Biosystematics is integral to biosecurity
Online fungal facts
The answers to questions such as “what hosts does a plant parasite attack?”, “what is the known distribution of a threatened fungus?” and “where can I find an authenticated voucher specimen or living culture?” can be found by accessing NZFungi, the online national database providing information about fungi and bacteria for biosecurity and conservation agencies. This database contains all published records of fungi and plant-associated bacteria from New Zealand, along with accurate citation of all names, and details of host relationships, distribution, biostatus, and supporting literature. The names also give access to data of 75,000 specimens of fungi in the NZ Fungal Herbarium and 15,000 living strains of fungi and bacteria in the ICMP culture collection. Records are updated and available online to support the work of Biosecurity NZ, ERMA New Zealand, DOC, and other research and regulatory agencies. A team of biosystematists is available to respond to questions.
Funding: FRST
NZFungi: http://nzfungi.landcareresearch.co.nz
Collection yields crucial knowledge on pathogens
The International Collection of Micro-organisms from Plants (ICMP), established about 40 years ago, includes historical living cultures of fungi and bacteria integral to answering current questions in biosecurity. The development of molecular techniques in microbial systematics makes these cultures particularly valuable as records of economically significant diseases. For example, in an attempt to find the source of the Colletotrichum pathogen causing a new disease of lupins, ICMP cultures of Colletotrichum on lupin deposited 30 years ago were studied and found to be genetically distant from the new pathogen. The importance of these cultures was also illustrated during a recent study of Neofabraea in New Zealand. Molecular analysis showed that the single ICMP culture deposited as
N. malicorticus, cause of an apparently common disease of apples in New Zealand, had been misidentified. Until there is an authenticated voucher – a culture or specimen deposited to substantiate a disease record – the presence of this significant apple pathogen will remain in doubt.
Funding: FRST
ICMP: www.landcareresearch.co.nz/databases/
Plant-destroying fungi investigated
The fungal genus Phytophthora (“plant destroyer”) includes many important plant pathogens worldwide. Landcare Research mycologists are investigating the role of these pathogens in recent deaths of kauri. A DNA sequencing study, collaborative with Ensis and HortResearch and drawing on cultures stored in the ICMP culture collection, has helped clarify the species potentially involved. These include Phytophthora kernoviae, previously only known from the UK, where eradication is being attempted. Biosecurity New Zealand, which funded the DNA study, has declared it an “unwanted organism” because of concerns about its possible impact. The role of this species and others in kauri death is under continuing investigation.
Funding: MoRST Capability Fund, MAF
Research helps protect new biocontrol agents
An effective way to address unwanted organisms is to expose them to their natural predators as biocontrol agents, which may need to be introduced to New Zealand. An important part of this approach is the routine screening of new introductions of invertebrate biocontrol agents to ensure risks to non-target organisms are minimal. However, an imported biocontrol agent itself may be at risk from natural enemies (hyperparasitoids) already present in New Zealand. Four potential biocontrol agents for gum leaf skeletoniser (Uraba lugens) have been screened to predict which agents are least likely to have their effectiveness impaired by local hyperparasitoids. Such screening requires expert knowledge of the faunas of both countries involved and also of the biological relationships of relevant species.
Funding: FRST, MAF
Arthropod collection exposes suspect mites
Another of Landcare Research’s significant national collections, the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC), also provides a basis for taxonomic expertise to benefit our international primary production industry. The discovery of contaminating mites recently led to serious disruption of exports of carrots to Australia and imports of taro from Fiji. In both cases species of the genus Rhizoglyphus were involved – a group of tiny mites that were difficult to identify and of unknown quarantine status. Research showed that the offending mite on carrots was a common species on crops and stored products in many countries including both New Zealand and Australia. The mite on taro proved to be common in the Pacific and also known from New Zealand from old specimens of mites held by MAF.
Funding: MAF
www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/
To eradicate, or not to eradicate?
Any eradication of new incursions of unwanted organisms is potentially of huge cost to New Zealand. As for the fungal examples given above, key determinants in the need for eradication of arthropods are accurate identification of the organism, assessment of whether it is truly new, and expert knowledge of its biology and chance of establishment. Recent examples of the application of taxonomic expertise include discovery that a suspected new exotic whitefly had in fact been recorded decades earlier in native bush, as evidenced by uncatalogued specimens held in NZAC. As a result eradication was judged unnecessary. Reports of the incursion of an Australian huntsman spider led to searches by Landcare Research entomologists to assess establishment of the species in Christchurch.
Funding: FRST, MAF
Weed workshops for regional council staff
For 6 years Landcare Research botanists have run 2-day workshops to teach biosecurity officers the basics of plant identification. Among the most useful sessions have been identification of grasses and daisies (the two largest families in our exotic flora), as well as of confusing groups like wilding pines. Interactive keys are popular with biosecurity officers, who find them intuitive to use and much less daunting than using published Flora volumes. Participants are also shown how to make specimens and send them to the Plant Identification Service, and are given a tour of the Allan Herbarium and shown online databases. For Landcare Research, the workshops are valuable to gain a strong appreciation of the needs of a major group of users of our taxonomic services.
Workshops paid for by regional council, DOC and MAF participants.
New agents threaten ragwort’s last frontiers
Ragwort has long been one of New Zealand’s most economically damaging weeds, but its last strongholds are being challenged by new insect foes. The ragwort fl ea beetle has greatly reduced ragwort throughout most of New Zealand, but the weed persists in some areas, including the West Coast. It reduces farm productivity, can cause liver damage to cattle and is fatal to horses. In 2002 the annual cost of ragwort control on land in active dairy production alone was estimated at $2.5–4.2 million.
The West Coast Ragwort Control Trust, formed by farmers, dairy industry representatives, regional council and DOC staff , and the New Zealand Landcare Trust, contracted Landcare Research to find a solution.
