THE Tasmanian Naturalist ’ Published by Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club Inc. ISSN 0819-6826 VOLUME 119 (1997) T.F.N.C. _ THE Tasmanian Naturalist EDITOR: ROBERT J. TAYLOR CONTENTS Invertebrates of the Domain - A brief survey and implications for management. P.B. Me Quillan 2 Native land snails of King Island and the Hunter Group. K. Bonham 10 Naturalists should carry maps. R. Mesibov 23 Vegetation communities and vascular plants of Cataract Gorge Reserve, Launceston. F. Duncan 31 Terrestrial fauna of Cataract Gorge Reserve, Launceston. R. Taylor ; R. Mesibov, R. B re re ton and K. Bonham 46 Release of captive-bred sugar gliders in southern Tasmania. B.S. Klettenheimer and M. Salomon 59 Book Reviews 70 Published annually by The Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club Inc., G.P.O. Box 68A, Hobart, Tasmania 7001 The Tasmanian Naturalist (1997) 119:2-9. INVERTEBRATES OF THE DOMAIN - A BRIEF SURVEY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT Peter B. McQuillan Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252C, Hobart, Tasmania 7001. Abstract The invertebrate fauna of the Domain, a bushland reserve near central Hobart, is substantial and largely typical of grassy woodlands elsewhere in south eastern Tasmania, although several groups including butterflies are under represented. A number of rare species are present, including the endemic aniMyrmecia esuriens , the geometrid moth Lackrana carbo and the lucanid beetle Lissotes basilaris. The small grass cricket Balamara albivittata is recorded from Tasmania for the first time. Numerous animal-plant mutualisms occur, but some may be precarious in the long term due to pressures on one or other partner. Habitat supplementation should be considered to enhance the longer term survival of certain species and invertebrate biodiversity overall. Threatening processes include trampling, pesticide drift, invasion of exotic plants, and the impact of introduced predators such as European wasps, starlings and blackbirds. INTRODUCTION The Domain is a council reserve near central Hobart. This reserve contains areas of grassland and grassy woodland communities which have been much depleted and are poorly reserved (Kirkpatrick 1986). This paper reports on a short survey of the invertebrates of the Domain. The conservation status and significance of the invertebrate species and communities are highlighted and suggestions are made for improved management of the natural areas of the reserve. Although there are no comprehensive studies of the insects of grassy woodlands in eastern Tasmania yet published, several are in progress and comparisons are made with these other areas. METHODS Four locations, chosen to represent a broad range of vegetation types, were sampled on three occasions in January, February and March 1995. These were a Eucalyptus viminalis grassy woodland, a E. globulus-E . pulchella forest, an Allocasuarina forest and a damp slope rich in graminoids, especially sedges. Ultra¬ violet light traps to sample nocturnal flying insects were operated on warm nights at all sites. These traps were powered by a 12 volt gel electrolyte battery and controlled by a light sensitive switch which turns the trap on at dusk and off at dawn. Specimens Invertebrates of the Domain 3 which entered the traps were anaesthetised with the vapours of tetrachlorethane. Pitfall traps were installed at all sites in order to sample terrestrial invertebrates such as ants and beetles. These consisted of 10 cm diameter plastic cups sunk flush with the soil surface and one-third filled with ethylene glycol as a preservative. They were arranged in groups of three and emptied after 30 days on 18 March 1995. The catch was sorted in the laboratory and stored in 70% ethanol. Diumally active species such as butterflies and grasshoppers were collected with a net on an opportunistic basis. Searching under stones and logs, which were carefully replaced, yielded sedentary species such as trapdoor spiders, beetles, centipedes and millipedes which are not readily caught by other methods. Voucher specimens from this study have been deposited in the collection of the Centre for Environmental Studies at the University of Tasmania. RESULTS A large variety of invertebrates was sampled although a full appreciation of their diversity would require sampling across all seasons. In addition, the summer of 1995 was extremely dry and insect numbers were relatively low compared to other years. The invertebrates collected in the survey are listed in Appendix 1. Comments on significant taxa are given below. Grasshoppers and crickets Grassy woodlands are a prime habitat for orthopterous insects and a number of interesting species occur on the Domain. Especially noteworthy is the occurrence of the small grass cricket Balamara albivittata here recorded from Tasmania for the first time, although otherwise widespread in south eastern Australia. The cave cricket Parvotettix sp. is a Tasmanian endemic usually found under logs. The black field cnckciTeleogryllus commodus is very common in eastern Tasmania, especially on cracking clay soils where it feeds on grass seeds in autumn. The mole cricket Gryllotalpa australis makes