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New
bioluminescent fungi discovered at Springbrook originally in 1988, studied in 2006 and
named in 2008 as : Mycena
delicatum [ Maguire 2006 ]
Click the image to view more detail. |
Our environmental research
centre is located in a sub-tropical rainforest environment at an altitude of 714 metres
above sea level on the Springbrook Plateau in South East Queensland, Australia.
Our voluntary field and scientific personnel are currently specialising in the study of
bioluminescent fungi and insects found in the rainforest area surrounding our centre. The
research group involves local and overseas personnel who are experts in their respective
fields of the environment, biology and biochemistry. |
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Due to it's
geograpical location of being located in the highest most easterly populated area of
Australia, our research centre receives
every
day !
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Work bench area on one side of
the
temporary glass walled tissue culture
clean area for propogation of the
5 varieties of bioluminescent mushrooms, descriptions and photos of which can be
acessed via the "Current Studies" link on the navigation index. |
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Google Earth
satellite pic of our research centre as seen from space . click the image for a larger view. |
Bioluminescent fungi propogation area at
night looking through the glass walls.
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Going underground
into the enclosed environment chamber
affectionally known as
"the Wormhole" |
Current studies:
( Follow the
Current Projects link above or click this link for details )
1. Luminous fungi
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Ongoing studies into the
propagation of the five different types of bioluminescent fungi that occur naturally in
the rainforest around our centre.
Progress reports of the studies in the underground controlled environment are updated
on the Current Projects pages when available. |
2. Bioluminescent caterpillars
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I was hoping that our luminous
caterpillars were the larval stage of our local variety of Firefly viz: ELATEROIDEA
Atyphella atra Lea (Lampyridae: Luciolinae)
that are common at Springbrook during the late spring to early summer period, although
expert external advice assures us that they are not.
These caterpillars, it has been suggested, could also be the larval stage of a luminous
moth mentioned in pioneer correspondence circa 1914.
This moth has yet to be sighted in recent times. |
Other avenues of
investigation...
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(a) There are
many unanswered questions about the relationship of larger insects and spiders that appear
to protect and live in harmony with glow worms.
The larger varieties of huntsman spiders are interactive with glow worms in the warmer
months but there are also varieties of small spiders that have adapted their web-spinning
technique to use the glow worms' light all year around to trap their food, sometimes to
the detriment of the glow worm.(b)
Possible commercial applications for organic bioluminescence. |
A group of university
students from Japan visiting our centre.
School class visitors from
Coolangatta.
We are
pleased to have our work internationally recognised by having one of our close-up photos recently published in
Belgium in a book titled "Vivre & Survival" by Prof. Paul Galand
Free University of Brussels, Laboratory of cytology and
experimental cancerology. |
Groups of
students attend here as a daytime or night time educational experience.
Any small donations for such welcome visits go directly toward funding ongoing research.
Springbrook Research Centre
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Current Projects | Enclosed
environment | Bioluminescence | Links | Location | Copyright | Contact |
