title: Development and field assessment of a quantitative PCR for the detection and enumeration of the noxious bloom-former Anabaena planktonica

authors: Rueckert, Andreas

subjects: biology

abstract: Anabaena planktonica is a harmful, bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacterium, which has arrived recently in New Zealand. In the short time since its incursion (<10 yr), A. planktonica has spread rapidly throughout lakes in the North Island. To date, the identification and enumeration of A. planktonica has been undertaken using light microscopy. There is an urgent demand for a highly sensitive and specific quantitative detection method that can be combined with a high sample processing capability in order to increase sampling frequency. In this study, we sequenced 36 cyanobacterial 16S rRNA genes (partial), complete intergenic transcribed spacers (ITS), and 23S rRNA genes (partial) of fresh-water cyanobacteria found in New Zealand. The sequences were used to develop an A. Planktonica specific TaqMan QPCR assay targeting the long ITS1-L and the 5´ terminus of the 23S rRNA gene. The QPCR method was linear (R2 = 0.999) over seven orders of magnitude with a lower end sensitivity of approximately five A. planktonica cells in the presence of exogenous DNA. The quantitative PCR (QPCR) method was used to assess the spatial distribution and seasonal population dynamics of A. planktonica from the Lower Karori Reservoir (Wellington, New Zealand) over a five-month period. The QPCR results were compared directly to microscopic cell counts and found to correlate significantly (95% confidence level) under both bloom and non-bloom conditions. The current QPCR assay will be an invaluable tool for routine monitoring programs and in research investigating environmental factors that regulate the population dynamics and the blooming of A. planktonica.

text: Development and field assessment of a quantitative PCR for the detection and enumeration of the noxious bloom-former Anabaena planktonica Anabaena planktonica is a harmful, bloom-forming freshwater cyanobacterium, which has arrived recently in New Zealand. In the short time since its incursion (<10 yr), A. planktonica has spread rapidly throughout lakes in the North Island. To date, the identification and enumeration of A. planktonica has been undertaken using light microscopy. There is an urgent demand for a highly sensitive and specific quantitative detection method that can be combined with a high sample processing capability in order to increase sampling frequency. In this study, we sequenced 36 cyanobacterial 16S rRNA genes (partial), complete intergenic transcribed spacers (ITS), and 23S rRNA genes (partial) of fresh-water cyanobacteria found in New Zealand. The sequences were used to develop an A. Planktonica specific TaqMan QPCR assay targeting the long ITS1-L and the 5´ terminus of the 23S rRNA gene. The QPCR method was linear (R2 = 0.999) over seven orders of magnitude with a lower end sensitivity of approximately five A. planktonica cells in the presence of exogenous DNA. The quantitative PCR (QPCR) method was used to assess the spatial distribution and seasonal population dynamics of A. planktonica from the Lower Karori Reservoir (Wellington, New Zealand) over a five-month period. The QPCR results were compared directly to microscopic cell counts and found to correlate significantly (95% confidence level) under both bloom and non-bloom conditions. The current QPCR assay will be an invaluable tool for routine monitoring programs and in research investigating environmental factors that regulate the population dynamics and the blooming of A. planktonica.

year: 2007

title: Volcanic geology and hydrothermal alteration of the Onemana Area, Eastern Coromandel Peninsula

authors: Aldrich, Sean Mark

subjects: Volcanic Geology

abstract: The Onemana Peninsula is located on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula north of the township of Whangamata. This study investigates the volcanology, structure and hydrothermal alteration of the northern half of the Onemana Peninsula. The study area is dominated by rhyolite domes and lava flows, with minor andesite lavas, rhyolite pyroclastics and lake sediments. The central region is extensively hydrothermally altered, with high levels of the original system preserved including hydrothermal eruption breccias and sinters.

