Category Archives: Biodiversity

Learn ferns in Wellington, 2

17 June 2013 – 3.04pm

Are you interested in learning more about ferns, and in the Wellington region?

The talk in March was so popular that Otari have asked me back for round two.  I’ll lead a walking-talk through the fernery at the wonderful Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Sunday 23rd June 2013, beginning 2pm from the Otari Information Centre.

More details.

Close up of the scales of Cyathea (left) and the hairs of Dicksonia (right). Photos Leon Perrie, © Te Papa.

There are two major groups of tree ferns in New Zealand.  One is scaly (Cyathea, at left); the other hairy (Dicksonia, at right). See them up close at Otari.  Photos Leon Perrie, © Te Papa.

Interested in learning ferns, but not in Wellington?  You might find this link useful:

How to learn ferns.

By Leon Perrie | Also posted in Ferns | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Ferns of Bristol’s stone walls

14 June 2013 – 7.23pm

Whilst recently holidaying in Bristol in the UK I was amazed at the abundance and variety of ferns growing on the stone walls around the city. 

Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach) growing on a stone wall.

Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach) growing on a stone wall in Bristol. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd

The spleenwort or Asplenium ferns seem to be the most common ferns of this habitat. This genus also occurs in New Zealand and includes our hen and chickens fern. 

One of the most striking spleenworts is Asplenium scolopendrium, commonly known as the hart’s tongue fern.  Hart’s tongue fern reminded me of the bird nest ferns of the tropics, although they are only distant relatives. 

Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium). Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

Hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium). Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

 The common name of this species derives from the shape of the simple, undivided fronds that apparently resemble the tongue of a deer (hart is an old name for stag). The scientific name is also interesting: ‘scolopendrium’ derives from the Greek word for centipede. The pattern of the spore-bearing reproductive structures (sori) in this species is said to resemble centipede legs.

The sori of Asplenium scolopendrium, said to look like centipede legs. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd

The sori of Asplenium scolopendrium, said to look like centipede legs. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd

Another spleenwort of stone walls is Asplenium ceterach. This species was very easy to identify by the abundant orange-brown hairs on the underside of the fronds. It is these distinctive hairs that have led to its common name ‘rustyback’.

Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach). Photo credit: Lara Shepherd

Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach). Photo credit: Lara Shepherd


Underside of a rustyback frond showing the orange-brown hairs that give this fern its name. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

Underside of a rustyback frond showing the orange-brown hairs that give this fern its name. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.


Wall rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) was abundant. The shape of the frond segments was variable, with some forms reminding me of New Zealand’s blanket fern (Pleurosorus rutifolius) but without the hairs.
Two forms of wall rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria). The plant on the right reminds me of New Zealand blanket fern. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd

Two forms of wall rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria). The plant on the right reminds me of New Zealand blanket fern. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd

 Asplenium trichomanes or maidenhair spleenwort was also present. This species has an almost global distribution, including New Zealand. 
Maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), with a small rustyback on the lower right. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

Maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), with a small rustyback on the lower right. Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

The final fern on walls I saw (but only occasionally) was the common polypody Polypodium vulgare. This species has become naturalized in New Zealand and appears to be spreading. 

Common polypody (Polypodium vulgare). Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

Common polypody (Polypodium vulgare). Photo credit: Lara Shepherd.

By Lara Shepherd | Also posted in Ferns, Plants | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Compensating for ecological harm

6 June 2013 – 9.07pm

Economic development can have adverse effects on the natural environment. Nowadays, many developments involve mitigating negative effects or compensating for them by ‘trading’ a positive outcome in return for permission to proceed.

But how effective are these compensatory efforts in New Zealand?

Answer: oftentimes, not very, according to one of the talks at the recent New Zealand Plant Conservation Network conference.

Video of Marie Brown’s conference talk.

Blog post on the NZPCN conference.

This is particularly topical as the Environment Court ponders its final decision about the proposal for a mine on the Denniston plateau. The Court has said “much will ultimately turn on whether appropriate conditions can be worked out.” Marie’s talk is thought provoking in this context.

Within the site of the proposed mine at Denniston. Photo Leon Perrie. (c) Te Papa.

Within the site of the proposed mine at Denniston. Photo Leon Perrie. (c) Te Papa.

