Research in Progress 2004/2005 Operational Research Objectives
MAF Policy Information Paper 54
ISSN 1171-4654
ISBN 0-478-07843-9
December 2004
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1. MAF Policy Funded Operational Research in Progress
MAF is responsible for providing the Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Rural Affairs, Minister of Forestry and Minister for Biosecurity with policy advice on a wide range of issues. Sound policy advice is built on a foundation of robust data. Where there is a lack of suitable information MAF may seek to contract a research group to provide it. This type of research, which provides information to assist in policy development and implementation, is known as “operational research”.
Operational research is funded through departmental votes and established by chief executives to:
• support policy advice to Ministers;
• assist with the execution of statutory duties;
• support purchasing decisions;
• evaluate practice, programmes or policies funded by other organisations/departments;
• support departmental advice to industry or the community; and
• support the production of specific outputs which are agreed between chief executives of departments and their Minister, and appear in the departments’ corporate plan.
Some actual examples include; the development of diagnostic techniques for fruit fly to assist in protecting New Zealand’s horticultural industry; public perceptions and issues in the biological control of possums and rabbits; pen configuration for sheep-carrying ships protecting trade; cost-benefit analysis model for pest risk analysis; and determining the levels of methane produced by ruminants to gather inventory data enabling New Zealand to meet international obligations concerning greenhouse gases.
MAF reviewed its operational research system during 1996/97 to enhance its effectiveness. Six priority research categories were established and scored by MAF staff against a model comprising high level criteria of MAF’s need for research information and strategic fit to MAF goals. The model was developed using a Visual Interactive Sensitivity Analysis computer package in association with Victoria Link Ltd. The number of categories was subsequently reduced to five (below) following the merger of the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry to better reflect the emphasis of the new organisation. These priority categories should assist science providers in determining the type of research MAF Policy is likely to fund. MAF is reconsidering these priorities this year in response to recent changes in its responsibilities.
Research currently being carried out under contract is covered in the following outcome-driven categories:
• facilitating market access;
• maintaining biosecurity;
• promoting industry and rural community performance;
• facilitating resource management; and
• Bovine Tuberculosis and the control of possums.
Research proposals on animal welfare were assessed under two categories: Facilitating Market Access (FMA), and Facilitating Resource Management (FRM). Animal Welfare research has been separated out and grouped together in this document for ease of access.
Summary of Research Portfolio – (2004/05)
Figure 1 Operational Research to underpin MAF policy advice and operational responsibilities
($2.54 million GST inclusive – Note some contracts are yet to be finalised)
2. Undertaking Operational Research Under Contract to MAF Policy
The Contracting Process
MAF specifies the issues that need to be researched and calls for expressions of interest from research providers. These expressions of interest are prepared using a standard format.
A small committee comprised of those people who will use the information in policy formulation and implementation evaluates the expressions of interest.
Revised research proposals may then be requested from applicants judged to have presented the most appropriate expressions of interest. If not already provided in the expressions of interest, the revised proposal will require a detailed outline of methodology, a breakdown of financial costs and milestones against which the progress of research will be monitored. The revised proposals may be subject to review by outside reviewers.
Final selection of contractors is based on the quality and cost effectiveness of the proposal, and the amount of money available.
Contracts
All research purchased by MAF is undertaken within the terms of a contract. MAF does not provide funds for research but purchases specified outputs - it has no allocative function.
Contract Term
Terms will vary from project to project depending on the work undertaken. However, the maximum term of a contract is one year because MAF cannot guarantee funding beyond the annual budgetary allocation.
Payment
Typically, payment is by four instalments on invoice and the satisfactory completion or re-negotiation of agreed milestones. The first payment is made after both parties sign the contract. The final payment is made on presentation and acceptance of the research report.
Confidentiality
While a contractor is obliged to seek clearance from MAF before discussing or presenting research data to a third party, MAF will almost always encourage publication of the results. MAF will withhold permission to publish only when the results are of a confidential nature or commercially sensitive.
MAF produces a report that is publicly available listing the operational research in progress funded by MAF. Contractor’s names, research goals and objectives will be included in this publication unless there is an agreement between MAF and the research contractor to the contrary.
MAF will also produce a report on the results of research that will be publicly available. This will outline the main research findings.
Intellectual Property
MAF operates on the principle that it owns that which it pays for under the agreement - nothing more or less.
MAF seeks to own intellectual property developed within the programmes it funds for two reasons. This ensures firstly that the Crown pays only once for information or the development of new technologies, and secondly that the information generated is placed in the public domain as quickly as possible. Where contractor identifies an off-shore commercial opportunity to use intellectual property developed within a MAF-funded contract will not prevent the contractor from developing that opportunity, so long as access to the information or technology in New Zealand is not compromised by any agreement.
Indemnification
A standard indemnification clause limits the level of indemnification required of the contractor to the sum of money received by the contractor under the agreement.
Milestones
For each project researchers are required to identify key milestones and indicate the dates by which these will need to be achieved if the work is to be completed on schedule. Achievement of the milestones will be linked with the payment schedule.
Research Direction
Objectives and milestones specified in the schedule can be modified by mutual agreement. This ensures that no contractor is obliged to follow a course of action made redundant or unachievable by discoveries made subsequent to the writing of the schedule.
Reporting
Provision of information is the essence of the contracts. There is an obligation to provide brief reports against agreed milestones. This allows both contractors and MAF to assess the progress of research, and is important for audit purposes.
A final report (including a one page summary suitable for publication in our annual report), which is both comprehensive and timely, is a major obligation of the contractor under the contract and due to us by 30th June. When the research extends over more than one year, progress against the agreed milestones will suffice, although a one-page summary suitable for publication in our annual report must be provided.
MAF Policy should be provided with copies of manuscripts for comment before they are submitted to journals for publication. It is important that any publications that arise from the research are noted in the milestone and final reports. Copies of publications should be forwarded to MAF Policy.
Information provided in reports will be reviewed against the agreed objectives by either MAF staff or external reviewers.
3. Bovine Tuberculosis and the Control of Possums
The introduced Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a very serious pest in New Zealand. It causes extensive damage to indigenous forests and acts as the major vector of bovine Tb to cattle and deer.
Forest ecosystems are being drastically altered by the selective attention of possums that can eliminate favoured browse-species from whole tracts of forest. Possums also prey on birds.
Any restrictions on access for meat and dairy products that were imposed by our trading partners because of the presence of bovine Tb could potentially reduce returns from agricultural production by up to $500 million annually.
Currently about $45 million is spent annually on poisoning and trapping possums. However, this level of expenditure is not sustainable and these methods of control are becoming less socially and politically acceptable. Around $15 million is spent annually on research into control of possums and bovine Tb.
Research into possum biocontrol as a long-term cost-effective solution to the possum problem was initiated in 1993. The expectation is, however, that control will be, for the foreseeable future, dependent on a number of technologies used in an integrated manner.
The research into biological control of possums, funded through Vote: Agriculture, was initiated following a National Science Strategy Committee (NSSC) meeting, held in October 1992, at which clear research priorities for biological control were established. Priorities were reviewed at NSSC workshops in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001.
The NSSC has now been transformed from the previous ministerial committee to a committee reporting to the Board of the Foundation for Research Science and Technology; with that rearrangement of responsibilities, all the research programmes except the Bovine Tb work have now been transferred to the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology for assessment and funding.
3.1 PBC 258
| Programme Title: | Immunology of Bovine Tuberculosis (2004-05) |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Bryce Buddle |
| Institution: | AgResearch CRI |
Develop and evaluate improved diagnostic tests and vaccines for control of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and possums. Develop vaccine delivery systems for possum biocontrol vaccines.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Immunology of bovine tuberculosis
Research Leader: Dr Bryce Buddle
1. Identify key genes expressed in tuberculin skin test reaction sites using real-time PCR and expression of genes in different cell phenotypes infiltrating the reaction site by immunohistochemisty or the in situ hybridisation technique. The tuberculin skin test is the primary screening test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle and this situation is unlikely to change in the near future. To optimise this test, it would be beneficial to gain an understanding of the immunological events occurring in the tuberculin skin test response.
2. Determine antigen specific gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from M. bovis-challenged cattle using molecular biological techniques for the identification of potential novel diagnostic markers for tuberculosis.
3. Measure TNF- and IL-12 proteins produced by PBMCs of M. bovis-infected cattle to evaluate the potential use of these cytokines as diagnostic markers.
4. Determine whether the specificity of the whole blood IFN- test can be improved by using the M. bovis specific antigens, ESAT-6, CFP-10 and ESAT-6/CFP-10 fusion proteins in experimentally and naturally M. bovis-infected animals.
5. Develop a lateral flow serological test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in possums in the field.
6. Compare the efficacy of oral baits containing Pasteur and Danish strains of BCG for protection of possums against tuberculosis.
7. Determine the efficacy of three newly derived attenuated M. bovis vaccine strains for protection of possums against tuberculosis.
8. Determine the duration of protection in possums vaccinated with oral BCG baits.
9. Commence a field evaluation of oral bait BCG for protection of wild possums against tuberculosis.
10. Determine the kinetics of the immunological events occurring in M. bovis-infected possums.
11. Identify novel mucosal adjuvants which assist in generating strong immune responses in a transgenic mouse model. These studies are directed towards the development of an oral bait immunosterilising vaccine for possums.
12. Evaluate oral bait vaccine formulations in possums for induction of antibody responses to immunosterilising vaccines.
13. Submit three papers to scientific refereed journals.
4. Facilitating Market Access
This category provides information that will assist in developing and implementing policies that help facilitate the access of New Zealand’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry products to overseas markets. Trading opportunities for these products are affected by many distortions. These include not only the more direct obstructions to access such as tariffs and non-tariff measures (e.g. sanitary and technical barriers to trade, administration of tariff quotas) but also the use of export subsidies and domestic support policies to assist competing producers.
The animal welfare proposals covered and funded under this category have been separated out into chapter eight for ease of access.
4.1 FMA 121
| Programme Title: | Carpophilus identification |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Rick Leschen |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: To provide exact identifications of, and an illustrated key to, adults of Carpophilus species occurring in Australia and New Zealand.
