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RESEARCH INTERESTS
My interest
in biology and marine life began when I was a child living in Adelaide,
South Australia.
 After school I went snorkeling along the Brighton and Seacliff Beach . The
fascinating variety and beauty of the marine life soon turned my interests
to biology and conservation. As a volunteer I collected fish and
invertebrates for the South Australian Museum .
My professional
experience as a Scientist includes Research and Conservation work in the USA
and Australia . I have been employed by Universities, Government, and in
private institutions, and have consulted with Government and private
industry. I manage three conservation websites
www.bioteck.org
www.ifg.bioteck.org
and www.seadragonfoundation.org
I have
published or researched in the fields of reproductive physiology,
cryobiology, pathology, ecology, physiology, and nutrition. Within these
fields I prefer to work for Marine and Amphibian Conservation. Recently, I
have been increasingly involved with vertebrate taxonomy of amphibians and
fish including the naming of new species using DNA analysis. I have
extensive experience in amphibian facilities and services and have visited
many amphibian facilities at Zoos and Aquariums in both the USA and
Australia. During my research work I have kept many endangered amphibians
and successfully reproduced them with both natural and artificial
reproduction. I have engaged in extensive field work with all vertebrates
including amphibians and prepared large fauna assessments.
Concerned that the conservation crisis affecting amphibians will soon extend
to marine fish I have become active in the biology and sociology of the
sustainable management of inshore demersal fish. Our discovery of new fish
species at Adelaide metropolitan beaches, and the looming conservation
crisis, shows the conservation of the inshore fish and their environment in
Southern Australia may suffer similar problems to those facing amphibians.
lack of knowledge and the application of timely conservation measures.
I have
initiated and supported an ad hoc group to investigate southern Australasian
inshore demersal fish, discovered several new species, and conducted
detailed studies of the reproduction biology of one species. Recently I
have collaborated with the Californian Academy of Science in a major project
to explore the molecular phylogeny of the world's syngnathids.
Recently I have
become interested in the media, particularly in the use of the Internet as
web sites or electronic magazines. Also, recently I have studied and
worked in marketing and business management to develop administrative skills
for sustainable management of biodiversity. Business and media activities
have made me acutely aware of the need to culturally engage the wider public
in the sustainability of biodiversity.
My
work engages the interface of technology, sustainability and education,
within the fields of -
Reproduction
technology,
species conservation, IT and information systems, syngnathid systematics and
taxonomy, fish and amphibian biology, genetic resource banking.
PhD Thesis
:
Conservation Biology, Reproduction technologies for amphibians, University
of Newcastle, Australia.
BSc (hons)
: Aquaculture, Improving fertility of rainbow trout eggs,
Key centre for Aquaculture, University of Tasmania, Australia.
EMPLOYMENT
2006 - Manager, Functional Ecosystem Management.
2004-2006 Research Fellow, University of Memphis, Memphis Zoo.
APPOINTMENTS
Hon. Research Associate 'Perth Zoo'.
Hon. Research Fellow South Australian Museum.
Swinburne University, Melbourne,
Australia, External supervisor
SOCIETIES
Acting President, Seadragon Foundation.
Scientific Officer, Marine Life Society of South Australia (MLSSA).
Friends Gulf St Vincent, Committee member.
Conservation Council of South Australia, MLSSA Representative.
AWARDS
1996 The Harris Award. Best final year aggregate marks in Aquaculture.
1995, 1994 Deans Role of Excellence.
1993 Wallace Memorial Prize. Best first year aggregate marks in Aquaculture
PUBLICATIONS, peer reviewed.
Browne
RK,
Baker
JL,
Connolly RM. 2007. Seadragons, seahorses, and pipefish. In: Natural History
of Gulf St Vincent. Eds, S. Bryars, S.A. Shepherd, P. Harbison & I.
Kirkegaard. Royal Society of South Australia (in press).
Browne RK,
Zippel K. 2007. Reproduction and larval rearing. Use of amphibians in
research, laboratory, or classroom settings. Institute for Laboratory
Animal Research (ILAR), 48, 3.
Browne RK,
Zippel K, Odum AR, Herman T. 2007. Physical facilities and associated
services. Use of amphibians in research, laboratory, or classroom settings.
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR), 48, 3.
Browne
RK, Smith K. 2007.
A new pipefish, Stigmatopora narinosus n. sp. (Gasterosteiformes:
Syngnathidae) from
South Australia, most closely related to Stigmatopora nigra
(Kaup 1853). Journal of the Victorian Museum. (accepted).
Browne RK,
Li H. 2006. The sexual transmission of Myxobolus fallax during the
spermiation of Litoria fallax (anura).
Diseases of
Aquatic Organisms. 72:71-75.
Browne RK,
Seratt J, Vance C, Kouba A. 2006. Hormonal induction with priming and In
vitro fertilization increases egg numbers and quality in the
Wyoming toad (Bufo baxteri). Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
4:34.
