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For small and rapidly declining populations acting fast to prevent extinction is crucial. However, many endangered species receive little attention or management action. Action paralysis can prevail for several reasons, particularly for data deficient species when conservation resources are scarce. Here we draw attention to one of the world’s rarest birds, the King Island Scrubtit (Acanthornis magnus greenianus), a subspecies of a monotypic genus. Recognised as critically endangered for more than two decades, conservation action is virtually non-existent despite a rapid population decline. To establish current baseline information using a repeatable cost-effective monitoring methodology we surveyed 154 sites at eight locations as well as additional sites within the agricultural matrix. We detected the King Island Scrubtit at 28 sites in three locations (Nook Swamp, Colliers Swamp and Pegarah State Forest). At these locations, we estimated overall occupancy to be 0.35 (s.e. 0.05) and detectability to be 0.68 (s.e. 0.05) during a single site visit. We estimate the current area of occupancy of the bird to be

Declines in avian biodiversity are being reported worldwide. A better understanding of the ecology of many species is fundamental to identifying and addressing threatening processes and developing effective mitigation measures. The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) is listed as endangered and is an obligate migrant that breeds only in Tasmania, wintering in mainland Australia. The species nests in tree-hollows and forages primarily on flowers of the Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and Black Gum (Eucalyptus ovata) during the breeding season. Surveys for Swift Parrot nests conducted over three consecutive breeding seasons identified 130 Swift Parrot nests in 117 trees. Sites were between 12 and 130 ha in area with up to 49 nests found at an individual site. Swift Parrot nest-trees were characterised as being large eucalypts (mean diameter at breast height = 105 cm) with five or more potential hollows (mean = 8.6) and showing clear signs of senescence. Reuse of nests was uncommon over the 3 years and the infrequency of reuse was most likely related to poor flowering of Tasmanian Blue Gums around nesting sites in years following recorded nesting. To protect the species, conservation actions need to account for the spatiotemporal variation in the availability of Swift Parrot breeding habitat and recognise there may be several years between the use of a particular site. Given the number of nests found at individual sites this will require the management or reservation of suitable forest stands with old-growth characteristics across the landscape, rather than focussing on individual trees or historical nesting sites.

Knowledge of demographic parameters, including survival, are fundamental to understanding the population dynamics of any taxon. Here we report on a long-term capture–mark–recapture study of the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster), one of the world’s most threatened parrots, using capture histories of 848 known-age wild birds. Parameter estimates of survival and probability of recapture were derived using the program MARK 4.1. Mean annual survival of juveniles and adults was estimated at 0.56 (s.e. 0.07) and 0.65 (s.e. 0.14) respectively. There was no evidence for an effect of sex on survival. Survival of three age-classes was estimated at 0.53 (s.e. 0.08) for juveniles, 0.64 (s.e. 0.11) for first-year birds and 0.59 (s.e. 0.09) for adults (2 years and older), indicating that maximum survival occurs in the second year of life, and declines thereafter. Although survival for both adults and juveniles varied considerably across years, there was no evidence of a decline in survival over the 20 years of the study. However, there has been an annual decline in the numbers of adult birds observed each year at the breeding grounds of 12% between 2000 and 2008, current survival rates do not appear to be a factor inhibiting population growth. The observed decline is more likely to result from a decline in female participation in breeding resulting in a decrease in the recruitment of juveniles to the population.

This clinical practice guideline provides an approach to the treatment of breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and the prevention of refractory CINV in children. It was developed by an international, interprofessional panel and is based on systematic literature reviews. Evidence-based interventions for the treatment of breakthrough and prophylaxis of refractory CINV are recommended. Gaps in the evidence used to support the recommendations made in this clinical practice guideline were identified. The contribution of these recommendations to breakthrough and refractory CINV control in children requires prospective evaluation.

A critical step towards reducing the incidence of extinction is to identify and rank the species at highest risk, while implementing protective measures to reduce the risk of extinction to such species. Existing global processes provide a graded categorisation of extinction risk. Here we seek to extend and complement those processes to focus more narrowly on the likelihood of extinction of the most imperilled Australian birds and mammals. We considered an extension of existing IUCN and NatureServe criteria, and used expert elicitation to rank the extinction risk to the most imperilled species, assuming current management. On the basis of these assessments, and using two additional approaches, we estimated the number of extinctions likely to occur in the next 20 years. The estimates of extinction risk derived from our tighter IUCN categorisations, NatureServe assessments and expert elicitation were poorly correlated, with little agreement among methods for which species were most in danger – highlighting the importance of integrating multiple approaches when considering extinction risk. Mapped distributions of the 20 most imperilled birds reveal that most are endemic to islands or occur in southern Australia. The 20 most imperilled mammals occur mostly in northern and central Australia. While there were some differences in the forecasted number of extinctions in the next 20 years among methods, all three approaches predict further species loss. Overall, we estimate that another seven Australian mammals and 10 Australian birds will be extinct by 2038 unless management improves.

