Biologic

Biologic attended the Ecological Society of Australia 2019 Conference in Tasmania this week, with the main topic centered on Ecology: Science for Practical Solutions. Upwards of 500 people attended with representatives from research, government, industry, practitioners, consultants and the general public.

A series of symposiums and open forums were held across the five days, ranging from Traditional Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, Urban Ecology, Conservation (flora, fauna and translocation), Field-based Manipulative Experiments, Agricultural Landscapes, Feral Predators, Technology, Practitioner Engagement, Fire, Invasives, Ecology and Art, Aquatic (Fresh and Marine), Climate, Vegetation Science, Quantitative Ecology, Restoration and Forest Ecology to name a few.

There was a fantastic plenary talk from the outgoing President of the ESA on the censorship and suppression of scientific research results and professional advice in the government, environmental consultancies and universities resulting in poor environmental outcomes, poorly informed policy and compromised public debate.

Photo: Ecological Society of Australia Conference. Taken by: Clinton Van den Bergh, 2019.

Biologic attended the IAH/NCGRT Australasian Groundwater Conference in Brisbane this week. It was an incredibly successful conference attended by industry, regulators, academics and practitioners, showcasing a diverse range of hydro-geological research and novel approaches.

We heard presentations on hydro-geological assessments and investigations, 3D modelling, EIA and assessment of cumulative impacts, surface-groundwater interactions, GDEs, stygofauna, water quality monitoring, setting triggers and thresholds, and integrated water resources management, to meet the challenges and take full advantage of the opportunities of groundwater in our changing world.

Photo: GHD Groundwater in Mining and Resources Panel. Taken by: Jess Delaney, 2019

Biologic Senior Zoologist Ryan Ellis recently published a paper in Biological Conservation with coauthors across Australia detailing the results of a IUCN conservation assessment of all Australian squamates (lizards and snakes), titled Geographic and taxonomic patterns of extinction risk in Australian squamates.

The paper summarizes the results of the first complete assessment of the conservation status of all Australian squamates, of which Australia hosts around 10% (~800 species) of global squamate diversity. It also identifies the species and regions of greatest conservation interest, prioritizing species determined as requiring listing as Threatened under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and/or state Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

In summary, while many of the species assessed were considered Least Concern, approximately 7% were considered Threatened or Near Threatened. Unfortunately, one species is now considered Extinct and a further two as Extinct in the Wild, all Christmas Island endemics.

If you would like a copy of the paper, feel free to get in contact with Ryan directly (ryan@biologicenv.com.au).

Biologic is pleased to be involved in a number of studies investigating various ecological, behavioral, management and taxonomic aspects of a range of conservation significant species, which we hope to share as they are completed. If you wish to discuss some of the projects we’re involved in, contact brad@biologicenv.com.au for more information.

Photo: Western Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia stokesii badia) from the Mount Gibson area. A species listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC and BC Acts (R.J. Ellis).