Lian Yeap

Wildlife toxicology faces increasing threats from pesticide use, yet the impacts on biodiversity remain unclear, as current toxicity thresholds often rely on laboratory data that do not reflect environmental exposure. Here we present a two-step methodology integrating ecotoxicology and movement ecology to investigate pesticide exposure in endangered Carnaby’s cockatoos (Zanda latirostris). Using GPS telemetry and satellite tracking, this study identified pesticide exposure sites and quantified the likelihood and consequences of exposure. A total of 26 pesticides were detected in forage sources (agricultural seed), with 80% of seed samples having one or more pesticides detected. The Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) was exceeded for multiple pesticides including imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, difenoconazole and metalaxyl. Results have highlighted the risks that granivorous birds face being exposed to insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides in agroecosystems. This methodology is broad in scope and applicable across species, providing the ecological realism missing in laboratory-based studies. [Display omitted]

The ability to efficiently derive insights from wildlife necropsy data is essential for advancing conservation and One Health objectives, yet close reading remains the mainstay of knowledge retrieval from ubiquitous free-text clinical data. This time-consuming process poses a barrier to the efficient utilisation of such valuable resources. This study evaluates part of a bespoke text-mining application, DEE (Describe, Explore, Examine), designed for extracting insights from free-text necropsy reports housed in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Wildbase Pathology Register. A pilot test involving nine veterinary professionals assessed DEE’s ability to quantify the occurrence of four clinicopathologic findings (external oiling, trauma, diphtheritic stomatitis, and starvation) across two species datasets by comparison to manual review. Performance metrics—recall, precision, and F1-score—were calculated and analysed alongside tester-driven misclassification patterns. Findings reveal that while DEE (and the principals underlying its function) offers time-efficient data retrieval, its performance is influenced by search term selection and the breadth of vocabulary which may describe a clinicopathologic finding. Those findings characterized by limited terminological variance, such as external oiling, yielded the highest performance scores and the most consistency across application testers. Mean F1-scores across all tested findings and application testers was 0.63–0.93. Results highlight the utility and limitations of term-based text-mining approaches and suggests that enhancements to automatically capture this terminological variance may be necessary for broader implementation. This pilot study highlights the potential of relatively simple, rule-based text-mining approaches to derive insights natural language wildlife data in the support of One Health goals.

Manual review of necropsy records through close reading and collation is a time-consuming process, leading to delays in knowledge acquisition, communication of findings, and subsequent actions. Text-mining techniques offer a means to reduce these barriers by automating the extraction of information from large volumes of free-text clinical reports, minimizing the need for manual review. Additionally, interactive dashboards enable end users to interrogate data dynamically, tailoring analyses to their specific needs and objectives. Here, we describe the principles underlying an application designed to extract and visualize information from free-text necropsy records within the Wildbase Pathology register. Reflecting the structure of a traditional necropsy review-where each record is examined in detail to identify and collate key observations-the application is divided into three sections. The first allows a user to upload a dataset in comma separated value format as downloaded from the Wildbase Pathology Register. A user can then filter and interrogate selected signalment variables of the population within this dataset. The second section uses established text-mining calculations of word correlations and Latent Dirichlet Allocation to generate visualisations to give a user a subjective sense of common themes found within the uploaded data. The third and final section uses a custom rule-based algorithm to identify and quantify positive occurrences of clinicopathologic findings as input by an end user. The foundational methods employed in this application have the potential for broader application in veterinary and medical pathology, facilitating more efficient and timely access to critical insights.

Wildlife necropsy databases often provide data for morbidity and mortality studies of free-ranging species, with implicit relevance for conservation goals, as well as domestic animal and human health. Retrospective reviews are a common way to derive insights from such opportunistic data, despite the methodological difficulties of performing these analyses, alongside findings being prone to bias. This study reviews morbidity and mortality data from Sphenisciformes of Aotearoa New Zealand, using records extracted and manually refined from submissions to the national Wildbase Pathology Register. The review corroborates the broader consensus that hoiho (yellow eyed penguin, Megadyptes antipodes) are most commonly diagnosed with infectious/inflammatory disease (43.1%, 422/978 diagnoses), kororā (blue penguin, Eudyptula minor) with traumatic injuries (42.9%, 156/364 diagnoses), and emaciation being a common finding across both species (33.9%, 393/1463 diagnoses). Further, there are marked spatiotemporal trends in submissions, driven primarily by the affected species and the submitting organisations, highlighting the biases within such databases that must be factored into the application of results. Typographical errors, redundancies from synonymous terms, and missing data are captured as barriers to performing manual reviews of free-text data. Overall, this study highlights strengths and limitations of storage and review of wildlife necropsy data while providing insight into threats faced by the penguins of Aotearoa.