Perhaps some of the concern about the effectiveness of mitigation/compensatory efforts would be alleviated if positive outcomes were achieved before the negative activity commenced. For instance, if new and sustainable populations of rare plants and animals could be successfully established at other suitable sites, there should be less concern about their elimination at the development site.

Money spent on upfront mitigation/compensation could even be more cost-effective than lengthy legal battles.

This assumes, however, that suitable and relevant mitigation/compensation is actually achievable. It may not be for some of the populations that would be affected by the Denniston mine, at least from my understanding of them, but I would like to be proved wrong in this respect.

What do you think? Develop/destroy and then attempt to fix, or develop/destroy only after the compensatory measures have been shown to work?

By Leon Perrie | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Plant Conservation Conference and weedy native plants

29 May 2013 – 12.21pm

I’m just back from the 2013 conference of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, where I presented a talk about weedy native plants.

The programme of talks included updates on the conservation status of New Zealand’s plants, and the new system being implemented by the Department of Conservation to prioritise management of ecosystems and species. Another talk detailed the significance of the Denniston area for New Zealand’s liverworts.

There were several inspiring accounts of hands-on intervention successfully stabilising threatened native plant populations or even bringing about their recovery. One example involved using lawnmowers and herbicides at a high altitude site to control aggressive weeds!

Others reported their investigations of the ecology and/or relationships of New Zealand plants.

Programme of talks.

Videos of most of the talks.

Hoheria populnea (houhere, lacebark) is native to the northern North Island. But after being cultivated more widely, it has spread to the wild in many parts of central and southern New Zealand, and has become a problem weed in several places. Photo Leon Perrie. © Leon Perrie.

Hoheria populnea (houhere, lacebark) is native to the northern North Island. But after being cultivated more widely, it has spread to the wild in many parts of central and southern New Zealand, and has become a problem weed in several places. Photo Leon Perrie. © Leon Perrie.

I was invited to give a keynote address in the symposium on ‘weedy natives’. My focus was on native plants growing outside their natural range within New Zealand.

Many New Zealand native plants occurred in only part of the country. Humans have now moved some of these further afield, and some of these native plants are flourishing in parts of New Zealand where they did not occur naturally.

In some cases, non-local native plants are threatening locally-native species.

Pittosporum crassifolium (karo) is native to the northern North Island. However, it has been widely cultivated, and is now spreading aggressively in many places. In Titahi Bay, karo threatens to displace locally-native species, including some of conservation significance. In the photo, karo is overtopping, and will eventually displace, the locally-native Melicytus obovatus. Photo Leon Perrie. © Te Papa

Pittosporum crassifolium (karo) is native to the northern North Island. However, it has been widely cultivated, and is now spreading aggressively in many places. In Titahi Bay, karo threatens the survival of locally-native species, including some of conservation significance. In the photo, karo is overtopping, and will eventually displace, the locally-native Melicytus obovatus. Photo Leon Perrie. © Te Papa

Communities and land managers have decisions to make about how to deal with the spread of non-local native plants.

I dared suggest that, in the Wellington context as an example, non-local native plants like karo and (northern) houhere (and perhaps karaka, where outside sites of cultural significance) might be viewed in the same light as exotic (not native to New Zealand) ecological weeds such as pink ragwort, boneseed, brush wattle, and Darwin’s barberry; and that they should be managed accordingly.

I finished by suggesting that anyone can help by learning what plants are locally-native to their region, and then observing and reporting non-local plants ‘behaving badly’.

We also might take more care with what we plant. Non-local native plants make for fantastically interesting gardens; I have lots in my own garden. But we might forgo those species whose weediness has already been demonstrated.

Video of my talk.

By Leon Perrie | Also posted in Plants | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

Behind the scenes: A week in the life of a natural history curator

29 May 2013 – 9.26am

What does a Te Papa curator do? I spent last week following Te Papa’s terrestrial vertebrate curator Alan Tennyson to find out. Here are some of the main highlights:

 Visitors

Monday saw Alan meet with Trish Nugent-Lyne, a collection manager at Whanganui Regional Museum. Te Papa staff are helping Trish prepare an articulated dog skeleton for an exhibition Whanganui Regional Museum is holding at the end of the year. The dog bones Trish brought were put into Te Papa’s dermestid beetle tanks to clean them.

