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Monthly Archives: May 2020

‘Good intentions’ Murray-Darling Basin water program drains even more water from the system

A new report has found irrigators using a program designed to cut down on water use, have ended up taking more out of the Murray Darling river system. Australia is more than halfway through implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and as at the start of 2019, has spent over $6 billion in buybacks […]

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The evolution of colour vision in sea snakes

Research from the University of Adelaide has revealed the evolution of colour vision in front-fanged snakes following their transition from terrestrial to fully marine environments. This research also provides the first evidence of where, when and how frequently the species have adapted their ability to see in colour. Today, the journal Current Biology published the […]

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New tools support integrated management of River Murray flows and floodplain infrastructure

Infrastructure built along the River Murray during past ten years helps sustain critical floodplain ecological communities by recreating some of the natural inundation regime that would have occurred prior to development. The benefits of providing these floodplains events are relatively well known, but until recently it wasn’t clear what effects infrastructure was having on the […]

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Regional SA kids consider naming new wasp species after coronavirus

An exciting find by Ramco Primary School proves there are still many wasp species yet to be discovered. Dr Erinn Fagan-Jeffries has spoken to ABC News and ABC Radio about a project she leads which focuses on discovering and documenting native Australian wasps. As part of this project she visits primary schools and trains students to catch insects using […]

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Humans coexisted with three-tonne marsupials and lizards as long as cars in ancient Australia

When people first arrived in what is now Queensland, they would have found the land inhabited by massive animals including goannas six metres long and kangaroos twice as tall as a human. A/Professor Lee Arnold has joined a national team to study fossil bones of these animals for the past decade. Their findings, published in Nature […]

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A better immune system from returning to the wild

A research team led by the University of Adelaide has found that revegetation of green spaces within cities can improve soil microbiota diversity towards a more natural, biodiverse state, which has been linked to human health benefits. In the study, published in the journal Restoration Ecology, researchers compared the composition of a variety of urban […]

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Echidna CSI receives funding to investigate the impact of bushfires on echidnas

As bushfire recovery begins on Kangaroo Island, it’s important remember the recovery of native flora and fauna. The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) has selected the Echidna CSI project “Investigating the impact of bushfires on Kangaroo Island echidna diet and health” for funding through the FNPW Bushfire Recovery Small Grants. The project has been allocated […]

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Water sharing in the Murray-Darlin Basin: A discussion with Mr Mick Keelty (online)

Reduced water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin affects many stakeholders – producers of food and fibre, irrigators, and people involved in recreation and tourism. Communities and livelihoods are at stake, and environmental issues are significant. This Stretton Institute webinar features guest presenter Mr Mick Keelty AO APM, Interim Inspector-General of the Murray-Darling Basin will explore the key drivers […]

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Using advanced remote sensing to map ancient Aboriginal ‘tool‐stone’ resources in central Australia

The remote sensing work of University of Adelaide PhD candidate W. Boone Law has recently been selected for the 2020 May/June cover of Geoarcheaology. Geoarchaeology is an international journal dedicated to original interdisciplinary scientific research where geographical, geological, geophysical and Earth science techniques are used to better understand the archaeological record. (Pictured right: The front cover […]

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South Australian flying foxes are exposed to zoonotic viruses

Researchers have found that South Australia’s population of Grey-headed flying foxes has been exposed to a number of viruses, including Hendra virus that can be transmitted to humans via horses. But they have not found evidence of exposure to Australian bat lyssavirus. University of Adelaide research published in PLOS ONE, details three years of research into the […]

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