Newsletter 346 Tuesday 13 January 2015

Recent publications in the school

Didham, R.K., Barker, G.M., Bartlam, S., Deakin, E.L., Denmead, L.H., Fisk, L.M., Peters,

J.M.R., Tylianakis, J.M., Wright, H.R. and Schipper, L.A. (2015). Agricultural intensification exacerbates

spillover effects on soil biogeochemistry in adjacent forest remnants. PLoS ONE 10(1): e0116474.

This is Delphine Marjoshi's (MSc candidate) first journal publication.

Farkas, K., Varsani, A., Marjoshi, D., Easingwood, R., McGill, E. and Pang, L. (2015). Size exclusion-

based purification and PCR-based quantitation of MS2 bacteriphage particles for environmental applications.

Journal of Virological Methods 213: 135-138.

Kraberger, S., Kumari, S.G., Hamed, A.A., Gronenborn, B., Thomas, J.E., Sharman, M., Harkins, G.W.,

Muhire, B.M., Martin, D.P. andVarsani, A. (2015). Molecular diversity of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus in

Sudan: High rates of intra-species recombination - a driving force in the emergence of new strains. Infection,

Genetics and Evolution 29: 203-215.

Kraberger, S., Mumtaz, H., Claverie, S., Martin, D.P., Briddon, R.W. and Varsani, A. (2015). Identification of

an Australian-like dicot-infecting mastrevirus in Pakistan. Archives of Virology doi:10.1007/s00705-014-2299-

5.

Martínez-García, L. B., Richardson, S.J., Tylianakis, J.M., Peltzer, D.A. and Dickie, I.A. (2014). Host identify

is a dominant driver of mycorrhizal fungal community composition during ecosystem development. New

Phytologist doi:10.1111/nph.13226.

Nelson, X.J. (2014). The Spider's Charade. Scientific American 311: 86-89.

Rauter, M., Prokoph, A., Kasprzak, J., Becker, K., Baronian, K., Bode, R., Kunze, G. and Vorbrodt, H.-M.

(2015). Coexpression of Lactobacillus brevis ADH with GDH or G6PDH in Arxula adeninivorans for the

synthesis of 1-(R)-phenylethanol. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology doi:10.1007/s00253-014-6297-z.

PhD oral exam completed

Aude Thierry, had her oral exam on Friday 19 December. The title of her thesis is 'Predation risk and the

evolution of odors in island birds/ and. The exam took place via video link whilst UC was going through an

internet outage so after a few hiccups the presentation was completed. Aude was in Auckland; her Senior

Supervisor, Professor Jim Briskie stood by at UC and the Oral Examiner was connecting through from

Massey University. No chance for a photo shoot. Congratulations Aude!

What film is this?

Last year I spent 322 days on the road, which means I had to spend 43 miserable days at home.

and now for something completely different...

The best ball boys in the world

Star Wars Parody - Paw Warz

Four hour vacation

Thought for the Week

My brother was French, Algerian, and of the Muslim religion. He was very proud of the name Ahmed

Merabet, proud to represent the French police, and to defend the values of the [French] Republic: liberty,

equality and fraternity.

Through his determination, he had just received his judicial police diploma and was shortly due to leave for

work in the field. His colleagues describe him as a man of action who was passionate about his job.

Ahmed, a man of commitment, had the will to take care of his mother and his relatives following the death of

his father 20 years ago. A pillar of the family, his responsibilities did not prevent him from being a caring son,

a teasing brother, a generous uncle, and a loving companion.

Devastated by this barbaric act, we associate ourselves with the pain of the families of the victims.

I address myself now to all the racists, Islamophobes, and anti-Semites:

One must not confuse extremists with Muslims. Madness has neither color nor religion. I want to make

another point: stop painting everybody with the same brush, stop burning mosques or synagogues. You are

attacking people. It won't bring back our dead, and it won't appease our families.

Malek Merabet

(brother of Ahmed Merebet, slain police officer)

Newsletter 347 Monday 26 January 2015

Happy Australian Day to all our Australian residents!

Recent publications in the school

Atkin, O. K., Bloomfield, K.J., Reich, P.B., Tjoelker, M.G., Asner, G.P., Bonal, D., Bönisch, G., Bradford, M.,

Cernusak, L.A., Cosio, E.G., Creek, D., Crous, K.Y., Domingues, T., Dukes, J.S., Egerton, J.J.G., Evans,

J.R., Farquhar, G.D., Fyllas, N.M., Gauthier, P.G.G., Gloor, E., Gimeno, T.E., Griffin, K.L., Guerrieri, R.,

Heskel, M.A., Huntingford, C., Ishida, F.Y., Kattge, J., Lambers, H., Liddell, M.J., Lloyd, J., Lusk, C.H.,

Martin, R.E., Maksimov, A.P., Maximov, T.C., Mahli, Y., Medlyn, B.E., Meir, P., Mercado, L.M., Mirotchnick,

N., Ng, D., Niinemets, Ü., O'Sullivan, O.S., Philips, O.L., Poorter, L., Poot, P., Prentice, I.C., Salinas, N.,

Rowland, L.M., Ryan, M.G., Sitch, S., Slot, M., Smith, N.G.,Turnbull, M.H., VanderWel, M.C., Valladares, F.,

Veneklaas, E.J., Weerasinghe, L.K., Wirth, C., Wright, I.J., Wythers, K.R., Xiang, J., Xiang, S. and Zaragoza-

Castells, J. (2015). Global variability in leaf respiration in relation to climate, plant functional types and leaf

traits. New Phytologist doi:10.1111/nph.13253.

Chandurvelan, R., Marsden, I.D., Glover, C.N. and Gaw, S. (2015). Assessment of a mussel as a metal

bioindicator of coastal contamination: Relationships between metal bioaccumulation and multiple biomarker

responses. Science of the Total Environment 511: 663-675.

Dayaram, A., Potter, K.A., Pailes, R., Marinov, M., Rosenstein, D.D. and Varsani, A. (2015). Identification of

diverse circular single-stranded DNA viruses in adult dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of

Arizona and Oklahoma, USA. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 30: 278-287.

Glover, C.N., Blewett, T.A. and Wood, C.M. (2015). Novel route of toxicant exposure in an ancient extant

vertebrate: nickel uptake by hagfish skin and the modifying effects of slime. Environmental Science &

Technology doi:10.1021/es5052815.

This is Aliaa Idris' first publication and at first author. She is doing her PhD in CEMB with David

Collings. Congratulations Aliaa!

Idris, N.A. and Collings, D.A. (2015). The life of phi: the development of phi thickenings in roots of the

orchids of the genus Miltoniopsis. Planta 241: 489-506. [now complete with page numbers]

Kader, T., Porteous, C.M., Williams, M.J.A., Gieseg, S. P. and McCormick, S.P.A. (2014). Ribose-cysteine

increases glutathione-based antioxidant status and reduces LDL in human lipoprotein(a) mice.

Artherosclerosis 237: 725-733.

Lindsay, A., Janmale, T., Draper, N. and Gieseg, S.P. (2014). Measurement of changes in urinary

neopterin and total neopterin in body builders using SCX HPLC. Pteridines 25(2): 53-62.

Lindsay, A., Lewis, J., Scarrott, C., Draper, N. and Gieseg, S.P. (2014). Changes in acute biochemical

markers of inflammatory and structural stress in rugby union. Journal of Sports

Sciences doi.org/1080/02640414.2014.971047.

Vijayan, V., Giersberg, M., Chamas, A., Mehrotra, M., Chelikani, V., Kunze, G. and Baronian, K. (2014).

Use of recombinant oestrogen binding protein for the electrochemical detection of oestrogen. Biosensors

and Bioelectronics 66: 379-384.

PhD oral exam completed

Pictured: Dr Arvind Varsani, Simona and Professor Michael Pearson

Simona Kraberger, had her oral exam on Friday 23rd January. In attendance were her Senior Supervisor,

Dr Arvind Varsani, the Oral Examiner, Professor Michael Pearson (University of Auckland) and Oral

Organiser, Dr Sharyn Goldstien. Simona's thesis is entitled 'Towards understanding mastrevirus dynamics

and the use of viral metagenomic approaches to identify novel gemini-like circular DNA viruses'.

Congratulations Simona!

What film is this?

Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.

Issue 346: Last year I spent 322 days on the road, which means I had to spend 43 miserable days at home.

Answer: Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) spoke this in 'Up in the Air' (2009). This was in honour of George

receiving his Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award.

Guessed by: There were no George fans out there....

and now for something completely different...

Remembering Deirdre Barlow (aka Anne Kirkbride)

Translucent fish found alive deep under Antarctic ice

Why Rain Gives Off That Fresh, Earthy Smell

Dogs playing fetch

Thought for the Week

You're only one thought away from changing your life.

~ Dr Wayne Dyer

Newsletter 348 Thursday 12 February 2015

Recent publications in the school

Beavon, M.A. and Kelly, D. (2014). Dispersal of banana passionfruit (Passiflora tripartita var. mollissima) by

exotic mammals in New Zealand facilitates plant invasiveness. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 39(1): 43-

49.[now complete with page numbers]

Campbell, R.E., Winterbourn, M.J., Cochrane, T.A. and McIntosh, A.R. (2015). Flow-related disturbance

creates a gradient of metacommunity types within stream networks. Landscape

Ecology doi:10.1007/s10980-015-0164-x.

Cross, F.R. and Jackson, R.R. (2014). Solving a novel confinement problem by spartaeine salticids that are

predisposed to solve problems in the context of predation. Animal Cognition 18(2): 509-515. [now complete

with page numbers]

Farkas, K., Plutzer, J., Moltchanova, E., Török, A., Varró, M.J., Domokos, K., Frost, F. and Hunter, P.R.

(2015). Serological responses to Cryptosporidium antigens in inhabitants of Hungary using conventionally

filtered surface water and riverbank filtered drinking water. Epidemiology &

Infection doi:10.1017/S0950268814003859.

Godsoe, W., Murray, R. and Plank, M.J. (2015). Information on biotic interactions improves transferability of

distribution models. The American Naturalist 185(2): 281-290.

Heinemann, J.A. and Kurenbach, B. (2014). Horizontal transfer of genes between microorganisms.

Encyclopedia of Microbiology, Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, Elsevier.

Kraberger, S., Argüello-Astorga, G.R., Greenfield, L.G., Galilee, C.F., Law, D., Martin, D.P. and Varsani,

A. (2015). Characterisation of a diverse range of circular replication-associated protein encoding DNA

viruses recovered from a sewage treatment oxidation pond. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 31: 73-86.

Oppong, A., Offei, S.K., Ofori, K., Adu-Dapaah, H., Lamptey, J.N.L., Kurenbach, B., Walters, M., Shepherd,

D.N., Martin, D.P. andVarsani, A. (2015). Mapping the distribution of maize streak virus genotypes across

the forest and transition zones of Ghana. Archives of Virology 160(2): 483-492.

PhD oral exam completed

Donna Sutherland had her PhD oral exam during the week of the 26th January via video link. Her thesis

title is 'Enhancing the performance of wastewater microalgae through chemical and physical modifications in

High Rate Algal Ponds'. Her Senior Supervisors were Professor Matthew Turnbull and Dr Paul Broady.

Professor Jim Briskie was the Oral Organiser. Congratulations Donna!

Pictured: Donna and Professor Matthew Turnbull (Senior Supervisor)

Pictured: Via video link were Dr Rupert Craggs (Associate Supervisor, NIWA) and Professor John Beardall

(Oral Examiner, Monash University)

In the spotlight

Postgraduate awarded best paper

Angus Lindsay's (PhD candidate) paper in the journal Pteridines won the best paper award for a first time

author under the age of 40 from the International Society of Pteridinology. The Prize was 1000 Euros. The

title of the paper is: Measurement of changes in urinary neopterin and total neopterin in body builders using

SCX HPLC Pteridines 2014:53-62

Future quality and sustainability of New Zealand snapper

investigated

Improvements in the quality and sustainability of snapper, one of New Zealand’s most popular fish, are being

investigated by University of Canterbury scientists.

The research by biological sciences researcher Dr Sarah Coxon will have implications for better commercial

harvesting of New Zealand snapper. Read the full article at The Scoop.

Speedier snapper linked to taste? - also at Newstalk ZB.

Most native freshwater species are threatened in New Zealand

A University of Canterbury researcher says the majority of New Zealand’s native freshwater fish species are

threatened or at risk of extinction.

Among those that are threatened, members of the galaxiid family, which include whitebait, are especially

threatened or at risk.

Freshwater scientist Dr Simon Howard has investigated the survival of two threatened galaxiids, upland

longjaw galaxias and bignose galaxias, in catchments of the Waitaki River which is the second largest river

in New Zealand. Read the full article at The Scoop.

Scientists investigating post-exercise cold water immersion

After monitoring recovery interventions in the Crusaders Super 15 rugby camp last year, University of

Canterbury scientists want to investigate if immediate post-exercise cold water immersion is the main

contributing recovery factor.

Biological sciences researcher Associate Professor Steven Gieseg, PhD student Angus

Lindsay and summer school student Sam Carr are observing the level of muscle damage and

inflammation in fighters following mixed martial arts fights. Read the full article at The Voxy.

What film is this?

Will you follow me, one last time?

Issue 347: Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can

imagine.

Answer: The Imitation Game (2014), yes I know far too recent!!

Guessed by: Noboby...

and now for something completely different...

Some Greek magic.... departed

Libby Lane: First female Church of England bishop consecrated

Saharan dust over the Mediterranean Sea

Photographer highlights New Zealand's beauty on three-month camper trip

Thought for the Week

A Micropause is a small duration break taken frequently during periods of continuous computer use.

A micropause should be taken every 5-10 minutes for between 5-15 seconds. By taking a micropause you

will reduce eyestrain and release muscular tension.

Newsletter 349 Monday 23 February 2015

Welcome to Semester One

I've been waiting and waiting for you all to return! The campus has been deserted without you (that's if you

don't count the hundreds of hi-vis/helmet wearers...). At last the place can get back to being normal again.

Lecturing academics will have their first lecture notes all ready for you on Learn. Hopefully you all turn up for

the live lectures and get a buzz from your lecturers informing you of the in's and out's of science. Nothing can

beat the lecture theatre, sitting next to that pretty girl/boy in row 9, third from the left and making history by

scratching your name on the desk (did I write that...). Certainly beats listening to a lecture in your bedroom

with your earphones on, no atmosphere there, just the smell of stale pizza. So, go on, challenge yourself and

attend that 100-300 level course in person, make your lecturer proud!

Recent publications in the school

Holdaway, R.N. (2015). Pyramid Valley and Beyond: Discovering the prehistoric birdlife of North Canterbury,

New Zealand. Christchurch, Turnagra Press. 44pp. Request your own copy.

Kitto, J.A.J., Gray, D.P., Greig, H.S., Niyogi, D.K. and Harding, J.S. (2015). Meta-community theory and

stream restoration: evidence that spatial position constrains stream invertebrate communities in a mine

impacted landscape. Restoration Ecology doi:10.1111/rec.12179.

Nelson, X.J. (2015). The spider's charade. Scientific American 311(6): 86-89.

Pham, H.T.M., Giersberg, M., Gehrmann, L., Hettwer, K., Tuerk, J., Uhlig, S., Hanke, G., Weisswange, P.,

Simon, K., Baronian, K. and Kunze, G. (2015). The determination of pharmaceuticals in wastewater using a

recombinant Arxula adeninivorans whole cell biosensor. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 211: 439-448.

Postgradute news

Welcoming our newest postgraduate students

(1 December - 1 February enrolments)

Jennifer Agaldo, PhD in Ecology

Nuwan Alexandrio de Silva, PhD in Biology

Kumilign Asmare Melesse, PhD in Biology

Della Bennet, MSc Part II in Biology

Bernat Bramon Mora, PhD in Ecology

Courtney Burn, MSc Part II in Biology

Fernando Cagua Bermudez, PhD in Ecology

Hannah Charan-Dixon, MSc Part II in Zoology

Sean Cross, MSc Part II in Biochemistry

Arohi Dhaneshwar, MSc Part II in Environmental Sciences

Jase Eden, Master of Water Resource Management

Natalie Forsdick, MSc Part II in Ecology

Brandon Goeller, PhD in Biology

Oliver Gooday, MSc Part II in Biology

Laura Grundy, MSc Part II in Biology

Anna Henderson, MSc Part II in Biology

Amy Hill, MSc Part II in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Janelle Hosking, MSc Part II in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Robin Hu, MSc Part II in Biochemistry

Julie Kim, MSc Part II in Biology

Tara McAllister, MSc in Waterways

Emma MacKenzie, MSc in Waterways

Maketalena Male, MSc Part II in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Karen Middlemiss, PhD in Biology

Judith Nonis, MSc Part II in Microbiology

Alannah Rickerby, MSc Part II in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Hayley Schoch, MSc Part II in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Alfonso Siciliano, PhD in Ecology

Olivia Steel, MSc Part II in Biochemistry

Mehrnoush Tangestanigholami, PhD in Microbiology

David Thomas, MSc Part II in Ecology

Channell Thoms, MSc Part II in Environmental Sciences

Beth Vanderhaven, MSc Part II in Biology

Solomon Wante, PhD in Biotechnolgy

Biplang Yadok, PhD in Ecology

What film is this?

You don't want the bumper. Life doesn't give you bumpers.

Issue 348: Will you follow me, one last time?

Answer: Thorin Oakenshield speaks to his Company in The Hobbit: The Battle of the the Five Armies (2014)

Guessed by: Would you believe, Bill did!

and now for something completely different...

Robot predicts Afghanistan to win the 2015 Cricket World Cup

Cat Tank Wars - Mission: Kibble

Remembering Lesley Gore

You don't owe me

It's my party

Commerce building, crane construction timelapse

(includes moving ants!)

Thought for the Week

If your words are soft and sweet, they won't be as hard to swallow if you have to eat them. -Unknown

Newsletter 350 Tuesday 10 March 2015

Recent publications in the school

Dayaram, A., Goldstien, S., Argüello-Astorga, G.R., Zawar-Reza, P., Gomez, C., Harding, J.S.

and Varsani, A. (2015). Diverse small circular DNA viruses circulating amongst estuarine molluscs.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution 31: 284-295.

Kraberger, S., Farkas, K., Bernardo, P., Booker, C., Argüello-Astorga, G.R., Mesléard, F., Martin, D.P.,

Roumagnac, P. and Varsani, A. 2015. Identification of novel Bromus- and Trifolium-associated circular DNA

viruses. Archives of Virology doi:10.10.1007/s00705-015-2358-6.