Malaria and other haemosporidian parasites are common in reptiles. During baseline health surveys of sea turtles in Western Australia (WA), haemosporidian parasites were detected in flatback (Natator depressus) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtle erythrocytes during routine blood film examination. 130 blood samples were screened via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including 105 N. depressus, 20 C. mydas, and 5 olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea). A novel Haemocystidium sp. was identified, detected exclusively in foraging turtles and not in nesting turtles. The combined prevalence by microscopic and molecular methods was 16.9% (22/130), primarily affecting immature C. mydas (77.3%; 17/22). Mature N. depressus were also affected (22.7%; 5/22). DNA sequencing of a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene together with phylogenetic analysis identified two different Haemocystidium sp. genotypes, A and B, with genotype A being most prevalent. The phylogenetic analysis showed close genetic relationships to Haemocystidium sp. in freshwater and terrestrial turtles, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage despite ecological differences. Preliminary analysis indicates that this parasite is incidental, as no association between health and parasite presence or grade was detected. This study provides the first formal detection of haemosporidian parasites in sea turtles, contributing essential baseline data while highlighting their evolutionary significance and host–parasite ecological relationships.

Context
Chlamydia species impose major global burdens on both human and animal health. However, chlamydial infections of wild rodents have been understudied, posing limitations on assessments of disease risks for rodent conservation translocations. This is particularly true when there is evidence of infection in proposed source populations, as occurred for the Shark Bay mouse (Pseudomys gouldii) translocations to Dirk Hartog Island.

Aims
The aim of this study was to reduce uncertainty surrounding the risks posed by Chlamydia for these translocations by: (1) determining the presence, prevalence and diversity of Chlamydia in rodent populations in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia; (2) identifying associations with health parameters; and (3) assessing for evidence of cross-species transmission.

Methods
Swab, faecal and tissue samples from 110 wild-caught individuals (comprising five rodent and two marsupial species) were collected across four islands in Western Australia. These samples were analysed by a Chlamydiaceae 23s rRNA qPCR in a 14-month cross-sectional study conducted between 2020 and 2021.

Key results
In total, 20% of all individuals (22/110; 95%CI 13.6–28.4) from five species, including 19% (19/100; 95% CI 12.5–27.8) of rodents, were positive by the Chlamydiaceae qPCR, although in low loads. Further attempts at species identification of the Chlamydiaceae were unsuccessful. Our results found no detectable adverse health associations, or significant associated pathological findings, with low molecular loads supporting an asymptomatic infection state. Additionally, there were no disease associations in Shark Bay bandicoots (Perameles bougainville) despite the presence of an ocular disease syndrome previously linked to chlamydial infection in this species.

Conclusions and implications
Our findings suggest that sub-clinical chlamydial infections in wild Australian rodents may be widespread, but for the Dirk Hartog Island translocations, the risks of Chlamydia associated with movement of Shark Bay mice are likely low. The results highlight how current knowledge gaps pertaining to wildlife health can be addressed through collaborative approaches to translocation planning and implementation.

The use of anthropogenic resources is becoming increasingly common as species adapt to human‐induced environmental changes, but their use can expose species to new risks. Understanding how animals exploit these resources is important for guiding conservation management, particularly where species are threatened. The introduction of canola cropping to breeding areas of endangered Carnaby's cockatoo (Zanda latirostris) has been attributed to an increase in the birds' reproductive success; however, the seed may be protein‐limiting for nestling growth and its use by cockatoos has been implicated in the emergence of a new disease. We used high‐resolution accelerometer‐capable GPS tags to track eight birds. Accelerometer data were used to calculate overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), a proxy for energy expenditure, and to identify and quantify canola and native vegetation foraging behaviours. We used linear mixed models to determine which factors affected patterns of resource use and to determine whether, and to what extent, canola use was associated with reduced energetic and movement costs. We then compared the energetic content of canola seed and native food sources to inform patterns of behaviour and habitat use revealed by our tracking data. Use of canola was associated with reduced movement costs and energy expenditure. However, there was an apparent reluctance to increase foraging on canola above a threshold of time, even when conditions reduced time available to utilise native food sources. While anthropogenic resources may appear to improve population trends in some cases, careful investigations of patterns of resource use are necessary to guide appropriate conservation management efforts. For Carnaby's cockatoos, conservation efforts should focus on retention, protection and expansion of native food sources.

