Информационное письмо №2 о 9-ой международной конференции по соленым озерам.

The primary objective of ISSLR ( http://www.isslr.org ) is to promote the study, management, use and conservation of salt lakes. All aspects of salinity and salinisation of water bodies are focused upon by the ISSLR. Members of this society hail from 42 countries. The society holds a triennial international conference on salt lake research.

You are invited to participate in the 9 th conference of the society to be held at Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia from the 26 th to 30 th September 2005 .

Conference websites: http://isslr.org

http://muresk.curtin.edu.au/conference/ISSLRBrochure.pdf

Local Organising Committee

International Organising Committee

(ISSLR Board of Directors)

Conference Language: The official conference language is English, which will be used for all presentations and documentations.

Scientific Program: Plenary talks, symposia, contributed papers - both oral and poster, workshops, and video shows on all aspects of Salt Lakes including secondary salinisation.

Registration

We have received an enthusiastic response to circular 1 from different parts of the world. This circular invites you to register and submit abstracts of your presentations.

General Tentative Programme

Oral Presentations will be organised in the form of sessions each comprising of six presentations followed by a coffee break.

Oral Presentations: 15 minutes including discussion.

Posters: Dimensions: 100 cm x 80 cm, display followed by 5 minutes scheduled oral presentation.

We strongly recommend Poster Presentations to allow greater interaction between the presenter and the audience.

Abstracts

Abstracts of papers (Oral and Posters) should be clearly typed in English on A4 sized white paper, leaving a margin of 3 cm all around. The title should be in bold upper case letters (12 point Times) and the text in lower case letters (12 point Times). Leave space for two lines after the title, then type the author(s) name/names with indentation. Underline the presenter's name; leave space for two lines and type the affiliation and address. Start the text of the abstract after indenting the first word; every paragraph should be indented.

You may include graphs, tables, maps and photomicrographs and use up the whole A4 size paper leaving the margin of 3 cm at the bottom. Try to present a true abstract of your paper rather than a vague and elusive one.

Sample Abstract

MICROBIAL PROCESSES OF CARBON AND SULFUR IN THE SALT LAKE SHIRA (KHAKASIA).

Pimenov N.V. 1 , Rusanov I.I. 1 , Karnachuk O.V 2 ., Brjanseva I.A. 1 , Rogosin D.Y. 3

1 Institute of Microbiology RAS, Russia . 2 Tomsk State University , Russia , 3 Institute of Biophysics of SB RAS, Russia

The microbial and biogeochemical investigations of salt lake Shira were carried out in the August of 2001. Total bacteria number in the water column varied from 1.5 to 22x10 5 cells/ml with maximums at the depths of 8 and 14 m. The increase in the bacterial plankton number at the depth of 8 m can be explained by the development of the processes of degradation of organic matter ( OM ) produced by phytoplankton.

Indicate clearly on the upper right hand corner of your abstract whether the presentation is

Oral O or Poster P

Student Prizes

There will be two prizes for the best student papers in honour of Professor Bill Williams.

 Proceedings

Selected papers presented in the 9 th conference of ISSLR will be published after peer reviewing. Manuscripts may be prepared according to the instructions recommended for Hydrobiologia. Three copies of the manuscripts - one original and two copies and a CD-ROM in WORD must be submitted at the time of registration on 26 th September to the Secretariat of the Symposium. More details will be provided along with the acceptance letter of your abstracts.

Audiovisual Facilities

All meetings will be held in lecture theatres at Curtin University , equipped with microphones, overhead projectors, 35 mm slide and Powerpoint projectors and video players.

Accompanying Persons Program

Special programs involving visits to the Museum, Art Gallery , Botanical Garden, Shopping etc. can be organised by contacting the secretariat of the conference.

Dinner

You will be free to dine out in the city in any restaurant of your choice each evening. You may also dine at the hotel of your stay, which may have a restaurant. A list of restaurants and eating places close to your hotel will be provided to you on your arrival.

Conference Banquet

There will be a special conference Banquet scheduled on 30 th September. Cost: A$ 75.

Family and babysitting arrangements

If you are attending the conference with children and would like family accommodation and babysitting facilities, please let us know before 30 th May .

