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A new genus of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) inhabiting the South Island New Zealand rocky alpine zone
Get PDFThe spider family Salticidae (jumping spiders) is among the most heavily researched groups of invertebrates globally. Nevertheless, in Aotearoa New Zealand most species have never been studied. While it is estimated that approximately 200 endemic salticid species are found across the country, only around 50 have been described and fewer than 10 are reliably identifiable. Of those salticid taxa inhabiting the alpine zone, none can be identified to genus or species, although it is widely recognised that these taxa exist. We sampled Salticidae at 21 rocky alpine sites throughout the South Island to obtain a representative selection of specimens across their range. Through morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence data, 12 new alpine species were identified, comprising a new genus within the Salticidae. Further phylogenetic analysis of combined COI and actin 5C datasets placed the new genus within the Australasian Astioida clade and likely within the Viciriini tribe. Here, formal descriptions are provided for a new genus, Ourea gen. nov., and 12 new species. The genus is common and widespread throughout the South Island mountainous areas, with at least one species found at every rocky alpine locality sampled
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis in New Zealand ecosystems: Challenges and opportunities
No full textArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs that form a symbiotic and mutualistic relationship with most terrestrial plants, playing an important role in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and ecosystem stability. This review synthesizes current knowledge on AMF colonization in plants within New Zealand ecosystems, including the challenges and opportunities of molecular identification techniques used in characterizing AMF communities in natural and managed systems. The ecosystem services provided by AMF, such as improved growth parameters, enhanced nutrition, and disease control, are discussed in detail, highlighting their significance in sustainable agriculture and natural ecosystems. Additionally, the role of AMF in invasion ecology was examined, revealing their dual potential to either facilitate or hinder invasive plant species. Despite significant advances in understanding AMF biology, future research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of AMF-plant interactions and to address the challenges caused by changing environmental conditions. This review focused on the importance of AMF in promoting ecosystem resilience and suggests avenues for future research to harness their full potential in agricultural and ecological contexts
Alleviating multidimensional energy poverty and energy unaffordability in rural areas: the role of renting-out land
No full textRenting-out land allows rural farmers to receive rent and reallocate household labor from farm work to more rewarding off-farm activities, leading to income generation and potentially reducing rural energy poverty. However, sparse literature focuses on investigating this association. This study addresses the gap by exploring four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of data collected by the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We use two dichotomous variables, multidimensional energy poverty (MEP) and energy unaffordability, to capture energy poverty and consider a dichotomous variable representing whether farmers rent out their land as the key explanatory variable. The recursive bivariate probit model estimates the impact of renting-out land on energy poverty. We also investigate the association between renting-out land size and rural energy poverty. The conditional mixed process model captures the left-censored nature of renting-out land size, addresses its endogeneity issues, and regresses its impacts on MEP and energy unaffordability. Our results show that promoting farmers' renting-out land and enlarging the renting-out land size are promising strategies to alleviate rural energy poverty. In particular, renting-out land significantly decreases the odds of being MEP and energy unaffordability by 12.6% and 22.0%, respectively. In addition, one more unit of land (i.e. mu) rented out can reduce the incidence of MEP and energy unaffordability by 17.3% and 15.3%, respectively. Our findings inspire stakeholders to realize their pursuit of rural energy poverty reduction. Political instruments should be manifested as promoting the adoption and the scale of renting-out land
Pussyfooting around? companion cat by-laws in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textCats have a significant impact on Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity. While national legislation can help reduce the impacts of feral and stray cats, managing companion cats is more complex due to bonds between cats and their owners. Local councils can use by-laws to regulate companion cats, although it can be difficult to gain widespread public acceptance. This research analysed public submissions from five New Zealand councils to gain deeper insight into community attitudes towards cat control by-laws and consider the potential role of national standards. The submissions indicated that the majority of submitters supported by-laws, although regional differences suggest the need for localised approaches
Developing an approach to select nitrogen loss mitigations for temperate pasture-based dairy farms
No full textThe purpose of this study was to identify intensive pastoral farming practices with high nutrient inputs that contribute to nitrogen (N) loss to the environment, with a focus on New Zealand dairy systems. Barriers to adoption of N mitigation strategies include uncertainty regarding the impact and complementarity of the mitigations. The purpose of this study was to identify and develop a process for determining which N leaching mitigations are likely to complement each other when stacked together in a grazed pastoral dairy farm system and could thereby provide additive benefits towards achieving substantial reductions in N leaching. A list of mitigations for reducing N loss are presented and discussed. The review highlights the importance of the mechanism of N loss, and that by adopting N mitigations with different mechanisms, users can combine practices with complementary effects on reducing N loss. The review also acknowledges that successful N mitigation requires knowledge at tactical and operational levels. There are limited decision support tools available for farmers to assist them with the use of N mitigations that are suitable for individual circumstances. Consequently, the review suggests opportunities for provision of tactical and operational indicators
Impact of implementing female genomic selection and the use of sex-selected semen technology on genetic gain in a dairy herd in New Zealand
