Taungurung Land & Waters Council’s Post

Spring means the bogong moth's thousand-kilometre flight! 🦋 The endangered bogong moth has started its long journey from the warm Darling River flats to its alpine home, where it's played an important role in the ecosystem for thousands of years: bogong moth is an important food source to both species like the critically endangered mountain pygmy possum, and – importantly! – to Traditional Owner groups, who would visit the caves where adult moths lay dormant and roast their nutritious, nutty flesh (the Dhudhuroa word bugung describes the moth's brown colour). And – as Taungurung Land & Waters Council explains here – it plays an important role in understanding Country and its health. Severe drought and global heating have ravaged bogong moth populations, which has devastating effects to the cultural landscape: people, places, animals, stories, and more. We've long said Traditional Owners must have a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions for culturally significant species, and that means a role in ensuring bogong moth's continued survival.

🌱 New Publication! 🌱 New chapter out in the Springer book 'Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Herbivore Interactions on Islands' by Postdoc at CMEC Julia Helena Heinen and Associate Professor at CMEC Michael Borregaard. It provides an overview of what we know, and do not know, about the consequences of losing frugivore seed dispersers for island #plants and discuss the main challenges for quantifying the problem. You can find the chapter here👇 https://t.ly/SB-kR

🐝🌍 Unraveling the secrets of Pacific bees! Did you know that researchers recently discovered eight new species of Hylaeus bees in Fiji? These masked bees likely island-hopped across the South Pacific, evolving into separate species along the way. Notably, the discovery challenges the assumption that bee diversity is highest in dry environments, showcasing the surprising diversity found in tropical island ecosystems. Dive deeper by reading Science News Magazine's article: https://lnkd.in/ee9g_sYR

“We can feel proud. Our people did this. Our knowledge—our science—made this report better.” A groundbreaking new report from the Seal River Watershed Alliance and the National Audubon Society reveals that at a time when birds are losing their homes in so many places, the Seal River Watershed stands strong as a thriving haven for over 100 bird species: more than was ever known in the region! 👏 The research is thanks to the work of Land Guardians in the watershed, who worked in partnership with Elders, researchers, and land users to ensure that the data was collected using both Indigenous and western science. 🙌 The report also revitalizes language and includes as many Cree, Dene, and syllabic names as possible. This whole project—from the role of the Land Guardians to the knowledge of the Elders and land users and the success of the findings—is an example of what can be achieved through Indigenous leadership. 🐦 https://bit.ly/3TUO5W9

Looking forward to speaking at the 100th Anniversary meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) tomorrow. The theme for the opening plenary is "why do we study plants?", to which I'm tempted to respond..... du-uh! If you eat, breathe, wear clothing, take medicine or tend a garden, you're relying on centuries of plant science. If you live on the planet Earth, you need plants to survive. And if you believe, as I do, that science and technology have the power to change people's lives for the better, what better field (pun intended) of study than plant biology? https://lnkd.in/gDB7muPt

Traditional knowledge is integral to scientific progress

How do you estimate the age of an octopus? 🐙 Understanding the age of octopuses helps in determining growth rates, reproductive cycles, and sustainable harvesting practices. Marine scientists from the University of South Australia have developed a practical tool for estimating the age of octopuses. They've published their open-access guide in CSIRO Publishing's Marine and Freshwater Research journal. Discover fascinating research stories of incredible invertebrates. 👇

I recently read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's "The Forest of Enchantments" that offers a glimpse into Sita's perspective and love for environment. Here’s elaboration on each incident/ imbibed behaviour about sensitivity towards environment. #blogs #environmentalblogs #mythology #theforestofenchantments #chitrabanerjee

Successful honey-hunters know how to communicate with wild honey-seeking birds In many parts of Africa, humans cooperate with a species of wax-eating bird called the greater honeyguide, Indicator, which leads them to wild bees' nests with a chattering call. By using specialised sounds to communicate with each other, both species can significantly increase their chances of accessing calorie-dense honey and beeswax. In the fascinating world of honeyguides and human honey-hunters, a unique partnership is forged through a shared language. The findings build on work published in 2016,revealing honeyguides' responsiveness to human calls. The collaboration between researchers and honey-hunting communities, specifically the Yao and Hadza, provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of this rare human-animal cooperation. The study is published in the journal Science.https://https://lnkd.in/eKzSRVuV

Employing the CIPRES Gateway, Institute for Law and Finance (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main) , Gazi Üniversitesi , Eötvös Loránd University, Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Naturalis Biodiversity Center Nederland successfully conducted their research, showcasing the platform's robust capabilities. Entoloma ochraceodiscum is characterized by funnel-shaped basidiomata with a deeply depressed yellowish-brown pileus and belongs to the section Griseorubida. Entoloma colchicum (subg. Nolanea) is similar to E. ortonii but differs by its distinctive radially fibrillose or velutinous pileus and the absence of odour. The new species are presented with photographs, line drawings, and comparisons with similar taxa. https://buff.ly/4euM7nT