Swirling currents emerge at the Waiapu river mouth: Lens-based witnessing, documenting and storytelling of slow catastrophes

This article considers how Indigenous stories and chants can tell us about our ecologies in the time of environmental emergencies. For Ngāti Porou of the lower reaches of the Waiapu river catchment in Te Ika-a-Māui, the North Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand), the slow catastrophes of twentieth-century colonial deforestation impacts, introduced pest-induced inland forest collapse and predicted twenty-first-century climate change sea level rise have converged as our most pressing environmental problems. Waiapu is home to Ngāti Porou Tūturu, coastal fishing people who value their relationships with fish species, notably kahawai. The mōteatea chant form acts as a guide to my photographic and moving image practice to visualize and voice the slow catastrophe of the river. In this article, I discuss how the Ngāti Porou mōteatea He Tangi mo Pāhoe, which reveals nineteenth-century ecological knowledge, particularly of fish species, is reimagined as a moving image visual mōteatea. Through reframing the threats as the current faces of our ancestors, this article proposes a shift in thinking from vulnerability into resilience.

Anastrepha suspensa (Caribbean fruit fly).

A. suspensa is a pest of guava [Psidium guajava], grapefruit [Citrus x paradisi], and various other cultivated fruits. It is native to the Greater Antilles and possibly the Bahamas, and is an introduced pest in Florida, USA. It is considered an A1 quarantine pest by EPPO.

Outbreak of Lauritrioza alacris (Flor, 1861) (Hemiptera, Triozidae) in a commercial plantation of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L., Lauraceae) in Brazil

An attack of Lauritrioza alacris (Flor, 1861) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) was recorded in a commercial plantation of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L., Lauraceae) in the municipality of Dois Lajeados, Rio Grande do Sul state (RS), Brazil. The immature triozids induced galls on the attacked leaves consisting of the thickened margins that became folded downward, forming an elongated tube-shaped roll that sheltered the immatures. All developmental stages (egg, immatures, and adults) of the psyllid were found on young leaves of bay laurel. Lauritrioza alacris is an introduced pest in Brazil that was detected in Pelotas, RS in 1949 and Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state in 1953. Therefore, we are reporting the third record of L. alacris; however, it is the first documented information of an infestation in a commercial bay laurel plantations by L. alacris in Brazil. Information on taxonomy, biological aspects, distribution, and damage caused by the laurel psyllid is also provided.

Erionota torus (banana skipper).

E. torus is primarily of concern as a pest of Musa spp. (banana, plantain). The larvae feed on the leaves and construct a large leaf roll in which they feed, thus causing more damage to the leaf that that of feeding alone. Its indigenous range is from northern India and Southern China to South East mainland Asia. It has spread to Mauritius, southern Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and western India. As an introduced pest it is extremely damaging to Musa spp. but has been brought under effective biological control by the introduction of parasitoids in Mauritius and perhaps Taiwan. Because it has been confused with E. thrax in the past, it has not received the attention it deserves as a potential invasive pest species.

A historical review of Australian aerial vertebrate pest control, targeting dingoes and wild dogs 1946 - 2019

This paper examines the history of aerial baiting in Australia since the first operations commenced in 1946, initially targeting the dingo ( Canis dingo ). It was believed that dingo populations had proliferated during the Second World War, and posed a threat the re-emerging wool and meat industry. New technologies took advantage of skilled air force pilots, and the surplus of aircraft available post World War 2, to commence an inexpensive, sustained and landscape wide approach to pest management. Aerial baiting has continued to develop as a technology since this time. However, it was 21 years before Australia started the first comprehensive research trial into its efficacy in controlling the target species. The results of these tests that commenced in 1968 were an overwhelming failure. More tests in the 1970s had similar results, yet the broad-scale poisoning of pest species from the air continued. The application of aerial baiting in dingo/wild dog control is believed to have a temporal effect, anecdotally achieving short-term goals towards reducing livestock losses from predation. There is no conclusive data, however, to support this claim. The true impact of aerial baiting on target and non-target native species, and ecosystem function, is potentially great. It is not possible to gain accurate data on the impact of these programs due to the inaccessible nature of the terrain and/or lack of funding for before-after-control-impact (BACI) research and analysis. However, it is possible to conclude from reviewing historical and contemporary land baiting trials, that there is reason to be greatly concerned. Aerial campaigns originally designed to protect agricultural interests have been re-deployed in recent conservation programs, designed to protect biodiversity and to eradicate an increasing number of introduced “pest” species. A review of the scientific and historical data raises concerns about the ethics, inefficiencies, indefinable impacts, and high uptake of baits by non-target species, throughout aerial baiting operations in agricultural and conservation zones. The report concludes that the impact of aerial baiting is essentially incalculable, and potentially environmentally hazardous. The risks of these programs have been greatly understated in published reports and reviews over the past 70 years.