In the spotlight

Mount Foweraker

We are really pleased to be able to let you know that the New Zealand Geographic Board has approved our

proposal to name pt 1804 in Arthur's Pass National Park as Mount Foweraker. It is named after Charles

Foweraker, lecturer and senior lecturer in Botany, and lecturer in charge of the first Forestry School at

Canterbury College. The name became official on 26 February 2015.

We found out today that our proposal has been accepted and we now have a Mount Foweraker (1804 m)

between Sudden Valley and Red Beach Stream (see picture – slightly to the right of centre in this photo),

being one of the most visible mountains from Cass where Charles Foweraker spent much time teaching

students and undertaking research. It is so exciting to have this name is finally confirmed and we look

forward to seeing it on maps in the future. - David Norton and Laura Young

Carbon dioxide can improve quality of wastewater

A NIWA scientist undertaking doctoral biological research at the University of Canterbury has been exploring

how carbon dioxide can improve the quality of wastewater.

Water quality in New Zealand is deteriorating due to increased nutrient loads from human activities, including

urban and agricultural development. As a result there is a need for improved nutrient measures, particularly

for nutrient removal from wastewater.

Dr Donna Sutherland (PhD candidate) says one option for better wastewater treatment and nutrient

removal is the use of advanced wastewater treatment ponds that offer immediate solutions to nutrient

mitigation. Read more at the Voxy.

Re-appointment to Marsden Fund Council

Mr Steven Joyce has announced the reappointment of Professor Juliet Gerrard as Chair of the Marsden

Fund Council, Dr Ian Ferguson as Convenor of the Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology panel, and

Professor Robert Hannah as Convenor of the Humanities panel.

The reappointments are for three-year terms from 1 March.

“I welcome the contribution these top researchers can make to New Zealand’s science and innovation

system,” says Mr Joyce.

Plunging university roll 'just temporary down cycle'

Student numbers at the University of Canterbury continue to fall, with the 2014 enrolment the lowest in five

years.

The student headcount has dropped more than 21 per cent since 2010, dropping from 18,783 that year to

14,725 in 2014.

Tertiary Education Union academic representative for the university, Professor Jack Heinemann, said

student number projections for 2015 were encouraging.

"Historically the university has returned a surplus and this is just a temporary down cycle for us." Read the

full article at Stuff.

Postgradute news

Welcoming our newest postgraduate students

(1 March enrolments)

Matthew Arnet, PGDipSc in Biology Zane Lazare, MSc Part I in Ecology

Mariann Brennan, PGDipSc in Biology Cameron MacDonald, MSc Part I in Biochemistry

Dave Brockerhoff, MSc Part I in Biology Kristina Macdonald, BScHons in Environmental Sciences

Eduardo Burmeister, PGDipSc in Environmental Sciences Isis Metcalfe, MSc Part I in Ecology

Hamish Cleland, PGDipSc in Biochemistry Tess O'Malley, BSc Hons in Zoology

Darshana Darshika, PGDipSc in Biology David Packer, PGDipSc in Biology

James Davies, MSc Part I in Biochemistry Greg Parker, BSc Hons in Biochemistry

Elizabeth Dunn, PGDipSc in Biology Hayden Petch, PGDipSc in Biology

Sam Elley, PGDipSc in Cellular & Molecular Biology Natalie Pilcher, MSc Part I in Zoology

Thomas Falconer, MSc Part I in Zoology Jennifer Schori, MSc Part I in Ecology

Travis Foster, PhD in Biology Nidhi Sharma, PGDipSc in Cellular & Molecular Biology

Nicky Glenjarman, MSc Part I + II in Ecology Nelli Sibaeva, BSc Hons in Microbiology

Douglas Hill, MSc Part I in Biology Grace Wallis, PGDipSc in Zoology

Bonnie Humphrey, MSc Part I in Biology Connor Whitau, MSc Part I in Biology

Tasmsyn Hutchings, PGDipSc in Environmental Sciences Kelly Whitau, MSc Part I in Ecology

Whan Jindachote, MSc Part I in Envvironmental Sciences Toni Wi, MSc Part I in Ecology

Hyun Woo Jun, PGDipSc in Biochemistry Anthony Yeandle, MSc Part I in Biochemistry

Adrian Lambert, PGDipSc in Environmental Sciences Mark Yungnickel, MSc Part I in Ecology

Joseph Lau Jian Le, MSc Part I in Biochemistry

What film is this?

I'm not Holly. I'm not Lula Mae, either. I don't know who I am! I'm like cat here, a couple of no-name slobs.

We belong to nobody and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other.

Issue 349: You don't want the bumper. Life doesn't give you bumpers.

Answer: Boyhood (2014)

Guessed by: Nobody...

and now for something completely different...

Next time you complain about snow in Christchurch

Digging car out of snow, next task, the tool shed!

Survey reveals signs of tuatara recovery (w/ Video)

Bees form false memories, just like humans

In case you were'nt aware already

Study finds college first-years (in US) are turning away from conventional socializing

Bad kitty

(make sure you put the sound on just to hear the reaction!)

Pass the salt

Lion opens car door... wait for it

Thought for the Week

No river can return to its source, yet all rivers must have a beginning. - Proverb

Newsletter 351 Tuesday 24 March 2015

Recent publications in the school

Källqvist, E.M.L.A., Pirker, J.G. and Marsden, I.D. 2015. Assessment of recreational fishing within the

Akaroa Harbour Taiāpure Management Area, South Island Te Waipounamu, New Zealand. New Zealand

Natural Sciences 40: 1-15.

Lindsay, A., Healy, J., Mills, W., Lewis, J., Draper, N. and Gieseg, S.P. 2015. Impact-induced muscle

damage and urinary pterins in professional rugby: 7,8-dihydroneopterin oxidation by myoglobin.

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports doi:10.1111/sms.12436.

Varsani, A., Porzig, E.L., Jennings, S., Kraberger, S., Farkas, K., Julian, L., Massaro, M., Ballard, G. and

Ainley, D.G. 2015. Identification of an avian polyomavirus associated with Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis

adeliae). Journal of General Virology 96: 851-857.

Welcome to ...

Ruby Robinson was born on Thursday 5th March. Esme (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Richard welcomed their

beautiful baby girl to the world. Big sister Elsie must be over the moon as well!

PhD oral exams completed

Pictured: Dr Grant Pearce (Proud Senior Supervisor) with son Adam, Professor Julian Eaten-Rye (Oral

Examiner) and Jeremy Keown

Jeremy Keown had his oral exam on Tuesday 10th March under the watchful eyes of his Senior Supervisor,

Dr Grant Pearce, Oral Examiner Professor Julian Eaten-Rye (University of Otago) and the Oral Organiser, Dr

Arvind Varsani. Jeremy's thesis title is 'Rubisco’s chiropractor: a study of higher plant Rubisco activase'.

Congratulations Jeremy, you looked smart in your suit!

Anisha Dayaram had her oral exam on Tuesday 17th March. Her thesis title is 'Discovery of novel circular

replication-associated protein encoding single-stranded DNA viruses in ecosystems using viral metagenomic

approaches'. In attendance were her Dr Arvind Varsani (Senior Supervisor), Dr Andrew Geering (Oral

Examiner, University of Queensland) and Dr Grant Pearce (Oral Organiser). Congratulations Anisha!

Pictured: Dr Arvind Varsani (Senior Supervisor), Anisha and Dr Andrew Geering (Oral Examiner)

In the spotlight

TY Danjuma Scholars Arrive at UC

In 2014 Retired General T.Y. Danjuma created two doctoral scholarships for Nigerian students to carry out

PhD research with Associate Professor Hazel Chapman under the umbrella of the UC Nigerian Montane

Forest project (NMFP).

Pictured: Associate Professor Hazel Chapman, Jennifer Agaldo and Biplang Yadok

Jennifer Agaldo and Biplang Yadok have now arrived at UC;- both of their projects have field work based

in and around Ngel Nyaki forest, the NMFP field site and both are aimed at better understanding seed

dispersal. Jen is investigating the role of ants in predation vs dispersal of small seeds and this balance in

relation to forest restoration. Biplang is investigating the ecology and seed dispersal behaviour of the African

pouched rat. This large rat may be an important disperser of large seeded species who have lost their

traditional frugivore dispersers to hunting and habitat loss.

For more information on the scholars or the NMFP see the project

website: www.afromontane.canterbury.ac.nz

Whitebait on the move in Canterbury

The Canterbury earthquakes devastated the lower reaches of the Heathcote River / Ōpĕwaho and its

mouth at the Avon-Heathcote estuary.

After four years of recovery, one beneficiary may be whitebait. Adult whitebait lay their eggs in streamside

vegetation in the area where saltwater mixes with fresh river water, says University of Canterbury doctoral

researcher Shane Orchard.

Orchard’s PhD research, supervised by Professor David Schiel, investigates the vulnerability of coastal

conservation areas to dynamic changes such as sea level rise. He is using earthquake effects to simulate

the type of issues that might occur with climate change. Continue reading more at the Voxy.

Whitebait find new sites to lay eggs post Canterbury earthquakes - read at TVNZ news.

Darwin's Galapagos birds share rare taste for flowers - study

Scientists have for the first time discovered a general shift in diets across an entire group of animals while

studying birds on the Galapagos islands that once helped inspire Charles Darwin's theory of

evolution. Professor Dave Kelly was quoted in the Daily Mail talking this study.

Heart Life newsletter

Associate Professor Steven Gieseg was spotlighted in Heart Life (Autumn issue). Heart Life is a

newsletter published by the Heart Foundation. Read the full article here.

What film is this?

You know, this is my table, man. I own it.

Issue 350: I'm not Holly. I'm not Lula Mae, either. I don't know who I am! I'm like cat here, a couple of no-

name slobs. We belong to nobody and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other.

Answer: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Spoken by the talented Audrey Hepburn (Holly Golightly (aka Lula

Mae) to Paul Varjak (George Peppard)

Guessed by: Toni Wi and Jackie Healy

and now for something completely different...

Deans drops in as Grizz's gang reunite

(unfortunately the seminar was last week...)

King Richard III to Get Proper Burial 530 Years Later

Air Guitar with Bradley Cooper

Monica Lewinsky: The price of shame

In honour of National Puppy Day

(yesterday actually...)

Thought for the Week

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. - Jean de La Fontaine

Newsletter 352 Wednesday 15 April 2015

There will be a graduation special newsletter next week.

Recent publications in the school

Chandrasekaran, N., Dimartino, S., Janmale, T., Gieseg, S.P. and Fee, C.J. (2015). Adsorption of

chemically synthesized mussel adhesive peptide sequences containing DOPA on stainless steel. Journal of

Peptide Science doi.10.1002/psc.2776.

Gardner, P.P., Fasold, M., Burge, S.W., Ninova, M., Hertel, J., Kehr, S., Steeves, T.E., Griffiths-Jones, S.

and Stadler, P.F. 2015. Conservation and losses of non-coding RNAs in avian genomes. PLoS ONE

10: e0121797.

Kraberger, S., Farkas, K., Bernardo, P., Booker, C., Argüello-Astorga, G.R., Mesléard, F., Martin, D.P.,

Roumagnac, P. and Varsani, A. (2015). Identification of novel Bromus- and Trifolium-associated circular

DNA viruses. Archives of Virology 160(5): 1303-1311. [now with page numbers]

Kumari, A., Baronian, K., Kunze, G. and Gupta, R. (2015). Extracellular expression of YlLip11 with a native

signal peptide from Yarrowialipolytica MSR80 in three different yeast hosts. Protein Expression and

Purification 110: 138-144.

Kurenbach, B., Marjoshi, D., Amábile-Cuevas, C.F., Ferguson, G.C., Godsoe, W., Gibson,

P. and Heinemann, J.A. 2015. Sublethal exposure to commercial formulations of the herbicides dicamba,

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acide, and glyphosate cause changes in antibiotic susceptibility in Escherichia

coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. American Society for Microbiology 6: e00009-00015.

Lindsay, A., Draper, N., Lewis, J., Gieseg, S.P. and Gill, N. 2015. Positional demands of professional rugby.

European Journal of Sport Science doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1025858.

Macdonald, K.J., Lennon, Z.J., Bensemann, L.L., Clemens, J. and Kelly, D. 2015. Variable pollinator

dependence of three Gastrodia species (Orchidaceae) in modified Canterbury landscapes. New Zealand

Ecology 39: Early access online.

Song, J., Jiang, L. and Jameson, P.E. (2015). Expression patterns of Brassica napus genes implicate IPT,

CKX, sucrose transporter, cell wall invertase and amino acid permease gene family members in leaf, flower,

silique and seed development. Journal of Experimental Botany doi:10.1093/jxb/erv133.

In the spotlight

Scientists keep quiet on controversial subjects fearing backlash from

peers

Scientists and academics have a moral imperative to speak up on controversial issues, but are often failing

to do so, a Canterbury University professor says.

Jack Heinemann was speaking at the sold-out New Zealand Association of Scientists annual conference in

Wellington on Friday, where the theme was “Going Public: Scientists speaking out on difficult issues”. Read

the full article at NZDoctor.

Freshwater habitats decimated by quakes

The effects of the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes damaged 100 kilometres of the city's freshwater

habitats, new research shows.

Little was known about how large earthquakes could affect freshwater habitats until University of Canterbury

freshwater ecologist Professor Jon Harding began researching.

He worked with National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) scientist Dr Phillip Jellyman

to assess the effects of the repeated earthquakes on Christchurch's streams and rivers. Read the full article

written by Sarah-Jane O'Connor (PhD graduate, 2013) in The Press.

Catch the video on this article at One News.

Lone Pine seedlings to mark the 100th Anzac Day

Three Turkish red pine seedlings from the original Lone Pine at Gallipoli will be planted around Christchurch

on April 25 to commemorate the 100th Anzac Day anniversary later this month.

New Zealand Crown Research Institute Scion, based at the University of Canterbury, has seedlings grown

for the 100th anniversary. The seedlings have been nurtured at Scion and the University of Canterbury’s

School of Biological Sciences glasshouse and Scion researcher Alan Leckie says the seedlings will become

the most important trees in New Zealand in terms of their Anzac connections. Read full article at UC

Communications.

Common pesticides linked to antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics and herbicides, as it turns out, don’t mix. At least that’s the conclusion of a study published today

in mBio, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Microbiology, which found that if someone is

exposed to both herbicides and antibiotics at the same time, higher doses of antibiotics will likely be needed

to kill the offending bacteria.

It’s the first study of the effect of herbicides on antibiotics, and its findings could have implications

for antibiotics resistance. The growing risk of disease from antibiotic-resistant pathogens is a huge public

health concern, one that was recently prioritized by both the World Health Organization and the US Centers

for Disease Control.

According to Jack Heinemann, the study’s lead author, policy makers and researchers should look at

multiple factors, not just over-use of antibiotics, in fighting antibiotics resistance. In addition, as more

genetically modified crops are planted, use of herbicides is expected to increase. Read the full article at The

Guardian by Amy Westervelt.

Hit the headlines at the Shanghai Daily, The Times of India, Sustainable Pulse, Huffington Post, Genetic

Literacy Project, Maria Roadale - Huffington Post, Time Magazine, Civil Eats, Rodale News, Statesman

Journal by Tracy Loew, Salon by Lindsay Abrams, NRDC blog by Carmen Cordova, Prison

Planet, CommonDreams.org

Listen to Jack's interview on Radio New Zealand.

And, for those with time on their hands check out the Meltwater Media list...

Claims Of GMO Yield Increases Don’t Hold Up

At a hearing of the House Agriculture Committee this week, opponents of mandatory labeling of GMO foods

trotted out the now familiar argument that genetically engineered crops are the key to feeding Earth’s

mushrooming population.

Take corn, one of the mostly widely grown GE crops around the world. A major new paper found that

average yields of GE corn in the United States from 1986 to 2011 were slightly lower than corn yields over

the same period in western Europe, where GE crops aren’t grown. The research was led by Jack

Heinemann, a professor of genetics at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Read the full article at the Environmental Working Group.

Canterbury scientist helping critically endangered kakī

A University of Canterbury scientist is investigating ways to ensure the survival and recovery of critically

endangered kakī (black stilt) in the wild.

Dr Tammy Steeves is making recommendations to support the management of one of the world’s rarest

birds, the kakī, which is a critically endangered endemic wading bird restricted to the Upper Waitaki Basin in

the South Island. Read the full article at Yahoo.

What film is this?

If they can't start a meeting without you, well, that's a meeting worth going to, isn't it? And that's the only kind

of meeting you should ever concern yourselves with.

Issue 351: You know, this is my table, man. I own it.

Answer: Spoken by Fast Eddie (Paul Newman) in The Hustler (1961)

Guessed by: Nobody...

and now for something completely different...

I had too many treasures to pick from so I added them all.... something for everybody!

Rattlesnakes inspire search-and-rescue robot design

Cattle growth hormone alters sexual behavior of fish

Mini jet-boats are 'built for fun'

Don't read this link if you don't want to know who has won University Challenge NZ!

Australian cricket legend Richie Benaud dies in Sydney hospice

(check out the 35 years of cricket at the bottom of the article too)

Pain relief: New Zealand's breakthrough in migraine treatment

TED talk: Dame Stephanie Shirley: Why do ambitious women have flat heads?

Mime Through Time by SketchSHE

(hopefully you can all relate!)

Best dancer in New Zealand

(just in case you missed it the first time...)

Seth Brings Jon Snow to a Dinner Party - Late Night with Seth Meyers

(for the GoT fans)

"The best Best Man's speech ever!" - by Daniel Buccheri

Thought for the Week

Imagination is the true magic carpet - Normal Vincent Peale

Newsletter 353 Tuesday 21 April 2015

Graduation special

Recent publications in the school

Harding, J.S. and Jellyman, P.G. (2015). Earthquakes, catastrophic sediment additions and the response of

urban stream communities. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater

Research doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2015.1013969.

Lindsay, A., Lewis, J., Gill, N., Gieseg, S.P. and Draper, N. (2015). Effect of varied recovery interventions

on markers of psychophysiological stress in professional rugby union. European Journal of Sport

Science doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1029982.

In the spotlight

'Weird' deep sea creature washes up in Dunedin

It's rarely seen, can grow up to eight metres long and swims vertically, but does it really bite off its own tail?

That is the question marine scientists are grappling with after an oarfish washed up on a salt marsh on the

Aramoana Spitat the entrance of Otago Harbour on Thursday.

University of Canterbury's Chris Glover, from the School of Biological Sciences, believed there may have

been confusion around the term autotomy - "a process where animals can cleave off parts of their bodies"

without using their mouths. Read the full article at Stuff.

Researchers receive funding to help Kaikoura's fishery

Two University of Canterbury marine researchers have received about $100,000 of government funding over

two years to collect information about the state of customary fisheries along the Kaika•ura coastline.