Rationale: Many beetles of the worldwide genus Carpophilus are known vectors of diseases (bacterial and fungal) and cause direct damage to crops and fruits through larval and adult feeding. Several species of Carpophilus (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) are recorded from New Zealand and Australia, but the identification of many of the species is uncertain because of the lack of keys that cover the Australasian fauna. For example, C. ligneus and C. pilosellus, recorded from New Zealand, have not been recorded in Australia, and a New Zealand record for the species C. sexpustulatus needs confirmation.
One major obstacle in the identification of Carpophilus is that the only keys available for the species are for local parts of the world and do not cover all of the species occurring in our region. Confirmation of species identifications in New Zealand and Australia requires careful dissection of genitalia and comparison with other species worldwide. The inability to identify specimens means that accurate identification at the border is not possible, resulting in additional treatment costs to exporters and impediments to market access. MAF will use the following information to allow quarantine authorities to make reliable identifications of Carpophilus species:
• the number and identification of all species of Carpophilus known to occur in Australia and New Zealand;
• a list of the valid names of the genus Carpophilus occurring in New Zealand, Australia and from intercepted material contained in collections;
• an illustrated taxonomic key for identifying the adult stage of all species; and
• lists of host associations for named Carpophilus species where known.
Objective 1
Objective Title: A key to adult Carpophilus in Australia and New Zealand
Research Leader: Dr Rick Leschen
Description:
Produce a key to the adults of New Zealand and Australian Carpophilus species that will be fully illustrated with an estimated 30 species, complete with valid names, descriptions, and world distributions.
Methodology:
There are no nitidulid specialists in Australiasia (apart from the Programme Leader) nor beetle specialists in most museums and research institutes in Australia and New Zealand, so the researchers will need to visit, or borrow from, these institutions to examine all identified and unsorted specimens of Carpophilus. Also, type or validated specimens contained in overseas institutions must be examined and compared with specimens found in this region to verify the exact identity of those present in Australia and New Zealand. Lastly, we need to compile all of the relevant taxonomic and distribution references of Carpophilus species in the study area. For a thorough and quality product the following methods will be used:
a) literature search;
b) examination of Australian and New Zealand Carpophilus;
c) morphological analysis;
d) examination of type or validated specimens of Australian and New Zealand Carpophilus species;
e) illustrated identification key to adults of Australian and New Zealand Carpophilus species; and
f) testing of key by NPPRL staff before delivery.
4.2 FMA 122
| Programme Title: | Tyrophagus mites |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Zhi-Qiang Zhang |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: To provide a revised taxonomy of Tyrophagus species in New Zealand and Australia. To prepare user-friendly keys to species to facilitate requests for rapid identification. To provide worldwide distribution data for each species.
Rationale: Mites of the genus Tyrophagus (Acari: Acaridae) are commonly found on stored products and food. Unidentified mites in this genus can pose problems for access to markets for horticultural crops and food markets when intercepted by an importing country; however, there is no comprehensive account of this genus for New Zealand and Australia. From the scattered literature and unpublished information, there appear to be seven named species of Tyrophagus known in New Zealand and four in Australia (three of these are shared by both countries), but they are difficult to identify because of the lack of systematic studies to date. This project will revise the taxonomy of Tyrophagus in New Zealand and Australia, prepare user-friendly identification keys to species using morphological characters of the adults, both males and females, and provide worldwide distribution data for each species. The key and distribution information will be used by MAF to facilitate rapid quarantine decisions by trading partners.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Revision of Tyrophagus mites in New Zealand and Australia
Research Leader: Dr Zhi-Qiang Zhang
Description:
Revision of Tyrophagus mites in New Zealand and Australia and preparation of a key to species, based on the morphology of males and females. The key will be illustrated and user-friendly and will include available distribution data of all species.
Methodology:
Existing slide-mounted specimens in New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC), MAF NPPRL in Lincoln and Lynfield, and Australian collections (ANIC, AQIS, etc.), will be collated and assessed. Collection of additional specimens from plants will be made at various locations (especially in Australia) that are currently not well represented in specimens currently held by NZAC, MAF and Australian collections. New slides will be prepared where existing material is inadequate. Type and other reference material from overseas will also be borrowed. All slides will be examined by light microscopy and diagnostic features discriminating genera and species identified. Diagnostic features will be illustrated by line drawings using a drawing tube attached to a high-quality compound microscope, or by photography. The information will be collated into an illustrated key. Unnamed species will be formally described, type specimens deposited in New Zealand Australian collections and collecting data provided. Distribution information of all species will be provided based on published and unpublished records.
5. Maintaining Biosecurity
This category provides information that will assist in developing and implementing policies that help to protect New Zealand’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries from the adverse effects of introduced pests and diseases.
5.1 MBS 351
| Programme Title: | Seed sampling methods |
| Programme Leader: | Professor John Hampton |
| Institution: | Lincoln University |
Programme Goal: Imported seed lot heterogeneity: Implications for Biosecurity sampling protocols
Rationale: The goal for this research is to determine heterogeneity in imported seed lots for sowing of selected species in conjunction with evaluating the quality and effectiveness of the current MAF Plants Biosecurity Authority seed lot sampling protocols
Description:
The current border inspection requirement for quarantine pests in all seed lots imported for sowing is the drawing of a 5 kg sample (or the entire sample if less than 5 kg) and the laboratory inspection of that sample for freedom from quarantine pests, weed seeds and other contaminants. Seed lots are rarely homogeneous, although international best practice is to reduce heterogeneity to the greatest extent practically and economically possible (Kruse, 2004). The degree of heterogeneity in imported seed lots is unknown; seed lots of species nominated by MAF Plants Biosecurity will be subjected to heterogeneity testing (ISTA, 2004) to determine the extent of non-uniformity in imported seed lots. The examination of a 5 kg seed sample is time consuming, costly, and may not be necessary. The current MAF Plants Biosecurity seed lot sampling protocols will be compared with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) internationally agreed seed lot sampling rules (ISTA, 2004) to determine the effectiveness of the current sampling regime.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Seed sampling for determining seed lot heterogeneity
Research Leader: Professor John Hampton
Description:
It is practically impossible to obtain a perfectly uniform seed lot. Some degree of heterogeneity is expected. A seed lot will contain pure seeds of the species, other seeds (including weed seeds), and inert matter. One of the objectives of seed processing is to achieve a random distribution of these constituents throughout the lot. However, differences in physical properties of the crop seed and impurities may result in a non-random spatial distribution of the various constituents throughout the lot. This is called heterogenous distribution. The extent of this heterogeneity can be tested (ISTA, 2004) using a method which estimates the variation among the containers (tins, packets, sacks, paper bags, bulk bins) of a seed lot by testing a prescribed number of independent samples from different containers separately. ISTA (2004) gives critical values for purity and other seed count and uses two statistical methods (Steiner and Meyer, 1990) to determine heterogeneity. The aim is therefore to determine the heterogeneity of imported seed lots for sowing for the nine species nominated by MAF Plants Biosecurity; this will provide data on the variation that is occurring in imported seed lots for sowing which will then be used in an assessment of the current MAF Plants Biosecurity seed sampling protocols.
Methodology:
(i) Species:
As per MAF requirement, those to be tested will be:
• Brassica, Pisum, Trifolium, Vicia and Zea (representing different seed sizes). Depending on availability of imported seed lots it is likely that B. napus, P. sativum, T. repens, V. faba and Z. mays species will be selected. (Note: to have any value, the heterogeneity test must be conducted on different seed lots of the same species, and not different species within the genus).
• Festuca and Lolium (representing chaffy species). Depending on availability of imported seed lots it is likely that F. arundinacea and L. perenne species will be selected.
• Lactuca and Lycopersicon (representing packaged seed). Only L. sativa and L. esculentum species will be available.
(ii) Number of seed lots:
Five seed lots per species will be tested (this may vary because of availability of imported seed lots).
(iii) Sampling:
Sampling will at all times be conducted by a MAF Licensed Seed Sampling Officer(s), the individual(s) depending on the location of the seed lots to be sampled.
(iv) Sampling Intensity:
The number of independent container-samples to be drawn is dependent on the number of containers in the lot (ISTA, 2004; Table D.2 Appendix D of the ISTA Rules). At all times the ISTA Rules for the Heterogeneity Test (Appendix D) (ISTA, 2004) will be followed.
(iv) Testing:
The seed testing procedure prescribed for the percentage by weight of any purity component, and the total number of seeds in the determination of other seeds by number (ISTA, 2004) for heterogeneity testing will be followed. In addition all weed seeds present will be identified and their numbers recorded. The H-value and R-value (ISTA, 2004) for each seed lot will be calculated; these values signify whether a seed lot has significant heterogeneity (i.e. is heterogeneous) or does not have significant heterogeneity (i.e. is not heterogeneous). The seed lots analyses will be conducted at the New Zealand Seed Technology Institute’s (NZSTI) seed laboratory, which is an accredited member laboratory of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA).
Objective 2
Objective Title: Evaluating current sampling practice
Research Leader: Professor John Hampton
Description:
The current MAF Plants Biosecurity seed lot sampling protocol requires taking a 5 kg seed sample irrespective of seed lot size or seed type. This 5 kg sample is apparently obtained using ISTA sampling rules (Robert Taylor, pers. comm, 2004), although exactly how this is done requires verification, as the sample taken is at least five times that required by ISTA, and this sample size does not vary with seed lot size.
The ISTA rules for sampling seed lots (ISTA, 2004) include the maximum allowable size for a seed lot, the number of primary samples required to be drawn from a seed lot (which depends on the size and number of containers), and the weight of the sample submitted for seed analysis. This programme will use the MAF Plants Biosecurity seed lot sampling protocol and the ISTA seed lot sampling protocol to sample the same seed lots; the samples will then be tested for purity and other seed determination (ISTA, 2004) and examined for insect pests. The results will be used to determine whether there are any significant differences resulting from the two sampling protocols, and therefore whether the current 5 kg size and sampling protocols are appropriate for MAF Plants Biosecurity purposes.