Mid-conference Excursions - (The cost is included in the Registration Fee)

Wednesday 28 th September

A. Swan Valley River and Vineyard Cruise

The Swan Valley is situated along the picturesque upper reaches of the Swan River . Since the days of the first settlers, it has been renowned for its grapes and world-class wines. Discover the fascinating ecology and history of the Swan River as you cruise along the river, see the black swans, enjoy some of the finest wines in Australia , a fine lunch and be entertained by traditional Australian songs.

Depart: 9.15 am; Return: 4.15 pm. Limit: 50 delegates

B. Wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain

Perth metropolitan area has as many as 70 shallow wetlands, including acidic lakes, a freshwater lake with microbialites and a few salt lakes. You will visit some of the representative lakes, a wildlife park with emus, kangaroos and other native animals. This is an ideal opportunity to see the whole metropolitan region of Perth and its salt lakes.

Depart: 9.00 am; Return: 5.30 pm. Limit: 50 delegates

C. Lake Clifton - Microbialites

Travelling 90 km south of Perth , you will visit the largest array of brackish/hypersaline microbialites in the world. On the way, you will visit an animal park with koalas, kangaroos, emus, peacocks, camels and other animals and have lunch in a bush environment. Visit 'Dawesville Channel' - the largest ecological engineering project in Australia , built 11 yeas ago to solve the eutrophication problem in the Peel Harvey estuary.

Depart: 8.15 am; Return: 5:30 pm. Limit: 50 delegates.

Post-conference Excursions - (Optional, additional costs apply)

A. Rottnest Island (2 days)

Named by the Dutch navigator, Willian de Vlamingh in 1696, after the unique marsupial "Quokka", Rottnest (Rat's nest) Island was part of the mainland about 10,000 years ago. The island has about 40 km of coastline, ideal for snorkelling, diving, merely strolling along the beach, or wading through the shallow waters. The island has an extensive system of hypersaline lakes covering 10% of its area, with interesting microbial mats dominated by diatoms and cyanobacteria. It is an ideal place for those with interests in hypersaline lakes, marine diatoms, Artemia and palaeoecology. You will be taken to the island by deluxe ferry and accommodated in an excellent hotel overnight, with ample opportunity to explore the salt lakes, the calm marine waters and the unique flora and fauna of the island. Suitable for those who have less time to prolong their stay in Australia after the conference.

Depart: Saturday 1 st October 8:30 am ; Return: Sunday 2 nd October 4.00 pm .

Cost: A$ 250 ; minimum limit: 20 - maximum limit: 30

Leader: William Parkinson

B. Excursion to North eastern Goldfields of Western Australia (3 days)

This is a three day (two nights) tour of working goldmines in the North eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Comfortable accommodation and meals will be provided at a mining camp. Tour participants will be flown into one mining camp and out from another. Travel in the Goldfields will be in an air-conditioned minibus. Included in the tour will be: a guided tour of a large active goldmine, and its processing mill; a visit to a large saline playa lake, typical of the region; opportunity to see an outback Art Gallery and purchase paintings and other artwork; travel through the unique Australian 'Mulga' bush and experience the harsh but beautiful landscapes; and see displays of the local wildflowers (depending on the year's rains).

Depart: Saturday 1 st October 9:30 am ; Return: Monday 3 rd October 5.00 pm .

Cost: A$ 400 ; minimum limit: 10 - maximum limit: 25

Leader: Mark Coleman

C. Shark Bay - Stromatolites (5 days)

Located 800 km north of Perth , Shark Bay harbours the largest array of hypersaline stromatolites in the world. You will visit "The Pinnacles" - ancient limestone pillars in the Nambung National Park , near the rock lobster fishing village of Cervantes , and also view stromatolites in a nearby saline lake. Then travel further north to Shark Bay to see Shell Beach with wide-spread microbial mats and Hamelin Pool with a vast garden of subtidal living stromatolites. On the way to Shark Bay you will visit the resort town of Kalbarri and the spectacular river gorges of the Murchison River . You will move from the temperate Perth to the subtropical region of Western Australia and view the bewildering variety of plant and animal life, both terrestrial and marine.

