In memoriam - Dr Peter William Arnold

2006·1.9 MB·English

IN MEMORIAM
DR PETER WILLIAM ARNOLD
Dr Peter Arnold, Senior Curator, Museum of Tropical Queensland (1949 - 2006)
Dr Peter Arnold died suddenly at the age of 1975). Peter moved from Canada to Townsville
56 years on 7 March 2006. Peter possessed an Australia in 1974, where, at the doorstep to the
exceptional knowledge of marine mammals and world’s largest coral reef, his future in marine
marine biology. He was loved, respected and biology was secured. Pete began working on
admired by all family, friends and colleagues for benthic invertebrates upon arrival to Townsville
his kindness, generosity, humility, dedication and obtained his PhD in 1979 from James Cook
to his work and eagerness to help everyone at University (JCU). From 1979-1985, Peter was
anytime. Everyone who knew Peter remembers a Marine Biology Research Officer with JCU.
him affectionately as a special indiv idual, modest Resulting from his impressive, multi-faceted
with brilliant intellect: a true gentleman. knowledge of marine biology, Peter became an
associate lecturer with the Department of Marine
Peter was bom in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Biology at JCU from 1985-1987. Colleagues
Canada on 14 May 1949, the son of John and Nora depended on ‘googling’ Pete's brain long before
Arnold (both deceased) and brother of Diane the internet offered an alternative.
Grant. He demonstrated a great interest in marine
biology from an early age, and discomforted his In 1987, Peter became a Curator (later a Senior
family by bringing home specimens in varying Curator) of Tropical Natural History, at the
stages of decomposition. Peter's early education Museum of Tropical Queensland (MTQ).
consisted of a BSc (with Honors in Biology) at During his work at the museum, he furthered
Acadia University, Canada, in 1970 and then a his interest in marine mammals, as well as many
MSc (Aquatic Science) investigating parasites other aspects of marine biology. While working
in Harbour porpoise (Phocoenaphocoena) at the at the museum for nearly 20 years, Peter derived
University of Guelph, Canada, in 1973 (Arnold, pleasure from almost every moment in life. He
8 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
would turn up at work every day, year in and distribution (Arnold, 1997) and interactions of
year out. Although perceived as a ‘workaholic’, minke whales with swimmers. This information
Peter was in fact driven by the inner contentment provided the science base for developing effective
that came from each day's new findings, lo management of swim with minke tourism (Birtles
Pete there were no weekends — only days when et al., 2002; Valentine et al., 2004).
the dress-code was relaxed back to his trademark
Peter had more than a decade long involvement
rubber thongs, he could hum over his work bench
with the Great Barrier Reef soft sediment surveys
and maybe linger over coffee-time chats.
of the JCU Marine Biology Benthic Research
Soon after beginning work at the museum, Unit (BRU) 1976-1988. After completing his
Peter began his interest in the genus Orcaella, PhD he was a Research Officer for at least six
after initiating collaboration with Dr George years in the BRU and played a leading role
Heinsohn, from JCU. George had collected the in a decade of sampling along a cross-shelf
carcasses of coastal dolphins caught in shark nets transect off Townsville, working closely with
off the Queensland coast since the late 1960s. Professor Michel Pichon and Alastair Birtles. A
Examination of specimens of what were then generation of JCU Marine Biology students w ere
considered to be Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella initiated into the mysteries and delights of GBR
brevirosiris) resulted in the first detailed description benthic sampling from the RV James Kirby by
of the morphology and taxonomy of this little Peter and his colleagues. These shelf studies
known species (Arnold & Heinsohn, 1996). W'ere significantly extended by three deep sea
Peter quickly became an authority on Irrawaddy expeditions (CIDARIS I, II and III) aboard the
dolphins (Stacey & Arnold, 1999; Arnold, 2002), CSIRO RV Franklin in 1986, 1988 and 1992.
which eventuated into: 1) designation of a new Initially funded by MSTGS, the project ‘Deep-
dolphin species, the Australian Snubtin dolphin sea bottom fauna of the Great Barrier Reef Shelf
{Orcaella heinsohni) which is thought to be and adjacent Coral Sea' collected a wide range
endemic to Australian and probably Papua New of benthos from the GBR continental slope,
Guinea waters (Beasley et al., 2002, 2005), and Queensland Trench and ultimately to bathyal and
2) supervision of the first comprehensive study abyssal depths of over 3,500 metres in the Gulf
on the behavioral ecology of Australian Snubfin of Papua. These unique collections are now all
dolphins by Dr Guido Parra ol James Cook deposited in the MTQ.
