toxins

Kōwhai trees litter the banks of rivers and streams and are a popular choice as a border for new roading developments around Aotearoa. Not only are...

Very tiny phytoplankton cells (a type of microscopic algae) can produce potent toxins. Although the toxin produced by one phytoplankton cell is pretty minimal, it can...

Mercury – named after a Roman god known for speed and agility – is a chemical element that has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Mercury...

Lead is a chemical element – a substance that contains only one type of atom. Its official chemical symbol is Pb, and its atomic number is...

Hunting, trapping and poisons are the three most commonly used methods of mammalian pest control in New Zealand. Each method has benefits and limitations. Extensive research...

Aotearoa New Zealand faces a wicked problem – do we kill introduced pests or do we allow them to kill our native animals, damage our forests...

New Zealand uses 1080 to control introduced pests. Decades of research show that 1080 degrades quickly in water and soil. There are also regulations that protect...

1080 is the brand name for sodium fluoroacetate – a manufactured poison. It is the sodium salt of a naturally occurring plant toxin called fluoroacetate. Plants...

1080, or sodium fluoroacetate, is a poison used to control pest species. It is the salt form of a naturally occurring toxin found in poisonous plants...

In 2017, New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge surveyed 8,000 people about pest control, and 84% agreed that pests are a significant conservation problem. However,...

In this recorded professional learning session, Greta Dromgool will build your knowledge and confidence to teach the particle nature of matter – a key concept in...

In this activity, students learn about toxins and poisons and research what’s poisonous in New Zealand. By the end of this activity, students should be able...

In this activity, students explore small doses in the order of parts per million. They dilute food colouring to help them understand how small one part...

In this activity, students model bioaccumulation of toxins in marine animals. They participate in a food web game where feeding decisions determine their survival. By the...

In this activity, students consider the use of mice for bioassays and in establishing the lethal dose when researching/testing toxins. They consider the rights and responsibilities...

In this activity, students explore the processes scientists used to analyse and identify the toxic substance responsible for dog deaths on Auckland beaches. By the end...

This activity is designed to help students become aware that all substances are made of chemicals and that chemicals are made up of a combination of...

Position: Senior research scientist, Cawthron Institute. Field: Biology – natural toxins, microalgae and microbiology. Growing up with New Zealand’s outdoors as her playground instilled a desire...

Position: Senior Marine Scientist Field: Marine ecology, aquaculture Organisation: Cawthron Institute Dr Dave Taylor is a senior marine scientist at the Cawthron Institute in Nelson. He...

Position: Professor University of Canterbury, researcher, company director, consultant, Eco Research Associates Ltd. Field: Biological sciences, with a focus on the environment and working with Māori...

Position: Technical Manager, Field: Analytical chemistry, Organisation: Cawthron Institute. Paul McNabb worked as the Technical Manager at the Cawthron Institute in Nelson. This involved the management...

In 2009, some grey side-gilled sea slugs (Pleurobranchaea maculata) were found to be toxic following the deaths of several dogs on Auckland beaches. It was not...

Marine toxins are naturally occurring chemicals that can contaminate certain seafood. Naturally occurring toxins are produced by phytoplankton and move through the food web when zooplankton,...

The food we eat can poison us. There are over 200 known diseases that can be transmitted by food. Bacteria or viruses are the main cause...