shallow tunnels in grassland and has a loud and distinctive call. The grasshopper fauna is typical of grassy woodland, being numerically dominated by the wingless grasshopper Phaulacridium vittaturn. This species matures in the late summer and overwinters in the subterranean egg stage before hatching in late November. Other grasshopper species are much less abundant although the large yellow-winged locust is conspicuous by its bright yellow wings and noisy flight. The small grasshopper Austroicetes vulgaris occurs around eucalypts as does the dead leaf grasshopper Goniaea australasiae where it blends into the litter. The endemic flightless Tasmaniacris tasmaniensis is widespread. Beetles Several significant species of ground dwelling beetles were recorded. However, herbivorous beetles, of which a significant fauna might be expected, are best sampled 4 The Tasmanian Naturalist in the spring and thus would not have been sampled by this survey. Root feeders. The ground weevil fauna includes three species of flightless Amycterinae and a species of Mandalotus. The former feed as larvae on the root crowns of Poa tussocks. Amycterinae are a primitive Australian group which are declining in many areas due to pastoralisation. The cockchafer fauna is unremarkable, dominated by the ubiquitous Scitala sericans and several species of Heteronyx. Phyllotocus bimaculatus is also present. Predators. The predatory carabid fauna is typical of a somewhat degraded grassy woodland or pasture. Promecoderus cf ovicollis dominates this guild as it does in sheep pastures in the Midlands of Tasmania. An apparent absence is the genus Rhytistemus which can be locally common in native grassland in lowland Tasmania. Several native ladybirds were observed, including Coccinella repanda and a Rhizobius. Litter Detritivores. The tenebrionid beetles Celibe costatus (flightless) and Lagria grandis (winged) are widespread. Log Detritivores. Three lucanid beetles were found in the blue gum forest. Lissotes obtusatus is a flightless endemic widespread in southern Tasmania whereas L. basilaris is a rare species restricted to the Hobart area west of the Derwent River. Syndesus cornutus is a winged species also found on mainland Australia. Both have slow-growing larvae dependent on rotting logs in contact with the soil. Cambium borers. Evidence in the form of elliptical emergence holes on the trunks of both white gum and blue gum points to a fauna of Cerambycidae or long-homed beetles. Subcortical feeders. Chalcopteroides columbinus lives under the peeling bark of Eucalyptus viminalis. This is an uncommon beetle in Tasmania, although the genus has many species on the mainland. Butterflies The butterfly fauna of the Domain is smaller than expected for a typical woodland habitat in south eastern Tasmania. Six native species and an exotic were recorded. Two skipper butterflies, the white grass dart Taractrocera papyria and the yellow banded dart Ocybadistes walkeri , are common in late summer in open grassy areas. The Meadow Argu sJunonia villida is ubiquitous in areas wher cPlantago is present. Three species of browns” occur on the Domain: Klug’s Xenica Geitoneura klugii , the Shouldered Brown Heteronympha penelope , and the Common Brown Heteronympha merope. All feed on native grasses as larvae, especially kangaroo grass. Despite ample supplies of its foodplant Poa , the silver xenica Oreixenica lathoniella is absent. The Cabbage White Pieris rapae is an introduced species of European origin present in the Hobart area since about 1940. The absence or rarity of certain key foodplant explains some of the absences, such as Ga/zma-dependent Hesperilla and Antipodia , but others are less apparent. Invertebrates of the Domain 5 Another notable absence is ihzLomandra-fet&mgTrapezites luteus which otherwise occurs on Knocklofty, Mt Nelson and the eastern shore of the Derwent River. The small patch of Gahnia radula on the Domain appears not to support any butterflies. Seasonality in activity is strongly marked in the butterfly fauna and further collecting in early summer is recommended to further validate and extend the conclusions drawn here. Moths An interesting and varied moth fauna survives on the Domain. It is dominated by grass-feeding and litter-feeding species, but also contains specialist feeders on Allocasuarina , Acacia , Eucalyptus , Ozothamnus , and other genera. A list of recorded species appears in Appendix 1. The small geometrid Scopula rubraria is very common. Their larvae are associated with Plantago . However, the very rare geometrid Lackrana carbo is only known from the Domain and from Walkers Lookout on Flinders Island. Nothing is known of its lifecycle or foodplant needs. Noteworthy is the apparent absence of some moths characteristic of Allocasuarina forest such as Catoryctis and Rhynchopsota. Ants The Domain ant fauna exhibits a profile of genera characteristic of a grassy woodland. Several are important as dispersers of the seeds of native plants. Three species of Myrmecia are present including the uncommon endemic M. esuriens. Seed-harvesting ants of the genus Pheidole are represented by at least four species. Anonychomyrma trails up the trunks of large E. viminalis and is