Browne RK,
Seratt J, Li H, Kouba A. 2006. Progesterone improves the number and quality
of hormonally induced fowler toad (Bufo fowleri) oocytes.
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 4:3.
Browne RK,
Edwards DL. 2003. The effect of temperature on the growth and development of
green and golden bell frogs (
Litoria aurea). Journal of Thermal Biology. 28: 295-299.
Browne RK, Pomering
M, Hamer AJ. 2003. High density effects on the growth, development and
survival of Litoria aurea tadpoles. Aquaculture. 215 (1-4): 109-121.
Browne RK,
Mahony M, Clulow J. 2002. A comparison of sucrose, saline, and saline with
egg-yolk diluents on the cryopreservation of cane toad (Bufo marinus)
sperm. Cryobiology. 44 (3): 251-257.
Browne RK,
Davis J, Pomering M, Clulow J. 2002. Storage of cane toad (Bufo marinus)
sperm for 6 days at 0ºC with subsequent cryopreservation. Reproduction,
Fertility and Development. 14 (5): 267-273.
Browne RK,
Clulow J, Manony M. 2002. The short-term storage and cryopreservation of
spermatozoa from hylid and myobatrachid frogs. Cryo Letters 23(2): 129-136.
Browne RK,
Clulow J, Mahony M. 2002. The effect of saccharides on the post-thaw
recovery of cane toad (Bufo marinus) spermatozoa. Cryo Letters.
23(2):121-128.
Browne RK,
Scheltinga DM, Pomering M, Mahony M. 2002. Testicular myxosporidiasis -in
anurans, with a description of
Myxobolus fallax n. sp. Systematic Parasitology. 52(2): 97-110.
Browne RK,
Clulow J, Mahony M. 2001. Short-term storage of cane toad (Bufo marinus)
gametes. Reproduction. 121(1):167-173.
Browne RK,
Clulow J, Mahony M, Clark A. 1998. Successful recovery of motility and
fertility of cryopreserved cane toad (Bufo marinus) sperm.
Cryobiology. 37(4): 339-345.
ACADEMIC MENTORSHIP
2007- Lydia Fucsko, Melbourne, Australia, PhD. Swinburne University of
Technology.
2006- Aimee Silla, Perth, Australia. PhD. Murdoch University.
2006- Sharron Perks, Perth, Australia. PhD. Murdoch University.
PUBLICATIONS, journalism.
Browne RK
. 2007. Saving Southern Australasian Fish. EcoVoice e-magazine. Issue 42
March 2007.
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-42/WAT_ Fish Extinctions.php.
Browne RK. 2007.
Preventing frog extinctions. EcoVoice e-magazine. Issue 40 April 2007.
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-41/WAT_frogs_perth_zoo_41.php.
Browne RK. 2007.
Marine survival depends on team effort. EcoVoice e-magazine. Issue 39 March
2007.
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/enews/enews-40/WAT_Marine-Conservation-Cr.php.
Browne RK. 2007.
What’s hot!? The Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Bill
2006. Marine Life Society of South Australia Newsletter, January 2007.
Browne RK. 2007.
Proposed Leafy Sea Dragon aquarium. Marine Life Society of South Australia
Newsletter, January 2007.
http://www.mlssa.asn.au/
.
Browne RK. 2003.
Pipefish, museums, marine naturalists and fish conservation. Marine Life
Society of South Australia Journal, 2003.
Mahony M, Clulow J, Browne RK,
Pomering M. 1998. Risk assessment and contingency strategies. On the Brink.
Abstract. 10; 15.
Clulow
J, Browne RK,
Pomering M, Mahony M. 1998. Cryopreservation of amphibian gametes and
embryos: recent advances and future directions. 1998. On the Brink.
Abstract. 10; 16-17.
JOURNAL REFEREE
Biological Conservation. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Applied Herpetology. Brill, United Kingdom.
Reproduction, Fertility and Development. CSIRO Publishing, Australia.
REPORTS
Browne RK,
and Mahony M. 2002. Voluntary Conservation Agreement. Carrow Brook. Prepared
for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Bulga.
Browne RK
, 2002. Comprehensive Regional Assessment. Yengo National Park. New South
Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Browne RK, 2002.
Voluntary Conservation Agreement. Mt Royal. Prepared for the New South Wales
National Parks and Wildlife Service, Western region, Dubbo.
Lane S, Browne RK,
Hamer A. and Mahony M. 2000. Survey for
Litoria castanea in the Orange
area. Prepared for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Western region, Dubbo.
Mahony M, Clulow J, Browne RK,
Pomering M. 1999. Declines and Disappearances of Frogs: Risk Assessment and
Contingency Strategies. In (ed: Alastair Cambell) Declines and
Disappearances of Australian Frogs. Environment Australia. pp. 202-211.
Clulow J, Mahony M, Browne RK,
Pomering M, Clark A. 1999. Application of Assisted Reproduction Technologies
(ART) to Endangered Anuran Amphibians. In (ed: Alastair Cambell) Declines
and Disappearances of Australian Frogs. Environment Australia. pp. 219-225.
