Scientists Find Three Viruses to Control Cane Toads

Cane toads are a pest in Australia. They were introduced to kill beetles attacking sugar cane. Unfortunately, they were not interested in the beetle. They ate just about everything else. Native species have been greatly depopulated. Now, their DNA has been sequences. Furthermore, three viruses that destroy only cane toads have been identified.

virus discovery offers means controlling queensland's cane toad virus discovery offers means controlling queensland's cane toad skip sections navigation skip content skip footer network log open menu brisbane times brisbane times close search site sections network home brisbane queensland politics hide subsections federal queensland nsw victoria act western australia business show subsections economy markets companies banking finance business consumer affairs workplace world show subsections north america europe asia middle east oceania central america south america africa national show subsections nsw victoria act western australia opinion property sport show subsections nrl afl rugby union soccer cricket racing golf basketball cycling motorsport tennis athletics swimming boxing sailing netball nfl entertainment show subsections movies tv radio music celebrity books comedy dance musicals opera theatre art design tv guide lifestyle show subsections life relationships health wellness fashion beauty horoscopes money show subsections super retirement investing banking borrowing saving tax planning budgeting insurance education healthcare environment

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advertisement virologist project leader peter white professor microbiology molecular biology unsw viruses converted laboratory turn tables pest found three viruses toad’s genetics potentially used bio-control agents control population professor white finding viruses step towards controlling cane toad population virus cane toads cause chaos delicate ecosystems spreading disease destroying habitats causing food chain instability toads poison native species northern quoll freshwater crocodiles several species lizards snakes professor white virus developed laboratory would field-tested full-scale release ensure impacts native animals genome blueprint animal exact amino acid sequence protein body enzymes work you’ve got ‘deeds house’ bioagent would potentially cull cane toads laboratory-created myxomatosis haemorrhagic virus affecting rabbits culled rabbit population 80 per cent.

team hoped discovery would open frontiers better understand cane toad adapted environment evolved invasive share facebook share twitter share whatsapp send email license article science viewed politics sinkhole rangers monitor landslip hungry queensland beach add shortlist china driving australia trump each other's arms add shortlist environment minister melissa price attacks kristina keneally reef witch hunt add shortlist queensland home aged-care program spared axe add shortlist spyware phone fears dutton pushes security laws add shortlist treasury secretary's double pay day add shortlist loading relationship banned traditional law podcast series team phoebe's view episodes advertisement recommended domain.com.au surf's clive palmer settles million hedges avenue beach house domain.com.au brisbane buyers zero estate close howard smith wharves lifestyle nightcap nip live ripe age national fourth arrest teenager brayden dillon's brutal execution web tic toc remove doubt fix offset nab platinum visa debit foreign currency fee purchases shop online overseas university queensland shouldn't great minds unalike question everything uq mba evening sodastream sparkling water kind planet nab steps planning retirement carnival cruises reasons won’t enjoy cruise powered plista brisbane times twitter facebook instagram rss sites brisbane times sydney morning herald age canberra times watoday australian financial review domain traveller food executive style store fairfax drive adzuna rsvp essential baby essential kids weatherzone classifieds commercial estate oneflare nabo brisbane times contact support advertise newsletters accessibility guide sitemap fairfax media photo sales fairfax syndication fairfax events fairfax careers conditions privacy policy press council copyright © 2018 fairfax media feedback

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Trapdoor Spider has Declining Population

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Times are a changin', as the saying goes. And it is not always for the best. Trapdoor spiders are getting fewer in South Australia. They balance the ecosystem, so their loss is a bad thing.  If they do not eat beetles, for example,  the Coleopltera will run amok. | not. |◀|

Surveys on the numbers show a sharp decline. In 18 days in the 1950s 122 specimens were found. A search in 2014 caught only 18 in ten days. No research has been done to see what is happening nationwide.|  | ▶ | not. | ▶ |

The arachnid has its weaknesses. Each builds its burrow when it is immature. The retreat is home for its whole life. If the lair is damaged it cannot be rebuilt. Its positive point is longevity: it can live for 30 years.| ▶ | not. | ▶ |                                      | ▶ not | ◀ |

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