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This pilot project investigates second language (L2) learners' attitudes towards three varieties of English: American (AmE), British (BrE) and Australian (AuE). A 69-word passage spoken by a female speaker of each variety was used. Participants were 30 Chinese students pursuing Masters or Doctoral degrees in the United States, who listened to each of the three recordings and evaluated six language-related qualities and 12 person-related qualities about the three varieties of English on seven-point Likert scales. They also evaluated each speaker's teaching suitability. The results suggest that L2 learners have more positive attitudes towards the varieties of English they have been exposed to, i.e. AmE and BrE. However, their attitudes do not seem to be related to the understandability of the passage delivered by the speakers of the three varieties.

The tectonic nature of Early Palaeozoic Kwangsian orogeny in the South China Block (SCB) is still debated, due to controversy whether there was a Cambrian ocean between the Yangtze Block and the Cathaysia Block. Similarly, continental affinities of the SCB with India and Australia in East Gondwana during the Cambrian are also controversial. Herein, we present detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of Cambrian sandstone samples from the southern SCB. Cambrian samples (including our new samples and published samples) from the Cathaysia Block and the Yangtze Block show similar detrital zircon age spectra with one prominent age cluster of ~1000-900 Ma and several subordinate age groups, as well as similar cumulative proportion curves (CPC). Such signatures, together with other geological records, suggest that a Cambrian ocean did not exist between the Cathaysia Block and the Yangtze Block, and that Early Palaeozoic Kwangsian orogeny resulted from an intra-continental collision. Cambrian samples from the SCB have much more similar detrital zircon age spectra and CPC to those from Himalaya and Qiangtang than those from Australia, but detrital zircons in Cambrian samples from the SCB, Himalaya, Qiangtang and Australia have a similar prominent age group of ~1000-900 Ma. Thus, the SCB were likely located between Australia and India during the Cambrian, receiving sediments both from India and Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a major climate variability in the tropics which drives the abiotic stress associated with heavy rainfalls and severe droughts, is not much understood in terms of its role in the carbon cycle, while El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO)‐related terrestrial carbon cycle variation has been intensively studied. Here, we investigate IOD's impact on land photosynthesis over the Indian ocean rim countries during austral spring using satellite‐based gross primary productivity (GPP) and Earth System Model simulations produced in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). IOD independently affects GPP with significant positive partial correlation coefficients (pcor) over most of Africa and India, and negative pcor over southern China, Indo‐China peninsula, maritime continent, and Australia, mostly driven by precipitation variations; this obviously differs from the widespread significant negative pcor pattern induced by ENSO. The recent extremely positive IOD in 2019 caused the canonical IOD‐affected GPP patterns, however, with its extreme impacts. Furthermore, though large inter‐model spreads exist, the CMIP6 multimodel median can basically capture the main characteristics of IOD‐affected precipitation and GPP patterns. Importantly, IOD is predicted to occur more frequently in future warming scenarios. Model future projections suggest that it will exert larger impacts on GPP variations over central and eastern Africa, Sumatra, western and southeastern Australia with stronger pcor and enhanced explained variance, but less impacts over southern Africa, east India, Indo‐China peninsula, and northeastern Australia. Therefore, besides ENSO, understanding the IOD impacts can provide us new insights into regional and global carbon cycle interannual variability. Plain Language Summary: Indian ocean dipole (IOD) is a major climate variability in the tropics, acting as an important determinant of regional climate variations. However, its role in the carbon cycle received less attention. Here we explore the impact of IOD events on land photosynthesis over the Indian ocean rim countries during austral spring based on satellite‐based gross primary productivity (GPP) and historical and future simulations in 10 Earth System models. We suggest that IOD can positively impact on GPP over most of Africa and India, but negatively impact over southern China, Indo‐China peninsula, maritime continent, and Australia, which are mostly driven by heavy rainfalls and severe droughts associated with its two sea surface temperature poles. The recent extremely positive IOD in 2019 resulted in the canonical but extreme IOD‐affected GPP patterns. Furthermore, multimodel future projections suggest that the occurrence of IOD events will be more frequent in future warming scenario. IOD will exert larger impacts on GPP variations over the central and eastern Africa, Sumatra, western and southeastern Australia, but lower impacts over southern Africa, east India, the Indo‐China peninsula, and northeastern Australia. Understanding the IOD impacts can provide us new insights into regional and global carbon cycle interannual variability. Key Points: Indian Ocean dipole can exert contrasting impacts on gross primary productivity (GPP) over Indian Ocean rim countries driven by precipitation variationsThe recent extremely positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in 2019 caused the canonical but extreme IOD‐affected GPP patternsMultimodel future projections suggest that IOD will occur more frequently with larger impacts on GPP, especially over eastern Africa [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Over a period of 15 years, Schistonchus was collected from sycones of Ficus subgenus Urostigma section Malvanthera in eastern Australia, and was found to