Methodology:
(i) Species:
Brassica napus, Pisum sativum, Lolium perenne and Lactuca sativa will be used, the first two species representing small and large seed, the third a chaffy seed and the last a packet seed.
(ii) Number of seed lots:
Three seed lots per species will be sampled and tested.
(iii) Sampling:
Sampling will at all times be conducted by a MAF Licensed Seed Sampling Officer(s), the individual(s) depending on the location of the seed lots to be sampled.
(iv) Sampling Method:
For each seed lot the Seed Sampling Officer will obtain one submitted sample following the ISTA prescription for the species, and a further submitted sample following the MAF Plants Biosecurity prescription. (Note: for Lactuca sativa this may be the entire seed lot if it is less than 5 kg in total. In such cases NZSTI will return the seed lot through MAF Plants Biosecurity to the owner after the required working sample has been obtained).
(v) Testing:
On submitted sample receipt at NZSTI, the required working samples (ISTA, 2004) will be prepared for purity analysis and other seed determination. In addition, the seed not used from the 5 kg sample will undergo a bulk search (ISTA, 2004) for weed species. All submitted samples will be assessed for the presence of insect pests.
5.2 MBS 352
| Programme Title: | Treatment for mite eggs |
| Programme Leader: | Lisa Jamieson |
| Institution: | HortResearch CRI |
Programme Goal: Effectiveness of treatments for mite eggs – a literature review, and preliminary experiments
Methodology:
To undertake a literature review of control treatments for mite eggs, and to carry out pilot trials to determine the efficacy of some selected treatments against mite eggs.
Current treatments, such as methyl bromide or miticides, for mites intercepted at the border are not completely effective against mite eggs. It has been proposed that mite treatments should be repeated after 10-14 days to kill mites that hatch from eggs. This is not feasible for all products, e.g. highly perishable crops would be rendered unsaleable if held for this period. Whole plants can be transferred into post-entry quarantine after treatment and a second treatment can then be applied to kill any hatching mites. Emerging mites, however, have the potential to infest surrounding plants and may also vector plant viruses.
MAF requires research to identify alternative treatments that are effective against mite eggs on plants and plant products that can be used at the border and on plants going into post-entry quarantine. Discussions with MAF resulted in an agreement that the emphasis should be about 75% on nursery stock and 25% on fresh produce.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Mite egg control – literature review
Research Leader: Dr Peter R. Dentener
Description:
To identify alternatives to currently used methyl bromide fumigation or miticides for control of mite eggs.
Methodology:
Extensive searches on alternatives to methyl bromide fumigation and miticides will be carried out using library and internet resources. Where possible, unpublished material will be sourced by contacting relevant researchers directly.
The review will summarise and discuss a range of treatment options for plants and plant products, and provide a recommendation, bearing in mind the highly perishable nature of some produce containing mite eggs. The emphasis will be about 75% on nursery stock and 25% on fresh produce.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Effectiveness of treatments for mites
Objective Leader: Lisa Jamieson
Description:
To determine, in preliminary trials, the efficacy of a range of “Generally Recognised as Safe” (GRAS)/other chemicals or physical treatments against mite eggs.
Methodology:
We will test compounds or physical treatments for their efficacy against mite eggs. Compounds may be sourced from a range of GRAS compounds, and from commercially available and more environmentally acceptable fumigants. The selection will be based on (1) the outcome of the literature review, (2) knowledge gathered by HortResearch and Crop & Food as part of their ongoing disinfestations programmes, and (3) ongoing discussions with MAF. We propose that post-harvest application of miticides be pursued in future research.
MAF mite interception records will be compared against mites considered as “high impact”, and a suitable mite species will be selected as a model for efficacy testing. For example, Tetranychus urticae (twospotted spider mite; present in New Zealand) may be used since (a) it is a high impact species due to its vector status; (b) mite numbers can be relatively easily obtained; and (c) disinfestations treatments against T. urticae are well described in the literature, allowing base-line comparison.
Depending on treatments proposed sufficient, mite numbers for statistical analysis will be used and all experiments will be replicated. Appropriate statistical analysis will be carried out.
Treatment methodology will be documented and the results presented in a written report.
Note, finding effective treatments for mite eggs is a major project and will require more than one year of research. The Contractor proposes to screen a range of options and will provide recommendations for further research which will be considered for the 2005/06 programme.
Objective 2 (HortResearch component) is only possible by combining this with other treatments in an ongoing FRST funded research programme.
5.3 MBS 353
| Programme Title: | Molecular identification for moths |
| Programme Leaders: | Dr Karen Armstrong |
| Institution: | Lincoln University |
Programme Goal: Molecular identification methods for yellow peach moth, and potato tuber moth
Objective 1
Objective Title: Molecular identification for moths
Research Leader: Dr Karen Armstrong
Description:
To produce DNA profiles for yellow peach moth (YPM) and potato tuber moth (PTM), to (a) enable species-level identification of immature life stages intercepted at the border and (b) determine if geographic/host races can be distinguished.
Methodology:
The yellow peach moth (Conogethes punctiferalis) and potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) are targeted by MAF as pests for active surveillance. YPM has been identified as a high impact exotic pest, but the relative importance of pathways and sub-species needs clarification, with the ability to determine geographic origin a primary goal. In contrast, PTM is already present in New Zealand, but appears to have a different economic host preference to that in Australia; technical justification for assuming separate races is necessary if its quarantine status is to be maintained. Underpinning these issues, and as a prerequisite for effective surveillance, the accurate identification of these species and sub-species from any stage of the life cycle is required, but is not possible by morphological means. This programme proposes that:
YPM – species- and sub-species DNA markers be investigated as in Objective 1, using the same approaches as established for other lepidopteran and non-lepidopteran quarantine pests. It is emphasized, however, that given the taxonomy of YPM as a species complex is not clear, interpretation of any DNA variation found to reflect geographic or host separations may need to be tested with a broader range of taxa beyond the scope of this project. In the short term, ambiguity over taxa will be minimized by focusing on specimens from Australia and Japan reared from peach and corn.
PTM – evidence for geographic/host race be investigated in Objective 2, using the same molecular approaches as used for similar questions of other pest insects, searching for DNA sequence differences that reflect geographic/host associations.
This programme will capitalize on collaboration with other Australian-based YPM and PTM programmes through Dr Max Suckling’s current FRST-funded Improved Biosecurity projects on pheromone development for Lepidopteran pests. For YPM field collection advice will include that from Harry Fay, Peter Leech and Dan Smith, Queensland Department of Primary Industry (QDPI) (personal communications), specific taxonomic expertise has been offered from Dr Marianne Horak and supply and advice on Japanese specimens has been arranged through Professor Honda, University of Tsukuba. DNA sequence data obtained will also contribute to the current Royal Society funded “DNA Diagnostics for Biosecurity” program led by Dr Armstrong at the Centre for Bio-Protection.
Objective 2
Objective Title: DNA identification of YPM
Objective Leader: Dr Karen Armstrong
Description:
The aim will be to obtain taxonomically confirmed specimens of YPM reared primarily from peach and corn in Australia and Japan. These will be used to (a) determine species level markers and (b) test for DNA variation between geographic regions and hosts. The anticipated outcome is a diagnostic method for species-level identification of any life stage that will contribute immediately to the surveillance capability for this pest. A recommendation on the utility of DNA markers for determining geographic origins will also be made.
Methodology:
Specimens: Specimens from peach and corn will be prioritized, but those from other host plants will be included if made available. Australian moths will be obtained from field collections between December and March from pheromone trials organized by Dr Max Suckling and host-reared material through collaborations with Peter Leech, Dan Smith and Harry Fay (QDPI). Other lepidopteran pests of peach and corn will also be sought from field entomologists and existing collections to demonstrate specificity of the DNA profiles. Confirmation that specimens of emergent moths belong to the species complex will carried out by Dr Marianne Horak, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra and/or Dr Robert Hoare, Landcare Research. For those specimens, the genitalia will be removed and archived at the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) for future reference by this and other Australian-based projects. The remainder of the specimen will be sent to Lincoln University for archiving and DNA analysis. Permission to use legs from YPM specimens archived in collections at the ANIC, Canberra and at MAF NPPRL will also be sought as material for preliminary DNA analyses. Japanese specimens will be obtained from archived material held by Prof Honda at University of Tsukuba and owners of private collections will also be canvassed. Fresh specimens from Japan may be able to be sourced late in the flight season, July-August 2004. Otherwise they may not become available until after May 2005.
Molecular analyses: DNA will be extracted from leg material. General conditions for DNA extraction and PCR amplification will be carried out according to established procedures.
(a) Species-level markers - DNA extracted from YPM and other pyralid moths will be PCR amplified and sequenced at various gene regions using universal PCR primers, starting with mitochondrial DNA COI, followed by 16S rDNA or nuclear 18S and/or ITS rDNA. The locus for final sequence analysis will depend on the relative discrimination of YPM. The sequences generated, plus any found in Genbank for the relevant taxa, will be aligned and analysed for the species-specific restriction sites. If suitable sites are found, a rapid PCR-RFLP diagnostic method for routine identifications will be designed for use by non-specialist molecular laboratories. These data will also be incorporated into the ‘barcoding’-type database being independently developed as an advanced DNA diagnostic tool for future use.
(b) Geographic origins - the sequences obtained in (a) for Australian and Japanese specimens will also be analysed phylogenetically for subspecific DNA variation correlating with geographic origin and/or host. Depending on success at this point, recommendations for more extensive collections and analyses can be made towards designing more accurate assignment tests.
Objective 3
Objective Title: DNA identification of PTM races
Objective Leader: Dr Louise Winder
Description:
The aim will be to determine if genomic markers can distinguish between taxonomically confirmed specimens of adult PTM from potato and tomato in Australia from those on potato in New Zealand. The anticipated outcome is a recommendation on the utility of DNA markers for determining the existence of host/geographic races in this particular species.