Researchers discovered high rainfall may suit ragwort but not the flea beetles. The West Coast Ragwort Control Trust therefore applied to ERMA New Zealand to release two new biocontrol agents.
The ragwort plume and crown-boring moths are being successfully used in Australia. Tests show the moths are unlikely to attack anything but ragwort. Landcare Research mass-reared these moths and released them on the West Coast for the first time in autumn 2006. Releases will be made in other areas this spring.
Funding: MAF Sustainable Farming Fund, Coast-based organisations
Bad news for possums, good news for weka
Landcare Research has developed “excluder” devices to keep rats and weka out of cyanide bait intended for possums, while reducing the cost of possum control.
Feratox® cyanide pellets are a cost-effective tool for ground-based possum control, and have low environmental persistence. Bait is commonly presented in bags stapled to tree trunks, at heights easily accessible to possums.
However, weka and rats can also access the bait bags. Use of cyanide pellets is therefore prohibited where weka are present, to avoid unwanted weka mortality. Meanwhile, rat interference can significantly decrease bait availability for possums, which drives up the cost of possum control; usually without the side benefit of killing rats.
To address these problems, Landcare Research developed two lightweight, simple and cheap prototype excluder devices for deploying cyanide pellets. Both are designed to keep out all species except possums, and to be easy for operators to carry and deploy in large numbers without substantially increasing labour costs.
Pen trials and preliminary field assessments have shown the devices to be very successful. Completion of field-testing is expected in 2007. Future plans include end-user testing of current designs, and the inclusion of biodegradable components in the devices.
Funding: FRST, AHB
Pre-feeding good value for money
An investigation into the cost-effectiveness of pre-feeding possums with non-toxic bait before aerial poison baiting has shown it warrants the expense.
The research team analysed historical data and indexed possum numbers before and after control, with and without pre-feeding, in four contemporary possum control operations. They also modelled the time to further treatment to possum control.
The team found higher possum kills were achieved with pre-feeding than without, apparently by getting possums accustomed to the bait. Also, possum population recovery was prolonged by 4–7 years. The research indicates that pre-feeding should be used for all aerial baiting against possums.
Researchers also monitored numbers of native tomtits, a species that is sometimes adversely affected by 1080 poisoning operations. Pre-feeding appeared to have no major adverse effect on the tomtit population.
Funding: AHB
Future looks brighter for Central Otago icons
They’re black and gold, fleet of foot and critically endangered – but new efforts underway will help save two charismatic native skink species from extinction.
Grand skinks and Otago skinks are predicted to die out in less than 10 years without intervention. These large skinks (up to 30 cm long) bear live young and, as keen fruit-eaters, may play an important role as seed dispersers.
Both are brilliantly camouflaged against the lichen-covered rocks they live on, but are ill-protected from habitat destruction and predators, including rats and cats.
DOC commissioned Landcare Research to write the recovery plan for the skinks. Recovery plans are crucial blueprints for conservation strategy and give guidelines for resource allocation.
Landcare Research is a member of the Grand and Otago Skink Recovery Group, which provides technical advice to DOC. The group will finalise the plan in conjunction with interested parties such as conservation boards, concerned individuals and other organisations.
Landcare Research and DOC are partners in the Central Otago Ecological Trust formed to help the skinks. Planning is underway for a skink breeding facility near Alexandra, and for the establishment of New Zealand’s first dryland sanctuary within 4 years.
Funding: DOC
Tiny clay particles pack big power punch
Landcare Research has several exciting projects currently underway using “nanoclays” – “smart” natural or synthetic clays with particles as small as 10-9 m thick (that’s one billionth of a metre). Nanoclays have special surface charge properties, and uses include treating wastewater, recycling nutrients, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adding value to primary products.
Projects involve developing applications to help reduce water shrinkage of woollen fabrics and for reducing gas permeability in packaging to make food last longer.
Funding: Technology New Zealand, Canesis Network, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Collaborative project scores international orders
Landcare Research and Christchurch technology firm Streat Instruments have produced a device that reduces labour and improves accuracy in soil hydrology tests.
Equi-pF automates the tedious and often error-prone manual procedure for testing soil samples and plotting soil moisture release curves – the fundamental descriptor of soil water movement and storage.
Equi-pF was invented by Landcare Research scientist Dr Jagath Ekanayake and is being manufactured and distributed under license by Streat Instruments. There is overseas interest in Equi-pF with units recently sold to laboratories in China and Scotland.
Dr Ekanayake says that as well as releasing laboratory staff from a repetitive task, Equi-PF produces more accurate results than manual tests.
Funding: FRST, Technology New Zealand www.streatsahead.com
Movies and TV go green
Film production is an emerging industry for New Zealand with the potential for considerable overseas revenue. The biggest drawcard for New Zealand’s screen production industry may well be New Zealand itself, and a new toolkit is helping to protect the unique relationship between the industry and the environment.
Greening the Screen is designed for use by all levels of the industry. Launched in November, it is believed to be the first of its kind in the world, and offers guidelines, examples and solutions for reducing waste and resource consumption.
As a pilot project Greening the Screen was taken up by South Pacific Pictures, producers of Shortland Street and Whale Rider. It also has the support of key screen production organisations including the New Zealand Film Commission and the New Zealand Screen Council, as well as the Waitakere City Council and the Ministry for the Environment.
As is often the case, environmental stewardship is also good business sense. South Pacific Pictures Managing Director John Barnett says, through Greening the Screen and with very little effort, the company has significantly reduced waste and also saved money.
Greening the Screen is a partnership between the Ministry for the Environment, Landcare Research and the Screen Production and Development Association.
Funding: MfE, Waitakere City Council, Landcare Research