ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Shaw, Stephanie D. (2012) Diseases of New Zealand native frogs. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/24600/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/24600/ Diseases of New Zealand Native Frogs Thesis submitted by Stephanie D. Shaw B.S. Wildlife Biology (Honors), B.S.Veterinary Science, D.V.M., MANZCVS Medicine of Zoo Animals October, 2012 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences James Cook University Statement of Access I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that the James Cook University Library allows access to users in other approved libraries. All users consulting this thesis will have to sign the following statement: “In consulting this thesis, I agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in whole or part without the consent of the author; and to make proper written acknowledgement for any assistance which I have obtained from it”. Beyond this, I do not wish to place any restriction on access to this thesis. 10/10/2012 _________________________ (Stephanie Shaw) (Date) 2 Electronic Copy I, the undersigned, author of this work, declare that the electronic copy of this thesis provided to the James Cook University library is an accurate copy of the print thesis submitted, within the limits of technology available. 10/10/2012 _____________________________ _________________________ (Stephanie Shaw) (Date) 3 Statement of Sources Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. 10/10/2012 _____________________________ _________________________ (Stephanie Shaw) (Date) 4 Acknowledgements The reason for starting a PhD would be different for everyone. For me it was about achieving a dream. Proving to myself I could do it. My motto has been “Whatever you believe you can achieve”. However, in the valleys of life and this project, I often borrowed the mantra of Dory, the angelfish from Nemo, “Just keep swimming”. That phrase has kept me from drowning in the sea of research many a time. It’s obvious no one can do something this large alone and I am no exception. I have certainly learned the art of collaboration and asking for help! So, here goes the long list of thanks. First and foremost I thank my husband and friend, Todd, for standing by me while I have taken on this mental marathon. It has not been short and sweet and things have always taken longer than I thought. You have assisted me by moving house, starting new businesses, extra childcare duty, making new friends, making lots of dinners and taking on extra duties – usually without reminding me that was all my idea….. Of course my children have been there right alongside him with adjustments: moving to a new country, changing schools, changing cultures and wondering if anyone was going to pick them up from school when I was late from “just finishing something important”. Although they may not have understood fully what I was doing, they knew it was important to me and have been there to hug me when I needed it. My supervisors Rick Speare, Lee Berger, Lee Skerratt and Phil Bishop are a fantastic team and I couldn’t have asked for better. It is their combined contributions that have helped me to succeed. Rick, you have shown me what true humility and generosity is as you live it every day. Even though you travel the world, you have somehow fit me into your busy schedule. When you are with me you are focused and efficient and I feel like this project is as important to you as it is to me. You 5 have become not only my supervisor but my adopted father, my counselor and my colleague. I continue to hope that at the end of this I am a little more like you. Lee Berger, you are our local guardian angel and my adopted sister. You have made sure we have had all the necessities to live while settling in Townsville and made the difficult process bearable. The mental support you give has been a lifeline. If I felt hopeless or frustrated you have been there to guide me and to remind me it’s all part of the process and that the finished product is always better- and you were right every time. Your reviewing skills are phenomenal and I owe you for my major improvement in scientific writing. I’m still not as good as you, but I am getting there! Lee Skerratt, you are a great friend to the whole family and my adopted brother. You have also been my necessary devil’s advocate! I could always count on you to give me the sometimes not so good honest truth while offering suggestions on improvement. Your practical lessons on experimental design, statistics, manuscript order, presentations, posters, author order, and journal impact factors have been essential and most appreciated. Phil, you are a great inspiration. You have been an amazing supporter and calm in the face of my mental storms. Your enthusiastic attitude towards frog conservation has infected me and made me into an unabashed frog doctor- one thing I vowed not to become! Your endless circle of students has also provided me with enough competition to keep things moving and to try to finish first- something I haven’t always achieved but it provided great impetus. I thank you for all your assistance in New Zealand – I truly could not have achieved what I did without you. I also thank the fantastic team at the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine at Auckland Zoo while I was there learning to be a zoo vet and to care for native frogs. Firstly is Richard Jakob-Hoff. I would not have started the medicine residency at the zoo nor the PhD without his encouragement and vision. Richard, you also have been an amazing example of what kind of person I want to become. You are a humble achiever who takes the time to get to know everyone and make 6 them feel special. I thank you for my personal life coaching over my four years with you. I hope I have made you proud. Thanks to John Potter for allowing me to take over the native frog health programme. You paved the way for the care of these native frogs and your insight and opinions were always valuable. Thanks to Craig Pritchard, manager of the NZCCM, as your support and seemingly endless encouragement for this project was essential to its success. To all the wonderful vet nurses including Lauren Best, Mel Farrant and Nicole Czerinak at the NZCCM who helped me organize treatments, X- rays, and general care for any sick frog - thanks for letting me lean on you as I couldn’t do it alone. Special thanks to Kirsten Derry who gave me office support and assistance to the boring bits of this project. Your infectious attitude and smiles kept me going many a day. Thanks to all the Auckland Zoo native frog keepers and curators: Andrew Nelson, John Rowden, Michelle Whybrow, Tanya Shennan, Natalie Clark, Ian Fraser, Richard Gibson and many more. I learned so much from all of you and your absolute commitment to the frogs’ health was inspirational! I am sure asking you to spend hours of your day searching for slaters and hoppers was not your idea of fun- but you did it for the frogs. A very special mention to Peter West and Nicole Kunzmann who absolutely were my right hand in the veterinary care of the frogs. Thanks for all your ideas, discussions (over and over), and willingness to listen to my thoughts and act upon them, with respect, passion and enthusiasm. Your contribution to the native frogs lives within this thesis. The cooperation and support of the native frog team at the New Zealand Department of Conservation was vital. Avi Holzapfel and Kate McInnes were the impetus in the DOC team to start a PhD on diseases of New Zealand native frogs. It was such a monumental task that I would not have attempted it without their initial backing. The rest of the DOC native frog team including Amanda Haigh, Lisa Daglish, Oliver Overdyk, Dave Smith, and Paul Gasson continued to support disease research when Avi changed positions and have collaborated and assisted me at every step. I know the 7 processes were sometimes cumbersome and frustrating, but you really put in the effort to get this final project done. I hope we can continue to work together. Thanks to Ben Bell for being the true patriarch of Leiopelma biology in New Zealand. Your quiet humble manner and all the amazing knowledge you have has made you such a pleasure to collaborate with. Thanks to Dianne Brunton from Massey University, Albany. You are the most amazing professional woman I have met is science and were a huge inspiration to me that I could do this project with a family. I truly thank you for all your guidance.