PhD week 62: Detective work

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson discuss the intricacies of type specimens.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, and is in the public domain.

The foundation of biological taxonomy is formed by the designation of type specimens. These are specimens that were examined by the person who described the species in question, and which bear the name they proposed. They are important in that, in the event of confusion regarding the status of the name, the species represented by the type specimen gets the name. For more information on the categories and establishment of type specimens, read the wikipedia page linked to above, or the ICZN.

On this last trip to NZAC, I had the excitement of discovering some previously undetected type specimens, and the pain of realising that some types that should've been deposited there were either not present, or not adequately labelled. This required a degree of detective work involving checking original descriptions and specimen label data. The process is not yet completed, but progress it being made.

While I was in Auckland (and truth be told, the reason for the timing of this visit) I was able to catch Norma Jean playing at the Kings Arms Tavern on Friday. Compared with the Sydney concert, this was a more intimate show, featuring support bands that I know and love, and attended by people whom I hadn't seen for some time. Antagonist A.D. played with an intensity that belied their arrival from the USA that morning, and one wouldn't have guessed that it was Cold by Winter's first show in a good many years. The quality of the support was such that Norma Jean did not stand out as prominently as in Sydney. They played an excellent set, and it was great seeing them in NZ. Discussions after the show suggested that they may try and get here again in the near future, which will be amazing. If they don't make it, however, Friday was a worthy show by which to remember Norma Jean's visit to God's own country.

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Read:
   Pine-Coffin RS (translator). 1961. The confessions of Saint Augustine Middlesex: Penguin

Websites:
Fauna of Chile blog: Aegorhinus superciliosus

Watched:
Star Trek (Original Series) Season One

Twelve weeks of Star Trek:
Star Trek (2009)

PhD week 61: Sydney

Norma Jean take the stage at the Hi Fi, Sydney, 3 May 2013.

I've been a fan of metalcore band Norma Jean for eight or so years; so when I learned that they were touring Australia, I wanted to make sure that I caught them while they were in this part of the world. In this way, I found myself in Sydney on Friday night enjoying one of the best concerts I have ever experienced. From the pre-set sound check, one knew that something special was about to happen; and from the moment the curtains opened, they played with an intensity that few other bands I've seen have been able to match. They played a good variety of songs from across their releases, including one from their upcoming album that is due to be released in a few months. Personal highlights were their opening song "Disconnecktie", "Bastardizer", crowd favourite "Memphis Will be Laid to Waste", and "Vipers, Snakes and Actors". I was impressed by the bands attitude, and have come away with a greater respect for the band and enjoyment for their music; something I hardly thought possible.

Check out the following links to see the setlist of the show, as well as photos from the night by Gwendolyn Lee and Rebecca Pacey.

In addition to the concert, I was also able to spend some time in the Australian Museum looking at broad-nosed weevils from Australia, walked through Royal National Park and Wolli Creek Regional Park, and enjoyed a milonga at Tango Pasión. I managed to pack a decent amount into a short visit. I liked Sydney, and would like to visit it again in the not-so-distant future.

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Read:
   Pine-Coffin RS (translator). 1961. The confessions of Saint Augustine Middlesex: Penguin

Websites:
Geoscience Australia: Topographic mapping

Watched:
Star Trek (Original Series) Season One
Norma Jean Australian Tour Trailer

Twelve weeks of Star Trek:
Star Trek X: Nemesis

PhD week 60: ANZAC day

Hill 60 Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery. Gallipoli.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. License: CC: BY-SA

Secret Music

I keep such music in my brain
No din this side of death can quell;
Glory exulting over pain,
And beauty, garlanded in hell.

My dreaming spirit will not heed
The roar of guns that would destroy
My life that on the gloom can read
Proud-surging melodies of joy.

To the world's end I went, and found
Death in his carnival of glare;
But in my torment I was crowned,
And music dawned above despair.

