Congratulations Professor Anya Reading!
RST Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people 2021.
RST Apology to Tasmanian Aboriginal people 2021.
The selectivity of the introduced north Pacific seastar, Asterias amurensis, for different sizes of prey was investigated with the aim of predicting the impact this species will have on the age structure of native prey species and, thus, on their survival. The energy maximisation capabilities of A. amurensis were assessed. The time small A. amurensis (r= 56-77 mm) spent handling the mussel Mytilus edulis increased exponentially with increases in mussel size; handling time by large seastars (r= 78-86 mm) only increased when eating the largest mussels offered. Mussels of the size class 20-29 mm were preferred. The energy content of six mussel size classes was divided by the handling time of each to give a prey value. The optimal mussel size class was calculated to be 30-39 mm. Thus, A. amurensis was not shown to maximise its energy by consuming mussels of a size that would give the greatest energy return for the energy expended. Smaller seastars consumed a greater percentage of their body weights per day (4.970/0) than did larger seastars (2.570/0).
Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemens Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology, geology, geography, papers & proceedings, Australia, UTAS Library
Published Papers
The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.
On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
