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Improving Aotearoa New Zealand’s biosecurity detection

This article has been republished from The Conversation under Creative Commons licence CC BY-ND 4.0 and is written by Dr Angela (Ang) McGaughran, Senior Lecturer in Population Genomics ...

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ARTICLE

Weevils eat pesky buddleia weeds

Introduced Chinese weevils, Cleopus japonicus, are laying waste to large patches of buddleia in the Bay of Plenty, much to the relief of forest growers and biosecurity managers who have been ...

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ARTICLE

Irish wasp gets permit to tackle weevil

A tiny Irish wasp can now be used as a biological control agent against clover root weevil, following permission from the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA). The parasitoid wasp ( ...

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Explore related activities

ACTIVITY

Finding a female

In this activity, students play a card game that models the journey of a male pea crab (a parasite of green-lipped mussels) from his mussel host and back again. Purpose This activity will help ...

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ACTIVITY

Biotechnology basics quiz

Biotechnology is part of everyday life and has been for thousands of years. People have cultured bacteria to make yoghurt and cheese, used yeasts to make bread, fermented grapes to make wine and ...

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ACTIVITY

Investigating pollen processing using evidence

In this activity, students use information to annotate a diagram of pollen processing and use this to justify the management practice of using processed pollen on New Zealand kiwifruit orchards ...

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Explore related citizen science projects

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

Myrtle Rust Reporter

Myrtle rust is a serious biosecurity threat, and help is needed to monitor its spread. This citizen science project aims to gather information on the location, hosts and intensity of this fungal ...

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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

Find-A-Pest

The free Find-A-Pest app makes it easy to report and identify possible pest species. Wherever you are, you can help protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary industries and native species in two ...

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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT

Marine Metre Squared

Marine Metre Squared is a New Zealand citizen science project that supports communities to monitor their local seashore. The project has been designed to provide meaningful, valid environmental ...

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Explore related PLD

TEACHER PLD

Developing a biocontrol game – unit plan

Students of any level develop a board game illustrating knowledge of New Zealand’s possum problem and the strategies used to control it – including biocontrol strategies. Purpose To demonstrate ...

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TEACHER PLD

Making a case for possum biocontrol – unit plan

Students collect information from the public about methods of controlling possum numbers and then present a report on the use of biocontrol. Purpose Although the active biocontrol research ...

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TEACHER PLD

Biocontrol in action – unit plan

Students carry out a practical investigation to help AgResearch scientists monitor the spread of Microctonus aethiopoides (a tiny wasp) and its success as a biocontrol agent for clover root ...

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Explore related videos

VIDEO

A pheromone trap for pea crab biocontrol

Scientists at Leigh Marine Laboratory, including Oliver Trottier, are investigating biocontrol approaches that could limit pea crab infestation on green-lipped mussel farms. In this video, Oliver ...

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VIDEO

Using a hormone-toxin to control possum numbers

Dr Warwick Grant and Dr Doug Eckery are investigating the effects of a toxin (poison) on possum fertility. The toxin affects a hormone called Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH). This hormone ...

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VIDEO

Biocontrol and vectors: What is a vector?

In the case of biological control, it is an organism that carries, or transfers, the control agent to the target organism. For example, in the research into possum biocontrol being carried out at ...

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Explore related interactives

SLIDESHOW

Weeds that threaten native ecosystems – slideshow

A slideshow of weeds and the adaptations that make them problematic in a New Zealand setting. Use the Slideshow menu for further options, including view full screen, and go here for the download ...

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INTERACTIVE

Threats to marine habitats

Human actions at sea and on land are putting increasing pressure on the ocean and the species that live there.

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INTERACTIVE

Auckland Islands marine ecosystem

The marine environment of the Auckland Islands in the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands group is home to a diverse range of species. Use this interactive image to learn about this diverse ...

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