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Operational Research Results for 1995/96

Table of Contents

• • Disclaimer
  • 1. BACKGROUND
    • 1.1 The Origin of the Funds, 1.2 The Current Operation
  • 2.UNDERTAKING OPERATIONAL RESEARCH UNDER CONTRACT TO MAF POLICY
  • 3. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF POSSUMS
    • 3.1 Physiology and Reproduction
      • Isolation and characterisation of genes involved in sex determination and sperm formation in the brushtailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula, Isolation of possum gonadotropin-releasing hormone cDNA clones, Biological control of possum reproduction, The importance of the egg investments for long-term survival of embryos of the Australian brush-tailed possum, Possum gamete biology - sperm and female tract interactions, The use of oxytocin and vasopressin antagonists for the disruption of reproduction in the brushtail possum, Structure and function of the reproductive tract in the female possum, The female possum reproductive tract and its secretions, Possum and other wild animals as reservoirs of bovine tuberculosis: improved strategies to control the spread of disease to domestic livestock, Use of immune system of mother against pouch young for biocontrol of possums, Casein genes of the possum, The role of the thyroid gland in growth and thermoregulation in the developing brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula, Purification and radioimmunoassay of prolactin and growth hormone (GH) from the brushtail possum
    • 3.2 Microbiology/Parasitology
      • Possum parasite immunology, Possum parasite vectors, Possum viruses and bacterial pathogens in New Zealand, An analysis of samples of possums from a broad range of habitats and geographic areas in Australia to obtain data on the prevalence of pathogens and their potential as biological control agents, Mammary viruses in the possum
    • 3.3Behaviour and Pathogen Transmission
      • Social organisation of possums, Social behaviour and pathogen transmission of possums
    • 3.4 Public Perceptions of Possum and Rabbit Control Technologies
      • Public perceptions and issues in the biological control of possums and rabbits
  • 4. DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES AGAINST TB
    • 4.1Vaccine Development
      • Immunology of bovine tuberculosis, Possum immunology, Testing of naked DNA and peptide vaccine strategies for the induction of CD8 T cell immune responses and TB development of protective immunity
  • 5. RABBIT CALICIVIRUS DISEASE AND RABBIT CONTROL
    • Predator-prey interactions and impacts of rabbits, RCD Wardang Island pen trials, RCD host specificity trials, Cost benefit analysis of the introduction of RCD into New Zealand, Potential vectors of rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD) in New Zealand, Rabbits as pests in New Zealand: A summary of the issues and critical information, Modelling the likely impacts of RCD, A strategy for the release and management of RCD in New Zealand
  • 6. ANIMAL WELFARE
    • 6.1 Bobby Calves Welfare
      • Nutritional constraints on the humane handling and transport of full-term and induced bobby calves.
    • 6.2 Tail docking and dairy cattle welfare
      • Tail docking of cattle: the implications for cattle welfare and adoption of alternative practices.
  • 7.PROTECTING AND FACILITATING MARKET ACCESS FOR
    • 7.1 Enhancing Horticultural Security
      • Identification of vascular plants which should be prohibited from entering New Zealand, Enhancement and further development of the economic impact assessment modules, Enhancement of Pacific Island database and the establishment of a database of plant species known to be present in mainland New Zealand, Validation of pest-host associations, Development of new and rapid techniques for identifying fruit fly immature stages (Tephritidae) to the species level, Development of a fruit monitoring system for surveillance and evaluation of the environmental impact of bait trapping for non-lure responsive species of fruit flies, Development of rapid diagnostic techniques to determine alive/dead status of scale insects and mealybugs
    • 7.2 Facilitating Horticultural Market Access
      • Development of pest and disease risk models for horticultural production systems, Pesticide residues in export horticultural crops.
  • 8. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
    • 8.1 Soil
      • Development of self-assessment scales for land owner resource management goals, Development of an operational framework to determine nutrient budgets (NPKS) at the farm, regional and national level for pastoral agriculture, Development of an operational framework for measuring, monitoring and reporting pastoral soil sustainability at the farm, regional and national level, Soil quality indicators for sustainable agriculture
    • 8.2 Atmosphere
      • Methane emissions by grazing ruminants, Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture
    • 8.3 Water Quality
      • The potential use of tradeable emission permits as economic instruments in addressing water quality problems caused by agriculture (non-point source pollution), Development of decision-support tools for managing water quality in agricultural landscapes, Guidelines for constructed wetland treatment of dairy shed oxidation pond discharges
    • 8.4 Constraints on Technology Uptake
      • Constraints to farm level adoption of new sustainable technologies and management practices.
    • 8.5 Semi-Arid Land Research
      • To develop co-operative, community based, and integrated research approaches for application to sustainable agriculture issues in N.Z.
  • 9. BALLAST WATER
    • To sample ballast tanks of a representative range of ships entering NZ waters in order to identify potentially invasive marine life with a view to measuring the risk of their introduction.
  • APPENDIX 1 - RESEARCH FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS
  • APPENDIX 2 - SCIENCE POLICY UNIT

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Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
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NEW ZEALAND
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Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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