title: Regression trend lines of ridges and swales on the emergent beach at Gisborne, New Zealand

authors: Pullar, W.A.

subjects: Gisborne

abstract: The emergent sand-beach system at Gisborne consists of six recognisable groups of ridges and swales. It is about three miles wide and four miles long and rises gradually from 15ft above sea level at the coast to 40ft inland. From time to time the emergent beach has been mantled with air-borne volcanic ash including ash beds of the Waimihia Lapilli, Taupo Sub-group Members 9 - 13, Taupo Pumice, and Kaharoa Ash Formations. As the dates of these eruptions are known, the times of formation of the groups of beach ridges and wales have been determined as follows:
Group 1: c. 9000 B.C. - c. 1400 B.C.
Group 2: c. 1400 B.C. - (?) 850 B.C.
Group 3: (?) 850 B.C. - c. A.D. 131
Group 4: c. A.D. 131 - c. A.D. 1020
Group 5: c. A.D. 1020 - c. A.D. 1650
Group 6: c. A.D. 1650 - A.D. 1956
Evidence of recent earth movements has been noted in ridges and swales of Group 1, and of possible movements in those of Group 3. Changes in sea level could not be established and were taken from Wellman and Schofield. No attempt was made to distinguish directly wind-blown sand from wave-deposited sand; instead, a shell layer (assumed to be associated with the intertidal strand) was used as a marker bed to indicate the approximate sea level at the time when the shells were deposited.
Elevations of ridges and swales in each group were measured on a 15,000ft transect across the beach system. Then, overall linear and quadratic regressions as well as linear regressions for each group separately were computed. For both of the overall linear and quadratic regressions the trend lines show a fall seaward, but the separate trend lines for each group are as follows:
Group 1: Highly significant seaward decline.
Groups 2 and 3 combined: Very highly significant seaward decline.
Group 4: Highly significant seaward incline.
Groups 5 and 6 combined: No significant change.
The departure of the regression trend lines within Groups 1 to 6 from the overall linear and quadratic trend lines suggests that the trends of elevation across the emergent beach at Gisborne should be regarded more as a series of discontinuous trends rather than as one overall continuous trend of seaward decline. Though the overall trend of declining elevation is seaward, the corresponding fall in sea level is likely to be more apparent than real because of compounding of fall in sea level with earth movements.

text: Regression trend lines of ridges and swales on the emergent beach at Gisborne, New Zealand The emergent sand-beach system at Gisborne consists of six recognisable groups of ridges and swales. It is about three miles wide and four miles long and rises gradually from 15ft above sea level at the coast to 40ft inland. From time to time the emergent beach has been mantled with air-borne volcanic ash including ash beds of the Waimihia Lapilli, Taupo Sub-group Members 9 - 13, Taupo Pumice, and Kaharoa Ash Formations. As the dates of these eruptions are known, the times of formation of the groups of beach ridges and wales have been determined as follows:
Group 1: c. 9000 B.C. - c. 1400 B.C.
Group 2: c. 1400 B.C. - (?) 850 B.C.
Group 3: (?) 850 B.C. - c. A.D. 131
Group 4: c. A.D. 131 - c. A.D. 1020
Group 5: c. A.D. 1020 - c. A.D. 1650
Group 6: c. A.D. 1650 - A.D. 1956
Evidence of recent earth movements has been noted in ridges and swales of Group 1, and of possible movements in those of Group 3. Changes in sea level could not be established and were taken from Wellman and Schofield. No attempt was made to distinguish directly wind-blown sand from wave-deposited sand; instead, a shell layer (assumed to be associated with the intertidal strand) was used as a marker bed to indicate the approximate sea level at the time when the shells were deposited.
Elevations of ridges and swales in each group were measured on a 15,000ft transect across the beach system. Then, overall linear and quadratic regressions as well as linear regressions for each group separately were computed. For both of the overall linear and quadratic regressions the trend lines show a fall seaward, but the separate trend lines for each group are as follows:
Group 1: Highly significant seaward decline.
Groups 2 and 3 combined: Very highly significant seaward decline.
Group 4: Highly significant seaward incline.
Groups 5 and 6 combined: No significant change.
The departure of the regression trend lines within Groups 1 to 6 from the overall linear and quadratic trend lines suggests that the trends of elevation across the emergent beach at Gisborne should be regarded more as a series of discontinuous trends rather than as one overall continuous trend of seaward decline. Though the overall trend of declining elevation is seaward, the corresponding fall in sea level is likely to be more apparent than real because of compounding of fall in sea level with earth movements.

year: 1968

title: An investigation of microbial communities across two extreme geothermal gradients on Mt. Erebus, Victoria Land, Antarctica

authors: Smith, Emily

abstract: The geothermal fumaroles present on Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, are home to numerous unique and possibly endemic bacteria. The isolated nature of Mt. Erebus provides an opportunity to closely examine how geothermal physico-chemistry drives microbial community composition and structure. This study aimed at determining the effect of physico-chemical drivers on microbial community composition and structure along extreme thermal and geochemical gradients at two sites on Mt. Erebus: Tramway Ridge and Western Crater. Microbial community structure and physico-chemical soil characteristics were assessed via metabarcoding (16S rRNA) and geochemistry (temperature, pH, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN) and ICP-MS elemental analysis along a thermal gradient 10 °C–64 °C), which also defined a geochemical gradient. Diversity increased in alkaline soils suggesting pH to be the primary driver of microbial community structure across the gradients. Archaea dominated the microbial communities at Tramway Ridge compared to Western Crater, which was dominated by Bacteria. Western Crater has been sampled for the first time, widening the understanding of geothermal sites on Mt. Erebus. Organisms that were once considered cosmopolitan may not be as cosmopolitan as expected in Antarctica. These organisms may require specific niches that allow them to colonise new habitats. This study also showed that gathering more samples from Tramway Ridge has widened understanding of the changing environments that microbial communities on Mt. Erebus live in. The study provides a foundation on which to compare microbial and geochemical interactions across all geothermal sites within Victoria Land. This supports the effect of specific geothermal characteristics of the fumaroles in manipulating the microbial communities present.