Depart: Saturday 1 st October 9.30 am ; Return: Wednesday 5 th October 5.00pm

Cost: A$ 800 ; minimum limit: 15 - maximum limit: 30

Leader: Veronica Campagna

D. Trip to Southwest: Esperance, Inland salt lakes, Wildflowers (7 days)

This fieldtrip offers the best opportunity to experience the variety and natural beauty of an ancient landscape with one of the richest floras on earth, and ancient palaeochannels transformed into numerous salt lakes. You will see wetlands experiencing secondary salinisation and examples of rehabilitation works; also the famous Wave Rock and its gnammas full of life. Travelling east from Perth over 500 km you will see spectacular changes in vegetation as you finally reach the semiarid salt lakes at Norseman, an old gold town. Travelling down south to Esperance to highly acidic and alkaline salt lakes and back to the west through National Parks, where the landscape becomes alive with wild flowers, you will see some of the tallest trees on earth and do the famous treetop walk. The accommodation will be mostly in cabins in Caravan Parks and transport by minibus.

Depart: Saturday 1 st October 9.30 am ; Return: Friday 7 th October 5.00pm

Cost: A$ 800 ; minimum limit: 15 - maximum limit: 18

Leaders: Bindy Datson & Brian Timms

Travel and Tourist Information

Perth ( http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Destinations/Experience+Perth/ )

Most major international airlines fly into Perth . There are excellent connections to other parts of Australia , either through international or domestic airlines. Perth International and Domestic airports are located 18 km and 13 km respectively from the city. Your hotel is in the heart of the city, directly on the bus-line.

Airport to your hotel

A coach service is available for all incoming international and domestic flights (current fares are A$ 13 per adult from International Airport to the city and A$ 11 from the Domestic Airport to the city). Normal taxi fare to the city is currently around A$ 30 - 35.

Curtin University ( http://www.curtin.edu.au )

The largest University in Western Australia , the venue for the conference is located 10 km from the hotel; transport will be arranged to and fro. There are also regular public transport services from the hotel to Curtin University .

Travel Insurance

It is strongly recommended that you take adequate cover for travel and medical insurance. Overseas delegates need to purchase insurance from their country of origin. The organising committee accepts no liability for any claims whatsoever.

Visas

Most visitors to Australia require a visa. Please check with your travel agent or the Australian Consulate, Embassy or High Commission, or if none is available, through the nearest British Embassy or Consulate.

Banking and Currency Exchange

Most banks are open from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm Monday to Thursday, and from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm Friday. Automatic Teller Machines are widely available and accept most overseas cards, but you should check with your bank, if this facility exists for your card in Australia , and also the daily/monthly limit. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most businesses. American Express and Diners Club are accepted in some businesses. Your hotel will have currency exchange facilities.

Quarantine

Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases prevalent in other countries. Very strict quarantine rules apply to the import of plants and animals, which cannot be bought into the country without prior application. Animal and plant products are also restricted. Collection and export of native animals, including invertebrates, and plants are also prohibited without a special licence.

Car Rental

A valid international driving licence is required in order to rent a car. Cars are right-hand drive, and you must keep to the left-hand side of the road. Seat belts must be worn at all times. Refer to the website for details ( http://www.airportrentacar.com.au/perth.htm ).

Electricity

The electrical current is 240 volts, 50 Hz. The connection is a 3-flat pin plug, also used in China and New Zealand , but nowhere else in the world. Most travel goods-stores should sell plug adapters. Some hotels have 110 volt outlets for shavers and hair dryers. Some appliances have a dual voltage switch for travelling.

Tipping

Tipping is not a custom in Australia . You may tip if you wish, when very good service has been given. It is not expected in most situations.

Weather

September - October is spring time in Australia . The weather is pleasant with temperatures averaging 20 o C, but it may be slightly chilly in the evenings. There might be some light rains, so bring a light jacket, coat or some warm clothing.

Important Dates

Registration deadline:::::::::::::::::::.. 30 th April 2005

Deadline for submission of Abstract..::::::::::::.. 15 th May 2005

Acceptance of Abstracts::::::::::::::::::.. 30 th May 2005

Final Circular and Program::::::::::::::::. 15 th August 2005

Early Registration is recommended as accommodation and excursions of your choice will be determined on the basis of 'first come first served'.

Fill in the Accommodation and Registration forms and forward the originals with payment and abstract airmail, fax or e-mail to: Jacob John, Chair, 9 th ISSLR, 2005, Department of Environmental Biology, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, 6845, WA, Australia.

Fax: +61 08 9266 2495

e-mail: J.John@curtin.edu.au

Keep a photocopy of the completed forms for your records.

The filled registration form will be a tax invoice for GST when payment is received.

ABN 99 143 842 569

ACCOMMODATION FORM

REGISTRATON FORM

Информационное письмо №1