Precise crop fertilization requires an in-depth understanding of plant uptake and utilisation to optimise sustainable production. This study investigated the influence of nitrogen (N) nutrition and pruning on the cannabinoid concentrations and biomass of a commercial cannabis cultivar; the rationale for this study is how N supply and pruning affect cannabinoid yields and concentration in a commercial setting. Clones of a Cannabis sativa L. (CBD-type) were grown in a controlled-environment glasshouse in pots with coarse sand. After five weeks of vegetative growth under 210 mg/L N and an 18 h light regime, rates of 30, 60, 210, and 500 mg/L N were applied to plants for twelve weeks and a light regime set at 12 h. Double stem pruning was applied as an additional treatment to investigate efficacy on biomass increase. Biomass, N concentrations, and cannabinoid concentrations were measured after the final harvest. Pruning treatment did not increase cannabinoid concentrations or affect biomass. It was coincidentally found that plants on the glasshouse edge with higher exposure to sunlight developed more biomass and higher cannabinoid concentrations. Only biomass in leaves was increased significantly via higher nitrogen nutrition. Cannabinoid concentration, as well as cannabinoid yield per plant were decreased with the increase in N supply. High rates of fertilizer are not recommended because of reduced cannabinoid concentration and biomass yield: the ideal N supply is likely to be between 60 and 210 mg/L. This research will benefit growers and advisors in understanding the complexity of effects of nitrogen fertiliser and pruning practices on plant biomass and secondary metabolite production in medicinal cannabis.

The size and complexity of datasets resulting from comparative research experiments in the agricultural domain is constantly increasing. Often the number of variables measured in an experiment exceeds the number of experimental units composing the experiment. When there is a necessity to model the covariance relationships that exist between variables in these experiments, estimation difficulties can arise due to the resulting covariance structure being of reduced rank. A statistical method, based in a linear mixed model framework, is presented for the analysis of designed experiments where datasets are characterised by a greater number of variables than experimental units, and for which the modelling of complex covariance structures between variables is desired. Aided by a clustering algorithm, the method enables the estimation of covariance through the introduction of covariance clusters as random effects into the modelling framework, providing an extension of the traditional variance components model for building covariance structures. The method was applied to a multi-phase mass spectrometry-based proteomics experiment, with the aim of exploring changes in the proteome of barley grain over time during the malting process. The modelling approach provides a new linear mixed model-based method for the estimation of covariance structures between variables measured from designed experiments, when there are a small number of experimental units, or observations, informing covariance parameter estimates.

Translocation programs for endangered mammalian carnivores face numerous challenges, including the potential for lethal interactions between releasees and resident conspecifics. Here we evaluate whether familiarizing residents with the scent of releasees might be an effective strategy for reducing aggression following Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) translocation. Tasmanian devils live in loose social networks in which residents have overlapping home ranges and use communal latrines. In a controlled ex situ experiment, we first found that devils readily distinguished between the feces of familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. Next, we swapped feces between devils slated for release and wild resident devils, seeding a random half of communal latrines in the wild with the feces of releasee prior to their release, and used motion-activated video cameras to record devil visits. Wild resident devil visitation frequency and olfactory communication behaviors initially increased at experimental latrine sites where feces were deposited but not at control sites. After release, the translocated devils used both types of latrine sites and spent more time investigating experimental sites, but investigatory and scent-marking behaviors of the wild resident devils decreased, suggesting that they had become familiar with the releasees through scent. We further show that Tasmanian devil latrine sites are strongly associated with ecotones and the presence of shrubs. These findings contribute to our understanding of Tasmanian devil scent ecology and suggest that devil translocations conducted into existing populations would benefit from familiarization through latrine scent manipulation. More broadly, our results suggest an important role for scent ecology in carnivore translocation programs.Significance statementA conservation management action that is being trialed for endangered Tasmanian devils is to breed devils in human care and reinforce dwindling small resident populations through translocation. However, with limited social interactions, unfamiliar devils may interact aggressively, increasing injury and reducing translocation success. Scent communication is nearly ubiquitous in mammals and may be a prerequisite for management of social aggression. Almost nothing is known about devil scent ecology. Our discovery that devils become familiarized with conspecifics through feces, combined with findings that wild devils that are exposed to translocated devil scent in advance of release show reduced interest in scent-seeded latrines, even after new devils are released, suggests that devils familiarized through scent in advance of relocation may exhibit reduced aggression. These results provide an avenue for improving the success of translocations for devils and other at-risk solitary mammalian carnivores.

