results indicate that when M. deanei flowers, bud to flower ratios and flower to fruit ratios are not reduced compared with the congeners or between large and small populations. Seed loads per plant held by fruiting plants were comparable between the species and between large and small populations of M. deanei. Seed to ovule ratios were in the order of 5–9% in M. nodosa; 5–7% in M. styphelioides; 7–10% in M. deanei; and 12–15% in M. thymifolia. Larval herbivory of ovules was recorded in M. nodosa and pre-dispersal seed predation noted in M. thymifolia. Andromonoecy was recorded in two of the species at rates of 0.9–3.1% (M. deanei) and 2.9–7% (M. thymifolia). Results suggest that seed production within smaller populations of M. deanei is poor because of a low frequency of flowering and a low proportion of flowering plants per population, rather than plant-level pollination, fruit- or seed-set barriers. Further study is needed to determine the triggers to flowering, the breeding systems, the extent of clonality and the germination and establishment requirements in these species.