We describe the morphology and cytochemical characteristics of all peripheral blood cells in six species of Australian catfish. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, heterophils and monocytes in all species studied were morphologically similar to those reported in other catfish species. Basophils, eosinophils and PAS-GLs were observed in several species.
Photo by David Morgan.

The biology of a common Australian jumping spider, Servaea incana, is described, including (1) descriptions of habitat, nests and retreats; (2) observations of prey, predators and parasites; and (3) descriptions of intraspecific interactions between spiders of different sex and age classes. Intraspecific interactions are mediated primarily via visual displays.
Photo by Rowan McGinley.

In this study, we examined lateralisation in forelimb use in captive long-beaked echidnas. Unimanual actions during routine behaviour were studied in male and female Zaglossus bruijni, and male and female Z. bartoni. This is the first record of individual forelimb preferences in monotreme mammals.
Photo by Klaus Rudloff.

We report on nest-site selection and use by the long-nosed bandicoot following a wildfire. After fire, bandicoots typically used nests under dense grasses and midstorey in unburnt microhabitat in burnt areas. These nests were significantly larger and were used more frequently than nests located in burnt microhabitat.
Photo by Christopher MacGregor.

Frogs will alter their development in response to stress, trading off developmental speed against final body size. We examined this trade-off in response to salinity across multiple populations and found that frogs that breed in consistently saline conditions may no longer be able to adjust their development according to environment, making them more prone to predation and less able to disperse.
Photo by Bronwyn Kearney.

This paper describes a 10-year study of the community of two species of small rodents (Mastacomys fuscus and Rattus fuscipes) and one species of dasyurid marsupial (Antechinus swainsonii) in the subalpine zone of the Australian Alps. Each species exhibited differing life-histories with respect to population numbers, fluctuations in numbers, reproductive characteristics, winter survival, immigration and longevity.
Photo by Ken Green.

The endangered Capricorn yellow chat showed no mitochondrial genetic diversity within, nor divergence between, two groups separated by ~140 km, suggesting a recent genetic bottleneck. Comparison with the inland subspecies indicates a separation time congruent with two periods of Pleistocene glacial aridity during which ephemeral swamps may have expanded, allowing colonisation of marine plains.
Photo by Mick Barker.

Previous investigations into edge effects in seagrass ecosystems have predominantly focused on seagrass–sandy substrate boundaries. This study provides evidence that other heterogeneous habitats adjacent to seagrass beds (e.g. rocky algal reef) may exert previously overlooked effects on the distribution of faunal assemblages.
Photo by James van den Broek.