Stomatopods, or mantis shrimps, are malacostracan crustaceans. Known as “lean, mean, killing machines” (Watling et al., 2000, p. 1), modern stomatopods are obligate carnivores, feeding exclusively on live prey (Schram, 1986). Characteristically, their second thoracic appendages are enlarged to form powerful, raptorial claws. Modern stomatopods are divided into two broad functional groups based on the shape and usage of their raptorial claws: ‘spearing’ and ‘smashing’ stomatopods (Caldwell and Dingle, 1976).

Populations of blue-footed boobies in the Galápagos Islands have declined by at least 50% compared with numbers recorded during the 1960s. Recently, concern has been expressed about potential adverse effects of introduced blood parasites; in particular, malarial parasites (i.e. Plasmodium sp.), which are frequently pathogenic and can cause mortality and morbidity in birds, and blood parasites of the genus Haemoproteus, which can reduce fitness. We screened blue-footed boobies at six breeding colonies within Galápagos for both genera of parasite. At two sites, we also investigated whether there was any relationship between infection status and physiological condition or breeding success. We found a high prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. in adults and chicks using PCR, although none was found on blood smears. We found no evidence of Plasmodium. Effects of parasitism on the condition of birds were limited. Also, there was no evidence that infection with Haemoproteus adversely affected breeding success or chick growth. Our results suggest that poor success of breeding birds was not strongly associated with Haemoproteus infection. However, regular colony monitoring and examination of dead birds are necessary to assess whether acute Haemoproteus infection might be responsible for some mortality, particularly of chicks.

Over the past 3 years, we have conducted a survey of 100 square degrees of the southern Galactic plane with the Mopra radiotelescope (HOPS). The survey includes observations of multiple spectral lines in the 12 mm band, with the most important being the water maser transition at 22.2 GHz and the non-metastable inversion transitions of ammonia. We report on initial results from HOPS, including the detection of 540 water masers, about two-thirds of which appear to be new detections. We also find widespread emission in the NH3 (1,1) line, as well as detec tions in the NH3 (2,2), (3,3), (6,6) and (9,9) lines.

We are studying the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) in the inner few degreesaround the Galactic Centre, by mapping a large number of 3-mm molecularlines. We have used the 22-m Mopra telescope, with the newcapabilities of the 8-GHz bandwidth MOPS digital filter bank. During 2006, we covered a 5 × 5 arcmin2 area of theSagittarius B2 molecular cloud complex, with spectral coverage ofnearly all of the range 81.7 to 113.5 GHz with 4 tunings of thebroad band mode. We imaged over 50 spectral lines with strong extended emissionand around 110 more lines which were weak, or concentrated at the Sgr B2(N) andSgr B2(M) cores (Jones et al.  2008). We find substantial differences in chemical and physical conditions within the complex. During 2007 we covered the larger region of longitude -0.2 to 0.9 deg. andlatitude -0.20 to 0.12 deg., including Sgr A and Sgr B2, in the frequency range85.3 to 91.3 GHz. This includes lines of C3H2, CH3CCH,HOCO+, SO, H13CN, H13CO+, SO, HN13C, C2H, HNCO,HCN, HCO+, HNC, HC3N, 13CS and N2H+. 


We have used the new broadband capabilities of the Mopra telescope to map the distribution of 26 different molecular transitions in an approximately 1 degree square region of the southern Galactic plane (the G333/RCW106 giant molecular cloud complex). The aim is to addresss observationally some of the key questions about the dynamical processes surrounding massive star formation (e.g. massive stellar winds and large-scale galactic flows) and their relative importance in regulating the star formation process. These dynamical processes help drive the turbulent motions, which are ubiquitous in giant molecular clouds (GMCs). The multi-molecular line nature of this survey is what distinguishes it from similar surveys and is crucial for gaining a clear picture of the energetics and dynamics of the gas. Investigating and understanding the chemistry of this region is a necessary part of the project if the molecular line observations are to be interpreted physically.