Ocean acidification is a well recognised threat to marine ecosystems. High latitude regions are predicted to be particularly affected due to cold waters and naturally low carbonate saturation levels. This is of concern for organisms utilising calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to generate shells or skeletons. Studies of potential effects of future levels of pCO2 on high latitude calcifiers are at present limited, and there is little understanding of their potential to acclimate to these changes. We describe a laboratory experiment to compare physiological and metabolic responses of a key benthic bivalve, Laternula elliptica, at pCO2 levels of their natural environment (430 µatm, pH 7.99; based on field measurements) with those predicted for 2100 (735 µatm, pH 7.78) and glacial levels (187 µatm, pH 8.32). Adult L. elliptica basal metabolism (oxygen consumption rates) and heat shock protein HSP70 gene expression levels increased in response both to lowering and elevation of pH. Expression of chitin synthase (CHS), a key enzyme involved in synthesis of bivalve shells, was significantly up-regulated in individuals at pH 7.78, indicating L. elliptica were working harder to calcify in seawater undersaturated in aragonite (ΩAr = 0.71), the CaCO3 polymorph of which their shells are comprised. The different response variables were influenced by pH in differing ways, highlighting the importance of assessing a variety of factors to determine the likely impact of pH change. In combination, the results indicate a negative effect of ocean acidification on whole-organism functioning of L. elliptica over relatively short terms (weeks-months) that may be energetically difficult to maintain over longer time periods. Importantly, however, the observed changes in L. elliptica CHS gene expression provides evidence for biological control over the shell formation process, which may enable some degree of adaptation or acclimation to future ocean acidification scenarios.

Genetic rescue has now been attempted in several threatened species, but the contribution of genetics per se to any increase in population health can be hard to identify. Rescue is expected to be particularly useful when individuals are introduced into small isolated populations with low levels of genetic variation. Here we consider such a situation by documenting genetic rescue in the mountain pygmy possum, Burramys parvus. Rapid population recovery occurred in the target population after the introduction of a small number of males from a large genetically diverged population. Initial hybrid fitness was more than two-fold higher than non-hybrids; hybrid animals had a larger body size, and female hybrids produced more pouch young and lived longer. Genetic rescue likely contributed to the largest population size ever being recorded at this site. These data point to genetic rescue as being a potentially useful option for the recovery of small threatened populations.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a serious pest throughout the world, attacking a broad range of crop plants across numerous agricultural industries. This species has a high propensity to develop chemical resistance, and has the unenviable title of having resistance to more insecticides than any other insect species. An extensive survey of field populations was undertaken across Australia, and showed widespread and high levels of resistance to carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids in M. persicae. Moderate levels of resistance to organophosphates were also observed in many populations, while there is new evidence of resistance developing to neonicotinoids. Isofemale (clonal) lines of M. persicae were generated and subsequently tested across a range of insecticides; individual genetic clones were found to contain resistance to multiple chemical classes. Resistance genotyping of these aphids were consistent with published literature of known resistant mechanisms. The high and widespread levels of resistance identified within Australia are concerning. Resistance in M. persicae has spread quickly across Australia, and thus farmers are likely to have fewer chemical control options in the future. There is a need to develop resistance management strategies that rotate insecticides, spray insecticides only when economically necessary, and incorporate nonchemical control options.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a monokine with a number of biological activities, which are intimately related to inflammatory responses. We have measured IL-6 levels in synovial fluid (SF) and serum (Se) of patients with rheumatic diseases. SF-IL-6 levels were a thousand-fold higher than corresponding Se levels and a positive correlation was found between SF and Se levels suggesting that Se-IL-6 is derived from IL-6 produced in the joint. Se levels of IL-6 were also positively correlated to C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, supporting the in vitro experiments showing that IL-6 stimulates hepatocytes to produce CRP. Finally we observed a positive correlation between SF-IL-6 levels and the local activity score.