University in 2005.
Peter also shared his encyclopedic knowledge
Peter also had a dedicated interest in Minke of tropical benthos, benthic sampling, identification
Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata sensu lato), and analyses with a large group of international
which began when assisting in the collection of colleagues from Southeast Asia when he and
the carcass of an animal which had died after Alastair co-organised the ASEAN-AIMS-AIDAB
being trapped for several weeks in a reef lagoon Soft Bottom Communities Workshops in 1985
in a region of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in and 1987. These formed a significant component
the early 1980s. Peter was the first to notice of the AlDAB-funded ASEAN-AUSTRAL1A
differences in the Southern Hemisphere form Living Resources in Coastal Areas Project (part
of the minke, which resulted in two papers ot the ASEAN-AUSTRALIA Economic Co¬
describing the specifics of this potentially new operation Program) which began with an intensive
dwarf form in 1987 (Arnold et al., 1987. 2005). three month series of Methodology Workshops
This minke population subsequently became the held in 1985 and subsequently involved several
basis of a lucrative ‘swim with minke’ tourism participants from each of the ASEAN countries in
industry in the Great Barrier Reef. an extended Soft Bottom Communities Workshop
in 1987. Peter formed a lasting series of friendships
Some of Peter's most enjoyable moments were
and professional collaborations as a result of his
when he was out researching the dwarf minke
dedicated work for this project which was aimed
whales on the northern GBR with his close
at developing the scientific and technical expertise
associate and friend, Alastair Birtles, from JCU,
within the ASEAN region and established a
along with a host of students and volunteers.
regional database and an information exchange
Peter was instrumental in guiding the research
network throughout the ASEAN countries.
that provided evidence for the new subspecies
of diminutive minke whale (Arnold et al., 2005). In his role as a ‘guru’ of the soft benthos, Peter
He was also a leading member of the team which most recently lead the MTQ team working on
documented the behavior (Arnold et al., 2005), the CRC-Reef funded GBR Seabed Biodiversity
IN MEMORIUM - DR PETER WILLIAM ARNOLD 9
Mapping Project (GBR SBD). Though he did with the careful dedication to precision and
not live to see its culmination, this monumental quality that characterised all his endeavors.
project dealt with over 72,000 specimens split
In 2005, Peter was awarded an adjunct position
into at least 10,675 nominal species. Peter’s role
at the School of Tropical Environment Studies
in processing the Townsville component of
and Geography at JCU, for his dedication to
this collection was inspirational to all those who
students and their work. Amongst other things
worked with him.
his students worked on the sustainable use of
Peter took a particular liking and interest in ecologically important natural resources by the
the bryozoans ('lace corals’ or moss animals’), tourism industry, acoustics, behaviour, and swim-
and devoted much of his spare efforts to their with-whale minke tourism, behavioural ecology
study. He published a number of papers on the of coastal cetaceans in Queensland w-aters, and
taxonomy and functional morphology of tropical research and conservation of the Irrawaddy dolphin
soft sediment bryozoans, but also his identification population inhabiting the Mekong River.
capability met a vital national taxonomic need,
Despite Peter’s primary focus on natural history,
and was widely utilised by the Australasian
research community. But Peter was building to he never lost his interest in the day-to-day running
bigger and better things. Over the decades he of MTQ. Activities as diverse as education
and his co-workers had amassed a collection of programmes, volunteer training, emergency
many hundreds of species of bryozoans, in over procedures, exhibition content, children’s holiday
170 genera and in at least 76 families. Peter had activities, and community resource networks, w ere
done enough work on these collections to be able based on planning and development by Peter. He
to say that they contained many new records for wras a true museologist and the MTQ is an enduring
Australia, extended the ranges of many known monument to his efforts.
