title: Semigroup actions on posets and preimage quasi-orders

authors: Stokes, Tim E.

subjects: first projection quasi-order

abstract: Structures consisting of a semigroup of (partial) functions on a set X, a poset of subsets of X, and a preimage operation linking the two, arise commonly throughout mathematics. The poset may be equipped with one or more set operations, up to Boolean algebra structure. Such structures are finitely axiomatized here in terms of order-preserving semigroup actions on posets. This generalises Schein's axiomatization of semigroups of partial functions equipped with the first projection quasi-order

text: Semigroup actions on posets and preimage quasi-orders Structures consisting of a semigroup of (partial) functions on a set X, a poset of subsets of X, and a preimage operation linking the two, arise commonly throughout mathematics. The poset may be equipped with one or more set operations, up to Boolean algebra structure. Such structures are finitely axiomatized here in terms of order-preserving semigroup actions on posets. This generalises Schein's axiomatization of semigroups of partial functions equipped with the first projection quasi-order

year: 2012

title: Community influences on rural youth wellbeing: Young people's perspectives

authors: Simcock, Gillian Clare

subjects: Youth, community, wellbeing

abstract: This study considered rural young people’s perceptions of community factors involved in their wellbeing.  Two regional Waikato towns, Te Aroha and Otorohanga were used as the sites for the research project.  Four focus groups were conducted with students in their final year of senior school to obtain qualitative data.  The focus group participants were recruited via flyers placed in the two schools and there were two groups (one male and one female) from each college. Five further in-depth interviews and two less formal discussions with community members from these towns were used as additional information.  The data was considered from a social constructivist perspective.  Both towns provide opportunities for the members of the communities to come together which may engender a sense of community.  Te Aroha and Otorohanga’s students find that community-level events and, in particular, sport provides a good chance to meet with other sectors of the community.  These social processes provide opportunities where there may be some implicit endorsement of the adolescents which may enhance self-esteem and, in turn, sense of wellbeing.  The key findings are that sense of community cannot be the factor that directly determines wellbeing.  The study provided evidence to suggest that sense of community can encourage social capital which is likely to have a positive correlation with wellbeing.  Social capital is the “commodity” which can be accumulated by these community driven opportunities for interaction.

text: Community influences on rural youth wellbeing: Young people's perspectives This study considered rural young people’s perceptions of community factors involved in their wellbeing.  Two regional Waikato towns, Te Aroha and Otorohanga were used as the sites for the research project.  Four focus groups were conducted with students in their final year of senior school to obtain qualitative data.  The focus group participants were recruited via flyers placed in the two schools and there were two groups (one male and one female) from each college. Five further in-depth interviews and two less formal discussions with community members from these towns were used as additional information.  The data was considered from a social constructivist perspective.  Both towns provide opportunities for the members of the communities to come together which may engender a sense of community.  Te Aroha and Otorohanga’s students find that community-level events and, in particular, sport provides a good chance to meet with other sectors of the community.  These social processes provide opportunities where there may be some implicit endorsement of the adolescents which may enhance self-esteem and, in turn, sense of wellbeing.  The key findings are that sense of community cannot be the factor that directly determines wellbeing.  The study provided evidence to suggest that sense of community can encourage social capital which is likely to have a positive correlation with wellbeing.  Social capital is the “commodity” which can be accumulated by these community driven opportunities for interaction.

year: 2016

title: Quantifying relationships between kōura  (Paranephrops planifrons) abundance and micro-habitat features in Waikato hill-country streams