The Onemana area is dominated by three rhyolite dome complexes: Pohakahaka, Pokohino, and Wharekawa. The Pohakahaka Dome Complex in the south of the study area consists of pyroxene rhyolite domes, lavas and autoclastic breccias. The Pokohino Dome Complex in the central region of the study area consists of biotite rhyolite domes, lavas and autoclastic breccias. Lavas appear to have erupted as coulees and have flowed in a SE direction from a NE-trending ridge. The Wharekawa Dome Complex and Eastern Flows are dominated by biotite rhyolites. Pyroclastic and epiclastic material is overlain by rhyolite lavas in coastal sections north of Pokohino Beach, suggesting explosive activity preceded the eruption of some lavas. Some Eastern Flow lavas have flowed into water and produced a hyaloclastite in the north of the area. The deposition of the Glassy Dome Pyroclastics is thought to have resulted from the collapse of a rhyolite dome. Andesite lavas occur in the west of the study area, and their compositions suggest that they are related to the McBeths Andesite which outcrops 6 km to the NW. A hornblende-biotite ignimbrite is exposed in the north of the area, and is thought to have been erupted from outside the area. Thick lake sediments occur between the Pokohino and Wharekawa dome complexes and infill a graben structure. A hydrothermal eruption breccia resulting from over-pressuring of a geothermal system overlies the lake sediments. 

The structure of the area is dominated by NW, N, and NE striking faults, and minor EW striking faults. The local structure plays an important role in controlling the locations of volcanism and hydrothermal activity. Older N-striking structures appear to have controlled vent locations for the pyroxene rhyolites, while NE-striking structures have controlled the location the biotite rhyolites and hydrothermal alteration. Mineralised structures are controlled by NW and N striking faults between the NE striking Whitipirorua and Pokohino Faults.

XRF analysis of selected volcanic rocks from Onemana show the area to be dominated by medium-K to high-K rhyolites (75-78 wt% SiO₂), with minor andesite (56-58 wt% SiO₂). On the basis of Zr abundance the rhyolites can be divided into high Zr (pyroxene rhyolites) and low Zr (biotite rhyolites, Glassy Dome Rhyolite). The rhyolites are thought to be closely associated with partial melting of the continental crust in a rifting environment.

Pervasive to weak alteration occurs within a NE-trending corridor bounded by the Whitipirorua and Pokohino Faults. There are two main alteration types in the area which represent different hydrothermal environments: alkaline and acid alteration. Alkaline alteration consists of an inner core of quartz silicification, surrounded by quartz+ K-feldspar alteration, which grades out into epidote and weak clay alteration assemblages. Zeolites also occur as an overprinting alteration assemblage. Acid alteration consists of pervasive kaolinite alteration, with small areas of quartz + illite/smectite ± pyrophyllite alteration and opaline quartz silicification.

The Onemana area shows many volcanic and hydrothermal features that are typical of caldera settings and are comparable with the rhyolite volcanic centres in the TVZ. It is suggested that the rhyolitic volcanism at Onemana resulted from late stage volcanism along the ring fracture of a large caldera structure.

text: Volcanic geology and hydrothermal alteration of the Onemana Area, Eastern Coromandel Peninsula The Onemana Peninsula is located on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula north of the township of Whangamata. This study investigates the volcanology, structure and hydrothermal alteration of the northern half of the Onemana Peninsula. The study area is dominated by rhyolite domes and lava flows, with minor andesite lavas, rhyolite pyroclastics and lake sediments. The central region is extensively hydrothermally altered, with high levels of the original system preserved including hydrothermal eruption breccias and sinters.

