Extreme secondary sexual dimorphism in the genus Florarctus (Heterotardigrada: Halechiniscidae)

Secondary sexual dimorphism in florarctin tardigrades is a well-known phenomenon. Males are usually smaller than females, and primary clavae are relatively longer in the former. A new species Florarctus bellahelenae, collected from subtidal coralline sand just behind the reef fringe of Long Island, Chesterfield Reefs (Pacific Ocean), exhibits extreme secondary dimorphism. Males have developed primary clavae that are much thicker and three times longer than those present in females. Furthermore, the male primary clavae have an accordion-like outer structure, whereas primary clavae are smooth in females. Other species of Florarctus Delamare-Deboutteville & Renaud-Mornant, 1965 inhabiting the Pacific Ocean were investigated. Males are typically smaller than females, but males of Florarctus heimi Delamare-Deboutteville & Renaud-Mornant, 1965 and females of Florarctus cervinus Renaud-Mornant, 1987 have never been recorded. The Renaud-Mornant collection was re-examined, and type series were analysed. Florarctus heimi and F. cervinus were always found together in the coralline sand of Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef). The animals were kept alive and surveyed in the laboratory of the Queensland Museum. All studied individuals of the larger F. heimi (up to ca. 400 μm) were females, and all adults of the smaller F. cervinus (about 170 μm) were males. Males of F. cervinus were observed mating with females of F. heimi. Following those morphological and behavioural lines of evidence, we propose that F. cervinus is a junior synonym of F. heimi. Based on the discovery of dimorphism in F. bellahelenae sp. nov. and the strong sex-related morphological disparities in F. heimi, we suggest that extreme secondary dimorphism may be present in other florarctin arthrotardigrades.

The vertebrate fossil collection record from the Chinchilla Sand, South–East Queensland, 1844-2021

Since the mid-1840s a diverse fossil vertebrate assemblage, referred to as the Chinchilla Local Fauna, has been collected from the Pliocene deposits of the Chinchilla Sand on the western Darling Downs of South-East Queensland. In large part because of this long history and the numerous collectors who have worked fossil deposits in the area, much ambiguity regarding site and locality names and their specific coordinates exists. Here, we review the vertebrate fossil collection records in the Queensland Museum Fossil, Donor, Collector and Locality Registers, correspondence, and field notes in an effort to pinpoint the location of each named locality and site and develop a digital map which highlights the historical collecting sites at one significant locality in the Chinchilla area. To ensure that a systematic framework for all future collecting from the main collecting area (Chinchilla Rifle Range) is maintained, we recommend the use of consistent nomenclature for sites so that spatial information of the highest possible quality is captured into the future. We recommend future collections include detailed recordings of stratigraphic contexts as well as GPS coordinates.

High-throughput microCT scanning of small specimens: preparation, packing, parameters and post-processing

High-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, or microCT (μCT), enables the digital imaging of whole objects in three dimensions. The power of μCT to visualize internal features without disarticulation makes it particularly valuable for the study of museum collections, which house millions of physical specimens documenting the spatio-temporal patterns of life. Despite the potential for comparative analyses, most μCT studies include limited numbers of museum specimens, due to the challenges of digitizing numerous individuals within a project scope. Here we describe a method for high-throughput μCT scanning of hundreds of small (< 2 cm) specimens in a single container, followed by individual labelling and archival storage. We also explore the effects of various packing materials and multiple specimens per capsule to minimize sample movement that can degrade image quality, and hence μCT investment. We demonstrate this protocol on vertebrate fossils from Queensland Museum, Australia, as part of an effort to track community responses to climate change over evolutionary time. This system can be easily modified for other types of wet and dry material amenable to X-ray attenuation, including geological, botanical and zoological samples, providing greater access to large-scale phenotypic data and adding value to global collections.

High-throughput microCT scanning of small specimens: preparation, packing, parameters and post-processing

High-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography, or microCT (μCT), enables the digital imaging of whole objects in three dimensions. The power of μCT to visualise internal features without disarticulation makes it particularly valuable for the study of museum collections, which house millions of physical specimens documenting the spatio-temporal patterns of life. Despite its potential for comparative analyses, most μCT studies include limited numbers of museum specimens, due to the challenges of digitising numerous individuals within a project scope. Here we describe a method for high-throughput μCT scanning of hundreds of small (< 2 cm) specimens in a single container, followed by individual labelling and archival storage. We also explore the effects of various packing materials and multiple specimens per capsule to minimize sample movement that can degrade image quality, and hence μCT investment. We demonstrate this protocol on vertebrate fossils from Queensland Museum, Australia, as part of an effort to track community responses to climate change over evolutionary time. This system can be easily modified for other types of wet and dry material amenable to X-ray attenuation, including geological, botanical and zoological samples, providing greater access to large-scale phenotypic data and adding value to global collections.

Reconciling the local and the global in the Brisbane independent fashion sector

The humid, sub-tropical city of Brisbane is Australia’s third-largest and one often regarded as culturally inferior to its southern counterparts Sydney and Melbourne. However, the city has supported a small but active independent fashion scene, and this article examines three of these businesses, exploring how they positioned themselves in relation to the global fashion industry. It contributes to literature on local fashion industries in New Zealand, Scandinavia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Challenges and opportunities presented to local fashion businesses are considered, and ways in which these have changed over time is also discussed. Case studies are drawn from a period between 1950 and 2018 and were purposively chosen so that contemporary case studies could be contextualized with historical examples. Research was conducted through archival research at the Queensland Museum, semi-structured interviews with participants and on-site observations. Findings confirm those of existing studies in the field that suggest local fashion businesses outside of large cities and dominant fashion centres may struggle to remain relevant in a fast-paced global industry, but have an opportunity to develop and foster close bonds to local cultural scenes and to contribute to place-making in the cities in which they are located.

New data on the Australasian Xantholinini. 12. New species from New Caledonia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

In this short contribution some specimens from New Caledonia, colletcted by Dr. Geoff Monteith of the Queensland Museum of Brisbane, are studied and four new species are described and illustrated (Pachycorynus monteithi sp. n., P. flavus sp. n., P. insularis sp. n., and Zeteotomus insularis sp. n.). The known New Caledonian Xantholinini are now represented by 17 species.

Better ways of seeing landscapes: The Queensland Historical Atlas

The Queensland Historical Atlas (2010) takes a fresh approach to the atlas form by interpreting Queensland landscapes as lived, embodied and practised. As a project conceived in partnership with Queensland Museum, the Atlas brings this approach directly into museum practice. This article outlines some of the challenges of the conventional atlas form, and examines how the Queensland Historical Atlas has embraced opportunities to reinvigorate the form, including the adoption of new technology and developing new affective interpretation frameworks. Significantly, the Atlas places material culture, including historical maps, at the centre of interpretation of Queensland landscapes. Although the Atlas is not an exhibition, it creates ready-made modules available for exhibition interpretation. Each of these reflects on how Queensland is shaped by its landscapes and how, in turn, museum collections can capture the diverse landscapes of Queensland and the people who create those landscapes. As an electronic resource, the Atlas becomes a way of reconnecting cultural history and landscapes with museum collections.