Future Renewables

For ASC members in Adelaide:

Cutting-edge lecture: The handfish

Tuesday August 31 6:00-7.30pm The Science Exchange

Free but bookings required: http://www.riaus.org.au/events/2010/08/31/cutting_edge_lecture_the_handfish.jsp

The first handfish was recorded during a French expedition in 1802. Found only in Australian waters, these small, unusual, slow-moving fish prefer to ‘walk’ on their pectoral and pelvic fins, which have extremities resembling a human hand. However, researchers warn that a group of the species is at risk of becoming the ‘thylacines of the sea’ – they are facing extinction.

Join Dr Daniel Gledhill as he sheds light on the secrets of this amazing species and Dr Gretta Pecl as she discusses how the REDMAP project helps monitor species biodiversity across a range of Tasmanian marine environments.

Dr Daniel Gledhill is a Hobart-based ichthyologist in the Fish Biogeography and Taxonomy team working with CSIRO’s Wealth from Oceans Flagship. The group investigates the biogeography of Australasian fishes to better understand the historic and contemporary processes affecting speciation and distribution. Current projects include developing web-based tools to assist in species identification. The group is also investigating the affinities of fish families to localised regions and relating these to historical and evolutionary events and pathways.

Dr Gretta Pecl is a Fulbright Fellow and a Senior Research Fellow leading several projects within the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Theme at the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute. Her current research activity spans a range of topics including range extensions associated with climate change, evaluating adaptation options in socio-ecological systems, assessing population and fishery responses to climate change, and using citizen science approaches for ecological monitoring and engagement (e.g. www.REDMAP.org.au). She was lead author of the recent Australian Federal Department of Climate Change interdisciplinary report into the impacts and adaptation response options for the Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishery (www.climatechange.gov.au/en/publications/coastline/east-coast-rock-lobster.aspx).

[cid:image001.jpg@01CAC114.BFE6C880] Steve Kern Senior Programs Co-ordinator

Ri Australia PO Box 3652 RUNDLE MALL SA 5000 Ph: (08) 7120 8604 | Fax: (08) 8221 6563 | skern@riaus.org.au| www.riaus.org.au The Royal Institution of Australia Inc is a Charitable Institution and is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) ABN: 98638459658

Think B4U Print 1 ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere 3 sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water

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