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IBISCA | Queensland

Predicting and assessing the impacts of


climate change on biodiversity.
2nd progress report | April 2008

Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies | Griffith University


Contents.

Executive Summary...............................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................4
Progress & milestones..........................................................................................6
Future activities.....................................................................................................13
Individual project reports..................................................................................15
Budget.......................................................................................................................30
Project participants.............................................................................................33
Project Advisory Committee. ..........................................................................35
Our supporters......................................................................................................36
Volunteers................................................................................................................37
Acknowledgments. ..............................................................................................38

The IBISCA | Queensland project….

Predicting and assessing


the impacts of
climate change
on biodiversity.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 1


Executive Summar y.
Introduction.

The IBISCA-Queensland project is a major international collaborative research


programme which is surveying biodiversity along an altitudinal gradient in
undisturbed rainforest. The project!s goal is to develop tools to predict and assess
the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. The project gained substantial financial
support under the Queensland Government's National and International Research
Alliances Programme. Other funding sources include Griffith University, the Global
Canopy Programme, the Queensland Museum, Queensland Herbarium, the
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Parks Association of
Queensland, SEQ Catchments and the Heritage Assessment Branch of the Federal
Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Many participating scientists
independently obtained support from their national granting bodies.

Changes in project partners and funding.

Two of the partner institutions (the Smithsonian Institution and Pro-Natura


International) listed in the original proposal have withdrawn from the project.
However, the Global Canopy Programme joined the project as the major international
partner and provided both financial and technical assistance.

Scientific implications.

The changes in partners and funding required revisions of the scientific


programme using alternative canopy access techniques. An additional third field
survey using rope access techniques to sample the canopy was completed in
January 2008. All of the scientific objectives of the project were met despite these
changes. The contributions of the Global Canopy Programme were a major factor in
the success of this third survey. We also held a Basic Canopy Access Proficiency
(BCAP) training course prior to the survey. This contributed to the specialist training
of Australian scientists and students, and contribute to further canopy research
through capacity building.

Budgetary implications.

The changes to the scientific programme added significant unplanned costs to


the project that were not part of the original project budget. However, we were able to
redirect funds from less critical areas of the project to support the modified scientific
programme (details on pages 30-32) and the project will be completed on budget.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 2


Progress & milestones.

The project has completed several major biodiversity field surveys, convened
two scientific workshops, hosted an end-user forum, and supported a public seminar
series. We have conducted 26 different projects involving 48 scientific participants
and 71 volunteers. In addition, there has been student participation in each of the
major surveys and the education programme has been developed. The scientific
objectives of the project have been, or will be, completed on schedule (details on
pages 6-12).

The first Milestone Deliverable specified in the Financial Assistance


Agreement (the executed Collaborative Agreement) was submitted on time in June
2007. The second deliverable (the first progress report) was submitted on time in
November 2007. The third deliverable (this second progress report) was also
submitted on time in April 2008.

Project outcomes.

Early results have already been presented at the 2007 Ecological Society of
Australia conference (November 2007, Perth) and the Invertebrate Biodiversity and
Conservation conference (December 2007, Brisbane). The first comprehensive
reports of the project!s scientific results will appear in a special edition of the Memoirs
of the Queensland Museum in late 2008 or early 2009. The education programme is
in the final stages of preparation.

Benefits to Queensland.

The IBISCA Queensland project will continue to contribute to Queensland


Research and Development Priorities and provide significant benefits to Queensland.
These benefits include improved monitoring tools to inform management decisions in
a changing climate, the provision of detailed information on which to base predictive
models, contributing to the specialist training of Queensland scientists and students,
developing educational materials for Queensland schools, and building Queensland!s
scientific profile through international collaborations.

Justification for continued support.

The scientific programme is running on schedule (pages 6-12) and we have


met all of the milestones specified in the Financial Assistance Agreement (page 12).
The project has fostered a great deal of international collaboration, with scientists
from 13 countries involved in the surveys (pages 33-34). Many new international
collaborations in the fields of ecology and biodiversity will emerge as a direct result of
the IBISCA Queensland project.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 3


Introduction.
IBISCA-Queensland is a major international collaborative research programme
which is surveying biodiversity along an altitudinal gradient in south-east
Queensland's Lamington National Park. This transect is contained within a single
patch of continuous subtropical rainforest featuring a gradual transition of physical
and biological characteristics with altitude. The purpose of this study is to identify
which species or groups are responding with greatest sensitivity to the climatic
changes currently associated with the different altitudes. This will provide us with a
powerful 'predictor set' of ecologically contrasting taxa which can be used for
effective monitoring of the impact of climate change on biodiversity. In addition, more
detailed studies on ecological processes such as pollination, herbivory and
decomposition give understanding of what the consequences of climate change
might be on the 'ecosystem services' derived from this biodiversity.

The Queensland Government and Griffith University are the main financial
supporters of this project. Other grants of cash and in-kind contributions have come
from the Global Canopy Programme, the Queensland Museum, Queensland
Herbarium, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Parks
Association of Queensland, SEQ Catchments and the Heritage Assessment Branch
of the Federal Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Many
participating scientists independently obtained support from their national granting
bodies. The project has also received considerable logistic assistance from O!Reilly!s
Rainforest Retreat, Cainbable Mountain Lodge and the Green Mountains Natural
History Association.

The 20 permanent research plots were established in August 2006 and three
major field surveys have now been completed. Details on the progress made towards
the overall goals of the project and of the individual sub-projects are provided in the
following pages.

This document is designed to be a complete report of the project!s progress


from July 2006 to April 2007, so there is no need to refer back to earlier reports for
additional details.

We take this opportunity to thank our supporting organizations for making this
research possible. We also thank our participating scientists and dedicated
volunteers for ensuring the project!s success.

Roger Kitching
Project Director
Griffith University.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 4


Figure 1: A 3D terrain map showing the approximate locations of the 20 research
plots at the five altitudes within Lamington National Park.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 5


Progress & milestones.
Preparation.

The IBISCA Queensland project took its first major steps in July 2006 when
two full-time staff members were appointed - David Putland (Senior Research
Assistant) and Heather Christensen (Administrative Assistant).

Fieldwork commenced in August 2006 when a team from Griffith University


and the Queensland Herbarium established the 20 permanent research plots. The full
vegetation surveys and other preparatory work (details on pg 15) were completed in
September in time for the first major biodiversity survey in October 2006.

The first meeting of the Project!s Advisory Committee was held on August 25,
2006. A second meeting was held at O!Reilly!s Rainforest Retreat during the first
survey period on October 29, 2006.

Field survey #1 (October 2006).

The project hit full steam in


October 2006 when about 40 scientists
from 13 countries came together in
Lamington National Park for the first
major field survey. These scientists were
joined at the site by over 50 volunteers
and students. Their work included
running some of the baseline sampling
techniques as well as assisting with the
specialist sampling programmes of the
visiting scientists.

Over 2000 samples containing tens of thousands of individual specimens were


collected during the four weeks of the survey. Further details on the status of the
individual projects are provided in a later section (starting on pg 15).

Mini field survey (January 2007).

A smaller group of scientists from Griffith University and the Queensland


Museum returned to the sites in January to conduct a subset of the main baseline
survey methods. These core techniques included Malaise traps, pitfalls, flight
intercept traps, baited pitfalls, litter samples and mollusc surveys.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 6


Field survey #2 (March/April 2007).

