Past Programs
Conservation - 2008
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
Green at work - saving energy in the workplace
30/08/2008
Sandy and Flacco find the off switch.
Iconic Banksia rescued
02/08/2008
Researchers in Western Australia have increased the genetic diversity of a critically endangered Banksia. Using material from extinct populations in research in Britain, scientists have brought back seedlings for planting in WA thereby increasing the genetic diversity of plants in the wild.
WA biological hotspot reveals new species
02/08/2008
Over 1,500 flowering plants in Western Australia are undescribed, with 870 of these occurring in the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot. State-wide, 298 new plants were named in 2007, making it the second most productive year in Western Australian taxonomic history. Of these, at least 130 are from the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot. Ninety-five new botanical names were published in a special edition of the Western Australian Herbarium's journal Nuytsia, which provides descriptions and names to species vulnerable to mining or of conservation concern.
New coral alga discovered in Sydney Harbour
26/07/2008
Coral in Sydney Harbour has been found to contain a previously undiscovered alga. The coral encrusts rocks under the water. The alga lives in the coral and give it sugars. The family tree of algae based on sequencing DNA shows the alga is in a new position on the tree, and is related to the malaria parasite. The alga is seen as a missing link between another alga and a parasite. It was previously thought to be extinct.
Malaysian and Indonesian peat swamps drained and burnt for palm oil production
12/07/2008
Most peat swamps are in the Indo Malaysian region. Peat a spongy wet mass and can support trees up to 70m in height. The environment is water-logged with high acidity, up to pH of 2. Dropped leaves don't decompose. Cellular contents leak out, but leaf structure remains. Peat swamps are estimated to have formed over 5,000 years. As well as a large range of plants, surprisingly there is diverse animal life as well. But peat swamps are being destroyed originally for timber but now for palm oil for American fast food and as a biofuel. Peat swamps are drained and the peat is burnt.
Unicellular organisms in Antarctica - response to extended darkness and temperature change
03/05/2008
Andrew McMinn describes the challenges of 24 hours of darkness, and 24 hours of daylight, and the amazing transmission that takes place over about 6 weeks.
Andrew McMinn studies phytoplankton and zooplankton and observes how they cope with the extended darkness.
He suggests these organisms can survive in the darkness in low temperatures. It won't be so easy in the dark at higher temperatures.
Australian sea floor expands
03/05/2008
Australia is 2.5 million square-kilometres larger following the United Nations recognising Australia's claim to more of the sea floor around the continent. Australia doesn't own the fish in the water, but it is responsible for the sea floor. Some trenches go to a depth of 10 kilometres below the surface. Tim O'Hara describes some of the animals which live at these depths.
Balancing Nature 4 - New Zealand
16/02/2008
Balancing Nature 3 - The Philippines
09/02/2008
Balancing Nature 2 - Vietnam
02/02/2008
Balancing Nature 1 - Australia
26/01/2008
18th century attitudes to Australian plants and animals
26/01/2008
While tracking the introduction of the African gamba grass which has become a significant problem in the Northern Territory, ecologist Gary Cook discovered that from the 1920s to 2000, 84 species of grasses and legumes were intentionally introduced to Australia. In official documents he found that in some cases these introductions appear to have been part of a plan to wipe out Australian plants and animals.