strongly dependent on honeydew resources from psyllids in the canopy foliage. It is also an important disperser of eucalypt seeds (Bashford 1993). The nocturnal ant fauna is dominated by Camponotus consobrinus, a large orange and brown ant common on tree trunks. The absence of species of Polyrachis from the samples may reflect the relative shortage of woody debris in which these ants establish their nests. No inquilines (invertebrates which live in ants nests) apart from springtails ( ISinella sp.) were found. Wasps The large metallic “blue ant "Diamma bicolor , a parasite of mole crickets, was collected in the open grassy woodland. Large orange ichneumonids of the genus Netelia , parasites of caterpillars, were collected in all the light traps. Mutualisms: pollinating insects and plants The following native plants which have been recorded from the Domain rely completely or partly on native bees for outcrossing: Diuris sulphurea, Carpobrotus rossii , some Asteraceae, Wahlenbergia gracilis, W. quadrifida, Aotus ericoides, Bossiaea prostrata, Dillwynia cinerascens, Pultenaea juniperina, Pultenaea pedunculata, Goodenia lanata, Goodenia ovata , some Acacia, 6 The Tasmanian Naturalist Eucalyptus spp., Myoporum insulare , Bursaria spinosa , Stylidium graminifolium, Viola hederacea . Various native bees rely on undisturbed patches of bare soil or clay banks as nesting sites. Others excavate nests in pith stems or occupy abandoned borer holes in dead wood. The identification and maintenance of such breeding sites is therefore essential to guarantee adequate population levels of native pollinators. Unfortunately, most native bee-plant mutualisms in Australia have been disrupted by introduced honeybees, leading to changes in gene flow patterns and possibly rates of seed set. Given that honeybees can forage for nectar and pollen over several kilometres there is little to be gained by actively destroying feral hives on the Domain. However, tree hollows occupied by hives are precluded from use as nesting sites for birds. No feral hives were observed on the Domain during this study but honey bees were abundant. Key nectar plants on the Domain which are exploited by insects include Bursaria spinosa , Eucalyptus species and Pimelea species. IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT The conservation of the insect fauna on the Domain is strongly tied in the first instance to the ongoing conservation of the native plants. Therefore most measures which secure the ongoing survival of the flora will generally be beneficial to the fauna. Invasion by weeds presents a serious threat by displacing native foodplants and smothering habitat. Nevertheless, some native insects are actually advantaged by introduced herbaceous species: Plantago lanceolata is utilised by many species formerly dependent only on the native Plantago varia. Hence the butterfly Junonia villida, the moth Scopula rubraria and the dominant grasshopper Phaulacridium vittatum flourish. Predators and competitors include European wasps, honey bees, starlings and blackbirds, although their impacts are not well understood. The disturbance regime is critical in providing opportunities for certain insects. Important factors here are mowing, trampling, fire and pesticides. Mowing Mowing helps maintain a distinctive blend of grasses and herbs which favour certain species. Many of the native grasshopper species prefer to feed on herbaceous dicots and are disadvantaged by tall grass that is allowed to become rank. However, too frequent mowing may favour more prostrate introduced species (such as Plantago lanceolata) and also make insects more vulnerable to bird predation through removal of protective cover. Heavy vehicular traffic on wet soils in late summer and autumn is deleterious because it crushes the egg masses of grasshoppers which are buried just below the soil surface. Invertebrates of the Domain 7 Fire There is considerable adaptation to fire in the invertebrate faunas of woodlands in southern Australia. Many grassland insects tolerate fire because their most vulnerable life cycle stages are subterranean. Examples include most ants and moths such as Hednota ; Oncopera and Fraus. A separate strategy involves having sufficient mobility to escape from a fire front and take refuge in adjacent habitat. Detrimental impacts on some insects are likely in the event that untimely fires destroy the nectar resource provided by flowering herbaceus plants in the spring and early summer. Recolonisation of burnt areas from surrounding habitat is an important mechanism in the rehabilitation of woodland faunas. Given the isolation of the Domain from similar habitat, recolonisation would be difficult in the event of an extensive fire. Re-establishment of habitat There is a need to establish further habitat for some invertebrates with specialised needs. Logs and similar woody debris in contact with the soil are extremely important for species such as stag beetles, tenebrionid beetles, some spiders and flat worms. This resource has been depleted due to frequent fires and lack of recruitment of new logs from recently dead trees due to their removal by council workers. Scavanging for firewood is also a problem in many near urban areas. Deep litter is scarce in the Domain but is important as a food resource for moths of the family Oecophoridae which are very diverse at the species level in Tasmania (ca 250 species). The litter mat which characteristically accumulates under Allocasuarina is a unique invertebrate habitat, rich in scorpions, which is threatened by too frequent burning. