Darling Range Branch meeting, February 2012

“The Nature of Japan” was the subject of our first meeting for 2012 and it was presented jointly by Hirono and Mike Griffiths. Following their recent visit to Japan in October 2011, Mike and Hirono conducted us on a travelogue from a Naturalists’ viewpoint.

We were introduced to some of the interesting flora and fauna and scenery of Japan through a series of maps and many images. We learned that, with a population of 128 million, a land mass that was 1/20th of the size of Australia and with 70% of the country mountainous, the islands had only 14% of land available for agriculture. However, this makeup presented a scenically attractive backdrop with 67% of land under forests.

Japan is an archipelago of 3000 islands, although the majority of the country is made up of four main islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu). Japan’s mountains result from its geologically interesting but unstable position at the intersection of three tectonic plates; movements of these plates have produced the volcanoes and mountains (with Mount Fujiyama as the iconic example), the thermal springs (tapped by both macaques and humans) and periodic earthquakes (as we are aware from the 2011 tsunamis).

Climatically Japan experiences many zones with their associated ecosystems stretching from humid subtropical in Southern Japan to cold temperate in the north with warm summers and long cold winters experiencing abundant snow (scenically advantageous).

Hirono gave us a few statistics to compare flora and fauna with WA. Japan lists over 6000 vascular plant species of which 1950 are endemic, WA lists a similar number with approximately 5700 species of which 4,500 are endemic; Japan’s mammals number 188 species, WA’s number 60. Bird and freshwater fish species in Japan number 665 and 200 respectively, far greater than WA’s counts of 280 and 20. With population pressure and limited area for urban spreading it is inevitable that Japan’s natural biodiversity is constantly under threat from increased habitat fragmentation. Amongst the critically endangered species are the Okinawa woodpecker and the Japanese macaque. The spectacle of these ‘snow monkeys’ bathing in warm thermal waters would be familiar to us all.

Our travelogue included commentary on both the nature and social make-up of Japan and we were all interested to hear what to expect in a traditional Japanese hotel room by way of layout, en suite facilities, furnishings and foods on offer. We were also instructed on the complexity of the recycling formalities with Mike’s image of a regiment of expectant bins, with instructions in Japanese.

Bird sightings at sanctuaries local to Osaka featured the Eurasian kestrel (catching sparrows), an egret and an osprey, and of special interest at the local aquarium were a whale shark and a sunfish.

Mike took us on a visit to Iriomote Island, one of the small islands at the extreme southern part of Japan, where mangroves are established and the Iriomote cat is endemic. This interesting mammal is critically endangered and it is thought that about 100 remain on the island. The cat, with a body length of up to 60 cm, thrives on skinks, snakes, frogs, bats, crustaceans and insects. Mike, working with the co-operation of local naturalist officials, was able to set up one of his night-viewing cameras and successfully captured images of this beautiful creature, as well as the pygmy boar, in the wild. Treks through the local forests were illustrated with images of butterflies, bristled caterpillars, millipedes, lizards and frogs against a floral understorey with mosses, aspleniums, liverworts, fungi and lycopodia. Larger flora included the sago palm (Cycas revoluta, native to the island) and fig trees.

Back on the main island we were “whisked” by bullet train from Osaka to Nagano via the Japanese Alps. The mountain regions were snow-covered and sported many waterfalls and in parts supporting white birch. The Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) also features, unusual as it is the only deciduous pine species. Spa villages in the region such as Shirahone, a remote village in the valley of the Yugawa River, feature both indoor and outdoor spas of warm calcium and magnesian-rich spring waters. Architecturally the buildings are in traditional style with rooms furnished with tatami mats, futons and paper screens (in place of curtaining). More unusual culinary fare featured a square-formed persimmon and nashi pears, with octopus, raw fish and burdock also on offer.

At the Kamakochi highland resort in the Japanese Alps, where visitors arrive by public shuttle buses or taxi as private vehicles are not permitted in many regions of the Park, there were boardwalks into forests areas where Sagisuge (Eriophorum gracile) and maples (Acer palmatum) are established as well as many sights of waterfalls and clear waters of the Azusa river. Many of the mountain slopes are reinforced in public areas with fencing as a protection from landslides. Kamakochi is a National Park and since 1909, plants and animals have been protected.

In other mountainous areas, at higher altitudes, ski resorts are established and conditions are subalpine and often foggy. A 2 km long cable car facility takes visitors to the ski slopes. Soils (derived from volcanic rocks) of these regions are poor but support Rhododendron japonicum and cranberries. We were also shown an example of a wildlife bridge built high above a roadway to ensure the safe passage of small animals, such as dormice and squirrels.

The final scenic visit was to Mount Fujiyama (3,776 m), with its classic volcano-shaped form, and images of icicles, forest areas and Shinto shrines. A local special delicacy is a colourful cake, shaped in the form of this iconic mountain.

Following the talk, Hirono introduced a large selection of traditional Japanese foods for us to taste and savour.

Susan Stocklmayer

June Butcher, founder of the Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and our member and guest speaker for the general meeting, gave us an insight into the aims and functioning of the rehab centre now located in the now very well rehabilitated wildlife centre at 120 Gilchrist Rd, Lesmurdie. The main thrust of the talk was bilbies – the secret life thereof, until now, for June and her devoted team of volunteers have done much serious scientific research into what goes on in the inner sanctum of the burrows of bilbies.

In the past bilbies could be found across about 70% of Australia. Enter the usual ferals and the percentage drops to around 20% at most and dwindling. Gradually, however, the number of bilbies in the wild is being restored thanks to the breeding programmes being carried out by the likes of Kanyana with DEC, and safe release areas like Peron Peninsula, Dryandra, Loxby Downs etc., which have ‘soft’ release facilities (semi-bush but fully protected) before full release in the same area such as we have at Dryandra and photographed by Mike Griffiths with camera traps recently.