Drs Sharyn Goldstien and John Pirker will create an innovative tertiary education programme in

partnership with Te Rananga o Kaika•ura and community mentors including the Kaikaura District Council

and community partners. Read the full article on the Voxy.

UC Me profiles

Both Lara Sweetapple (BSc graduate, 2014) and Sophie Hale (studying her BSc in Biological Sciences and

Economics) have been profiled in the UC Me campaign which is featured on the homepage of UC. You can

also check Lara out when you pop to the airport looking larger than life on a huge billboard. The last Biology

student to do so was Nixie Boddy (studying her PhD in Ecology).

Graduation - Friday 17th April

Inspirational Alumni

Pictured: Professor Matthew Turnbull (Head of School) and Shelley McMurtrie (UC Biological Sciences

inspirational alumni)

Shelley McMurtrie started EOS Ecology—an aquatic science and visual communication company—soon

after graduating from UC.

Dr Ian Stirling was also given the honour of our latest inductee. His career as a research scientist for the

Canadian Wildlife Service at Environment Canada spanned 37 years following his PhD studies at UC where

he investigated population ecology of Weddell seals in Antarctica.

Check out their full profiles here.

Doctor of Philosophy

Pictured: Dr Arvind Varsani with his students, Dr Simona Kraberger and Daisy Stainton

IN PERSON

Anisha Dayaram in Microbiology

Discovery of novel circular replication-associated protein encoding single-stranded DNA viruses in

ecosystems using viral metagenomic approaches

Simona Kraberger in Microbiology

Towards understanding mastrevirus dynamics and the use of viral metagenomic approaches to identify novel

gemini-like circular DNA viruses

Angela Newton in Biochemistry

Flavour formation in ghee

Donna Sutherland in Environmental Sciences

Enhancing the performance of wastewater microalgae through chemical and physical modifications in high

rate algal ponds

Akshita Wason in Biochemistry

Investigation of Lsm Proteins as Scaffolds in Bionanotechnology

COUNCIL CEREMONY

Aliyu Babale in Ecology

The interplay of habitat and seed size on the shift in species composition in a gragmented Afromontane

forest landscape: implications for the management of forest restoration

Abishek Muralidhar in Ecology

Turgor regulation in species of Vaucheria (Xanthophyceae, Heterokontophyta) from habitats of contrasting

salinities

Master of Science

Pictured: Professor Jack Heinemann, Delphine Marjoshi, Robyn White and Professor Jim Briskie

Ronan Broad Biotechnology First Class Honours

Ilina Cubrinovska Evolution Master of Science

Emma Dorsey Biochemistry Second Class Honours, Division 1

Letitia Gilmour Biochemistry First Class Honours

Delphine Marjoshi Microbiology First Class Honours

Mark Walker Microbiology Master of Science

Robyn White Ecology First Class Honours

COUNCIL CEREMONY

Thomas Davison, Chemistry, First Class Honours - Congratulations Tom!

Samuel Mills, Biotechnology, Master of Science

Ashley Rabel, Zoology, Master of Science

Anish Shah, Biotechnology, Second Class Honours, Division 2

Miriam Wells, Microbiology, Master of Science

Bachelor of Science with Honours Serena Watkin Biochemistry First Class Honours

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences / Biochemistry

C. Philippa Edwards and Hilary Jacomb ******************************** Dr John Pirker, Lecturer

Jack E. Aitken Brittany R. Bennenbroek Simeon D. Booth

Mariann P. Brennan David F. Brockerhoff Hannah L. Campbell

Hamish S. Cleland Rebekah L.I. Crake Susannah R. Dunham

Catherine P. Edwards William N. Finnis Nicola P.C. Glenjarman

Samuel M. Houston Bonnie J. Humphrey Tamsyn B. Hutchings

Violet A. Lawson Ang Li Cameron A. MacDonald

Jessica C.V. Nugteren Gregory J. Parker Erika M. Paynter

Esperanza S. Pearl Nikita B. Peters Daniel J. Priest

Craig M. Sherriff Elliot W. Smith Jacob A. Somerton

Chelsea P. Swan Brechtsje T. Tacoma Helena E. Trollope

Oscar W.K. Vanhanen Jonathan Wang Serena A.J. Watkin

Kelly R. Whitau Roshan G. Wijetillake Thomas S. Wootton

Shelly K.Y. Wu Melissa S. Zainey

COUNCIL CEREMONY

Jessica A. Griffin Annie G. King Joseph Lau Jian Le

Gemma L.H. Martin Isis H. Metcalfe Matthew Plowman-Holmes

Nelli Sibaeva Arminda E. Wood

Thought for Graduation Week

The Illustrated Guide To A Ph.D

Newsletter 354 Wednesday 29 April 2015

Welcome to Term 2

Recent publications in the school

Ball, O.J.-P., Pohe, S.R. and Winterbourn, M.J. (2015). Littoral macroinvertebrate communities of dune

lakes in the far north of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater

Research doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2014.989237.

Brown, J.K., Zerbini, F.M., Navas-Castillo, J., Moriones, E., Ramos-Sobrinho, R., Silva, J.C.F., Fiallo-Olivé,

E., Briddon, R.W., Hernández-Zepeda, C., Idris, A., Malathi, V.G., Martin, D.P., Rivera-Bustamante, R.,

Ueda, S. and Varsani, A. (2015). Revision of Begomovirus taxonomy based on pairwise sequence

comparisons. Archives of Virology doi.10.1007/s00705-015-2398-y.

Collings, D.A., Collings, B.G., Julian, L., Kurenbach, B. and Varsani, A. (2015). Genome sequences of

beak and feather disease virus in urban rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus). Genome

Announcements 3(2): e00283-15.

Greer, A.L., Gajdon, G.K. and Nelson, X.J. (2015). Intraspecific variation in the foraging ecology of kea, the

world's only mountain- and rainforest-dwelling parrot. New Zealand Journal of Ecology

39(2): http://www.newzealandecology.org/nzje/.

Kaur, M., Roberts, S., Healy, J., Domigan, L., Vasudevamurthy, M., Gerrard, J.A. and Sasso, L. (2015).

Crystallin nanofibrils: a functionalizable nanoscaffold with broad applications manufactured from waste.

ChemPlusChem doi:10.1002/cplu.201500033.

Leung, D.W.M. (2015). Regulatory role of nitric oxide in alteractions of morphological features of plants

under abiotic stress. In: Nitric Oxide Action in Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants. Eds. M. N. Khan, M.

Mobin, F. Mohammad and F. J. Corpas. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing: 65-73.

Tait, L.W., South, P.M., Lilley, S.A., Thomsen, M.S. and Schiel, D.R. (2015). Assemblage and understory

carbon production of native and invasive canopy-forming macroalgae. Journal of Experimental Marine

Biology and Ecology 469: 10-17.

van Vianen, J.C.C.M., Houliston, G.J., Fletcher, J.D., Heenan, P.B. and Chapman, H.M. (2015).

Consequences of interspecific hybridization and virus infection on the growth and fecundity of three

threatened coastal Lepidium (Brassicaceae) species from New Zealand. Austral

Ecology doi:10.1111/aec.12234.

In the spotlight

Early Career Fellow of the Ecological Society of America

Dr Daniel Stouffer has been named an Early Career Fellow of the Ecological Society of America. This

honorary title is given to a select number of members to recognise and honour early career ESA members

for their contributions and potential contributions to the discipline. Early Career Fellows are elected for five

years from the year of selection (2015-2019).

Lottery Health Board funding success

Congratulations to Dr Ren Dobson and colleagues on a successful application to the Lottery Health Board

for centrifuge equipment ($49,000).

BIOL 378 class under the ‘Big Totora’ at the Blue Duck Reserve near

Kaikoura

What Do We Really Know About Roundup Weed Killer?

More on Professor Jack Heinemann's research, this time in an article at National Geographic.

Choked Christchurch waterways hit fish numbers

Still in the headline news.

A study of Christchurch waterways has found most are so choked with silt that only minimal numbers of eels,

trout and whitebait are able to live there. Follow the story at Radio NZ on the UC and NIWA's study

involving Jon Harding and Phil Jellyman.

Nepali community rallying for Kiwi support

Christchurch Nepalis are raising money to support their beleaguered country as aftershocks continue and

the death toll from the devastating earthquake climbs.

On Monday the community began fundraising in earnest, helped by members of the University of Canterbury

(UC) Student Volunteer Army (SVA) in collecting donations at Westfield Mall, Riccarton. Read full article

at Stuff.

Fundraising page has been set up to gather donations.

Welcoming our newest postgraduate students

(1 April)

Radhika Mohandass, PhD in Biotechnology

Elle Soper, MSc Part II in Ecology

What film is this?

Your seats? Tyrone, this is a stolen car, mate.

Issue 352: If they can't start a meeting without you, well, that's a meeting worth going to, isn't it? And that's

the only kind of meeting you should ever concern yourselves with.

Answer: Spoken by Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey) in Swimming with Sharks, 1994.

Guessed by: Nobody...

and now for something completely different...

Real Kermit The Frog Discovered In Costa Rica

The unique connection

Celebrating Willie Nelson on his birthday

Thought for the Week

Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the

imperfections. - Unknown

Newsletter 355 Wednesday 13 May 2015

Recent publications in the school

This is Laura's first publication, and at first author, since she graduated with a MSc in Ecology

(2012). Congratulations Laura!

Drummond, L.R., McIntosh, A.R. and Larned, S.T. (2015). Invertebrate community dynamics and insect

emergence in response to pool drying in a temporary river. Freshwater Biology early access

online. doi:10.1111/fwb.12591.

Febria, C.M., Koch, B.J. and Palmer, M.A. (2015). Operationalizing an ecosystem services-based approach

for managing river biodiversity. In: Water Ecosystem Services: A Global Perspective. Eds. J. Martin-Ortega,

R.C. Ferrier, I.J. Gordon and S. Khan. Cambridge, UNESCO and Cambridge University Press. 978-1-107-

10037-4: 26-34.

This is Brandon's first publication, and at first author. Brandon is presently doing his PhD in

Biological Sciences. Congratulations!

Goeller, B. and Wolter, C. (2015). "Performance of bottom ramps to mitigate gravel habit bottlenecks in a

channelized lowland river." Restoration Ecology early access online. doi:10.1111/rec.12215.

Professor Angus McIntosh is team leader and senior supervisor to the above publishers. Must be

something in the water!

In the spotlight

Brian Mason Trust

Applications in the School of Biological Sciences that were successful:

David Collings - $15,770

Bill Davison - $12,575

Jack Heinemann - $12,072

Jon Harding - $15,729

Congratulations to our successful colleagues.

Freshwater Ecology Research Assistant update

Hayley Devlin (nee Stoddart) married her beloved James on the 28th February. Thus her old email is no

longer valid. If you need to get in touch with Hayley regarding any FERG matters please use her new email

(hayley.devlin@canterbury.ac.nz). Here are a couple of images of the happy couple.

Successful continuation of Bioprotection CoRe

Another piece of good news for UC and SBS, with significant involvement of Professor Jason

Tylianakis and Dr Paul Gardner – they were two of the nine Principal Investigator's involved in writing the

bid and will be heavily involved in its future success – so congratulations to Jason and Paul.

Ocean sunfish an intriguing find

A morning walk with the dog turned out to be an intriguing trip for a Timaru man when he stumbled upon an

ocean sunfish.

Jim Flutey initially thought the dead sea creature left battered and bruised and on the rocky beach in

Washdyke was a seal before closer inspection. Dr Chris Glover commented on the find. Read the article

at Stuff.

Microbes found at bottom of ocean are our long-lost relatives

SO THAT'S where they've been hiding. An entirely new group of organisms discovered at the bottom of the

Arctic Ocean are our closest simple-celled relatives ever found.

Approximately 2 billion years ago, complex eukaryotic cells, which make up animals, plants and fungi, split

from smaller, simpler cells called prokaryotes. Researchers have now identified our closest relatives from

before this split. Associate Professor Ant Poole comments on this article. Read the full article at New

Scientist.

Student successes in Goldstien group

Oliver Gooday (Olly) has been awarded the Roland Stead 2015. Olly joins peers from his research group

who over the past eight months have also been very successful in obtaining funds to further support their

research or living costs,

Beth Vanderhaven and Hannah Charan-Dixon both headed to Tonga this week with support from The

Sadie Balkind Scholarship administered by the Canterbury Branch of New Zealand Federation of Graduation

Women Trust. Hannah was also awarded a field work grant from New Zealand Aid for this trip.

Della Bennet was awarded project support from the Australasian Seabird Group and Birds New Zealand

Research Fund for her work based in Kaikoura.

Julie Kim, will be attending the New Zealand Marine Sciences Conference with the funding she obtained

from the Canterbury Branch New Zealand Federation of Graduation Women.

Congratulations to all five students.

What film is this?

So, uh, you married old Norm son-of-a-Gunderson?

Issue 354: Your seats? Tyrone, this is a stolen car, mate.

Answer: Tyrone (Ade) says to Vinny (Robbie Gee) "I don't want that dog dribbling on my seats", to which

Vinny replies "Your seats? Tyrone, this is a stolen car, mate". Snatch, 2000.

Guessed by: Steven Gieseg, with the assistance of Google.

and now for something completely different...

Jimmy Fallon & Jack Black Recreate "More Than Words" Music Video

Signage with issues

365 days: images of the year - 2014

Eruptions, comets and a see-through mouse all captured the imagination in 2014

Thought for the Week

A maiden at college, Miss Breeze,

Weighed down by B.A.s and Lit.D's,

Collapsed from the strain,

Said her doctor, "It's plain

You are killing yourself --- by degrees!"

In honour of Limerick day, yesterday.

Newsletter 356 Thursday 28 May 2015

For a moment there I was uploading MY exams into the thingee and completely forgot that there was a

newsletter going out this week.

Recent publications in the school

Brown, J.K., Zerbini, F.M., Navas-Castillo, J., Moriones, E., Ramos-Sobrinho, R., Silva, J.C.F., Fiallo-Olivé,

E., Briddon, R.W., Hernández-Zepeda, C., Idris, A., Malathi, V.G., Martin, D.P., Rivera-Bustamante, R.,

Ueda, S. and Varsani, A. (2015). Revision of Begomovirus taxonomy based on pairwise sequence

comparisons. Archives of Virology doi.10.1007/s00705-015-2398-y.

This is Georgina's second publication, but the first at first author, before the submission of her MSc.

Congratulations George!

Carvell, G.E., Kuja, J.O. and Jackson, R.R. (In press). Rapid nectar-meal effects on a predator's capacity to

kill mosquitoes. Royal Society Open Science 2: 140426. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.140426)

This is Seyedardalan's first publication, and at first author, before the submission of his PhD.

Congratulations Ardi!

Ashrafzadeh, S. and Leung, D.M.W. (2015). In vitro breeding of heavy metal-resistant plants: A review.

Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology 56(2): 131-136.

Zakharova, A., Beare, M.H., Cieraad, E., Curtin, D., Turnbull, M.H. and Millard, P. (2015). Factors

controlling labile soil organic matter vulnerability to loss following disturbance as assessed by measurement

of soil-respired d13CO2. European Journal of Soil Science 66: 135-144. [now complete with page numbers]

PhD oral exam completed

Gloria Adjapong, had her oral exam on Friday 15th May. The title of Gloria's thesis is 'Characterisation of

Candida species: A case study in three teaching hospitals in Ghana'. Her senior supervisor is Dr Ashley

Garrill. Congratulations Gloria!

Pictured: Dr Marie Hale (Associate Supervisor), Dr Ashley Garrill (Senior Supervisor), Gloria, Dr Jan Schmid,

Massey University (Oral Examiner) and Associate Professor Hazel Chapman (Oral Organiser)

In the spotlight

Dr Sharyn Goldstien - UC Teaching Award Winner 2015

Professor Jack Heinemann - UC Teaching Innovation Award Winner

2015

Fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand awardee

Professor David Schiel was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand, at a ceremony at

the Canterbury Club on Wednesday 20th May. Professor Alison Downard of Chemistry was awarded at the

same time. UC did well in getting two of the 12 new fellows appointed nationally in 2014.

Pictured: Stacie Lilley (MERG Research Assistant), Professor David Schiel and Dr Mike Hickford (MERG

Research Associate)

2014 Research Report

The 2014 Research Report is now avaliable to view online.

The research report is a celebration of UC research, including research articles, a summary of research

information for the University and a compilation of the research outputs produced by staff for a given

calendar year. The theme for Research Report 2014 is Health and Well-being.Check out our very own Dr

Daniel Stouffer on the front cover who looks rather different now :)

Facebook helps to identify rare plants

A rare coral-like parasitic plant discovered by New Zealand scientists on a remote mountain ridge in the

Philippines has been named as one of the top 10 new species for 2015.

And they are hoping Facebook can help protect it and other plants like it in an unprotected part of the country

threatened by illegal logging.

Husband and wife Pieter Pelser and Julie Barcelona, who both work at the University of Canterbury, and

Danilo Tandang of the National Museum of the Philippines, last year discovered the plant Balanophora

coralliformis. There are fewer than 50 individual plants known. Check out the full story at Three News.

Meet the world's top 10 new species

The global list is compiled annually by the International Institute for Species Exploration, at the State

University of New York. It's a hotly contested honour, as the top 10 are chosen from nearly 18,000 new

species described by scientists during the previous year.

And it's not just animals on the list. Dr Pieter Pelser and Dr Julie Barcelona, from the School of Biological

Sciences at the University of Canterbury, described an unusual plant from the Philippines. Read the full story

at Radio New Zealand.

Manufacturing the Global Food and Agricultural Crisis

Researchers at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand found that the GM strategy used in North

American staple crop production is limiting yields and increasing pesticide use compared to non-GM farming

in Western Europe. Led by Professor Jack Heinemann, the study’s findings were published in the June

2013 edition of the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. Check out the full article

at Counterpunch.

Seven “best brains” awarded postgraduate scholarships

Several young New Zealanders are heading offshore for their postgraduate study thanks to the William

Georgetti Scholarships.

The scholarships were established by the late William Georgetti, a Hawkes Bay farmer, who wanted to

create opportunities for the “best brains” to benefit from his bequest. The scholarships encourage

postgraduate study and research in a field that is important to New Zealand’s social, cultural or economic

development.

Lara Sweetapple from Christchurch will study towards a Master of Molecular Biosciences majoring in

Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Heidelberg . Lara has a Bachelor of Science in

Biochemistry from the University of Canterbury and attended Burnside High School. Lara is a talented

dancer and volunteers for several organisations including native tree plant-outs for Kakariki Canterbury. For

the full list of awardees, read here.

What film is this?

"Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"

Issue 355: So, uh, you married old Norm son-of-a-Gunderson?

Answer: Fargo (1996)

Guessed by: Jon Hill

and now for something completely different...