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Karyl Michaels undertook the pitfall trapping. Greg Blake assisted with the ant identifications. The work was undertaken for the Hobart City Council as part of the preparation of a management plan. REFERENCES Bashford, R. (1993) Seed harvesting ants in Tasmanian dry eucalypt forests. Tasforests 5: 57-62. Kirkpatrick, J.B. (1986) The viability of bush in cities - ten years of change in an urban grassy woodland. Aust. J. Bot. 34: 691-708. 8 The Tasmanian Naturalist Appendix 1. List of insects recorded on the domain during January-March 1995. (e) indicates an endemic species Coleoptera (Beetles) Carabidae Promecoderus cf ovicollis Curculionidae Mandalotus Lucanidae Lissotes obtusatus (Westwood) Lissotes basilaris Deyrolle (e) Syndesus comutus Fabricius Scarabaeidae Heteronyx sp. Phyllotocus bimaculatusErickson Scitala sericans Erickson Tenebrionidae Celibe a?stata.y(Solier) Lagria grandis Gyllenhal Hymenoptera (Wasps and Ants) Formicidae Anonychomyrma biconvexa (Santschi) Camponotus claripes Mayr Camponotus consobrinus (Erichson) Camponotus gasseri (Forel) Iridomyrmex bicknelli Emery Iridomyrmex sp. 1 Myrmecia esuriens Fabricius (e) Myrmeciaforficata (Fabricius) Myrmecia pilosula F. Smith Ochtellius punctatissimus Emery Pheidole spp. (5 species) Ponerinae undet. Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis Emery Rhytidoponera victoriae (Andre) Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Carposinidae Bondia nigella Newman Geometridae Epyaxa subidaria (Guenee) Lackrana carbo McQuillan (e) Scopula rubraria (Doubleday) Hesperiidae Taractrocera papyria (Boisduval) Ocybadistes walkeri Heron Lasiocampidae Entometa marginata W alker Noctuidae Persectania ewingii (Westwood) Nolidae Uraba lugens Walker Nymphalidae Junonia villida (Fabricius) Geitoneura klugii (Guerin-Meneville) Heteronympha penelope Waterhouse Heteronympha merope (Fabricius) Oecophoridae Eulechria episema Meyrick Garrha ocellifera (Meyrick) Garrha sp. Heteroteucha ophthalmica (Meyrick) Ocystola crystallina Meyrick Syringoseca mimica (Meyrick) Tortricopsis euryphanella (Meyrick) Zacorus cara Butler Pieridae Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) Psychidae Narycia sp. Pyralidae Hednota pedionoma (Meyrick) Hednota relatalis Walker Metasia sp. Thaumetopoeidae Epicoma contristis Hubner Mantodea (Mantids) Invertebrates of the Domain 9 Mantidae Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis Saussure Tenodera australasiae (Leach) Orthoptera (Crickets and Grasshoppers) Acrididae Austroicetes vulgaris (Sjostedt) Gastrimargus musicus (Fabricius) Goniaea australasiae (Leach) Macrotona australis (Walker) Phaulacridium vittatum (Sjostedt) Tasmaniacris tasmaniensis (Bolivar) (e) Gryllidae Balamara albovittata (Chopard) Bobilla sp. (e) Teleogryllus commodus (Walker) Gryllotalpidae Gryllotalpa australis Erichson Rhaphidophoridae Parvotettix sp. (e) The Tasmanian Naturalist (1997) 119:10-22. NATIVE LAND SNAILS OF KING ISLAND AND THE HUNTER GROUP Kevin J. Bonham 3/54 Duke Street, Sandy Bay, Hobart, Tasmania 7005 Abstract. This paper documents recent surveys of the native land snails of the major islands of western Bass Strait. Thirteen species were recorded from King Island. Three of these species have not previously been found in Tasmania, a further three species are new records for the island and the Tasmanian population of Austrochloritis victoriae (Cox, 1868) was rediscovered. Eleven species were recorded from the previously unsurveyed Hunter Group, including the rare species Tasmaphetia lamproides (Cox, 1868) on Three Hummock Island. While the King Island fauna has many connections to south¬ eastern Victoria, the fauna of the Hunter Group is a depleted subset of the north-western Tasmanian fauna. The conservation status of several species is discussed. INTRODUCTION Although the Fumeaux Group and northern Bass Strait islands have been adequately surveyed for land snails, the islands of western Bass Strait have historically received little attention. Smith and Kershaw (1981) gave mapped records for only eight King Island species, of which one (Austrochloritis victoriae ) was classified as extinct in Tasmania by the Invertebrate Advisory Committee (1994) on the basis of lack of recent records and evidence of disappearance from the original locality. After these surveys, a prior specimen of a ninth species, Paralaoma caputspinulae , was found in the Tasmanian Museum collections. In the case of the Hunter Group islands, Smith and Kershaw gave no records, although Pernagera officeri specimens collected by Bob Green from the minor island Albatross Island are held in the Tasmanian Museum’s collections. Magilaoma penolensisspccwnzns labelled by W.F. Petterd and probably from Hunter Island (as Barren Island) are also held in the Museum’s collection. The surveys