N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a chitin monomer, can be used as a natural preservative to ensure food quality and safety. Combining natural preservatives with low storage temperature offers physical hurdles to bacterial growth in food. This study aimed to produce chitin hydrolysate containing GlcNAc using Serratia marcescens PT6 crude chitinase and investigate its effect on bacterial growth rate as a function of temperature. Crude chitinase from partial purification was used to hydrolyze 1.3% colloidal chitin. The optimal enzymatic conditions were pH 6 and 45˚C for 120 min, at an enzyme:substrate ratio of 1:1, yielding a 65.6 µg/mL GlcNAc. Inhibitory activity of hydrolysate containing 2.5-7.5 ppm GlcNAc on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was measured at 4, 15, and 30oC in nutrient broth. Bacterial growth was measured using of optical density for each combination of GlcNAc concentration and temperature. Growth curves fitted by the Baranyi and Roberts model were developed using DMFit software. The growth rate was converted to the square root and then modeled as a function of temperature using the Ratkowsky square root model. Incubation temperature exerted a pronounced effect on the inhibition of all bacterial species (P<0.0001), with the greatest effect observed for E. coli at 30°C (P<0.0001), and the least effect for V. parahaemolyticus (P=0.0878). The inhibitory effect of GlcNAc in chitin hydrolysate was only significant for E. coli (P<0.0001) and S. aureus (P=0.0041). This study revealed that the effect of temperature in growth inhibition was more significant than GlcNAc addition. However, a reduction in bacterial growth with the addition of GlcNAc at 30°C was observed, which may be effective for food encountered thermal abuse conditions. Further investigation of the effect of GlcNAc on bacteria structure and metabolism is required to elucidate the mechanism of GlcNAc as a food preservative.

AbstractIn this paper, we offer a collective, multi‐vocal reflection on using poetry for research purposes. These were reflections on an online sub‐plenary session organized as a workshop, which was held at the European Group for Organization Studies conference in 2021. During this workshop, the first three authors presented a step‐by‐step method for doing poetic inquiry and invited participants to apply it to their own empirical data or research praxis. The method was created in response to the marginalization of affect and embodiment in mainstream research in organization studies. Poetic inquiry aims to formulate specific practices of “writing differently” that assist researchers in their attempts to analyze and articulate their findings in embodied and affective ways. In this paper, we describe the method and bring together multi‐vocal reflections from the participants and organizers of the workshop on the affects of poetic inquiry and the (ethical) questions that it poses.

Context The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories and criteria are a widely accepted standard for assessing extinction risk and have been adopted by many countries, including Australia. Tasmania is globally renowned for its biodiversity, and yet very few of its plant species have been evaluated using IUCN criteria, exposing a significant gap in conservation prioritisation. Aims This study aimed to undertake a regional IUCN assessment of Tasmania’s vascular flora and highlight gaps and discrepancies in accepted lists of threatened species. Methods The R package ConR was used to automatically generate preliminary IUCN assessments for 1885 taxa based on Criterion B (geographic range). This was compared to current listing status to identify potentially misaligned or at-risk taxa. Protected areas were incorporated into the analysis, and heatmaps were used to show the distribution of threatened flora in Tasmania based on their preliminary IUCN category. Key results One-third of Tasmania’s vascular flora (570 taxa) were categorised as threatened by ConR, of which only 47% are currently listed under legislation. We identify 301 non-listed taxa that are potentially threatened and can now be prioritised for full IUCN assessments. Taxa categorised as threatened are more likely to occur near cities and towns, often outside of formal protected areas. Conclusion and implications Automated IUCN assessments are a useful means of systematically refining lists of threatened species. The adoption of IUCN categories and criteria is likely to have a substantial effect on current lists of threatened species and could shift the focus of conservation efforts.