species (many of which were previously known
During his 25 years of contributions to marine
only from single specimens or limited material
biology, Peter authored a variety of scientific
collected more than 100 years ago), and he
publications, with topics ranging from collection of
had discovered 'a number’ of undescribed
deep-sea fauna and identification of new species,
species and genera. Peter was ready to ramp-
with a particular focus on bryozoans (Arnold &
up his productivity, and in one of his last
Birtles 1989; Arnold, 1993; Lemmens et al.,
communications to the Queensland Museum
1995; Arnold & Cook, 1997; Gordon & Arnold,
bureaucracy was that the major focus for the
1998) to the largest cetaceans, namely the minke
Tropical Natural History section at MTQ from
whale. An example of Peter’s scientific integrity
mid 2006 will be on collection development
and humility was his reluctance to submit papers
and research on bryozoans’, and that he was in
for publication until he was completely sure the
the process of completing a number of papers
content and writing was impeccable, or to be listed
on significant collections at MTQ. Although this
as coauthor in publications, even though he had
research was sadly and abruptly halted, Peter
a significant input. Throughout all his endeavors,
and his team leave us a legacy in the form of an
and probably quite unknowingly, Peter captured
internationally significant, well-curated marine
the admiration and respect of his friends and
invertebrate collection that will without doubt
colleagues.
be the basis of ongoing international taxonomic
research. At his sister's request, Peter's ashes were spread
by friends on the waters of his beloved Great
To Peter, there was no question that did not
Barrier Reef during the 2006 minke whale season
have an answer and he would not rest until that
from the research and adventure tourism vessel
answer was found. He loved to carry others
Undersea Explorer. It was aboard this boat
along with him in this quest. One of his greatest
that Peter had shared over ten years of Minke
pleasures, and a source of modest pride, was to
Whale Project field work - and some of the
guide and follow the achievements of the many
happiest times of his life. We remember Peter
students who joined him at various levels,
with great affection as an exceptional human
from gifted high school volunteers to graduate
research students. His thirst for knowledge was being" with astounding curiosity, persistence,
infectious and his generosity in sharing it was intellect, generosity and humility. Peter’s integrity
unbounded. Peter gave freely, his time and utmost and enthusiasm for science remain with his
energy to assist at least 19 students, primarily students and colleagues, whose lives were enriched
from JCU, to complete their research degrees by knowing him.
10 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
Vale by Peters many friends, colleagues and ARNOLD, P.W. & COOK, P.L. 1997. Some recent
students. species of the genus Anaskopora Wass, 1975
(Bryozoa: Cribriomorpha) from Queensland.
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF P.W. ARNOLD Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 42(1): 1 11.
ARNOLD, P.W. & GASKIN, D.E. 1975. Lungworms
ARNOLD. P.W. 1987. Observations on living colonies (Metastrongyloidea: Pseudaliidae) of Harbour
of Retiflustra spp. (Cheilostomata: Anasca) from porpoise Phocoena phocoena (L., 1758) Canadian
the central Queensland shelf, Australia. Cahiers Journal of Zoology 53: 713-735
de Biologic Marine 28(1): 147-157.
ARNOLD, P.W. & GEORGE, R.W. 1987. Recognition
1993. First record of ctenophore Coeloplana of Leucosia whitei Bell and Leucosia cheverti
(Benthoplana) meteoris (Thiel 1968) lrom Haswell (Decapoda, Brachyura, Leucosiidae).
Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum Crustaeeana (Leiden) 53(2): 209-214.
33(1): 16. ARNOLD, P.W. & HEINSOHN, G.H. 1996.
1997. Occurrence of dwarf minke whales Phylogenetic status of the Irrawaddy Dolphin
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata) on the northern Orcaella btvvimstris (Owen in Gray): a cladistic
Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Report of the analysis. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
International Whaling Commission 47:419-^424. 39:141-204.
2002. Irrawaddy dolphin Orcaella brevimstris. Pp. ARNOLD, P.W., MARSH, H. & HEINSOHN, G. 1987.
652-654. Invited contribution to PERRIN. W.F., The occurrence of two forms of minke whales in
WURSIG, B. & THEWISSEN, J.G.M. (eds). east Australian waters with a description of the
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic external characters and skeleton of the diminutive
Press. or dwarf form. The Scientific Reports of the
Whales Research Institute 38: 1^16
ARNOLD P.W. & BIRTLES R.A. 1985. Zoning the
central section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine BEASLEY, I., ARNOLD, P.W. & HEINSOHN, G.
Park for the conservation and management of 2002. Geographical variation in skull morphology
the soft-sediment areas of the continental shelf. of the Irrawaddy Dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris
Report submitted to the Great Barrier Reef Marine (Owen in Gray. 1866). Raffles Bulletin of Zoology,
Park Authority, ii + 62 pp. Supplement: 15-34.
