Raine Island sand characteristics were investigated to discover whether they might contribute to the low hatching success of green turtle nests on Raine Island. We found no obvious reason why Raine Island sand might be a poor incubation medium, but incubation success decreased towards the end of the nesting season, suggesting that sand conditions, such as the density of microorganisms, change as the nesting season progresses.
Photo by David Booth.

The distribution and abundance of wetland associated tree dwelling lizards has received little attention. Artificial bark covers (ABCs) were used as a survey method to investigate the distribution and abundance of known lizard species throughout the Murray–Darling Basin. ABCs were an efficacious survey method and have the potential for many avenues of research for floodplain associated lizards.
Photo by Eva Moore.

Kangaroos and other macropodids stand out among mammals for their unusual hopping locomotion and body shape. We review the scaling of hind- and forelimb bones and the primary ankle extensor muscles and tendons. We compare these to their locomotory and unique energetic patterns, to understand the evolution of this unusual group. We highlight areas for further research.
Photo: modified image by Heather More, Simon Fraser University.

Australian leaf insects have leaf-shaped bodies that enable them to blend in to the tree canopy and confer protection against predators. We investigated whether the female leaf insect’s exoskeleton – the tough outer-layer that supports and protects the insect’s body – changes and deteriorates with age, and discovered that the wings develop enlarged brown patches and the margins of the abdomen become necrotic as females age. Our findings reveal novel manifestations of ageing in the insect exoskeleton.
Photo by R. Bonduriansky.