A full-scale field survey was repeated in March/April 2007. Once again, about
30 scientists from 8 countries joined forces with about 40 volunteers to complete a
detailed survey of the invertebrate biodiversity of the region. Over 1300 samples
were collected during the 4-week survey. This survey period also incorporated a
scientific workshop, end-user!s forum and a seminar series (details below).

Workshop & Forum.

On April 3 & 4, 2007, the project convened a Workshop for participating


scientists and a public Forum for end-users.

At the Workshop, the scientists


discussed priorities for maximising the
outputs from the project, publishing
strategies, and established guidelines
for new collaborations. The revised
priorities will ensure that we produce the
required information in the shortest
timeframe possible. A set of priority
target taxa were identified in the April
workshop and new basic sorting
protocols have been designed to 'fast-
track' extraction of these groups from the
raw samples. We aim to have substantial multi-taxa, multi-scientist results available
for preliminary publication in a special issue of the Memoirs of the Queensland
Museum by the end of 2008. The workshop concluded with a special seminar on
climate change impacts on the biodiversity of the Wet Tropics by Dr Stephen
Williams (James Cook University).

The Forum involved the participating scientists, representatives from


supporting organizations, management bodies and end-users. The main topics for
discussion were developing suitable information packs for managers, the continued
development of educational materials, and the production of monitoring tools.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 7


Seminar series.

In partnership with the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee of the


CERRA World Heritage Area (now Gondwana Rainforests of Australia), we
presented a public seminar series held at O!Reilly!s Rainforest Retreat in March
2007. The speakers included Frode Ødegaard (Institute of Nature Research,
Norway), Bruno Corbara (Université Blaise Pascal, France), Geoff Monteith
(Queensland Museum) and Rebecca Morris (University of Oxford).

Sorting work.

Extracting and identifying individual


specimens from the thousands of samples is
an incredibly time-consuming process. Most of
this work is being performed by volunteers at
Griffith University, but a substantial amount is
also being carried out at the Queensland
Museum and by participants at other
institutions. Sorting of the priority material
identified at the scientific workshop has been
completed.

Mini field survey (July 2007).

A second smaller survey was conducted by scientists from the Queensland


Museum in July 2007. Once again, this survey consisted of a subset of the main
baseline survey methods to ensure that we have completed some of the core
methods in all 4 seasons.

Climbing course.

Prior to the canopy survey in


January 2008, we provided a training
course on tree climbing to full Basic
Canopy Access Proficiency certification
standard. The trainee climbers were
past and present ecology students from
Griffith University. This course was
conducted by instructors from Canopy
Access Limited and supported by the
Global Canopy Programme. As a result
of this course, six newly-qualified
climbers were available to conduct the

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 8


scientific programme during the January survey. The four professional climbers also
assisted with the survey following the course. This course will build significant
capacity to continue forest canopy research within Australia.

Field survey #3 (January/February 2008).

The last major field survey for the


IBISCA Queensland project was completed
between January 14 and February 4, 2008.
This survey focussed on sampling the
canopy, and this was achieved using a
team of 4 professional and 6 newly-trained
tree climbers. We completed canopy
projects on leaf sclerophylly, herbivory and
pollination, and also completed another
round of light trapping, beating and ant
collecting.

It was a very busy 3-week period. Over


80 trees were climbed resulting in 144 sweep
net samples and 576 leaf samples. 3,456
leaves were measured for length, width,
thickness and hardness with a total of 20,736
penetrometer readings. 5,760 leaves were
photographed and pressed for further
measurements. Over 11,000 leaves were
processed in the laboratory. In addition, we
collected a further 27 light trap samples, 300
beating samples, and hundreds of hours of
"flowercam" footage.

We would like to make a special


mention of the climbers to thank them for the
hard work and dedication that made this
possible. From Griffith University - Amy Bond,
Kate Cranney, Ko Oishi, Jane Ogilvie and
Kyran Staunton. From the Global Canopy
Programme - Kalsum Yusah, Vicky Tough and Waldo Etherington. From Canopy
Access Ltd. - Grant Harris.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 9


Student participation.

Groups of secondary students attended the major survey periods in October


2006 and March 2007. The National Parks Association of Queensland provided
funding for three-day visits for 7 students in 2006 and 10 students in 2007. The
students were selected based on their
results in a biodiversity essay competition.
The students were accompanied by three
teachers for both visits and were treated
to a number of activities involving the
project scientists to give them a hands-on
experience with biodiversity research.

In recognition of this important


contribution to science education, the
National Parks Association of Queensland
was nominated for the Peter Doherty
Awards for Excellence in Science and
Science Education. Two of the teachers
involved in this project, Michele House
and Fay Seeto, were also nominated for
individual awards.

The Governor of Queensland,


Quentin Bryce, visited the field site during
March 2007. She presented certificates to
each of the visiting students and toured
the project!s field facilities.

The education programme.

Bishop Education Services (Margaret


Bishop and Gaby Faull) have developed
primary and secondary level educational
materials relating to biodiversity assessment
and monitoring. With input from project staff,
participants and the visiting students, the
consultants have prepared a variety of
materials (eg. teaching aids, instructional
videos) that will form the basis of the
Biodiversity in Action educational
programme. A website and blog to promote
interaction among students and scientists is
already active (http://groups.google.com/
group/biodiversity-in-action). It is likely that
the education programme will be delivered

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 10


with the assistance of the Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre, while
Conservation Volunteers Australia will provide an effective delivery mechanism for
the programme in areas beyond Brisbane.

Vegetation workshop.

In November 2007, we hosted a


workshop that brought together
specialists from Griffith University and
the Queensland Herbarium to discuss
progress, analyses, collaborations and
future directions for vegetation-related
projects within the IBISCA Queensland
programme. This workshop resulted in a
clear framework for future work on the
IBISCA vegetation data that will facilitate
production of research publications and
the establishment of new projects.

Publicity.

The IBISCA Queensland project


featured in a large number of media items in
the first 18 months of operation. These
include:
• Several ABC radio interviews with
Professor Kitching.
• ABC TV feature article on Stateline.
• Two features on Network Ten!s
Totally Wild (filmed in October 2006 and
January 2008).
• An article in Catalyst Queensland.
• Numerous newspaper articles.
• A feature article in the Winter 2007
issue of Wildlife Australia magazine.

A joint project involving Eegenda


Productions and Daryl Sparkes (Media
Production, University of Southern
Queensland) will produce a short
documentary for Channel 7 featuring the
IBISCA Queensland project. Filming took
place in March 2007 and January 2008.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 11


Collaborative tools.

With such a large number of


collaborators from institutions spread
across the globe, and with a diverse
range of sub-projects on numerous
taxa, the success of this project
depends on the ability to amalgamate
and share data effectively. We have
developed a website in the form of a
private Google™ Group to facilitate
collaboration. This website provides a
very efficient mechanism for project
staff to broadcast information and
electronic resources (data, maps,
instructions, handbooks etc.) to all
participants, and for the researchers to
submit data and reports to be shared
among all participants. This self-sustaining collaborative system will become even
more important when the project no longer has any permanent staff to maintain
information flow from July 2008 onwards.

Milestone deliverables.

We have reached the milestone dates for the first three deliverables specified
in schedule 2 of the Financial Assistance Agreement. Deliverable #1 (executed
Collaborative Agreement) was submitted on time in June 2007. Deliverable #2 (the
first Progress Report) was submitted on time before the end November 2007. In
addition, a preliminary progress report was delivered to the partner organizations well
ahead of schedule in July 2007. Deliverable #3 (this progress report) was also
submitted on time in April 2008.

