Extinction risk of the world's freshwater mammals.

The continued loss of freshwater habitats poses a significant threat to global biodiversity. We reviewed the extinction risk of 166 freshwater aquatic and semiaquatic mammals-a group rarely documented as a collective. We used the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species categories as of December 2021 to determine extinction risk.

Molecular systematic analysis demonstrates that the threatened southern bell frog, Litoria raniformis (Anura: Pelodryadidae) of eastern Australia, comprises two sub-species.

In south-eastern Australia, the pelodryadid Litoria aurea Group (sensu Tyler & Davies 1978) comprises three species: Litoria aurea (Lesson, 1829), Litoria raniformis (Keferstein, 1867), and Litoria castanea (Steindachner, 1867). All three species have been subject to declines over recent decades and taxonomic uncertainty persists among populations on the tablelands in New South Wales. We address the systematics of the Group by analysing mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences to assess divergence in the Litoria raniformis from across its current range in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, South Australia (SA) and Tasmania.

Molecular (cox1), geographical, and host record investigation of monogeneans Mazocraes australis (Mazocraeidae), Polylabris sillaginae, and P. australiensis (Microcotylidae).

This study determines the occurrence and molecular characterisation of Monogenea from three commercially important Australian fish: Australian sardine Sardinops sagax (Jenyns), Australian anchovy Engraulis australis (White), and eastern school whiting Sillago flindersi McKay. Earlier studies have provided only morphological species identification, whereas this study combines both morphological and molecular methods. A total of 247 fish across 3 species, sourced from the New South Wales and Victorian coasts, were examined for Monogenea.

Molecular characterisation of the monogenea parasites of blue mackerel (Perciformes: Scombridae) in Australian waters.

This study describes the occurrence and molecular identification of Monogenea from blue mackerel (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Scombridae), an edible fish, from Australian waters. Previous studies have provided either morphological or genetic results, whereas this study combines both methods of species identification. A total of 50 fish sourced from the waters off the south-eastern Australian coastline were examined and 71 Monogenea were recovered from the gills.

Occurrence and molecular identification of nematodes from blue mackerel Scomber australasicus Cuvier in Australian waters.

This study determines the occurrence and molecular identification of nematodes from blue mackerel Scomber australasicus Cuvier (Perciformes: Scombridae), an edible fish from Australian waters. A total of 150 fish were sourced from the New South Wales and Victorian coasts. Nematodes were initially classified morphologically as 10 morphotypes belonging to the families Anisakidae (Anisakis morphotypes I and II, Contracaecum morphotype II, Terranova morphotypes I and II), Raphidascarididae (Hysterothylacium morphotypes IV, VI, VIII, and XIV), and Capillariidae (Capillaria sp.

Age structure of amphibian populations with endemic chytridiomycosis, across climatic regions with markedly different infection risk.

Threatening processes, such as disease, can drive major changes in population demographics of the host. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen (), has led to the decline of at least 500 amphibian species across the globe and has been shown to truncate host age structure by lowering adult survival rates. This results in heavy reliance on annual recruitment and the inability to recover in the event of periodic recruitment failure.

Occurrence and molecular identification of Monogenea from blue-spotted flathead Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) in Australian waters.

This study describes the occurrence and molecular identification of Monogenea from blue-spotted flathead Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus (McCulloch) (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from waters off the NSW coast, Australia. Platycephalus spp. are favoured by consumers for delicate, white, mild flavoured flesh and therefore are commercially important species within Australia.

Identifying Behavioural Traits and Underlying Personality Dimensions in Domestic Ferrets ().

The aim of this study was to examine the personality structure of domestic ferrets () by using owner-based reporting of personality traits. A total of 743 ferret owners participated in an online questionnaire, with a total of 1029 ferrets being assessed. Respondents rated 67 adjectives based on their ferret(s) behavioural traits and personality.

TEMPERATURE AS A DRIVER OF THE PATHOGENICITY AND VIRULENCE OF AMPHIBIAN CHYTRID FUNGUS BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a leading cause of global amphibian declines. Severe infections with Bd can lead to cardiac arrest, and mass deaths during epidemics have been reported. Temperature, pH, salinity, and moisture are important determinants of the survival, growth, reproduction, and pathogenicity of Bd, as well as its effect on amphibian populations.

Occurrence and abundance of zoonotic nematodes in snapper , a popular table fish from Australian and New Zealand waters.

In Australia and New Zealand (NZ), snapper is known for delicate mild flavoured flesh and is a favoured species to serve raw as sashimi or in sushi. The diet of snapper includes a variety of intermediate hosts of larval nematodes, and as a result, snapper has potential to become highly infected with zoonotic/non-zoonotic nematodes. The aims of this study were to survey nematodes in snapper from Australia and New Zealand waters and to identify nematode species using combined morphological and molecular methods.

Integrative species delimitation and community structure of nematodes in three species of Australian flathead fishes (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae).

This study aimed to determine the integrative characterisation of nematodes from three species of edible flathead fishes (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) in New South Wales, Australia, and describe nematode communities within three species of flatheads. Tiger (Platycephalus richardsoni (Castelnau); n = 20) and sand flatheads (Platycephalus bassensis (Cuvier); n = 20), sourced from the Nelson Bay area, and dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus (Cuvier); n = 20) from the Manning River, Taree, were examined for the presence of nematodes. The nematodes were initially classified morphologically as 12 different morphotypes belonging to the families Anisakidae (Anisakis types I, II, and III, Contracaecum type II, Terranova types I and II), Raphidascarididae (Hysterothylacium types IV, VI, VIII, and H.

Re-description and molecular characterisation of Choricotyle australiensis Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983 (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) infecting Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) (Perciformes: Sparidae).

Choricotyle australiensis Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983, a diclidophorid monogenean species, is redescribed and genetically characterised using the partial nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rRNA) and a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences for specimens collected from Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) off Australia and New Zealand. Previous studies have either provided morphological or genetic results, whereas this study combines morphological and advanced molecular methods. A total of 70 Ch.

Manipulating water for amphibian conservation.

Amphibian populations globally are in decline. One great threat is the abstraction of water resources that alter surface-water hydrology. Conservation actions aimed at restoring or manipulating surface water are employed as a management tool, but empirical evidence on the effectiveness of these approaches is scarce.

Adaptive Management of Return Flows: Lessons from a Case Study in Environmental Water Delivery to a Floodplain River.

For many floodplain rivers, reinstating wetland connectivity is necessary for ecosystems to recover from decades of regulation. Environmental return flows (the managed delivery of wetland water to an adjacent river) can be used strategically to facilitate natural ecosystem connectivity, enabling the transfer of nutrients, energy, and biota from wetland habitats to the river. Using an informal adaptive management framework, we delivered return flows from a forested wetland complex into a large lowland river in south-eastern Australia.