Publications by authors named "M P Klaassen"
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained significant global attention due to their extensive industrial use and harmful effects on various organisms. Among these, perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are well-studied, but their diverse precursors remain challenging to monitor. The Total Oxidizable Precursor (TOP) assay offers a powerful approach to converting these precursors into detectable PFAAs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals are predicted to shrink and shape-shift as the climate warms, declining in size, while their appendages lengthen. Determining which types of species are undergoing these morphological changes, and why, is critical to understanding species responses to global change, including potential adaptation to climate warming. We examine body size and bill length changes in 25 shorebird species using extensive field data (> 200,000 observations) collected over 46 years (1975-2021) by community scientists.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Australia has low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses circulating within its territory.
- A Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza H5 virus has recently been detected in Australia.
- This finding is important for monitoring and diagnostics, especially given the potential risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) not currently being present.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied 5013 museum bird skins from 78 Australian species to investigate how climate change affects body size and shape in birds.
- Findings revealed that birds are adapting to warming climates by increasing appendage sizes (like bill and wing length) while overall body size tends to decrease, supporting existing theories about climate-induced morphological changes.
- The study also noted complex, short-term responses to temperature increases, showing that while appendage sizes might decrease after heatwaves, the long-term trends indicate broader adaptive strategies across various bird types.
Article Synopsis
- - The high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1 outbreak highlights the serious threats posed by viral incursions to both wildlife and domestic animals.
- - Recent findings in Australia identified two low pathogenicity avian influenza virus subtypes, H4 and H10, with different evolutionary patterns, emphasizing the complex nature of viral spread.
- - Phylogenetic analysis shows H4 viruses from shorebirds are a new introduction from Asia, while H10 has evolved into a new lineage in various bird populations, illustrating the importance of understanding these dynamics for better disease management.