The scientific objectives described in the original proposal and previous


reports have been, or will be, completed on schedule. We have:
• completed the three major field surveys (October 2006, March 2007 and
January 2008) and two minor surveys (January 2007 and July 2007),
• convened two scientific workshops, a forum for end users and a public
seminar series,
• involved secondary school students in the project, and
• generated substantial international collaboration with the participation of
scientists from 13 countries.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 12


Future activities.
Ongoing research projects.

Some field projects are still in progress and are mostly being conducted by
postgraduate research students at Griffith University. The projects currently
underway include:
• Temporal and geographic variations in pollination systems (Sarah Boulter).
• Structure and dynamics of herbivore assemblages along an altitudinal
gradient: indicators of climate change? (Darren Bito).
• Moth assemblages along a fine-scale altitudinal gradient (Louise Ashton).
• Soil fauna along an altitudinal gradient (Sarah Maunsell).
• An assessment of decaying timber biomass.

Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Special Edition.

We are working closely with the Queensland Museum to produce a special


edition of the Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. This will be the first
comprehensive reporting of the main scientific results of the project. All of the
projects participants have been invited to submit papers for this special edition.
Submissions are due in August 2008 with a planned publication date of December
2008. We expect that many of the papers will be very general and perhaps present
preliminary results, but this will still be an important resource and first step in the
detailed analysis of the project data.

More IBISCAs.

A fourth IBISCA project is in the works. Following from the existing IBISCA
projects in Panama, Vanuatu and Queensland, a new project will be conducted in
France in May-June 2008. This highlights the value of the IBISCA concept for
biodiversity research and the importance placed on it by researchers internationally.
IBISCA Auvergne is being organised by Bruno Corbara (Université Blaise Pascal,
France), a key international participant in IBISCA Queensland. IBISCA Auvergne will
involve many of the participants from IBISCA Queensland and will further enhance
international collaborations.

There are also plans to conduct an IBISCA project in Mozambique, Africa, but
this is still in the early stages of preparation.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 13


IBISCA Symposium.

There will be an IBISCA Symposium at the 10th International Congress of


Ecology to be held in Brisbane, August 2009. This symposium will help to combine
the results of the IBISCA Queensland project with the three other IBISCA projects in
Panama, Vanuatu and France. This symposium will elevate the status of the IBISCA
Queensland project on the World scientific stage.

A permanent research station.

One of the discussion topics at the Forum in April was the feasibility of
establishing a permanent research station in Lamington National Park. Conducting
the IBISCA Queensland project has highlighted the lack of any existing research
facilities capable of supporting this kind of research anywhere in Queensland. Forum
attendees agreed that a suitably-equipped facility would attract international
researchers, be a valuable asset for educational institutions, and would extract
enormous long-term benefits from the research plots established by the IBISCA
Queensland project. Lamington National Park represents a unique opportunity to
establish a world-leading research facility with direct access to World Heritage forests
within two hours from several universities and an international airport. There is
potential for such a facility to be part of a strategic global network of “Whole Forest
Observatories” backed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and
the Global Canopy Programme (GCP).

David Putland is leading the push to develop the research station. O!Reilly!s
Rainforest Retreat has agreed to provide land that would be an ideal location for the
station. Discussions are continuing with Universities and other research institutions to
further develop the proposal.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 14


Individual project reports.

Surveying shift: altitudinal The baseline sampling


variation and climate change in programme.
Australian subtropical rainforest.
Roger Kitching, Dave Putland,
Melinda Laidlaw, Bill McDonald, John Christine Lambkin, Geoff Monteith,
Hunter, Roger Kitching, David Putland. Kyran Staunton, Sarah Boulter.

Twenty permanently marked This trapping programme forms the


vegetation plots have been established backbone of the IBISCA Queensland
and surveyed between 300m and project by performing diverse,
1100m in the subtropical rainforest of consistent and repeatable sampling
Lamington National Park. All trees across all 20 plots in all major survey
!5cm diameter were numbered and periods.
measured for diameter, height and
identified to species by the
Queensland Herbarium. Other
vascular species on each plot were
identified and given a cover ranking.

All baseline data has been analysed


and used as a benchmark against
which to formulate a set of testable
hypotheses for climate-induced floristic
and structural shift. Findings (to be
submitted for publication shortly)
suggest that the 900m plots will be the
The programme consists of the
most sensitive to climate shift, in
following methods:
particular, the lifting of the cloud-base.
Additional studies of community
• Malaise traps: 1 trap per plot over
dynamics will commence shortly.
10 days.
• Flight intercept traps: 1 trap per
plot over 10 days.
• Litter samples: 1 sample from each
plot extracted in Tullgren funnels.
• Pitfall traps: 1 array of 9 traps in
each plot over 9 days.
• Light traps: 2 traps (1 on the
ground and 1 in the canopy) for 4
nights at each plot.
• Bark sprays: 10 trees on each plot.
• Canopy knockdowns: 1 knockdown
per plot.
• Yellow pans: 3 at each plot for 4
days.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 15


The full suite of methods was used Soil characteristics of the IBISCA
successfully in both October 2006 and
Queensland plots.
March 2007, with one exception.
Unfortunately, the canopy knockdown
proved to be too dependent on Dave Putland, Roger Kitching.
favourable weather conditions and was
not completed in 2006; we chose not to Detailed knowledge of the soil
repeat it in 2007. A subset of these characteristics at each plot will also be
methods was used in the smaller important in analyzing the variation in
survey in January 2007 (Malaise, flight vegetation and arthropod diversity. We
intercept, pitfall and litter). have collected soil samples from every
plot using a standardized sampling
This programme was completed by protocol. These samples have been
staff and students from Griffith subjected to comprehensive analyses,
University, the Queensland Museum including measures of moisture,
and numerous volunteers. Some of micronutrients, organic material and
these methods provide the material for texture. These analyses were
other projects that are described in conducted by Phosyn Analytical. The
more detail over the following pages. data is available to all participants via
the project!s Google Group.

Microclimate monitoring.

Dave Putland, Roger Kitching.

Accurate monitoring of spatial and


temporal climatic variation is a vital
component of the overall project. We
have an automatic weather station at
each of the five altitudes and a pair of
temperature/humidity data loggers at
every plot (one at ground level and one
in the canopy). The resulting data has
been made available to all project Altitudinal zonation of ant
participants via our private Google
Group.
species in subtropical rainforest –
are ants a good group for
detecting climate change induced
altitudinal range shifts?

Chris Burwell, Akihiro Nakamura,


Susan Wright, Bruno Corbara.

The ant assemblages across the whole


altitudinal range of the IBISCA
Queensland survey (300m-1100m)
were sampled in October 2006, March
2007 and January 2008. Our sampling
methodology incorporated three main

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 16


techniques: leaf litter extracts; bark in the numbers of species at the
sprays and timed hand collecting 1100m plots. Ant assemblages appear
during the day. This protocol targets to be strongly influenced by altitude
most of the components of the ant with a progressive change in
fauna including ground active and assemblage structure with increasing
arboreal ants, cryptic species foraging altitude. However the ant assemblages
within leaf litter and species nesting found at the 1100 m plots are
within rotten logs. In addition, timed dramatically different from those at all
hand collecting at night was carried out other elevations. Preliminary results
in at least two plots at each elevation. suggest that ants may prove very
In January 2008 we also established useful in long term monitoring of the
two new sets of four plots; one set at effects of climate change because as
700 m elevation along West Canungra many as 40% of the ants recorded
Creek (700-CK) and another at 900 m from the survey may prove useful bio-
elevation along Tooloona Creek (900- indicators of a particular elevation or
CK). This was specifically to range of elevations.
investigate what effects being in close
proximity to a creek may have on ant
assemblages.
Foliage morphology and leaf
characteristics in selected tree
species.