This guideline provides an approach to the prevention and treatment of anticipatory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children. It was developed by an international, inter-professional panel using AGREE II methods and is based on systematic literature reviews. Evidence-based recommendations for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to prevent and treat anticipatory CINV in children receiving antineoplastic agents are provided. Gaps in the evidence used to support the recommendations are identified. The contribution of this guideline to anticipatory CINV control in children requires prospective evaluation.

This guideline provides an approach to the prevention of acute antineoplastic-induced nausea and vomiting (AINV) in children. It was developed by an international, inter-professional panel using AGREE and CAN-IMPLEMENT methods. Evidence-based interventions that provide optimal AINV control in children receiving antineoplastic agents of high, moderate, low, and minimal emetogenicity are recommended. Recommendations are also made regarding selection of antiemetic agents for children who are unable to receive corticosteroids for AINV control, the role of aprepitant and optimal doses of antiemetic agents. Gaps in the evidence used to support the recommendations were identified. The contribution of this guideline to AINV control in children requires prospective evaluation.

PURPOSE: To assess thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) phenotype and genotype in patients who were intolerant to treatment with mercaptopurine (MP) or azathioprine (AZA), and to evaluate their clinical management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TPMT phenotype and thiopurine metabolism were assessed in all patients referred between 1994 and 1999 for evaluation of excessive toxicity while receiving MP or AZA. TPMT activity was measured by radiochemical analysis, TPMT genotype was determined by mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses for the TPMT*2, *3A, *3B, and *3C alleles, and thiopurine metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Of 23 patients evaluated, six had TPMT deficiency (activity < 5 U/mL of packed RBCs [pRBCs]; homozygous mutant), nine had intermediate TPMT activity (5 to 13 U/mL of pRBCs; heterozygotes), and eight had high TPMT activity (> 13.5 U/mL of pRBCs; homozygous wildtype). The 65.2% frequency of TPMT-deficient and heterozygous individuals among these toxic patients is significantly greater than the expected 10% frequency in the general population (P < .001, χ2). TPMT phenotype and genotype were concordant in all TPMT-deficient and all homozygous-wildtype patients, whereas five patients with heterozygous phenotypes did not have a TPMT mutation detected. Before thiopurine dosage adjustments, TPMT-deficient patients experienced more frequent hospitalization, more platelet transfusions, and more missed doses of chemotherapy. Hematologic toxicity occurred in more than 90% of patients, whereas hepatotoxicity occurred in six patients (26%). Both patients who presented with only hepatic toxicity had a homozygous-wildtype TPMT phenotype. After adjustment of thiopurine dosages, the TPMT-deficient and heterozygous patients tolerated therapy without acute toxicity. CONCLUSION: There is a significant (> six-fold) overrepresentation of TPMT deficiency or heterozygosity among patients developing dose-limiting hematopoietic toxicity from therapy containing thiopurines. However, with appropriate dosage adjustments, TPMT-deficient and heterozygous patients can be treated with thiopurines, without acute dose-limiting toxicity.

Conserving habitat for wide-ranging fauna species provides a challenge because impacts on these species tend to be dismissed based on the assumption that there is sufficient habitat in other areas of its range. This incremental loss of habitat is a serious conservation issue for a diversity of bird species. As knowledge of wide-ranging and migratory bird species increases, it often becomes evident that they select specific sites on a regular basis (i.e., the species exhibit site fidelity). Gaining a better understanding of site fidelity and selective habitat use for wide-ranging species is clearly important, but also extremely challenging. In this paper, challenges associated with conservation of the migratory and wide-ranging Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor are discussed as an example of how a recovery programme has aimed to address such conservation and management challenges. Despite the small population size (less than 2 500 birds), broad distribution (1 250 000 km2) and often cryptic nature, the implementation of the national recovery programme has been successful in the identification and protection of important habitats. This has been made possible by involving large numbers of volunteers who collect long-term sighting and habitat data over large areas, together with more detailed ecological research. This information is then used to inform the conservation assessment process and to improve habitat conservation throughout the range of the species.