title: Sovereign sojourners: Investigating dispersal of invasive blowflies

authors: Theobald, Max

abstract: Understanding what drives insect dispersal is essential for predicting species spread, persistence, and the ecological impacts of invasive species, particularly as climate change accelerates range expansions. My thesis investigates the dispersal behaviour of several invasive blowfly species in Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing both on species-specific traits and environmental context. Specifically, I aimed to assess how conspecific density, sex, species identity, and group composition influence movement patterns, and how these patterns differ across contrasting urban and rural environments. My research combined two approaches: controlled laboratory assays and a large-scale field trial. In the lab, I used multi-patch arenas and automated video tracking to assess dispersal rate, exploration, and social spacing in two invasive blowfly species (Calliphora vicina and Calliphora stygia) under varied social conditions (densities of n = 1, n = 5, and n = 10). In the field, I dusted ~4,000 wild-caught blowflies with fluorescent powder and released them at a central location at the University of Waikato. I then monitored 28 baited traps placed along a radial transect (0.5 km to 3 km) for 10 days to track dispersal across the landscape. In the lab, I found that dispersal increased significantly under group conditions (n = 5), regardless of species or sex, and that C. vicina, especially females, exhibited higher exploration and movement metrics than C. stygia. Mixed-sex groupings further enhanced exploratory behaviour in C. vicina. In contrast, my field experiment yielded no marked fly recaptures. However, unmarked trap catches revealed that Lucilia spp. and Chrysomya spp. (both globally invasive) were the most frequently captured species across urban and rural sites, while C. vicina and C. stygia were less common and more restricted to urban areas. Together, these findings provide novel insights into both the behavioural ecology and spatial dynamics of invasive blowflies. By combining behavioural assays with field-scale observations, my thesis offers a foundation for improving dispersal prediction models and informs future research design in the context of biosecurity and invasive species management.

text: Sovereign sojourners: Investigating dispersal of invasive blowflies Understanding what drives insect dispersal is essential for predicting species spread, persistence, and the ecological impacts of invasive species, particularly as climate change accelerates range expansions. My thesis investigates the dispersal behaviour of several invasive blowfly species in Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing both on species-specific traits and environmental context. Specifically, I aimed to assess how conspecific density, sex, species identity, and group composition influence movement patterns, and how these patterns differ across contrasting urban and rural environments. My research combined two approaches: controlled laboratory assays and a large-scale field trial. In the lab, I used multi-patch arenas and automated video tracking to assess dispersal rate, exploration, and social spacing in two invasive blowfly species (Calliphora vicina and Calliphora stygia) under varied social conditions (densities of n = 1, n = 5, and n = 10). In the field, I dusted ~4,000 wild-caught blowflies with fluorescent powder and released them at a central location at the University of Waikato. I then monitored 28 baited traps placed along a radial transect (0.5 km to 3 km) for 10 days to track dispersal across the landscape. In the lab, I found that dispersal increased significantly under group conditions (n = 5), regardless of species or sex, and that C. vicina, especially females, exhibited higher exploration and movement metrics than C. stygia. Mixed-sex groupings further enhanced exploratory behaviour in C. vicina. In contrast, my field experiment yielded no marked fly recaptures. However, unmarked trap catches revealed that Lucilia spp. and Chrysomya spp. (both globally invasive) were the most frequently captured species across urban and rural sites, while C. vicina and C. stygia were less common and more restricted to urban areas. Together, these findings provide novel insights into both the behavioural ecology and spatial dynamics of invasive blowflies. By combining behavioural assays with field-scale observations, my thesis offers a foundation for improving dispersal prediction models and informs future research design in the context of biosecurity and invasive species management.

