title: Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in solar salt ponds in Shark Bay, Western Australia

authors: Segal, Richard D.

subjects: dissolved organic nitrogen

abstract: The aim of this research was to examine nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in solar salt ponds of varying salinity at Useless Inlet in Western Australia. These ponds use solar energy to evaporate seawater for the purpose of commercial salt production. A combination of techniques involving water column nutrient ratios, comparisons of nutrient concentrations to concentration of magnesium ions and bioassays were used in the investigation. Comparisons of changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen to phosphorus ratios and concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients against changes in concentrations of the conservative cation Mg²⁺ indicated that phytoplankton biomass was potentially nitrogen limited along the entire pond salinity gradient. Nutrient addition bioassays indicated that in low salinity ponds, phytoplankton was nitrogen limited but in high salinity ponds, phosphorus limited. This may be due to isolation of phytoplankton in bioassay bottles from in situ conditions as well as to changes in phytoplankton species composition between ponds, and the variable availability of inorganic and organic nutrient sources. The differences in limiting nutrient between methods indicate that phytoplankton cells may be proximally limited by nutrients that are not theoretically limiting at the pond scale. Dissolved organic nutrients constituted a large proportion of total nutrients, with concentrations increasing through the pond sequence of increasing salinity. From the change in nutrient concentrations in bioassay bottles, sufficient dissolved organic nitrogen may be available for phytoplankton uptake in low salinity ponds, potentially alleviating the dissolved inorganic nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton biomass.

text: Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in solar salt ponds in Shark Bay, Western Australia The aim of this research was to examine nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in solar salt ponds of varying salinity at Useless Inlet in Western Australia. These ponds use solar energy to evaporate seawater for the purpose of commercial salt production. A combination of techniques involving water column nutrient ratios, comparisons of nutrient concentrations to concentration of magnesium ions and bioassays were used in the investigation. Comparisons of changes in dissolved inorganic nitrogen to phosphorus ratios and concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients against changes in concentrations of the conservative cation Mg²⁺ indicated that phytoplankton biomass was potentially nitrogen limited along the entire pond salinity gradient. Nutrient addition bioassays indicated that in low salinity ponds, phytoplankton was nitrogen limited but in high salinity ponds, phosphorus limited. This may be due to isolation of phytoplankton in bioassay bottles from in situ conditions as well as to changes in phytoplankton species composition between ponds, and the variable availability of inorganic and organic nutrient sources. The differences in limiting nutrient between methods indicate that phytoplankton cells may be proximally limited by nutrients that are not theoretically limiting at the pond scale. Dissolved organic nutrients constituted a large proportion of total nutrients, with concentrations increasing through the pond sequence of increasing salinity. From the change in nutrient concentrations in bioassay bottles, sufficient dissolved organic nitrogen may be available for phytoplankton uptake in low salinity ponds, potentially alleviating the dissolved inorganic nitrogen limitation of phytoplankton biomass.

year: 2009

title: Removing the ‘Cloak of Invisibility’: New Zealand Directors Discuss Theatre Directing Praxis

authors: Byrnes, Vanessa

subjects: Directing

abstract: This thesis reveals central thematic concerns relating to directing text-based professional theatre in New Zealand. How does a select cohort of professional New Zealand theatre directors bring texts dynamically to life? How have they directed actors through texts? What are the origins and contours of these praxes? What and who have been the key influences? And how do they view the role and function of a director and of theatre? 

The thesis analyses the praxis of ten contemporary New Zealand theatre directors whose work is typically generated from classic and contemporary play scripts. It does this through the creation of an original archive of semi-structured interviews. The thesis focuses on five key themes: constraints, freedoms, key methodological influences, working with actors in rehearsal, and working with actors towards revelation. 

Taking a case study approach, the thesis seeks points of similarity and difference between these directors’ praxis, arguing that principal findings are characteristic of professional New Zealand theatre directing in general. The thesis contends that this representation of text-based theatre directing in New Zealand exhibits distinctive characteristics. These include a variety of ‘actor-centric’ techniques. British director Mike Alfreds has made a particular contribution to contemporary New Zealand theatre directing practice, especially since his masterclass with directors and actors, held in 1989, and this work is considered in depth. 

The thesis concludes that the while the trope of interpretive directing in New Zealand is varied and nuanced, there are common threads that together weave a ‘cloak of invisibility’. In revealing the fabric and shape of this cloak, it argues that these New Zealand theatre directors have a distinct voice and are engaged in constructing a distinctive post-colonial praxis, while at the same time making a significant contribution to the evolving discourse of international theatre directing and performance practice.

text: Removing the ‘Cloak of Invisibility’: New Zealand Directors Discuss Theatre Directing Praxis This thesis reveals central thematic concerns relating to directing text-based professional theatre in New Zealand. How does a select cohort of professional New Zealand theatre directors bring texts dynamically to life? How have they directed actors through texts? What are the origins and contours of these praxes? What and who have been the key influences? And how do they view the role and function of a director and of theatre? 

The thesis analyses the praxis of ten contemporary New Zealand theatre directors whose work is typically generated from classic and contemporary play scripts. It does this through the creation of an original archive of semi-structured interviews. The thesis focuses on five key themes: constraints, freedoms, key methodological influences, working with actors in rehearsal, and working with actors towards revelation. 

Taking a case study approach, the thesis seeks points of similarity and difference between these directors’ praxis, arguing that principal findings are characteristic of professional New Zealand theatre directing in general. The thesis contends that this representation of text-based theatre directing in New Zealand exhibits distinctive characteristics. These include a variety of ‘actor-centric’ techniques. British director Mike Alfreds has made a particular contribution to contemporary New Zealand theatre directing practice, especially since his masterclass with directors and actors, held in 1989, and this work is considered in depth. 

The thesis concludes that the while the trope of interpretive directing in New Zealand is varied and nuanced, there are common threads that together weave a ‘cloak of invisibility’. In revealing the fabric and shape of this cloak, it argues that these New Zealand theatre directors have a distinct voice and are engaged in constructing a distinctive post-colonial praxis, while at the same time making a significant contribution to the evolving discourse of international theatre directing and performance practice.

year: 2015

title: Niupepa: A historical newspaper collection

authors: Apperley, Mark

abstract: Niupepa is a collection of 42 newspaper titles published in New Zealand from 1842-1933, comprising a total of 21,000 pages in 1,750 issues. This collection forms a unique historical record of the language of the indigenous Mãori people, the evolution of the written form of this language, and of events and developments during the formative colonial history of our country. Using the Greenstone software from the New Zealand Digital Library this collection is now publicly available with full-text search capability.

text: Niupepa: A historical newspaper collection Niupepa is a collection of 42 newspaper titles published in New Zealand from 1842-1933, comprising a total of 21,000 pages in 1,750 issues. This collection forms a unique historical record of the language of the indigenous Mãori people, the evolution of the written form of this language, and of events and developments during the formative colonial history of our country. Using the Greenstone software from the New Zealand Digital Library this collection is now publicly available with full-text search capability.

year: 2001-05-01