Alan examining a skeleton being cleaned by beetles.

Alan examining a skeleton being cleaned by beetles.

Alan also showed Trish through the vertebrate collections where they viewed other skeletons that she may borrow from Te Papa for their exhibition. They also discussed different storage techniques for fragile items such as eggshells.
Alan and Trish looking at birds eggs in Te Papa's collection. Te Papa has recently improved their storage method of these fragile items.

Alan and Trish looking at birds eggs in Te Papa’s collection. Te Papa has recently improved their storage method of these fragile items.


Many researchers visit Te Papa, both from within New Zealand and overseas, to use the natural history collections for research. This week Alan communicated with a Chilean researcher who wants to visit Te Papa to examine pleisosaur bones. 

Outreach and networking

Last week was Primary Science week. During the week Te Papa curators and educators visited schools in the Wellington region. On Thursday Alan spent the day at Dyer Street School in Naenae talking to the kids about his job as a curator. The kids especially enjoyed seeing the moa bones and giant shark teeth that Alan took along and hearing about his fieldwork in Vanuatu.

Alan was interviewed by Alison Balance from Radio New Zealand about the New Zealand Birds online project, led by Te Papa curator Colin Miskelly. Alan’s contribution to this website has been writing the texts for a number of living and extinct bird species and contributing photos. This week he worked on the final edits of some texts (the website goes live over Queen’s birthday weekend) and took photos of extinct penguin bones which will be displayed on the website.

On Wednesday afternoon Alan attended the launch of a new fossil book at GNS in Lower Hutt. These types of events provide a great opportunity to network with colleagues working at other institutions. 

Public and professional enquiries

Te Papa receives many enquiries from the public, these are passed on to the appropriate curator to deal with. For Alan these types of enquiries typically involve identifying birds or fossils.  However, this week Alan also responded to an enquiry wanting advice about restoring seabird sites in the Waikato.  He also discussed developing legislation to prevent the sale of moa bones with the Department of Conservation.

Research

This week Alan assisted me with selecting prion samples from Te Papa’s bird skin collection for DNA analysis. Alan is part of the Te Papa seabird research team undertaking several projects into seabird taxonomy.

Alan looking at a selection of Te Papa's prion skins.

Alan looking at a selection of Te Papa’s prion skins.

This week Alan learnt that a team he works with in Adelaide have identified a couple of bat teeth from new species. These had been previously collected from the St Bathans fossil site in central Otago. Alan has been involved in excavating this site for the past 12 years. It takes many months to sort through the material collected in a single trip. 

Further time was spent in the collections identifying bones from the Chatham Islands, including an extinct penguin, that had been donated to Te Papa. 

Collection development

Alan also manages contractor Catherine, who prepares new bird skeletons, wings and tails for inclusion in Te Papa’s collection.  He decides which specimens Catherine should prepare and the type of preparation each one needs. This involves checking both the condition of the specimens and seeing what is already held in the collections.

Alan with a shearwater skeleton prepared by Catherine.

Alan with a shearwater skeleton prepared by Catherine.


A wing being prepared by Catherine for incorporation into the collection.

A wing being prepared by Catherine for incorporation into the collection.

By Lara Shepherd | Also posted in Birds, Education, Fossils, Museums | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Kia ora from northern Germany

14 May 2013 – 7.51pm

Moin!

That is how you say Kia ora or Hello in Oldenburg, which is where my family and I have been living since August 2013. As I near the half-way point in my 18-month fellowship, I thought I would show you where I am living, update you on what I have been up to in the lab, and introduce you to my lovely colleagues here.

Oldenburg is located in the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany and has about 160,000 inhabitants, most of whom get around by bicycle, ourselves included.

Getting on our bicycles at Pferdemarkt, Oldenburg, Germany, Sept 2012. Photo by Mauricio López.

Getting on our bicycles at Pferdemarkt, Oldenburg, Germany, Sept 2012. Photo by Mauricio López.

Each day I cycle to the University of Oldenburg, where I am curently based. The best part of my 15-minute daily commute  is cylcing down the last kilometre along Drögen-Hasen-Weg.

