Science and nature
Winjanna Gorge: Survey nets plenty of crocs
Bunuba Rangers and wildlife officers have caught and released about half the freshwater crocs in two dry-season pools.
Freshwater crocodile
They took measurements and genetic samples in a bid to learn more about the crocodiles before cane toads arrive.
Science Network [read this story]
New methods to detect toxic mine water seepage
Researchers say they have found a reliable new way of predicting whether water seeping from a mine into a creek is toxic.
After studying an east Kimberley nickel mine they say toxins only seem to affect animals in the creek in the late dry and early wet seasons.
This, they say, is easily predicted by seeing how readily the water samples conduct electricity.
Science Network [read this story]
This appears to be good news as it is much easier to control the flow of water at these times.
There was no legal requirement to conduct this research.
Lungworm kills tree frogs
Hopes of using a parasite as a new biological control for cane toads have been dashed.
Photo by Rod Hartvigsen
It has proven fatal to one of the Kimberley’s tree frog species.
Science Network [read this story]
New wildlife found on offshore islands
Indigenous rangers and scientists have found “new” populations of quolls and golden-backed tree rats on offshore islands.
You can read a media release here:
Free slide shows: Six new Kimberley frogs
A WA Museum scientist has described six new Kimberley frog species.
Science Network [read this story]
Dr Paul Doughty will be giving free talks at Kununurra and Broome’s libraries next month.
Broome:
7pm, Wednesday 17 September
Kununurra:
6:30pm, Thursday 18 September
Kimberley dolphins keep to themselves
Scientists have been studying genetic diversity in Kimberley and Pilbara dolphins.
It looks as though Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific dolphins tend to stay in small populations that keep pretty much to themselves.
DNA from skin samples collected at Cygnet Bay, Roebuck Bay, Dampier Archipelago and North West Cape high genetic similarity within each local group.
Science WA [read this story]
Books: Action plan for Australian Mammals
The rufous hare wallaby used to be common in the desert south of Balgo.
It probably died out in the 1960s.
In a new book Action Plan for Australian Mammals, the authors say Australia has had the highest mammal extinction rate for any continent since the 1840s.
They detail action plans for every known Australian mammal species.
Science Network [read this story]
Oscar Ranges ‘partly buried’ say geologists
The Oscar Ranges are partly buried – the structures continue, under the surface, to the Yampi Peninsula.
Scientists have discovered this and other facts while surveying the Oscar, Leopold and Napier Ranges, parts of which most likely contain copper and gold.
Science Network [read this story]
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