Quarantine requirements for the importation of black rhinoceros from Zimbabwe into Australia

SUMMARY The proposal by the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales to import 10 southern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from Zimbabwe as part of an international project for conservation of the species presented the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) with a unique challenge. This importation is, at least in the modern era, the first importation of live herbivores from the African continent. Many of the serious animal diseases in the world are endemic in parts of Africa. Knowledge of which of these diseases infect wild species and may be transmitted from the wild species to domesticated species, is limited. This paper describes the strategies adopted by AQIS to facilitate the importation of rhinoceros while maintaining protection of Australian consumers, rural industries, domestic livestock and fauna against the entry and spread of unwanted pests and diseases.     

Assessment of EST- and genomic microsatellite markers for variety discrimination and genetic diversity studies in wheat

It is likely that in the near future sequence information from sequencing programmes and EST libraries will generate an abundance of genic microsatellite markers. This study is focused on the assessment of their likely impact and performance vis-à-vis their genomic counterparts. Microsatellites from two sources were used to assess the genetic diversity in 56 old and new varieties of bread wheat on the UK Recommended List. A set of 12 microsatellite markers generated from genomic libraries and 20 expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived microsatellites were used in the study, and the performance of both marker sets assessed. The EST-derived or genic microsatellites delivered fingerprints of superior quality, amplifying clear products with few stutter bands. Diversity levels as revealed bygenic microsatellites are similar to the few published results. The PIC values for the genic markers were generally lower than those calculated for the genomic microsatellites, though advantages of both marker classes for variety identification applications are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Climate impact of late quaternary equatorial pacific sea surface temperature variations

Magnesium/calcium data from planktonic foraminifera in equatorial Pacific sediment cores demonstrate that tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were 2.8 degrees +/- 0.7 degrees C colder than the present at the last glacial maximum. Glacial-interglacial temperature differences as great as 5 degrees C are observed over the last 450 thousand years. Changes in SST coincide with changes in Antarctic air temperature and precede changes in continental ice volume by about 3 thousand years, suggesting that tropical cooling played a major role in driving ice-age climate. Comparison of SST estimates from eastern and western sites indicates that the equatorial Pacific zonal SST gradient was similar or somewhat larger during glacial episodes. Extraction of a salinity proxy from the magnesium/calcium and oxygen isotope data indicates that transport of water vapor into the western Pacific was enhanced during glacial episodes.     

Herbicide effect on growth and seed production of Lolium multiflorum in Atlantic Canada

Lolium multiflorum Lam. (annual ryegrass) is used extensively as a forage crop and seed is produced in several areas worldwide. Seed production has been shown to be commercially possible in Atlantic Canada but improved weed control is needed. Studies were conducted in two provinces (Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick) to determine the effects of the herbicides bentazon, bromoxynil/MCPA, dicamba/MCPA, thifensulfuron/tribenuron, 2,4-D and MCPA on weed control, L. multiflorum growth, seed yields and seed germination in 1998 and 1999. The herbicides MCPA, dicamba/MCPA and bromoxynil/MCPA as evaluated in these experiments provided acceptable control of the broad-leaved weeds present and had no effect on seed yield or seed germination. Although the thifensulfuron/tribenuron caused early foliar injury, the plants recovered and it provided excellent weed control. None of the herbicides affected seed germination. MCPA, dicamba/MCPA and bromoxynil/MCPA could be used to provide control of broad-leaved weeds and thifensulfuron/tribenuron could be used if growers were willing to accept some early injury and possible yield loss to obtain the improved weed control.     

Local adaptation studies and conservation: Parasite–host interactions between the endangered freshwater mussel Unio crassus and its host fish

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Application of aldicarb in a drip-irrigated cotton field for the control of the Tobacco Whitefly(Bemisia Tabaci)

Cotton was grown in loess soil, in rows 1 m apart, and drip-lines were placed in the center of every second space between rows at a distance of 50 cm from the plants. Aldicarb was applied as granules (containing 15% a.i.) to the field on two dates (mid-June and mid-July) and incorporated into the soil(a) 25 cm from the plants,i.e., equidistant from the plants and the drip-lines, on both sides of the drip-lines; and(b) 50 cm from the plants,i.e., in the center of the spaçe between the rows, near the drip-line. Measurements of mortality ofBemisia tabaci larvae, and of the accumulation of aldicarb from the late (mid-July) treatment showed that best control of the pest and the highest aldicarb residues were obtained with the late treatment. The pest control effectiveness was found to depend on both date and location of aldicarb application. Early treatment (mid-June) was more effective if applied close (25 cm distance) to the plant stems, whereas late treatment (mid-July) was more effective if applied at a distance of 50 cm from the plant stems.     

Hepatic lipidosis: Liver characteristics and acute phase proteins in affected turkeys

The hepatic lipidosis (HL) in fattening turkeys is a disease has been known for a long time, but the cause and pathogenesis is still not clarified. A recent study reported unexplained high levels of iron in liver tissue of fattening turkeys suffering from HL. In this study, the iron status, possible infectious or inflammatory influences in form of an acute phase reaction and the analysis of fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of turkeys affected by HL were examined. Three cases of HL on three different fattening turkey farms were investigated during the outbreak of the disease. Clinically affected and non-affected animals were subjected to a pathological examination, where the diagnosis HL or non-affected was made. In total, 70 birds were examined (40 with HL, 30 without HL) and blood and liver samples were taken. Additionally, samples from 15 slaughtered birds were taken as a further control group. In liver tissue, the iron content and the content of long-chain fatty acids were determined; in blood samples, ferritin and transferrin were measured. The iron content in liver tissue was more than three times higher for animals with HL than among non-affected animals and the control group. The transferrin levels were lowest for animals with HL, highest in the control group and in between for non-affected animals. The fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of affected animals indicated a shift from polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the control group and the non-affected animals. Overall, the non-affected animals of a flock affected by HL were similar to the healthy animals of the abattoir. The low acute phase protein levels for animals with HL together with high iron contents could indicate a previous malnutrition/starvation period and/or severe liver damage for those animals suffering from HL.