Introduced birds in urban remnant vegetation : does remnant size really matter?

Introduced birds are a pervasive and dominant element of urban ecosystems. We examined the richness and relative abundance of introduced bird species in small (1&ndash;5 ha) medium (6&ndash;15 ha) and large (&gt;15 ha) remnants of native vegetation within an urban matrix. Transects were surveyed during breeding and non-breeding seasons. There was a significant relationship between introduced species richness and remnant size with larger remnants supporting more introduced species. There was no significant difference in relative abundance of introduced species in remnants of different sizes. Introduced species, as a proportion of the relative abundance of the total avifauna (native and introduced species), did not vary significantly between remnants of differing sizes. There were significant differences in the composition of introduced bird species between the different remnant sizes, with large remnants supporting significantly different assemblages than medium and small remnants. Other variables also have substantial effects on the abundance of introduced bird species. The lack of significant differences in abundance between remnant sizes suggests they were all equally susceptible to invasion. No patches in the urban matrix are likely to be unaffected by introduced species. The effective long-term control of introduced bird species is difficult and resources may be better spent managing habitat in a way which renders it less suitable for introduced species (e.g. reducing areas of disturbed ground and weed dominated areas).<br /

Community Engagement newsletter, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Spring, 2011

Community engagement project at VulPro / Cassie van der Walt, Jeanine Gautschi, Werner Wentzel, Luzanne Lourens, Reinach Erasmus & Natalie Braysher - Mamelodi Animal Health Clinic (MAHC) moving forward / Cherrie Liebenberg - OP students promoting awareness of the importance of castration at Loate CVC - Spanish and South African vet students visit the Loate CVC / Stephanie Friedman (Student) & Daleen Grundlingh (SAVA CVC Coordinator) - Pets picnic in the park / Lauren DommettNews articles with colour photos about the various community engagement projects of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria

Towards Best Practice Vertebrate Pest Management In Australia

Australia has 26 species of introduced pest mammals that cause extensive damage to agriculture and the conservation of native wildlife. Past efforts tried to eradicate them. This focus on reducing pest numbers rather than the outcome, reduced damage, has had limited success. Under its Vertebrate Pest Program, the Bureau of Resource Sciences has developed principles and a strategic approach to managing pest damage. Close cooperation with land managers as co-researchers and co-learners is an essential element, as is a coordinated group approach to pest management. The approaches are illustrated with an example

Development of Reference Materials and Evaluation of Decay Data in Support of Characterisation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

"A number of industries generate by-products containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). Such materials must be characterised prior to re-use, for example, in building materials or for sentencing as waste. In the UK, industries producing NORM are subject to the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2018 (EPR 2018). As a result, such industries have a duty to accurately characterise the radioactivity content of NORM to determine if they are within regulation. The work in this thesis supports this in a variety of ways.Firstly, this work supports accurate radionuclide measurement by increasing the number of reference materials available for NORM industries, by processing and characterising blast furnace slag for the steel industry and pipeline scale for the oil and gas industry. A global comparison exercise was undertaken for the characterisation of the blast furnace slag, resulting in two peer-reviewed publications, and plans have been put in place for an International comparison exercise of the pipeline scale led by NPL along with other National Measurement Institutes. Reference materials are a key requirement for validating radioanalytical methods for accurate measurement and to demonstrate compliance, and the variety of matrices and principal radionuclides encountered in NORM mean that having industry-specific reference standards is vital.Secondly, a method for total dissolution of solid samples by lithium borate fusion has been improved by increasing the sample size that can be processed. This allows for various complex sample matrices, such as those encountered in nuclear decommissioning or NORM, to be entirely dissolved. Dissolution of increased sample sizes provides confidence that quantitative recovery of low activity levels from complex matrices is routinely achievable. This work, the outcomes of which have been peer-reviewed and published, supports the accurate characterisation of the significant NORM and nuclear decommissioning activities now and in the future, as well as in the development of reference materials that provide the underpinning metrology to such programmes.Thirdly, the measurement of decay data which underpins all radioactive analysis has been reviewed and enhanced. A method has been developed for atom counting of long-lived radionuclides using tandem inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the first time. In some cases, decay data are outdated and/or significant uncertainties remain. Half-life measurements of long-lived naturally occurring radionuclides in need of updating have been identified and measurement techniques compared, a summary of which has been peer-reviewed and published. The novel application of tandem inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in this field, which can be combined with primary counting to give a half-life measurement, has been investigated in this work. Initially applied to 238U and combined with defined solid angle counting measurement, this method is applicable to a range of long-lived radionuclides such as 151Sm, 93Zr, 237Np and 129I with the benefit of online separation.In summary, this work has contributed to the field of radiochemistry by improving the accuracy of measurements of naturally occurring radionuclides. This can be applied to characterisation of naturally occurring radioactive materials and environmental monitoring and can also be extended to nuclear decommissioning.

Water and electrolyte balance in the agamid lizard, Amphibolurus maculosus (Mitchell), and the structure and function of the nasal salt gland of the sleepy lizard, Trachydosaurus rugosus (Gray)

vi, 152 leaves, appendix : ill.Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Adelaide, Dept. of Zoology, 197

Updated National Training Qualifications for Vertebrate Pest Managers in Australia

Vertebrate pest management in Australia continues to evolve in response to land use changes, shifting community attitudes, and advancing technologies. The increasing demands and complexity of this profession requires employees with expertise in a broad range of disciplines. The Australian Pest Animal Strategy (APAS) recommends that best practice management of vertebrate pests should focus on reducing damage due to pests rather than the number of individual animals, using a strategic and integrated approach that incorporates the best available knowledge, tools, and skills. To help achieve this, Australia’s vertebrate pest management training qualifications under the national Vocational and Education Training system are being updated to align with the APAS. Industry engagement and consultation during the scoping phase of this project has highlighted a number of reasons why people who work in pest management are not undertaking training to obtain nationally recognised qualifications. Barriers to formal education include employers who are unwilling to release staff for periods of training; a lack of available training courses and skilled trainers in the industry, especially in rural and regional areas; workers with university qualifications who lack practical field skills; workers who are employed on short-term contracts with no secure career path; and a preference for competency-based short courses for professional development. This paper explains the motivation behind Australia’s qualifications and training review and how the industry proposes to overcome some of the problems with current training programs. These issues are not unique to Australia, and we also explore how the United States is facing similar challenges in addressing the continuing education needs of vertebrate pest management professionals