occur widely. Here, Schistonchus macrophylla macrophylla is redescribed from F. macrophylla and F. superba , and a new subspecies, Schistonchus m. lightfooti subsp. n., from F. rubiginosa and F. superba. Schistonchus m. lightfooti subsp. n., is characterised by having a long post-vulval uterine sac (PUS) with thickened walls and a narrowly rounded or pointed distal tip, procorpus which is usually longer than the stylet length, pyriform metacorpus, trapezoid-shaped head capsule, papillae arranged as one large pair adcloacal, a large pair at mid-tail length, and a small pair near the tail tip, no caudal alae, and a spatulate tail tip in females; and was collected from Sydney in New South Wales (NSW) to southern Queensland. Schistonchus m. macrophylla is characterised by having a procorpus shorter than or equal to the stylet length, an ovoid metacorpus, rectangular-shaped head capsule, long PUS with thickened wall only at its distal tip, caudal alae, and papillae arranged as one pair precloacal, one small pair adcloacal, and a large pair at mid-tail length. It was collected in NSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ficophagus from collecting trips in eastern Australia, made over 15 years, are summarised and show that species of the genus occurred widely in sycones of Ficus , subgenus Urostigma , section Malvanthera. Two new species (based on morphological differences and molecular sequencing) are described: Ficophagus elizabethae sp. n. from Ficus macrophylla , F. rubiginosa and F. obliqua , and Ficophagus richardi sp. n. from Ficus obliqua ; and a morphospecies, Ficophagus Morphospecies malandicus from Ficus obliqua. Ficophagus elizabethae sp. n. is characterised by having the excretory pore (EP) opening from the level of the junction of the conus and shaft of the stylet to that of the knobs, a relatively long procorpus (1.0-2.5 times length of stylet), female tail with an obliquely truncate tail with a hyaline area and a finely to broadly rounded tip which may be mucronate; post-vulval uterine sac (PUS) ca one vulval body diam. (VBD) in length; rose-thorn-shaped spicule with distinct rostrum and prominent condylus; and genital papillae arranged as largest pair adcloacal, second pair posterior to mid-tail length, and third small pair near tail tip; and was collected from Sydney in New South Wales, to Bundaberg in Queensland (QLD). Ficophagus richardi sp. n. is characterised by having the EP opening at the level of the junction of the stylet shaft and conus, a labial cap which is raised around the opening for the stylet; procorpus 0.8-1.7 times length of the stylet, PUS <1 VBD in length, long uterus, and female tail with a V-shaped hyaline area at the bluntly rounded tip; rose-thorn-shaped spicule with a small rostrum and prominent condylus, three pairs genital papillae, first and largest on anterior cloacal lip, second at 70% of tail length measured from cloacal aperture, and third near tip, and was collected from Ban Ban Springs in the south to the Bundaberg region in the mid-north of QLD. In addition, in the absence of pertinent molecular sequences, a morphospecies is described. Ficophagus Morphospecies malandicus is characterised by having the EP opening anterior to the junction of the stylet conus and shaft, procorpus 0.9-2 times length of stylet, a short PUS usually <1 VBD long, short uterus, rose-thorn-shaped spicule with a raised condylus and prominent rostrum, and three pairs of subventral papillae on the tail (one adcloacal, one posterior to mid-tail and one near tail tip); and was collected from the Atherton Tableland, QLD. A table comparing morphological characteristics is provided to help with identification of Ficophagus nematodes from figs of the section Malvanthera in eastern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular evidence from sequences of three regions of ribosomal DNA (partial SSU, ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2, and D2/D3 expansion segments of LSU) is presented to show that the two belonolaimids described from turfgrass in Australia (Ibipora lolii and Morulaimus gigas) are identical. Morulaimus gigas is therefore considered a junior synonym of I. lolii. The decision to place the nematode in Ibipora rather than Morulaimus is supported by molecular studies which showed that I. lolii is not closely related to Morulaimus or Carphodorus, two belonolaimid genera that are only found in Australia. Survey data are presented to show that I. lolii is widespread on turfgrass around Newcastle in New South Wales and in Perth, Western Australia, where the infested area is increasing rapidly, largely because the nematode is being spread in planting material. Ibipora lolii damages all turfgrass species but is particularly damaging to kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), the main grass used for sporting fields and recreational areas in warm regions of Australia. Data from an experiment in pots also show that the nematode multiplies to damaging levels on sugarcane. Symptoms on grasses are similar to those caused by the sting nematode, Belonolaimus longicaudatus, in south-eastern USA, but because the two nematodes are taxonomically different, I. lolii is referred to as the southern sting nematode. Ibipora lolii was not found in surveys of natural vegetation on the east and west coasts of Australia, suggesting that it is an introduced species, possibly originating in South America or the Caribbean, where other Ibipora species are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ficus benjamina (Moracaeae subfamily Urostigma, section Conosycea) grows naturally in tropical Asia and in Australia in the north of the Northern Territory and the Cairns region of Queensland. It is widely grown as an ornamental in more temperate regions of Australia. Schistonchus benjamhza sp. n. is described from sycones of F. benjamina in Brisbane, and is differentiated from other species of Schistonchus by a combination of morphological characters including having the excretory pore opening near the head, a short post-vulval uterine sac, rose thorn-shaped spicule, lightly sclerotised stylet and spicule, and three pairs of subventral papillae on