Prince Harry meets Kenzie. Adorded corgi to Lucy Moore, daughter of our Penny (both standing behind

Kenzie!)

What Cats See...

Dachshund vs Crab Part Two - They Meet Again

Remembering the blues legend, B.B. King

B. B. King - The Thrill Is Gone (Live at Montreux 1993)

Rock Me Baby-BB King/Eric Clapton/Buddy Guy/Jim Vaughn

B.B. King - Blues Boys Tune

Thought for the Week

You can’t sweep other people off their feet, if you can’t be swept off your own. -Clarence Day (1874-1935)

Newsletter 357 Tuesday 9 June 2015

Recent publications in the school

Allentoft, M.E., Heller, R., Holdaway, R.N. and Bunce, M. (2015). Ancient DNA microsatellite analyses of the

extinct New Zealand giant moa (Dinornis robustus) identify relatives within a single fossil site.

Heredity doi:10.1038/hdy.2015.48.

Febria, C.M., Hosen, J.D., Crump, B.C., Palmer, M.A. and Williams, D.D. (2015). Microbial responses to

changes in flow status in temporary headwater streams: a cross-system comparison. Frontiers in

Microbiology 6(522): doi.10.3389/fmicb.2015.00522.

This is Elizabeth's first, first-authored paper and first from her PhD completed last year.

Congratulations!

Graham, S.E., O'Brien, J.M., Burrell, T.K. and McIntosh, A.R. (2015). Aquatic macrophytes alter

productivity-richness relationships in eutrophic stream food webs. Ecosphere 6(6): Article 89.

Moffett, E.R., Simon, K.S. and Harding, J.S. (2015). Urbanisation and earthquake disturbance influence

microbial nutrient limitation in streams. Freshwater Biology doi:10.1111/fwb.12600.

Stainton, D., Halafihi, M., Collings, D.A. and Varsani, A. (2015). Genome sequence of banana streak MY

virus from the Pacific Ocean island of Tonga. Genome Announcements 3(3): e00543-15.

In the spotlight

Fern Two certification

The Administration office has now achieved Fern Two certification of the UCEco Office Programme.

Pictured: Kate Nimmo (UC Sustainability), Penny Moore, Lyn de Groot and Nicki Judson

What film is this?

Please promise me never to wear black satin or pearls... or to be 36 years old.

Issue 356: "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"

Answer: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).

Upon entering the Well of the Souls and peering down.

Sallah (John Rhys-Davies): Indy, why does the floor move?

Indiana (Harrison Ford): Give me your torch.

(Indy takes the torch and drops it in)

Indiana: Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?

Guessed by: Yinnon Dolev was first, followed by several others!

and now for something completely different...

Research on "real-world" farms gives a clearer picture of how pollination works

Male bats sing, dance and use pheromones to attract females

Cats and babies playing

Choose to smile

Thought for the Week

It’s not necessarily the amount of time you spend at practice that counts; it’s what you put into the practice. -

Eric Lindros

Newsletter 358 Monday 22 June 2015

Recent publications in the school

Bodhipadma, K., Noichinda, S., Yompakdee, C., Tamtimdee, W., Chikhuntod, U. and Leung, D.W.M. (2015).

Comparative study of in vitro and in vivo inflorescence of feathered amaranth." International Journal of

Applied Science and Technology early access online.

James, A., Molloy, S.M., Ponder-Sutton, A., Plank, M.J., Lamoureaux, S.L., Bourdôt, G.W. and Kelly,

D. (2015). Modelling Tradescantiafluminensis to assess long term survival. PeerJ 3: e1013.

Kearvell, J.C. and Steeves, T.E. (2015). Evidence for assortative mating in sympatric populations of orange-

fronted (Cyanoramphus malherbi) and yellow-crowned (C. auriceps) kākāriki. Notornis 62: 71-75.

In the spotlight

Funding success with MBIE

Drs Sharyn Goldstien, John Pirker and Mr Matt Walters have received $55,000 through the MBIE

'Unlocking Curious Minds’ funding round to develop science engagement with at-risk youth in the Kaikoura

region.

This is an important development for the University and the School in connecting with our community.

Significantly, it is a great endorsement of the hard work that Sharyn and John are doing in engaging with the

Kaikoura community and Matt’s work in coordinating our outreach activities.

What film is this?

By the authority vested in me by Kaiser William II, I pronounce you man and wife - Proceed with the

execution.

Issue 357: Please promise me never to wear black satin or pearls... or to be 36 years old.

Answer: Spoken by Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) in Rebecca (1940)

Guessed by: Nobody

and now for something completely different...

Remembering Christopher Lee

Gandalf vs Saruman - Fight Scene from The Fellowship of the Ring

Dracula

Scaramanga's Golden Gun

How to Avoid Your Neighbors

Internet Cat Videos Keep You Purring, Study Finds

And on that note, here is a cat video!

Thought for the Week

Several hundred congregants, some tearful, packed the Emanuel African American Episcopal Church for a

service led by visiting clergy because the congregation's pastor was among those killed by a young white

supremacist.

"But the Devil also entered. And the Devil was trying to take charge," he said.

"Thanks be to God, hallelujah, that the Devil cannot take control of your people. And the Devil cannot take

control of your church."

Newsletter 359 Monday 6 July 2015

Recent publications in the school

Ashrafzadeh, S., Gaw, S., Glover, C.N. and Leung, D.W.M. (2015). Differential cadmium resistance of two

morphologically distinct types of potato (Solanum tuberosum) callus. Biologia 70(5): 581-587.

Campbell, R.E., Winterbourn, M.J., Cochrane, T.A. and McIntosh, A.R. (2015). Flow-related disturbance

creates a gradient of metacommunity types within stream networks. Landscape Ecology 30: 667-680. [now

complete with page numbers]

Cirtwill, A.R. and Stouffer, D.B. (2015). Knowledge of predator-prey interactions improves predictions of

immigration and extinction in island biogeography. Global Ecology and

Biogeography doi.10.1111/geb.12332.

Fahsbender, E., Hewson, I., Rosario, K., Tuttle, A.D., Varsani, A. and Breitbart, M. (2015). Discovery of a

novel circular DNA virus in the Forbes sea star, Asterias forbesi. Archives of Virology doi.10.1007/s00705-

015-2503-2.

McHugh, P.A., Thompson, R.M., Greig, H.S., Warburton, H.J. and McIntosh, A.R. (2015). Habitat size

influence food web structure in drying streams. Ecography 38: 700-712.

PhD oral exam completed

Angus Lindsay had his oral examination on Thursday 25th June. The title of his thesis is 'Acute and chronic

individualized psychophysiological stress assessment of elite athletes through non invasive biochemical

analysis'. His Senior Supervisor is Associate Professor Steven Gieseg. Congratulations Angus!

Pictured: Associate Professor Steven Gieseg, Angus, Associate Professor Michael Hamlin (Oral Examiner,

Lincoln University), Professor Jim Briskie (Oral Organiser) and Mr Craig Galilee (Freeradical technician)

What film is this?

He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!

Issue 358: By the authority vested in me by Kaiser William II, I pronounce you man and wife - Proceed with

the execution.

Answer: The African Queen (1951) starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

Guessed by: Only slightly, Bill Davison

and now for something completely different...

Pups running for dinner, timelapse style

Highlanders fans in South rejoice

More excellent stories from the Highlanders win...

Highlanders arrive home after victory - video

Conrad Smith 'gutted' for the Hurricanes in heartbreaking Super Rugby finish

Thought for the Week

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. -Rabindranath Tagore

Newsletter 360 Monday 20 July 2015

Recent publications in the school

Jackson, B., Heath, A., Harvey, C., Holyoake, C., Jakob-Hoff, R., Varsani, A., Robertson, I. and Warren, K..

(2015). Knemidokoptinid (Epidermoptidae: Knemidokoptinae) mite infestation in wild red-crowned parakeets

(Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae): Correlations between macroscopic and microscopic findings. Journal of

Wildlife Diseases 51(3): 651-663.

Jackson, B., Varsani, A., Holyoake, C., Jakob-Hoff, R., Robertson, I., McInnes, K., Empson, R., Gray, R.,

Nakagawa, K. and Warren, K. (2015). Emerging infectious disease or evidence of endemicity? A multi-

season study of beak and feather disease virus in wild red-crowned parakeets (Cyanoramphus

novaezelandiae). Archives of Virology doi.10.1007/s00705-015-2510-3.

Robert Jackson's photo made it to the front cover of this Issue. Congratulations Robert!

Jackson, R.R. and Cross, F.R. (2015). Mosquito-terminator spiders and the meaning of predatory

specialization. Journal of Arachnology 43(2): 123-142.

The American Arachnological Society announces a review in the Journal of Arachnology by Robert Jackson

and Fiona Cross about the biology of two species of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae that feed

preferentially on mosquitoes. One species, Evarcha culicivora, like an eight-legged vampire, is particularly

drawn to female mosquitoes whose guts are filled with blood. Another species, Paracyrba

wanlessi preferentially feeds on mosquito larvae lurking in pools of water inside bamboo.

Evarcha culicivora has a particular hankering for Anopheles mosquitoes – the very mosquitoes notorious for

being malaria vectors. Evarcha culicivora and Anopheles are both found in Kenya and both are attracted to

human odor (particularly the odor of dirty socks). Thus, this little spider is a predator that likes us and eats

our enemies. By eating blood-filled mosquitoes, this spider also acquires a blood perfume that is attractive to

members of the opposite sex.

These two spiders, in their own different ways, are highly specialized mosquito assassins. Like Arnold

Schwarzenegger in the James Cameron movie The Terminator, these little specialist predators ignore any

other insects that get in the way as they pursue their target victims – mosquitoes.

A review of Robert and Fiona's publication also made it to the front page of the International Centre of

Insect Physiology and Ecology, where they conduct their research.

Janmale, T., Genet, R., Crone, E.M., Flavall, E.A., Firth, C.A., Pirker, J.G., Roake, J.A. and Gieseg,

S.P. (2015). Neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin are generated within atherosclerotic plaques. Pteridines

early access online: doi.10.1515/pterid-2015-0004.

Lassé, M., Ulluwishewa, D., Healy, J., Thompson, D., Miller, A., Roy, N., Chitcholtan, K. and Gerrard,

J.A. (2016). Evaluation of protease resistance and toxicity of amyloid-like food fibrils from whey, soy, kidney

bean, and egg white. Food Chemistry 192: 491-498. [Available online only]

Muralidhar, A., Shabala, L., Broady, P., Shabala, S. and Garrill, A. (2015). Mechanisms underlying turgor

regulation in the estuarine alga Vaucheria erythrospora (Xanthophyceae) exposed to hyperosmotic shock.

Plant, Cell and Environment 38: 1514-1527.

Saunders, M.I., Brown, C.J., Foley, M.M., Febria, C.M., Albright, R., Mehling, M.G., Kavanaugh, M.T. and

Burfiend, D.D. (2015). Human impacts on connectivity in marine and freshwater ecosystems assessed using

graph theory: a review. Marine and Freshwater Research dx.doi.org/10.1071/MF14358.

Schmid, M., Smith, J., Burt, D.W., Aken, B.L., Antin, P.B., Archibald, A.L., Ashwell, C., Blackshear, P.J.,

Boschiero, C., Brown, C.T., Burgess, S.C., Cheng, H.H., Chow, W., Coble, D.J., Cooksey, A., Crooijmans,

R.P.M.A., Damas, J., Davis, R.V.N., de Koning, D.-J., Delany, M.E., Derrien, T., Desta, T.T., Dunn, I.C.,

Dunn, M., Ellegren, H., Eöry, L., Erb, I., Farré, M., Fasold, M., Fleming, D., Flicek, P., Fowler, K.E., Frésard,

L., Froman, D.P., Garceau, V., Gardner, P.P., Gheyas, A.A., Griffin, D.K., Groenen, M.A.M., Haaf, T.,

Hanotte, O., Hart, A., Häsler, J., Hedges, B., Hertel, J., Howe, K., Hubbard, A., Hume, D.A., Kaiser, P.,

Kedra, D., Kemp, S.J., Klopp, C., Kniel, K.E., Kuo, R., Lagarrigue, S., Lamont, S.J., Larkin, D.M., Lawal,

R.A., Markland, S.M., McCarthy, F., McCormack, H.A., McPherson, M.C., Motegi, A., Muljo, S.A.,

Münsterberg, A., Nag, R., Nanda, I., Neuberger, M., Nitsche, A., Notredame, C., Noyes, H., O'Connor, R.,

O'Hare, E.A., Oler, A.J., Ommeh, S.C., Pais, H., Persia, M., Pitel, F., Preeyanon, L., Prieto Barja, P.,

Pritchett, E.M., Rhoads, D.D., Robinson, C.M., Romanov, M.N., Rothschild, M., Roux, P.-F., Schmidt, C.J.,

Schneider, A.-S., Schwartz, M.K., Searle, S.M., Skinner, M.A., Smith, C.A., Stadler, P.F.. Steeves,

T.E., Steinlein, C., Sun, L., Takata, M., Ulitsky, I., Wang, Q., Wang, Y., Warren, W.C., Wood, J.M.D., Wragg,

D. and Zhou, H. (2015). Third report on chicken genes and chromosomes 2015. Cytogenetic and Genome

Research 145: 78-179.

PhD oral exam completed

Daisy Stainton, had her oral exam on Tuesday 7th July. The title of her thesis is

'Towards understanding the evolution of Banana bunchy top virus and the detection of associated

badnaviruses'. Her senior supervisor is Dr Arvind Varsani. It has been an enormous and loud pleasure to get

to know Daisy over the last five years. She is the last of the three amigos from the Varsani lab - Go Girl

Power!

Pictured: Dr Arvind Varsani, Daisy, Dr Robin MacDiarmid (Oral Examiner, University of Auckland), Dr Pieter

Pelser (Oral Exam Organiser)

In the spotlight

Spiders roped into war on malaria

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) researchers said the discovery of the jumping

spiders that prefers mosquitoes to any other prey was of exceptional interest and warrants further study.

The two spider species, Evarcha culicivora and Paracyrba wanlessi, are known to specifically target

mosquitoes.

Professor Robert Jackson, one of the researchers at Icipe, said the two insect species feed preferentially

on mosquitoes, making them the only predators that specialise in killing mosquitoes. Read the full article at

the Daily Nation. [see publication above]

New school science project for Kaikoura

A science lecturer at the University of Canterbury has been granted $55,000 to set up a science programme

in Kaikoura for those students who have been lost through the cracks of the education system.

Dr Sharyn Goldstien and associates Matt Walters and Dr John Pirker received $55,021 through the

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to set up a fun and educational science camp for students

in Kaikoura. Sharyn says the project, called "breaking barriers and inspiring kaitiakitanga", will give

youngsters a hands-on experience with science and technology. Read the full story at the Marlborough

Express.

What film is this?

Love is too weak a word for what I feel - I luuurve you, you know, I loave you, I luff you, two F's, yes I have to

invent, of course I - I do, don't you think I do?

Issue 359:

Answer: Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon) says to Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), "He chose you, honey!

From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!" Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Guessed by: Noboby...

and now for something completely different...

Happy 60th, Disneyland! You've come a long way from Day One

New Horizons: Images reveal ice mountains on Pluto

Why we are teaching science wrong, and how to make it right

Thought for the Week

Newsletter 361 August 2015

Recent publications in the school

Koch BJ, Febria CM, Cooke RM, Hosen JD, Baker ME, et al. 2015. Suburban watershed nitrogen retention:

Estimating the effectiveness of stormwater management structures. Elem. Sci. Anth. 3: 000063 doi:

10.12952/journal.elementa.000063

http://elementascience.org/articles/63/tabs/article_info#sthash.DjmKkBae.dpuf

Bischoff, F., Litwinska, K., Cordes, A., Baronian, K., Bode, R., Schauer, F., Kunze, G. 2015. Three New

Cutinases from the Yeast Arxula adeninivorans That Are Suitable for Biotechnological Applications. Applied

and Environmental Microbiology, 81, 5497 – 5510

PhD oral exams completed

Congratulations!

23 July 2015 : Ardi with Dr David Leung and his external examiner Dr Mary Christey from Plant and Food

28 July : Denise Arroyo. External examiner was Prof Phil Bishop, Otago and Hazel Chapman

and lastly, but by no means least,

31 July : Rachel Harley, examiners were Louis Tremblay, Sally Gaw and Chris Glover. No photo opportunity

available.

In the spotlight

Press Release: Mosquito Terminators and Vampire Spiders!

Our lovely Fiona Cross made it into The Guardian, with a photo credit to Robert Jackson

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/05/mosquito-eating-vampire-spider-could-be-

recruited-for-war-on-malaria

****

Congratulations to Fatemeh Ashari Ghomi, Matt Hutchinson, Olivia Burge, Richard White, Ayelen Tayagui,

and Michael Bartlett for successfully obtaining SBS funds for their upcoming conference presentations. All

the best at the respective conferences, which for many will be their first!

On behalf of the Research & Facilities Committee and the School

Newsletter 362 14 September 2015

Second week of Term four already! More importantly it is only three months till Christmas!! The SBS 4th year

exams finish this Friday and we will round out the event by having a lunch and combined Loud Shirt Day

parade (see Events below). Do hope you enjoy this bumper issue. It is always great to see the high quality

researchers out there plus a quality cat video :)

Recent publications in the school

Bischoff, F., Litwińska, K., Cordes, A., Baronian, K., Bode, R., Schauer, F. and Kunze, G.. (2015). Three

new cutinases from the yeast Arxula adeninivorans that are suitable for biotechnological applications.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology 81(16): 5497-5510.

Briskie, J.V. (2015). Book Review: The Book of Eggs: A Life-Size Guide to the Eggs of Six Hundred of the

World's Bird Species. Journal of Field Ornithology 86(3): 280-282.

Chamas, A., Nieter, A., Pham, H.T.M., Giersberg, M., Hettwer, K., Uhlig, S., Simon, K., Baronian, K. and

Kunze, G. (2015). Development of a recombinat Arxula adeninivorans cell bioassay for the detection of

molecules with progesterone activity in wastewater. Analytical and Bioanalytical

Chemistry doi:10.1007/s00216-015-8985-7.

See article below under 'In the Spotlight'

Cheek, M., Tandang, D.N. and Pelser, P.B. (2015). Nepenthes barcelonae (Nepenthaceae), a new species

from Luzon, Philippines. Phytotaxa 222(2): 145-150.

Editor's picks - How to get more from your confocal

Collings, D.A. (2015). Optimisation approaches for concurrent transmitted light imaging during confocal

microscopy. Plant Methods 11(40): doi:10.1186/s13007-015-0085-3.