Methodology:
Specimens - In collaboration with Dr Max Suckling, Hort Research, host reared specimens of PTM will be obtained from potato and tomato plants in Australia between January and February 2005. The same will be achieved for specimens from New Zealand potatoes. The species of emergent moths will be confirmed by Dr Robert Hoare (Landcare Research); Australian specimens will be killed with ethyl acetate and dried before sending to New Zealand for curation. Specimens of other Gelechiidae species, plus other lepidopteran pests of potato, such as the South American potato tuber moth (Symmetrischema tangolias) and tomato, such as bud worm (Helicoverpa sp.) and armyworm (Spodoptera sp.), may also be sought to confirm specificity and appropriate level of variation in DNA profiles. Specimens archived in Australian and New Zealand collections will be sought as material for preliminary DNA analyses.
Molecular analyses - General conditions for DNA extraction and PCR amplification will be carried out according to established procedures. DNA will be PCR amplified and sequenced at various gene regions. The COI has been used effectively to discriminate races of other pests, but previous work found no variation in PTM. Therefore other gene regions, such as the 16S rDNA and nuclear ITS rDNA that have been found useful in other species races, will also be examined. The locus for final sequence analysis will depend on the level of variation between PTM populations. The sequences generated, plus any mined from GenBank for the relevant taxa, will be aligned and analysed phylogenetically to investigate correlations with geographic origin and/or host. Sequence data from this research will also be incorporated into the ‘barcoding’-type database being independently developed as an advanced DNA diagnostic tool for future use.
5.4 MBS 354
| Programme Title: | Lymantrids identification. |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Karen Armstrong |
| Institution: | Lincoln Universtiy |
DNA database for the identification of Lymantriidae species associated with risk goods
Programme Goal: To obtain collections of taxonomically identified Asian and Australian lymantriid species and produce a more comprehensive DNA profile database than currently exists, for the identification of immature life stages intercepted at the border.
Rationale: A DNA diagnostic procedure previously developed for seven Lymantriid species has been successfully implemented for the identification of immature life stages found on imported used vehicles from Japan. During years 2000 to 2002, some specimens produced DNA profiles that did not match any of the high-risk species anticipated as associated with that pathway. This is of considerable concern, given that introduced Lymantriid species can adapt and threaten as a serious pest, irrespective of their economic status in the native range, such as painted apple moth (Teia anartoides). A more extensive species DNA diagnostic capability is apparently necessary for effective surveillance of this exotic insect group.
Given that Asia and Australia present particular threats with respect to the presence of Lymantriid pests and southern hemisphere adapted species respectively, this programme will prioritise species from Japan and Australia relevant to the highest risk pathways via vehicle and container shipments. Species will include those in an existing collection at Lincoln University (LU) (Table 1), as well as those archived and obtained through sampling in Australia. If the former collection fails to enable identification of previously unidentifiable border interceptions and in lieu of accurate survey data for the Japanese port areas, trapping to include the vicinity of Japanese ports will be planned for the 2005 adult flight time. This programme will capitalize on the taxonomic and Japanese local expertise of Dr Paul Schaefer (USDA-FS) and on the long-term linkages developed in Australia by AgResearch. DNA sequence data obtained will be incorporated into the current diagnostic procedure and also contribute to the advanced technological platform being developed in the “DNA Diagnostics for Biosecurity” program.
Table 1. Geographic distribution of Lymantriid species held at Lincoln University
| Country | Number species | Number L. dispar popns | Other speciesa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 11 | 6 | Cifuna locuples confusa; Euproctis flava; E. similis; Lymantria bantaizana; L. fumida; L. lucescens; L. mathura; L. monacha; L. xylina; Orgyia thyellina |
| Korea | 4 | 2 | L. mathura; L. monacha; Numenes disparlis |
| Taiwan | 4 | - | L. serva; L. umbifera; L. xylina; Perina nuda |
| China | 3 | 1 | Gynaephora menyuanensis; O. antiqua |
| India | 3 | - | L. concolor; L. marginata; L.obfuscata |
| Indonesia | 4 | - | L. beatrix; L. bruneiplaga; L. narinda; L. singapura |
| Thailand | 2 | - | L. atemeles; L. sp. "pakchong" |
| Philippines | 1 | - | L. tagalica |
| Russia | 1 | 3 | - |
| Europe | 3 | 3 | L. monacha; O. antiqua |
| US/Can | 10 | 4 | Dasychira pericola; E. chrysorrhoea; Leucoma salicis; O. antiqua; O. detrita; O. leucostigma; O. leuschneri; O. pseudotsugata; O. vetusta |
| Australia | 1 | - | Teia anartoides |
a Bold indicates species that have DNA profiles; Dashed line indicates species recommended by Dr Paul Schaefer as relevant concerns to New Zealand; underlined are species for which pheromone lures are available.
Objective 1
Objective Title: DNA characterisation of additional Lymantriid species in an existing collection
Research Leader: Dr Karen Armstrong
Description:
The aim will be to capitalize on an existing specimen collection to extend significantly the number of species characterised at the DNA level. The outcome will be an upgrade of the current PCR-RFLP diagnostic protocol, available for immediate use. Data will also contribute to the testing of an alternative ‘barcoding’-type protocol currently under development; this has been proposed as a more flexible approach (in terms of continuously adding taxa) for species identification in the future. (Detailed methodology provided).
Objective 2
Objective Title: Re-analysis of previously unidentified border interception specimens.
Research Leader: Dr Karen Armstrong
Description
The aim will be to use the extended suite of DNA diagnostic profiles obtained in Objective 1 to identify previous border-intercepted specimens that did not match any of the existing species DNA profiles. The outcome is anticipated to be that 100% of the immature life stage specimens intercepted to date can be identified. If this is not the case then a plan to further survey Lymantriidae in Japan will be recommended (Objective 4).
Methodology
Specimens: Ten border intercepted specimens preserved in ethanol at LU, including egg masses, larvae, pupae, plus one dried adult identified by Dr Paul Schaefer as Cifuna locuples confusa, will be analysed.
Objective 3
Objective Title: Collection and DNA characterisation of common Australian Lymantriidae
Research Leader: Dr Pip Gerard
Description
The aim will be to obtain specimens of, and provide DNA diagnostic profiles for, the common Australian Lymantriid species. Specimens will be obtained through targeted trapping and existing archived material. The outcome is anticipated to be a significantly improved insect reference collection and DNA diagnostic capability to support effective surveillance of this quarantine group.
Collection: The 73 named Australian species will serve as a reference list. Of those, the more common species, such as Acyphas semiochera, Euproctis edwardsii, E. melanosoma, Leptocneria reducta, Orgyia australis, Teia anartoides, Urocoma baliolalis and U. marginalis will be targeted initially.
Species identification: Morphological species identification of specimens, necessary for DNA characterisation, will be confirmed by taxonomists at ANIC, Canberra. Three legs will be removed from identified moths, placed in ethanol and sent to LU for DNA analysis. The remainder of the specimen will be curated and archived for future reference at LU or NPPRL collections. Specimen data will be collated and archived in a Microsoft Access™-based database, together with that from the Asian collection (Objective 1).
Objective 4 (dependant on the outcome of Objective 1)
Objective Title: Collection and DNA characterisation of additional Japanese Lymantriid species
Research Leader: Dr Karen Armstrong
Description
The aim will be to extend the DNA diagnostic range of Lymantriid species from Japan through national and international collaboration, sourcing from existing collections, fortuitous field collections and possibly targeted trapping in the vicinity of Japanese ports associated with trade to New Zealand. The outcome is anticipated to be a significantly improved reference insect collection to support effective surveillance of this quarantine group.
Specimen collection: Species amongst the 52 named as present in Japan will be used as a reference list. Requests for specimens from existing or ongoing collections will be made through entomologists such as Ruud Kleinpaste (consultant, Auckland), Dr Paul Schaefer (USDA FS), Prof. Nato Kamata (Kanazawa University) and Prof. Yasutomo Higashiura (Hokkaido Forestry Research Institute). Light trapping in the vicinity of the main ports of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya will be considered through collaboration with MQS (Davor Bejakovich, personal communication) and/or the USDA. The availability of pheromone lures for species other than those already analysed (Table 1, Objective 1) will be investigated. Field collections will need to be in place from July in the South to early September in the North to coincide with flight activity; several one-night collections per site may be necessary depending on catch success. Only male specimens may be available for species with flightless or day-flying females, but this is sufficient for species DNA profiles. Specimens removed from the traps (including non-lymantriid material) will be killed by ethyl acetate or freezing for a short period, dried (with low heat), placed in paper envelopes and containers (supplied from LU) and shipped directly to LU for sorting. Moths identified to family level will be sent to Robert Hoare or Paul Schaefer for species identification and curation then returned to LU for removal of legs for DNA analysis. The remainder of each specimen will be archived at the LU Entomology Museum. Surplus good quality specimens will be given to the Lincoln NPPRL reference collection. For other specimens that may already have been characterized, in Objective 1 or previously, their DNA will contribute to population/geographic location data.
Note: Although objective 4 is included within the Contract Schedule 1 of work, and its own cost estimate of $23,059 as part of the total programme of the $92,502, it will only proceed after specific approval is sought from and given by MAF (as to the detail of the work agreed), and based on the successful completion and reporting of the other requirements).
The costing for this objective may also need to be reassessed based on its need, if Objective 1 is successful in identifying the remaining unknown intercepted specimens. The cost may also need to be reconsidered in light of the complement of species that it is likely to involve and input from overseas colleagues. However, beyond this being carried out to supplement Objective 1, this Objective would represent a collection of species not previously considered as pests, or as not having the potential to arrive in New Zealand through indiscriminate oviposition or attraction to human settlements. Given that introduced Lymantriid species can adapt and threaten as a serious pest irrespective of their economic status in the native range, this is going to be the only way to build a more anticipatory system, i.e. to be prepared for identification of the unexpected and would be recommended for consideration at a later date irrespective of the success of Objective 1.
5.5 MBS 355
| Programme Title: | Wood borer and bark beetles |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Eckehard Brockerhoff |
| Institution: | Forest Research CRI |
Programme Goal: Taxonomic keys for wood-boring and bark beetles of interest to forest biosecurity
Description:
The goal of this programme is to provide taxonomic keys for beetle genera in the subfamilies and families of Scolytinae, Platypodinae, Cerambycidae and Buprestidae. These keys will be well-illustrated and simple to use.