year: 2025-10-08

title: On the use of observation equivalence in synthesis abstraction

authors: Mohajerani, Sahar

subjects: computer science

abstract: In a previous paper we introduced the notion of synthesis abstraction, which allows efficient compositional synthesis of maximally permissive supervisors for large-scale systems of composed finite-state automata. In the current paper, observation equivalence is studied in relation to synthesis abstraction. It is shown that general observation equivalence is not useful for synthesis abstraction. Instead, we introduce additional conditions strengthening observation equivalence, so that it can be used with the compositional synthesis method. The paper concludes with an example showing the suitability of these relations to achieve substantial state reduction while computing a modular supervisor.

text: On the use of observation equivalence in synthesis abstraction In a previous paper we introduced the notion of synthesis abstraction, which allows efficient compositional synthesis of maximally permissive supervisors for large-scale systems of composed finite-state automata. In the current paper, observation equivalence is studied in relation to synthesis abstraction. It is shown that general observation equivalence is not useful for synthesis abstraction. Instead, we introduce additional conditions strengthening observation equivalence, so that it can be used with the compositional synthesis method. The paper concludes with an example showing the suitability of these relations to achieve substantial state reduction while computing a modular supervisor.

year: 2011

title: Examining the Professional Learning and Development of Principals and Teachers in Maori Medium.

authors: McClunie, Adrienne Heeni

subjects: Professional Development

abstract: The Resource Teacher Māori service (RTM) has been working to lift the performance of principals and teachers of Māori medium schools for over 25 years as Māori medium education has attempted to achieve the twofold aim of revitalizing the Māori language and increasing the success of Māori students in Aotearoa/New Zealand. While there have been many positive gains over that time, issues still remain in fulfilling these aims. Therefore, an important question that needs to be answered is to what extent have RTM been successful in supporting schools to realize the key aims of Māori medium education, and what issues still remain in the service they provide? 
The central aim of this research project was to examine how Resource Teachers Māori (RTM) facilitated professional development (PD) in schools, what issues they faced, and how they negotiated them. The study was a multiple case study design of three RTM, principals and teachers and used conversational interviews as the method of data gathering.
The research found that the RTM service was viewed positively by schools and had a positive influence on teacher skills and student learning outcomes. Of particular importance was the Māori language and cultural guidance the RTM provided teachers. They were also highly committed to the Kaupapa Māori philosophy and to Māori language revitalization. However, their potential was not always realized. Factors that affected the performance of RTM included having a large number of schools to service and a wide range of teacher needs.  The support the RTM received at the national and local levels was also insufficient. An implication of these findings is that the RTM service should receive greater support and guidance, but there should also be a greater degree of accountability that the service the RTM are providing is meeting school needs.

text: Examining the Professional Learning and Development of Principals and Teachers in Maori Medium. The Resource Teacher Māori service (RTM) has been working to lift the performance of principals and teachers of Māori medium schools for over 25 years as Māori medium education has attempted to achieve the twofold aim of revitalizing the Māori language and increasing the success of Māori students in Aotearoa/New Zealand. While there have been many positive gains over that time, issues still remain in fulfilling these aims. Therefore, an important question that needs to be answered is to what extent have RTM been successful in supporting schools to realize the key aims of Māori medium education, and what issues still remain in the service they provide? 
The central aim of this research project was to examine how Resource Teachers Māori (RTM) facilitated professional development (PD) in schools, what issues they faced, and how they negotiated them. The study was a multiple case study design of three RTM, principals and teachers and used conversational interviews as the method of data gathering.
The research found that the RTM service was viewed positively by schools and had a positive influence on teacher skills and student learning outcomes. Of particular importance was the Māori language and cultural guidance the RTM provided teachers. They were also highly committed to the Kaupapa Māori philosophy and to Māori language revitalization. However, their potential was not always realized. Factors that affected the performance of RTM included having a large number of schools to service and a wide range of teacher needs.  The support the RTM received at the national and local levels was also insufficient. An implication of these findings is that the RTM service should receive greater support and guidance, but there should also be a greater degree of accountability that the service the RTM are providing is meeting school needs.

year: 2013