The unpopular badger cull has had only ‘modest’ success in reducing bovine TB, according to a recent report. What would an alternative approach that was effective and humane look like?
Museum collections are repositories of specimens and data, including specimens, tissue samples and vocal recordings.
from Wikimedia Commons
Taxonomists are becoming as rare as some of the species they work on, and this puts museum collections and conservation efforts under threat and increases the risk of biosecurity incursions.
White spot virus is highly infectious, and can kill more than 80% of farmed prawns within days.
from www.shutterstock.com
A proposal that all imported vegetable seeds be treated with fungicide has drawn outrage from Australia’s organic producers, who fear losing their certification.
Children at a school in Antananarivo, Madagascar, during a plague outbreak, Oct. 3, 2017.
AP Photo/Alexander Joe, File
Where do plague bacteria go between outbreaks? Research demonstrates that they can survive and replicate inside amoebae that are widely present in soil and water worldwide.
Japanese vessel washed ashore on Long Beach, Washington being inspected by John Chapman.
Russ Lewis
Invasive frogs can have a major impact on the environment. Some move continents by human trade or travel. But determining how to control them can lead to policies that limit their spread and effects.
These migratory pied imperial-pigeons in Far North Queensland, like many of Australia’s 22 species of native pigeons and doves, play an important role in our ecosystems but may be at risk from emerging viruses in domestic pigeons.
Dejan Stojanovic
Two recently emerging viruses in domestic pigeons in Australia may pose a significant threat to Australia’s 22 species of native pigeons and doves, many of which have crucial ecosystem roles.
Red-eared sliders were once popular pets but are currently banned in Australia. These turtles are still regularly found in the wild and being kept as illegal pets.
Pablo Garcia-Diaz
President Trump wants to slash global health funding at a time when more investment is needed, not less. This spending can protect Americans – as well as foreigners – from deadly diseases.
It’s not always obvious where a new technology will end up.
NIH Image Gallery
A scientific breakthrough in a vacuum may be free of ethical implications. But many developments can be used for good or evil, or both. There’s a fine balance on what to control and to what extent.
Boa constrictors are frequently found at large in Australia, despite being banned.
Marcos André/flickr
Keeping non-native reptiles as pets is against the law – with good reason. Alien species traded on the black market can potentially establish themselves in the wild if they are released or escape.
Some of the many species in the Australian National Insect Collection.
CSIRO/Alan Landford
At least 100,000 insects are among the many Australian species still to be formally identified. That’s a problem for any biosecurity experts who need to be able to spot potentially invasive bugs.
South Africa needs to ensure that it is equipped to deal with bioterrorism attacks and possible laboratory outbreaks.
Mariana Bazo/Reuters
In the science world, laboratories are essential but safety precautions should be taken to prevent any incidents like the Ebola outbreak or biochemical attacks.
An historian reading the government White Paper on developing northern Australia will realise we’re actually heading all the way back to the 1890s.
andrew matthews/Flickr
The federal government’s recent White Paper on developing northern Australia has disturbing echoes of the 1890s, a time when unbridled capitalism and indentured labour developed the North.
Exercise Desert Rock I Buster Jangle Dog.
By Federal Government of the United States [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
On Human Experiments: what lies behind some of the most shocking human experiments in recent history? Here’s a clue: most of it took place during wartime or when war seemed like a real threat.
Honeybees pollinate a third of Australia’s food crops. Losing them due varroa might would cost the economy billions of dollars.
David McClenaghan
A nationwide outbreak of foot and mouth disease; an invasion of a devastating wheat disease; our honeybees completely wiped out. These are just three possible disastrous scenarios facing Australia; they’re…
Some rat, possum and mozzie species thrive when living close to people.
Mark Philpott/Flickr
Our world is becoming increasingly urbanised. In 1950, just 30% of the world’s population lived in urban areas. This number is now over 50% and rising. By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population are…
Tractors may have revolutionised farming but to protect biosecurity, farmers could do with some extra help.
Ben McLeod/Flickr
New technology to tackle biosecurity challenges down the track is one of the five megatrends identified in today’s CSIRO report Australia’s Biosecurity Future: preparing for future biological challenges…