ALBERT

Description: Testudines are a group of reptiles characterized by the presence of a shell covered by keratinous shields. Stigmochelys pardalis is the most widely distributed terrestrial testudine in southern Africa. Although relatively common with some life history traits being well known, the growth of this species has yet to be studied in any detail. The bone microanatomy of this clade differs from that found in other amniotes, where terrestrial species tend to display characteristics normally seen in aquatic species and vice versa. A detailed histological analysis of the limb bones of S. pardalis reveals extensive variation through ontogeny. Cortical bone becomes increasingly thicker through ontogeny and is finally resorbed in the late sub-adult stage, resulting in a thin cortex and a large infilled medullary cavity. The predominant bone tissues are parallel-fibred and lamellar-zonal for the forelimbs and hind limbs respectively. The oldest individual displayed an External Fundamental System indicating that the growth rate had decreased substantially by this stage. Variability is prevalent between the forelimb and hind limb as well as between early and late sub-adults Forelimb elements exhibit characteristics such as faster growing parallel-fibered bone tissue, slightly higher vascularization and a predominance of annuli over Lines of Arrested Growth (LAG) compared to the hind limb which exhibits poorly vascularized, slower growing lamellar-zonal bone interrupted by LAGs. These differences indicate that the forelimb grew more rapidly than the hind limb, possibly due to the method of locomotion seen in terrestrial species. The extensive bone resorption that occurs from the early sub-adult stage destroys much of the primary cortex and results in a significantly different ratio of inner and outer bone diameter (p = 3.59 × 10­−5; df = 28.04) as well as compactness (p = 2.91 × 10­−5; df = 31.27) between early and late sub-adults. The extensive bone resorption seen also destroys the ecological signal and infers an aquatic lifestyle for this species despite it being clearly terrestrial. This supports the results of other studies that have found that using bone microanatomy to determine lifestyle in testudines does not produce accurate results.

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that came with it led to unprecedented disruptions in learner development and put them at risk of poor developmental outcomes. It is thus important that the extent of the disruption on their development and the support needs of learners be investigated. Researching the impact of the disruption should focus on holistic development. In this book, the authors use multiple research approaches and methods of gathering data in their respective fields to examine the impact of the disruption and determine the support needs of learners. Data gathered through the different methods are processed and findings are presented. The findings have implications for both practice and future research in the fields of inclusive education, learner support, educational psychology, movement education, Life Orientation and curriculum development.

Description: Field work was undertaken in the Lihou Reef National Marine Park (Coral Sea Territory, Australia, 17.583°S, 151.517°E) in December 2008. The aim of the remote sensing component of the field work was to collect in situ data for both remote sensing model parameterisation and for validation of remote sensing based results. Effort was placed on trying to characterise the (variations in) optical properties of the benthic substrates and vegetation that are part of the Lihou Reef Cay system (i.e. surrounding reefs and islands, respectively). Sample biotic and abiotic benthic types were sourced in situ in the intertidal- (exposed, above water) and the near-shore subtidal (submerged) zone. Benthic substratum reflectance spectra were measured from opportunistic samples collected in the intertidal and subtidal zone by snorkelers and divers. Spectral data was collected with an ASD FieldSpec Pro HandHeld spectroradiometer (http://www.asdi.com) which is designed for portability and measures over the range 325 to 1075 nm with a sampling interval of 1.4nm and a Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) resolution of 3nm. Substratum irradiance reflectance was calculated as the ratio of the upwelling radiance (Lu) and the downwelling irradiance (Ed): Rsub = Lu/Ed Thus the substratum reflectance is a measure of the reflection of light from the target irrespective of the illumination quantity. All measurements were collected close to the target with a 5° fore-optic fitted to the optical fibre, limiting the instrument field of view (FOV) to that of the only the target. This was done to ensure that only pure end-member spectra were collected. Ed was defined by a spectralon panel and at the same distance as the selected target. Above-water spectra were collected with the foreoptic mounted in a standard pistol-grip enabling accurate pointing of the fibre within its FOV boundaries. Reference spectra from the spectralon panel were collected at frequent intervals to compensate for the effects of variable atmospheric conditions on natural irradiance. Field spectral reflectance values were corrected for irradiance variations, assuming a linear change in irradiance over time, using these reference spectra. Additional data collected during this field campaign included: - Reflectance spectra of, intertidal and benthic substrates believed to be representative of the island/lagoon system using a non-submersible ASD FieldSpec handheld spectrometer as well as a submersible HydroRad spectrometer. - Measurements were made of the optical quality of the waters within the Lihou lagoon, the individual cay lagoons of Georgina, Anne, Lorna and Turtle cays as well as the surrounding open ocean locations.

