Tracking invasion and invasiveness in queensland fruit flies: From classical genetics to ‘omics’

Three Australian tephritid fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni – Q-fly, Bactrocera neohumeralis – NEO, and Bactrocera jarvisi – JAR) are promising models for genetic studies of pest status and invasiveness. The long history of ecological and physiological studies of the three species has been augmented by the development of a range of genetic and genomic tools, including the capacity for forced multigeneration crosses between the three species followed by selection experiments, a draft genome for Q-fly, and tissue- and stage-specific transcriptomes. The Q-fly and NEO species pair is of particular interest. The distribution of NEO is contained entirely within the wider distribution of Q-fly and the two species are ecologically extremely similar, with no known differences in pheromones, temperature tolerance, or host-fruit utilisation. However there are three clear differences between them: humeral callus colour, complete pre-mating isolation based on mating time-of-day, and invasiveness. NEO is much less invasive, whereas in historical times Q-fly has invaded southeastern Australia and areas of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In southeastern fruit-growing regions, microsatellites suggest that some of these outbreaks might derive from genetically differentiated populations overwintering in or near the invaded area. Q-fly and NEO show very limited genome differentiation, so comparative genomic analyses and QTL mapping should be able to identify the regions of the genome controlling mating time and invasiveness, to assess the genetic bases for the invasive strains of Q-fly, and to facilitate a variety of improvements to current sterile insect control strategies for that species

Thin-Film Metamaterials called Sculptured Thin Films

Morphology and performance are conjointed attributes of metamaterials, of which sculptured thin films (STFs) are examples. STFs are assemblies of nanowires that can be fabricated from many different materials, typically via physical vapor deposition onto rotating substrates. The curvilinear--nanowire morphology of STFs is determined by the substrate motions during fabrication. The optical properties, especially, can be tailored by varying the morphology of STFs. In many cases prototype devices have been fabricated for various optical, thermal, chemical, and biological applications.Comment: to be published in Proc. ICTP School on Metamaterials (Augsut 2009, Sibiu, Romania

Spin-based quantum information processing with semiconductor quantum dots and cavity QED

A quantum information processing scheme is proposed with semiconductor quantum dots located in a high-Q single mode QED cavity. The spin degrees of freedom of one excess conduction electron of the quantum dots are employed as qubits. Excitonic states, which can be produced ultrafastly with optical operation, are used as auxiliary states in the realization of quantum gates. We show how properly tailored ultrafast laser pulses and Pauli-blocking effects, can be used to achieve a universal encoded quantum computing.Comment: RevTex, 2 figure

The relative importance of reproduction and survival for the conservation of two dolphin populations

It has been proposed that in slow-growing vertebrate populations survival generally has a greater influence on population growth than reproduction. Despite many studies cautioning against such generalizations for conservation, wildlife management for slow-growing populations still often focuses on perturbing survival without careful evaluation as to whether those changes are likely or feasible. Here, we evaluate the relative importance of reproduction and survival for the conservation of two bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops cf aduncus) populations: a large, apparently stable population and a smaller one that is forecast to decline. We also assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of wildlife management objectives aimed at boosting either reproduction or survival. Consistent with other analytically based elasticity studies, survival had the greatest effect on population trajectories when altering vital rates by equal proportions. However, the findings of our alternative analytical approaches are in stark contrast to commonly used proportional sensitivity analyses and suggest that reproduction is considerably more important. We show that 1. in the stable population reproductive output is higher, and adult survival is lower; 2. the difference in viability between the two populations is due to the difference in reproduction; 3. reproductive rates are variable, whereas survival rates are relatively constant over time; 4. perturbations on the basis of observed, temporal variation indicate that population dynamics are much more influenced by reproduction than by adult survival; 5. for the apparently declining population, raising reproductive rates would be an effective and feasible tool to reverse the forecast population decline; increasing survival would be ineffective. Our findings highlight the importance of reproduction – even in slow-growing populations – and the need to assess the effect of natural variation in vital rates on population viability. We echo others in cautioning against generalizations based on life-history traits and recommend that population modeling for conservation should also take into account the magnitude of vital rate changes that could be attained under alternative management scenarios

Guidelines for the ethical use of animals in applied ethology studies

Applied ethology has a continuing interest in the promotion of animal welfare and the ethical treatment of animals used in research. However, in contrast to some other fields involving animal research, there are currently no guidelines written specifically for those engaged in applied ethology studies. We aim here, to provide members of the profession with a basis for structured self-evaluation of the ethical nature of their work, and to serve as inspiration for those planning research involving the use of animals. The first three sections of this document discuss the background to why ethical guidelines are needed in applied ethology studies and the relation between these guidelines and legislation. In the first section, we briefly discuss the relevant ethical principles and decision models. The main body of the guidelines then discuss how 'costs' to the animals in applied ethology research can be minimised (using the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement) and `benefits' maximised. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented to the Annual General Meeting of the International Society of Applied Ethology, which accepted this as the basis of ethical review for papers presented at their International Congresses