My trusty bicycle at the start of Drögen-Hasen-Weg, about 1 km from the University of Oldenburg, May 2013. Note also the beautiful spring flowers! Photo by Heidi Meudt.

My trusty bicycle at the start of Drögen-Hasen-Weg, about 1 km from the University of Oldenburg, May 2013. Note also the beautiful spring flowers! Photo by Heidi Meudt.

My colleagues tell me that "Drögen-Hasen-Weg" means "Dry Feet Way" in Plattdüütsch, the local dialect of German still spoken in this area. In earlier times, this road was a way for the locals to get around without having to cross any waterways. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

My colleagues tell me that “Drögen-Hasen-Weg” means “Dry Feet Way” in Plattdüütsch, the local dialect of German still spoken in this area. In earlier times, this road was a way for the locals to get around without having to cross any waterways. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

The beautiful native trees (“Traubeneiche”, or sessile oak, Quercus petrea) that line this “Eichenallee” (literally, “oak avenue”) are now a protected natural monument.

Sessile oak trees (Quercus petraea) along the Drögen-Hasen-Weg Eichenallee, Oldenburg, Germany. Here they are just beginning to show their new green spring leaves, May 2013. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

Sessile oak trees (Quercus petraea) along the Drögen-Hasen-Weg Eichenallee, Oldenburg, Germany. Here they are just beginning to show their new green spring leaves, May 2013. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

A fellow commuter along the Drögen-Hasen-Weg Eichenallee, Oldenburg, Germany, May 2013. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

A fellow commuter along the Drögen-Hasen-Weg Eichenallee, Oldenburg, Germany, May 2013. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

After cycling through the beautiful tunnel of oak trees (did I mention I get to do this every day?), I arrive at the science campus of the University of Oldenburg, and turn right at this sign to get to my office. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

After cycling through the beautiful tunnel of oak trees (did I mention I get to do this every day?), I arrive at the science campus of the University of Oldenburg, and turn right at this sign to get to my office. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

I have come to Oldenburg to work on a research project regarding polyploidy in New Zealand and European Veronica with Dirk Albach, and in the process learn some new techniques. Polyploidy means whole genome doubling, and it occurs in Veronica species from both areas. We will compare the genes that are expressed in European and New Zealand polyploid species with their closest diploid relatives to determine when these genome doubling events occurred, confirm that the polyploid species likely evolved following hybridisation of diploid ancestors, and compare patterns of evolution of duplicated genes. 

One of the first things I learned was how to extract RNA, or ribonucleic acid, from leaf tissue.

Here I am with Eike Mayland-Quellhorst, grinding up some Veronica leaf tissue in liquid nitrogen for RNA extractions in the lab, May 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Here I am with Eike Mayland-Quellhorst, grinding up some Veronica leaf tissue in liquid nitrogen for RNA extractions in the lab, May 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Once the tissue has been ground to a fine powder, it is poured with the liquid nitrogen into a small tube. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Once the tissue has been ground to a fine powder, it is poured with the liquid nitrogen into a small tube. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Here I am extracting the RNA of the ground leaf tissue at the clean bench in the lab. Photo by Simon Pfanzelt.

Here I am extracting the RNA of the ground leaf tissue at the clean bench in the lab. Photo by Simon Pfanzelt.

Once the RNA is extracted and cleaned up, it is checked to determine whether it is of sufficient quality and quantity for sequencing. The next step will be to send the samples to a sequencing facility, and hopefully soon I will get some new data to analyse!

Another part of the project involves determining genome size, that is, measuring how much DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) a particular plant contains in the nuclei of its cells. By working with Silvia Kempen, one of the technicians in the lab, I have learned how to use a flow cytometer and have measured the genome size of several Veronica species.

Getting everything ready in the flow cytometry lab to measure the genome size of three samples, May 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Getting everything ready in the flow cytometry lab to measure the genome size of three samples, May 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Chopping up the leaves from the first sample with a razor blade in preparation for flow cytometry, May 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Chopping up the leaves from the first sample with a razor blade in preparation for flow cytometry, May 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Watching Silvia calibrate the flow cytometer, which is the small machine to the right of the computer. Once the machine is calibrated, it is ready to measure the genome size of our prepared samples, May 2013. Photo by Eike Mayland-Quellhorst.

