Podcasts about landcare research

Kānuka is often thought of as Mānuka's lesser cousin - a partnership between Landcare Research and Hikurangi Bioactives is hoping to develop an ndustry based on Kānuka and its potent anti-inflammatory properties.  

Last month saw the release of an independent review examining the emergency management of Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay last year. Insights revealed the key role marae, iwi and hāpu played in disaster response, heralding calls for strategies more inclusive of te ao Māori. Producer Jasmine Gray spoke with Dr. Shaun Awatere, of Ngāti Porou, who is Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader and Manaaki Whenua at Landcare Research. He discussed the ways in which national and local bureaucracies can be more formally inclusive of te Ao Māori and mana whenua approaches. Jasmine also spoke with Professor Christine Kenney, of Te Ātiawa ki Kāpati, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāti Toarangatira. Amongst an impressive array of interdisciplinary roles in this area, Christine is the Chair of Disaster Risk Reduction at Massey University, and she provided us more insight about what the report's findings mean for Aotearoa's wider emergency management frameworks.

Last month saw the release of an independent review examining the emergency management of Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay last year. Insights revealed the key role marae, iwi and hāpu played in disaster response, heralding calls for strategies more inclusive of te ao Māori. Producer Jasmine Gray spoke with Dr. Shaun Awatere, of Ngāti Porou, who is Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader and Manaaki Whenua at Landcare Research. He discussed the ways in which national and local bureaucracies can be more formally inclusive of te Ao Māori and mana whenua approaches. Jasmine also spoke with Professor Christine Kenney, of Te Ātiawa ki Kāpati, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāti Toarangatira. Amongst an impressive array of interdisciplinary roles in this area, Christine is the Chair of Disaster Risk Reduction at Massey University, and she provided us more insight about what the report's findings mean for Aotearoa's wider emergency management frameworks.

Predator Free 2050 recently announced a huge funding package  that will be dispersed among six research projects helping to cleanse Aotearoa of invasive predators. Landcare Research wildlife ecologist Andrew Veale talks to Jesse.

Dr. Louis Schipper is a Professor in the School of Science at the University of Waikato. Research in Louis's group focuses on how we can work with the land to achieve the food and other things we need while minimizing negative environmental impacts. To do this he looks at microorganisms in the soil and the cycling of nutrients in soil. Louis likes to spend his free time with his family. He and his wife are involved in Cub Scouts with their two kids, and they enjoy getting outdoors, hiking, and camping with the group. Louis also works outside restoring native vegetation and gardening at home. He received his undergraduate, Master's, and PhD degrees in biology from the University of Waikato. Afterward, he accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Florida before returning to New Zealand to work as a scientist for Landcare Research. Louis joined the faculty at the University of Waikato in 2005. Louis is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America as well as a Fellow of the New Zealand Soil Science Society, and is an author on two patents. In this episode, Louis shares more about his life and science.

Concerns are growing over the the lack of tree canopy in Christchurch. Ecologist Colin Meurk talks to Wallace about the decline.

Researchers have developed an unusual weapon in the battle to protect New Zealand's native birds from mammalian predators - smells. Over two nesting seasons, the researchers from Landcare Research and the University of Sydney used "odour cues" to lure predators away from nesting sites in Canterbury. And the results, they say, are highly encouraging. Landcare's Grant Norbury is the project's lead researcher, he spoke to Corin Dann.

As part of this week’s “News Maker” show of Sarah’s Country, Dr Gwen Grelet from Landcare Research and Sam Lang from Quorum Sense explain the key points from the whitepaper released today on regenerative agriculture. Emerging from research from 200+ representatives of New Zealand's major agricultural sectors, Our Land and Water’s white paper highlights the 11 principles of regenerative farming practices that mainstream practices have overlap and compatibility with. When we are in strong agreement with our most acute challenges, where is the science research priorities? To read more on this subject, visit https://ourlandandwater.nz/news/regen-ag-white-paper_feb-2021/ To watch the interview, visit www.sarahscountry.com Subscribe to Sarah’s Country on the podcast and if you love us, please leave a review! Sarah’s Country is produced in a strategic alliance with Farmers Weekly - New Zealand’s most trusted source of agri-journalism - www.farmersweekly.co.nz Contact the show: sarah@sarahscountry.com Follow Sarah’s Country on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahperriam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahscountry

This is the third episode of our Plant Science Series and in this episode we are talking to Dr. Elena Hilario. Elena Hilario was born in Mexico City where she studied Biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and later a masters in Biochemistry at the same university. Five years later, The University of Connecticut awarded her a PhD in Molecular and Cell biology under the guidance of Dr. Peter Gogarten where she studied how the vacuolar ATPase of the protist Giardia lamblia is a good model for the study of the evolution of early eukaryotes. A postdoc on the effect of horizontal gene transfer on the evolution of Pseudomonas species brought her to New Zealand in 1998 working at Landcare Research, followed by a permanent position as scientist at Plant and Food Research working on physical mapping and genome sequencing of several plants and lately fish and insects. In this episode we're talking with Elena about her research, challenges, her experience of training others and more. Links: Genomics Aotearoa - https://www.genomics-aotearoa.org.nz/projects/high-quality-genomes Plant and Food Research - https://www.plantandfood.co.nz/ Dr. Elena Hilario's protocols - https://www.protocols.io/researchers/elena-hilario/protocols

This is the third episode of our Plant Science Series and in this episode we are talking to Dr. Elena Hilario. Elena Hilario was born in Mexico City where she studied Biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and later a masters in Biochemistry at the same university. Five years later, The University of Connecticut awarded her a PhD in Molecular and Cell biology under the guidance of Dr. Peter Gogarten where she studied how the vacuolar ATPase of the protist Giardia lamblia is a good model for the study of the evolution of early eukaryotes. A postdoc on the effect of horizontal gene transfer on the evolution of Pseudomonas species brought her to New Zealand in 1998 working at Landcare Research, followed by a permanent position as scientist at Plant and Food Research working on physical mapping and genome sequencing of several plants and lately fish and insects. In this episode we’re talking with Elena about her research, challenges, her experience of training others and more.Links:Genomics Aotearoa - https://www.genomics-aotearoa.org.nz/projects/high-quality-genomesPlant and Food Research - https://www.plantandfood.co.nz/Dr. Elena Hilario’s protocols - https://www.protocols.io/researchers/elena-hilario/protocols

Parasites, Parasitoids, Predators and PathogensWhen you want to control organisms that do some damage in your garden or crop, often the best way to achieve that is by introducing a natural enemy of the pestiferous thing.Parasites are associated with a host, usually long term. They generally don’t kill their host but may make life a bit – shall we say – un-easy; Human tapeworms, intestinal roundworms and follicle mites in our eye-lashes are pretty good examples – as are our three private louse species!Parasitoids are the critters we tend to use in horticulture; usually invertebrates that live within their host and can in the medium term, kill them. Parasitic wasps, parasitic flies and such brilliant pest controllers often reduce the numbers of their host populations.Whitefly parasitoids (Encarsia Formosa) are available off the shelf to release in a glasshouse. Some aphid parasitoids (Aphelinus) are also on the market – successful controllers. Aphelinus parasitoid amongst rose aphids. These tiny wasps stick their ovipositor inside an aphid & lay an egg.Predators eat their prey (usually alive) which means they cause immediate death. Ground beetles, Ladybird beetles, Lacewing larvae, some fly maggots, earwigs and sucking soldier bugs all require live protein for their survival, so these guys and gals are good to have around.Ladybird beetle on flower and Hoverfly maggot eating aphidTo attract Parasitoids and predators to your garden all you need to do is make conditions suitable for them: No use of pesticides! And grow lots of flowers that produce nectar and pollen for these beneficial critters to eat. Nectar = energy; pollen = protein for eggs and growth.Pathogens are literally diseases that hammer the pest you want to control. Seeing my apples are flowering I will administer a spray of Madex 3 on my very small, embryonic apples to stop codling moth caterpillars from chewing into these tiny developing fruit; For smaller gardens and tiny orchards, Madex 2 is a cheaper version of the same stuff: a LIVE Granulosis Virus that kills the caterpillars before they settle inside your apples; it only kills the codling moth caterpillar – nothing else! Pure biological control and Organic too.Weed Control is also possible with biological control; Landcare Research have started releasing some very beautiful South American beetles (Freudeita) that will destroy that hideous climbing weed: moth plant/cruel vine/whatever you want to call it. It smothers our shrubs and trees and catches monarch butterflies by their tongue!!Ask your local council if they are “on the list” with Landcare Research to receive a batch of these very handy (and industrious) beetles. They are really plant-feeding predators too!