The Onemana area is dominated by three rhyolite dome complexes: Pohakahaka, Pokohino, and Wharekawa. The Pohakahaka Dome Complex in the south of the study area consists of pyroxene rhyolite domes, lavas and autoclastic breccias. The Pokohino Dome Complex in the central region of the study area consists of biotite rhyolite domes, lavas and autoclastic breccias. Lavas appear to have erupted as coulees and have flowed in a SE direction from a NE-trending ridge. The Wharekawa Dome Complex and Eastern Flows are dominated by biotite rhyolites. Pyroclastic and epiclastic material is overlain by rhyolite lavas in coastal sections north of Pokohino Beach, suggesting explosive activity preceded the eruption of some lavas. Some Eastern Flow lavas have flowed into water and produced a hyaloclastite in the north of the area. The deposition of the Glassy Dome Pyroclastics is thought to have resulted from the collapse of a rhyolite dome. Andesite lavas occur in the west of the study area, and their compositions suggest that they are related to the McBeths Andesite which outcrops 6 km to the NW. A hornblende-biotite ignimbrite is exposed in the north of the area, and is thought to have been erupted from outside the area. Thick lake sediments occur between the Pokohino and Wharekawa dome complexes and infill a graben structure. A hydrothermal eruption breccia resulting from over-pressuring of a geothermal system overlies the lake sediments. 

The structure of the area is dominated by NW, N, and NE striking faults, and minor EW striking faults. The local structure plays an important role in controlling the locations of volcanism and hydrothermal activity. Older N-striking structures appear to have controlled vent locations for the pyroxene rhyolites, while NE-striking structures have controlled the location the biotite rhyolites and hydrothermal alteration. Mineralised structures are controlled by NW and N striking faults between the NE striking Whitipirorua and Pokohino Faults.

XRF analysis of selected volcanic rocks from Onemana show the area to be dominated by medium-K to high-K rhyolites (75-78 wt% SiO₂), with minor andesite (56-58 wt% SiO₂). On the basis of Zr abundance the rhyolites can be divided into high Zr (pyroxene rhyolites) and low Zr (biotite rhyolites, Glassy Dome Rhyolite). The rhyolites are thought to be closely associated with partial melting of the continental crust in a rifting environment.

Pervasive to weak alteration occurs within a NE-trending corridor bounded by the Whitipirorua and Pokohino Faults. There are two main alteration types in the area which represent different hydrothermal environments: alkaline and acid alteration. Alkaline alteration consists of an inner core of quartz silicification, surrounded by quartz+ K-feldspar alteration, which grades out into epidote and weak clay alteration assemblages. Zeolites also occur as an overprinting alteration assemblage. Acid alteration consists of pervasive kaolinite alteration, with small areas of quartz + illite/smectite ± pyrophyllite alteration and opaline quartz silicification.

The Onemana area shows many volcanic and hydrothermal features that are typical of caldera settings and are comparable with the rhyolite volcanic centres in the TVZ. It is suggested that the rhyolitic volcanism at Onemana resulted from late stage volcanism along the ring fracture of a large caldera structure.

year: 1995

title: “You’re not coming out – you’ve been there all along and just no one’s looked”: Māori LGBT+ youth and identity exploration

authors: Laurence, Rebekah

subjects: Māori

abstract: This research is a Masters-level project on Māori LGBT-plus (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other) youths’ experience of exploring their gender and sexual identities, highlighting how whānau (loosely, ‘extended family’) can provide mana (authority, power) such that youth can exercise mana rangatiratanga (a Maniapoto description of ‘autonomy, self-determination’) regarding their identities. This is a novel, exploratory study.
Adapted elements from a Mana Wāhine (Māori feminist) perspective of Kaupapa Māori theory comprised the theoretical framework for this project. These elements were Mana rangatiratanga (adapted from Tino rangatiratanga), Te reo Māori me ōna tikanga (Māori language and its culture), and Whanaungatanga (relationships). The three elements were adapted to fit a Ngāti Maniapoto worldview. 
Qualitative research methods were used for this study. There were five participants aged between 17 and 24 years, who were Māori and had diverse gender or sexual identities. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants, which allowed them to share their experiences of exploring their gender and sexual identities and of whānau support. Interviews were analysed using a process of inductive thematic analysis, which identified and analysed patterns across the dataset.
Eight themes were derived from participants’ experiences. These themes were Ko Tūhura, which described the process of discovery that participants have experienced; Ko Matatapu, which described participants’ experience of authenticity and concealment of their gender and sexual identities; Ko Tautoko, which described how whānau have empowered participants to explore their identities, and how participants have been denied empowerment; Ko Mata-ngaro, which described participants’ early lack of exposure to diverse identities, and their having their identities unseen by others; Ko te Ahunga-ki-te-aunoa, which described how diverse identities have been accepted within participants’ whānau; Ko Tauawhi, which described how participants have been embraced for their diverse identities; Ko Mata-pū-take, which describes participants’ experience of finding somewhere to belong; and Ko Kiritau, which describes participants’ becoming settled in their expression of their gender and sexual identities.
The findings of the thesis describe roles that whānau play in participants’ exploration of their gender and sexual identities and some of the effects that colonisation has had within participants’ whānau regarding their gender and sexual identities. Nonetheless, participants actively resisted these aspects of colonisations and found ways to give voice to their gender and sexual identities.
Given that participants shared that there was a dearth of information regarding gender and sexual identities available to them within their whānau and school environments, organisations within psychology and related fields may work to proactively provide all young Māori people and their whānau with information regarding diverse gender and sexual identities. Moreover, to address the dearth of resources designed for Māori LGBT-plus youth, New Zealand-based researchers may collate information specifically regarding Māori LGBT-plus youth experience of identity exploration and Māori knowledges regarding gender and sexual identities. This information may be collated in community-based resources that are designed specifically for members of this group and their whānau, and professionals who work for them.

