Scientists in the news this week: June 26, 2020
We head underwater this week to discuss blind eels, tropical fish diets and the resurgence of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish.
This is your update of University of Adelaide scientists in the news, for the week ending June 26, 2020.
Associate Professor Gurjeet Gill
Agriculture, food and wine
Associate Professor Gurjeet Gill's research has been covered extensively in the news this week across platforms such as GRDC GroundCover, Stock Journal, Grain Central, Farming Ahead, Farm Weekly and Stock & Land.
This research has found that the effectiveness of clethodim on crops was greatly impaired when sprayed within a two to three-day window either before or after a frost. Gill gives his expert advice to delay the spraying of clethodim due to the adverse impact on its effectiveness.
Australian Viticulture shares a report by Dr Roberta De Bei, Xiaoyi Wang, Lukas Papagiannis, Professor Matthew Gilliham, Professor Steve Tyerman and Associate Professor Cassandra Collins.
The report discusses a trial which aimed to establish the influence of the common practice in vineyard management of shoot and bunch thinning, the findings suggest the expense of this practice is not justified for the result it gives.
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Dean of Roseworthy campus Professor Wayne Hein spoke to ABC about the proposed changes of course fees by the Federal Governments, which Hein states is a move in the right direction for agriculture courses which will be cheaper for students.
Blind Cave Eel (Ophisternon candidum)
Biological sciences
Dr Michelle Guzik discusses new species-specific tests that detect endangered and notoriously hard-to-find aquatic animals through DNA that they shed in the water.
An example of a hard-to-find aquatic animal is the Blind Cave Eel, which can avoid capture when using traditional sampling methods, consequently creating biased results from field surveys. This new test research features on The National Tribune and Mirage News.
The *Adelaide Advertiser features a project that looks to investigate the distribution changes and diet within Australian snake species over time to make conclusions about climate change. Dr Emma Sherratt is working on the project in collaboration with Flinders University.
Professor Ivan Nagelkerken is the lead on an ARC funded project which has found that tropical fish with a broad diet helps them to survive a range shift due to climate change. Conclusions from the study state that in a future ocean, generalist species that can best adapt to novel food sources might be most successful. This research news was published on Phys.org and ScienceMag.
Professor Bronwyn Gillanders features on The Lead South Australia discussing the increasing population of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish and the growing interest of this species by researchers and the public.
Professor Chris Burrell speaks to AFR Weekend about the potential of a second wave of COVID-19 and the level preparation required for such an event to occur.
Students and alumni
Wine graduate Jacinta Jenkins features on Winetitles Media for being appointed as senior winemaker at the Balnaves of Coonawarra following the retirement of Pete Bissell.
Share your story
If you've featured in the media this week and don't get a mention above, send an email with the details to Rose Fitzmaurice in the Faculty of Sciences Marketing and Student Recruitment team.