Biosecurity - Control

Once pests have become established, how can we best control or eradicate them?

Publication

High-Quality Assemblies for Three Invasive Social Wasps from the Vespula Genus

We sequenced and annotated the genomes of the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), German wasp (Vespula germanica), and the western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica). Our chromosome-level Vespula assemblies…
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Publication

Fitness in invasive social wasps: the role of variation in viral load, immune response and paternity in predicting nest size and reproductive output

Here we investigate how infections with Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), immune response and intracolony genetic diversity (due to queen polyandry) affect nest size in the invasive common…
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Publication

Landholder participation in regional-scale control of invasive predators: an adaptable landscape model

We developed a spatially explicit model to estimate the effects of varying levels of landholder participation in landscape-scale programs to control invasive predators. We demonstrate…
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Publication

An overview of introduced predator management in inhabited landscapes.

We describe the rise of community predator control and large landscape projects aspiring for a ‘Predator Free New Zealand’, and how such an aspiration must…
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Media

Newly-found myrtle rust putting Waitakere Ranges at risk

First, it was kauri dieback, now another disease is putting Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges under threat, myrtle rust has been found there for the first time.…
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Publication

Characterising uncertainty in risk assessments for biological control: using case studies from New Zealand to inform future research

Areas of uncertainty in the assessment of risks and benefits in applications for new biological control agents submitted to the regulator for proposed introduction into…
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Publication

Scale and complexity implications of making New Zealand predator-free by 2050

The goal to make New Zealand predator-free by 2050 has drawn strong praise and criticism, but these critiques have focused largely on economic or technological…
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Webinar

Pest control perceptions: comparing pesticides with next-generation control methods

In our part of the BioHeritage National Science Challenge we have been investigating the use of next-generation pest control technologies, with a focus on RNA…
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Presentation

Why understanding the biology of Phytophthora agathidicida matters – Jochem Vink

Presented as part of the Kaurilands Summit 2023, hosted by Ngā Rākau Taketake.   To find out more about the Control, Protect, Cure research theme…
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Publication

A metatranscriptomic analysis of diseased social wasps (Vespula vulgaris) for pathogens, with an experimental infection of larvae and nests

Social wasps are a major pest in many countries around the world. Pathogens may influence wasp populations and could provide an option for population management…
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Publication

Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge.

The papers in this volume were, with a few exceptions, presented at the third Island Invasives conference, held in Dundee, Scotland in July 2017.  The…
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Publication

Emerging Stakeholder Relations in Participatory ICT Design: Renegotiating the Boundaries of Sociotechnical Innovation in Forest Biosecurity Surveillance

Research Highlights: This research advanced understanding of stakeholder relations within the context of innovation using citizen science in a biosecurity sociotechnical system (STS) in Aotearoa,…
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Publication

Trust in science and scientists: Effects of social attitudes and motivations on views regarding climate change, vaccines and gene drive technology

Trust in science and scientists (TSS) is an increasingly important topic with respect to how science is applied within society. However, its role regarding specific…
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Publication

Niche partitioning in a guild of invasive mammalian predators

Predators compete aggressively for resources, establishing trophic hierarchies that influence ecosystem structure. Competitive interactions are particularly important in invaded ecosystems where introduced predators can suppress…
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Publication

Sociality reduces the probability of eradication success of arthropod pests

Social insects are successful and globally significant invaders. Compared to ongoing suppression, eradication is seen as an ideal solution and cost effective in the long…
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Summary

BRIEF: What characterises a good biosecurity decision? – Best practice from stakeholder and expert interviews

Research carried out with key stakeholders identified the most important elements that make up good decision-making. Drawn from in-depth interviews with over three dozen key…
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