Roger Kitching, Melinda Laidlaw.

The highest levels of the canopy are


environmentally demanding places
even in moist rainforests. It has been
suggested that these conditions
impose selection pressures on trees
In addition, ants from the other such that foliage at the highest levels
baseline sampling methods, and other will have xeromorphic characteristics
specialised samples as available, will even in these mesic environments.
be identified. We will test this hypothesis by
targeting a randomly chosen set of
Preliminary analysis of the Oct. 2006, trees at each of three altitudes. 72
Mar. 2007 and July 2007 data sets has trees were sampled using rope access
been undertaken. Preliminary results techniques during the January 2008
have already been presented at the survey. A stratified sample of leaves
Combined 8th Invertebrate Biodiversity was taken from two levels in the
and Conservation / Society of
Australian Systematic Biologists
Conference held in Brisbane in
December 2007.

More than 150 species of ants have


been identified from the survey to date.
Ant diversity is highest at the lowest
elevations and gradually declines with
increasing altitude with a dramatic drop

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 17


canopy of each tree (576 samples). Spiders of IBISCA Queensland.
From each sample, six leaves were
measured and their strength estimated
Robert Raven, Barbara Baehr.
using a penetrometer. Leaves were
preserved for further morphological
The aim of this project is to identify all
work.
spiders from the baseline survey to
species and all adult spiders to
species. New species that fit into
existing research projects (notably 12
Herbivores and levels of leaf genera within Oonopidae,
damage in the outer canopy. Cycloctenidae, Pisauridae, Idiopidae,
Clubionoidea, Corinnidae, and
Roger Kitching, Christine Lambkin. Tengellidae - including 8 genera and
12 species that are new) are being
We have very little information on the prepared for description. No papers
assemblages of herbivores and the are submitted yet. In many cases, I
damage they do in the uppermost currently have only juveniles and to get
layers of the canopy in subtropical them identified to named species I
forest in Australasia. The comparison need to do all of the Malaise traps
of herbivory levels at different altitudes which will bring in adults. Some
will provide hard-to-come-by species and families are showing
information of the role of small climatic strong altitudinal preferences.
changes in key forest processes.

Pitfalls (from Kyran Staunton) from


October and January are sorted and
databased. All dung pitfalls and flight
intercept traps to January have been
sorted and databased, as well as 4 of
Herbivores were sampled at two levels
the potential 60 Malaise traps have
in the canopy using sweep nets. Leaf
been sorted and databased. 758
damage was assessed by collecting
species-site combinations have been
four leaf samples at the same two
registered, which include 173 spider
levels at each of 72 trees. 10 leaves
species in 39 families.
from each sample were photographed
to allow assessment of leaf area loss
as a result of herbivory.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 18


Structure and altitude-related with the March 2007 samples
(including bark structural data). Acari
diversity patterns of corticolous
will go to Dave Walter, and a
tree bark arthropod Coleoptera-Acari paper concerning
communities. altitudinal gradients will be done first.

Juergen Schmidl, Torsten Bittner,


Belinda Flemming, Dave Walter.

Bark of living trees (without bark


damage or dead wood) within the
sampling sites were sprayed with
insecticide. Samples (collected onto
plastic sheets around the trunk base)
were sorted to order level (Coleoptera,
Pseudoscopiones and Acari were
sorted to species or morphospecies
level). Data will be analyzed by
appropriate statistical tools, and a
comparison between Lamington and
Espiritu Santo (Vanuatu) data will be Temporal and geographic – the
made on aspects of diversity and implications for climate change.
biogeography.
Sarah Boulter, Roger Kitching,
In October 2006, we collected 63 Jacinta Zalucki, Dawn Frame, Laurie
barkspray samples - the Coleoptera Jessop, Bill McDonald.
(1462), Pseudoscorpiones (72), Acari
(1829) and Formicidae (281) have This project looks at the natural
already been extracted from the variability of pollination systems in
samples. For comparison: In subtropical rainforests. In particular,
Lamington we found 232 Coleoptera how pollination systems respond to
per sprayed tree trunk, in Vanuatu only natural changes in climate that are
45 (and no carabids and latridiids experienced along an altitudinal
which are dominant groups in gradient. This natural experiment
Lamington). Coleoptera are already provides the basis from which to
sorted to morphospecies level, giving understand and predict the likely
229 morphospecies from 43 families. A impact of climate change scenarios on
clear altitudinal gradient can be found pollination systems for selected
in the bark-living beetle communities. species of plants. Field studies of
More analyses will be done together flower visitors and reproductive

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 19


success are being made on selected Flies of IBISCA Queensland.
species found on the IBISCA plots
using insects traps and observations.
Christine Lambkin, Dan Bickel,
Rohan Wilson, Bryan Cantrell, Gunter
Theischinger.

The proposal is to identify all Tipulidae


(Theischinger), Therevidae and
Bombyliidae (Lambkin),
Dolichopodidae and Empidae (Bickel),
and Tachinidae (Cantrell) from the
IBISCA project to species or
morphospecies. Furthermore, Rohan
Wilson will identify all Schizophora
from Malaise traps to Family and
morphospecies. New species that fit
into existing research projects will be
prepared for description. A multi-
authored paper will be prepared
discussing the biodiversity of these
Trapping at the flowers of two species groups, across the altitudinal transect.
at multiple altitudes has now been
completed, yielding some 300 samples
of flower visitors. Sorting of these
samples is 40% complete and
ongoing. In addition comprehensive
pollination studies of one species is
now complete and a draft manuscript
in preparation. During the most recent
field exercise, a canopy tree species
was added to the dataset. Traps were
set at the flowers of 48 trees using a
bow to place lines in the canopy. In
addition to trapping data, vital visitor
behavior data was sought by deploying
a video surveillance camera using the
newly trained team of tree climbers.
Unfortunately, due to the extreme
demands on the climbing team across
other projects, the camera was only
deployed three times, recording 72
hours of footage at three
inflorescences. This information helped
perfect the use of the camera, but
provided limited analysable data.
Baseline Malaise trapping was
completed by Lambkin and Starick in
October 2006, January and March
2007. As yet Lambkin is the only
person to receive samples of sorted

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 20


Diptera. The Diptera from pitfall traps bags stapled to sample sheets by staff
from October have been sorted to and Queensland Museum Honorary
Lower Diptera, Lower Brachycera, and Assistants and Volunteers.
Schizophora and databased. Apterous
Diptera have also been separated. The information on the completed
Lower Brachyceran families have been sample sheets from the October and
sorted, and also the schizophoran January Surveys has been entered by
Family Sphaeroceridae. Some Heather Christensen and checked by
therevids were obtained by a pre-sort Karin Koch. Karin has imported all
of the January Malaise traps, and an 2089 sample sheets from the October
undescribed genus and two survey and 303 samples from the
undescribed species identified. More January survey into the R-base
dipteran material needs to be sort to database that was established for the
assess the usefulness of this group for project with sample numbers starting
detection of climate change. from 20001 to fit into the existing QM
database. 2392 specimen labels for all
the imported data have been
generated by Karin, formatted in MS
Databasing IBISCA Queensland. Word. The October specimen labels
are now on the web, in a format
Karin Koch, Christine Lambkin. accessible to all participants. Also
provided on the web in searchable
The Queensland Museum will Excel format are all the sample data
database the locality, sample, from the October survey.
specimen, and identification (order,
family, species, and morphospecies) On the website, we have also provided
information from the IBISCA project. duplicate sample labels, sorting
Sample labels will be provided to more sheets, and identification labels. Excel
easily track the samples. Specimen identification spreadsheets for
labels will be prepared for all samples morphospecies/species have been
collected from the project, and made prepared for participants to send
available to all participants. information on identification to the
database.