These beetle groups contain many species that are significant forest pests around the globe and hence pose a considerable risk to the biosecurity of New Zealand’s forests. Invasions by such species are a common occurrence as viable specimens are easily shipped in wooden materials. Wood borers and bark beetles are frequently intercepted and regularly become established in other regions. About half of New Zealand’s Scolytinae species are introduced and many more are knocking on the door. A Forest Research database contains 1468 records of Scolytinae that were intercepted in shipments to New Zealand from 1952-2000 (Brockerhoff et al. 2003), highlighting the risk of more species becoming established. Due to the large number of species (world-wide there are about 4,000 genera and 35,000 species of Cerambycidae and about 7500 described species of Scolytinae and Platypodinae (Bright & Skidmore 2002)), it is not possible within this programme to provide exhaustive keys for all genera. It is proposed to develop keys for the commonly intercepted genera (and species, where more practical) that are of greatest concern. It is likely that only relatively important species will be described for the Buprestidae. Collaboration will be undertaken with quarantine officials and scientists in New Zealand and several countries to determine the relevant species.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Wood borer and bark beetle keys
Research Leader: Dr Eckehard Brockerhoff
Description:
The goal of this programme is to provide taxonomic keys for beetles in the subfamilies and families of Scolytinae, Platypodinae, Cerambycidae and Buprestidae. These keys will be well illustrated and simple to use to identify the most commonly intercepted genera and to determine when experts need to be consulted. In some cases it may be more practical to provide keys for important and distinctive species.
Data on genera and species that are commonly intercepted in New Zealand will be extracted from Forest Research and Plant Pest Information Network (PPIN) databases. Overseas data will be obtained from experts in the United States (United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) Pest Information Network data)), Canada, Australia, Japan, and various European countries (see collaboration). Drawings and photos of distinctive details, as well as habitus photos of relevant species will be made. Specimens will be obtained from the Forest Research insect collection and as loans from collections and museums worldwide. We plan to develop computer-based keys using the Lucid programme to provide a user-friendly interface. Several options for key building will be evaluated, and we may follow the example of Lawrence et al. (1999). MAF will be consulted to reach mutual agreement regarding the final decision how keys will be presented.
5.6 MBS 356
| Programme Title: | Testing the efficacy of ant baits |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Margaret Stanley |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: To identify information gaps on the efficacy of baits used to attract and kill invasive ant species.
Rationale: MAF is currently responding to a number of incursions of exotic invasive ant species. To date MAF has relied heavily on a small number of baits and toxins for control of incursions. The success of responses to new incursions of invasive ants will be compromised in the absence of effective baits and toxins. As a first step to ensuring effective incursion response, MAF has requested a review of international information on baits and toxins used for ant control. The next step is to test the most promising of these against a selected group of invasive ant species. In a related project, Landcare Research is undertaking an invasive ant pest risk assessment for MAF that will identify the selected group of ant species that should be eradicated by MAF if incursions are detected.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Review of bait efficacy.
Research Leader: Dr Margaret Stanley
Description:
The aim of this objective is to review the international literature on the effectiveness of a wide variety of baits used against different invasive ant species and to identify knowledge gaps in terms of particular ant species and particular baits. The report provided by Landcare Research will also make recommendations to MAF as to which baits should be tested against which species to fill some of the knowledge gaps.
Methodology:
Information for the literature review will be found by searching databases (e.g. Current Contents, CAB abstracts, Agricola) and internet sites for information on control of invasive ants; by cross-referencing from known references and by contacting key international experts through listservers and email. Information gathered will include:
• lists of ant baits that exist internationally;
• lists of ant species that each bait has been tested against;
• details of each bait trial (including country in which the trial took place, trial methodology, environmental conditions under which the testing took place, efficacy results);
• details of ant control and eradication programmes conducted overseas; including ant species targeted, bait used, environmental conditions and results of programmes.
The report will also contain a critical synthesis of the results of all known trials and control programmes for each bait and ant species. Knowledge gaps and testing inadequacies will be identified within this synthesis and from these, recommendations will be made in terms of baits that should be tested against ant species that are a threat to New Zealand.
5.7 MBS 357
| Programme Title: | Allium pests. |
| Programme Leader: | John Fletcher |
| Institution: | Crop & Food CRI |
Programme Goal: Survey of Allium pests in New Zealand
Rationale: To complete a preliminary survey of regulated virus, bacteria and phytoplasmas in a representative group of Allium spp. crops in Auckland and Marlborough. Results from this survey would help determine the need and scope for a larger national survey in the future. The focus of this survey does not include fungal pathogens. However, should plants with new or unusual symptoms be found, they will be submitted to the NPPRL for identification.
A number of Allium species are important agricultural and horticultural crops e.g. onion, leek, garlic and ornamental species. There has never been a comprehensive survey of the species and new pests have been reported in New Zealand almost by serendipity. MAF requires a survey of all Allium crops to determine the baseline distribution of currently regulated bacteria, fungi, viruses and phytoplasmas in New Zealand. In particular, MAF would like to know the distribution of any such pathogens present and whether they can be eradicated or controlled. MAF will use this information to determine the phytosanitary requirements for imports of Allium seed and nursery stock.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Auckland survey
Research Leader: John Fletcher
Description:
Representative Allium (onion, garlic and leek) crops will be surveyed and sampled to determine if regulated viruses, bacteria, or phytoplasmas are present in these crops. The information obtained will assist in determining if wider surveys are needed to determine their impact and incidence.
Methodology:
Virus survey
Five onion, two garlic, and one leek or shallot crop will be visited and surveyed around Pukekohe, Auckland. Crops will be selected with the assistance of VegFed and local advisors. A visual survey, sampling of individual plants with virus-like symptoms, and a random sample, (100 leaves in a ‘W’ pattern over whole block using a variation of the method of Fletcher & Davison (1991) & Fletcher (1993)), will be undertaken. Specimens would be grouped in tens and serologically assayed for a range of viruses, both regulated and non-regulated, depending on availability of suitable antibodies and positive controls. Similarly, the groups will be inoculated to a range of suitable hosts in order to try to detect viruses not covered by serological assays.
For each Allium crop, serological and host assay tests would be included to determine the presence of the following viruses (see table next page) using the listed methods.Unknown or unidentified viruses would be propagated and passed to the NPPRL for identification.
| Genus | Family | Symptoms | Natural host range | ELISA | Diagnostic Hosts |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic dwarf virus | Fijivirus | Reoviridae | Severe dwarfing, dk green leaves swollen veins | Garlic | garlic | |
| Garlic mite borne filamentous virus ?= Garlic virus D | Allexivirus | Barg | garlic | |||
| Garlic mite borne latent virus | Allexivirus | garlic | ||||
| Garlic virus A | Allexivirus | Garlic | DSMZ | garlic | ||
| Garlic virus X | Allexivirus | garlic | ||||
| Impatiens necrotic spot virus | Tospovirus | Bunyaviridae | Chlorotic eye shaped lesions on leaves & stalks | DSMZ | Cq Nb Nt | |
| Iris yellow spot virus | Tospovirus, | Bunyaviridae | DSMZ | Onion Nb |
||
| Onion mite-borne latent virus | Potexvirus | Slight mottle or diffuse yellow stripes | Onion, shallot, Etc | onion | ||
| Shallot mite-borne latent virus | Allexivirus | Symptomless or sl mottle | shallot | shallot | ||
| Shallot virus X virus | Allexivirus | shallot | ||||
| Sint-Jan's onion latent virus = Shallot latent virus? | Carlavirus | Symptomless | Shallot, Welsh onion, Allium spp | Barg | onion | |
| Shallot yellow stripe virus | Potyvirus | Potyviridae | Mild striping of young leaves | Allium spp | DSMZ, Agdia |
Ca, Cq, Cm, Nb, No, Vf |
| Tobacco rattle virus [strains not in New Zealand] | Tobravirus | DSMZ | Ca, Cq, Nt, Nc, Pv, Ps, Cs | |||
| Tomato black ring virus | genus Nepovirus, family | Comoviridae | DSMZ, Rene | Ca, Cq, Nt, Nc, Pv, Ps, Cs |
Bacterial and phytoplasma survey
A visual survey and sampling of individual plants with bacterial or phytoplasma-like symptoms will be completed concurrently with the virus survey. Plate isolations will be used for bacteria and Biolog used to confirm bacterial identity. PCR will be used for phytoplasma identification. For each Allium crop, assays tests would be included to determine the presence of:
Bacteria
Burkholderia cepacia
Erwinia chrysanthemi pv. chrysanthemi
Erwinia rhapontici
Pseudomonas xanthochlora
Phytoplasmas
Aster yellows phytoplasma
Garlic decline phytoplasma
Onion yellows phytoplasma
Objective 2 To survey Allium crops in Marlborough
Objective Title: Marlborough survey
Objective Leader: John Fletcher
Description:
Representative Allium crops (five onion, two garlic, and one leek or shallot) from Marlborough will be surveyed and sampled to determine if regulated viruses, bacteria, or phytoplasmas are present in these crops. The information obtained will assist in determining if wider surveys are needed to determine their impact and incidence.
5.8 MBS 358
| Programme Title: | Evaluation of irradiation treatment |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Bob Wynn-Williams |
| Institution: | CANESIS |
Programme Goal: Evaluation of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment.
Description:
Evaluate methods of heat treatment, including irradiation, on rendering seeds, including weed seeds, non-viable and their effects on pathogens (especially fungi).
Technologies to treat seed for biosecurity purposes must primarily be 100% effective, secondly be environmentally acceptable, and preferably also be practical, rapid and cost effective. There are a number of methods of treatment used and these will be compared and contrasted with regard to efficacy. These treatments will include: X-rays, beta, gamma, UV/IR/microwave/radio waves, and thermal, but exclude alpha particles and neutron radiation.
