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Introduction: Pill testing is regarded as a controversial harm reduction intervention and provides an ideal case study for examining how policy change comes about. Two Australian jurisdictions were analysed to explore factors that may account for policy change by comparing the ACT which allowed a pill testing trial, and NSW where pill testing has not been permitted. Methods: The analysis was conducted using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF). Data sources were first coded to establish the subsystem actors beliefs and advocacy coalitions; then coded using a deductive approach and classified against core dimensions of the ACF. An inductive approach was then applied to generate and link themes in the data. Results: A dominant and minority coalition was identified in each jurisdictions' policy subsystem. The results show how in the ACT a dominant ‘harm reduction’ coalition shifted their secondary beliefs and introduced a pill testing policy. Whereas in NSW, a shift in both the secondary and policy core beliefs of the dominant ‘law enforcement’ coalition was required, something which rarely occurs according to the ACF. Discussion and Conclusions: The analysis supports the ACF's assertion that advocacy coalitions will respond to pressures for change by restricting change to secondary beliefs, while keeping policy core beliefs intact. It also demonstrates that secondary and policy core beliefs matter in the context of minority and dominant coalitions. Further research is needed to explore whether a minority coalition's strategic re-framing of an issue to align with the policy core beliefs of their opponents would have more success than advocating from their own belief paradigm.

Trait-based approaches have improved our understanding of plant evolution, community assembly and ecosystem functioning. A major challenge for the upcoming decades is to understand the functions and evolution of early life-history traits, across levels of organization and ecological strategies. Although a variety of seed traits are critical for dispersal, persistence, germination timing and seedling establishment, only seed mass has been considered systematically. Here we suggest broadening the range of morphological, physiological and biochemical seed traits to add new understanding on plant niches, population dynamics and community assembly. The diversity of seed traits and functions provides an important challenge that will require international collaboration in three areas of research. First, we present a conceptual framework for a seed ecological spectrum that builds upon current understanding of plant niches. We then lay the foundation for a seed-trait functional network, the establishment of which will underpin and facilitate trait-based inferences. Finally, we anticipate novel insights and challenges associated with incorporating diverse seed traits into predictive evolutionary ecology, community ecology and applied ecology. If the community invests in standardized seed-trait collection and the implementation of rigorous databases, major strides can be made at this exciting frontier of functional ecology.

Large amounts of data are gathered at open cast mines and stored in a variety of ways. The data is used for monitoring, managing and improving operations. Many mines use complex fleet management systems to provide a dispatch and control process for mining equipment and also capture production and equipment performance data. A robust validation process is needed to ensure data integrity and provide accurate reports for management purposes. Discussion is presented of comparisons of productivity assumptions commonly used in feasibility studies, using truck haulage productivity data taken from AMC Consultants Pty benchmarking database. As well as examining the productivity of each mining step, it is also important to look at the impact on the mine plan. A bottleneck example case study is used to highlight how productivity and other factors can be used to identify and prioritise improvement opportunities. Better haulage productivity involves improvements in operating times, cycle times, and payload. To assess improvement priorities, ore, waste, material type and grade should be considered as well as the numbers and productivities of the equipment. Mine capacity models should consider material types and haul distances, and they should be renewed and reviewed regularly., Large amounts of data are gathered at open cast mines and stored in a variety of ways. The data is used for monitoring, managing and improving operations. Many mines use complex fleet management systems to provide a dispatch and control process for mining equipment and also capture production and equipment performance data. A robust validation process is needed to ensure data integrity and provide accurate reports for management purposes. Discussion is presented of comparisons of productivity assumptions commonly used in feasibility studies, using truck haulage productivity data taken from AMC Consultants Pty benchmarking database. As well as examining the productivity of each mining step, it is also important to look at the impact on the mine plan. A bottleneck example case study is used to highlight how productivity and other factors can be used to identify and prioritise improvement opportunities. Better haulage productivity involves improvements in operating times, cycle times, and payload. To assess improvement priorities, ore, waste, material type and grade should be considered as well as the numbers and productivities of the equipment. Mine capacity models should consider material types and haul distances, and they should be renewed and reviewed regularly.