Siegfried Sassoon

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Read:
    St Augustine, Betteson H (Translator). 2003. City of God. London: Penguin Classics

Websites:
Climate Change Ecology—Python complements R's shortcomings
Christopher Gandrud—Reinhart & Rogoff: Everyone makes mistakes
One Big Photo—Most Amazing Macro Insect Photography

Watched:
Star Trek (Original Series) Season One
Mr Pip Trailer

Twelve weeks of Star Trek:
Star Trek IX: Insurrection

PhD week 59: Disappointment

Tautuku Bay, Catlins, Southland.

The great thing about working in systematics and conservation is that there is often the opportunity to go to some really cool places.

Last week, the intention was to go to Pig Island, off the coast of Southland to assist a fellow student to a survey of the giant weta (Deinacrida carinata) that are found on the island. We were to be dropped off by the coastguard and spend three nights on the island looking for weta. To this end we drove down, staying in Owaka on Monday night, and driving through the Catlins on Tuesday morning. Not far out of Invercargill, we got a call from the coastguard informing us that the weather was not looking good and that the trip was cancelled. Disappointing!

Despite the change of plans, we did manage to salvage sufficient collecting in some cool places (such as Forest Hill and Trotters Gorge Scenic Reserves) to make the trip worthwhile. Also, getting home a couple of nights earlier than expected meant that I was able to do a few more things at work and socially that I would've missed if we had made it to the island.

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Read:
   Pine-Coffin RS (translator). 1961. The confessions of Saint Augustine Middlesex: Penguin

Websites:
Bryce McQuillan macro photography—Weevils

Twelve weeks of Star Trek:
Star Trek VIII: First Contact

Norma Jean to play in New Zealand

I've been waiting a long time for this....

Examples of what to expect:
Absentimental:Street Clam music video
Leaderless and Self Enlisted live
Surrender Your Sons live

PhD week 58: Graduation

The graduation procession begins.

Friday was graduation day. Since the earthquakes, Lincoln University has moved their graduation ceremony from in Christchurch city where it was formerly held, to Lincoln township. This move means that graduands muster at the university before their march down the road to the Events Centre; with the result that the University is filled with a vibrancy and an air of celebration at a level that is rarely reached by other occasions. It is enjoyable to walk through the throng and see proud parents and supporters congratulating their person on a job well done. Seeing fellow students graduating is also a great encouragement, particularly when one knows the trials they had to undergo to get there.

To all who graduated yesterday, congratulations!

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Websites:
NSW National Parks
GeoLabs Blog—Interactive WebGL plot exported from R

Watched:
Star Trek: Enterprise Season Four

Twelve weeks of Star Trek:
Star Trek VII: Generations

PhD week 57: Entomological Society

Auckland Tree Weta (Hemideina thoracica).
Image courtesy of Jon Sullivan. Licence: CC: BY-NC.

Over the three days from 3 to 5 April was the 62^nd annual conference of the Entomological Society of New Zealand, held at Massey University in Palmerston North. The conference was a typically enjoyable event, with a lot of catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, as well as a neat overview of some of the cool things that people are studying around the country. There were a large number of talks on various aspects of weta biology—unsurprising given that Massey is a hotbed of weta research; but great to see that New Zealand's most iconic insect is becoming better known.

After the conference, I spent three very pleasant days collecting in and around Wellington. I was looking two species of Irenimus that were described from the region; specifically Titahi Bay and Wadestown. Obtaining topotypic specimens (i.e. specimens collected from the same locality as the type specimen) is a useful exercise when sorting out taxonomic problems. As it is unlikely that several similar species live in the same spot, collecting fresh material from the type locality can help bring clarity as to what the species actually is. It so happened that I managed to find good numbers of both species that I hoped to find, so the trip was most definitely a good one!

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Read:
   Pine-Coffin RS (translator). 1961. The confessions of Saint Augustine Middlesex: Penguin

Websites:
Stanley Hauerwas—Living well in ordinary time: A tribute to Rowan Williams
Alison Milbank—Christ is not divided: The Easter journey into paradox

Watched:
Star Trek: Enterprise Season Four

Twelve weeks of Star Trek:
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country