Watching Silvia calibrate the flow cytometer, which is the small machine to the right of the computer. Once the machine is calibrated, it is ready to measure the genome size of our prepared samples, May 2013. Photo by Eike Mayland-Quellhorst.

I must admit, the lab work has had its ups and downs, and it has taken me longer to get to this point than I had planned. One logistical problem we had, was that the plant material collected prior to my arrival did not result in good RNA extractions. That meant we needed to collect fresh plant material and retry the extractions, so I did my part by heading to Mallorca, Spain, on a collecting trip.

Collecting Veronica plants in Mallorca, Spain, with local botanist and PhD student Jaume Seguí Colomar. Photo by Mauricio López.

Collecting Veronica plants in Mallorca, Spain, with local botanist and PhD student Jaume Seguí Colomar. Photo by Mauricio López.

But perhaps delays, hiccups and changes are to be expected when one is learning new techniques, in a new lab, in a new country, and in a new language, no less! Although I speak quite a bit of English at the university, I am taking an evening language course, and I seek out daily opportunities to practice German with my colleagues. Speaking of which, here they are!

Photo of Dirk Albach's working group, outside our office and lab space at the Universtiy of Oldenburg, May 2013. Standing, left to right, Heidi Meudt, Eike Mayland-Quellhorst, Vera Mageney, Niklas Buhk, Katarzyna Palinska, Thomas Schmidt, Jane Looschen, Jennifer Nolzen, Lillian-Lee Müller, Imke Notholt, Simon Pfanzelt, Ute Friedrichs, Maria Brandes, Lena Koehler. In front, Bernhard von Hagen and Dirk Albach. Photo by Gerhard Zotz.

Photo of Dirk Albach’s working group, outside our office and lab space at the Universtiy of Oldenburg, May 2013. Standing, left to right, Heidi Meudt, Eike Mayland-Quellhorst, Vera Mageney, Niklas Buhk, Katarzyna Palinska, Thomas Schmidt, Jane Looschen, Jennifer Nolzen, Lillian-Lee Müller, Imke Notholt, Simon Pfanzelt, Ute Friedrichs, Maria Brandes, Lena Koehler. In front, Bernhard von Hagen and Dirk Albach. Photo by Gerhard Zotz.

Lab outings and field trips are a great way to get to know each other. One day last October, we took a trip to the nearby North Sea coast to the Wattenmeer (Wadden Sea), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At the Wattenmeer (Wadden Sea) along the North Sea coast in Germany in May 2013. From left to right Petr Kosachev, Eike Mayland-Quellhorst, Dirk Albach, Carolina García, Simon Pfanzelt. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

At the Wattenmeer (Wadden Sea) along the North Sea coast in Germany in May 2013. From left to right Petr Kosachev, Eike Mayland-Quellhorst, Dirk Albach, Carolina García, Simon Pfanzelt. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

Then in February, one afternoon our lab took a “Grünkohlfahrt” (literally, “kale walk”), which is a regional custom involving walking around with your friends or colleagues while eating, drinking, and playing special, regional games together. Oldenburg claims to be the kale capital of Germany.

Here I am on our Grünkohlfahrt ("kale walk") taking my turn at the northern German sport called "Boßeln", which is essentially outdoor road bowling! Feb 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Here I am on our Grünkohlfahrt (“kale walk”) taking my turn at the northern German sport called “Boßeln”, which is essentially outdoor road bowling! Feb 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

At the end of the Grünkohlfahrt, we sat down together to share some excellent regional cuisine…

Our traditional northern German dinner after the "kale walk", including two types of German sausages (Pinkel and Kochwurs), potatoes, and (of course!) kale! Feb 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

Our traditional northern German dinner after the “kale walk”, including two types of German sausages (Pinkel and Kochwurs), potatoes, and (of course!) kale! Feb 2013. Photo by Silvia Kempen.

And earlier this month, we had a very exciting special visitor, Radio New Zealand journalist Veronika Meduna, who came to interview Dirk and me about our collaborative research. You can hear the resulting interview here.

Dirk Albach and his son Felix, Veronika Meduna, and Heidi Meudt in the University of Oldenburg glasshouses during our interview. There is one Veronica plant in a pot in front of us, and several kale plants behind us. April 2013. Photo copyright Veronika Meduna, Radio NZ National.