Description: Wallis Lake is a shallow estuarine lake system consisting of lakes and rivers with interconnecting channels. The lake is a significant environmental resource and is also used for recreational activities and aquaculture. In collaboration with participants from NSW DPI, CSIRO undertook a fieldwork campaign at Wallis Lake 12-16 May 2008 to fill in known gaps in saltmarsh, mangrove, seagrass and macro-algae spectra as well as abiotic backgrounds such as sand and mud. Benthic material were collected with an Eckman grab, where the structure and shape of the sample was retained. Samples were placed on a black neoprene mat and spectra were collected using a RAMSES spectroradiometer. The RAMSES spectroradiaometer system deployed at Wallis Lake consisted of two cosine collector sensors measuring downwelling irradiance (Ed) and one radiance collector measuring upwelling radiance (Lu). In situ spectral reflectance of intertidal and supratidal vegetation were collected with an ASD-FR FieldSpec Pro spectroradiometer system which measures over a range of 325 to 2500 nm. To fill in data gaps, additional supratidal substratum spectra were collected in September 2008 with an ASD FieldSpec Pro HandHeld spectroradiometer (www.asdi.com). Substratum irradiance reflectance was calculated as the ratio of the upwelling radiance (Lu) and the downwelling irradiance (Ed): Rsub = Lu/Ed Thus the substratum reflectance is a measure of the reflection of light from the target irrespective of the illumination quantity. All measurements were collected close to the target with a 5° fore-optic fitted to the optical fibre, limiting the instrument field of view (FOV) to that of the only the target. This was done to ensure that only pure end-member spectra were collected. Ed was defined by a spectralon panel at the same distance as the selected target. Above-water spectra were collected with the foreoptic mounted in a standard pistol-grip enabling accurate pointing of the fibre within its FOV boundaries. Reference spectra from the spectralon panel were collected at frequent intervals to compensate for the effects of variable atmospheric conditions on natural irradiance. Field spectral reflectance values were corrected for irradiance variations, assuming a linear change in irradiance over time, using these reference spectra. Data collected during this field campaign included: - Inherent optical properties (IOP) and apparent optical properties (AOP) measurements of water quality in representative waters of Wallis Lake and rivers _ Reflectance measurements of seagrasses, algae and mud/sand collected with a RAMSES - field spectrometer - GPS depth transect across Posidonia beds on the eastern boundary of Wallis Island. - A pseudo invariant feature (PIF) measurement on the Wallis Island airstrip was collected to assist in the atmospheric correction of the 2003 Quickbird imagery which had exhibited significant calibration issues and could not be successfully corrected for atmospheric effects by standard methodologies undertaken by CSIRO. The reflectance values collected at the airstrip was assumed to represent reflectance at the time when the satellite image was collected. - Terrestrial reflectance spectra of saltmarsh and mangrove species as well as other key species present were collected with an ASD field spectrometer for inclusion in the spectral library as well as for validation purposes.

