Michael Calver

While much of the discussion on the use of animals in research focuses on animals as models of human disease, many research projects study free-ranging domestic animals or wildlife. Often, the research benefits animals through better husbandry or management. Trapping and tagging of animals is frequently integral to this research, so such interference in animal‘s lives is a justified concern, irrespective of whether or not the ultimate goal is improved animal welfare. However, animal welfare need not conflict with wildlife research, because good wildlife studies rarely seek to harm animals (although pest control can be a significant exception). Biologists want to contain costs and therefore don‘t want to use animals unless it is essential, sometimes choosing to study invertebrates rather than vertebrates, replacing fieldwork with computer simulations or models, or interrogating existing data more efficiently through metaanalysis. When animals are used, reducing the numbers to the minimum needed for conclusive results saves cash. Finally, harming animals in any way that alters their behaviour or survival will bias results, so biologists constantly refine their techniques to avoid harm. All this is familiar to animal welfare workers as the ‘three Rs‘ of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. This paper explores the common ground between animal welfare and wildlife research through three examples that illustrate how studies of free-ranging wildlife and domestic animals lead to findings of direct benefit to animals through better husbandry or management. Specific applications of replacement, reduction and refinement in wildlife studies are then discussed with reference to useful sources of information and checklists for proposed procedures that may be valuable to members of Animal Ethics Committees.

The most serious foliar disease of eucalypt plantations in WA is Mycosphaerella leaf disease (MLD) (1). Since the commencement of the plantation industry, several fungal species contributing to MLD, previously known only in eastern Australia or overseas, have been reported on E. globulus in WA. Initially only three species were identified (2). More recently, five new records from WA (M. aurantia, M. ellipsoidea, M. mexicana and M. fori) have been identified that have not been recorded elsewhere in Australia (1, 3). Currently, 13 species of Mycosphaerella have been recorded in WA from Eucalyptus (3). Re‐examination of cultures adds six new species that have yet to be described from E. globulus in WA. The impact of MLD on growth of E. globulus plantations in WA was examined in a chemical exclusion trial at two plantations in the Albany region.

Tuart is a magnificent woodland tree endemic to the Swan Coastal Plain of Western Australia, and is one of the few eucalypts that is adapted to calcareous soil profiles (1). Prior to European settlement there were more than 111,600 ha of tuart woodlands (2) but this has been reduced to 30,311 mostly as a result of clearing for urban development and agriculture (3). In the early 1990’s the decline of tuart woodlands in Yalgorup National Park (YNP), 1.5 hours south of Perth, became severe causing public awareness and concern. At present, the majority of the 13,000 hectares of this park is affected. A large research group was established in 2003 to investigate the cause(s) of this decline, conducting research on a range of abiotic and biotic factors, including water relations and hydrology, environmental correlates, fire and competition, mycorrhizae and nutrition, fungal pathogens and insect pests. The collaborative, integrated and adaptive approach to the research, and the latest findings of the group will be presented.

To extend the range of plants that can be grown on saline land and give a direct financial return, hybrids were produced between Eucalyptus camaldulensis lines selected for salt tolerance, and E. globulus selected for high pulp quality. There was a wide range of compatibility between the parents in terms of numbers of seeds per capsule, percentage germination and abnormal plants. Morphological traits inherited from the male E. globulus parent made it easy to confirm the hybrid status of the seedlings. Variability in leaf morphology made it impossible to distinguish the hybrids from the parents on the basis of leaf shape and size in the field, but the flowers and fruits of the hybrids were intermediate between the parents in shape and size. Hybrids were reproductively fertile and backcrossing with E. globulus was possible.