The Australian Government's Innovation Report

• Key to Australasian liverwort and hornwort genera is the first comprehensive guide to all 181 genera of
liverworts and hornworts known from Australia and New Zealand; and
• Native earthworms of Australia II is a CD ‘book’ that describes 33 previously unknown earthworms and
revises the names and distributions of a further 29 species.
ABRS works collaboratively with researchers based at publicly funded research agencies to further the national
taxonomic capacity and output. ABRS also collaborates with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and
is developing the Australian Biodiversity Information Facility portal that aims to provide real-time access to a
wide range of biodiversity data held and maintained by individuals and institutions throughout Australia.
More information about ABRS and its programmes and activities can be found at:
www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/
Protecting Australia’s jewels
In 2006 the Australian Biological Resources
Study published a useful tool for scientists, natural
resource managers and wildlife protection officials
on a diverse group of jewel beetles.
Castiarina, Australia’s richest jewel beetle genus brings
together illustrations of all 478 castiarina species,
taxonomic information from more than a dozen
scientific papers and new information, including
identification keys and notes on conservation,
mimicry, diagnostic features, distribution and
adult food.
Launch at the South Australian Museum. Photo credits: ABRS
The book was most awaited in Western Australia,
where the group is most diverse, and in Tasmania,
where one species is listed as endangered.
The book was launched in April 2006 by the
Chair of the University of Adelaide’s School of
Earth and Environmental Science, Professor
Robert Hill, at a gathering at the South Australian
Museum.
Castiarina beetles. Photo credits: ABRS
24 Backing Australia’s Ability