Why is it easier for New Zealand to potentially prevent unwanted pests?
What are two unintended consequences of introduced rabbits?
What are some of the ways in which agencies like MPI help to keep New Zealand free from introduced risks?
What does this sentence mean – The white butterfly is one visitor that came and conquered!
What adaptations (features that help them to survive) do white butterflies have that make them such a hardy pest?
This activity supports the science capabilities
- gather and interpret data
- interpret representations
Look at the map showing where myrtle rust has been found in the Pacific.
The fungus was first noticed in Brazil and is indigenous (lives naturally) to Central and South America and the Caribbean. There are coastal states in the US that have myrtle rust.
Do you recognise any of these plants?
Are any of these species in your school or at your home?
How can you determine if plants at your school or home have myrtle rust?
The Myrtle rust surveillance map is updated monthly.
Examine the map to see
- where myrtle rust has been found before
...
The Myrtle Rust Reporter is a citizen science project using iNaturalist to log sightings of the disease.
Scientists in Australia are testing an environmentally friendly spray that uses RNA interference to reduce spore germination and infection.
The insights in this article apply to biosecurity and pest control but they also provide an opportunity to think about our environment differently.
Why do you think the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Plant & Food Research and Zespri had a rapid response team in place to investigate PSA when it hit New Zealand?
The team was unable to contain or eradicate the disease. What do the words contain and eradicate mean?
This timeline has dual strands – a chronology of events and comments about the nature of science (NOS).
The nature of science reflects how science works.
When using this timeline, reflect on the NOS aspects. Consider if there other examples of biosecurity events in the news or in your local area.
This information in the green boxes details when and how some of the major mammalian pests were introduced to New Zealand.
Look at the dates and discuss when and why many of the animals were released.
Are pests still being released today?
This article talks about 'good bugs'. What determines whether an insect or a microorganism is 'good' or 'bad'?
Why do you think the author lists both the insect's common name and scientific name - for example pirate bug (Orius vicinus)?
The impact of climate change is a factor in increasing pest threats to Aotearoa New Zealand’s biosecurity from a warming climate, explore this further in this article from The Conversation.
This context for learning curates resources with a biodiversity focus. They are underpinned by aspects of tikanga and mātauranga Māori.