We must demand rigorous ongoing and independent testing as to the effect of aerial 1080 drops on New Zealand’s wilderness, fauna and ecosystems. Clyde and brother Steve have won International Awards for their 1080 NZ documentary, Poisoning Paradise The movie Poisoning Paradise is about the aerial dispersal of 1080 throughout New Zealand in order to kill rodents, mustelids and possums. This poisoning now has become a highly controversial topic with conservationists, environmentalists, and members of the public. Clyde Graf and Steve were sons of Egon, a professional deer hunter, based in NZ’s Te Urewera National Park. In 1996, youngest son Steve went to Canada and videoed amazing wildlife footage. Returning to NZ he teamed up with his brother Clyde, and together they began to make The Graf Boys' videos. Since then, The Graf Boys have produced six hunting and outdoors DVD titles, and two documentaries. Their documentary, Poisoning Paradise, has won four international awards (England, Ireland, Japan, and Culture Unplugged online festival). See their YouTube Channel The Graf Boys. What is 1080? Sodium fluoroacetate, known in pesticide form as 1080, is the organofluorine chemical compound with the formula FCH₂CO₂Na. This colourless salt has a taste similar to that of sodium chloride and is used as a metabolic poison. 1080 is extremely toxic to all air-breathing organisms. It blocks the body’s muscle and organ's ability to absorb energy from its food, and results in a slow and inhumane death, typically 8 -24 hours for birds, 2-4 days for large mammals. There is no known antidote for this deadly poison. Not only is 1080 highly toxic to mammals, birds and insects- one scientist has even discovered that it is toxic to plants and so forests do not do so well after 1080 drops. Controversy The latter may be controversial, but in general 1080 and its effects on animals through primary and secondary poisoning, and on humans through water supplies, is not well researched, especially considering the huge amount of 1080 poison tipped from helicopters over our forests. If there are any unanswered questions about its use and the results, then more research must be undertaken, not only by DoC (Department of Conservation) but by independent scientists, preferably from overseas, to avoid any collusion. In this interview Clyde gives important information on the New Zealand government’s financial interest in 1080. New Zealand uses 80% of all 1080 used in the world. In fact it is banned in most countries overseas. 19 different native bird species have had corpses test positive for 1080 after aerial 1080 operations, however, it is known that the small sample size, and the lack of a control group needs highlighting. There is a need for long term population monitoring. These concerns are completely absent in DoC summaries. Bird Deaths Birds reported killed by 1080 poisoned cereal baits include morepork, weka, tomtits and grey warbler, and fauna known to eat cereal bait include kea, kaka, little spotted kiwi, kokako, saddleback, kakariki, pukeko, insects, koura and lizards. The number of possums in New Zealand was estimated at 47.6 million in the mid 1980’s. When possum control is taken into account, the number of possums has reduced to an estimated 30 million as of 2008/9. This is not a very large reduction when considering both the environmental and the financial cost of the large scale poisoning operations. In a Landcare Research document 2009 it states “Control of possums alone may not always have net benefits for native biodiversity because, for example, of the increase in rodent numbers, and hence predation on native animals, that can occur when possum numbers are reduced (Ruscoe et al. 2008).” This is important because once the ecosystem is no longer managing itself and is interfered with by humans, it no longer functions so effectively. “It takes one year for rat populations to come back to pre-poisoning levels. By the second year rat numbers were higher than before the operation”, Dr Ruscoe from Landcare said. Scientists warn that this paves the way to rat plagues. Poisoning from 1080 occurs through eating the dosed baits (cereal pellets) or from the flesh of poisoned animals. Carcasses remain poisonous until they are completely decomposed, which makes 1080 particularly lethal to dogs. Dog Deaths The Life Style Block (LSB) website states regarding dogs and 1080: “Dog owners should take particular care near areas where 1080 poison has been used as dogs are extremely susceptible to the poison. There is no antidote and it causes every appearance of extreme distress in dogs, and the signs can last for hours before the dog dies. It’s very distressing! Poisoned carcases can remain poisonous to scavenging dogs for many months if they have been preserved in very dry conditions.” Death from 1080 poisoning typically involves nausea, vomiting, convulsions, pain and foaming of the mouth, and can take anywhere from 1-72 hrs, depending on the species and the dose. From an animal rights perspective, we should not be allowing such an extremely painful death. Possums stoats and rats are not the only animals to die this way. Other wild and domestic animals become unintended kill, and it persists through the food chain. Animal rights organisation SAFE has concerns over 1080 use and calls it a “cruel and indiscriminate poison”. Do we as humans really have the right to kill sentient beings in such a gruelling manner? Drinking Water? Clyde is now involved in a new web site http://www.watersourcenz.org/ which will become live shortly ( if it isn’t already). On the home page it asks the question, “Do you drink bottled water sourced from New Zealand forests?” The question is relevant not only about bottled water but about water coming to us from such places as the Hunua dam in Auckland, which is fed from streams that have been in 1080 drop areas. Can we trust the DOC and health board information we are given when we know that government has financial conflicts of interest?  Listen to the interview for more on this. In 2010, Scientists Pat and Quinn Whiting-OKeefe presented to Taupo District Council on 1080. They included the following information: “First, there is not a single scientifically credible study showing that aerial 1080 when used on the mainland is of net benefit to any species of New Zealand’s native fauna. Thus the upside for native species is entirely unproven, despite 15 years of increasingly desperate attempts by DoC to show one. Second, there is overwhelming evidence from DoC’s own research that aerial 1080 is killing large numbers of native animals, including birds, insects and other invertebrates. Moreover most native species remain entirely unstudied. Thus there is plenty of proven downside for native species. Third, there is not a single ecosystem level study. That is, we don’t have the slightest idea of unintended consequences and secondary negative effects of which ecological science assures us there are many. Fourth, while it is probable that possums, if unchecked, would in time cause some shift of tree species in our forests, the degree of that shift is not great and fear of canopy collapse is wholly unwarranted. Fifth, DoC’s 1080 research is generally of poor scientific quality, is biased in favour of DoC’s agenda, and DoC chronically and systematically misrepresents what their own scientific research actually shows. Sixth, regarding bovine tuberculosis (TB), AHB’s own research shows that there is a clear alternative: ground-based baiting with species-specific bait stations. Plus possums as a vector for bovine TB can be controlled by trapping or ground-based baiting solely at the forest pasture margins to a depth of 3-4 km.” Clyde points out that New Zealand is classed as being free from TB, and that only 50 possums have ever been found to have been infected with TB. The Whiting-O’Keefe’s two retired PhD scientists from the USA were interviewed about the problems of 1080 by GreenplanetFM.com - in 2010. Alternative Strategy In an article in The Otago Daily Times, rheumatology professor and keen tramper Fiona McQueen gives a solution to New Zealand’s pests, after being shocked at what was seen in Fiordland. “An alternative strategy would be to incentivise possum trapping, boosting the fur industry and relieving unemployment in areas such as the West Coast. This could be achieved without the grim reality of ‘‘by-kill'' and allow our international ‘‘clean and green'' image to regain some credibility.” This interview with Clyde Graf was sponsored by The Awareness Party