Metagenomic discovery and co-infection of diverse wobbly possum disease viruses and a novel hepacivirus in Australian brushtail possums

Background Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are an introduced pest species in New Zealand, but native to Australia where they are protected for biodiversity conservation. Wobbly possum disease (WPD) is a fatal neurological disease of Australian brushtail possums described in New Zealand populations that has been associated with infection by the arterivirus (Arteriviridae) wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV-NZ). Clinically, WPD-infected possums present with chronic meningoencephalitis, choroiditis and multifocal neurological symptoms including ataxia, incoordination, and abnormal gait. Methods We conducted a retrospective investigation to characterise WPD in native Australian brushtail possums, and used a bulk meta-transcriptomic approach (i.e. total RNA-sequencing) to investigate its potential viral aetiology. PCR assays were developed for case diagnosis and full genome recovery in the face of extensive genetic variation. Results We identified genetically distinct lineages of arteriviruses from archival tissues of WPD-infected possums in Australia, termed wobbly possum disease virus AU1 and AU2. Phylogenetically, WPDV-AU1 and WPDV-AU2 shared only ~ 70% nucleotide similarity to each other and the WPDV-NZ strain, suggestive of a relatively ancient divergence. Notably, we also identified a novel and divergent hepacivirus (Flaviviridae) - the first in a marsupial - in both WPD-infected and uninfected possums, indicative of virus co-infection. Conclusions We have identified marsupial-specific lineages of arteriviruses in mainland Australia that are genetically distinct from that in New Zealand, in some cases co-infecting animals with a novel hepacivirus. Our study provides new insight into the hidden genetic diversity of arteriviruses, the capacity for virus co-infection, and highlights the utility of meta-transcriptomics for disease investigation in a One Health context.

Metagenomic discovery and co-infection of diverse wobbly possum disease viruses and novel hepaciviruses in Australian brushtail possums

BackgroundAustralian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are an introduced pest species in New Zealand, but native to Australia where they are protected for biodiversity conservation. Wobbly possum disease (WPD) is a fatal neurological disease of Australian brushtail possums described in New Zealand populations that has been associated with infection by the arterivirus (Arteriviridae) wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV-NZ). Clinically, WPD-infected possums present with chronic meningoencephalitis, choroiditis and multifocal neurological symptoms including ataxia, incoordination, and abnormal gait.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective investigation to characterise WPD in native Australian brushtail possums, and used a bulk meta-transcriptomic approach (i.e. total RNA-sequencing) to investigate its potential viral aetiology. PCR assays were developed for case diagnosis and full genome recovery in the face of extensive genetic variation.ResultsWe identified a distinct lineage of arteriviruses from archival tissues of WPD-infected possums in Australia, termed wobbly possum disease virus AU1 and AU2. Phylogenetically, WPDV-AU1 and WPDV-AU2 shared only ∼70% nucleotide similarity to each other and the WPDV-NZ strain, suggestive of a relatively ancient divergence. Notably, we identified a novel and divergent hepacivirus (Flaviviridae) - the first in a marsupial - in both WPD-infected and uninfected possums, indicative of virus co-infection.ConclusionsWe have identified a distinctive marsupial-specific lineage of arteriviruses in mainland Australia that is genetically distinct from that in New Zealand, in some cases co-infecting animals with a novel hepacivirus. Our study provides new insight into the hidden genetic diversity of arteriviruses, the capacity for virus co-infection, and highlights the utility of meta-transcriptomics for disease investigation and surveillance in a One Health context.

PEST Embedded SWOT Analysis on China's E-Commerce Industry Development Strategy

This article investigates how e-commerce industry in China can achieve high levels of development under such circumstances. In order to better explore the development strategies of China's e-commerce industry, researchers have already introduced PEST analysis or SWOT analysis, however past studies concentrated exclusively on the main ‘net effects' of these analysis. Because of the complex reality in which the phenomena of e-commerce industry, PEST embedded SWOT analysis can provide a more accurate understanding of how e-commerce industry in China can maintain the healthy and stable development. Applying this theory, the article seeks to determine all the possible factors that build strong development of e-commerce industry in China. To address the question of this research, the study employs PEST embedded SWOT analysis which proposes industry analysis framework of the development strategy of China's e-commerce industry. Future research can consider other possible combinations and explore how the impact of these factors on development strategy of China's e-commerce industry.