Premise of research. Orchids are among the most enigmatic of plant species. Yet the Orchidaceae comprises more species at risk of extinction than any other plant family. The collection and storage of orchid germplasm-principally seeds and associated mycorrhizal fungi but also protocorm-like bodies using encapsulation and vitrification techniques-allows for secure ex situ conservation. This article reviews the approaches and techniques used for the ex situ conservation of orchid germplasm, with a focus on seed banking and the use of cryopreservation techniques to improve the longevity of germplasm. Pivotal results. It is increasingly apparent that cryopreservation-the storage of germplasm at ultra-low temperatures (e.g., in liquid nitrogen)-is required for the long-term and low-maintenance conservation of all types of orchid germplasm. For orchid seeds, desiccation tolerance is common, but longevity in storage is poor. Cryopreservation of orchid seeds shows promise, but some complexities in low-temperature storage behavior still require explanation and resolution.The application of more advanced cryopreservation techniques, including encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification, is becoming increasingly common. These techniques provide for the simultaneous storage of orchid propagules with their compatible fungus, while for seeds, vitrification techniques show potential for improving tolerance to the stresses of cryopreservation. Conclusions. A renewed focus on describing the low-temperature storage physiology of orchid seeds to more precisely define the relationship between seed water content, storage temperature, and seed survival is required, as is perhaps the wider adoption of the use of cryoprotectants for seeds. This research, coupled with the development of improved methods of seed viability testing, will support the growing work of germplasm banks to protect orchid biodiversity in the face of habitat loss and potential species extinction

The reproductive biology of a threatened saltmarsh plant, Wilsonia backhousei Hook.f., was investigated with a view to improving conservation and restoration outcomes for the species. Population phenology was studied every two weeks, over two consecutive flowering seasons, in three to six 0.25m 2 quadrats set in monocultures of the species at each of eight sites in New South Wales, Australia. Floral density (flowersm -2) ranged from 0 to 5800±1400m -2 and varied significantly among sites (P<0.05). Peak flowering occurred in mid-late October, during a period of no tidal inundation; fruit maturation coincided with inundation by extreme high tides in December, January and February. Sediment samples collected from each quadrat post-flowering were analysed for water content, salinity, texture (clay content) and pH. Ordinal logistic regression (OLR) of floral density against foliage volume and sediment variables showed a significant positive response to increasing foliage volume and negative responses to increasing salinity and clay content (P<0.05). Foliage volume, in turn, showed a significant positive response to sediment water content and again negative responses to increasing salinity and clay content (P<0.05). Fruit development occurred at all sites; however, little to no seed was produced at five of the sites. When quadrats not producing seed were excluded (to limit the influence of self-incompatibility), OLR of seed yield against floral density and sediment variables indicated sediment water content was the only significant predictor of yield (P=0.015). The morphology and phenology of individual flowers, potential pollination vectors, and general seed biology were also investigated. A combination of floral characteristics indicated that W. backhousei is wind-pollinated, likely to be outbreeding, and may be self-incompatible. The fruit is buoyant and, as maturation coincides with inundation by extreme high tides, may be dispersed within and among sites by tidal flo

The importance of the early planning of waste dumps is discussed in relation to minimising re-handling operations and reducing haulage and other final closure costs. A case study is presented for the Mount Whaleback iron ore mine in Western Australia, where a base case of the shortest hauls with no closure constraints was compared with a closure case. No re-handling was required if a properly planned and executed waste plan was implemented, and haulage costs were 8% less if closure design was carried out concurrent with mining. Following cessation of mining the landforms were such that decommissioning of critical acid rock drainage dams and coverage of exposed pyrite areas could occur immediately, without the need for additional re-handling. Other aspects discussed include the management of potentially acid-forming material and final landform design for closure., The importance of the early planning of waste dumps is discussed in relation to minimising re-handling operations and reducing haulage and other final closure costs. A case study is presented for the Mount Whaleback iron ore mine in Western Australia, where a base case of the shortest hauls with no closure constraints was compared with a closure case. No re-handling was required if a properly planned and executed waste plan was implemented, and haulage costs were 8% less if closure design was carried out concurrent with mining. Following cessation of mining the landforms were such that decommissioning of critical acid rock drainage dams and coverage of exposed pyrite areas could occur immediately, without the need for additional re-handling. Other aspects discussed include the management of potentially acid-forming material and final landform design for closure.

Wilsonia backhousei is a clonal saltmarsh plant restricted to the southern latitudes of Australasia and threatened in New South Wales. We have identified eight informative microsatellite loci in the species from (AG)n- and (AC)n-enriched libraries. In 48 samples from two populations we detected an average of five alleles per locus (range 2-8, average HE = 0.45), of which 72% were unique to one population or the other. Six of the eight loci were also amplifiable in Wilsonia rotundifolia under the same reaction conditions. The markers will be excellent tools for use in the management and conservation of both species. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.