text: An investigation of microbial communities across two extreme geothermal gradients on Mt. Erebus, Victoria Land, Antarctica The geothermal fumaroles present on Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, are home to numerous unique and possibly endemic bacteria. The isolated nature of Mt. Erebus provides an opportunity to closely examine how geothermal physico-chemistry drives microbial community composition and structure. This study aimed at determining the effect of physico-chemical drivers on microbial community composition and structure along extreme thermal and geochemical gradients at two sites on Mt. Erebus: Tramway Ridge and Western Crater. Microbial community structure and physico-chemical soil characteristics were assessed via metabarcoding (16S rRNA) and geochemistry (temperature, pH, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN) and ICP-MS elemental analysis along a thermal gradient 10 °C–64 °C), which also defined a geochemical gradient. Diversity increased in alkaline soils suggesting pH to be the primary driver of microbial community structure across the gradients. Archaea dominated the microbial communities at Tramway Ridge compared to Western Crater, which was dominated by Bacteria. Western Crater has been sampled for the first time, widening the understanding of geothermal sites on Mt. Erebus. Organisms that were once considered cosmopolitan may not be as cosmopolitan as expected in Antarctica. These organisms may require specific niches that allow them to colonise new habitats. This study also showed that gathering more samples from Tramway Ridge has widened understanding of the changing environments that microbial communities on Mt. Erebus live in. The study provides a foundation on which to compare microbial and geochemical interactions across all geothermal sites within Victoria Land. This supports the effect of specific geothermal characteristics of the fumaroles in manipulating the microbial communities present.

year: 2021

title: Planning for the protection and enhancement of marine environments' wellbeing

authors: Barnsdall, Aaron

subjects: marine

abstract: The wellbeing of marine environments has a direct relationship with the types of whenua (land, placenta) use and management practices that go from the mountains to the sea. In Aotearoa, activities that are carried out in this land-marine interface, including those related to Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), are regulated by national, regional, and district policies (e.g., New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, regional plans, and district plans). However, due to its novel character, not all current policies account for the realisation of NbSs nor are NbSs’ potential for addressing the wellbeing of our marine environments well understood.

This dissertation focuses on Tauranga Moana (the seas of Tauranga) as the chosen locality for the case study area, to:

i) investigate how the Ngapeke 7 Trust’s community participants in the Ngāti Pūkenga area of Tauranga Moana understand and value NbSs for addressing the wellbeing of their marine systems; and,
ii) review current planning policies and mechanisms to identify barriers, enablers, and gaps that support or hinder the implementation of NbSs in Tauranga Moana, observing through a Kaupapa Māori lens.

Findings emphasize that integrating mātauranga Māori and Māori Ecological Knowledge (MEK) with scientific knowledge offers a holistic approach to environmental management, enhancing decision-making, education, and policy. Key Māori values, including whakapapa, mauri, and kaitiakitanga, are central to this approach.

The research identifies gaps in policies regarding NbS realization and a need for greater understanding of NbS potential and Māori perspectives. Implications include the necessity of integrating MEK into environmental practices and policies, and the value of NbSs for effective and equitable environmental outcomes. Limitations include sample size and scope, which focused on the Ngapeke 7 block. This research contributes valuable insights for environmental planning and management by centring mātauranga Māori and values in NbS implementation for marine health.

text: Planning for the protection and enhancement of marine environments' wellbeing The wellbeing of marine environments has a direct relationship with the types of whenua (land, placenta) use and management practices that go from the mountains to the sea. In Aotearoa, activities that are carried out in this land-marine interface, including those related to Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), are regulated by national, regional, and district policies (e.g., New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, regional plans, and district plans). However, due to its novel character, not all current policies account for the realisation of NbSs nor are NbSs’ potential for addressing the wellbeing of our marine environments well understood.

This dissertation focuses on Tauranga Moana (the seas of Tauranga) as the chosen locality for the case study area, to:

i) investigate how the Ngapeke 7 Trust’s community participants in the Ngāti Pūkenga area of Tauranga Moana understand and value NbSs for addressing the wellbeing of their marine systems; and,
ii) review current planning policies and mechanisms to identify barriers, enablers, and gaps that support or hinder the implementation of NbSs in Tauranga Moana, observing through a Kaupapa Māori lens.

Findings emphasize that integrating mātauranga Māori and Māori Ecological Knowledge (MEK) with scientific knowledge offers a holistic approach to environmental management, enhancing decision-making, education, and policy. Key Māori values, including whakapapa, mauri, and kaitiakitanga, are central to this approach.

The research identifies gaps in policies regarding NbS realization and a need for greater understanding of NbS potential and Māori perspectives. Implications include the necessity of integrating MEK into environmental practices and policies, and the value of NbSs for effective and equitable environmental outcomes. Limitations include sample size and scope, which focused on the Ngapeke 7 block. This research contributes valuable insights for environmental planning and management by centring mātauranga Māori and values in NbS implementation for marine health.

year: 2025-04-16