We at the QM devised a system that


required every sample collected having
a unique sample number. Before the
field survey started in October 2006,
10440 sample sheets were printed.
318000 sample numbers were
guillotined, organised, added to zip-
lock bags and envelopes, and zip-lock
bags stapled to sample sheets by staff
and Queensland Museum Honorary
Assistants (Darryl Robinson, Gail Irwin,
Renee Lewry, Tracey Blazely, Anna
Marcora, John Purdie, Noel Starick).
Before the March 2007 survey, all
544000 archival sample labels were
guillotined, organised, added to zip-
lock bags and envelopes, and zip-lock

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 21


Gall density and herbivory along Phylogenetic study of subfamily
vertical and altitudinal gradients Ennominae (Lepidoptera :
in a subtropical rainforest: the Geometridae) at the tribe level
importance of leaf sclerophylly. by morphological and molecular
approaches.
Milton Barbosa da Silva Júnior,
Sérvio Ribeiro. Antoine Leveque.
We are investigating whether Within the IBISCA Queensland
increasing sclerophylly in the upper umbrella, it is my objective to collect
canopy results in suitable habitats for the greatest diversity of Geometridae
galls using vertical and horizontal species possible. The objective is to
transect sampling. We are recording gather the specimens which will
leaf density, herbivore damage and represent the Australian fauna in the
number of galls (live larvae, parasitoids global approach of my work. These
or fungi recorded). samples will be identified and analysed
to build the phylogenetic relationships
between the different tribes of
Ennominae. The specimens are
sampled at night using the light sheet
method, in both subtropical rainforest
(IBISCA plots) and dry forest.

About 1900 specimens of Lepidoptera


have been collected, including around
1150 Geometridae (60%). About 15%
of collected Geometrids have been
pinned. The different species have not
yet been identified, but in a first
estimation about 140 different species
of Geometridae have been collected.
17 different sites have been
prospected to date, including 11 of
IBISCA!s plots (300 D; 700 A, B, C;
900 A, B, C, D; 1100 A, B, D) and 6
other plots (dry forest, O!Reilly!s and
near IQ 300 A).

We have studied 16 plots distributed


throughout 4 altitudes (300, 700, 900
and 1100 meters), during the 2006 and
2007 surveys. The gall analysis is
being conducted in Brazil. The
samples from the 300, 1100 and 900m
sites, collected in the 2006 survey,
have already been analysed.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 22


The structure of host-parasitoid Buprestidae of Lamington
food webs along elevational and National Park.
vertical gradients: predicting the
effects of climate change. Gianfranco Curletti, Yves Basset,
Brian Levey, Svatopluk Bily, Luca
Cristiano.
Rebecca Morris, Owen Lewis, Frazer
Sinclair.
During October 2006, I collected 317
samples, capturing 632 herbivorous
We are studying the diversity and food
Coleoptera belonging to 22 families.
web structure of cavity nesting
Hymenoptera and their associated
The first article, a description of a new
parasitoids. We will be constructing
species of Buprestidae found in
and comparing replicate quantitative
Lamington in October (Agrilus
food webs for these species in both
ibiscanus n.sp), is already in
understorey and canopy strata at the
publication in Lambillionea (Belgian
five altitudinal zones.
journal). The second will be a checklist
of Buprestidae of Lamington National
We collected 600 nests between
Park. This work is possible thanks to
December 2006 and April 2007, from
material found in last October and to
all five altitudes and from both canopy
the material stored in Queensland
and understorey within each altitude.
Museum that I have studied during my
Since then we have been successfully
work in Lamington. This is waiting for
rearing insects from these nests. This
last identifications of the species of a
took longer than expected since the
genus that is actually in revision, and
insects over wintered in the nests and
for material found by the colleagues
did not start emerging until the
Schmidl and Floren.
following spring. Identification of the
specimens is now taking place, with
the assistance of Chris Burwell at the
Queensland Museum, and should be
completed in May.

A third publication will centre on my


work with the sticky traps, concerning
the altitudinal stratification of
xylophagous Coleoptera.
Unfortunately, the season in October
was not good, and it would be
beneficial to repeat sampling in the
next good season (dependent on
funding).

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 23


Bryophyte survey of IBISCA there are local endemics. Previous
work by Franks (1998) on the
Queensland plots.
bryophyte flora of Nothofagus in this
area recorded 43 species from trunk
Elizabeth Brown. bases.

Each of the four plots at 300, 500, 700,


900 and 1100 metres ASL has been
surveyed to assess what bryophytes Diversity of the Formicidae of
(mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are
present. Additional collections from the
the litter along an altitudinal
areas immediately adjacent to the plots gradient.
have also been made, with more
extensive surveying of the 1100 m Bruno Corbara, Jerome Orivel,
area. Maurice Leponce, Yves Roisin,
Thibaut Delsinne.
Preliminary impressions and
assessments of the quadrats suggest The ants of the litter were collected by
that the areas at 3–900 metres are not means of two sampling techniques,
particularly species rich. All these Winkler sifting and pitfall traps.
areas are relatively dry and the In both cases, 49 samples are
species composition is indicative of collected on each surveyed site. The
habitats where drying out is a frequent samples are collected on a 70m x 70m
occurrence (rather than just a feature square grid which is centered on the
plot. A total of 900 samples were
collected on the IBISCA plots. Two
additional sites in eucalypt forest have
been sampled for comparison at the
7oo m level.

of recent weather patterns). A number


of taxa, e.g. mosses such as
Camptochaete excavata, Braithwaitea
sulcata, Thuidiopsis sparsa and
liverworts such as Frullania are The sorting work has only begun in
common elements in virtually every March. It will be conducted in
quadrat. Clermont-Ferrand, in parallel with the
Vanuatu material with the help of
The species composition of the 1100 volunteers and amateurs.
m quadrats is different from the ones
at lower altitudes. They have elements
in common with moist, cooler habitats
of more southern forests. There is little
evidence, at this stage, to suggest that

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 24


each plot. Target organisms are be
beetles (Coleoptera), true bugs
(Heteroptera) and mutilid wasps
(Mutilidae, Hymenoptera).

The sampling was replicated at three


different times of year, in October "06,
March !07 and January "08. A total of
16719 beetles were sorted to about
1220 different species belonging to 70
different families. The 685 true bugs
belonged to 92 different species. About
120 total mutilid-wasps of 17 species
were also included in the data set.
Table 1. The number of insect specimens of
beetles and true bugs collected by beating in the
three sampling periods.

