Male Octopus Uses Special Arm for Mating, Affects Survival

Male octopuses use a special arm called the hectocotylus for sperm delivery. This arm usage affects their survival after mating.

Male Octopus Uses Special Arm for Mating, Affects Survival

Male octopuses use a special arm called the hectocotylus for sperm delivery. This arm usage affects their survival after mating.

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UL researchers receive funding for agri-food and circular bioeconomy projects

Several projects involving researchers at University of Limerick are to receive funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, it has been announced. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D., and Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Development Martin Heydon, T.D., have announced funding of 20 research grants worth just over €24 million to support research across 16 institutes. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s 2023 Thematic Research Call will support research across the agri-food, forest and bioeconomy sectors, with three projects coordinated by or involving UL researchers Professor Sean Fair, Professor Achim Schmalenberger and Professor Luuk van der Wielen, covering important areas such as food safety, animal reproduction and circular bioeconomy development. Welcoming the announcement UL Vice President Research Professor Norelee Kennedy said: “The agri-food and bioeconomy sectors are hugely important for Ireland as they continue to develop and innovate. Some of our most innovative scientists are significant pillars under this important research initiative that furthers research in key sectors for the Irish economy as well as ensuring a continuous stream of highly skilled scientific talent coming through.” Commenting on the announcement, Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to announce funding of over €24 million for 20 research projects arising from the 2023 Thematic Research Call. The work funded under our research calls is essential to equip farmers, foresters, and the wider agri-food sector with the tools needed to improve their economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the years ahead. It is also pivotal to developing the next generation of cutting-edge technologies and innovations that will ensure we are globally attractive and competitive as a food island.’’ Minister of State Heydon said: ‘‘When I launched the 2023 Thematic Research Call earlier this year, my objectives were to build research capacity, expertise and reputation in critical areas of importance, address research gaps and provide opportunities for early-stage researchers, encouraging collaboration across institutions and across scientific disciplines. In announcing this funding today of over €24 million from four research funders across the island, I firmly believe that the twenty projects involved will fulfil those objectives.” Projects supported involving UL researchers are: Developing semen technology to improve the sustainability of the national herd; Coordinator – Professor Sean Fair, University of Limerick ‘HeteroBull’ led by Professor Fair furthers artificial insemination which has driven genetic progress in the dairy industry by facilitating intensive use of elite sires in terms of economic and environmentally relevant traits. Despite rigorous assessments of sperm quality by animal breeding centres before semen is released for sale, significant variation in field fertility still exists among bulls used in artificial insemination. There is anecdotal evidence internationally that mixing semen from more than one bull in the same semen straw (Heterospermic semen) can protect against this variation and increase pregnancy rates, possibly due to sperm competition and/or allowing flexibility in timing of insemination relative to ovulation. The HeteroBull project is a collaboration between researchers at University of Limerick, University College Dublin, Teagasc and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation as well as industry partners. Professor Fair explained: “The project aims to provide sound scientific evidence on the degree to which both conventional and sex-sorted heterospermic semen can influence fertility in lactating dairy cows and will establish the biological and molecular mechanisms underpinning this so that stakeholders can make informed decisions around its use.” Detection and Control of Listeria monocytogenes in food production; Coordinator – Dr Kaye Burgess, Teagasc UL’s Professor Achim Schmalenberger is leading the work package ‘Growth behaviour of L. monocytogenes in RTE foods’ and is contributing to the work package ‘Novel control mechanisms to reduce the prevalence of L. monocytogenes: Biocontrol agents’ as part of this project. Optimising the Current and Prospective Value of the Bio-economy in Ireland; Coordinator – Cathal O’Donoghue, National University of Ireland Galway The project seeks to understand scale, structure, value generation and carbon emissions across the whole sector to identify opportunities for change and for scaling. Professor Luuk van der Wielen of UL’s Bernal Institute will especially contribute to data and modelling strategies to include non-traditional sectors such as zero-emission foods, mandated energy carriers such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), and biobased materials’ circularity. This project also includes researchers at University College Dublin, Teagasc and Trinity College Dublin.

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