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Honours Australian Natural History Medallion 2009: AM Richard Shine Thewinnerofthe2009AustralianNaturalHis- butionstotheevolutionarybiologyandnatural tory Medallion is Dr Richard Shine, Professor historyofsnakes (2000),andtheHenryS. Fitch in Biology, UniversityofSydney Inthepastten Award, presented by the American Society of years Professor Shine has authored more than Naturalists and Herpetologists, foroutstanding 400scientificpapersonherpetologicalsubjects, contributionstoherpetology(2003). and received a number ofawards marking ex- Much ofRicks efforts have focused on long- cellence in his field. The Australian Society of term projects, and address issues that occur Herpetologists and the ACT Herpetological on a timescale inaccessible to most scientific Society jointly nominated Professor Shine, to research. Many ofthe processes ofcritical im- — — recognisehislifetimeswork devotednotonly portance to population viability such as re- todiscoveringnewinformationaboutthenatu- sponses to changing climates or the invasion ral history of reptiles, but also to disseminat- offeralorganisms—playoutoverlongperiods. ing that knowledge widely to influence public For example, 25 years ago Rick initiated inten- attitudes and to assist in the conservation of sive, highlydetailed studies on the reptiles and Australianfauna. amphibians of the coastal floodplains of the Dr Shine has provided reliable information NorthernTerritory. Heandhiscolleagueshave on basic life-history and ecological character- been ableto understand, and therefore predict, istics ofa large proportion ofthe snake fauna the ways in which year-to-year variation in of Australia. In addition, he has conducted weatherconditionstranslatesintoshiftsinprey or initiated intensive field studies to elucidate densities, and thus into demographic features information necessary for the conservation of (recruitment, survival, growth, reproductive species and the ecosystems that they inhabit. output) ofpredatorpopulations. Hisempirical- In 1992 his popular book Australian Snakes - ly-validatedmodelsofthelinksbetweenclimate a natural history received the Whitley Award and population viability comprise a powerful for the best Zoological Handbook. It has since tool for understanding, predicting and manag- been reprinted a number oftimes (1998, 1999, ingtheimpactsoffutureclimatechange. 2001 and 2004) and has influenced a whole Professor Shine has made detailed studies on generation ofyoung Australians to see snakes the ecology of a highly endangered snake in in amorefavourablelight. eastern New South Wales (the Broad-headed More recently, Rick has initiated a wide- Snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides) and on the ranging project on the biology, impact and biology and impact ofcane toads in the Aus- control ofcane toads. Perhaps the best exam- traliantropics.Currently,hehasmajorcollabo- NSW ple of his extracurricular effort is his website rative projects with the National Parks <www.canetoadsinoz.com>, which he and his and Wildlife Service, Zoos Victoria and the wife have set up to provide the general public Australian Reptile Park, not only to improve with quickand easyaccess to reliable informa- understanding of the processes that threaten tionaboutthis invasivepest. the endangered broad-headed snakes, but also Amongst Professor Shines awards are the to remedy those problems by landscape-scale ClarkeMedaloftheRoyalSocietyofNewSouth habitat improvement measures. That project Wales (1990); the Mueller Medal (ANZAAS has involved construction and deployment of - 2005); and the Eureka Prize for Biodiversity artificialrockstoreplacethosestolenforgarden Research (2006). HewaselectedaFellowofthe ornamentation, and large-scale forest thinning Linnean SocietyofLondon in 2005 and, in the toallowsunpenetrationtothesnakesfavoured same year, was appointed as a Member ofthe rocky crevice habitats. Similarly, he is working Order of Australia. Overseas awards include with Federal Department ofEnvironment and theE.O. WilsonNaturalistAward,presentedby Heritage and the Western Australian Depart- theAmerican SocietyofNaturalists, forcontri- ment of Conservation to mitigate impacts of Vol 127 (1)2010 23 Honours the invasive cane toad on theendemic faunaof interviews about his research have appeared in the Kimberleyregion. everymajorAustralian newspaperoverthelast Just as important as Ricks direct contribu- few years, on most major television stations, tions, has been his mentoring ofmore than 50 andon manynationalandlocal radio stations. research students, and his encouragement of Professor Shines enthusiasm for communi- amateur reptile enthusiasts. By giving frequent cating with the general public has contributed talksatlocalcommunitygroupmeetings,hehas enormously to the rapprochement that is con- provided inspiration and guidance to younger tinuingto build between Australians and com- members ofthe reptile-enthusiast community. ponents of their native fauna that previously Many ofhis former students have attained re- were feared, hated or neglected. He has been sponsible positions in Australian universities an extremely influential figure in studying and and museums, greatly expanding his influence publicising the natural history of Australian on Australian herpetology. reptiles. Rick Shine has contributed prolifically to popularmagazinesandappeared,literally,hun- Ian Endersby dredsoftimeson radioand television shows to 56LookerRoad promote an understanding ofthe natural his- Montmorency,Victoria3094 toryoftheAustralian reptile fauna. Stories and Australian Natural History Medallion Trust Fund Donationsweregratefullyreceived during 2009 fromthe following: $ Royal SocietyofVictoria 200.00 Mrs Eulalie Brewster 50.00 SEANA 500.00 Mid MurrayFieldNaturalists 20.00 GaryPresland 30.00 Mrs FelicityTeague 50.00 John Patykowski 5.00 Field Naturalists ClubofVictoria 200.00 Victoria Hemming 10.00 Launceston Field NaturalistsClub 50.00 Philip Ranee 15.00 Victorian Ornithological ResearchGroup 25.00 If you would like to contribute to this fund, which supports the Australian Natural History Medallion, donations shouldbe sent to: TheTreasurer, Field Naturalists Club ofVictoria, Locked Bag 3, Blackburn, Vic. 3130. Cheques should be madepayableto the Australian Natural History Medallion Trust Fund’. The medallion is awarded annually to a person who is considered to have made the most significantcontribution to the understandingofAustralian natural historyin thelasttenyears. Ian D Endersby Secretary ANHMCommittee 24 The Victorian Naturalist