Oct Mar Jan


2006 2007 2008 Total
Coleoptera 4853 5116 6750 16719
Heteroptera 213 308 164 685

Faunal composition and


All the material extracted in the field
community structure of has been mounted, labelled and sorted
Coleoptera, Heteroptera and to morpho-species. All the material will
Mutilidae (Hymenoptera) at five be data-based by May 2008.
different altitudes in Lamington
National Park.
Mites in leaf domatia.
Frode Ødegaard.
David Walter, Heather Proctor.
This programme includes regular
beating of vegetation structures in all Domatia are leaf structures produced
20 sites along the altitudinal range. by many species of plants. They are
One sample is obtained by beating of frequently inhabited by small
all reachable vegetation structures arthropods, especially mites
using a beating sheet (1 x 1 m) along a (Arachnida: Acari). Previous vegetation
10 m long transect in association with surveys showed that there was no
the plots (Fig. 1). A total of 10 parallel single species of domatia-bearing plant
samples (10 transects) are collected in that was found at all altitudes. We
looked instead at two species, native
gardenia (Atractocarpus
benthamianus, Rubiaceae) and
steelwood/corduroy (Sarcopteryx
stipata, Sapindaceae) that together
span most of the altitudes. Gardenia
has hairy-pit domatia, and steelwood
igloo domatia. We plucked 1 terminal
or near terminal leaf from up to 10
individual plants per plot for a

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 25


maximum of 40 leaves per species per Muellederia, Neilstigmaeus,
altitude. Leaves were taken to the lab Cunaxidae, Micreremaeus, and
and the mites either picked out and Tuparazetes. Taxa in bold include
preserved (Oct 2006 sampling) or undescribed species, approximately 12
entire domatia excised and preserved species in total. The 1100 m sites
(March/April sampling). differed most obviously from the 900!s
in having a much higher % of Tydeidae
and lower % of Oribatulidae.

Gardenia and steelwood mites from


March/April 2007 are yet to be
identified. We expect these samples
to hold a further 5-10 species (3-6
being undescribed). We will then
examine evidence for altitudinal
variation in mite abundance and
species richness, and also follow up on
preliminary observations that mites
appear to subdivide habitat both
among and between leaves (e.g. some
leaves or individual domatia appear to
contain only oribatulids, and others
only tydeids).

Assemblages of predatory
arthropods along an altitudinal
gradient in subtropical rainforest.
In October 2006, only gardenia was
sampled and only at the two altitudes Kyran Staunton, Roger Kitching,
at which it was present (1100 m and Christy Fellows, Geoff Monteith, Chris
900 m). In March/April 2007, gardenia Burwell, Robert Raven.
was resampled at those altitudes, and
steelwood at 1100, 900, 700 and 500 The variability within a predatory guild
m. The maximum of 10 plants/plot along a subtropical rainforest altitudinal
was realized for gardenia at almost all gradient was examined. Pitfall traps
plots, but steelwood proved to be rare were set within sites, at least 400 m
at the 1100 plots and fewer than 40 apart to survey epigaeic ants, beetles
leaves were collected for this altitude. and spiders. Ants, predatory beetles
Mites from the 80 gardenia leaves and spiders were combined to
collected in October 2006 sampling represent a predatory guild. Patterns
have been counted and identified to displayed by this guild along the
family or genus. There were 829 mites gradient were compared to those of a
from 11 taxa: (from most to least non-predatory beetle dataset. The
common) Tydeidae, Oribatulidae, predatory guild was also divided into
Scapheremaeus, Winterschmidtiidae, ant, predatory beetle and spider
Phytoseiidae, Agistemus, assemblages and subsequent trends
Fungitarsonemus, Oudemansicheyla, were investigated.
Phylleremus, Eriophyidae, Nasobates,

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 26


Sixty pitfall samples in total. gradient. These findings suggested a
Both guilds consisted of a total of 7234 low level of surrogacy between
individuals from 72 families were predatory taxa due to individual
sorted to species or morphospecies. responses to environmental changes
The predatory guild consisted of a total along an altitudinal gradient.
of 4261 individuals derived from
Formicidae, Coleoptera and Araneae. This project was Kyran Staunton!s
The Formicidae consisted of 1567 honours thesis (submitted). Papers
individuals and 64 species, the based on the results of the October
predatory Coleoptera consisted of and February surveys are in
1722 individuals and 110 species and preparation.
the spiders were composed of 972
individuals from 106 different species.

Dung beetle assemblages along


an altitudinal gradient in
Lamington National Park.

Geoff Monteith, Rosa Menéndez.

This project investigates changes in


dung beetle communities (Coleoptera:
Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) along
the IBISCA altitudinal transect, in order
to asses the sensitivity of different
Both predatory and non-predatory species to changes in temperature and
guilds displayed high levels of to identify potential bio-indicator
compositional change along the species for climate change. Dung
altitudinal gradient. The greatest beetles are an important component of
amount of which was seen at high global biodiversity and are good
altitude locations. Restricted indicators of both environmental and
distributional range or endemism was habitat changes. Thus, they provide a
consistent along the gradient within powerful combination of advantages
both guilds. Peaks of species richness for investigating the potential effect of
were seen at 900m for both the climate change on biodiversity. Our
predatory and non-predatory guilds. sampling protocol consists of the use
Climatic variability was suggested to of four baited pitfall traps and one
largely influence the trends exhibited unbaited flight intercept trap (FIT) in
by both guilds along the gradient. each of the 20 IBISCA sampling plots.
During each sampling phase (four in
Ants were highly sensitive to climatic total covering all season: October
changes and decreased in biological 2006, January 2007, March 2007,
diversity with increasing elevation. December 2007) the baited pitfalls
Predatory beetles displayed a high were exposed for two 5-day periods
level of compositional change along each, being baited with macropod
the gradient and peaked in species dung for one period and rotting
richness at high altitude. Spiders mushroom for the other. Flight
displayed large distributional ranges intercept traps, which capture
and were very tolerant of randomly flying beetles, were exposed
environmental changes along the

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 27


for a continuous 10-day period during
each phase.

Results are available for four sampling


phases and all 640 bulk trap samples
have been sorted. These samples
yielded to 11,005 specimens belonging
to a total of 33 native dung beetle
species; all of them exclusives to the
rainforest. Species richness at the
different altitudes ranges from a high of
22 species at the 300m level to a low
of 9 species at the 1100m level. altitude. These results suggest that
Richness at the intermediate species altitudinal distributions are
elevations was almost uniform (17 spp. probably constrained by climatic
at 500m; 16 spp. at 700m; 18 spp. at conditions, and they are likely to be
900m). The sampling protocol has affected by global warming.
been extremely successful in collecting Data analysis is in progress and
all potential species present at each results will be presented at the
altitude, more than 85% of all species International Congress of Entomology
potentially present have been detected in Durban, South Africa (July 2008).
(Table 2). We have published a short article for
the Entomological Society of
Table 2. Estimated number of species (Chao-1), Queensland INC News Bulletin (Vol
total number of species collected, and percentage of
species collected at each altitude using 128 baited
35, 4, June 2007). We are also
pitfall traps and 16 FITs per altitude. planning to submit our first publication
to a Peer-reviewed journal before the
Chao-1 Total % species end of the year, in addiction to the
Altitude species species richness article for the Special Edition of the
(m) richness richness detected
300 25.0 22 88
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum.
500 18.5 17 92
700 16.0 16 100
900 18.0 18 100
1100 9.0 9 100 Patterns in moth assemblages
Examination of individual species
along an altitudinal gradient in
distributions along the altitudinal sub-tropical rainforest.
transect showed a highly stratified
fauna, and that no single species Roger Kitching, Antoine Leveque,
occurs at all elevations. The lowest Sarah Maunsell, Louise Ashton.
zone (300m) has not only the most
diverse fauna (22 species), but also The Lepidoptera are one of the few
41% of species which occur there do Orders of insects which are nearly
not occur any higher than 500m. The universally herbivorous. This
highest zone (1100m) has a small intermediate trophic position suggests
fauna of 9 species but 78% of those that they will be, potentially, excellent
are restricted to high elevations surrogates of general forest health.
extending downwards only as far as The vast majority of Lepidoptera are
the 900m. CCA analysis also confirms night-flying moths that are readily
that the composition of species at each sampled using light sources to which
sampling plot was closely related to they are attracted.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 28