Description: Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Austroboletus asper on soil, Cylindromonium alloxyli on leaves of Alloxylon pinnatum, Davidhawksworthia quintiniae on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Exophiala prostantherae on leaves of Prostanthera sp., Lactifluus lactiglaucus on soil, Linteromyces quintiniae (incl. Linteromyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Quintinia sieberi, Lophotrichus medusoides from stem tissue of Citrus garrawayi, Mycena pulchra on soil, Neocalonectria tristaniopsidis (incl. Neocalonectria gen. nov.) and Xyladictyochaeta tristaniopsidis on leaves of Tristaniopsis collina, Parasarocladium tasmanniae on leaves of Tasmannia insipida, Phytophthora aquae-cooljarloo from pond water, Serendipita whamiae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus cucullatus, Veloboletus limbatus (incl. Veloboletus gen. nov.) on soil. Austria, Cortinarius glaucoelotus on soil. Bulgaria, Suhomyces rilaensis from the gut of Bolitophagus interruptus found on a Polyporus sp. Canada, Cantharellus betularum among leaf litter of Betula, Penicillium saanichii from house dust. Chile, Circinella lampensis on soil, Exophiala embothrii from rhizosphere of Embothrium coccineum. China, Colletotrichum cycadis on leaves of Cycas revoluta. Croatia, Phialocephala melitaea on fallen branch of Pinus halepensis. Czech Republic, Geoglossum jirinae on soil, Pyrenochaetopsis rajhradensis from dead wood of Buxus sempervirens. Dominican Republic, Amanita domingensis on litter of deciduous wood, Melanoleuca dominicana on forest litter. France, Crinipellis nigrolamellata (Martinique) on leaves of Pisonia fragrans, Talaromyces pulveris from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum infesting floorboards. French Guiana, Hypoxylon hepaticolor on dead corticated branch. Great Britain, Inocybe ionolepis on soil. India, Cortinarius indopurpurascens among leaf litter of Quercus leucotrichophora. Iran, Pseudopyricularia javanii on infected leaves of Cyperus sp., Xenomonodictys iranica (incl. Xenomonodictys gen. nov.) on wood of Fagus orientalis. Italy, Penicillium vallebormidaense from compost. Namibia, Alternaria mirabibensis on plant litter, Curvularia moringae and Moringomyces phantasmae (incl. Moringomyces gen. nov.) on leaves and flowers of Moringa ovalifolia, Gobabebomyces vachelliae (incl. Gobabebomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Vachellia erioloba, Preussia procaviae on dung of Procavia capensis. Pakistan, Russula shawarensis from soil on forest floor. Russia, Cyberlindnera dauci from Daucus carota. South Africa, Acremonium behniae on leaves of Behnia reticulata, Dothiora aloidendri and Hantamomyces aloidendri (incl. Hantamomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Aloidendron dichotomum, Endoconidioma euphorbiae on leaves of Euphorbia mauritanica, Eucasphaeria proteae on leaves of Protea neriifolia, Exophiala mali from inner fruit tissue of Malus sp., Graminopassalora geissorhizae on leaves of Geissorhiza splendidissima, Neocamarosporium leipoldtiae on leaves of Leipoldtia schultzii, Neocladosporium osteospermi on leaf spots of Osteospermum moniliferum, Neometulocladosporiella seifertii on leaves of Combretum caffrum, Paramyrothecium pituitipietianum on stems of Grielum humifusum, Phytopythium paucipapillatum from roots of Vitis sp., Stemphylium carpobroti and Verrucocladosporium carpobroti on leaves of Carpobrotus quadrifolius, Suttonomyces cephalophylli on leaves of Cephalophyllum pilansii. Sweden, Coprinopsis rubra on cow dung, Elaphomyces nemoreus from deciduous woodlands. Spain, Polyscytalum pini-canariensis on needles of Pinus canariensis, Pseudosubramaniomyces septatus from stream sediment, Tuber lusitanicum on soil under Quercus suber. Thailand, Tolypocladium flavonigrum on Elaphomyces sp. USA, Chaetothyrina spondiadis on fruits of Spondias mombin, Gymnascella minnisii from bat guano, Juncomyces patwiniorum on culms of Juncus effusus, Moelleriella puertoricoensis on scale insect, Neodothiora populina (incl. Neodothiora gen. nov.) on stem cankers of Populus tremuloides, Pseudogymnoascus palmeri from cave sediment. Vietnam, Cyphellophora vietnamensis on leaf litter, Tylopilus subotsuensis on soil in montane evergreen broadleaf forest. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.