Search

Bathyaustriella thionipta, a new species from water depths of 480—500 m on the Macauley Caldera, Kermadec Ridge, is the first record of a member of the chemoautotrophic bivalve family Lucinidae from an active hydrothermal vent. The new species and genus is morphologically similar to the shallow‐water, mangrove mud‐inhabiting Austriellacorrugata from the central Indo‐West Pacific region. Sequences of18S and 28S rRNA genes confirm its position close to Austriella within a clade of shallow‐water lucinids. Features of B. thionipta include the extremely large gill, the vacuolated foot, two coiled, lobate structures arising from the anterior body wall and a very thick periostracum. Its probable close relationship to shallow‐water lucinids lends support to an hypothesis proposing the onshore to offshore derivation of deep‐sea and vent faunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author discusses some challenges faced by him while teaching English at Niue. The University of Otago, where the author is a lecturer, was contracted by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide educational support to the government of Niue. According to the author, most Niue secondary students have taken English as a second or third language, that requires more teaching skill.

Nested PCR was used to amplify envelope V3-V6 gene fragments of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from New Zealand cats. Phylogenetic analyses established that subtypes A and C predominate among New Zealand cats, with clear evidence of intersubtype recombination. In addition, 17 sequences were identified that were distinct from all known FIV clades, and we tentatively suggest these belong to a novel subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]