We used Pennsylvania-style light traps To date (April 2008), data on 2176
to target all of those families individual moths of 541 different
conventionally designated as 'macro- species have been entered in the
moths' plus the Pyralidae and any database. This represents about 80%
other species of greater than 1 cm of the October sample. A small
forewing length. This is the same number of October samples remains to
target set which we have used in be sorted. Work on the March
widespread studies elsewhere in samples is ongoing and data entry is
Australia, Asia and central America. expected to be complete within about
six weeks. Data should be available
We sampled all 20 sites during the for analysis by about October 2007.
October and March surveys. At each
site, light traps were run for three days Separate funding from the Department
at ground and canopy level. This of Environment and Water Resources
amounted to a total of 120 trap-nights in Canberra has allowed fast-tracking
in each survey period. In January of the samples of Geometridae,
2008, we conducted a similar trapping Sphingidae and Saturniidae. Of the
programme along a finer-scale approximately 150 species of
altitudinal gradient. Traps were Geometridae in our sample, we have
processed in the field and identified 70 to species. These
representative series of every species represented 1274 individuals from our
encountered were spread and labelled samples. Two species of saturniid (21
in situ. All residues of non-target individuals) and 9 species of sphingid
material from the light traps were (20 individuals) were also identified.
preserved and will be analysed in due We have sent tissue samples from the
course. 81 identified species to Guelph in
Canada to undergo molecular
barcoding as part of the Barcode of
Life Consortium Project.

It is premature to propose altitudinal


patterns at this stage. However, it is
clear that whatever else may emerge
there is a clear 'cloud-forest'
component within the fauna associated
with the Nothofagus-dominated forests
at 1100m altitude. There is a clear,
distinctive, assemblage of high
elevation moths dominated by about
12 species such as Larophylla animeta
(Geometridae: Ennominae). These will
undoubtedly emerge as being of
conservation concern.

Louise Ashton!s honours project will


target this transition by conducting a
survey along a finer-scale altitudinal
gradient (50m altitude intervals)
between 700 and 1100m.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 29


Budget.
The project has a total cash income from research grants totalling $611,361
with in-kind contributions totalling $708,800. Details on the state of the budget can be
found on the following pages.

Changes in project partners and funding.

The Smithsonian Institution has withdrawn from the project but, as their
contribution was in-kind only, it has no impact on the project!s cash budget. Pro-
Natura International has also withdrawn from the project, removing their contributions
of $150,000 (cash) and $50,000 (in-kind). The Global Canopy Programme has joined
the project as our major international partner with an additional cash contribution of
just over $32,000 in addition to their original in-kind contribution of $8,000. A new
Funding Agreement between Griffith University and the Global Canopy Programme
has been prepared.

Budgetary implications of change in project partners.

The change of project partners has had no negative impact on the scientific
outcomes of the project. Pro-Natura International!s cash contributions were
committed to supporting the canopy glider and were not required in the glider!s
absence. We were able to save an additional $40,000 that was committed to support
glider-related activities. We were also able to redirect funds that were earmarked for
other activities to support the altered research programme. The most significant
savings were made in the areas of accommodation and international airfares thanks
to the contributions of individual participants.

The revised scientific programme with an additional field survey and new
canopy access techniques added significant costs that were not described in the
original budget estimates. However, with the savings described above and the
additional cash contribution from the Global Canopy Programme, we have been able
to deliver the project on budget.

An itemised account of the expenditure will be included in a separate report


from Griffith University!s Office of Finance and Business Services.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 30


IBISCA Queensland Income
Source Cash In-kind Total

Smart State Innovation Projects Fund $ 355,809.00 $ - $ 355,809.00


Griffith University $ 180,052.00 $ 552,800.00 $ 732,852.00
Pro-Natura $ 150,000.00 $ 50,000.00 $ 200,000.00
Queensland Museum $ 25,000.00 $ 83,000.00 $ 108,000.00
Queensland Herbarium $ - $ 45,000.00 $ 45,000.00
SEQ Catchments $ 10,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 30,000.00
Smithsonian Institute $ - $ 93,184.00 $ 93,184.00
Global Canopy Programme $ 32,500.00 $ 8,000.00 $ 8,000.00
Dept. of Environment and Water Resources $ 8,000.00 $ - $ 8,000.00

TOTAL $ 611,361.00 $ 708,800.00 $ 1,287,661.00

IBISCA Queensland Balance


Source Amount

Total Cash income $ 611,361.00


Total Cash Expenditure (Actual and Committed) $ (579,602.00)

BALANCE $ 31,759.00

Justification for continued funding under the NIRAP scheme.

Despite the change in project partners, the project has maintained


international cash contributions exceeding 25% of the total cash budget as required
under the Financial Assistance Agreement.

The Global Canopy Programme is now our major international partner with a
cash contribution of $32,500. In addition, many of our international participants have
made significant cash contributions to the project. These participants are not
members of partner organisations listed in the Funding Agreement, but are heavily
involved in the project and have covered their own costs of participation (to varying
degrees). All of these scientists have made significant in-kind contributions (approx.
$73,000) and most have also contributed in cash terms (approx $93,000). These are
costs explicitly related to participation in the IBISCA Queensland project. The
combined total of cash contributions from international sources ($126,000)
comfortably exceeds the required amount (approx. $89,000). The individual
contributions are summarised in the following table.

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 31


IBISCA Queensland International Participant Contributions
Cash In-kind
# ~
Participant Affiliation Country Accom. Travel * Other Salary ^

R. Morris Uni. Oxford GB $ 10,641 $ 8,738 $ 11,091 $ 7,476


F. Sinclair Uni. Oxford GB $ 3,000 $ 4,000 $ - $ -
R. Menéndez Uni. Lancaster GB $ 3,500 $ 4,000 $ - $ 6,230
F. Ødegaard Inst. Nature Research Norway $ 5,200 $ 4,000 $ - $ 9,256
M. Leponce R. Belgian Inst. of Nat. Sc. Belgium $ 2,100 $ 1,898 $ 800 $ 8,834
B. Corbara Uni. Blaise Pascal France $ 3,100 $ 4,000 $ - $ 5,518
G. Curletti Mus. Civ. di Storia Nat. Italy $ 2,600 $ 2,000 $ - $ 4,628
T. Delsinne R. Belgian Inst. of Nat. Sc. Belgium $ 2,200 $ 2,000 $ - $ 3,916
V. Novotny Cz. Acad. Sc. Czech R. $ 700 $ 1,210 $ - $ 1,250
J. Orivel Cent. Nat. Rech. Sci. France $ 2,100 $ 2,000 $ - $ 3,738
Y. Roisin Uni. Libre de Bruxelles Belgium $ 1,900 $ 2,000 $ 71 $ 7,774
A. Floren Uni. Würzburg Germany $ 2,400 $ 2,000 $ - $ 4,272
H. Proctor Uni. Alberta Canada $ - $ 464 $ - $ 3,363
J. Schmidl Uni. Erlangen-Nürnberg Germany $ - $ 2,000 $ 759 $ 6,012
D. Bito N.G. Binatang Res. Cent. PNG $ - $ 1,210 $ - $ 1,200

TOTALS $ 39,441 $ 41,520 $ 12,721 $ 73,467


# Accommodation cost based on standard charge of A$100 / day (food and accommodation).
* Travel cost based on estimated average of A$2000 per international return flight, transfers, in-transit
accommodation etc., or actual costs where available.
~ Other: local wages & equipment purchased explicitly for the I BISCA project and that will be remain in
Australia at the completion of the project.
^ Salary calculations based on equivalent time for Research Fellow Grade 2 (RF2.1 - A$65,242 pa), or actual
salary where available.
Note: We have not received detailed costings from all of the participants listed, and have relied on estimates in
some cases. These are probably conservative estimates of actual costs.

