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\ Iv\ THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

ANNUAL REPORT 1969

)../ y. l 77/1970

Staff: Professor

Reader

J.D. Smyth, M.A. Sc.D. Dub.

: W.L. Nicholas, B.Sc. Ph.D. Liv.

Senior Lecturers

Lecturers

: A.H. Weatherley, n.sc. Syd., M.Sc. Tas., Ph.D. Glas.

C.H. Tyndale-Biscoe, M.Sc. N.Z., Ph.D. W. Aust.

R.E. Barwick, M.Sc. N.Z., Ph.D. A.N.U.

J.R. Short, B.Sc. w. Aust., D.Phil. Oxon, D.Sc. Aberd.

c. Bryant, M.Sc., Ph.D. Lond.

V.A.P. Harris, B.Sc., Ph.D. Lond.

: T.G. Marples, M.Sc. N.Z., Ph.D. Georgia

P.A. Janssens, B.Sc., Ph.D. Sheffield Senior Demonstrators: R.K. Pengilley, B.Sc., M.Sc., A.N.U.

1 Vacancy

Demonstrators : Margaret Davies, B.Sc. Tas.

Research Assistants: Rhonda Morrow, B.Sc. A.N.U.

Ru t h Prgw'0 , B.Sc.

Josephine Bancroft, B.Sc. A.N.U. Museum Assistant : R.K. Jha, Ph.D. Alberta.

Enrolments:

This was the first year of the new semester courses and enrol­ments for all units was at a high level (see attached schedule). This probably reflects, at least in part, the marked swing into the bio­logical sciences now common throughout the world. A further increase in these numbers could cause accommodation problems. Although it has some inherent difficulties, the general impression gained from staff and students was that the semester system was a success and achieved, to some extent, its intention of integrating the sciences. On the other hand, one of its effects was undoubtedly to increase the teaching load on staff.

Building:

The Zoology building was completed in September this year, several months behind schedule, and unfortunately too late to be used by this year's students. The inner courtyard is now being site­pJanned and should make an attractive centre to the building.

• 2 • 77/1970

G~ · al Activities:

The general lecturing and laboratory programme of the Depart­ment was supplemented throughout the year by a number of field trips.

Study leave:

Professor Smyth and Dr. Bryant were on study leave for part or all of the year. Dr. Nicholas was Acting Head of •Department during Professor Smyth's absence.

Research:

~he research interests of the staff and post-graduate students span an extensive range of interests and space will not permit detailed comment on them. The range is re~lected in the list of publications attached.

Requests for bench space for research workers at post-graduate and post-doctoral levels continues to be very high. Seventy applications for post-graduate scholarships were received this year. There was a marked increase in post-doctoral enquiries and two Australian-American Educational Foundation post-doctoral fellows are accommodated in the Department.

In the field of Parasitolcgy, which is one of the primary interests of the Department, substantial progress has been made on the culture of certain pathogen~c cestode larvae outside their hosts. This work opens up a possible approach to the development of vaccines against animal and human diseases of considerable economic and medical importance. The Australian Meat Research Committee has recognised this advance by the award of a grant of $67,000 for research in this field in the next three years.

During the year, the Department moved substantially away from the formal end-of-year examinations, into assessment by project-work, laboratory exercises and essays. The impression gained was that the students interest increased greatly in these courses and allowed them to read around the subject. Continual assessment is not, however, without its difficulties.

It is a pleasure also to acknowledge generous financial aid from other outside sources. These now include:

The Australian Wool Board Rural Credits Development Fund C.S.I.R.O. World Health Organisation South African Government Australian Universities Research Grants Committee U.S. National Institutes of Health. The Australian Meat Research Committee.

Student participation:

Formal and informal meetings were held with students of all units during 1st and 2nd semesters, and much valuable exchange of ideas resulted. The post-graduate students also elected two representatives who now attend Academic Staff Meetings.

• 3 • 77/1970

ications:

BRAITHWAITE, L.W. & FRITH, H.J.+ Waterfowl in an inland swamp in N.S.W. I. Habitat. C.S.I.R.O. Wildl. Res., 14: 1-16.

Waterfowl in an inland swamp in N.S.W. III. Breeding. ibid 14, 65-109 .

BRAITHWAITE, L.W. Testis cy~les of a native duck. J. Reprod. Fertil., 19-390-391.

+ BRAITHWAITE, L.W. & WILSON. P.L.+ Movement of individual birds in a population of the black swan Cygmus atratus. The Emu, 69: 112-113.

BRYANT, C. & JANSSENS, P.A. Intermediary metabolism in a terrestrial planarian, Geoplana caerulea (Moseley). Comp. Diochem. Physiol., 30: 841-856.

BUSTARD H.R.* The population ecology of the gekkonid lizard Gehyra variegata (Dumeril and Bibron) in exploited forests in northern New South Wales. J. Anim. Ecol., 38: 35-51.

CRICHTON . E.G.* Reproduction in the Pseudomyine rodent Mesembriomys gouldii (Gray 1843). J. Reprod. Fertil., 19: 389-390.

DAVEY, R.A.* & BRYANT , C. The tricarboxylie acid cycle and associated reactions in Moniezia expanza (Cestoda). Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 31: 503-512.

FRITH H.J.+ BRAITHWAITE , L.W. & McKEAN, J.L.+ Waterfowl in an inland swamp in N.S.W. IL Food. C.S.I.R.O. Wildl. Res., 14: 17-64.