A fundamental factor in the efficacy of different forms of ionizing radiation is the depth of penetration. Making seeds non-viable and sterilising internal diseases (eg Karnal bunt) requires different wavelengths and treatment times compared to those for treating diseases on the seed coat. For example, infrared technology has been shown to completely kill Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) after ten seconds, where dry heat took 48 minutes and methyl bromide 96 hours. By way of contrast, low energy gamma irradiation is fast but penetrates only a few cells into the seed coat.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Irradiation as phytosanitary treatment
Research Leader: Dr Andy Wilkins
Description:
Review the comparative efficacy of irradiation and other methods on weed seeds and seedborne pathogens
Methodology:
Literature review including dose rates.
The project team, which is a combination of engineers and biologists, will review the literature, including standards and systems used by other countries. This information will be combined with the project team’s existing knowledge and experience in a report that will allow MAF to compare the efficacy of irradiation treatment and to heat treatment, and to set scientifically-justifiable import measures for irradiated commodities.
5.9 MBS 359
| Programme Title: | Post border detection models |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Gail Timmerman-Vaughan |
| Institution: | Crop & Food CRI |
Programme Goal: Prediction of field effort required to search for new exotic pests, for post border surveillance and incursion response delimiting surveys.
Description:
Provide MAF with sampling regimes for horticultural crops to:
• Predict costs of conducting specific surveillance, or of conducting delimiting surveys to assist with decision making during incursions; and
• Ensure that field sampling is conducted in the most efficient and effective way so that probabilities of detection are optimized for given levels of input.
This work has wider application in other ecosystems. Horticultural crops have been selected as the first priority for work because they are usually monocultures in highly organized production systems, and therefore present a simple community structure appropriate for conducting initial research.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Defining probability of detection in relation to sampling pattern.
Description
The efficiency and effectiveness of sampling regimes for detecting several non-visible major horticultural pathogen threats will be evaluated.
Methodology
The research will rely on computer simulation methods.
5.10 MBS 360
| Programme Title: | Fusarium circinatum – Part 2 (04/05) |
| Programme Leader: | Tod Ramsfield |
| Institution: | Forest Research CRI |
Programme Goal: To provide a rapid, accurate and sensitive DNA-based diagnostic technique to detect Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pitch canker, a serious disease of Pinus radiata in California that poses a biosecurity threat to New Zealand.
Rationale: Pine pitch canker was first described from the south-eastern United States in 1946. In 1986 it was detected in California where it is a serious disease of Pinus radiata with predicted losses of up to 85% of the pine population. The disease has also spread to South Africa, Chile, Spain and Japan. The Forestry and Forest Products Committee recognised that the disease presented a major potential threat to commercial forestry in Australia and New Zealand and commissioned the Forest Health Group, (a division of Forest Research), with two Australian colleagues, to prepare an Incursion Management Plan for pine pitch canker. A key element in managing an incursion is the ability to detect and identify a newly-introduced pathogen quickly and positively. Fusarium circinatum, the pine pitch canker pathogen, is almost identical in morphological features to a number of saprophytic Fusarium species and cannot be identified positively using morphology alone. The Incursion Management Plan proposes the use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostic technique for the detection and identification of F. circinatum. Using a combination of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, a characteristic banding pattern for F. circinatum has been discovered in this laboratory. However, before the RAPD method can be utilised, the fungus must first be isolated from diseased tissue, increasing the time necessary to perform the diagnostic test. Following work conducted in 2003/2004, a method was developed that is able to detect F. circinatum within infected tissue, as well as within culture. It is proposed that in 2004/2005, the method be extended to detect F. circinatum within soil.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Detection of F. circinatum in soil
Research Leader: Tod Ramsfield
Description:
To extend the utility of the PCR primers developed during 2003/2004, a system will be developed to identify F. circinatum in soil.
Rationale:
If F. circinatum arrives in New Zealand, it will likely appear first in the nursery environment as it did in Chile and South Africa. Therefore, a DNA based detection system that is able to identify the pathogen in soil will allow a rapid survey of New Zealand nurseries.
Methodology:
This phase of the research project will utilise the PCR primers developed during the first objective of the project and has three key components:
i) Recovery of F. circinatum. In the quarantine facilities at Forest Research, F. circinatum will be grown on autoclaved millet grain. After an incubation period of 2 weeks, microconidia and macroconidia will be washed from the grains using autoclaved distilled water. Conidia will be quantified and serial dilutions will be prepared, which will be used to inoculate autoclaved soil. DNA will be extracted from the soil following established protocols and the limit of detection of F. circinatum will be calculated. All work with live F. circinatum will be conducted in the quarantine facility, including the first steps in the DNA extraction, but after cell lysis, the DNA extraction will be completed in the genomics laboratory.
ii) Screening soil mycobiota and bacteria. Common soil organisms will be screened to ensure that the PCR primers do not react with organisms that are ubiquitous in the soil environment.
iii) Development of a high throughput operational protocol. In the event of a discovery of F. circinatum in the nursery environment, it will be desirable to rapidly survey and screen the affected nursery, as well as other nurseries in the country. Adaptation of the protocol to fulfil the requirements of an operational diagnostic laboratory will ensure that the survey could be undertaken quickly.
6. Promoting Industry & Rural Community Performance
The broader economic and social environment significantly affects New Zealand’s ability to produce quality products and take advantage of opportunities offered by international markets. This category provides information that will assist in developing and implementing policies that encourage the development of an efficient domestic business environment and viable rural communities.
6.1 ICP 444
| Programme Title: | Regional impact model |
| Programme Leader: | Mark Walton |
| Institution: | NZIER |
Programme Goal: MAF’s goal is to have a model available to its staff to use to estimate the impact of policy changes and shocks such as weather events and market changes on regional and national economies. The present piece of research will develop a prototype model as the first step to this goal.
Context and work requirements:
In order to meet the requirements of the project, particularly in regard to the level of industry detailed required, the current proposal incorporates the outcome of MAF’s discussions with New Zealand of International Economic Research (NZIER), namely that GEMPACK be used as the modelling tool. The issue of the most appropriate modelling tool is discussed in more detail below.
The agreed approach is outlined in some detail below. In brief, the work will involve disaggregating the national, Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) into regions – in the prototype model only one regional council area will be split from the national SAM. This process will use Statistics New Zealand data, data currently being collected by NZIER on behalf of Ministry of Economic Development (MED) (in a separate project, see below), and MAF statistics on regional agricultural production.
The model will be built in GEMPACK. A number of assumptions will need to be adopted. These will be based on international best practice, and MAF and NZIER knowledge of New Zealand’s unique characteristics.
Finally, we will build a user interface so that MAF staff can alter assumptions and run some scenarios. We will also provide a report that outlines both the technical details of the model and provides user instructions.
MAF requires the development of a “prototype industry regional economic impact model based on the general equilibrium model”. The purpose of this prototype model is to help MAF to evaluate the suitability of general equilibrium (GE) models to analyse a range of regional and national economic shocks, including policy changes, changes in landuse, climatic events, and market shocks. The development of the prototype model is thus the first stage of a potentially longer-term project leading to the development of a fully-featured and highly detailed inter-regional GE model of the New Zealand economy.
For evaluation purposes, MAF has determined that the prototype GE model should have the following key characteristics:
The model should be a regional computable general equilibrium model. We interpret regional in this context as referring to a regional council area.
The model should be based on a social accounting matrix (SAM) which incorporates relevant official data, including MAF’s own collection of regional agricultural production statistics.
The SAM should separately identify the eight agricultural and horticultural industries used in Statistics New Zealand’s input-output tables.
The model should be designed and constructed so that MAF is able to run in-house scenario analyses of economic shocks.
Method
There are three distinct components to this project:
1. The derivation of a social accounting matrix (SAM) for the region of interest.
2. The construction of the GE model for that region.
3. The packaging of the model and SAM in such a way that allows MAF to run in-house scenario analyses.
These components are discussed in turn.
(1) DERIVING A REGIONAL SAM
A SAM is a snapshot of a socio-economic system in a given year. It is presented in matrix format, where rows and columns represent various economic sectors (including industry sectors, households, government organisations and the rest of the world/nation). Row-column intersections thus represent a flow (i.e. the value of a transaction relating to goods & services, financial assets, etc) between the sectors of the row and column.
Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) does not produce SAMs (either national or regional), nor does it publish any information about intersectoral flows at a regional level. Thus the construction of a regional SAM involves the construction of a national SAM that is then regionalised using whatever regional data that is available, which includes employment and population levels.
SNZ does however, publish almost all of the data needed to construct a national SAM. In practice a national SAM can be constructed with the national input-output (IO) table at its core, supplemented with information regarding intersectoral transfers (e.g. the payment of tax by households to government and the remittance offshore of household income). These latter flows can be estimated from SNZ’s institutional sector accounts data.
A further complication arises because the most recent IO tables are for the year ended March 1996. Although the structure of the economy tends to change relatively slowly over time, there is a possibility that the 1995/96 input-output tables no longer accurately represent the input-output flows of all sectors in today’s economy. However, updating the national tables is a non-trivial task, and on balance MAF has decided that they do not want the 1995/96 tables updated.
(1.1) Regionalising the national SAM
As noted, NZIER would create a SAM for a given region by applying regional data to the 1995/96 national SAM. At a minimum, these data would include population and sectoral employment data, and the agriculture-related data collected by MAF. Depending on the region of interest, this regional dataset may be able to be supplemented via other sources (e.g. port of import and export data).
Following the application of regional data to a national SAM, it is typical for the resulting regional SAM to be unbalanced (i.e. for row and column sums to be unequal). NZIER would resolve the row-column differences by equating those differences to the values of inter-regional trade and transfers. In effect, NZIER will create a two-region SAM, where the two regions are (i) the area of specific interest to MAF, and (ii) the rest of New Zealand. The SAM will also have a sector representing the rest of the world, so the region of interest will also have the ability to trade internationally.
NZIER suggested that a two-region SAM (and thus GE model) would provide the most benefit to MAF. The prime advantage is that such a construction allows for flow-on impacts to the national economy to be assessed. In contrast, a SAM focussed only on a single region (a regional district area, for instance) allows for measurement of the impact in the selected region of a shock, but it does not provide any insights into the way that regional impacts flow through to the remainder of the economy.
(2) THE REGIONAL GE MODEL
The GE model proposed for this project would be similar to those previously built by NZIER to examine various economic impacts at both the national and regional level.