We used accelerometer‐capable GPS tracking to investigate the use of a novel food source by endangered Carnaby's cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) during nestling provisioning. We found the importance of canola relative to native food sources increased with increased maximum daily temperature; however, there was a threshold for time spent in canola, even when conditions required time spent foraging on native food sources be reduced. Our findings highlight the care that conservation managers should take to investigate patterns of novel resource use, even where they appear to improve conservation outcomes for threatened species.

Context
Carnaby’s cockatoos in Western Australia are experiencing ongoing population declines. Despite being highly mobile and adaptable, this endangered species has been impacted by fragmentation of its habitat, with an ongoing need for research on its movements in regional areas across its range to gain an understanding of habitat requirements, and to inform conservation plans.

Aims
This study aimed to determine whether regional differences in movement (distances travelled, revisitations and home range) exist for foraging and roosting behaviour for this species.

Methods
Movement analysis of satellite-tagged Carnaby’s cockatoos (n = 11) across three agricultural regions was conducted.

Key results
When comparing distances between roosts and daily foraging behaviour, no significant differences were found between regions (P ≥ 0.05). Resident home ranges (home ranges in areas of resident daily movement) of flocks were much larger in the Esperance region, however, showing differences in movement patterns between regions.

Conclusions
Because flocks were similar in size (n = ±300) between regions and used a similar amount of native vegetation for foraging (±20%), we concluded that movement may have been influenced by the spatial separation of patches of native vegetation. In addition, key foraging habitat often occurred within patches of non-native foraging species.

Implications
The information derived from this research has proven valuable in assessing the use of native vegetation in the landscape, identifying key habitat and determining daily and seasonal movement patterns. In addition, the importance of non-native food sources must be recognised and protection of native and non-native food sources must play a critical role in the species’ conservation management.

Blood reference intervals (RIs) provide an indication of systemic health and are central to any baseline health survey. RIs are available for all sea turtle species, except for the flatback turtle Natator depressus. We developed the first nesting and foraging flatback turtle RIs from a healthy reference population of 211 individuals. We found flatback turtle RIs were generally similar to other published sea turtle RIs. For flatback turtles, we detected significant differences in blood reference values (RVs) by life stage (nesting vs. foraging), sex, and location, as well as by measurement technique (laboratory vs. field). Clinically significant differences justified the establishment of separate RIs for nesting and foraging flatback turtles and for laboratory and field techniques. Clinical application of these blood RIs for individuals in rehabilitation includes disease diagnosis, health monitoring, and the development of prognostic indicators. As sea turtles are regarded as sentinels of environmental health, flatback turtle baseline health data will also be useful for population health monitoring and as a reference for future studies where changes in RIs may indicate an environment in decline.

The three black cockatoo species endemic to south-west Western Australia – Carnaby’s cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris), Baudin’s cockatoo (C. baudinii) and forest red-tailed black cockatoo (C. banksii naso) are threatened and have Recovery Plans guiding conservation efforts. Threats include habitat loss due to land clearing for urban, agricultural and industrial development; competition with other species for nest hollows; poaching; disease; vehicle-strike and illegal shooting.

This research built on previous black cockatoo research with an overall aim to develop and validate reliable methods to track all three species, to gain insight into their movement, distribution, habitat use, activity and behaviour.

In an initial proof of concept trial, we attached tail-mounted tags to two Baudin’s cockatoos. Both birds were successfully tracked for several months after release, demonstrating satellite telemetry can be used to locate and track forest species.

We then developed a double-tag mounting protocol to attach a tail-mounted ARGOS PTT satellite tag and back-mounted solar-powered UvA-BiTS GPS tag to captive black cockatoos. The combination of UvA-BiTS back mount and ventral tail mounted Telonics tags was the best tolerated and provided excellent GPS and ARGOS satellite location data with no interference between the two types of tag.

The focus then moved to the development of an automated classifier tool that used accelerometer data from UvA-BiTS GPS tags to remotely identify behaviours and calculate activity budgets. Using accelerometer data from 15 birds post-release, we determined black cockatoos spend most of their time at rest, interspersed with foraging activity through the day and some movement between roost sites and feeding habitat.

To maximise the retention time of tail-mounted tags, the tail feather life span and time of moulting was studied using moulted tail feathers from captive cockatoos and tagged bird post-release. Captive cockatoos had a mean feather lifespan of 410 days, suggesting tail feathers do not always moult annually. Peak tail feather moulting occurs from December to March, the non-breeding period. The optimal time to attach tail mounted tags is from May to September.

The development and optimisation of tracking methodologies for use on black cockatoos has facilitated the tracking of all three species in the wild. This research has provided data which have enabled identification of key roosting, foraging and breeding habitat and determination of flock movement patterns and habitat use at a landscape scale across the species’ distribution ranges. This information is being used to guide black cockatoo conservation management in relation to habitat protection and restoration.