Eric Spurr from Landcare Research joined Laura on the phone from Auckland to discuss the importance of the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, what it has taught us so far, and how people can get involved to be citizen scientists! This year's survey: 24 June - 2 July 2017 Visit: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/birds/garden-bird-surveys

Ahi Pepe | Moth Net is a Te Reo-focused citizen science project involving primary schools collecting information about moths in their neighbourhoods.

Ahi Pepe | Moth Net is a Te Reo-focused citizen science project involving primary schools collecting information about moths in their neighbourhoods.

Dr Colin Meurk of Landcare Research talks about enticing birds into home gardens, and Ben Alms, aka Dr Compost, shares the ins and outs of building a worm farm.

Moths tend to fly under the radar when it comes to scientific research despite the fact they're important pollinators for plants and food source for native birds. But a new Citizen Science project in Otago is literally putting the spotlight on them. Dr Barbara Anderson is overseeing the project Shedding Light on the Night with the help of several Otago schools, University of Otago, the Orokonui Ecosanctuary north of Dunedin and some of her colleagues at Landcare Research.

Bees are in trouble and to get a better idea of might be contributing to colony loses, Landcare Research is calling on beekeepers to help with a national survey.

Bees are in trouble and to get a better idea of might be contributing to colony loses, Landcare Research is calling on beekeepers to help with a national survey.

Dr. Louis Schipper is a Professor in the School of Science at the University of Waikato. He received his undergraduate, Master's, and PhD degrees in biology from the University of Waikato. Afterward, he accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Florida before returning to New Zealand to work as a scientist for Landcare Research. Louis joined the faculty at the University of Waikato in 2005. Louis is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America as well as a Fellow of the New Zealand Soil Science Society, and is an author on two patents. Louis is here with us today to tell us all about his journey through life and science.

As efforts around the country are being made to eradicate pests to help save endemic species of birds and lizards, home gardeners can do their bit by choosing native plants. The Weekend looks at choosing the right native plants for your part of the country and conditions, and gets some tips from some people who know their plants. Tony Foster is an author and bushman based in North Kaeo. Rewi Elliot is the deputy chair of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network and works at Wellington's Otari-Wilton's Bush Native Botanic Garden. Ecologist Colin Meurk from Landcare Research is behind a new and free online tool that people can use called Nature Services.

The Predator Free New Zealand campaign is now a few weeks old. Few would disagree with the idea, especially with so many endemic species under threat from a long list of introduced predators. But can we afford to even try to eradicate them from the mainland, let alone the suggested place to start - Stewart Island? We hear from Devon McLean from the Predator Free New Zealand Trust, Dr Andrea Byrom, from Landcare Research in Christchurch, Forest and Bird's Kevin Hackwell, and Paul Jansen who's worked in conservation management for almost 40 years and has been with this campaign since the start.

Ann Smith of Landcare Research talks to us about the carboNZero programme and what it means for wine.