Annual Report-2000-2001 - Western Australian Museum - The ...

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and Leioproctus and spoon-winged lacewings in the
genus Chasmoptera (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae).
Terry continued writing manuscripts describing these
new forms and dealing with the habits and floral
associations of various other bees.
Grants by ABRS and the Australian Research Council
(with colleagues at the South Australian Museum)
have enabled Bill Humphreys to extend the analyses
of the groundwater fauna of the ‘Western Shield’ to
include molecular methods. The use of stable isotope
ratio methodology has provided insights into the
trophic structure of subterranean systems.
Terrestrial Vertebrates
Research on Western Australian mammals by Assistant
Curator Norah Cooper resulted in the clarification of
the identity of two species of the small carnivorous
marsupial Dasycercus, a genus that is listed as
Threatened Fauna. This is of significance for
management and conservation of the genus
throughout Australia. Examination of taxonomic
problems in Planigale, Pseudomys, Sminthopsis and
Antechinus is continuing.
Ken Aplin completed his research on the taxonomic
status of numerous reptile taxa encountered during
the major survey of the Carnarvon Basin between
1994 and 1996, and made preliminary examinations
of problem taxa discovered during Brad Maryan’s
audit of the herpetological collection. Laurie Smith
finalised publications on the herpetofauna of the
Recherche Archipelago, made progress with the
systematic revision of the Lerista muelleri complex,
and completed a listing of the primary types in the
herpetological collection.
Ron Johnstone continued his detailed study of the
breeding biology and conservation concerns of three
species of threatened forest cockatoos, a project
undertaken in collaboration with the Perth Zoo, CALM
Western Australian Museum Annual Report 2000–2001
Western Australian Museum–
Science and Culture
and the Water Corporation. Further sampling of
Bungendore Park continues to document the rich
ground fauna of the Darling Scarp adjacent to the
Perth urban sprawl. In collaboration with Honorary
Associate Geoff Lodge, Ron is also documenting the
avifauna of the remote Kimberley islands.
Research Associate John Darnell completed a detailed
examination of the avifaunal reference collection at
the University of Singapore’s Zoology Department as
part of ongoing studies of the avifauna of the Lesser
Sunda islands.
In December, Ric How and Norah Cooper completed
the final vertebrate fauna survey of the area around
the Griffin Gas Plant near Onslow. This concludes a
very detailed three-year study of the herpetofauna
of the central Pilbara coast, which has provided a
significant collection of voucher specimens.
Ric How, Norah Cooper, Ron Johnstone and Laurie
Smith all participated in a survey of the mammals
and herpetofauna of the Yampi Peninsula, run by
Environment Australia. This survey, undertaken in
March, with both logistic and helicopter support,
enabled sampling in five remote locations on the
Yampi Sound Defence Training Area and provided
valuable information and material from a poorly
known area of the Kimberley during the height of
the wet season.
A winter survey of the frog fauna of the Lexia
wetlands on the northern outskirts of Perth was
undertaken by Johnny Prefumo and Brad Maryan,
funded by the Water and Rivers Commission. This
project will define base levels of amphibian
populations in these important wetlands on the
Gnangara Mound and provide new information on
the spread of the frog chytrid fungus in the outer
urban areas.