Grey nurse shark pectoral fin positions during normal swimming were documented using stereo-video photogrammetry. Dihedral pectoral fin angles ranged from –25° to 88° and varied significantly among sites, which was attributed to differing navigational/energetic requirements. There was no significant relationship between pectoral fin angles and distances of sharks from divers.

The natural temperate montane grasslands of the New England Bioregion of New South Wales are for the first time described. These grasslands are primarily of a wet tussock type. Their phytosociology, occurrence and threats are described. Only 10% (2500 ha) is likely to be in high quality condition.

Using algal, fish and reef indicators we provide a rapid assessment method of herbivorous fishes in Locally Managed Marine Areas in Fiji. Generally, reefs with higher herbivore biomass had a diverse low biomass of algae. These results show that simple indicators can be a useful addition to the existing local knowledge that underpins community-based management

This paper investigated the impacts of roads on land-use change in a coastal area of Thailand. We found that the rate of land-use change from semi-natural habitats to human-dominated habitats was negatively correlated with distance from major roads. Most of the converted salt-pans were lost to aquaculture.

Urban remnant vegetation persists as patches of varying size and degree of disturbance throughout the Perth metropolitan area in south-western Australia. Nemesiidae, a mygalomorph spider clade, have low mobility and dispersal capabilities. Invasive weeds and rabbits were found to be most detrimental to Nemesiidae presence in urban remnant vegetation patches.

This research uses camera trap technology to examine wildlife at tree hollow entrances over a three-month period in the sclerophyll forests of north-east New South Wales. Anthropogenic disturbance, including the level of vegetation modification of the understorey was shown to be a significant predictor of arboreal species presence and abundance.

We explored the spatial distribution of bird species, and functional and phylogenetic diversity relative to elevational gradient in Taiwan. Our results indicate that the bird-protected areas in Taiwan may have been established with an over-dependence on species richness but overlooked the importance of phylogenetic diversity.

The use of satellite tracking, citizen science and photo-identification demonstrates that whale sharks that aggregate at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, migrate north and/or south along the expansive Western Australian coast, before returning to Ningaloo in the austral autumn.