Craw, D., Cavanagh, J., Druzbicka, J., Harding, J.S., Kerr, G., Pope, J. and Trumm, D. (2015). A

Geoenvironmental model for orogenic gold deposits to predict potential environmental effects. Mine Water &

Environment. doi 10.1007/s10230-015-0358-0.

Dolev, Y. and Nelson, X.J. (2016). Biological relevance affects object recognition in jumping spiders. New

Zealand Journal of Zoology. In press. doi:10.1080/03014223.2015.1070183.

Eklöf, A. and Stouffer, D.B. (2015). The phylogenetic component of food web structure and intervality.

Theoretical Ecology doi:10.1007/s12080-015-0273-9.

Greer, A.L., Horton, T.W. and Nelson, X.J. (2015). Simple ways to calculate stable isotope discrimination

factors and convert between tissue types. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. In press. doi: 10.1111/2041-

210X.12421.

Janmale, T., Genet, R., Crone, E.M., Flavall, E.A., Firth, C.A., Pirker, J.G., Roake, J.A. and Gieseg,

S.P. (2015). Neopterin and 7,8-dihydroneopterin are generated within atherosclerotic plaques. Pteridines

26(3): 93-103. [now complete with page numbers]

Jonsson, M., Straub, C.S., Didham, R.K., Buckley, H.L., Case, B.S., Hale, R.J., Gratton, C. and Wratten,

S.D. (2015). Experimental evidence that the effectiveness of conservation biological control depends on

landscape complexity. Journal of Applied Ecology doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12489.

Katouah, H., Chen, A., Othman, I. and Gieseg, S.P. (2015). Oxidised low density lipoprotein causes human

macrophage cell death through oxidant generation and inhibition of key catabolic enzymes. The International

Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology 67: 34-42.

Li, X.C., Liao, Y.Y., Leung, D.W.M., Wang, H.Y., Chen, B.L., Peng, X.X. and Liu, E.E. (2015). Divergent

biochemical and enzymatic properties of oxalate oxidase isoforms encoded by four similar genes in rice.

Phytochemistry doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.08.019.

Pearson, A.J., Gaw, S., Hermanspahn, N. and Glover, C.N. (2015). Activity concentrations of 137Caesium

and 210Polonium in seafood from fishing regions of New Zealand and the dose assessment for seafood

consumers. Journal of Envionmental Radioactivity. In Press (doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.07.026).

Roumagnac, P., Granier, M., Bernardo, P., Deshoux, M., Ferdinand, R., Galzi, S., Fernandez, E., Julian, C.,

Abt, I., Filloux, D., Mesléard, F., Varsani, A., Blanc, S., Martin, D.P. and Peterschmitt, M. (2015). Alfalfa leaf

curl virus: An aphid transmitted geminivirus. Journal of Virology 89: 9683-9688.

Sandersfeld, T.,Davison, W., Lamare, M.D., Knust, R. and Richter, C. (2015). Elevated temperature causes

metabolic trade-offs at the whole-organism level in the Antarctic fish Trematomus bernacchii. The Journal of

Experimental Biology 218: 2373-2381.

Song, J., Jiang, L. and Jameson, P.E. (2015). Expression patterns of Brassica napus genes

implicate IPT, CKX, sucrose transporter, cell wall invertase and amino acid permease gene family members

in leaf, flower, silique and seed development. Journal of Experimental Botany 66(16): 5067-5082. [now

complete with page numbers]

Stainton, D., Martin, D.P., Muhire, B.M., Lolohea, S., Halafihi, M., Lepoint, P., Blomme, B., Crew, K.S.,

Sharman, M., Kraberger, S., Dayaram, A., Walters, M., Collings, D.A., Mabvakure, B., Lemey, P., Harkins,

G.W., Thomas, J.E. and Varsani, A. (2015). The global distribution of Banana bunchy top virus reveals little

evidence for frequent recent, human-mediated long distance dispersal events. Virus Evolution 1(1): 1-16.

Stenzel, T., Farkas, K. and Varsani, A. (2015). Genome of a diverse Goose circovirus recovered from

greylag goose. Genome announcements. 3: e00767-00715.

Urbina, M.A. and Glover, C.N. (2015). Effect of salinity on osmoregulation, metabolism and nitroen

excretion in the amphidromous fish, inanga (Galaxias maculatus). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology

and Ecology 473: 7-15.

Van Etten, M.L., Tate, J.A., Anderson, S.H., Kelly, D., Ladley, J.J., Merett, M.F., Peterson, P.G. and

Robertson, A.W. (2015). The compounding effects of high pollen limitation, selfing rates and inbreeding

depression leave a New Zealand tree with few viable offspring. Annals of Botany doi:10.1093/aob/mcv118.

PhD oral exams completed

Kate Schimanski, had her oral exam on the Wednesday 12th August. In attendance were her Supervisors,

Drs Sharyn Goldstien (UC), Grant Hopkins and Oliver Floerl (both from Cawthron). The Oral Examiner was

Professor Emma Johnston (University of NSW) and Dr Ashley Garrill chaired the exam. Kate's thesis title is

'The importance of selective filters on vessel biofouling invasion processes'. It has been a delight getting to

know Kate over the past four years. Congratulations Kate!

Pictured: Dr Sharyn Goldstien and the lovely Kate

Izani Othman, had his oral exam on Thursday 20th August. His senior supervisor is Associate Professor

Steven Gieseg. The oral examiner was Dr Judy Dehaan (The Baker IDI in Melbourne). Izani's thesis title is

'Low density lipoprotein induction of intracellular oxidants production'. Congratulations Izani!

Pictured: Mr Craig Galilee, Izani and Associate Professor Steven Gieseg (Senior Supervisor)

Welcome to the world

Freddie and Hannah Prebble (PhD candidate) are the proud parents of Isobel Sophie born 25th August

weighing 3.4 kg (7lb 8oz). She is a delightful sister for Ollie. Congratulations to you both!

Alumni passing

David Charles Catt passed away on the 1st August. He obtained his Masters of Science with Distinction in

Zoology in 1976. He returned to the United Kingdom and in 1978 became a Scientific Officer for the

Department of Terrestrial Ecology at Brathens in Scotland (Banchory) where he stayed until he retired in

1996. He had many fond memories of his time in New Zealand and many firm friends.

In the spotlight

Canterbury's whitebait and birds to win in Government funding

boost

Scientists attempting to turn around Christchurch's declining whitebait population have netted a $126,000

boost to restore spawning habitats.

Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner on Sunday unveiled two Canterbury projects to benefit from

the Goverment's Community Conservation Partnership Fund.

The Whaka Inaka project was granted more than $126,000 to restore whitebait habitat in Christchurch which

is going to be a collaboration of EOS ecology (Shelley McMurtrie – ex Biol student), Ngai Tahu and Dr Mike

Hickford (MERG), while Braided River Aid received $33,000 to protect colony-nesting birds on Canterbury

riverbeds. Read full article at Stuff.

Science and Technology Fair

More than 200 budding scientists from schools in Ashburton to Oamaru filled the Caroline Bay Hall with their

exhibits for the annual Science and Technology Fair on Wednesday 9th September.

Across town at Timaru Girls' High School auditorium New Zealand's first Chinese language week was

celebrated with a cultural performance. Check out all the photos at the Fair at The Timaru Herald. The

winners can be viewed here.

Phoebe Argyle, Jessica Roche and Angus McIntosh went down to Timaru to be judges at the Central South

Island Sanford Science Fair.

This did involve a very early start, but was a thoroughly rewarding and worthwhile experience! It was great

to network with people, including quite a number of our graduates, involved in science in the central South

Island area (e.g., ECan, Dairy NZ, Ornithological Society etc). Angus was particularly heartened to meet

somebody he had taught recently who was obviously doing a great job promoting biology as a primary

school teacher.

Interestingly, although other universities provided prizes, we were the only university to send people to help

with the judging, and talking to the young people (mostly school years 7-10) about their science projects was

definitely the best part.

Thanks very much to Phoebe and Jessica for volunteering their time!

Flora & Fauna of Norfolk Island

James Russell, University of Auckland wrote a small post in National Geographic on the flora and fauna of

Norfolk Island. In it he mentions the work of Professor Richard Holdaway and Margaret Christian about the

bird life of the island.

New pitcher plant species discovered in Luzon

An unsuspecting insect could get easily lured into the red and stout pitcher found in the Sierra Madre

mountains of Aurora, eastern Luzon.

The insect may be diving into its death.

The red meat-eating pitcher plant is a newly-discovered species called Nepenthes barcelonae.

University of Canterbury lecturer and hebarium curator Pieter Pelser, one of the authors of the paper on this

discovery, told Rappler that they found this species during their fieldwork on Philippine rafflesia, a parasitic

flower known for its pungent odor. Read full article at Rappler.

New map reveals spread of weeds around the world

Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands are the weediest places in the world for their size thanks to

the influx of weeds from the northern hemipshere, according to new research.

The findings come from the first comprehensive analysis of the global movement of non-native plants

published in the journal Nature.

If you walk around New Zealand, and you actually start counting the number of species that are native here,

and those that are not native but naturalised, it's around 50/50," says Dr Pieter Pelser, a systematic botanist

at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, a co-author on the new study. Read more at ABC Science.

Whitebait subject of research

University of Canterbury research biologists Mark Yungnickel and Mike Hickford have commenced a

project to 'describe' the species catch composition in this year's whitebait runs. Read the full story at Stuff.

Whitebait fishery: something must change - Read another article from Stuff.

Whitebaiters joined by researchers this season - Read the story by Sarah-Jane O'connor at Stuff.

The obstacles to food security worldwide

Professor Jack Heinemann gets a mention in this article which you can read The New Zealand Herald.

The very phrase "feeding the world" conjures up the idea of grand centralised plans. But research shows

that, in spite of industrial agriculture's most grandiose claims, ecological agriculture is the most viable way to

feed us all.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation claims that to feed nine billion of us well in the year 2050, as

people become more affluent, global agricultural production will need to increase by 70 per cent. Various

critics dispute this claim.

Leonardo Co's Digital Flora: the legacy of a passionate plant expert

On 15 November 2010, botanist Leonardo L Co was shot and killed by the Philippine army while doing

fieldwork on the island of Leyte.

Co was an outstanding and internationally acclaimed plant scientist and conservationist, with an enormous

heart for the plants and people of the Philippines. His death left his family, colleagues, and friends in shock

and disbelief, and a country without its most passionate and knowledgeable plant expert.

He also left behind an unfinished manuscript and over 11,000 photographs. Co had dedicated many years to

an extraordinarily ambitious project: a first modern overview of all indigenous plants of the Philippines. His

good friend, Julie Barcelona, her husband Pieter Pelser (both at the University of Canterbury, New

Zealand) and Daniel Nickrent (Southern Illinois University, USA) have continued Co’s work, to ensure that

his incredible contribution to Botany – work that touched and changed thousands of lives – would continue

and flourish. Read the full story at The Guardian - some delightful images.

Nearly 5 years after death, citizens keep botanist Leonard Co’s work alive - Read more at GMA

Network.

Many of the kiwi's unusual traits developed to allow it to survive at

night, geneticists say

The shy, nocturnal kiwi may have once strutted around in daylight before being forced to take the night shift

by bigger rivals, according to scientists who have mapped the bird's DNA.

A study by researchers in Australia and Germany, has found the kiwi picked up many of its unusual traits -

nocturnality, a strong sense of smell and colour-blindness - shortly after arriving in New Zealand about 35

million years ago.

University of Canterbury senior lecturer Tammy Steeves said although it was worrying the study had to be

done outside of New Zealand, it would be useful in understanding the lifestyle of the kiwi. Read the full story

at SBS (Special Broadcasting Service, Australia).

New research finds Kiwi evolved to cope with nocturnal life - Read the story written by Sarah-Jane

O'Connor at Stuff.

North Island Brown Kiwi Genome - Listen to the Radio New Zealand interview with Dr Tammy Steeves

Kiwi genome reveals nocturnal bird’s colour blindness - Read the story at The News Hub.

Fulbright scholarship takes Canterbury student to Florida

University of Canterbury (UC) student Tom Swan is heading to the United States after being awarded a

Fulbright scholarship to study mosquitoes.

Tom will spend a year as a visiting student researcher at the University of Florida's Medical Entomological

Laboratory at Vero Beach near Orlando, Florida. Although quite well-travelled, Tom is excited and nervous

about the trip, which has been made possible by a Fulbright Science and Innovation Award. Read the full

article at UC Communications.

Early-career Fellowship award

Photo: Inaugural IPBES Young Fellows for Asia-Pacific at the UN University in Tokyo (Back row: Yasuo

Takahashi - Japan, Aidin Niamir - Iran, Yuan Yuan Zhang - China, Sonali Ghosh - India; Front row: Felicia

Lasmana - Indonesia, Amani Al-Assaf - Jordan, Catherine Febria - New Zealand).

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Catherine Febria was recently awarded an early-career fellowship on the

UN Intergovernmental science-policy Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). IPBES is the

first intergovernmental panel to synthesise the state of the world’s biodiversity and ecosystem services for

policy-making through regional expert panels for the Americas, Europe, Africa, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific.

Catherine is one of 120 scientists on Asia-Pacific author team and one of 4 scientists representing New

Zealand. As a IPBES Young Fellow until 2018, she will also be part of the IPBES capacity building function

to transfer knowledge and provide training to a younger generation of scientists in the IPBES & UN science-

policy processes. Last week, Catherine attended the inaugural Asia-Pacific authors’ meeting at the UN

University in Tokyo and is pictured below with the inaugural Fellows. Catherine was awarded funding from

MBIE’s Linking Science with Policy grant program. For more information about IPBES,

visit: http://www.ipbes.net/

JS Watson Trust application outcome

Jennifer Schori (MSc candidate in Ecology, co-supervised by Dr Tammy Steeves (Biological Sciences) and

Dr Tara Murray (Forestry) has been successful in her application to the J.S. Watson Trust and has been

granted $5,000 for her project – the development of management protocols for the endangered native robust

grasshopper. Congratulations Jennifer!

NZMS student GIA application outcome

Paddy Gibson (MSc candidate in Cellular & Molecular Biology, supervised by Professor Jack Heinemann)

has been awarded a grant-in-aid of $900 towards attending the New Zealand Microbiological Society

conference 2015 in Rotorua. Congratulations Paddy!

Herbicides and antibiotic resistance

The problem of antibiotic resistance is typically portrayed as a problem of overuse and overprescription. Over

the past decade there's been a surge in antibiotic use for both humans and livestock, and it's this that's seen

as the primary explanation for why bacteria develop antibiotic resistance. But could there be other,

environmental factors at play?

Dr Brigitta Kurenbach and Prof Jack Heinemann from the School of Biological Sciences at University of

Canterbury have been researching the effects of using common garden weedkillers on bacteria. They've

discovered that bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics in the presence of herbicides. Listen to the

interview at Radio New Zealand.

Mosquito-hunting spiders could help deadly malaria

Mosquito-eating spiders from East Africa and Malaysia could become a new weapon in fighting malaria,

researchers have said.

A species of spiders found only around Lake Victoria in East Africa, calledEvarcha culicivora, is adapted to

hunt female Anophele mosquitoes that transmit malaria parasites. Read the full article on Fiona

Cross' and Robert Jackson's research at Sci. Dev. Net.

Mosquito-eating vampire spider could be recruited for war on malaria - Read this wonderful article

in The Guardian.

These blood-loving spiders could help fight malaria - Another read up in The Washington Post.

"Mosquito-assassin" spiders could help fight malaria - Read the full article at the CBS News.

Bloodthirsty spider is a friend to humans - Read the full story at The Columbian.

Postgraduate news

Welcoming our newest postgraduate students

9 March

Malea Zygadlo, MSc in Environmental Sciences

1 May

Sana Lehre, PhD in Biotechnology

Hannah Prebble, PhD in Biochemistry

Alibe Wasa, PhD in Microbiology

1 June

Chris Horne, PhD in Biochemistry

1 July

Phoebe Argyle, PhD in Environmental Sciences

Jo Carpenter, PhD in Ecology

1 September

Kevin Fraley, PhD in Biological Sciences

Justin Pomeranz, PhD in Ecology

What film is this?

What we got here is... failure to communicate.

and now for something completely different...

How quantum biology might explain life's biggest questions

Jameel Sadik "Jim" Al-Khalili OBE is a British theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster. He is currently

Professor of Theoretical Physics and Chair in the Public Engagement in Science at the University of Surrey.

He has hosted several BBC productions about science and is a frequent commentator about science in other

British media.

Sardines, Anchovies and Other Fast-Growing Fish Species Vulnerable to Dramatic Population Plunges

How 16th century observations paved the way for Darwin's landmark study

Should Tasmanian Devils be returned to mainland Australia?

Rutgers alumni naturally bring walls to life

A Cat's Guide to Boxes

Thought for the day

You can't have your cake and eat it too - Proverb

Newsletter 363 29 September 2015

Recent publications in the school

Cubrinovska, I., Massaro, M. and and Hale, M.L. 2015. Assessment of hybridisation between the

endangered Chatham Island black robin (Petroica traversi) and the Chatham Island tomtit (Petroica

macrocephala chathamensis). Conservation Genetics doi:10.1007/s10592-015-0778-1.

Lindsay, A., Draper, N., Lewis, J., Gieseg, S.P. and Gill, N. 2015. Positional demands of professional rugby.

European Journal of Sport Science 15(6): 480-487. [now complete with page numbers]

Lindsay, A., Lewis, J., Gill, N., Gieseg, S.P. and Draper, N. 2015. Effect of varied recovery interventions on

markers of psychophysiological stress in professional rugby union. European Journal of Sport Science

15(6): 543-549. [now complete with page numbers]

This is Richard's first publication and as first author before the submission of his PhD. Richard is

completing his degree in Ecology with Professor Angus McIntosh.

White, R.S.A., McHugh, P.A., Glover, C.N. and McIntosh, A.R. 2015. Trap-shyness subsidence is a

threshold function of mark-recapture interval in brown mudfish Neochanna apoda populations. Journal of

Fish Biology doi:10.1111/jfb.12770.

PhD oral exams completed

Rachel van Heugten had her oral exam on Monday 21st September. The title of her thesis is 'Weta affairs:

An investigation into the population structure and possible hybridisation of two tree weta species

(Hemideina) in Canterbury'. Her Senior Supervisor is Dr Marie Hale. Congratulations Rachel!

Pictured: Associate Professor Mary Morgan-Richards (Oral Examiner, Massey University), Rachel, Dr Marie

Hale (Senior Supervisor) and Dr Pieter Pelser (Oral Organiser)

Tuikolongahau Halafihi had his oral exam on Friday 25th September. The title of his thesis is 'Ecology and

Biology of Etelis coruscans and Pristipomoides filamentosus: Case Study of the Tonga Deep-water

Bottomfish Fishery'. His Senior Supervisor is Dr Sharyn Goldstein. Congratulations Hau!

