ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3556-4215
Current Organisations
CSIRO
,
ERM
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2016
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/AM15051
Abstract: In idual identification is a beneficial tool in behavioural and ecological research. In mark–recapture studies, for ex le, it can improve abundance, residency and site fidelity estimates. Two non-invasive, photo-identification approaches, using whisker spot patterns, were tested to identify wild in idual Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea). The Chamfer distance transform algorithm has shown promising results when applied to captive in iduals. An alternative matching method using row/column locations of whisker spots, previously applied to lions (Panthera leo) was also tested. Resighting wild N. cinerea in this study proved unfeasible with both methods. Excessive variation between photographs of the same in idual was found when applying the Chamfer distance transform, and similarity between photograph-pairs appeared to decrease with increasing time between photographs. Insufficient variation among N. cinerea row/column pattern was detected to successfully discriminate among in iduals, averaging 39 mystacial spots (range 30–46, n = 20) in seven rows and 9–10 columns. Additionally, different observers marking the same photographs introduced considerable variation. Colour difference (red, green and blue colour levels) between the whisker spots and surrounding fur affected marking spot locations significantly, increasing uncertainty when contrast decreased. While other pattern-matching algorithms may improve performance, accurate identification of spot locations was the current limitation.
Publisher: Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
Date: 05-2020
DOI: 10.1121/10.0001264
Abstract: Concern over the impacts of anthropogenic noise on aquatic fauna is increasing, as is the number of vessels in the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers. Sound signatures of different vessel types are increasingly characterized, yet few reports are available on solar-electric powered vessels. Such data are important to model the sound levels experienced by marine fauna and their potential impacts. Sounds from two vessel types were recorded in the shallow waters of the Swan River, Western Australia, using bottom-mounted OceanInstruments SoundTraps. Multiple passes from two 10-m solar-electric powered passenger ferries and, for comparison, two 25-m conventionally powered (inboard diesel engine) passenger ferries were selected. Analysis was conducted on 58 and 16 passes by the electric ferries (in 2016 and 2017–2018, respectively) and 10 and 14 passes by the conventional ferry (2016 and 2017–2018, respectively) at 5-m range. At 55-m range, analysis was conducted on 17 and 1 passes by the electric ferry (2016 and 2017–2018, respectively) and 9 and 3 passes of the conventional ferry (2016 and 2017–2018, respectively). Measured received levels and modeled sound propagation were then used to estimate monopole source levels (MSL) and radiated noise levels (RNL). At 55-m range, the conventionally powered ferry type produced 156 and 157 dB re 1 μPa2m2 MSL and RNL, respectively, while the same metrics for the electric ferry were 12 dB lower. At frequencies below 500 Hz, spectral levels of the electric ferry at a range of & m were 10–25 dB lower than those of the conventional ferry, implying a potential benefit for animals that use low-frequency communication, if electric motors replaced petrol or diesel engines.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 24-06-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-01-2017
Publisher: Inter-Research Science Center
Date: 20-10-2015
DOI: 10.3354/ESR00690
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-06-2016
DOI: 10.1002/AQC.2668
Publisher: Canadian Science Publishing
Date: 25-05-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.MARPOLBUL.2018.10.064
Abstract: The effects of underwater noise pollution on marine life are of increasing concern. Research and management have focussed on the strongest underwater sound sources. Aerial sound sources have understandably been ignored as sound transmits poorly across the air-water interface. However, there might be situations when air-borne noise cannot be dismissed. Commercial passenger airplanes were recorded in a coastal underwater soundscape exhibiting broadband received levels of 84-132 dB re 1 μPa rms. Power spectral density levels of airplane noise underwater exceeded ambient levels between 12 Hz and 2 or 10 kHz (depending on site) by up to 36 dB. Underwater noise from airplanes is expected to be audible to a variety of marine fauna, including seals, manatees, and dolphins. With many of the world's airports lying close to the coast, it is cautioned that airplane noise not be ignored, in particular in the case of at-risk species in small, confined habitats.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 04-12-2020
DOI: 10.3389/FGENE.2020.607819
Abstract: There is growing interest in widening the genetic ersity of domestic crops using wild relatives to break linkage drag and/or introduce new adaptive traits, particularly in narrow crops such as chickpea. To this end, it is important to understand wild and domestic adaptive differences to develop greater insight into how wild traits can be exploited for crop improvement. Here, we study wild and domestic Cicer development and water-use over the lifecycle, measuring responses to reproductive water deficit, a key Mediterranean selection pressure, using mini-lysimeters (33 L round pots) in common gardens under contrasting water regimes. Wild and domestic Cicer were consistently separated by later phenology, greater water extraction and lower water use efficiency (WUE) and harvest index in the former, and much greater yield-responsiveness in the latter. Throughout the lifecycle, there was greater vegetative investment in wild, and greater reproductive investment in domestic Cicer , reflected in root and harvest indices, rates of leaf area, and pod growth. Domestic WUE was consistently greater than wild, suggesting differences in water-use regulation and partitioning. Large wild-domestic differences revealed in this study are indicative of evolution under contrasting selection pressures. Cicer domestication has selected for early phenology, greater early vigor, and reproductive efficiency, attributes well-suited to a time-delimited production system, where the crop is protected from grazing, disease, and competition, circumstances that do not pertain in the wild. Wild Cicer attributes are more competitive: higher peak rates of leaf area growth, greater ad libitum water-use, and extraction under terminal drought associated with greater vegetative dry matter allocation, leading to a lower reproductive capacity and efficiency than in domestic chickpea. These traits strengthen competitive capacity throughout the growing season and are likely to facilitate recovery from grazing, two significant selection pressures faced by wild, rather than domesticated Cicer . While increased water extraction may be useful for improving chickpea drought tolerance, this trait must be evaluated independently of the other associated wild traits. To this end, the wild-domestic populations have been developed.
Publisher: Aquatic Mammals Journal
Date: 12-2009
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-06-2017
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.3123
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 04-10-2010
DOI: 10.1017/S0025315410001426
Abstract: In altricial mammals, mothers' care and attendance are essential for young to acquire survival skills. Despite the crucial importance of this early period for pup survival, not much is known about mother–pup behaviour and time allocation in the wild. To improve our understanding of the critical period of the sea otter development, a total of 240 30-minute focal follows of females with pups of different ages were conducted in four 6-hour-periods (dawn, day, dusk and night) from 4 June to 12 August 2008. Generalized linear models were used to investigate the impact of age, weather, tide and time of day on otters' behaviour. Pups significantly decreased resting behaviour and increased feeding, travelling, interacting and grooming behaviour with increasing age. Females with large pups fed and interacted significantly more, and travelled and groomed the pup less than females with small pups. Foggy conditions were associated with less resting on the water and increased travelling by pups. Tide did not appear to have an effect on sea otter behaviour. Grooming by pups occurred mainly during dawn in medium sized pups whereas large pups groomed themselves mostly during the day and night. Variations due to times of day tended to be apparent only in larger, i.e. older pups. Females and large pups were more active during the day. Mothers of smaller pups spent most of their active time travelling whereas females with large pups were mostly feeding. This study showed how sea otter females with pups adapted their behaviours as their pups grew and matured during the first months of life.
No related grants have been discovered for Sylvia Parsons.