This collection contains the bathymetry survey (SurveyID SOL788) acquired by the Australian Institute of Marine Science onboard the Research Vessel Solander from the 10th to the 20th of November, 2022, using the AIMS R2Sonic 2026 Multibeam sonar system.

The objectives of the West Cape York Marine Park cruise were to:

conduct bathymetry mapping, fish population and benthic community surveys in the vicinity of Carpentaria and Merkara shoals and the pockmark features to explore fish and benthic fauna diversity in these areas;

determine the seafloor composition based on bathymetric data within the West Cape York Marine Park, including the Merkara Shoal;

map sedimentary patterns and processes to build an understanding of the pockmark features to the east of Carpentaria Shoal.

A study of the population genetics of squid of the genus Loligo was carried out at 9 northern Australian locations. Variations in gene frequencies of allozymes and common proteins were used to estimate connectivity and dispersal between populations, and to determine the phylogeny of the genus (discrete species identities). Two previously described species (Photololigo chinensis, P. edulis) were discovered to actually be four species.Sampling locations were: Northwest Shelf, Timor Sea, Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait, Cape York, Princess Charlotte Bay, Townsville, Brisbane. Sample sizes for the locations ranged between 19 and 447 individuals. Species identified were: Photololigo chinensis, sp.1, sp.2, sp.3.Following preliminary scoring for 76 enzymes, 9 enzymes were selected for routine scoring of genotypes: ACON, AK, ENOL, IDH, MDH-3, MPI, PGDH, PGM, G3PDH. To estimate connectivity and dispersal between populations, and to determine the phylogeny of discrete species.

This project will map the genetic and phylogenetic diversity of northeast Queensland rainforest plants and fungi with a focus on the mountaintop species, which are regarded as among the most at risk …Show full descriptionThis project will map the genetic and phylogenetic diversity of northeast Queensland rainforest plants and fungi with a focus on the mountaintop species, which are regarded as among the most at risk from climate warming. The project consists of two nested subprojects. Project ¿a¿ (PD analysis) will provide a broad scale analysis of patterns of genetic diversity across the NE Qld rainforests. This study will investigate the relative performance of taxonomic richness and phylogenetic diversity measures for conservation priority setting in the Wet Tropics and Cape York rainforest contexts. We will use the results to identify and map areas of high biodiversity significance and investigate correlations with environmental and ecological variables. Preliminary results to date show that areas with higher PD than expected contain a higher proportion of immigrant plant lineages dispersed mostly from Southeast Asia within the past few million years. Our results demonstrate how the integration of historical data and PD can more effectively inform conservation priority setting particularly in biomes with complex evolutionary histories. Project ¿b¿ (mountain-top diversity) takes a finer scale look at population-level genetic diversity in one highly restricted rainforest ecosystem ¿ mountain-top rainforest ¿ projected to be most threatened by climate change. We will combine emerging genetic technologies with environmental, ecological and morphological information to: 1) elucidate the location and relative importance of high altitude refugia for plants in the Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula Bioregions and the mechanisms that influence the survival of populations and species; and 2) document the fungal biodiversity of the mountain tops.

Published as part of Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Macropodidae, pp. 630-735 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 727, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6723703 Distribution. N Australia from the SW Kimberley, Western Australia, to Pungalina, E Northern Territory; disjunct population also on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.