How to become predator free

Friday, 20 January 2017, 2:47 pm
Press Release: Science Media Centre

How to become predator free

Nearly six months ago the Government announced it would aim to rid New Zealand of rats, stoats and possums by 2050. How will we get there?

That's the question the SMC posed to seven experts in the field, from genetics, to island eradications and introduced mammals.

University of Otago Professor of Reproduction and Genomics Neil Gemmell said while the 2050 goal was ambitious, it was achievable and current technologies "would get us a long way".

"However, to do something at a larger scale, relatively quickly, cheaply and with minimal impact on other species, will require the development and adoption of new approaches."

Some of those new approaches could include genetic tools that target mutations - for instance, making a species produce all male or infertile offspring - or new attractants and toxins specific to a target species.

MIT's Assistant Professor Kevin Esvelt leads a team developing gene drives and 'daisy drives' but cautioned against the use of some tools in conservation.

"Standard CRISPR-based gene drives are extraordinarily efficient at copying themselves, so it takes very few escaped organisms for them to spread," he said. “To be blunt, I am highly sceptical that these global drive systems can be reliably contained, and strongly recommend against their use for conservation."

That's what's lead his team to study 'daisy drives', which will allow local CRISPR-based drive systems. His research has recently been extensively covered in the New Yorker.

He advised scientists to be open about their work. “Applied science exists to serve society. If New Zealanders are going to lead the world in genetic invasive species removal – as you have in the use of conventional methods – demand openness and community guidance from the very beginning.”

University of Auckland conservation biologist Dr James Russell said it was "critical that we ramp up our efforts to preserve our native species".

"It is no longer sufficient just to rely on their conservation in the 'back-country' in the face of pervasive threats such as invasive species and climate change."

University of Waikato's Professor Carolyn King, an expert on New Zealand's introduced mammals, agreed that more was needed than simply holding back the tide. "We must accept that at this stage, pests removed can always be replaced, so pest control is like cleaning toilets, you just have to keep on doing it."

"There are lots of promising technologies on the horizon, and no-one can predict at this stage which will be most significant long-term, except that it can’t be more of the same," she said. "We can’t just keep finding more and better ways to kill."

Director of the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Dr Andrea Byrom said while the work would be hard, it would be worth it.

"If we take this challenge on, however, we will be the envy of the world – we’ll look like a bold and gutsy little nation that stood up for its environment and its sense of identity. "

Read the full expert Q&A on the SMC website.

Quoted: Stuff.co.nz

"It's like trying to raise a child on a diet of sugar and lollies, they can end up with quite severe deformities."

Wellington City Council's urban ecologist Myfanwy Emeny
on kaka chicks developing metabolic bone disease from people feeding birds junk food and nuts.

Proposed ban for microbeads

The Environment Minister has proposed to ban microbeads from cosmetic products, following the lead set in other countries.

Dr Nick Smith announced the proposal on Monday, which would ban personal care products containing plastic microbeads from being made or sold in New Zealand.

Microbeads and other microplastics have been found to quickly enter waterways and cause harm to marine life.

"The use of plastic microbeads in personal care products like facial cleansers and toothpaste makes no sense when there are biodegradable alternatives like apricot kernels and ground nuts products that achieve the same results," Dr Smith said.

There are about 100 types of personal care products sold in New Zealand with plastic microbeads - most of which are imported. They include deodorants, shampoo, facial masks and anti-wrinkle cream.

University of Canterbury's Dr Sally Gaw said aquatic animals, including fish and shellfish, can ingest the microplastics, mistaking them for food.

“Banning microbeads in personal care products is a great step forward that will remove one source of microplastics entering the oceans," Dr Gaw said. "Further steps will be required to reduce the enormous volume of plastics entering our oceans each year."

"We need to re-evaluate our love affair with plastic, and get smarter about how and when we use plastic if we are to protect our oceans.”

University of Auckland's Associate Professor Mary Sewell said the microplastics in facial cleansers are "very very small - most <1mm and some as small as 0.01mm".

"Plastic floats, so it is not captured by most water treatment plants which rely on material sinking – thus any plastic in water that goes down your drain ends up in the oceans."

"We are behind the rest of the world as many countries have already banned these products," she said.

The proposal, which would come under the Waste Minimisation Act, is open for consultation until February 28. A ban would follow other initiatives in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union.

The SMC gathered expert reaction on the announcement.

Policy news & developments

New insects allowed in: Two insects common around the Mediterranean can now be imported into New Zealand to control the giant reed Arundo donax.

EV charging infrastructure: New guidance will support public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, which the Government hopes will help boost numbers of EV.

ends

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