1986. Biological communities of the subtidal soft BEASLEY, L, ROBERTSON, K. & ARNOLD, P.W.
sediment shelf. In Johnson, D.P., Belperio, 2005. Description of a new dolphin, the Australian
A.P. & Hopley, D. 1986. A field guide to mixed Snubfin Dolphin Orcaella heinsohni sp.n.
terrigenous-carbonate sedimentation in the (Cetacea, Delphinidae). Marine Mammal Science
Central Great Barrier Reef Province, Australia. 21(3): 365-400.
Australasian Sedimentologists Group, Field Guide BIRTLES, R.A. & ARNOLD, P.W. 1983. Between the
Series No 3. Geological Society of Australia, reels: some patterns of soft-substrate epibenthos
Sydney, pp. 27-30. on the central Great Barrier Reef Shelf pp. 159-
163. In: Baker, J., Carter, R., Sammarco, P. &
1989. Soft sediment marine invertebrates of southeast
K. Stark (eds.). Proc. Inaug. Great Barrier Reef
Asia and Australia: a guide to identification.
Conference, JCU Press.
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville,
Queensland, xxi + 272 pp. 1988. Distribution of trophic groups of epifaunal
echinoderms and molluscs in the soft sediment
1999. Towards Sustainable Management of the
areas of the central Great Barrier Reef Shelf,
Developing Dwarf Minke Whale Tourism Industry
Pp. 325-332. In, CHOAT, J.H., BARNES, D.,
in Northern Queensland. CRC Reef Research
BOROWITZKA, M.A. & COLL, J.C. (eds),
Centre Technical Report No. 27. Townsville; CRC
Proceedings of the Sixth International Coral Reef
Reef Research Centre. 30 pp.
Symposium. Townsville, Australia. 8-12 August.
ARNOLD, P.W., BIRTLES, R.A., DUNSTAN, A., Contributed Papers (Mini Symposium 11/16 to
LUKOSCHEK, V. & MATTHEWS, M. 2005. 22). Sixth International Coral Reef Symposium
Colour patterns of the dwarf minke whale Executive Committee, 1988. Pp. 1 584.
Balaenoptera acutorostrata sensu lato:
BIRTLES, A.R., ARNOLD. P.W. & DUNSTAN, A.
description, cladistic analyses and taxonomic
2002. Commercial swim programs with dwarf
implications. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum
minke whales on the northern Great Banner Reef,
51(2): 277-307.
Australia: Some characteristics of the encounters
ARNOLD, P. W., BIRTLES, R.A., SOBTZICK, with management implications. Australian
S.. MATTHEWS, M. & DUNSTAN, A. 2005. Mammalogy 24: 23-38.
Gulping behaviour in rorqual whales: underwater BIRTLES, A., VALENTINE, P., CURNOCK, M.,
observations and functional interpretation. ARNOLD, P. & DUNSTAN, A. 2002. Incorp¬
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 51(2): orating visitor experiences into ecologically
277-307. sustainable dwarf minke whale tourism in the
IN MEMORIUM - DR PETER WILLIAM ARNOLD 11
northern Great Barrier Reef. CRC Reef Research Helene Marsh and Peter Arnold).
Centre Technical Report No. 42, CRC Reef 4. Beasley, I.L. To complete. Behavioural
Research Centre, Townsville. 65 pp.
and social considerations affecting
GORDON, D.P. & ARNOLD, P.W. 1998. conserv ation of the Irrawaddy dolphin,
Bryorachis (Phidoloporidae) and Retelepralia Orcaella brevisostris (Owen in Gary
(Cheiloporinidae): two new genera of the Indo-
1866) inhabiting the Mekong River.
Pacific Bryozoa. Memoirs of the Queensland
PhD, JCU (Co-supervisor with Helene
Museum 42(2): 495-503.
Marsh and Thomas Jefferson).
LEMMENS, J.W.T., ARNOLD. P.W. & BIRTLES,
5. Cumock, M. To complete. Mechanisms
R.A. 1995. Distribution patterns and selective
for assessing the sustainability of
feeding in two Astropecten species (Asteroidea:
Echinodermata) from Cleveland Bay, north the swim-with-dwarf minke whales
Queensland. Marine and Freshwater Research tourism industry on the Great
46: 447-455. Barrier Reef. PhD, JCU (Associate
MARSH, H., ARNOLD, P.W., FREEMAN, M., Supervisor with Alastair Birtles).
HAYNES, D., KASUYA,T. & LAI ST, D.W. 2003. 6. Mangott, A. To complete. Encounter /
Strategies for Conserving Marine Mammals. In, interaction behaviour of dwarf minke
GALES, N.. HINDELL, M. & KIRKWOOD, R. whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata
(eds). Marine Mammals and Humans: Towards a
sensu lato) associated with the swim-with
Sustainable Balance. CSIRO Publishing.
industry on the northern GBR. PhD, JCU.