Browne RK, Clulow
J, Mahony M. 1998. Husbandry of native amphibians at high densities as a
management tool for the conservation of endangered species. On the Brink.
Abstract. 10; 16.
Browne RK, Clulow
J, Mahony M. 1997. Short term preservation of Cane toad (Bufo
marinus) sperm at low temperature. Proceedings of the Twenty
Eighth Annual Conference, Australian Society for Reproductive Biology, 28th
Annual Conference, 29 Sept. - 1st October, 1997. National Convention Centre,
Canberra, ISSN 0812-7662. p 45.
PRESENTATIONS
South
Australian Amphibian Society, Adelaide, South Australia. March 2007.Current
trends in amphibian conservation.
Marine Life Society of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. February
2007. The value of public aquariums to the conservation of inshore fish
particularly seadragons, seahorses, and pipefish.
Perth Zoo, Western Australia, Seminar Series. November 2006. Reproduction
technology, gene banking, and rehabilitation projects: the case of the
Wyoming toad (Bufo baxteri).
Marine Life Society of South Australia. Adelaide, South Australia. August
2006. The structure of a new information system based conservation trust the
‘Inshore Fish Group’.
United Nations Threatened Species Group, World Conference on the
Conservation of Amphibians. Panama City. Panama. 2006. Emerging
technologies for the captive husbandry and reproduction of amphibians
(proxy).
Crissey Zoological Nutritional Symposium. University of North Carolina.
2005. Omega 3 fatty acids and high levels of Vitamin A improve the growth
(Part 1.) and the health (Part 2.) of the endangered Wyoming toad (Bufo
baxteri).
United States Fish and Game. Taxonomic Advisory Group. Houston. 2005. Annual
meeting. Artificial fertilization and hormonal induction of spawning in the
endangered Wyoming toad (
Bufo baxteri).
United States Fish and Game. Taxonomic Advisory Group. Houston. 2004. Annual
meeting.
Amphibian Research Centre. Melbourne. 2004. Keynote speaker. Current trends
in the conservation biology of amphibians.
Aquaculture Research Institute 2. Hanoi, Vietnam. 2003. The use of high
density raising of tadpoles for aquaculture.
Aquaculture Research Institute 1. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 2003. The use
of high density raising of tadpoles for aquaculture.
WWF. Amphibian Conservation Seminar, Adelaide, South Australia. 2003. The
decline of the Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria
aurea) in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia.
Marine Life Society of South Australia. 2003. The description, phylogeny,
and ecology of a new pipefish species from South Australia.
Cryobiology Society, Boston, USA. 2000. Short-term storage of cane toad (Bufo
marinus) sperm with subsequent cryopreservation.
Stanford University, USA. 2000. Guest speaker Xenogen P/L. The distribution
and ecology of the glow-worm Genus
Arachnocampa.
University of Newcastle, Australia. 1999. The relationship between motility
and plasma membrane integrity of fresh and cryopreserved cane toad (Bufo
marinus) sperm.
Royal Zoological Society Postgraduate Seminars. Sydney. 1999. Hormonal
induction of spermatogenesis coupled with spore shedding of (
Myxobolus sp. nov.) from
the testis of (Litoria fallax).
Australian Society for Reproductive Biology. 1999. Canberra, Short term
preservation of cane toad (Bufo marinus)
sperm at low temperature.
Australian Society of Herpetologists, Inc., 1998. Yungaburra, Queensland.
Cryopreservation of Sperm from the cane toad (Bufo
marinus).
Australian Society of Herpetologists, Inc., Yungaburra, Queensland. 1998.
Non-invasive collection of sperm from the cloaca of cane toads (Bufo
marinus) using hormonal induction.
University of Newcastle, Australia 1998. Toward the cryopreservation of a
whole tadpole.
University of Newcastle, Australia. 1998. Successful recovery of motility
and fertility of cryopreserved cane toad (Bufo
marinus) sperm.
Royal Zoological Society Postgraduate Seminars. 1998. Taronga Zoological
Gardens. Sydney, Cryopreservation of amphibian sperm.
University of Newcastle, Australia. 1998. The effect of five sugars as
cryodilutents on recovery of motility and membrane integrity of
cryopreserved cane toad (Bufo marinus
) sperm.
University of Newcastle, Australia. 1997. Cryopreservation of amphibian
sperm.
University of Newcastle, Australia. 1997. Reproductive technology for
amphibians.
Australian National University, Canberra. 1997. National Threatened Frog
Workshop, Risk assessment and contingency strategies.
Australian National University, Canberra. 1997.National Threatened Frog
Workshop, Cryopreservation of amphibian gametes and embryos: recent advances
and future directions.
National Threatened Frog Workshop, Australian National University, Canberra.
1997. Husbandry of native amphibians at high densities as a management tool
for the conservation of endangered species.
Macquarie University, Australia. 1997. Reproductive Technology for
Amphibians. |