Dirk Albach and his son Felix, Veronika Meduna, and Heidi Meudt in the University of Oldenburg glasshouses during our interview. There is one Veronica plant in a pot in front of us, and several kale plants behind us. April 2013. Photo copyright Veronika Meduna, Radio NZ National.

On both professional and personal levels, our experience in Germany so far has been at times enlightening, challenging, surprising, and overwhelming. Germany is a great place to do scientific research, and there are countless opportunities to learn about and experience its fascinating culture and history. Our first 9 months have certainly qualified as an adventure so far, and I look forward to experiencing what the next 9 months will bring.

Bis dann!

A big thank you to my whanau for supporting and accompanying me in this adventure. Here they are in the Schlossgarten (Palace Garden) in the winter snow! The main church of Oldenburg, Lambertikirche, is in the background. Jan 2013. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

A big thank you to my whanau for supporting and accompanying me in this adventure. Here they are in the Schlossgarten (Palace Garden) in the winter snow! The main church of Oldenburg, Lambertikirche, is in the background. Jan 2013. Photo by Heidi Meudt.

By Heidi Meudt | Also posted in Field trips, Plants, Veronica | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

How to DNA sex birds.

11 May 2013 – 2.13pm

The males and females of many bird species are difficult to distinguish by their appearance (peacocks are a notable exception). There are many situations where it is useful to know the sex of birds including captive breeding programmes, behavioural studies and even species delimitation in extinct taxa.

DNA sexing provides a simple and quick way to determine which birds are females and which are males. We have been using this technique for some of our bird research projects, including our study of the prion wreck of 2011. For our prion study we want to determine whether there is a gender bias in the birds that were wrecked.

So how does DNA sexing work for birds? By way of background, birds have a different chromosome system to us for determining their sex. In mammals, including us, males have an X and a Y chromosome and females have two X chromosomes. In contrast, birds have a ZW sex-determination system whereby males have two Z chromosomes and females both Z and W chromosomes.

Sex chromosomes in birds and mammals.

Sex chromosomes in birds and mammals. Figure credit: Lara Shepherd

To genetically sex a bird, DNA is first obtained from a blood, feather or tissue sample. We used tongue samples for the prions.

From these DNA samples we made lots of copies of the CHD region, a gene that occurs on both the Z and W chromosomes. Our processing of these gene copies produces a single DNA band for males (because they only have one type of chromosome) and two bands for females (representing the different CHD copies from the Z and W chromosomes).

Prion sex assignment based on the CHD region. Females have two DNA bands – the top band is from the W chromosome and the lower band is from the Z chromosome. Males just have the single Z chromosome band. The lane on the far left with multiple bands contains a size standard with bands of DNA of known size. Photo credit Lara Shepherd

Prion sex assignment based on the CHD region. Females have two DNA bands – the top band is from the W chromosome and the lower band is from the Z chromosome. Males just have the single Z chromosome band. The lane on the far left with multiple bands contains a size standard with bands of known size. Photo credit Lara Shepherd

DNA sexing is also possible for humans, albeit using a modified method suited to our X/Y chromosome system, and is routinely used in forensics. A recent example is the detection of female DNA on the bombs used in the Boston marathon bombing.

By Lara Shepherd | Also posted in Birds | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Would you mine a rare population?

21 April 2013 – 2.28pm

The Escarpment Mine on the Denniston Plateau has been tentatively approved by the Environment Court, subject to suitable mitigation plans. One of the issues that may be under consideration is what to do about the site’s population of the Sticherus tener umbrella fern.

Scoop news report: “…tentative nod for Denniston mine plan”.

Sticherus tener has a conservation ranking in New Zealand of Nationally Critical. That is as rare as you can get without being extinct.

The umbrella fern Sticherus tener at a site within the planned Escarpment Mine on the Denniston Plateau. Photo Leon Perrie. © Te Papa.

The umbrella fern Sticherus tener at a site within the planned Escarpment Mine on the Denniston Plateau. Photo Leon Perrie. © Te Papa.

