Roundhouse - latest issue

Focuses on protecting Australia's wildlife icons

The current (June) issue of Roundhouse, the newsletter of the University of Sydney's Veterinary Science Foundation, includes four excellent articles on the theme 'Protecting Australia's wildlife icons': the Tasmanian devil, koalas, the Green and Golden bell frog and the barramundi industry. The VSF has kindly allowed the CVE to reproduce the articles which are sure to interest many of you. Here they are in pdf format:

The Little Aussie Battler
In northwest Tasmania, scientists have found a population of Tasmanian devils that are free of the devastating Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) that is decimating their numbers. How will this genetically different group aid the survival of the species in the wild? (download article)

Breakthrough for Australia’s Growing Barramundi industry
Australia’s fisheries and aquaculture industry outstrips the wool industry in terms of production value, but the industry faces enormous challenges from the emergence of infectious diseases including the nervous necrosis virus. How are new technologies being used to improve detection of diseases? (download article)

Tracking an Australian Icon
Australia’s koala population has reportedly been declining for a number of years. While vulnerable to many of the threats typical to koalas, Sydney University Veterinary Faculty scientists studying a unique koala population in Sydney’s Campbelltown region believe they are actually seeing an increase in numbers. (download article)

Frog Crossing: Protecting the Green and Golden Bell Frog
A myxosporean parasite has recently emerged as a potential risk to the Green and Golden Bell Frog. Ashlie Hartigan is researching the parasite’s lifecycle in this already endangered species. This parasite has never been studied in frogs before, and her findings are likely to have considerable impact for their survival. (download article)

Roundhouse is published twice a year. Issues are also available online.

With kind appreciation to the Veterinary Science Foundation: sydney.edu.au/vetscience/Foundation.