documented in this paper were conducted with the aims of rectifying the lack of knowledge of the western Bass Strait snail fauna, clarifying the status of various threatened and rare species, and contributing to biogeographical understanding of the region. METHODS Snails of King and Hunter Group 11 Fig. 1. Location of sample sites on King Island Owing chiefly to constraints of time and transport, the King Island survey, conducted between 10 and 17 December 1996, was unsystematic. A number of sites 12 The Tasmanian Naturalist were searched by the author on a free-ranging, variable-time basis, with variable numbers of assistants, the aim being to record as many species as possible and achieve a reasonable coverage of the island. Five sites (1,3,4,6,17) were foreshore or dune shrubbery sites, nine (2,5,9,10,11,12,13,14,15) were wet eucalypt forest sites with understoreys including somcofAcaciamelanoxylon, Olearia, Pomaderris , Hedicarya, Eleocarpus, Cyathea and Dicksonia and three sites (7,8,16) consisted of medium-height eucalypt/tea-tree scrub. Most sites were searched for at least thirty minutes, with one (site 5) being searched for about two hours. A further nine sites in severely degraded areas were briefly searched with no native snails being found and locations of these are not included in Fig. 1. The Hunter Group survey was conducted solely by the author on a semi- quantitative basis. Twenty-five sites were sampled over Three Hummock, Robbins and Hunter Islands. Sites of radius fifty metres were searched incompletely for a maximum of one hour, but were abandoned after forty minutes if there was no serious likelihood of finding more species. Foreshore and dune scrub sites (H3,H6,H7,T1,T5,T6,R1,R8) accounted for eight sites. Only four wet eucalypt forest sites were sampled (H2,T4,T6,T9) as this is not a major habitat type in the Hunter Group, but two sites (R6,R7) featured unusual Leptospermum/Dicksonia scrub. The remaining eleven sites included a range of drier eucalypt forest (H4,H5,T2,T8,R2,R3,R4), Leptospermum scrubs (H1,T3), and Leptospermum/ Acacia “swamp forests” (H8,R5) (Fig. 2). It was not possible to achieve a thorough geographic coverage of Hunter or Robbins Islands. In both surveys all major vegetation types likely to yield native snails were sampled. RESULTS The number of each species seen (alive and dead combined) are not a fully reliable indicator of the relative frequency of species for two reasons. Firstly, sampling often specifically targeted distinctive habitats. Secondly, species differed in the extent to which their presence would be detected from a dead shell. Thus Cystopelta , being a slug, is nearly always found alive whereas with Helicarion , Tasmaphena and Flammulops over 85% of specimens were based on dead shells. Thus Cystopelta appears less common than it probably is. An important specimen of Austrochloritis victoriae (site 2) was a damaged dead shell and appeared to have been predated by a bird, suggesting that the species may not occur in the direct surrounds of the site. King Island Numbers of each species at each site are given in Table 1. Species recorded were as follows: Snails of King and Hunter Group 13 Succineidae Succinea australis (Ferussac, 1821) Rhytididae Austrorhytida sp. (Undescribed) *# Prolesophanta dyeri (Petterd, 1879) Rhytididae Punctidae Paralaoma caputspinulae (Reeve, 1854) Laomavix collisi (Brazier, 1877) * Magilaoma penolensis (Cox, 1868) Table 1. Numbers of each species found at sites on King Island. Species codes are derived from the first letter of the genus and species. See list in text. 14 The Tasmanian Naturalist 3 o H c/a o O o & £ & > < o X cx U n(S(n\o>oincnTt-Ti- vo co ? A) o O) ‘Tasmanian JidcC 9{aturaCists' Chib (TT < HC) * * * * * * * BU LLETIN NO. 260 SUPPLEMENT TO THE "TASMANIAN NATURALIST" OCTOBER.1 990 The Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club is devoted to the study of all forms of Natural-History, and is comprised of both experts and beginners. We cover a wide variety of topics, and we support conservation. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, except January, in the CSIRO Conference Room, Stowell Ave, Battery Point, at 7.45 p.m; * Outings are usually held the following weekend, meeting outside the new entrance to the Museum, Macquarie Street. The Club's address is G.P.O. T3ox 68A, Hobart, 7001 and the Secretary is Ms Helen Davidson, phone 23 7015. **************************** ** *************************************************** PROGRAMME Thurs. Nov. 1st. 7.45p.m. Peg Putt, the Nature Guarantee Coordinator with the Tasmanian Conservation Trust will give an illustrated talk on Protection for Tasmania's Endangered Species and their Habitats. Special visitors on this night will be a group of 13 North American naturalists spending a short time in the Hobart area. As they are staying at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Battery Point, the meeting ‘will be held in the CSIRO Conference Room as previously. Sat. Nov. 10th. ( Not Nov. 3rd, as previously advertised ) Because several important environmental seminars etc. are being held the first weekend in Nov., we have had to postpone the Bruny Island outing for one week. In order