Destroying a population of a species so threatened in New Zealand has to be weighed against the economic benefits of the proposed mine. Of course, the Denniston area’s natural values are far greater than this one fern species. A factor in any consideration specific to Sticherus tener is that it is common in Australia. In that context, it is similar to the white heron or kōtuku (Ardea modesta), which graces our $2 coins. The white heron is also Nationally Critical in New Zealand, but Secure Overseas. Would New Zealanders accept a development destroying part of the white heron population in New Zealand?

Our paper detailing the status of Sticherus tener in New Zealand has just been published. Sticherus tener was known in New Zealand only from one 1980s record from Fiordland. Department of Conservation staff have recently made additional records from Fiordland. Furthermore, Te Papa’s botanists realised that some of the plants in the Stockton and Denniston areas are actually Sticherus tener.

Abstract from the New Zealand Journal of Botany.

Email me if you would like a pdf of the paper.

Te Papa’s collections of Sticherus tener, with more photos.

Our paper also recognises Sticherus urceolatus in New Zealand for the first time. Sticherus urceolatus is closely related to Sticherus tener, and also is Nationally Critical in New Zealand while being common in Australia. Sticherus urceolatus occurs at Stockton (but not Denniston), near Takaka, and apparently in Fiordland.

Te Papa’s collections of Sticherus urceolatus, with more photos.

The umbrella fern Sticherus urceolatus at Stockton. The frond segments of this species arise at a pronounced angle, while those of Sticherus tener are close to 90 degrees. Other differences are detailed in our paper. Photo Leon Perrie. © Te Papa.

The umbrella fern Sticherus urceolatus at Stockton. The frond segments of this species arise at a pronounced angle, while those of Sticherus tener are close to 90 degrees. Other differences are detailed in our paper. Photo Leon Perrie. © Te Papa.

Populations of Sticherus tener and Sticherus urceolatus in the northern South Island had previously been mistakenly attributed to Sticherus flabellatus. We now believe that Sticherus flabellatus does not occur in the South Island, but it is common in the northern North Island. When the Denniston population was erroneously attributed to Sticherus flabellatus, an issue for the proposed mine was the destruction of a population at the southern limit of a species common in New Zealand. The correct identification of the Denniston population as Sticherus tener, Nationally Critical in New Zealand, makes the conservation implications for the proposed mine more serious.

Te Papa’s collections of Sticherus flabellatus.

It was an internet photo that first alerted me to the possibility of Sticherus at Denniston being more complicated that everyone thought. I was trying to find more information about Denniston for our 2012 field work surveying for the then-undescribed Gleichenia inclusisora tangle fern; this Naturally Uncommon species also occurs at Denniston. I came across a report containing a photo from Denniston labelled “Sticherus flabellatus”. I was immediately sure that the photo did not show Sticherus flabellatus, but instead some other species of Sticherus. However, determining the correct identity as Sticherus tener took several more months. This involved a revision of existing herbarium specimens from the northern South Island that were labelled “Sticherus flabellatus” (all actually either Sticherus tener or Sticherus urceolatus), DNA sequencing, and field work to visit the sites ourselves.

Blog post on our 2012 field work in the South Island, targeting Sticherus and other ‘problem’ ferns.

Blog post on the recently described new species of tangle fern, Gleichenia inclusisora.

Interestingly, the Forest and Bird-organised BioBlitz of the Denniston Plateau in 2012 did not detect Sticherus tener. That this medium-sized fern was missed by such a concerted effort to document the area’s biodiversity is a cautionary indicator of how difficult it is to make well-informed land management decisions.

Forest and Bird’s BioBlitz at Denniston.

By Leon Perrie | Also posted in Collections Online, Ferns, Field trips, Plants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

The amazing longfin eel

19 April 2013 – 9.28am

This week the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released a report on the status and management of the longfin eel. It was entitled “On a pathway to extinction?” The report found that the management of longfin eels by New Zealand government agencies was inadequate and failing. It further recommended the cessation of commercial fishing of longfin eels.

The Commissioner’s report.

A longfin eel. This female hasn't bred yet, and she will do so only once, after swimming to somewhere between New Caledonia and Fiji. Photo (c) Alton Perrie.

A longfin eel, in a stream near Thames. This female hasn’t bred yet, and she will do so only once, after swimming to somewhere between Fiji and New Caledonia. Photo (c) Alton Perrie.