No full textGenomic selection (GS) has changed cattle breeding, but its use so far has been in selecting superior bulls for breeding. However, its farm-level impact, particularly on female selection, remains less explored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of implementing GS to identify superior cows and using artificial mating of those cows with sex-selected semen in a New Zealand Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy herd (n = 1800 cows). Heifers (n = 2061) born over four consecutive years between 2021 and 2024 were genotyped and their genomic breeding values (GBVs) were estimated. These heifers were ranked based on the Balanced Performance Index (BPI; DataGene, Dairy Australia) Lower-performing cows producing less than 15 L/day (or 20 L/day for older cows) and those with severe mastitis were culled. Cows were mated with HF genetics based on production and udder breeding values, while lower-performing cows were mated to beef genetics. Milking adult cows were mated to bulls with similar BPI value. Annual genetic change was measured using Australian breeding values (ABVg) for milk fat production (FAT), protein production (PROT), fertility (FER), Mastitis Resistance (MAS), and BPI. The genetic merits of the heifers improved annually, with BPI increasing from 136 to 184 between 2021 and 2023, corresponding to a financial gain of NZD 17.53 per animal per year. The predicted BPI gain from 2023 to 2026 is expected to rise from 184 to 384, resulting in a financial gain of NZD 72.96 per animal per year. Using sex-selected semen on the top 50% of BPI-rated heifers in 2024 further accelerated genetic gain. Predicted BPI values for progeny born in 2025 and 2026 are 320 and 384, respectively. These findings revealed that the female GS, combined with sex-selected semen from genomically selected bulls, significantly accelerates genetic gain by improving the intensity and accuracy of selection. The approach achieves genetic progress equivalent to what traditionally would have required eight years of breeding without female GS, and has potential to improve dairy herd performance and profitability
The process and politics of heritage-based authentication of food experiences
No full textThis study examines the process and politics of heritage-based authentication from the perspective of supply-side stakeholders in the context of traditional food in Suzhou, a heritage city in China. Research data were collected through semi-structured interviews with food and tourism stakeholders and participant observation at food production and consumption sites. Analysis of interview data and field notes reveals how the stakeholders establish the legitimacy of traditional food attractions and experiences and engage in negotiating authenticity through certification (“Time-honoured Brand”) and performativity, i.e., the veneration of iconic geographical settings, the amplification of culinary traditions, and the interaction between suppliers and visitors. In this negotiation, restaurateurs and tourism providers emerge as more influential stakeholders compared to other stakeholders, while food producers tend to occupy a less privileged position, primarily because of a gap in traditional food knowledge and their restricted access to tourism markets. By recognising the voices of different producers and suppliers, this study provides insights into the role of power and privilege in the authentication of food experiences
Methane reduction, health and regulatory considerations regarding Asparagopsis and bromoform for ruminants
No full textAsparagopsis (A. taxiformis and A. armata) as a dry feed additive, and novel oil-based formulations containing bromoform are effective at reducing enteric methane emissions in ruminant livestock. An
inclusion rate of Asparagopsis at 0.2%–0.5% of the daily diet for cattle of say 470 kg consuming 15 kg dry matter (DM) per day is equivalent to 30–75 g/day Asparagopsis delivering 180–450 mg/day bromoform (at 6 mg bromoform per gram of seaweed) per
animal equivalent to 0.4–1.0 mg/kg/day of bromoform. This is a low dose when compared to those evaluated in animal toxicity studies. A response relationship in terms of emission reductions and the dosage of bromoform ingested, is established, as opposed to dose responses linked to seaweed biomass. Most of
the research studies on bromoform as a methane mitigant have used Asparagopsis. Nevertheless, the primary interest from a regulatory perspective is bromoform, the most prevalent bioactive. Regulatory considerations to enable safe use of bromoform for methane mitigation in ruminants are described. A
key conclusion is that bromoform, administered in very low doses, is not bioavailable at measurable levels. Hence the risk of residue transfer or toxicity in livestock and humans will be minimal
A study of the cultural values of wild goldfish (Carassius auratus) in Te Arawa Lakes
No full textThe primary purpose of this study is to collect historical and contemporary evidence pertaining to the cultural values and meanings of morihana in Te Arawa Lakes. Documenting and collecting stories of six whānau for whom morihana have significant cultural meaning will help iwi entities, kaitiaki, and community members to better understand and appreciate the range of connections that whānau have had with these fish.
A second purpose of the study is to bring together existing information about morihana from scientific, regulatory, and historical sources, to assist anyone in Aotearoa who wishes to better understand and manage these fish. To support this aim, we also conducted interviews with three management agency staff about morihana ecology, impacts, and values. Our aim is to provide a rigorous review of scientific knowledge on morihana woven together with stories and experiences of real-world study, interaction with and management of the fish
Connecting plant, animal, and human health using untargeted metabolomics
No full textEmerging evidence suggests that the metabolites present in biochemically diverse herbages cascade across trophic levels, influencing both the meat quality of grazing cattle and human metabolomic profiles. This study compared the metabolomic profiles of Angus cattle finished on three distinct pasture systems: a standard perennial ryegrass and white clover sward (PRG), a complex multispecies mixture (CMS; n = 22 species), and adjacent monoculture strips (AMS) comprising ryegrass, chicory, plantain, lucerne, and red clover in equal areas. The resulting tenderloins were processed into (250 g) beef patties and assessed in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over clinical trial involving 23 human participants (ANZCTR registration: ACTRN12624001081505). The AMS herbage contained higher concentrations of gamma-tocopherol (vitamin E) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which were reflected in elevated levels of these compounds in the beef (P < 0.05) and, subsequently, in human plasma 3-5 h postprandial (P < 0.05). These results are the first to demonstrate that human metabolomic responses are directly influenced by the forage composition of grazing cattle, highlighting a novel linkage between pastoral diversity, animal diet, and consumer health outcomes