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 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.

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.

The current rate of decline in the globally significant western Pacific hawksbill turtle nesting population on Milman Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef (neQLD) suggests that it could be functionally extinct within a decade. Yet a poor understanding of the relative importance and spatial distribution of threats to this population has been a major impediment to recovery actions. For the first time, we assess all threats to the neQLD stock using a combination of a post-hatchling dispersal model, new satellite tracking of post-nesting migrations and a comprehensive review of existing data. We overlay migration routes and foraging areas from the satellite tracking data with spatially referenced threat layers to analyse threat exposure. We found all tracked hawksbills remained in Australian waters, with migration to foraging areas in Queensland including western Cape York to western Torres Strait (n = 8), and eastern Cape York to eastern Torres Strait (n = 5). These results underscore the critical importance of foraging habitats in Queensland (particularly western Queensland) to the Millman Island nesting population. In contrast, the Lagrangian post-hatchling dispersal model predicted a concentration of turtles in the Torres Strait to Gulf of Papua region, with most final positions in Australian waters (63%), followed by Papua New Guinea (31%), Solomon Islands (3%), Indonesia (2%), Vanuatu (0.49%), New Caledonia (1%). Even though 37% of post-hatchling turtles were predicted to recruit to foraging areas outside of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), none of the 25 turtles tracked left the Australian EEZ (13 in this study and 12 previously). This suggests that survival to breeding is low for turtles outside of the Australian EEZ, but other explanations are discussed. No single pervasive threat was identified in the threat risk assessment however, fisheries (bycatch/ghost gear) interactions, direct harvesting and climate change were considered to have the potential to impede recovery or result in further decline in the population. Fisheries and harvesting should be the priorities for immediate management actions. The lack of spatial protection in foraging habitats in western Queensland was identified as a major policy gap requiring immediate attention if this population’s trajectory is to be reversed and remain one of western Pacific’s strongholds.

Nest predation is considered a major cause of population decline for the Endangered Alwal Psephotellus chrysopterygius (Golden-shouldered parrot) in Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Camera-traps were installed at 28 Alwal nests across two breeding seasons in four important refuges for the parrot, to confirm nest predator identities and their impact on nesting success. Nest predators were more common at Alwal nests prior to fledging. The feral cat Felis catus and yellow-spotted monitor Varanus panoptes were the most common predators detected at nests, but the Black-backed butcherbird Cracticus mentalis, Pied butcherbird C. nigrogularis and Brown goshawk Acciptier fasciatus were also documented predating nests. Predators were significantly more common at nests in the days prior to fledging, possibly due to increased nest site activity. Nest success was higher amongst denser vegetation, indicating that cover may inhibit detection of nests by predators, particularly at fledging time. As with many threatened species globally, further monitoring is needed to disentangle knowledge of Alwal nest predation, including refined nest-monitoring techniques to document elusive predation events.

This data collection contains all currently published nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from Australian Melomys capensis, commonly known as Cape York Melomys. Other information about this group:

The nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences have been sourced through the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), databases that contains comprehensive sets of nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from all organisms that have been published by the International Research Community.

The identification of species in Melomys capensis as Australian dwelling organisms has been achieved by accessing the Australian Plant Census (APC) or Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) through the Atlas of Living Australia.

This data collection contains all currently published nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from Australian Curcuma australasica, commonly known as Cape York Lily. Other information about this group:

The nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences have been sourced through the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), databases that contains comprehensive sets of nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from all organisms that have been published by the International Research Community.

The identification of species in Curcuma australasica as Australian dwelling organisms has been achieved by accessing the Australian Plant Census (APC) or Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) through the Atlas of Living Australia.

This data collection contains all currently published nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from Australian Petrogale coenensis, commonly known as Cape York Rock-wallaby. Other information about this group:

The nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences have been sourced through the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), databases that contains comprehensive sets of nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from all organisms that have been published by the International Research Community.

The identification of species in Petrogale coenensis as Australian dwelling organisms has been achieved by accessing the Australian Plant Census (APC) or Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) through the Atlas of Living Australia.

This data collection contains all currently published nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from Australian dwelling organisms in the genus Eriostemon. Other information about this group: a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Rutaceae. It is native to eastern Australia and includes just two species Eriostemon australasius occurs between Fraser Island and Nowra, and is a shrub of heathlands and low open woodlands. It is also frequently cultivated in Australian gardens and has showy pink, five-petalled flowers Eriostemon banksii is endemic to Cape York Peninsula and is a shrub or small tree occurring in heathland and vinethicket margins; it is not known in cultivation.

The nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences have been sourced through the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and Universal Protein Resource (UniProt), databases that contains comprehensive sets of nucleotide (DNA/RNA) and protein sequences from all organisms that have been published by the International Research Community.

The identification of species in Eriostemon as Australian dwelling organisms has been achieved by accessing the Australian Plant Census (APC) or Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) through the Atlas of Living Australia.