text: “You’re not coming out – you’ve been there all along and just no one’s looked”: Māori LGBT+ youth and identity exploration This research is a Masters-level project on Māori LGBT-plus (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other) youths’ experience of exploring their gender and sexual identities, highlighting how whānau (loosely, ‘extended family’) can provide mana (authority, power) such that youth can exercise mana rangatiratanga (a Maniapoto description of ‘autonomy, self-determination’) regarding their identities. This is a novel, exploratory study.
Adapted elements from a Mana Wāhine (Māori feminist) perspective of Kaupapa Māori theory comprised the theoretical framework for this project. These elements were Mana rangatiratanga (adapted from Tino rangatiratanga), Te reo Māori me ōna tikanga (Māori language and its culture), and Whanaungatanga (relationships). The three elements were adapted to fit a Ngāti Maniapoto worldview. 
Qualitative research methods were used for this study. There were five participants aged between 17 and 24 years, who were Māori and had diverse gender or sexual identities. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants, which allowed them to share their experiences of exploring their gender and sexual identities and of whānau support. Interviews were analysed using a process of inductive thematic analysis, which identified and analysed patterns across the dataset.
Eight themes were derived from participants’ experiences. These themes were Ko Tūhura, which described the process of discovery that participants have experienced; Ko Matatapu, which described participants’ experience of authenticity and concealment of their gender and sexual identities; Ko Tautoko, which described how whānau have empowered participants to explore their identities, and how participants have been denied empowerment; Ko Mata-ngaro, which described participants’ early lack of exposure to diverse identities, and their having their identities unseen by others; Ko te Ahunga-ki-te-aunoa, which described how diverse identities have been accepted within participants’ whānau; Ko Tauawhi, which described how participants have been embraced for their diverse identities; Ko Mata-pū-take, which describes participants’ experience of finding somewhere to belong; and Ko Kiritau, which describes participants’ becoming settled in their expression of their gender and sexual identities.
The findings of the thesis describe roles that whānau play in participants’ exploration of their gender and sexual identities and some of the effects that colonisation has had within participants’ whānau regarding their gender and sexual identities. Nonetheless, participants actively resisted these aspects of colonisations and found ways to give voice to their gender and sexual identities.
Given that participants shared that there was a dearth of information regarding gender and sexual identities available to them within their whānau and school environments, organisations within psychology and related fields may work to proactively provide all young Māori people and their whānau with information regarding diverse gender and sexual identities. Moreover, to address the dearth of resources designed for Māori LGBT-plus youth, New Zealand-based researchers may collate information specifically regarding Māori LGBT-plus youth experience of identity exploration and Māori knowledges regarding gender and sexual identities. This information may be collated in community-based resources that are designed specifically for members of this group and their whānau, and professionals who work for them.

year: 2020