These models in turn follow the tradition in GE modelling established by de Melo and Tarr (1992), Karadag and Westaway (1999) and Rutherford and Paltsev (1999), amongst others. Additional detail about the proposed model can be supplied on request. However, it will have key characteristics as follows.
The model will be built using the GEMPACK software package, which was developed by Monash University, Melbourne. GEMPACK has significant advantages with respect to cost-effectiveness when compared to the likely alternative product, GAMS. As a product built specifically for the formulation and running of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, GEMPACK also has some advantages relating to transparency and ease of understanding.
The precise structure of the model will be partly dependent on the scenario analyses that MAF wishes to run. For instance, analysis of emissions-reduction policies requires that emission levels are explicitly specified. Therefore, MAF will be consulted before finalising the structure of the model.
To make the model as user-friendly as possible, NZIER will build an interface to allow MAF staff to change parameters (including elasticity values) and scenario settings without needing to change the underlying code of the model itself. There are several options for this interface including Excel.
7 Facilitating Resource Management
This category provides information that will assist in developing and implementing policies on biophysical factors that influence sustainable agricultural practices, namely food safety, environmental effects due to agriculture and horticulture, and animal welfare issues driven by domestic concerns. A key driver for all three issues has been the urbanisation of the population that has isolated the majority of New Zealanders from contact with agriculture and forestry. Negative aspects of land-based production are open to exploitation by the media. Increasingly, the public is demanding assurances from farmers and processors about the manner in which food and fibre is produced. “Quality products from a quality environment” encapsulates these concerns.
| Programme Title: | Containing weed invasion |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Susan Wiser |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: To review existing information on exotic weed invasions of indigenous forests, including knowledge from existing silvicultural trials, in order to develop guidelines for management that minimizes their impacts.
Rationale: It is now widely expected that forests managed for timber production will meet sustainable practice standards. One aspect of sustainable forest management is maintenance of biodiversity and ecological values. Exotic plant species that invade indigenous forests following silvicultural disturbance pose a significant threat to these values in New Zealand . Possible impacts of exotic species include competitive exclusion of native species and modification of fundamental ecosystem properties. Because MAF is obliged to ensure that indigenous forestry meets sustainable forest ecosystem management criteria, it follows that MAF is responsible for providing guidelines that minimise invasion of exotic plant species into managed forests.
The Forests Act Part IIIA requires indigenous forest managers to inspect, monitor and report on exotic weed invasions. Most invasions will be short-lived and persist only until the forest canopy is restored, unless shade-tolerant woody species establish. These persistent shade-tolerant species, together with exotic plant species that can invade undisturbed forest canopies and those that may form metapopulations in natural canopy gaps, pose the greatest threat to biodiversity and ecological values. MAF requires a review of what is known about conditions that predispose forests to weed invasion and to utilise this information in developing standards and guidelines for management of indigenous forests.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Factors predisposing forests to invasion
Research Leader: Dr Sarah Richardson
Description:
There is a need to synthesise what is generally known about weed invasions of indigenous forests and specifically how indigenous forestry operations influence weed distributions and abundance. The aim of this objective therefore, is to address the following questions:
1. How does the nature of weed invasions vary according to forest type, region, soil fertility, species richness, disturbance, and other environmental conditions?
2. How do various silvicultural regimes and forestry operations influence the distribution and abundance of weeds?
The outcome of this objective will be to establish the key factors influencing the invasibility of both managed and unmanaged indigenous forests by weeds. These will be presented as a written report and as part of a presentation to MAF
Methodology:
1. How does the nature of weed invasions vary according to forest type, region, soil fertility, species richness, disturbance, and other environmental conditions?
Wiser & Allen (in press) have recently completed an exhaustive literature review of the factors predisposing indigenous forests to weed invasions in New Zealand: however, this review was restricted to those forests not managed for timber production. We will summarise and update the key findings of that review article and use them as a framework for examining weed invasions into indigenous forests managed for timber production. Key findings will be used to generate hypotheses regarding how factors such as species richness determine weed invasions (e.g. species rich forests are more easily invaded relative to species poor forests). We will then test these hypotheses using published and unpublished information on weed invasions into managed indigenous forests.
2. How do various silvicultural regimes and forestry operations influence the distribution and abundance of weeds?
Information on weed invasions into indigenous forests managed for timber production will be obtained from three sources. First, we will search databases for articles describing weed invasions into managed indigenous forests in New Zealand. Landcare Research subscribes to a number of databases that access suitable New Zealand journals. Second, as we anticipate there to be few, if any, published articles, we will synthesise unpublished knowledge by contacting and interviewing forest managers, forest researchers and key members of the industry. Specifically, we will pose questions that address the hypotheses generated from the literature review on unmanaged forests. Third, we will analyse data from existing eco-silvicultural trials.
Data from existing silvicultural trials around New Zealand, described in Benecke et al. 1994 & 1995, Baker et al. 1996, Allen et al. 2000 and Brignall-Theyer et al. 2001, will be synthesised and analysed to examine the underlying causes of exotic plant invasion into forests managed for timber production. Specific questions to be addressed include:
a) Within a forest type, do levels of exotic weed invasion vary among different silvicultural regimes?
From 1994 to 1998, a series of silvicultural trials were established in red-silver beech forest at Station Creek, Westland (Benecke et al. 1995; Brignall-Theyer et al. 2001). One goal was to compare the environmental impacts of three treatments: unharvested forest, harvesting with small (<0.2 ha) coupes and group-selection silviculture. Additionally, within the coupe harvests, half were ground-harvested and half were helicopter-harvested. Using data collected between 1994 and 2004 at two scales, 0.5 m subplots along transects, and entire coupes, we will compare changes over time in % weed cover, weed species richness, and weed growth form (e.g. woody vs. non-woody; rosette herbs vs. lianes) among the three treatments and between the two coupe extraction methods. The effects of treatment and extraction method will be determined in the context of covarying environmental data within each treatment (e.g. distance to and size of nearest coupe and roads; soil chemistry; native species richness).
b) Among forest types, do levels of exotic weed invasion vary when similar silvicultural regimes have been applied?
Between 1994 and 1998, three comparative silvicultural trials were established in different types of beech forest in the South Island. These included hard beech (Granville Forest; Benecke et al. 1994), red-silver beech (Station Creek, Benecke et al. 1995), and mixed beech (Glenhope, Baker et al. 1996). These trials each included both small-coupe and group-selection harvesting treatments. At each site, permanent transects were established before harvesting commenced, and have since been remeasured to assess the impacts of harvesting on a range of ecological values. Data collected along these transects can be used to compare the impacts of each harvesting regime on exotic weed invasions. Our measures of exotic weed invasions will be weed % cover, weed species richness, and weed growth form. Differences among forest types will be determined in the context of covarying environmental data.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Managing weed invasions
Research Leader: Dr Susan Wiser
Description:
Managing weed invasions in forests used for timber production requires understanding which weeds have major impacts and then selecting systems that minimise the invasion of these high impact species. The aim of this objective is therefore to address the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of weeds that could have major impacts on indigenous forests and how can you use this to prioritise weeds of concern?
2. How can silvicultural and forestry operations be undertaken in a way that minimises invasions of such weed species?
The outcome of this objective will be management guidelines that minimise incursions and impacts of weeds in forests managed for timber production. These will be presented as a written report and as part of a presentation to MAF.
Methodology:
1. What are the characteristics of weeds that could have major impacts on indigenous forests?
The most threatening weed species in indigenous forests are those with lasting impacts on ecosystem processes (e.g. regeneration processes, native species richness, site productivity, soil chemistry). The capacity to have a lasting impact is conferred by plant characteristics such as lifeform (e.g. liane or herb), rate of growth, and certain mutualistic associations (e.g. N-fixers). Characterisation of weeds can be used to group species into high-, medium- and low-impact species. In this way, weed control measures can be more easily prioritised.
Using information collected from the literature review, the interviews and the silvicultural trials (all described in Objective 1, above), we will compile a list of the weed species that have been recorded in both managed and unmanaged indigenous forests. Each species in the list will be characterised using information from the Weeds Attributes Database (held at Landcare Research), the weeds database in BIOWEB (held by the Department of Conservation); using internet searches by species, floras, and research articles. We will select appropriate characteristics from other studies that have taken a similar approach to classifying weed species.
As a signatory to the Montréal Process, New Zealand is obliged to demonstrate that forest management practices meet internationally agreed sustainability criteria and indicators. One such criterion (Criterion 3.3.) is “Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality”, an indicator of which is the extent of exotic species. We will use published sources to summarise information on how each weed species known from New Zealand’s indigenous forests has been demonstrated to impact forest ecosystems both in New Zealand, and in other countries where that species is also exotic. These summaries will be used to discuss the implications of high impact weed incursions for ecosystem health as part of the information required by MAF to meet its obligations under the Montréal Process.
2. How can silvicultural and forestry operations be undertaken in a way that minimises invasions of such weed species?
Management guidelines to minimise weed invasions need to be developed that prioritise weed species with lasting impacts on ecosystem processes and which are appropriate to the forest type and physical environment (e.g. soil fertility). In conditions where persistent weed invasions are unlikely, the intensity of weed management required will be less than those where they are likely. We will provide a spectrum of weed management actions that vary in their intensity, for example from vehicle hygiene to removal of individual plants, and match these actions to examples of forest types and environments and weed characteristics (e.g. plant longevity).
7.2 FRM 231
| Programme Title: | Removal of deadwood |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Rob Allen |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: Review New Zealand and international literature on the roles of deadwood in forests and then, based on the review, consider how timber harvesting regimes in New Zealand could impact on sustainability of indigenous forests.
Rationale: Management of indigenous forests for timber production should consider both sustainability of the timber resource and sustainability of wider ecosystem functions (Franklin 1997; MAF 2002; NZ House of Representatives 2002). Currently, the Forests Act Part IIIA contains strict prescriptions regarding the removal of live tree timber, while allowing dead trees (deadwood) to be removed “as they become available, subject to maintenance of natural values”. Standing and fallen dead trees are a significant structural component of forests that fulfil a range of important ecosystem functions (Stewart & Allen 1998; Hagan & Grove 1999). Two of the most significant functions are return of nutrients and carbon to the soil (Allen et al. 1997; Clinton et al. 2002), and provision of habitat for fungal, plant and animal species (Buchanan et al. 2001; Grove 2002; Ramovs et al. 2003). The current prescription for removal of dead trees may not adequately take into account these important functions, and harvesting could compromise sustainable forest productivity and forest ecosystem biodiversity.