the tail (one adcloacal, one at mid-tail length and one near the tail tip); and apparent biogeographical range. Phylogenetic analyses based on D3 sequences from collections from both northern and southern Queensland suggest that S. benjamina sp. n. is a species complex, but specimens from the different locations cannot be separated on morphological or morphometric data. Schistonchus benjamina sp. n. is closest to S. microcarpus from F. microcarpa (Urostigma, section Urostigma) in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of Schistonchus collected from Ficus spp. in Australia and stored in the Waite Nematode Collection at the University of Adelaide is presented. Within Australia, Schistonchus contains 12 morphospecies and four nominal species, based on a combination of the following characters: body shape when heat-relaxed, position of excretory pore, length of post-uterine sac, spicule form, and number and position of caudal papillae. Up to four morphospecies of Schistonchus have been collected from one species of Ficus and, in several cases, one morphospecies of Schistonchus has been collected from more than one host fig species. A phylogenetic tree based on D2/D3 sequences showed that Australian collections of Schistonchus fall into two clades, suggestive of endemic and introduced lineages with host switching. Schistonchus aculeata sp. n. is described from F. aculeata and F. opposita and differentiated from other species of Schistonchus by having the excretory pore opening near the lips, a short post-uterine sac, rosethorn-shaped spicules, arcuate gubernaculum or thickening of dorsal wall, amoeboid sperm, and three pairs of caudal papillae (one pair adcloacal, one just posterior to mid-tail, and one near the tail tip), association with Kradibia spp. pollinating wasps and apparent biogeographical range. A key to the known species and morphospecies of Schistonchus from Australia is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six isolates of Australian Aphelenchoidoidea, viz., Laimaphelenchus preissii from native coniferous Callitris preissii trees, L. australis from the common pine plantation trees of Pinus radiata and P. pinaster and L. heidelbergi and two morphospecies of Aphelenchoides (H1 and K1) and Cryptaphelenchus sp. (K2) from diseased P. radiata trees, were studied using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and phylogenetic analyses of nearly full length sequences of SSU, D2/D3 expansion segments of LSU rDNA and a fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of SSU, LSU and COI of the six nematode species revealed that none of these Australian aphelenchoidoids was inferred to be closely related to Bursaphelenchus. The selected isolates of Aphelenchoides and Laimaphelenchus used in this study were paraphyletic in all molecular analyses. Cryptaphelenchus sp. (K2) was inferred to be sister to Seinura with SSU sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastropod Polinices sordidus was collected from an uncontaminated area in Quibray Bay, New South Wales, Australia, in 1990. The snails were exposed for 2 wk to polluted sediments collected from Port Kembla Harbour, Blackwattle Bay, Lake Illawarra, Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia, and the Derwent River in Tasmania, Australia. Metal accumulation and regulation by this species were evaluated. Metal concentrations in snail tissues and total, EDTA and HCl-extractable metals in the sediments were compared. Copper concentrations were extremely varied in snails exposed to the same sediment. This was not the case for other matals tested. No accumulation of copper was found in snails exposed to different sediments. There was no zinc accumulation from sediments containing less then 10 mg Zn/g. P. sordidus could accumulate lead, manganese and iron from some of the sediments. Manganese concentrations in the snail tissues correlated with total, HCl-extractable and, more significantly, EDTA-extractable Mn in the sediments. P. sordidus was not considered to be a good bioindicator of copper and zinc contaimination in sediments; however, this species could be used as an indicator of lead and manganese contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil moisture deficit is the main factor restricting light use efficiency (LUE) in grassland ecosystem during drought years. • Accumulated soil moisture deficit (ASMD) showed the highest performance in capturing LUE during drought years. • ASMD could further improve the simulation of GPP based on LUE model during drought years. Light use efficiency (LUE) models have been widely used in the estimation of gross primary productivity (GPP). However, many studies indicated that current LUE models generally overestimate GPP during drought years. Recent studies also showed that soil moisture (SM) regulated LUE during drought years, indicating the necessity of adding SM-related stress scalars in LUE models. Meanwhile, considering the persistence characteristic of drought, the effect of SM stress on LUE is expected to be not only instantaneous but also accumulated. However, it is unclear whether the accumulated SM stress can better capture LUE. Thus, based on observations from grassland flux sites in the United States and Australia, we compared the effectiveness of concurrent soil moisture deficit (SMD), lagged soil moisture deficit (LSMD), and accumulated soil moisture deficit (ASMD) in capturing actual LUE during drought years. ASMD had more stable and stronger linear correlations with LUE than SMD and LSMD at almost all the sites. Furthermore, ASMD outperformed water stress scalars commonly used in LUE models such as the Land Surface Water Index (LSWI) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) for tracking actual LUE during drought years. The introduction of ASMD improved the accuracy of the LUE model for simulating grassland GPP during drought years (with a R2 and RMSE of 0.88 and 1.06 g C m−2 d−1). Our study highlights the accumulated effect of SM in regulating LUE, and proves that ASMD has the potential in improving the performance of the existing LUE models during drought years. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]