It all started at Kanyana in 1996 when baby Bet-Bet, an emaciated little female bilby was flown down to June. Bet-Bet survived along with Basil from Broome thanks to DEC. From this small beginning the serious business of breeding bilbies for release began under the auspices of DEC and the Central Keeper in S. Australia. At the latter a studbook is kept of all the animals in breeding programmes throughout Australia, enabling monitoring of the exchanges between centres and ensuring that healthy bloodlines are maintained. Kanyana has seen 140 bilbies pass through its doors and has turned out around 100 babies. An average of 15 bilbies is on Kanyana’s books at any time, and we were privileged to see the current crop the following evening inside a large, netted enclosure with spacious enclosures either side of the central isle – in one, mother with two cute little offspring in tow. Cameras lowered into the burrows have revealed many new secrets of the lives of bilbies when underground. For instance, during peak daylight hours Bilbies shut their systems down – body temperatures and breathing drop considerably, leaving them in a torpor thus conserving considerable energy. A full moon signals a lay night with no venturing out – too visible to predators? Mating takes place underground and is a rather drawn out process … up to 18 hours at a time! So drawn out that the record of one such engagement shows the larger male going to sleep on the job and toppling sideways! Energy saving again maybe?

In another first, June waited many years to record the actual birth of a Bobtail – that phone call at the crucial moment or some other distraction at the crucial moment – but then success! The quite large youngster had a battle for a start but mum raised her rear end a little and the baby, once its front feet touched the ground, helped itself the rest of the way. Then there was a tussle of who would feast on the after birth. Baby won!

It was great to hear the story of Kanyana, see the film shots of bilbies (even giving birth) and then having the privilege of seeing the institution itself and some of its inhabitants first hand. A remarkable achievement for June and her numerous team. We look forward to the next stage, hopefully mid 2012 – the new Education Centre. Thank you June and staff.

Kevin Griffiths

Dr Kayley Usher, from the CSIRO, was our guest speaker for the October meeting and presented a talk entitled ‘How marvellous microbes made our world’.

We were introduced into the world of the microscopic and sub-microscopic through a series of images and were presented with some interesting aspects of microbial life and its activities.

A group term for a range of ultra-small life forms is microbes and includes: Archaea, Eucarya, Fungi and bacteria. Some important characteristics between these domains were explained, some of the extreme conditions in which they can exist and a few examples of specialised forms of bacteria were introduced. Not all microbes are single cells but they can function as complex pro organelles with specialised existences. An interesting example is magnetosomes that contain magnetic crystals and have flagella that enable them to source their food magnetically.

We were reminded of the great antiquity of bacterial activities and that thrombolites and stromatolites were developing about 3.5 billion years ago. These fossilised layered accumulations of calcareous sediment were formed by the activities of colonies of bacteria and resulted in the first life forms on Earth. Micro-organisms were to remain the only life forms in the Archean history of the Earth.

The study of micro-organisms requires different types of microscope and high tech equipment; these include microscopes with fluorescence attachments using light sources, the transmitting electron microscope (TEM) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The energy sources used in both TEM and SEM are electron beams and this enables details to single wave length dimensions to be examined. Both TEM and SEM equipment is based at the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis at UWA, and are used by researchers from many Institutions on an hourly basis.

The images used for the talk were largely those produced by TEM and SEM microscopy and we were shown a fascinating selection illustrating the varied forms of several bacteria including coccoid, spiral, flagellated and rod-like forms as well as examples that were attached to one another and to the substrate via a series of microfilaments. Electricity is conducted through this nano wiring system allowing the bacterial colony to communicate. Microbes tend to live in communities, acting together symbiotically. They co-operate through biofilms where they attach to the surfaces, grow and then detach to recolonise. Bacteria also communicate as colonies using chemical sensing, termed quorum sensing. Bacteria can also sense smells and head for food!

Microbial environments are everywhere. As examples, extremophiles dwell in environments that are; highly saline, high temperature, extreme pH, with toxic metals, at depths of 1.6 km in sediments and they do not require organic carbon to exist. The first mass extinction was likely caused by the activities of cyanobacteria in the Archean when large amounts of free oxygen was being produced as a by-product of iron precipitation. The importance and significance of microbial life become apparent when considering such examples as mycorrhiza activity (symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a plant) that benefits plants by an increase the water and mineral take up capacity and nitrogen-fixing bacteria that improve soil fertility. As humans the abundance of micro-organisms is considerable when we learn that our cells are 99% comprised of microbial life. Microbes manufacture the vitamin K in our bodies and aid digestion processes. Cell mitochondria are a specialised form of bacteria.

Kayley’s particular area of research includes interactions between natural metal ores and bacteria. Her work has shown that elemental metal can be released from mineral ores by bacterial chemical processes such as isolating copper from copper sulphide ore. Element mapping using TEM showed the distribution of certain elements within the bacteria as chemical changes progressed.

We were introduced to the mechanisms of rusting on metals with an explanation about rusticles and their development. Images of the wreck of the Titanic over a number of years show how rusticles (pendulous growths of rusting iron) have enlarged as corrosion has advanced. Eventually all materials, including concrete, wood, metals and plastics, become degraded by microbial action.

There are many positive ways that microbes can be utilised including the cleaning up of toxic waste and degradation of contaminants such as oil spills. In outlining a few of the important aspects of microbial activity Kayley made us aware of some important research work and its potential applications.

Susan Stocklmayer