Current prescriptions need re-evaluation and revision in order to specify levels of deadwood retention that minimise ecological impacts, while allowing for timber extraction. These revisions should take account of forest type (e.g. James & Norton 2002), forest age (e.g. Allen et al. 1997) and soil fertility (Hart et al. 2003). The first step will be to conduct a literature review in order to summarise the functions of deadwood in temperate forests. Then examples will be provided from offshore forestry operations where deadwood is managed and use these to develop guidelines for forest managers that consider how timber harvesting could impact on the sustainability of indigenous forests.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Review of dynamics and functions of deadwood
Research Leader: Dr Sarah Richardson
Description:
In order to effectively manage deadwood in New Zealand’s indigenous forests managed for timber production, it is important to have a clear understanding of how deadwood contributes to ecosystem function. The aim of this objective is to:
1. Review and summarise articles that examine how deadwood contributes to ecosystem function.
This information will be used in Objective 2 to develop, where necessary, sustainable management guidelines for deadwood extraction within indigenous forests managed for timber production. The outcome of this objective will be to establish the importance of deadwood in indigenous forest ecosystems. This will be delivered as a written report and as part of a presentation to MAF.
Methodology:
1. Find and summarise articles that examine how deadwood contributes to ecosystem function.
Literature search: We will attempt a complete search for articles relating to deadwood in New Zealand, and a selected search for articles from elsewhere. Landcare Research subscribes to a number of databases that access both local and international literature. We will search these databases for articles that include one of the many terms used to describe deadwood, both within New Zealand and overseas (e.g. spar, deadwood, [coarse] woody debris, log, dead tree). To sub-sample the large number of articles that will be returned this way, we will retain only those that include the term “forest”. Of that subsample, we will first identify all articles that include “New Zealand”, and then selectively search the remaining articles as follows: those that address “temperate” or “southern hemisphere” (e.g. Australia, Chile) forests; those that include “review” or “summary”; and those that include terms such as “function”, “role”, “importance” or “significance”.
Review format: The review will contain two sections: first, the dynamics of deadwood and second, the functions of deadwood.
Attributes of deadwood dynamics will be summarised as follows: rates of formation; biomass, nutrient and carbon pool sizes; and rates of loss. Where data are available, we will discuss how each of those attributes varies along environmental gradients (e.g. soil fertility, altitude), with forest age and condition (e.g. plantation, old-growth), and among contrasting forest types (e.g. podocarp vs. beech forests).
The functions of deadwood in forest ecosystems will be summarised within three major topic areas: physical functions (e.g. canopy wind-resistance, water retention, structural heterogeneity); biogeochemical processes and function (e.g. nutrient cycling, carbon storage, soil development); and ecological functions (e.g. microsite for tree establishment, habitat and food sources for endangered fauna and flora). Within each of these topic areas, we will summarise information on the typical functions of deadwood, and then focus on how those functions vary along environmental gradients, with forest age and condition, and among contrasting forest types.
Objective 2
Objective Title: Harvesting deadwood
Research Leader: Peter Clinton
Description:
In order to implement provisions of the Forests Act, it is necessary to determine how much deadwood can be harvested for merchantable timber, without seriously compromising forest ecosystem function. It is currently unclear how MAF should calculate the amount of deadwood that can be removed. Likewise, there is limited information available on whether the spatial arrangement of retained deadwood significantly affects function.
1. Review offshore sustainable forestry initiatives that have developed deadwood management principles; and
2. Identify key features to be taken into account when developing guidelines that are appropriate for determining the quantity of deadwood that can be harvested without compromising forest ecosystem function.
This information will provide approximate guidelines for harvesting deadwood, and identify gaps in current management knowledge. The outcome of this objective will be a review of management options and an indicative hierarchical decision-making framework, for implementing management options. This will be delivered in a written report and as part of a presentation to MAF.
Methodology:
1. Review offshore sustainable forestry initiatives that have developed deadwood management principles.
In order to find information on deadwood harvesting principles or management guidelines, we will (i) conduct literature searches using a range of databases (e.g. Current Contents, CABI); (ii) target known long-term silvicultural experiments where progressive retention of deadwood has been trialled (e.g. the Demonstration of Ecosystem Management Options Study, Halpern & Raphael 1999); and (iii) use the internet to access information and reports from forest service departments in countries where sustainable temperate forest management is practised (e.g. United States, Canada, Germany, Sweden).
2. Indicate key features that with time will form guidelines that are appropriate for determining the quantity of deadwood that can be harvested without compromising forest ecosystem function.
Using our literature review from Objective 1, we will summarise the nature of deadwood dynamics and the key functions (i.e. processes, species habitats) of deadwood, in temperate forests. Harvesting guidelines that protect the key functions of deadwood will be indicated using examples from sustainable forestry operations offshore, where deadwood has been harvested without compromising forest ecosystem function.
The indicative guidelines will be developed for use in New Zealand and presented in the form of simple paper-based hierarchical decision-making tool (decision support system) that can be used by managers to prepare context-dependent deadwood management plans (i.e. relevant to a forest type, soil fertility, species assemblage present). This hierarchical approach will enable managers to evaluate the ecological and economic implications of each management decision. As an example, we will use information on nutrient pools in deadwood to evaluate how deadwood harvesting could be managed while maintaining a sustainable forest nutrient cycle. The tool will also provide the basis for assessing deadwood management plans to ensure key deadwood functions are being recognised by managers.
7.3 FRM 233
| Programme Title: | Sustainable management of podocarps |
| Programme Leader: | Mark Smale |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: To complete the 43-year remeasurement of harvested blocks and analysis of podocarp growth and mortality in the 1961 sustainable management trial in podocarp-tawa forest at Pureora, in order to improve the knowledge base from which to develop Sustainable Forest Management Plans.
Rationale: The forest type in which the trial was established is broadly typical of much of the forest on freehold land in the North Island destined for sustainable management. Remeasurement was initiated in 2002 in the control block, and in order to maintain comparability of data between harvested and control blocks, we need to complete the remeasurement sooner rather than later.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Complete remeasurement of the 1961 sustainable management trial in podocarp-tawa forest at Pureora.
Research Leader: Mark Smale
Description:
Aims: The objective is complete remeasurement of the 1961 sustainable management trial in podocarp-tawa forest at Pureora and to provide recruitment, growth, mortality and forest-gap data which will be used by MAF to revise its standards and guidelines for sustainable forest management.
Methodology:
All residual trees originally mapped, tagged, and measured for diameter in the two harvested blocks will be relocated using original maps, re-tagged, and remeasured for diameter at breast height. Obvious signs of ill-health will also be noted. (All surviving trees in the control block were relocated, re-tagged, and remeasured in May 2002. The gridline system that demarcates the trial blocks was also re-established by replacing all marker pegs with new numbered ones.)
Objective 2
Objective Title: Analysis and write-up of the 1961 sustainable management trial in podocarp-tawa forest at Pureora
Research Leader: Mark Smale
Description:
Aims: The objective is to analyse and report on the 43 year remeasurement of the 1961 sustainable management trial in podocarp-tawa forest at Pureora to provide recruitment, growth, mortality and forest-gap data which will be used by MAF to revise its standards and guidelines for sustainable forest management.
Methodology:
Analysis of and reporting on of the newly collected data in comparison with the original data to provide recruitment, growth, mortality and forest-gap data: Some key long-term (43-year) data that we anticipate presenting are: stability of harvested vs control blocks, by species; diameter growth rates in harvested vs control blocks, by species; and gross and net volume increment of harvested vs control blocks, by species. This will be used to help formulate permissible yields for broadly similar mixed podocarp-tawa forest types over much of the middle North Island involving individual tree harvesting in Sustainable Forest Management Plans under the Forest Amendment Act.
7.4 FRM 234
| Programme Title: | Indigenous forest restoration |
| Programme Leader: | Dr Rob Allen |
| Institution: | Landcare CRI |
Programme Goal: Develop a restoration target for a previously logged podocarp/tawa forest in the central North Island and define a strategy for restoration that involves, in part, appropriate silvicultural systems.
Rationale: A large proportion of privately-owned indigenous forests have been previously logged. Some forest owners wish to manage forests for timber production under the Forest Act provisions while also restoring forest structure and composition. For example, iwi groups in the North Island own forests from which the podocarps were removed decades ago by harvesting: these forests are now dominated by tawa and the iwi groups wish to encourage regeneration of podocarps to re-establish pre-harvest levels of dominance. The intent is for revenue from timber production to fund such restoration activities, which may include restorative silviculture. This presents a challenge to implementing Forest Act provisions because management plans must take account of ongoing changes in forest structure and composition as a result of management.
Two important considerations in forest restoration are the present state of the forest, and the capacity of the forest to recover. The present state of a particular forest is determined by historic factors such as past harvesting intensity, past harvesting extent, the species removed, and the time since trees were harvested: each of these influences the restorative ability of a particular forest. The capacity of the forest to recover is determined by a set of constraints including, for example, the availability of seeds and seedlings and the availability of appropriate conditions for onward seedling growth and survivorship. There is a need to define restoration goals for a particular indigenous forest managed for timber production and to develop strategies based on ecological and silvicultural knowledge that will allow restoration at meaningful time scales. Such information will allow MAF to revise guidelines for indigenous forest management plans to meet the requirements of Part IIIA of the Forests Act.
Objective 1
Objective Title: Develop restoration goals
Research Leader: Dr Sarah Richardson
Description:
There is a need to develop a restoration goal for various types of forest found throughout the country and define those factors limiting restoration activities. The aim of this objective therefore, is to address the following questions:
a). How can you develop a vision for what those types of forest would be today without the impact of past logging?
b). What ecological factors influence the state and restoration ability