Just like home : suburban realities and the art of Lisa Hilli

This article profiles the work of Australian-based Tolai artist Lisa Hilli and her photographic, video, installation and performance-based arts practice. Hilli's work deals with contemporary Pacific diasporic identity in Australia.

Diet and hypertension in the Asia-pacific region : a brief review

In this paper, the possible reasons for the prevalence of hypertension in the Asia–Pacific region are examined, along with its likely dietary, nutritional and sociocultural causes. This brief survey indicates the need for more comprehensive blood pressure monitoring and surveillance throughout the region. Findings from research conducted in the region and elsewhere suggest that a variety of aetiological factors predict the occurrence of hypertension, most of which are similar to those observed in western populations. However, several lines of research suggest that obesity, abdominal obesity and a number of dietary constituents, in addition to salt, may play relatively greater roles than in western populations. It is argued that hypertension may be prevented via a combination of individual, community and governmental approaches which promote social capital, environmentally sustainable food production and the public health.

Observations on ponticocythereis tricristata (Brady, 1880) from the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea and comments on quaternary ostracod evolution within the sw Pacific Ocean

The ostracod species originally described as Cythere tricristata Brady, 1880 from the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea, appears to belong to the SW Pacific and Australasian genus Ponticocythereis McKenzie, 1967 (sensu Warne & Whatley 1996). This interpretation is based on the presence of some posterior pointing scale-like spines on the carapace surface of this species. SEM images of the type material for Ponticocythereis tricristara n. comb., which are presented here for the first time, enable the clear differentiation of this species from the very similar Ponticocythereis ichthyoderma (Brady, 1890), Ponticocythereis quadriserialis (Brady, 1890) and Ponticocythereis laingensis (Wouters, 1981). As a consequence of the subdued manifestation of scale-like or blade-like spines on adult specimens of P. tricristata, this species closely resembles juvenile rather than adult specimens of some other Ponticocythereis species. This ontogenetic/phylogenetic relationship suggests that paedomorphic processes were significant in the Quaternary evolutionary radiation of Ponticocythereis species within tropical SW Pacific and Australasian regions.

Antitropicality of Pacific fishes : molecular insights

Twenty-one molecular genetic studies of thirteen antitropical Pacific fishes are herein reviewed. High dispersal potentials and Plio-Pleistocene transequatorial divergence are suggested for approximately half of the taxa studied, consistent with movement across the tropics during glacial periods. Divergences within two fish groups were mid-Miocene in age, corresponding to a period suggested for vicariant isolation associated with equatorial warming, but high dispersal potentials complicate the interpretation of biogeographic history. Only one study suggested transequatorial divergence older than 20 million years. There is a greater proportion of Pleistocene transequatorial divergences in the East Pacific than the West Pacific, consistent with the suggestion that conditions in the East Pacific are more amenable to the formation of antitropical distributions. Multiple transequatorial divergences have been observed within at least two groups, and instances of cryptic speciation have been identified twice. Areas for future research concern taxa that differ from the majority studied to date with respect to latitudinal distribution, bathymetry, evolutionary age, and dispersal potential. Molecular characters have demonstrated utility for the study of antitropical fishes, but with limitations.

Cheilodactylus (Goniistius) francisi, a new species of morwong (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidea) from the Southwest Pacific

A new morwong, Cheilodactytus (Goniistius) francisi, is recognized from southwest Pacific Islands (Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef, Kermadecs, and probably Elizabeth Reef, Norfolk Island, and New Caledonia). Distinguishing features from C. (G.) vittatus (Hawaiian Islands) comprise gill-raker counts, caudal-fin coloration, and notable molecular divergence.