Category Archives: Science and nature

‘Bushtucker’ fruit standout in Broome ecological survey 10/4/2013

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THE WA Government has listed an ecological community on Broome’s outskirts as Priority 1 PEC (Priority Ecological Community).

The dominant species is a small tree that grows on the top of relic sand dunes in the Broome Peninsula.

Broome Advertiser 4 July 2013It is commonly known by the Bardi name Mangarr and in English as wild prune (Sersalisia sericea)formerly (Pouteria sericea).

“It is an important and renowned local bushtucker species and does not occur in such frequency and longevity in other locations,” says ecologist Louise Beames.

Science Network [read this story]

This story first appeared in Science Network WA on 10/4/2013 and it has been republished by Broome Advertiser on 4/7/2013

Burning the bush helps conserve animals and plants 26/07/2012

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STANFORD University researchers have produced hard data to show desert Aboriginal bush-burning practices result in smaller, cooler fires and help conserve reptiles and small mammals while promoting plant diversity.

bush_burningEcological anthropologist Associate Professor Rebecca Bliege-Bird says key game species are more plentiful near Western Desert communities and well-used roads, where people frequently light hunting fires.

“Where people are lighting fires and making small fire mosaics you tend to find more kangaroo (Macropus robustus) and you also tend to find more sand goannas (Varanus gouldii),” she says.

Science Network WA, now defunct, originally published this article. –GV 21/5/2017

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Archaeology at Barrow Island 1/6/13

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GEOFF VIVIAN

Barrow Island, off the WA coast, was once part of the mainland. As sea levels rose, the Aboriginal inhabitants would have visited less and less often. It is likely that they didn’t go there at all for some 7,000 years, until the pearling industry brought a few people back to the island in the 19th Century.

Archaeologists are about to start excavating several ancient habitation sites. This should give us a rare glimpse of what life was like in the ice age.

Science Network WA, which originally published this story, is now defunct so I have reproduced it below. –GV 21/5/2017 Continue reading →

Tasmanian Devils on the mainland 2012

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PICTURE AND TEXT BY GEOFF VIVIAN

The escape of three Tasmanian devils from a private zoo near Pinjarra captured our imagination.

Tasmanian devils at Peel Zoo

The idea that they might start breeding was quickly squashed when we found out all three were males. However they were part of a breeding program designed to preserve the species, as a lethal facial cancer is decimating the wild population.

You can find my Inkwire story on the subject here.

Should the Tasmanian devil be re-introduced to mainland Australia, where it has been extinct for 7,000 years? University of Tasmania Devil specialist Dr Menna Jones says it could be done over the next few years, if the money and political will are there.

You can find my Science Network WA story here.

Premier enthusiastic about science in WA 15/5/13

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Premier Colin Barnett is raising the profile of science in WA by appointing himself Minister for Science.

Colin Barnett

In his new role he says he wishes to foster a culture of science, and to attract more funding for scientific research in his state.

He has announced a new science policy unit to be created within his Department of Premier and Cabinet.

You can read my article in Science Network WA or click below.

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Digital technology resurrects ancient rock art 29 April 2013

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STORIES BY GEOFF VIVIAN PHOTOS BY JANE FYFE

from Science Network WA

Aboriginal artists have been painting Kimberley cave walls for tens of thousands of years.

Layer on layer, these ancient art sites can contain hundreds of images, some completely obscured by later paintings.

Cheap digital technology now allows archaeologists to peer below the layers and photograph what lies beneath the surface, while cutting-edge science makes it possible to accurately date them.

You can read more here and here.

The second story has now been republished in The Broome Advertiser on 13/06/2013.

From The Broome Advertiser 13 June 2013