Longfin eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii; tuna is Maori for eel) are amazing animals. They breed only once and then die. The adults found in New Zealand’s waterways have yet to breed. When mature, which may take 80 years, they swim to somewhere between Fiji and New Caledonia to find a mate. The prospect of finding a mate in a far-flung ocean presumably becomes less likely as numbers decline because of human impacts. After breeding, the adults die. The young larvae then drift back to New Zealand, and make their way upriver. The amount of suitable habitat for eels in New Zealand is now much decreased.

The Commissioner highlighted this unusual lifecycle as complicating the management of eels.

The Department of Conservation rates the threat status of longfin eel as “At Risk/Declining”, while the Ministry for Primary Industries allows the annual commercial harvest of more than 100 tonnes of longfin eel. The inability to reconcile these two facts is at least partially behind the Commissioner’s call to stop the commercial fishing of longfin eels.

Earlier this year, Te Papa’s NatureSpace hosted the Travelling Tuna Tapestry project.  The aim of this project was to inspire children to be interested in the conservation of the longfin eel. The tapestry grew during its travels around New Zealand as children contributed panels; one panel came from visitors to NatureSpace.

A Department of Conservation site about the Travelling Tuna Tapestry.

Many New Zealanders will be concerned that an endemic New Zealand species is effectively being managed to extinction. According to the commissioner, “Longfin eels need urgent help from the agencies that are responsible for their management and protection.” How will those agencies respond? Will they do enough to get the longfin eel off its pathway to extinction?

By Leon Perrie | Also posted in Fish | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Three Kings Expedition collects yellow weever, a new record for the area

17 April 2013 – 6.50am

By Clive Roberts

Three Kings Expedition collects yellow weever, Parapercis gilliesi (family Pinguipedidae), a new record for the area, 13 April 2013. Te Papa

Three Kings Expedition collects yellow weever, Parapercis gilliesi (family Pinguipedidae), a new record for the area, 13 April 2013. Te Papa

The Te Papa fish team currently has two members participating in the Three Kings Islands Marine Expedition. Skilled in fieldwork techniques, collecting, photographing and preserving fishes, Vincent Zintzen and Jeremy Barker are busy underwater surveying and sampling fishes, invertebrates and algae with colleagues during the day, and are up late at night on board MV Braveheart processing the day’s catch.

Carefully preserved and frozen specimens will be brought back to Te Papa, Auckland Museum and NIWA collections, to be documented and made available for 3–4 generations of researchers to study over the next 50 years or more.

An early highlight and new record for the Three Kings fish fauna was the capture of a yellow weever, also known as the yellow cod, Parapercis gilliesi family Pinguipedidae (see photo).  Three species of weever are known in New Zealand waters. By far the most common is the ubiquitous blue cod Parapercis colias – the largest species in the weever family, which can weigh 5kg. Closely related are two poorly known, smaller, deeper water cousins – the yellow weever (or yellow cod) and the redbanded weever (or redbanded grubfish).

The yellow weever can be distinguished from its relatives by maximum size, colour and soft fin ray counts. It attains a maximum size of 32cm and has a yellow-tan body with two horizontal rows of dark brown blotches, and bright yellow fins in fresh examples (vs. max size 40cm, whitish with two longitudinal bands along the back in females, or max size 60cm, body blue to blue‑grey in males of blue cod; and a max size of 20cm and a pale pinkish-yellow body with 13-14 dark red-brown vertical bars arranged in pairs in the redbanded weever). The yellow weever has 21 dorsal fin soft rays and 18 anal fin soft rays (vs. 20 and 17 soft rays in blue cod; and 22–23 and 20 in redbanded weever).

Originally described in 1879 by Captain F. W. Hutton of the OtagoMuseum, Dunedin, the yellow weever is endemic (unique) to the New Zealand region, where it is widely distributed on the shelf and upper slope at depths of 60–350m. The present specimen, collected by rod and line from 100 m depth, is the most northerly record for the species. 

Update: the team on MV Braveheart are sheltering from 50 knot winds, driving rain and large swells. Soon the storm will pass and they will get back to collecting and survey. Watch this space.

Find out more about the Three Kings Islands Marine Expedition

By Te Papa | Also posted in Fish | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
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