Our work enables New Zealand to better respond to biosecurity threats, reduce pest, weed and disease impacts, and kia tiakina nga taonga tuku iho (better protect treasured species). We collaborate with many partners as part of our drive to help New Zealand reach its Biosecurity 2025 and Predator Free 2050 goals, with our research focusing on on border security for early detection and prevention, and improving control methods for established invasive species.
The first herbarium acquisition
Our archives are a valuable resource, holding samples from our early history such as the first weed documented and accessioned to the Allan Herbarium - a European import Veronica serpyllifolioa (thyme-leaved speedwell), a perennial flowering plant native to Europe. The specimen bears the acquisition number CHR 1.
This specimen was collected near Foxton in 1928. From these small beginnings, the Allan Herbarium is now home to over 620 000 specimens.
Weeds are a significant problem in New Zealand. Over 30,000 introduced plant species occur here (most of these are cultivated, crops, flowers etc. etc.). Of these more than 2793 species have become naturalised (wild) in the New Zealand environment, meaning they have established and are reproducing in the wild.This compares to only 2362 species of vascular plants are regarded as “native”
Of these naturalised species, more than 300 plants have become environmental weeds meaning they impact detrimentally on the structure, functions or composition of New Zealand’s indigenous plant communities, waterways and fauna.
Weed biocontrol specimens
Specimens of insect used as weed biological control agents
This display of invertebrate specimens shows the breadth of research underway into biocontrol agents.
Controlling weeds in New Zealand is a challenging and expensive task. Widespread weeds can be found in inaccessible locations and alongside native and economically important plants. Herbicides are expensive to apply, often kill desirable plants, can contaminate the environment, and need to be reapplied regularly in order to control weeds.
Biocontrol offers a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and permanent solution to weed control. Carefully selected biocontrol agents target only weeds. They don’t harm desirable plants, and don’t pollute the environment. Once established, they travel wherever the weed spreads and can return again and again to kill off new weed growth—all without human input.
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Animal fur test tubes
Test tubes containing stoat, possum, and dog hair.
The test tubes containing samples of stoat, possum and dog fur demonstrate our capabilities for genetic DNA mapping. This is not only useful for research, but also has forensic potential.
Stoat fur
Most-wanted predator’s DNA sequenced
Assembled by teams of New Zealand scientists working with international collaborators, the complete genome of the stoat (Mustela erminea) is now available to researchers at the US-based National Center for Biotechnology Information genome database, hard on the heels of the ship rat genome.
The genome sequencing of the stoat was led by Manaaki Whenua's Andrew Veale. The project was co-funded by New Zealand’s Biological Heritage Science Challenge and by Predator Free 2050 as part of its Science Strategy, and involved collaboration with scientists from the Vertebrate Genome Project based at The Rockefeller Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
The assembled stoat genome is over 2.4 billion DNA bases long, with over 20,000 identified protein-coding genes. This new genome is one of the highest-quality vertebrate genomes ever produced, with nearly gapless complete chromosomes assembled and annotated.
The underpinning data provided by the genome will be invaluable in helping to achieve predator-free status for New Zealand; for example, by enabling the development of stoat-specific toxins.
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Tracking cards
Track cards are used by researchers to identify what animals are living in a particular area. They work by luring animals and invertebrates into the tunnel using a bait. The animal/invertebrate walks through the sticky ink on the tracking tunnel card to reach the bait and leaves foot (and sometimes body prints) on the blank cardboard at either end of the tunnel when they leave the trap.
Different animals and invertebrates leave different sized and shaped prints which can be identified by comparing with reference prints.