+ GUNNING, G.E.+ & BERRA, T.M.t Fish repopulation of experimentally decimated segments in the headwaters of two streams. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc., 98: 305-308.

+ HUGHES , R.D.+ & NICHOLAS, W.L. Heterotylenchus spp Parasitising the Australian Bush Fly~ Additional information on the origin of the parasite of the face fly. J. Econ. Ent., 62: 520-521.

JANSSENS , P.A. & BRYANT , C. The ornithine-urea cycle in some parasitic helminths. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 30: 261-272.

+ POWLES, M+ & JANSSENS, P.A. Urea excretion in the green vegetable bug Nezara vividu!3.- Proc. Aust. Biochem. Soc.£:

ROTHSTEIN, M+ & NICHOLAS , W.L. Culture methods and nutrition of nanatodes and acanthocephala. In: Chemical zoology, Vol. III. Academic Press Inc. New York.

* Former member. Based on work done while a member of the Department + + Not a member of this University.

t Visiting Research Worker.

, •

. . , R.K.

4. 77/1970

& SMYTH, J.D. Echinococcus granulosus: Ultrastructure of Microtriches. Expl Parasit., 25: 232-244.

SHIELD J.M. Dipylidium caninum, Echinococcus granulosus and Hvdatigena taeniaeformis: Histochemical identification of Cholinesterases. Expl Parasit., 25: 217-231.

SMITH, R.F.C.* Studies in the marsupial glider Schoinobates volans {Kerr). I. Reproduction. Aust" J. Zool., 17: 625-636.

SMYTH . J.D. The Physiology of Cestodes. Oliver & Boyd, London. xiii+ 279 pp.

Parasite~ as biological models. Parasitology, 59: 73-91.

In vitro studies and host specificity in Echinococcus. Bull. Wld. Hlth. Org.,--1..2.: 5-12.

Biology of the hydatid organisms. 327-347.

Adv. Parasit., 2=

SMYTH , J.D. & SMYTH, M.M. Some aspects of host specificity in Echinococcus granulosus. Helminthologia, 9: 519-529.

SMYTH , + J.D. , GEMMELL, M.A.+ & SMYTH , M.M. Establishment of Echinococcus granulosus in the gut of the dog. Indian J. Helminth. {Srivastava Commemoration Volume).

TYNDALE-BISCO:m', C.H. Relaxin activity during the oestrous cycle of the marsupial Trichosu!:!!.§_ vulpecula {Kerr.) J. Reprod. Fertl., 19: 191-193.

TYNDALE-BISCOE . C.H. & SMITH, R.F.C.* Schoinobates volans {Kerr). regulatory mechanisms. J.

Studies in the marsupial glider II. Population structure and

Anim. Ecol. 38: 637-649.

TYNDALE-BISCOE, C.H. & SMITH, R.F.C.* Studies in the marsupial glider Schoinobates volans {Kerr). III. Response to habitat destruction. J. Anim~ Ecol., 38: 651-659.

+ WOODWELL, G.M.+ & MARPLES , T.G. The influence of chronic gauna irradiation on production and decay of litter and humus in an oak-pine forest. Ecology, 49: 456-465.

* Former member. Based on work done while a member of the Department.

+ + Not a member of this University.

t Visiting Research Worker.

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 77 /i97Q ~ I

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY - ANALYSIS OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE t

Percentage of Number Enrolled Percentage of Number Sitting I ~

. 1 2 I 3 4 5 ( 1 6 7 8 9 10 11 1

Subject Enrolled Wastage Wastage Sitting High Distinction Credit Pass Pass Fail or Unit as at (i.e . plus Distinction with

30.6.69 2 5) failure Merit

l (i.e. 3 + 11}

No % No % No % No % No % No % No % No % No % No % zoology I 84 100 5 6% 19 23% 79 94% 1 1% 2 2% 13 16% - 4 9 62% 14 18%

- - -Human Biology 37 100 3 8% 11 30% 34 92% - 1 3% 6 18% - 19 56% 8 23% Animal ! 36 100 0 - 3 8% 36 100% - 4 11% 14 39% - 15 42% i 3 8% Physiology

I -Cell Biology JI 33 100 1 3% 2 6% 3 2 97% 2 6% 2 6% 17 53% - 10 31% i 1 3% - - - - .. -- --·-

I -Comparative

53 100 1 2% 1 2% 52 98% 5 10% 13 25% 25 48% - 9 17% 0 -Vert. zoology -

.. . -General

28 100 1 4% 1 4% 27 96% 6 22% 10 37% 11 41% 0 - - -Ecology I

Animal 9% 16% 14 44% 9 28% .1 3% 34 100 2 6% 3 9% 32 94% 3 5 -Behaviour

Animal Ecology 28 100 0 - 0 - 28 100% 1 4% 2 7% 19 otS;'o - b :l.L% 0 --·

·---1--- · ·- -,L ____

Endocrinology 32 100 0 - 0 - 32 100% 3 9% 4 13% 15 4 7% - 10 31% 0 -& Dev.Biology

... - . - . -----· ,. ___ -Theoretical

38 100 1 3% 1 3% I

37 97% 1 3% 11 29% 15 40% - 10 27% l 0 ·-Zoology I ---- .._ ___ - I

Enrolled Sitting Results (as at 30 June, 1969)

Final Honours 8 8 H.I-2; H.2A-3; H.213-3 Ma sters Qualify ing - -''1r11.3 ters Degree 5 (not ?h . D. 13 (relevant

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