Pictured: Dr Sharyn Goldstien (Senior Supervisor), Hau and Dr Stuart Hanchet (Oral Examiner, NIWA)

Loud Shirt Day

The school celebrated another successful Loud Shirt Day combined with the end of 4th year exam with a

feast of pizza and lashings of ginger beer. We raised $210 which exceeded our target of $150. Big ups to all

that contributed. All monies will be donated to the Hearing House to aid deaf children with cochlear implants

and hearing aids.

The Loudest staff member was Gavin Tish and the Loudest student went to Brandon Goeller.

The scary thing is Gav still has this ensemble in his wardrobe...... I've just noticed those sandals Brandon....

Our loud bunch

The Hearing House is a charity for deaf children with cochlear implants and hearing aids. Their mission is to

enable deaf or hearing-impaired children to listen and speak like their hearing peers. They aim to give deaf

children with cochlear implants or hearing aids the ability to fulfil their potential and live an independent life in

a hearing and speaking world. The Hearing House serves the needs of hundreds of hearing impaired

children and their families from Kaitaia to Turangi.

In the spotlight

REVEALED: The horny vampire spider that kills its prey to get sex

Because these are no ordinary arachnids - they kill their prey to GET LAID. The "Dracula" of creepy crawlies

specifically hunts blood-carrying mosquitos to make them smell more attractive to the opposite sex. Dubbed

the "mosquito assassin", this ruthless predator is so determined to capture its victims that it has been likened

to The Terminator.

The jumping spider, scientifically known as Evarcha Culicivora, has been studied extensively by

researchers Dr Fiona Cross and Professor Robert Jackson. Read the new article at The Daily Star.

Gardening: Workers vital for food security

September is Bee Month and it's great to see a groundswell of public awareness on the plight of the

honeybee. Beehives are popping up in backyards and even schools are getting in on the action. Garden

centres are helping by highlighting bee plants, and research is now available on bee-friendly trees for farms.

The research conducted by Professor Dave Kelly et. al. was mentioned in this article found at the New

Zealand Herald. The research refers to this journal (Kelly, D., J.J. Ladley, A. W. Robertson, J. Edwards, and

D. C. Smith. 1996. The birds and the bees. Nature 384:615).

Dannevirke: Mayor bids new citizens welcome

It was a special day for the 10 new citizens who took their oaths and affirmations of allegiance in Dannevirke,

including Tony Joseph (PhD, 2012). Read the full article at Hawke's Bay Today. Congratulations Tony!

Tony undertook his PhD in Plant Biology with Professor Matthew Turnbull.

Study says humans didn't cause global banana virus spread

An Australian study revealed that Indian subcontinent is a major hub of the long-distance Banana bunchy top

disease (BBTD) movements.

Dr. Arvind Varsani from the University of Canterbury led this study about the evolution and distribution of a

major banana disease virus, with funding from the Masrden Fund of New Zealand. They wanted to know

whether humans inadvertently spread the virus through moving banana plants around the planet for

horticulture. Read the full article at Food World News.

New Zealand student gains 3rd place at prestigious European Union

science competition

Timothy Logan, 17, is thrilled to have won third place and 3,500 Euros at the prestigious European Union

Young Scientist Competition (EUCYS) in Milan, Italy.

A Year 13 student at Darfield High School in Canterbury, Tim was also the 2014 recipient of the Supreme

Award at Realise the Dream and the Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize. Read the full article at the Royal

Society of New Zealand.

What film is this?

Norville Barnes, you don't know a thing about that woman. You don't know who she really is. Only a

numbskull thinks he knows things about things he knows nothing about.

362: "What we got here is... failure to communicate" spoken by Captain, Road Prison 36 (Strother Martin),

most likely to Luke (Paul Newman).

and now for something completely different...

X-Factor: Jasmine Leigh Morris sings Emeli Sande’s Clown

Check out NASA on Mars news

England v Wales - Match Highlights & Tries

7 things you must do in Newcastle

Thought for the day

Sometimes in life you just have to choose the correct outfit for your legs.

Newsletter 364 12 October 2015

Recent publications in the school

Coggins, J.H.J., Parsons, S. and Schiel, D.R. 2015. An assessment of the ocean wave climate of New

Zealand as represented in Kidson's synoptic types. International Journal of

Climatology doi:10.1002/joc.4507.

Dayaram, A., Piasecki, T., Chrząstek, K., White, R., Julian, L., Van Bysterveldt, K. and Varsani, A. 2015.

Avian polyomavirus genome sequences recovered from parrots in captive breeding facilities in Poland.

Genome Announcements 3(5): e00986-15.

In the spotlight

Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

On a recent southern journey Kennedy Warne met paleoecologist Richard Holdaway at one of the most

important and revealing fossil sites, Pyramid Valley, near the wine-growing area of Waipara in North

Canterbury, to learn more about ancient Aotearoa as it was before humans arrived. Kennedy looks at the the

life of the Cook Strait ferry Arahura.The ferry travelled 13 million kilometres in 32 years, the equivalent of 325

times around the world, and her noblest hour was when she responded to a mayday call from the sinking

Mikhail Lermontov cruise liner in 1986. He also talks about the journalist Svetlana Alexievich who won the

Nobel prize for literature. Here is an excerpt of her work is taken from "Voices From Chernobyl" , which won

the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Listen to his broadcast at Radio New Zealand.

What film is this?

Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It

looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!

363: Norville Barnes, you don't know a thing about that woman. You don't know who she really is. Only a

numbskull thinks he knows things about things he knows nothing about.

Answer: Spoken by Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) in The Hudsucker

Proxy (1994)

and now for something completely different...

Top 10 best cat commercials

About that doomsday asteroid that was supposed to hit Earth...

France: What we thought in 2007 ahead of All Blacks Rugby World Cup quarterfinal

Thought for the day

According to my fitness tracker...

Newsletter 365 28 October 2015

Recent publications in the school

Adjapong, G., Hale, M. and Garrill, A. 2015. Population structure of Candida albicans from three teaching

hospitals in Ghana. Medical Mycology doi:10.1093/mmy/myv086.

Bischoff, F., Litwinska, K., Cordes, A., Baronian, K., Bode, R., Schauer, F. and Kunze, G. 2015. Three new

cutinases from the yeast Arxula adeninivorans that are suitable for biotechnological applications. Applied and

Environmental Microbiology 81: 5497-5510.

de Lange, P.J., Liew, C.S., Rolfe, J.R. and Pelser, P.B. 2015. Senecio esperensis (Asteraceae:

Senecioneae) – a new combination for the L’Esperance Rock groundsel, Kermadec Islands. New Zealand

Journal of Botany 53: 131-138.

This is Maketalena's first publication before the submission of her MSc and at first author. Her Senior

Supervisor is Dr Arvind Varsani. Congratulations Make!

Male, M.F., Kami, V., Kraberger, S. and Varsani, A. 2015. Genome sequences of Poaceae-associated

Gemycircularviruses from the Pacific Ocean Island of Tonga. Genome Announcements 3: e01144-15.

Poole, A.M., Lundin, D. and Rytkönen, K.T. 2015. The evolution of early cellular systems viewed through the

lens of biological interactions. Frontiers in Microbiology doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.01144.

Rosario, K., Seah, Y.M., Marr, C., Varsani, A., Kraberger, S., Stainton, D., Moriones, E., Polston., J.E.,

Duffy., S. and Breitbart, M. 2015. Vector-enabled metagenomic (VEM) surveys using whiteflies (Aleyrodidae)

reveal novel begomovirus species in the New and Old Worlds. Viruses 7: 5553-5570.

PhD oral exams completed

Amanda Klemmer had her oral exam on Tuesday 13th October via video link. Amanda was in Maine; the

Oral Examiner, Associate Professor Kevin Collier was in the Waikato and Professor Angus McIntosh (Senior

Supervisor) and Associate Professor Hazel Chapman (Oral Organiser) were both in Christchurch. The title of

Amanda's thesis is 'Unravelling the effects of multiple cross-ecosystem subsidies on food webs'. Another

success story from the Freshwater Ecology Research Group. Congratulations Amanda!

Helen Warburton had her oral exam on the Tuesday 20th October. The title of Helen's thesis is 'The role of

body size in predator-prey interactions and community structure'.. Her Senior Supervisor is Professor Angus

McIntosh. Congratulations Helen on a stirling effort!

Pictured: Professor Jim Briskie (Oral Organiser), Professor Angus McIntosh (Senior Supervisor), Helen and

Dr Kevin Simon (Oral Examiner, University of Auckland)

Amanda Greer had her oral exam on Thursday 22nd October via video link from Ireland. Her thesis title is

'Intraspecific variation in the foraging ecology and morphology of kea Nestor notabilis'. Her Senior Supervisor

is Dr Ximena Nelson. It has been a huge delight to get to you know you Amanda throughout the course of

your degree. Congratulations Amanda!

Pictured: Dr Ximena Greer, Dr Colin O'Donnell (Department of Conservation), Dr Daniel Stouffer (Oral

Organiser) and Dr Travis Horton (Associate Supervisor, Geology)

Welcome to the world

Stella Frances Febria Oabel

Born Sunday 11 Oct @ 9:54am

7lbs, 52 cm long

Welcomed happily by Mum (Catherine), Dad (Peter), big sister Emilia

In the spotlight

Annual Biology Conference: Friday 23rd October

The Annual Biology Conference (ABC) is a single day symposium, organised by the School of Biological

Sciences, to provide an opportunity for postgraduate research students to present their findings to

colleagues, peers and to the wider scientific community.

The communication of science and the presentation of research ideas and results are important skills to

possess as an emerging scientist. The ABC allows students to develop public speaking skills and gain

confidence and experience in delivering a presentation to a larger audience.

Overall winner talks: Kevin Chase

Allee effects determine whether invasive species establish

PhD 1st: Michael Bartlett

Seminal fluid proteins and speedy sperm: sperm competition in the chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus

tshawytscha)

PhD 2nd: Eimear Egan

Inanga early life history: a bone of contention?

PhD 3rd: Phoebe Argyle

From dinoflagellate to dinner plate: toxic microalgae in the Pacific

MSc 1st: Della Bennet

Hutton’s shearwater foraging behaviour interpreted by time-depth logger data and stable isotope analysis

MSc 2nd: Oliver Gooday

A birds eye view: An assessment of non-invasive population estimates for New Zealand fur seal pups

(Arctocephalus forsteri)

MSc 3rd: Judith Nonis

Bacteriophage as a biocontrol tool for foodborne pathogens

BSc Hons/BSc: Matthew Hutchinson

The scaling up of coevolution in pollination networks beyond species pairs

Overall winner papers: Simona Kraberger (David Collings accepted her prize)

Four papers at first author, four as other author

Honourable mention: Angus Lindsay (X 5 first author), Donna Sutherland (X3, first author)

PhD: Abishek Muralidhar (David Collings accepted Abishek's prize)

Muralidhar, A., L. Shabala, P. Broady, S. Shabala and A. Garrill. 2015. Mechanisms underlying turgor

regulation in the estuarine alga Vaucheria erythrospora (Xanthophyceae) exposed to hyperosmotic shock.

Plant, Cell and Environment 38: 1514-1527.

PhD Honourable mention: Manmeet Kaur for a 2014 paper in Nanoscale

Kaur, M., Healy, J., Vasudevamurthy, M., Lassé, M., Puskar, L., Tobin, M.J., Valery, C., Gerrard, J.A. and

Sasso, L. 2014. Stability and cytotoxicity of crystallin amyloid nanofibrils. Nanoscale 6: 13169-13178.

MSc: Nick Baker

Baker, N.J., Kaartinen, R., Roslin, T. and Stouffer, D.B. (2015) Species' roles in food webs show fidelity

across a highly variable oak forest. Ecography 38(2): 130-139.

BSc Hons: Kristina MacDonald

Macdonald, K.J., Z.J. Lennon, L.L. Bensemann, J. Clemens and D. Kelly. 2015. Variable pollinator

dependence of three Gastrodia species (Orchidaceae) in modified Canterbury landscapes. New Zealand

Ecology 39(2): 208-213.

The ABC was proudly brought to you by the following sponsors: New Zealand Society of Plant Biologists,

Biomolecular Interaction Centre, New Zealand Microbiological Society, The Royal Society of New Zealand,

John Morris Scientific, Lab Supply, Ad Instruments and Macrogen.

College of Science Research Awards for 2015

The winner of the College of Science Excellence in Research Linkages Award 2015 is Professor Jon

Harding of the School of Biological Science. Working with other UC colleagues and those from CRL Energy

Ltd as well as Landcare and the University of Otago, Jon has led a team formed in 2004 aimed at improving

management and environmental outcomes for the mining sector. This work, funded by MBIE, has been

guided with input from the regional councils, mining companies, and iwi advisory groups, and has produced

improved environmental outcomes as a result of the research input. Congratulations Jon!

Conference poster prize

Nicole Wheeler, long suffering PhD student of Paul Gardner and Renwick Dobson was awarded the

"Traditional Poster Prize" at the main Queenstown Molecular Biology 2015 conference for her presentation

"profile-based comparison of Pseudomonas genome reveals signatures of pathogenicity". Nicole received a

juicy cheque in exchange for her hard work.

The genome of Thauera

Students from a fourth year Genomics class at the University of Canterbury have sequenced the genome of

Thauera, in collaboration with scientists from GNS science. Thauera is a bacterium isolated from the Taupo

Volcanic Zone by Dr. Matt Stott and colleagues at GNS Science. The genome sequence reveals it to be a

broadly useful new species with potential for use in synthesis of 'green' plastic compounds and for cleaning

up environmental contamination.

The joint support of the Biomolecular Interaction Centre (BIC) and the School of Biological Sciences at the

University of Canterbury has enabled BIC PIs Paul Gardner and Ant Poole to create the most hands-on

genomics & bioinformatics course in the country, where the students go from project idea to completed

genome in around 8 months. Until recently, this type of research was limited to large international consortia,

but the UC students have now closed that gap.

The students drove the project from start to finish, deciding on a research question themselves. They then

sourced biological material, undertook the genome sequencing and analysed the genome using state-of-the-

art bioinformatics tools. BIC/Bluefern PhD scholarship recipient Sinan Umu played a key role in guiding the

students through the intricacies of advanced computational analysis.

The students, Liz Dunn, Sam Elley, Hyunwoo Jun and Nellie Sibaeva, together with their UC and GNS

Science colleagues, are now on track to submit their research results to an international, peer-reviewed

journal.

From left: Back Row: Nellie Sibaeva, Sinan Umu, Sam Elley

Front Row: Associate Professor Ant Poole, Liz Dunn, Hyunwoo Jun, Dr. Paul Gardner

Cheese roll fundraiser

Kat Melief recently had a fundraiser selling cheese rolls on behalf of her daughter, Paige. She was

fundraising for a school camp and overall her class of 15 managed to raise over $2,000 and Paige sold the

most by almost triple of the other kids! She would like to massively thank everybody who brought the rolls

and their huge support!

What film is this?

Many times I'd felt alone, but until this afternoon I'd never felt completely lonely.

364: Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion.

It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!

Answer: Spoken by Carl Spackler (Bill Murrary) in Caddyshack (1980)

and now for something completely different...

Zack the Golden Retriever and the ice cream man

Tooth Fairy may work overtime in the future

All Blacks wing Julian Savea has two chances in try of the year nominations

In case you want to follow them: https://twitter.com/AllBlacks

Thought for the day

Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down

quietly, may alight upon you.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Newsletter 366 9 November 2015

Recent publications in the school

This is Matthew Arnet's first publication and at first author. Matthew is beginning Masters Part II next

year with his senior supervisor, Dr Pieter Pelser. Congratulations Matthew!

Arnet, M., Santos, B., Brockerhoff, E.G., Pelser, P.B., Ecroyd , C. and Clemens, J. 2015. Importance of

arboreta for ex situ conservation of threatened trees. Biodiversity and Conservation doi:10.1007/s10531-015-

1024-3.

This is Wafaa Hassan's first publication before the submission of her PhD. Her senior supervisor is

Dr Ashley Garrill. Congratulations Wafaa!

Hogg, S.J., Chitcholtan, K., Hassan, W., Sykes, P.H. and Garrill, A. 2015. Resveratrol, acetyl-resveratrol,

and polydatin exhibit antigrowth activity against 3D cell aggregates of the SKOV-3 and OVCAR-8 ovarian

cancer cell lines. Obstetrics and Gynecology International doi:org/10.1155/2015/279591.

Jameson, P.E. and Clemens, J. 2015. Phase change and flowering in woody plants of the New Zealand

flora. Journal of Experimental Botany doi:10.1093/jxb/erv472.

Jameson, P.E. and Song, J. 2015. Cytokinin: a key driver of seed yield. Journal of Experimental

Botany doi:10.1093/jxb/erv461.

Lindsay, A., Carr, S., Draper, N. and Gieseg, S.P. 2015. Urinary myoglobin quantification by high-

performance liquid chromatography: An alternative measurement for exercise-induced muscle damage.

Analytical Biochemistry 491: 37-42.

Wootton, K.L. and Stouffer, D.B. 2015. Many weak interactions and few strong; food-web feasibility

depends on the combination of the strength of species' interactions and their correct arrangement.

Theoretical Ecology doi:10.1007/s12080-015-0279-3.

In the spotlight

UC research could offer NZ potato growers an edge

New Zealand potato growers could gain a new marketing edge thanks to a line of potatoes developed by

University of Canterbury researchers.

UC Biotechnologists Dr David Leung and Dr Seyedardalan (Ardi) Ashrafzadeh have developed potato

plants that are potentially resistant to cadmium, a highly toxic metal found in soil which is harmful to crops

and can contribute to health issues in humans. Read the full story at Scoop.

Brian Mason Trust success

Congratulations to colleagues Dr Tammy Steeves and Stephanie Galla (PhD candidate), who have been

successful in being awarded $14,061 from the Brian Mason Trust to support their project "A conservation

genomic approach for maximising genetic diversity in a critically endangered New Zealand endemic bird".

Congratulations also to Dr Volker Nock (Elec Eng) and colleague Dr Ashley Garrill, who have been

successful in being awarded $11,763 from the Brian Mason Trust to support their project "Networks in

evolution: Capturing the complexities of early life using combinatorics and random graphs".

National Heart Foundation success

Congratulations to Associate Professor Steven Gieseg, who has been awarded travel funding from the

National Heart Foundation of $3,500 to attend a meeting in Austria.

Marsden Fund grants UC researchers over $4 million

UC has secured grants for six research projects, totalling $4.1 million. The projects cover the disciplines of

biological science, geology, electrical engineering, linguistics, and physics.