to be at Kettering at least 20 mins, before the departure of the 9.30 a«m . ferry, we will need to leave the Museum at 8.15a,.m . The ferry charges will be $17 per vehicle (return), so we will pool cars at Kettering so as to take as few cars across as possible. Dave Watrs, Sandy Tiffin and Peg Part will be cur leaders for the day and will show us over the TCT's newly acquired Lutregala Marsh Reserve, which adjoins the Bruny Island Neck Game Reserve. Dave has studied the bifdlife of the area for several years and recorded more than 35 species of birds, including the 40 Spotted Pardalote. As the Lutregala Reserve is a wet land ecosystem, gumboots or good, waterproof walking shoes will be required if you want to keep your feet dry. For further information contact Helen Davidson (ph.23 7015) . Thurs. Dec.6th. 7.45p.m . AT THE PLANT SCIENCES BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY (see accompanying map). Mark Neyland and/or Peter McQuillan will present an illustrated talk on Tasmanian Butterflies and will demonstrate collecting and display techniques. As this will be the last meeting for the year, and to celebrate our move to the new venue, we will conclude with a special supper - please bring a plate of sandwiches, cake or biscuits, etc. Sat. Dec. 8th. 10a.m . (from Museum). An outing to Snug Tiers with Peter McQuillan, who will show us how to catch and preserve butterflies, their food plants etc., Peter will supply suitable nets, storage containers and other necessary items, but bring some of your own, if you have ******************* tfefw********************************************************** * * * * * 1991 MEMBERSHIP FEES: DUE ON 1st JANUARY, 199i ADULTS: .$15.00 FAMILIES:.$18.00 STUDENTS, PENSIONERS AND HEALTH CARD HOLDERS:.$12.00 Subscriptions to the "Tasmanian Naturalist": Australia: Individuals:....$12.00 Institutions:.$16.00 Overseas: Individuals:....$14.00 Institutions:.$18.00 ******************************************•.'c ******************************************** PS70- 5 ■n't 0 ! NEW MEETING VENUE : As stated in the programme, the December meeting will be held in the University Plant Sciences Building (marked "P.Sc." on the map), in a ground floor lecture theatre. It is recommended that you park in the carpark off College Road (marked "C.P."), then take the path around to the main entrance (marked "E"). Committee members will be on hand to direct you. The TFNC Library will be installed in a second floor botany laboratory on Thursday, November 15th and library items will be available at general meetings or, at other times, by contacting Phil Collier (ph 20 2375) during University business hours. HELP IS NEEDED ON MOVING DAY - PLEASE CONTACT A COMMITTEE MEMBER TO VOLUNTEER. *************************************************************************************** NEW BOOK ON SOUTH-WEST TASMANIA : Heritage Books have recently published the field guide/set of track notes on the Tasmanian World Heritage area entitled "South-West Tasmania: a Natural History and Visitors Guide". Written by Ken Collins, the book provides comprehensive information on the South-West's geology and glaciation, fauna and flora, as well as notes on the National Parks and bushwalking trails. Included in the guide are 740 colour photographs, line drawings and maps. The club has already sold 10 copies at a special pre-release price of $30 each, and if sufficient orders are received, another bulk order will be placed and the books sold at a similarly reduced rate (RRP $39.95). Every Tasmanian home should have a copy. *************************************************************************************** PRESIDENT'S REPORT : The club had a very well received display at the SGAP Flower Show held from 12th to 16th October. As usual, we displayed various animals, shells and a few botanical items. A tape of bird and frog calls proved to be popular. We also distributed information about the club which we hope will produce some new members. As in past years, several members did a lot of work planning, setting up, and supervising the display. On behalf of all club members I would like to thank everyone involved in these activities. *************************************************************************************** TASMANIAN ENVIRONMENT CENTRE - CALENDAR AND COURSES : David Stephen's Organic Growing Calendar for 1991, with monthly hints by Peter Cundall, is now available at $7 (post paid) from the TEC, 102 Bathurst Street, Hobart. The centre is again conducting an interesting and educational series of Botany and Ecology Courses this summer, to various locations including Flinders Island, the Central Plateau, Mt. Field and Ben Lomond. For further details contact the TEC (ph. 34 5566). *************************************************************************************** CAPRICORN 1 NATURE TRAIL : On Saturday 15th September, 15 adults and 9 children walked the route of the proposed Nature Trail with Major Ron Wade-Ferrall, the owner of Capricorn 1. The trail passed first through old farmland beside a narrow stream, then through steep, scrubby bushland. White pegs numbered 1-18 were set out at points of special interest along the track and Helen recorded the particular