Biological control of the aquatic weed, Salvinia molesta

Infestations of the aquatic weed, salvinia, disrupted waterways in tropical countries but biological control using a tiny weevil brought it under control in many places.

Safe and Productive Bushfire Fighting with Hand Tools

Safe and Productive Bushfire Fighting with Hand Tools describes the main findings and recommendations of a major biomedical study examining the effects of wildfire fighting on firefighters’ physiology and behaviour

Smart women use science to conquer weeds

A team of PhD students, jointly supported by CSIRO and the University of Queensland, has won a Smart Women - Smart State award for their research investigating the four major mechanisms behind costly and destructive weed invasions.

Tapping into nature’s own landscape services

This article from Farming Ahead looks at how farmers, scientists and conservationists are looking for ways to make Australian farming landscapes more sustainable by harnessing the ecosystem services provided by native vegetation. (3 pages)

Industry's battle against grain bugs reliant on phosphine

The Australian grain industry continues to rely heavily on the use of phosphine for effective insect control.

Science for tomorrow: developments

This article from Farming Ahead contains four stories on increasing the range of durum wheat varieties, a joint venture to improve cotton varieties, how the sex life of silverleaf whiteflies affects their invasiveness and developing biofuels. (1 page)

Refuges harbour pests and beneficial insects

That refuge crops, planted near Bt cotton to prevent resistance developing, also support significant populations of secondary pests and beneficial species is argued in this article from Farming Ahead. (3 pages)

The Australian salute: nuisance flies

This fact sheet explains how flies differ from other insects and describes characteristics of some of the more common species associated with human activity.

Collaboration key to keeping new diseases in check

Collaboration across a diverse range of scientific disciplines is among the most important factors in efforts to detect and control outbreaks of new infectious diseases like Influenza A (H1N1), according to one of the world’s leading virologists, University of Texas Medical Branch Dr Thomas Ksiazek.

Tropical Landscapes Joint Venture

CSIRO and James Cook University have a strategic alliance known as the Tropical Landscapes Joint Venture (TLJV) to facilitate collaborative research between these two world-class organisations.

ECOS Issue 140: Time for a sea change in coastal development

Ecos 140 looks at the future of a remote and pristine stretch of the South Australian coastline that has become the focus of intense debate between local environment groups, developers and government. The case reflects the intensifying pressure on Australia’s coastal habitats as developments follow the quest for sea-side properties.

Dr Mathew Cook: developing molecular tools for Atlantic salmon aquaculture

Dr Mathew Cook leads research on developing molecular tools to support the health and productivity of Australia's Atlantic salmon industry.

Raising the standard for livestock feeding

The latest ‘Australian Feeding Standards’ for livestock have just been released in a new CSIRO book, Nutrient Requirements of Domesticated Ruminants.

Invasive alien species threaten global biodiversity

CSIRO is putting considerable resources into research on invasive alien species and their effect on Australia's biodiversity, targeting invasive species already in Australia as well as trying to anticipate and avert the next generation of invasive alien species.

Avian influenza activities at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory

CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) performs two vital functions to prevent avian influenza from spreading in birds – disease diagnosis and research.

What happens to landscapes after a tropical cyclone? (Podcast 28 Sep 2007)

Professor Steve Turton talks about the impacts of Cyclone Larry. (5:45)

Bridal creeper agent release form

Download the agent release form for the leafhopper and rust fungus bridal creeper biocontrol agents. (1 page)

Fungus foils plague locust attacks

This two-page article from Farming Ahead details how CSIRO has developed a new locust control measure from a strain of the naturally occurring fungus Metarhizium.

Search narrows for lippia biocontrol

This article from Farming Ahead looks at how international researchers, including CSIRO Entomology scientists, are narrowing their search for an effective biological control agent for lippia, a serious weed in the Murray Darling Basin. (2 pages)

Science for tomorrow: New developments

This article from Farming Ahead contains three stories on resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus, the Indian Ocean imprint in Australia’s south-east and fighting flystrike in sheep. (1 page)

The shared water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin (Part 2)

This 49-page report focuses on six identified risks to shared water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin, water quality and river health: climate change, farm dams, afforestation, groundwater extraction, bushfires and irrigation water management.

The months of a fire season

Serious wildfires usually occur in the Australian landscape each year during a recognised fire season. Fire seasons differ in different parts of the country.

Saline water disposal next step in drainage debate

Many Western Australian farmers are overjoyed at the prospect of using engineered drainage systems to tackle salinity. In this two-page article from Farming Ahead, read about how Flagship research is helping determine its effectiveness.

Parkinsonia biocontrol agent: seed-feeding beetle

Scientists are monitoring the establishment, damage and impacts from the seed-feeding beetle, Penthobruchus germaini, a biological control agent that was introduced to northern Australia to help control the woody weed parkinsonia.

Minimising waste overview

CSIRO has developed numerous processes and technologies that assist industrial and commercial sectors to reduce waste and emissions.