Professor Steve Weaver, UC Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) said it was excellent to see some of our

top researchers recognised and getting the support they deserved.

UC Behavioural Ecologist Professor Jim Briskie’s project - Conserving small island populations of

endangered New Zealand birds: can a ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ dilemma be avoided? - was awarded

$805,000.

In biochemistry, Dr Renwick Dobson, who is also a Biomolecular Interaction Centre principal investigator,

saw his project - How do bacteria scavenge sialic acids from their human host? - funded $770,000. Read the

full story at UC Communications.

Congratulations also to Dr Ashley Garrill (AI on a Fast-Start grant with Volker Nock from Engineering)

and Professor Jason Tylianakis (AI on a grant through VUW).

Fulbright scholar to study pasture cleanup in New Zealand

Driving thousands of miles to catch dung beetles in traps baited with pig droppings may not sound like

glamorous work to most, but for entomology graduate student Matt Jones it is just another day in the field.

Jones is Washington State University’s newest recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship. The award will fund his

ongoing doctoral research on what he calls nature’s “cleanup crew.”

During his Fulbright, Jones will attend the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand and work at

several research field stations nationwide. Read the full story at WSU News.

Thomas Hildebrand the first marine biologist at Ngai Tahu Seafood

Thomas Hildebrand is living his dream and giving back to his home town of Bluff.

Hildebrand is the first marine biologist to work for Ngai Tahu Seafood.

The 25-year-old University of Canterbury graduate started working for Ngai Tahu Seafood in March this year

after completing his master's thesis in marine biology in 2014. Read Thomas' story at Stuff.

What film is this?

Mother, what's wrong with me?

365: Many times I'd felt alone, but until this afternoon I'd never felt completely lonely.

Answer: (voice over) John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) in Dances with Wolves (1990)

and now for something completely different...

In case you haven't seen the trailer yet...

Sir David Attenborough narrates Adele's Hello

Cat went to the neighbours to borrow a tiger plush toy

An ode to the quince

When I grow up I want to be an Astronaut

Thought for the day

"Don't let the choice that you didn't make weigh you down."

Written in 2015 by Eric Eisenberg --- Missouri

Newsletter 367 23 November 2015

Recent publications in the school

This is Michael Bartlett's first publication before the submission of his PhD. His Senior Supervisor is

Dr Tammy Steeves. Congratulations Michael!

Adjapong, G., Bartlett, M., Hale, M. and Garrill, A. 2015. The isolation of Candida rugosa and Candida

mesorugosa from clinical samples in Ghana. Medical Mycology doi: 10.1093/mmy/myv100.

Alestra, T. and Schiel, D.R. 2015. Non-trophic responses of algal communities to nutrient enrichment:

interactions among coralline turfs, ephemeral algae and perennial fucoids. Marine Ecology Progress Series

538: 145-156.

Broady, P.A. 2015. Chapter 10: Life on Land - Aquatic Ecosystems. In: D. Liggett, B. Storey, Y. Cook and V.

Meduna, editors, Exploring the last continent. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland. p. 175-200.

Broady, P.A. 2015. Chapter 11: Life on Land - Non-Aquatic Ecosystems. In: D. Liggett, B. Storey, Y. Cook

and V. Meduna, editors, Exploring the last continent. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland. p. 201-

228.

Esmaeili, M., Heydarnejad, J., Massumi, H. and Varsani, A. 2015. Analysis of watermelon chlorotic stunt

virus and tomato leaf curl Palampur virus mixed and pseudo-recombination infections. Virus Genes 51: 408-

416.

Fahsbender, E., Hewson, I., Rosario, K., Tuttle, A.D., Varsani, A. and Breitbart, M. 2015. Discovery of a

novel circular DNA virus in the Forbes sea star, Asterias forbesi. Archives of Virology 160(9): 2349-2351.

[now complete with page numbers]

Greer, A.L., Horton, T.W. and Nelson, X.J. 2015. Simple ways to calculate stable isotope discrimination

factors and convert between tissue types. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 6: 1341-1348.

The latest edition of Methods in Ecology and Evolution 6(11) features the research of Amanda's PhD, a

Kea parrot (Nestor notabilis).

You might also want to check out Amanda's blog on 'Why accurate stable isotope discrimination factors are

so important: A cautionary tale (involving kea)', which features on the Met.Ecol.Evol. website.

Kumari, S.G., Najar, A., Timoumi, S., Male, M.F., Kraberger, S. and Varsani, A. 2015. First report

of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus naturally infecting chickpea in Tunisia. New Disease Reports 32: 16.

This is Joshua Thia's first publication and at first author since the submission of his MSc. He was co-

supervised by Associate Professor Hazel Chapman, and Drs Marie Hale and Daniel B. Stouffer*.

Congratulations Josh!

Thia, J.A., Hale, M.L., Stouffer, D.B. and Chapman, H.M. 2015. Limited dispersal into appropriate

microhabitats likely explains recruitment failure in a chimpanzee-dependent tree species. African Journal of

Ecology doi:10.1111/afe.12257.

* Welcome back Daniel :)

PhD oral exam completed

Picture from Nigerian Montane Forest Project

Charles Nsor had his oral exam on the 10th November via video link in Nigeria. The Oral Examiner, Dr

Kevin Burns was in Wellington and both the Senior Supervisor, Associate Professor Hazel Chapman and the

Oral Organiser, Professor Jim Briskie, were in Christchurch. All went well. Congratulations Charles on finally

making it to your oral exam!

Farewell to arms

We farewelled, very informally, Dr Paul Broady at a "last day of marking" morning tea on Monday 9th

November. Islay provided a delightful cake which included edible "algae" and a fitting speech celebrating

Paul's milestone of 30 years teaching. Your cup tossing skills will be truly missed in the tearoom!

New additions to the school

Please welcome our Summer Scholarship 2015/2015 students to the school. They will be taking up various

lab/field projects amongst our varied academics.

Stacey Bartlett Jon Harding; Helen Warburton

Testing the right riparian plant species for stream restoration projects: the role of leaf breakdown

Amanda Board Ren Dobson Development of a Bioassay for Angiotensinogen to Identify Women Prone to Pre-Eclampsia

Hannah Currie Jon Harding; Nicky Glenjarman

The response of New Zealand freshwater fishes to fine inorganic sediment

Michael Currie Ren Dobson Mapping the ¼ and ½ TIM barrels Maddie Dowgray Paul Gardner; Tammy

Steeves Using conservation genomics to maximise the genetic diversity of threatened species

Elizabeth Dunn Paul Gardner Finding the determinants of genetic disease in the human genome

Sam Elley Anthony Poole Phylogeny-informed comparative transcriptomics of Bacteria and Archaea

Kilali Gibson Islay Marsden Recovery from Eutrophication and Restoration of Intertidal Seagrass Habitats

Savita Goldsworthy David Schiel; Leigh Tait

Light delivery in shallow seaweed assemblages: importance of variability in enhancing photosynthesis

Matt Hutchinson Daniel Stouffer Degrees of anachronism: quantifying maladaptive trait maintenance in frugivory networks

Tanya Joseph Jack Heinemann Investigating the contribution of herbicides to antibiotic resistance in important human pathogens

Christopher Meijer Angus McIntosh; Phil Jellyman

Coach Stream fish community restoration

Juanita Miln Dave Kelly Understanding and enhancing mistletoe biodiversity around urban Christchurch

James Paterson Paul Gardner Finding the determinants of genetic disease in the human genome

Alysha Rigter Paul Gardner Finding the determinants of genetic disease in the human genome

Jenny Sahng Daniel Stouffer Using control theory as a guide for the restoration and recovery of ecological networks

Nellie Sibaeva Anthony Poole Phylogeny-informed comparative transcriptomics of Bacteria and Archaea

Nina Steyn Steven Gieseg Measurement of urinary dityrosine as a quantitative marker of oxidative stress in patients

In the spotlight

Cadmium-resistant potatoes for NZ growers

The potatoes, developed by UC Biotechnologists Dr David Leung and Dr Seyedardalan (Ardi)

Ashrafzadeh from the University of Canterbury, could potentially be resistant to cadmium, a highly toxic

metal found in soil which is harmful to crops and can contribute to health issues in humans. Read the full

article at Rural News.

Brian Mason Trust success

Congratulations to Dr Marie Hale, who along with colleague Dr Hannah Buckley (Dept of Ecology, Lincoln

University) has been successful in being awarded $9,753 from the Brian Mason Trust to support their

project “Understanding the role of genetics in a declining taonga species – pingao"

SBS Post-graduate successes at the New Zealand Microbiology

conference, Rotorua

Nicole Wheeler (PhD with Dr Paul Gardner) and Paddy Gibson (MSc with Professor Jack Heinemann)

were two of the five finalists at the New Zealand Microbiology talk competition. Their talks were selected from

18 students who each delivered 3min lightning talks. The finalists then each gave a full 15min presentation.

Pictured: Nicole Wheeler and Paddy Gibson

Nicole was awarded the best student talk with her presentation of "Profile-based comparision

of Pseudomonas genomes reveals signatures of pathogenicity”. The prize is a trip to Boston to present her

research at the American Society for Microbiology annual conference.

Honourable mention goes to Paddy for her talk on "Herbicide components and their effects on antibiotic

resistance in Salmonella enterica."

Well done to both. A fantastic effort!

UC Professor wins Science Communicator award

University of Canterbury Professor of Marine Science David Schiel has been awarded the New Zealand

Science Communicator of the Year award by the New Zealand Association of Scientists in a ceremony in

Wellington.

This year’s medal has gone jointly to Prof Schiel and Christopher Battershill (Professor and Chair of Coastal

Science, University of Waikato). Read the full story at UC Communications.

Top Bay marine ecologist honoured for Rena work - Read full story at the Bay of Plenty Times.

New GM technology under fire

A leading scientist has labelled the latest genetic-modification technology approved in New Zealand “the

snake oil of the 21st century”.

University of Canterbury professor molecular biology and genetics Professor Jack Heinemann is urging NZ

authorities to think again about approving crops and products with genetically modified double-stranded RNA

(dsRNA). Read the full story at Farmers Weekly News.

What film is this?

Excuse me, I think the word you're searching for is "Space Ranger".

366: Mother, what's wrong with me? Spoken by Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair). To which her Mother replies:

It's just like the doctor said. It's nerves, and that's all. You just take your pills and you'll be fine, really. Okay?

YEAH, RIGHT!!

Answer: The Exorcist (1973). Our Bill got this one and Penny. Bill even remembered the theme music. I am

not responsible for any nightmares tonight...

and now for something completely different...

Newborns and cats

Let Me Out! - Simon's Cat

Suitable caption required....

Thought for the day

"Stay positive always, even if you run out of reasons to be optimistic."

Kiplimo Chemirmir - Kenyan Warrior

Newsletter 368 8 December 2015

The final newletter for the year will be on Monday 21 December which will incorporate the graduation

special/end of year roundup.

Recent publications in the school

Cirtwill, A.R., Stouffer, D.S., Poulin, R. and Lagrue, C. 2015. Are parasite richness and abundance linked to

prey species richness and individual feeding preferences in fish hosts?

Parasitology doi:10.1017/S003118201500150X.

Kamali, M., Heydarnejad, J., Massumi, H., Kvarnheden, A., Kraberger, S. and Varsani, A. 2015. Molecular

diversity of turncurtoviruses in Iran. Archives of Virology doi:10.1007/s00705-015-2686-6.

Kasprzak, J., Bischoff, F., Rauter, M., Becker, K., Baronian, K., Bode, R., Schauer, F., Vorbrodt, H.M. and

Kunze, G. 2015. Synthesis of 1-(S)-phenylethanol and ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate using

recombinant Rhodococcus erythropolis alcohol dehydrogenase produced by two yeast species. Biochemical

Engineering Journal 106: 107-117.

Peckarsky, B.L., McIntosh, A.R., Àlvarez, M. and Moslemi, J.M. 2015. Disturbance legacies and nutrient

limitation influence interactions between grazers and algae in high elevation streams. Ecosphere

6(11): Article 241.

Poole, A.M., Jeffares, D.C., Hoeppner, M.P. and Penny, D.. 2015. Does the ribosome challenge our

understanding of the RNA world? Journal of Molecular Evolution doi:10.1007/s00239-015-9720-x.

PhD oral exam completed

Kat Donovan completed her oral exam on Tuesday 1st December. Her Senior Supervisor is Dr Ren

Dobson. The title of Kat's thesis is 'Dancing to a different tune: adaptive evolution fine-tune protein

dynamics'. Congratulations Kat!

Pictured: Dr David Ackerley (Oral Examiner, VUW), Kat and Dr Ren Dobson

(Photographer: Dr Ashley Garrill, Oral Organiser)

In the spotlight

Biological Sciences International Food Festival

This was held in the School Atrium on Friday 4th December.

Yinnon, Grand Organiser, Israel

Mehrnoush, Iranian delights

Wow! I’d like to convey A big THANK YOU from everyone who attended (and filled their tummies to

bursting) to all the amazing chefs (Travis Foster, United States; Alfonso Siciliano, Italy; Hannah Charan-

Dixon, Fijian-Indian/New Zealand; Mehrnoush Tangestani Gholami, Iran; Stephanie Galla, United States;

Aynsley Macnab, New Zealand; Yinnon Dolev, Israel; Wafaa Hassan, Iraq; Ilina Cubrinovska, who provided

both Japanese and Macedonia food and Manuel Fernandes, Portugal)

What a magnificent way to spend a lunchtime and to glean an insight into these wonderful countries that our

lovely students leave to study here!

The monies raised is still being calculated. Special thanks to Adam from UCSA for providing the fancy food

warmers, to Dion who donated eggs for Mehrnoush dishes and to Kristina Macdonald’s family for the

wonderful eggs provided for Yinnon dishes and to you all for supporting the event.

Mehrnoush and Wafaa, with their delights from Iran and Iraq

NZFSS & ASL joint conference 2015 success

23-26 November, held in Wellington

Eimear Egan, PhD candidate

NZ Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research Prize for Best Paper

Richard White, PhD candidate

Best Conservation Talk

Katie Collins, PhD candidate

Best Applied Talk

Conference winners

Sadie Balkind Awardees

Amy Hill, MSc in Cellular & Molecular Biology with Professor Jack Heinemann; and Jennifer Schori, MSc in

Biological Sciences with Dr Tammy Steeves and Dr Tara Murray in Forestry have been awarded the 2015

Sadie Balkind Award from the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women. The

award is for $2,500. Congratulations Amy and Jennifer!

New Zealand Ecological Society Conference success

Pictured: Kim Roberts, Anna Henderson, Olivia Burge, Marine Aubert, Dave Kelly and Kevin Chase Absent:

Jo Carpenter

Professor Dave Kelly's lab did really well at last week's NZ Ecological Society Annual Conference.

Anna Henderson (MSc) won a prize for one of the two best talks in the student day, and won the prize for

the best student poster in the main conference.

Marine Aubert (PhD) took the second place prize for best student poster.

Olivia Burge (PhD) got one of five best-student-talk prizes from the main conference.

Considering there were 345 at the conference including probably >150 students that's a pretty good haul for

UC!

Promotion success

To Senior Lecturer Above Bar – Pieter Pelser

To Associate Professor – Ximena Nelson, David Leung, Daniel Stouffer and Ren Dobson

Progression within Associate Professor grade – Steven Gieseg

To Professor – Islay Marsden

Progression within Professor grade – Paula Jameson, Jack Heinemann, Jon Harding

Finally, a first for the School:

To Distinguished Professor – Dave Schiel

The status and title of Distinguished Professor is reserved for those Professors who clearly demonstrate

world-class academic leadership and achievements of the highest international standing over a decade or

more. Currently the University has four Distinguished Professors, to which we now add David.

Postgraduate news

Welcoming our newest postgraduate students

1 October

Malyon Bimler, MSc in Ecology

Stephanie Galla, PhD in Biological Sciences

1 November

Serena Watkin, PhD in Biochemistry

New Postgraduate representatives

I am happy to inform that Melissa Broussard and Brandon Goeller are now the new heads of the Student

Postgraduate Committee.

We are available at any time if you have any requests, concerns, or suggestions to improve the PG student

experience in our school.

~ Jessica Roche ~

What film is this?

Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm

the only one that remains unaffiliated.

367: Excuse me, I think the word you're searching for is "Space Ranger".

Answer: Toy Story (1995) - Buzz (Tim Allen) speaking to Woody (Tom Hanks).

and now for something completely different...

Origami expert takes up weaving?

I’m attempting an origami snake!

This is what happens when your computer breaks.

Fish turn invisible to avoid predators

Biologists induce flatworms to grow heads and brains of other species

Fed Up - Simon's Sister's Dog with the RSPCA

Thought for the day

Postponing Christmas Dilbert style

Newsletter 369 21 December 2015

Recent publications in the school

Azzani, L., Rasmussen, J.L., Gieseg, S.P. and Briskie, J.V. 2016. An experimental test of the effect of diet

on preen wax composition in New Zealand Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis). In: B. A. Schulte, T. E. Goodwin

and M. H. Ferkin, editors, Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 13. Springer International Publishing,

Switzerland. p. 511-525.

Koch, B.J., Filoso, S., Cooke, R.M., Hosen, J.D., Colson, A.R., Febria, C.M. and Palmer, M.A. 2015. Reply

to comment on "Suburban watershed nitrogen retention: Estimating the effectiveness of stormwater

management structures" by Koch et al. (Elem Sci Anth 3:000063, July 2015). Elementa: Science of the

Anthropocene doi:10.12952/journal.elementa.000079.

MacFarlane, A.E.T., Kelly , D. and Briskie, J.V. 2016. Introduced blackbirds and song thrushes: useful

substitutes for lost mid-sized native frugivores, or weed vectors? New Zealand Journal of Ecology

40: newzealandecology.org/nzje/.

Rawson, F.J., Hicks, J., Dodd, N., Abate, W., Garrett, D.J., Yip, N., Fejer, G., Downard, A.J., Baronian,

K., Jackson, S.K. and Mendes, P.M. 2015. Fast, ultrasensitive detection of reactive oxygen species using a

carbon nanotube based-electrocatalytic intracellular sensor. ACS Appied Materials and Interfaces 7: 23527-

23537.

Stainton, D., Martin, D.P., Muhire, B.M., Lolohea, S., Halafihi, M., Lepoint, P. and Blomme, G., Crew, K.S.,

Sharman, M., Kraberger, S., Dayaram, A., Walters, M., Collings, D.A., Mabvakure, B., Lemey, P., Harkins,

G.W., Thomas, J.E. and Varsani, A. 2015. The global distribution of Banana bunchy top virus reveals little

evidence for frequent recent, human-mediated long distance dispersal events. Virus

Evolution doi:10.1093/ve/vev009.