MARSH. If. ARNOLD. P.W., LIMPUS, C.J., (Co-Supervisor with Alastair Birtles)
BIRTLES, R.A., BREEN, B., ROBINS, J.
7. Sobtzick, S. To complete. Dwarf Minke
& WILLIAMS, R. (1996). Endangered and
charismatic megafauna, pp. 24-138 in Great Barrier Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Reef: Science, Use and Management, Volume sensu lato) biology and implications
1. Proceedings of a Conference at James Cook for tourism management. PhD, JCU.
University of North Queensland, Nov. 1996. (Co-Supervisor with Alastair Birtles)
STACEY, P.J. & ARNOLD, P.W. 1999. Orcaella
Additional Postgraduate Student Projects
brevirostris. Mammalian Species. American
Society of Mammalogists 616: 1 8. (co-supervised either formally or informally)
VALENTINE, P.S., BIRTLES, R.A. CURNOCK, 1. Cumock. M. 1998. A comparison of
M., ARNOLD. P.W. & DUNSTAN, A., 2004. Japanese and Non-Japanese scuba
Getting closer to whales-passenger expectations divers' experiences and perceptions of
and experiences, and the management of swim
the Great Barrier Reef, with a focus on
with dwarf minke whale interactions in the Great
Dwarf Minke Whale-diver interactions.
Barrier Reef. Tourism Management 25: 647-655.
BAdmin (Tourism) Honours, JCU. 98
LIST OF STUDENTS SUPERVISED pp., 18 tables, 4 figs. & Appendices A-F.
2. Matsukura, Y. 1998. Japanese scuba
Doctoral Students divers on the Great Barrier Reef. MSc
(Tourism), JCU. 71 pp. & Appendices A-E.
1. Gedamke, J. 2004. The acoustics of
3. O'Neill, F. 2000. Ecologically Sustainable
the Dwarf Minke Whale. PhD, USC.
Management of Human-Minke Whale
(Contributed informally but significantly)
Interactions: Visitor Experiences with
2. Miller, D. 2005. Towards sustainable use of
Dwarf Minke Whales in the Northern Great
ecologically important natural resources by
Barrier Reef. MSc (Tourism), JCU. 95 pp.
an economically important tourism industry
4. Smith, L. 2000. Evaluating Interpretation
in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
for Managing Dwarf Minke Whale
A study of the live-aboard dive industry
- Human Interactions in the Great
in northern Queensland. PhD, JCU.
Barrier Reef. MSc (Tourism), JCU.
(Contributed informally but significantly).
5. Simoes, A. 2001. Managing cetacean
3. Parra, G.J. 2005. Behavioural ecology
tourism: a comparison between whale¬
of Irrawaddy, Orcaella brevirostris
watching in the Azores (Portugal), Brazil
(Owen in Gray 1866) and Indo-
and Australia. MSc (Tourism), JCU.
Pacific humpback dolphins, Sousa
chinensis (Osbeck 1765) in northeast 6. Komiya, M. 2002. Interpretation for
Queensland, Australia: a comparative Japanese ecotourists: a case study of
study. PhD, JCU. (Co-supervisor with swim-with minke whale tourism in
12 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
the GBR. MSc (Tourism), JCU. 10. Vintges. T. 2003. Involving tourism
7. Hasling, J. 2003. Meet the Minkes: operators in the ecologically sustainable
creating an interpretation package which management of their industry:
emphasizes personal connections between developing a better understanding of
minke whale behaviour during swim
humans and whales. MSc (Tourism). JCU.
encounters. MSc (Tourism), JCU.
8. Hawthorn, D. 2003. Exploring the practical
11. Sobtzick, S. 2004. Length measurements
application of sustainability indicators for
of dwarf minke whales in the northern
nature-based tourism. MSc (Tourism), JCU.
GBR using underwater video-
9. Sjursaether, G. 2003. Involving grammetry. BSc Hon (Marine Biology),
tourism operators in the ecologically Rostock University, GDR.
sustainable management of their industry: 12. Mangott, A. 2004. The management
Developing a Sightings Network for of day boat operations in the dwarf
the GBR minke whale ecotourism minke whale swim-with industry in the
industry'. MSc (Tourism), JCU. northern GBR. MSc (Tourism), JCU.