authors: Parata, Riki Neihana

subjects: kōura

abstract: Kōura (Paranephrops planifrons) is considered a taonga species by Māori and was once an abundant traditional fishery harvested throughout New Zealand. Kōura populations are under pressure in Waikato hill-country streams due to a range of factors including habitat loss and water quality degradation. Now that stakeholders have been engaging in collaborative decision-making and practices to restore/enhance biodiversity and ecosystem health within the Waikato catchment, there is opportunity to implement measures specifically targeted at kōura. Information on kōura habitat requirements to assist with the development of habitat enhancement work is therefore timely.
This research comprised two discrete studies which, in combination, provide important insights into daytime habitat use by kōura in Waikato hill-country streams. The first study was a field survey that examined in-stream habitat characteristics affecting kōura density and size, with a focus on juveniles ≤ 8 mm orbital carapace length (OCL), across a range of scales ranging from habitat patches to streams with contrasting catchment and riparian vegetation treatments – pasture, early or late riparian planting, and native forest. Micro-habitat variables related to kōura density included water depth and velocity, substrate size, and the area of bank undercuts and organic cover types, with root mat area significantly and positively related to juvenile densities across all scales. Although there was no significant effect of treatment type, there were strong associations between kōura and ponga logs, root systems, and coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) across scales within and between streams.
The second study was a habitat manipulation experiment conducted to investigate whether kōura abundances, in particular juveniles, could be enhanced by additions of organic habitat consisting of 0.5 m² coconut fibre matting to simulate ponga (Cyathea dealbata) root systems that occur on the stream bank, and 1 m² ponga frond bundles to simulate the natural habitat structures formed in native forested areas. These two artificial habitats were compared with natural in-stream cobble habitats. Kōura and toi toi (Gobiomorphus spp.), both showed a preference for ponga frond habitats which were predicted to provide submerged habitat for more than 200 days. Although the coconut fibre matting was predicted to outlast ponga frond bundles by up to 107 days, it was more susceptible to sedimentation and did not provide adequate habitat for kōura due to its dense structure.
This study highlighted the influence of riparian treatments, hydrological processes, and inorganic and organic habitats on kōura populations. Information from this study can provide restoration managers with guidance on how to enhance in-stream and stream edge habitat suitability for kōura and can be used with existing mātauranga Māori, and western and community science, to determine suitable vegetation for riparian planting, assess what factors and drivers contribute to in-stream habitat availability and sustainability, and identify important habitat features that relate to kōura when conducting habitat restoration.

text: Quantifying relationships between kōura  (Paranephrops planifrons) abundance and micro-habitat features in Waikato hill-country streams Kōura (Paranephrops planifrons) is considered a taonga species by Māori and was once an abundant traditional fishery harvested throughout New Zealand. Kōura populations are under pressure in Waikato hill-country streams due to a range of factors including habitat loss and water quality degradation. Now that stakeholders have been engaging in collaborative decision-making and practices to restore/enhance biodiversity and ecosystem health within the Waikato catchment, there is opportunity to implement measures specifically targeted at kōura. Information on kōura habitat requirements to assist with the development of habitat enhancement work is therefore timely.
This research comprised two discrete studies which, in combination, provide important insights into daytime habitat use by kōura in Waikato hill-country streams. The first study was a field survey that examined in-stream habitat characteristics affecting kōura density and size, with a focus on juveniles ≤ 8 mm orbital carapace length (OCL), across a range of scales ranging from habitat patches to streams with contrasting catchment and riparian vegetation treatments – pasture, early or late riparian planting, and native forest. Micro-habitat variables related to kōura density included water depth and velocity, substrate size, and the area of bank undercuts and organic cover types, with root mat area significantly and positively related to juvenile densities across all scales. Although there was no significant effect of treatment type, there were strong associations between kōura and ponga logs, root systems, and coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) across scales within and between streams.
The second study was a habitat manipulation experiment conducted to investigate whether kōura abundances, in particular juveniles, could be enhanced by additions of organic habitat consisting of 0.5 m² coconut fibre matting to simulate ponga (Cyathea dealbata) root systems that occur on the stream bank, and 1 m² ponga frond bundles to simulate the natural habitat structures formed in native forested areas. These two artificial habitats were compared with natural in-stream cobble habitats. Kōura and toi toi (Gobiomorphus spp.), both showed a preference for ponga frond habitats which were predicted to provide submerged habitat for more than 200 days. Although the coconut fibre matting was predicted to outlast ponga frond bundles by up to 107 days, it was more susceptible to sedimentation and did not provide adequate habitat for kōura due to its dense structure.
This study highlighted the influence of riparian treatments, hydrological processes, and inorganic and organic habitats on kōura populations. Information from this study can provide restoration managers with guidance on how to enhance in-stream and stream edge habitat suitability for kōura and can be used with existing mātauranga Māori, and western and community science, to determine suitable vegetation for riparian planting, assess what factors and drivers contribute to in-stream habitat availability and sustainability, and identify important habitat features that relate to kōura when conducting habitat restoration.

year: 2019