The project has also fulfilled its obligations in terms of international


collaboration. Some of the international institutions participating in the project include:

• Oxford University of Oxford (UK),


• University of Lancaster (UK),
• the Natural History Museum (UK),
• the Université Blaise Pascal (Clermond-Ferrand, France),
• University of Montpellier (France),
• Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (France),
• Museo Civico di Storia Naturale (Italy),
• Institute of Nature Research (Norway),
• the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences,
• Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium),
• Federal University of Ouro Preto (Brazil),
• Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany),
• University of Victoria (Canada),
• University of Alberta (Canada),
• the Binatang Research Centre (PNG),
• University of South Bohemia (Czech Republic).

The first three Milestone Deliverables have been completed as required and
the scientific programme is progressing on schedule (please refer to the section
“Progress and milestones” on pages 6-12 for further details).

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 32


Project participants.
Barbara Baehr Geoff Dyne
Queensland Museum Department of Environment and
Heritage
Justin Bartlett
Queensland Department of Primary Nigel Fechner
Industries and Fisheries Queensland Herbarium
Milton Barbosa da Silva Jr Andreas Floren
Federal University of Ouro Preto University of Wuerzburg (Germany)
(Brazil)
Dawn Frame
Dan Bickel University of Montpellier (France)
Australian Museum
John Hunter
Darren Bito NSW National Parks and Wildlife
Griffith University Service
Torsten Bittner Roger Kitching
University of Erlangen-Nuernberg Griffith University
(Germany)
Karin Koch
Sarah Boulter Queensland Museum
Griffith University
Melinda Laidlaw
Elizabeth Brown Queensland Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Chris Lambkin
Chris Burwell Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum
Maurice Leponce
Terry Carless Royal Belgian Institute of Natural
Queensland Museum Sciences (Belgium)
Heather Christensen Antoine Leveque
Griffith University Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle
(MNHN, France)
Bruno Corbara
Université Blaise Pascal (Clermond- Rosa Menéndez
Ferrand, France) University of Lancaster (GB)
Gianfranco Curletti Bill McDonald
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale (Italy) Queensland Herbarium
Thibaut Delsinne Kay Montgomery
Royal Belgium Institute of Natural SEQ Catchments
Sciences & Université Libre de
Bruxelles (Belgium) Adela Gonzalez Megias
Universidad de Granada (Spain)
Dick Drew
Griffith University

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 33


Geoff Monteith Yves Roisin
Queensland Museum Universite Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
Rebecca Morris Juergen Schmidl
University of Oxford (GB) University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
(Germany)
Laurence Mound
Hon. Research Fellow, CSIRO John Stanisic
Entomology Queensland Museum
Vojtech Novotny Kyran Staunton
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Griffith University
Republic
Geoff Thompson
Frode Ødegaard Queensland Museum
Institute of Nature Research (Norway)
Desley Tree
Jerome Orivel Department of Primary Industries
Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique (Toulouse, France) Dave Walter
University of Alberta (Canada)
David Putland
Griffith University Shaun Winterton
The University of Queensland &
Heather Proctor Queensland Dept. Primary Industries &
University of Alberta (Canada) Fisheries
Robert Raven Susan Wright
Queensland Museum Queensland Museum

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 34


Project Advisory Committee.
Peter Blondell Darryl Jones
Premier!s Department Centre for Innovative Conservation
Strategies, Griffith University
Cathie Duffy Masters
National Parks Association of Roger Kitching
Queensland Griffith University
Nigel Fechner Kay Montgomery
Queensland Mycological Society SEQ Catchments
Ian Galloway John Neldner
Queensland Museum Queensland Environmental Protection
Agency
Gordon Guymer
Queensland Herbarium Shane O!Reilly
O!Reilly!s Rainforest Retreat

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 35


Our supporters.

Queensland Government : Smart State Innovation Projects Fund.


http://www.smartstate.qld.gov.au/

Griffith University.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/

Queensland Museum.
http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/

Queensland Herbarium.
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/plants/queensland_herbarium

Queensland Environmental Protection Agency.


http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/

SEQ Catchments.
http://www.seqcatchments.com.au/

National Parks Association of Queensland.


http://www.npaq.org.au/

Global Canopy Programme.


http://www.globalcanopy.org/

Department of Environment and Water Resources.


http://www.environment.gov.au/

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.


http://www.oreillys.com.au/home/

Cainbable Mountain Lodge.


http://www.cainbable.com/

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 36


Volunteers.
The IBISCA Queensland project was made possible through the dedication and hard
work of our tireless volunteers. Many thanks to….

Louise Ashton David Leach


Johanna Baehr Elliot Leach
Sean Barry Sarah Lejeane
Kyle Barton Sarah Lyngcoln
John Bristow Steve Lyngcoln
Jake Bryant Anna Marcora
Pam Cambridge Graham Marriott
Andrew Cameron Sarah Maunsell
Cecilia Chavana-Bryant Clyde Mitchell
Isabel Cheyne Kay Montgomery
Chris Christensen Gregory Neill
Beverley Clarkson Roslynne O'Connell
Barbara Clifford Ko Oishi
Nicholas Cooper Ronald Owen
Kate Cranney Lynn Pernatin
Jana Crooks Sam Putland
Stefan Curtis Trevor Putland
Lorrie Davis Ruth Read
Adrienne Dougal Judith Robertson-Brice
Gretchen Evans Mary Anne Ryan
John Findlay Jennifer Sanger
Helen Findlay Clare Silcock
Ian Flinders Frazer Sinclair
Sue Flinders Noel Starick
Eileen Forster Brett Taylor
Anne Gill Linda Thomas
John Gill David Thomas
John Gray Anne Tracey
Barry Grey Jankees van der Have
George Haddock Hiroaki Wada
Petrus Heyligers David Wilson
Nick Hoffman Denise Wilson
John Holt Patricia Wolff
John Hunter Ingrid Wolke
Sally Jenyns Dean Wright
David Jones

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 37


Acknowledgments.
This report was prepared by David Putland, Senior Research Assistant, IBISCA
Queensland (April 23, 2007).

I!d like to thank a number of people for specific contributions: Heather Christensen
(Administration Assistant, IBISCA Queensland), Roger Kitching (Griffith University),
Sarah Boulter (Griffith University), Melinda Laidlaw (Queensland Herbarium),
Rosemary Niehus (Queensland Herbarium), Jake Bryant (photography), Christine
Lambkin (Queensland Museum) and all of the participants that provided individual
project reports.

All photographs by Jake Bryant unless otherwise noted. Cover photographs by David
Putland, Torsten Bittner, Jake Bryant and Jane Ogilvie. The IBISCA Queensland
graphic was designed by Danielle Cavanagh.

IBISCA | Queensland
Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies
The Griffith School of Environment
Griffith University
Nathan QLD 4111
Australia

P: 61-7-3735-7962
M: 0439 668 094
F: 61-7-3735-5014
E: IBISCAQueensland@griffith.edu.au
W: www.griffith.edu.au/ibisca/

IBISCA | Queensland Progress Report - April 2008 pg 38

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