natural history items at each site. Craig Smith identified some of the many marine fossils found in the area. A brochure (or brochures) will be compiled by 1991 to suit school children in grades 4-6. They will be expected to note various natural history features at each site and answer relevant questions. ************************************************************************************** NEW LOOK "TAS NAT" : The October "Tasmanian Naturalist" has been produced by Phil Collier using desk—top publishing. Phil would welcome any comments from members on the quality and style of the journal. The committee is also looking at other means of reducing the cost of production of the "Tasmanian Naturalist". ************************** *********************************************************** * COATES Wildlife TOURS -if OUTBACK CAMPING SAFARIS NEW 1991 BROCHURE AVAILABLE NOW Including our popular range of wildlife tours in Western and South Australia and the Northern Territory and Introducing two new tours - 16 day New Zealand Natural History Tour 7 day Christmas Island Nature Tour For further Information and brochures, please contact: 87 First Avenue, Mount Lawley, Western Australia 6050 Tel: (09) 271 7879 Fax: (09) 271 5570 Uc. No 9TA00358 *************************************************************************************** COLLECTING WITH CARE: LAND SNAILS Live snails Live snails should only be collected under certain circumstances; for instance, as part of a study, or if the specimens are known to be of scientific interest. In other cases, where there is either a very large population, or where the habitat is about to be destroyed, live snails can also be taken, but not from protected areas. In general, only a small number of snails should be collected (certainly no more than a dozen, less if the species is not abundant). Adult specimens of average size should be taken in preference to juveniles. Live snails can be kept alive in reasonably large containers (about film container size for small snails, or for large animals, containers about the size of a Vegemite glass, or larger). These should be 1/3 filled with leaf litter from near where the the snails were found. Some moist moss or tissue paper should also be added, especially in the case of small snails, which are generally not very hardy. Snails kept this way normally live for at least a week, but only some species will survive in the long term when kept in containers. They should be quickly taken to a Museum or carefully posted to an expert in the field. DO NOT PUNCH HOLES IN CONTAINER LIDS as the contents dry rapidly when this is done. Likewise, NEVER MIX DIFFERENT SPECIES. Some snails are carnivorous and will readly eat other snails. The locality of any snails found, together with the date of the find, and some indication of the habitat, should be recorded. Live snails can also be preserved for study in non-acidic solutions (such as 5% neutral formalin or 70% alcohol). Dilute menthol solutions can be used to relax the animal tissues prior to preserving. Dead snails Dead snails should be collected in small containers (film container size, or, for many species, smaller). They should not be carried loose in pockets or backpacks. Dead snails should be carefully washed and dried, and stored in small plastic containers. They should be protected using cottonwool, and very small specimens should be wrapped in tissue paper as well. They can then be kept for collections, or easily transported or posted for identification. As with live snails, some basic data on all snail finds should be kept with the specimens, as occasionally finds by non—specialists can prove to be very useful. Kevin Bonham 1 Gordon Avenue Mt. Stuart. Tasmania. 7000 Phone 28 7453 Reference: Smith, B.J. and Kershaw, R.C. (1979) A Field Guide to the Non-Marine Molluscs of South Eastern Australia ANU Press, Canberra. (This book is available in the State Library) ************ museum of victoria Tasmanian TietcC 9{aturaCists CCnb Inc, 09082 Bulletin No. 269 Supplement to the Tasmanian Natm The Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club is devoted to the study of'al|. forg^7g|^atuj History, and is comprised of both experts and beginners. We cover a^videuiariet/of topics, and we support conservation. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, except January, in the Life Science Building at the University of Tasmania from 7.45 p.m. Outings are usually held the following weekend, meeting outside the main entrance to the Museum, Macquarie Street. The Club's address is GPO Box 68A, Hobart, 7001 and the club contact is Don Hird (34 4293). Programme Thurs. 4 Feb. 7.45p.m. : Steve Harris who is a botanist with Parks and Wildlife will talk on Furneaux Island Flora. Sat. 6 Feb. 10 a.m. : The next best thing to a Furneaux Island trip is an outing to the east coast—Steve will lead an excursion to view the Oyster Bay pines on the East Coast. Thurs. 4 March 19-21 March Thurs. 1 April Sat. 3 April Thurs. 6 May Sat. 8 May 7.45p.m. : AGM followed by the President's Address. The AGM always provides an opportunity for the Club to see some new faces and ideas on the Committee. Please volunteer to take your turn. Nomination forms will be available at meetings. (See Nobody's Business overleaf.) Federation meeting at Bronte Park. Details are included overleaf. 