Resurrecting extinct species is a fascinating and challenging idea for scientists and the general public. Whereas some theoretical progress has been made for animals, the resurrection of extinct plants (de-extinction sensu lato) is a relatively recently discussed topic. In this context, the term 'de-extinction' is used sensu lato to refer to the resurrection of 'extinct in the wild' species from seeds or tissues preserved in herbaria, as we acknowledge the current impossibility of knowing a priori whether a herbarium seed is alive and can germinate. In plants, this could be achieved by germinating or in vitro tissue-culturing old diaspores such as seeds or spores available in herbarium specimens. This paper reports the first list of plant de-extinction candidates based on the actual availability of seeds in herbarium specimens of globally extinct plants. We reviewed globally extinct seed plants using online resources and additional literature on national red lists, resulting in a list of 361 extinct taxa. We then proposed a method of prioritizing candidates for seed-plant de-extinction from diaspores found in herbarium specimens and complemented this with a phylogenetic approach to identify species that may maximize evolutionarily distinct features. Finally, combining data on seed storage behaviour and longevity, as well as specimen age in the novel 'best de-extinction candidate' score (DEXSCO), we identified 556 herbarium specimens belonging to 161 extinct species with available seeds. We expect that this list of de-extinction candidates and the novel approach to rank them will boost research efforts towards the first-ever plant de-extinction.

Australia needs a new shared vision that the current trajectory of loss of natural heritage on its offshore islands is not acceptable and needs to change. This Special Issue brings together seven papers from leaders and practitioners with experience in offshore islands across the Australian and New Zealand context. The fundamentals for each paper are to suggest potential solutions or scenarios to move forward with island policy, and management.

The purpose of this study was to develop a best practice guideline specific to the health care needs of adults living at home with a long-term suprapubic catheter (SPC). Guided by the theory of social constructionism, a mixed-methods, 2-phased study design enabled an integration of experiences and consensus from 2 groups of experts. The first group of experts involved 10 people living with a long-term SPC at home. The second group comprised 23 nurses who provided care to people living with a long-term SPC at home. During phase 1, semistructured in-depth interviews were completed to explore people's day-to-day self-care practices and support needs when living at home with a long-term SPC. These data were evaluated via thematic analysis. The themes identified in phase 1 provided the phase 2 question framework in the development of a 3-round Delphi survey involving the expert nurse group. The first round elicited the respondents' opinions on specific aspects of SPC-related care. Using qualitative content analysis, practice statements were generated and used in subsequent survey rounds. The respondents rated their level of agreement to each statement. The guideline comprises the statements that achieved consensus. The 6 elements of the best practice guideline contracted using this mixed-methods study were psychological support needs, cystostomy site care, SPC replacement, drainage equipment practices, complication avoidance and management, and planning ahead. This best practice document provides a valuable resource to guide health professionals, promoting standardized best practices when caring for persons living at home with an SPC.

AbstractLike many other Australian mammals, the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus)was widespread on the Australian mainland but went extinct there during the 20th century. The species remained abundant in Tasmania until a rapid decline occurred from 2001 to 2003, coinciding with a period of unsuitable weather. We provide an updated analysis of eastern quoll population trends in Tasmania by analysing a Tasmania-wide time series of annual spotlight counts (1985-2019). Eastern quolls were widespread and abundant in Tasmania until the early 2000s. A distinct change occurred in the early 2000s in the east and northeast, which led to severe population reductions. However, we present new evidence of an earlier decline in the north (mid-1990s) and a more recent decline around 2009 in the south. Range-wide declines have continued unabated during the last decade, resulting in a ∼67% decline (since the late 1990s) in the area with high quoll abundance. Although the timing of the major decline in the early 2000s coincided with unfavourable weather, the continuing decline and more recent change points suggest other causes are also involved. We can no longer assume that the existence of eastern quolls in Tasmania ensures the species’ long-term survival, highlighting the urgent need to increase efforts to conserve the remaining populations in Tasmania.