Tools & Technology

Publication

Healthy Bee, Sick Bee: The Influence of parasites, pathogens, predators and pesticides on honey bees

Phil Lester’s first book, The Vulgar Wasp, was about one of the world’s most hated insects. His second is about just the opposite – the honey…
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Publication

Biotechnologies in pest wasp control: taking the sting out of pest management for Māori businesses?

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the government’s ambitious target of becoming “predator-free” by 2050 has reignited public discussion on biotechnologies. The disproportionate abundance of German and…
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Publication

Mitonuclear interactions, mtDNA-mediated thermal plasticity and implications for the Trojan Female Technique for pest control

Here we test whether the male-sterilizing effects previously associated with the mt:Cyt-b mutation are consistent across three thermal and three nuclear genomic contexts. The effects of this…
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Media

‘Instruction manual’ to kauri dieback pathogen uncovered

In a world first, researchers have decoded the genome of the pathogen that causes kauri dieback. RNZ spoke to Nari Williams (Plant & Food Research).
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Webinar

Guiding biodiversity efforts using a remote sensing and machine learning approach

The Eco-index team are developing novel remote sensing technology for understanding and guiding biodiversity enhancement efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand. Our goal is to autonomously…
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Publication

Ecological State Assessment Tool (ESAT): a cross-cultural natural resource management tool from Aotearoa, New Zealand

A cross-cultural approach to conservation and natural resource management will enable resource managers to access the full potential of dual knowledge epistemologies and facilitate genuine…
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Publication

Comparative genomic analysis of 31 Phytophthora genomes reveal genome plasticity and horizontal gene transfer

Phytophthora species are oomycete plant pathogens that cause great economic and ecological impacts. The Phytophthora genus includes over 180 known species, infecting a wide range…
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Report

Identifying tools and knowledge gaps to support the control of non-PF2050- targeted small mammalian predators: stakeholder perceptions of priority needs

In a move to enhance information sharing in vertebrate pest management, a Small Mammal Research Collective consisting of representatives of key stakeholder groups was established…
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Presentation

Risk-based surveillance to demonstrate absence of Phytophthora agathidicida – Cecilia Arienti-Latham

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

Opportunities and limitations for DNA metabarcoding in Australasian plant-pathogen biosecurity

Protecting plants from new pathogen incursions requires effective surveillance practices. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding shows considerable promise for detecting invasive organisms in terrestrial and aquatic…
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Publication

Perspectives on the Impact of Sampling Design and Intensity on Soil Microbial Diversity Estimates

Soil bacterial communities have long been recognized as important ecosystem components, and have been the focus of many local and regional studies. However, there is…
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Publication

DNA metabarcoding of prey reveals spatial, temporal and diet partitioning of an island ecosystem by four invasive wasps

Invasive alien species can cause detrimental changes in native ecosystems, but our understanding of the interactions between multiple exotic species is limited. To evaluate the…
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Publication

Moths and butterflies on alien shores: Global biogeography of non-native Lepidoptera

Aim Lepidoptera is a highly diverse, predominantly herbivorous insect order, with species transported to outside their native range largely facilitated by the global trade of…
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Publication

Indigenous peoples’ attitudes and social acceptability of invasive species control in New Zealand

Context In Aotearoa New Zealand, a significant threat to biodiversity, conservation efforts and Indigenous cultural identity is the unwanted introduction of invasive pests, plants and…
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Publication

The tails of two invasive species: genetic responses to acute and chronic bottlenecks

Genetic diversity can affect population viability and can be reduced by both acute and chronic mechanisms. Using the history of the establishment and management of…
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Publication

Improving wasp control by identifying likely causes of eradication failure

Studying the efficacy of control methods is paramount to successful management of invasive pests and understanding why some colonies survive is important to improve management…
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