In the spotlight

College of Science Health & Safety Champion Award

The winner is Professor Bill Davison, School of Biological Sciences. Bill has made a significant

contribution to Health & Safety in the School of Biological Sciences. As DSO from 2004 to 2014, he was

central to the development of best practice in H&S since the formation of the School in 2004, implementing

numerous initiatives to encourage engagement and promote best practice in Health & Safety. Bill has also

been the University’s MPI Compliance Operator since 2001, supporting and advising students and staff on

compliance for research projects, and when critical issues arise he has made himself available after hours

and weekends, including during the aftermath of the earthquakes as one of the advisors on lab and chemical

safety to the UC response team. Bill has championed health & safety for many years not only in the College

but University wide. Congratulations and well done Bill.

Relocated 350kg crocodile swims 400km to return home in North

Queensland

It took 400 kilometres and just under a month for a Queensland research team to realise that relocating far

north Queensland problem crocodiles was never going to be an option.

Several years ago UQ School of Biological Sciences Professor Craig Franklin and his team translocated

three saltwater crocodiles from a remote section of Wenlock River in the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on the

west coast of Cape York to various remote locations along the west coast. Read the full article at Stuff.

Professor Craig Franklin is one of our latest Inspirational Alumni (check out the Graduation section).

Fundraising highlights of the year

Pink Ribbon Morning Tea for Breast Cancer Awareness, $325

Loud Shirt Day for the Hearing House Appeal, $210

International Food Festival for Doctors without Borders,

over $200

General staff Christmas lunch

On the 15th December the tearoom clan went out for a very enjoyable lunch to celebrate the spirit of

Christmas. We ate, drank and laughed loudly. Secret Santa was a huge hoot, especially the Racing Royals!

Credits: Craig Galilee

Kōwhai Bush trapping protects rare birds

In Kōwhai Bush behind Kaikōura, predator trapping may rescue the largest population of native robins and

riflemen in lowland Canterbury from localised extinction.

University of Canterbury Professor Jim Briskie said numbers of South Island robins-toutouwai and

riflemen-tītipounamu had fallen steadily since students first started monitoring nests in the reserve, 20 years

ago. He is confident that 12 months of trapping will improve nesting success. Read the full story at Scoop.

SBS Quiz night

The last quiz night for the year was held on the 9th December over at the UC Club.

The quiz went really well!

Many teams were formed on the spot in a very relaxed atmosphere. The Furgusson (1st) smashed it out,

followed closely by the Geoducks (2nd). The Braindeers (3rd) received well-deserved spot prizes for their

elaborated “Christmas decoration” fancy costumes.

Thanks to Melissa Broussard for offering homemade bread as one of the prize, smelt so nice.

The Braindeers

Everyone wins at the SPGC quiz, and the Nomads (last) were given some beautiful dunce caps… along with

vegemite and white bread. Lucky them!

The quiz was punctuated by chocolate rains, and the evening ended up on a scary note with Brandon

Goeller projecting the official Krampus trailer (2015):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6cVyoMH4QE

“He knows you have been bad or good”…so remember to be nice to each other!

CAREX newsletter

Check out the December edition of the CAREX newsletter and see what the team have been up to.

Lecturing academics making it big this year!

In order of receiving award/accolades:

Sharyn Goldstien and John Pirker, received about $100,000 of government funding over two years to

collect information about the state of customary fisheries along the Kaika•ura coastline.

Daniel Stouffer, was named an Early Career Fellow of the Ecological Society of America.

Ren Dobson, and colleagues were successful on an application to the Lottery Health Board for centrifuge

equipment.

David Collings, Bill Davison, Jack Heinemann, Tammy Steeves, Ashley Garrill, Marie Hale and Jon

Harding, had successful Brian Mason Trust applications.

Sharyn Goldstien, was a UC Teaching Award Winner 2015.

Jack Heinemann, was a UC Teaching Innovation Award Winner 2015.

David Schiel, was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand,

Sharyn Goldstien and John Pirker, received $55,000 through the MBIE 'Unlocking Curious Minds’ funding

round to develop science engagement with at-risk youth in the Kaikoura region.

Jon Harding, was the winner of the College of Science Excellence in Research Linkages Award 2015.

Steven Gieseg, was awarded travel funding from the National Heart Foundation of $3,500 to attend a

meeting in Austria.

Jim Briskie, Ren Dobson, Ashley Garrill and Jason Tylianakis, were successful with Marsden

Funds/Fast-Start Grants.

David Schiel, was jointly awarded the New Zealand Science Communicator of the Year award by the New

Zealand Association of Scientists.

Pieter Pelser, promoted to Senior Lecturer Above Bar.

Ximena Nelson, David Leung, Daniel Stouffer and Ren Dobson, promoted to Associate Professor.

Steven Gieseg, promoted to Progression within Associate Professor grade.

Islay Marsden, promoted to Professor

Paula Jameson, Jack Heinemann and Jon Harding, promoted to Progression within Professor grade.

David Schiel, promoted to Distinguished Professor.

Bill Davison, 2015 winner of the College of Science Health and Safety Champion Award.

General staff successes

Matt Walters, along with Sharyn Goldstien and John Pirker, has received $55,000 through the MBIE

'Unlocking Curious Minds’ funding round to develop science engagement with at-risk youth in the Kaikoura

region.

Lyn de Groot, Penny Moore and Nicki Judson, awarded Fern Two Certification

Student successes

Angus Lindsay's paper in the journal Pteridines won the best paper award for a first time author under the

age of 40 from the International Society of Pteridinology.

Oliver Gooday, was awarded the Roland Stead award 2015.

Beth Vanderhaven and Hannah Charan-Dixon, headed to Tonga with support from The Sadie Balkind

Scholarship administered by the Canterbury Branch of New Zealand Federation of Graduation Women Trust.

Hannah was also awarded a field work grant from New Zealand Aid for this trip.

Della Bennet, was awarded project support from the Australasian Seabird Group and Birds New Zealand

Research Fund for her work based in Kaikoura.

Julie Kim, attended the New Zealand Marine Sciences Conference with the funding she obtained from the

Canterbury Branch New Zealand Federation of Graduation Women.

Tom Swan was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study mosquitoes in Florida, United States.

Jennifer Schori has been successful in her application to the J.S. Watson Trust and has been granted

$5,000 for her project.

Paddy Gibson was awarded a grant-in-aid of $900 towards attending the New Zealand Microbiological

Society conference 2015 in Rotorua.

Annual Biology Conference

Overall winner talks: Kevin Chase

Allee effects determine whether invasive species establish

PhD 1st: Michael Bartlett

Seminal fluid proteins and speedy sperm: sperm competition in the chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus

tshawytscha)

PhD 2nd: Eimear Egan

Inanga early life history: a bone of contention?

PhD 3rd: Phoebe Argyle

From dinoflagellate to dinner plate: toxic microalgae in the Pacific

MSc 1st: Della Bennet

Hutton’s shearwater foraging behaviour interpreted by time-depth logger data and stable isotope analysis

MSc 2nd: Oliver Gooday

A birds eye view: An assessment of non-invasive population estimates for New Zealand fur seal pups

(Arctocephalus forsteri)

MSc 3rd: Judith Nonis

Bacteriophage as a biocontrol tool for foodborne pathogens

BSc Hons/BSc: Matthew Hutchinson

The scaling up of coevolution in pollination networks beyond species pairs

Overall winner papers: Simona Kraberger (David Collings accepted her prize)

Four papers at first author, four as other author

Honourable mention: Angus Lindsay (X 5 first author), Donna Sutherland (X3, first author)

PhD: Abishek Muralidhar (David Collings accepted Abishek's prize)

Muralidhar, A., L. Shabala, P. Broady, S. Shabala and A. Garrill. 2015. Mechanisms underlying turgor

regulation in the estuarine alga Vaucheria erythrospora (Xanthophyceae) exposed to hyperosmotic shock.

Plant, Cell and Environment 38: 1514-1527.

PhD Honourable mention: Manmeet Kaur for a 2014 paper in Nanoscale

Kaur, M., Healy, J., Vasudevamurthy, M., Lassé, M., Puskar, L., Tobin, M.J., Valery, C., Gerrard, J.A. and

Sasso, L. 2014. Stability and cytotoxicity of crystallin amyloid nanofibrils. Nanoscale 6: 13169-13178.

MSc: Nick Baker

Baker, N.J., Kaartinen, R., Roslin, T. and Stouffer, D.B. (2015) Species' roles in food webs show fidelity

across a highly variable oak forest. Ecography 38(2): 130-139.

BSc Hons: Kristina MacDonald

Macdonald, K.J., Z.J. Lennon, L.L. Bensemann, J. Clemens and D. Kelly. 2015. Variable pollinator

dependence of three Gastrodia species (Orchidaceae) in modified Canterbury landscapes. New Zealand

Ecology 39(2): 208-213.

Nicole Wheeler, was awarded the "Traditional Poster Prize" at the main Queenstown Molecular Biology

2015 conference for her presentation.

Nicole Wheeler and Paddy Gibson were two of the five finalists at the New Zealand Microbiology talk

competition.

Pictured: Nicole Wheeler and Paddy Gibson

Nicole was awarded the best student talk with her presentation of "Profile-based comparision

of Pseudomonas genomes reveals signatures of pathogenicity”. The prize is a trip to Boston to present her

research at the American Society for Microbiology annual conference. Honourable mention goes to Paddy

for her talk on "Herbicide components and their effects on antibiotic resistance in Salmonella enterica."

Amy Hill and Jennifer Schori, have been awarded the 2015 Sadie Balkind Award from the Canterbury

Branch of the New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women. The award is for $2,500.

NZFSS & ASL joint conference 2015

Eimear Egan

NZ Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research Prize for Best Paper

Richard White

Best Conservation Talk, PhD

Katie Collins

Best Applied Talk

Channell Thoms, MSc candidate (with big hair) won Best Conservation Talk, MSc

Her talk was titled 'Distribution and feeding trials of Kekewai, the native freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops

zealandicus) in Canterbury'.

Tara McAllister, MSc candidate (with gold headgear) won Best Presentation

Emma MacKenzie, MSc candidate (front row, long hair) won Best Applied Science Poster

Conference winners

New Zealand Ecological Society Conference

Pictured: Kim Roberts, Anna Henderson, Olivia Burge, Marine Aubert, Dave Kelly and Kevin Chase Absent:

Jo Carpenter

Anna Henderson won a prize for one of the two best talks in the student day, and won the prize for the best

student poster in the main conference.

Marine Aubert took the second place prize for best student poster.

Olivia Burge got one of five best-student-talk prizes from the main conference.

New additions to the School

Mattias Dehling, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Stouffer Lab Group.

Shawn Gerrity, Research Assistant in the Marine Ecology Research Group.

Craig van Dolleweerd, Research Scientist with Callaghan Innovation.

Hatches, Matches and Dispatches

We go ga-ga

Ruby newly born with Elsie

Ruby Charlotte Leonard was born on Thursday 5th March. Esme (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Richard

welcomed their beautiful baby girl to the world. Big sister Elsie must be over the moon as well!

Freddie and Hannah Prebble (PhD candidate) are the proud parents of Isobel Sophie born 25th August

weighing 3.4 kg (7lb 8oz).

She is a delightful sister for Ollie.

Stella Frances Febria Oabel

Born Sunday 11 Oct @ 9:54am, 7lbs, 52 cm long

Welcomed happily by Mum (Catherine), Dad (Peter), big sister Emilia

We celebrate

Hayley Devlin (nee Stoddart) married her beloved James on the 28th February.

We remember

Dr Peter Meredith passed away on the 15 January. He worked as a research scientist with Ilam Potato

Sciences. Peter wrote a book called 'Cooking Potatoes' in 1994. He was a regular in the tearoom for some

years and used to run through the variety of potatoes with informative glee! "Any fool can grow potatoes but

it takes a very clever fool to grow them at great profit."

David Charles Catt passed away on the 1st August. He obtained his Masters of Science with Distinction in

Zoology in 1976. He returned to the United Kingdom and in 1978 became a Scientific Officer for the

Department of Terrestrial Ecology at Brathens in Scotland (Banchory) where he stayed until he retired in

1996. He had many fond memories of his time in New Zealand and many firm friends.

December graduation - 15th December

Inspirational Alumni The School recognises alumni who have made outstanding professional achievements and who have had a

positive impact on our community or society.

Professor Craig Franklin

Craig is Professor in Zoology and Depty Head in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of

Queensland (UQ) and Executive Director of UQ Research Ethics. The focus of Craig's research is the

investigation of the responses of organisms to changing environmental conditons including assessing and

predicting the impact of human-induced environmental change.

Professor Bill Davison (his Senior Supervisor) with Professor Craig Franklin

Dr Sara Kross

As a conservation biologist, Sara is interested in forming landscapes and human-wildlife conflicts and was

also a founding member of the Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust. Her PhD research at UC focussed

on the efficacy of reintroducing the threatened New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) into the

vineyeards of Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine region, as both a conservation scheme and as a

source of natural pest control.

Tappe the kārearea, NZ falcon with handler Rob Lawry alongside Dr Sara Kross' poster

Dr Morgan Williams

Completed 10 years as New Zealand's second Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment in 2007.

Prior to this he held research and policy roles in agriculture and represented New Zealand research interests

internationally, worked widely in the South Pacific and undertook his masters research in Antarctica. In 2004

Lincoln University awarded Morgan an honorary doctorate in Natural Resources.

Credit: NZCEL, Aukland University

Check out the full profiles here.

Doctor of Philosophy

Dr Sharyn Goldstien, Dr Tuikolongahau Halafihi and his wife ***** Dr Kate Schimanski, Dr Sharyn Goldstien

and Dr Tuikolongahau Halafihi

IN PERSON

Tuikolongahau Halafihi in Ecology

Ecology and Biology of Etelis coruscans and Pristipomoides filamentosus: Case Study of the Tonga deep-

water bottomfish fishery

Jeremy Keown in Biochemistry

Rubisco's chiropractor: A study of higher plant Rubisco activase

Amanda Klemmer in Ecology

Unravelling the effects of multiple cross-ecosystem subsidies on food web

Angus Lindsay in Biochemistry

Acute and chronic individualized psychophysiological stress assessment of elite athletes through non

invasive biochemical analysis

Kate Schimanski in Ecology

The importance of selective filters on vessel biofouling invasion processes

Daisy Stainton in Microbiology

Towards understanding the evolution of Banana bunchy top virus and the detection of associated

badnaviruses

Helen Warburton in Ecology

The role of body size in predator-prey interactions and community structure

Dr David Collings and Dr Daisy Stainton ******************** Dr Amanda Klemmer, Professor Angus McIntosh

and Dr Helen Warburton

COUNCIL CEREMONY

Gloria Adjapong in Microbiology

Characterisation of Candida species: A case study in three teaching hospitals in Ghana

Tommaso Alestra in Ecology

Impacts of altered physical and biotic conditions in rocky intertidal systems: implications for the structure and

functioning of complex macroalgal assemblages

Seyedardalan Ashrafzadeh in Plant Biology

Investigations into response of potato to cadmium with special emphasis on genotype and somaclonal

variations

Ryan Catchpole in Cellular and Molecular Biology

Evolution Of The Unnecessary: Investigating How fMet Became Central In Bacterial Translation Initiation

Amanda Greer in Ecology

Intraspecific variation in the foraging ecology and morphology of kea Nestor notabilis

Rachel Harley in Zoology

Ion transport physiology and its interaction with trace element accumulation and toxicity in inanga (Galaxias

maculatus)

Izani Othman in Biochemistry

Low density lipoprotein induction of intracellular oxidants production

Aude Thierry in Evolution

Predation risk and the evolution of odours in island birds

Hau's celebration with his Senior Supervisor, Dr Sharyn Goldstien, Jan McKenzie and Graeme Bull

Graduation celebrations with Tappe in attendance

Master of Science

Christina Terra Dumont

Leon Allen Biological Sciences Merit

Bryony Jane Andrews Zoology Master of Science

Sian Davies Biochemistry Second Class Honours, Division 2

Terra Dumont Ecology First Class Honours

Kokwai Fung Microbiology Master of Science

Anton Mather Biochemistry Second Class Honours, Division 1

COUNCIL CEREMONY

Nicholas Baker in Ecology, Distinction

Sophie Hunt in Ecology, First Class Honours

Edward Marks in Biochemistry, First Class Honours

Mamta Mehrotra in Microbiology, Masters only

Maggie Olsen in Ecology, First Class Honours

Liezl Thalwitzer in Plant Biology, First Class Honours

Kate Wootton in Biological Sciences, First Class Honours

Bachelor of Science with Honours Nelli Sibaeva Microbiology First Class Honours

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences / Biochemistry Heaven Alem Kahsay Scott M. Anderson Bridget A. Armstrong

Nicholas D. Barnes Stacey J. Barlett Callum R. Bell

Amanda J. Board Joseph D.T. Bond Michael J. Currie

Alison A. Faulls Claire E. Flynn Kilali T.S.A. Gibson

Matthew C. Hutchinson Pace M. Jenkins-Foreman Daniel J. Houghton

Jeremy R. Keown Jennifer M. King Veronia L. Kinsman

Sarah E. Lilley Sophie I. Logan Melanie R. Looman

Hana M. Mauafu Georgia J. McClintock Hilary D. McCulloch

Megan S. McKay Shweta P. Nand Maddie J. Pascoe

Jasper J.P.L. Perry Lauren R. Piket Joshua S. Rushton

Lauren H. Scott Heather L. Shearer Belvina D.S.Y. Sim

Phoebe A. Siva Renee R. Straker Judith E. Thomson

Alexis Vette Seamus B. Watson

Graduation celebrations

Quizzes to entertain you over the summer

Whose Line is It Anyway? A Quiz on Quotes from Famous Books

The Best Movie Quotes Quiz

Science quiz, test your knowledge

DNA quiz

The 100-Question 'Star Wars' Trivia Quiz

368: Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess

I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated.

Answer: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney)

Guessed by: Manfred ("far TOO easy") and Alyssa Cirtwill

and now for something completely different...

The night before Catmas

Catnip - Simon's Cat (A Christmas Special!)

Spot the wannabee dreaming big

Close up of wannabee at the wheel!

(photo credits: A. Woods)

Thought for the Year

"Here's the thing - none of us get out of life alive. So be gallant, be great, be gracious, and be grateful for the

opportunities that you have".

~ Jake Bailey

Editor's Notes

The Editor would like to thank those who contributed to the newsletter this year and what a year it has been.

My personal favourites are always the precious babies who are welcomed to the world and the postgraduate

environment here in the School. We are truly blessed to have some outstanding students amongst us. See

you in 2016!!