7.45p.m. : Debbie Bramich of the Zoology Department at Tas Uni will talk to us on the ecology of the common dolphin in southern Tasmania. 10 a.m. : Debbie has established an extensive network of observers including commercial and sport fisher-people who regularly report dolphin sittings. Debbie will have us spotting dolphins for her around her local study sites. 7.45p.m. : Will Fletcher, from the Plants of Tasmania Nursery will speak on aspects of propagating and landscaping with Tasmanian Plants. 10 a.m. : Outing to the Plants of Tasmania Nursery at Ridgeway. If the weather is kind we may walk to the top of Chimney Pot Hill for lunch and inspect the Tasmanian endemic plants typical of dolerite hillsides in south-east Tasmania. New Members A special welcome to our new members Jayne Bulmer, Genevieve Gates, Frances Maxwell and Tony Woolford. The Tasmanian Naturalist Sue Collier has had some success in locating the missing issues of The Tasmanian Naturalist (see the July 1992 Bulletin). Many thanks to members who have helped in the search. The issues we still require are first series volume 2, number 1 (1908); second series volume 1, number 1 (1924). The committee is now very anxious to acquire originals of these issues. Please search your bookshelves, keep your eyes out in antiquarian bookshops and auctions. The Club purchased four old copies of The Tasmanian Naturalist at an auction for $18, some of which were required for our set. In light of this, the committee will now dispose gradually of some of the old issues at auctions to clear our excess stock and raise funds. This may be your last chance to buy old copies at the members price of $1 each. Federation of Field Naturalists Clubs of Tasmania Our Club is hosting the next meeting of the Federation at Bronte Park Chalet on the weekend 19-21 March 1993. As usual we are planning to use some quality guides and speakers for this occasion. Please make a special effort to come along and meet the keen members of our allied Clubs around the State. You don't have to attend the annual general meeting! Venue Bronte Park Highland Village and Chalet, Marlborough Highway. Accommodation 6 houses have been reserved with 3 double and/or twin share rooms. Full kitchen, showers and toilet are in each house. Bring sheets and towels. Cost is $15 per person per night in a house. Also there are beds available in the hostel at $10 per person per night. Accommodation will be allocated by Margaret Mollison upon booking and sending the full cost of the accommodation. Other accommodation is available in the Chalet, book direct with Bronte Park for this, ph (002) 89 1126. Food We have booked a room for Saturday evening meal at the Chalet for $12 per person. Please advise whether you wish to be included when booking. Bring all other food or buy direct from the Chalet dining room. Programme Friday 19 March 4:00pm Rooms available for occupation. Members of the TasNats will bring some slides to show informally for people who arrive early. Saturday 20 March Optional activities are planned. Choose from: 8:30am Leave for Lake St Clair for boat trip to the north end of the Lake. A guided botanical walk is planned at the north end of the Lake. There will be several kins of walking. 9:30am A morning studying local birds and an afternoon studying local plants. We have invited experts who have conducted scientific studies in the Bronte area. Minimal walking required. 6:00pm Meal at Bronte Park Chalet. A guest speaker will address the members after dinner. Optional spotlighting. Sunday 21 March 8:30am Visit to mammal traps which were set overnight. 9:30am-ll:00am Federation Annual General Meeting. All Club reports should be written in advance and tabled. Time for discussion will be allocated to agenda items lodged with the Federation secretary in advance of the meeting. 10:00am Study the insects caught in insect traps. Study snails caught at Lake St Clair. 12:30pm BBQ prior to departure. Bookings Margaret Mollison, ph (002) 28 2720. Please specify name(s), accommodation requirement(s) and requirement(s) for the meal on Saturday evening. Check-list Bring All food except Saturday night meal, or money to eat at the Chalet. Warm clothes and walking boots if travelling to Lake St Clair. Sheets and towels. Cost $12 evening meal and $15 per night for each person in a house. Nobody's Business There were four people named Somebody, Everybody, Anybody and Nobody who were supposed to be involved in an important project by helping when required. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could have done it. Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it. So it ended up with Everybody blaming Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. Mammal Survey Group welcomes visitors and new mammal surveyors and your observations (in writing please). Please contact Don Hird, ph 34 4293 (H), 21 5912 (W), to confirm details of the outing. Mammal Survey Group Programme 13-14 February Camp out on Blackman River near Tunbridge. Bat sonic detection devices will be demonstrated as well as mammal survey techniques. 2