title: Scott Base Redevelopment CEE environmental monitoring report: Year two (December 2019 - January 2020)

authors: O'Neill, Tanya Ann

abstract: An understanding of the soils and the underlying permafrost surrounding Scott Base is important to detect impacts of environmental change or human activities, such as the redevelopment of Scott Base, on the unique soil communities and on geomorphological processes. The Scott Base Redevelopment (SBR) is the largest project ever undertaken by New Zealand in Antarctica. It is a requirement of the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and New Zealand's Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act (1994) that an environmental impact assessment be completed prior to any activity taking place in Antarctica. A Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) of the project is being completed in order to support decision-making with an assessment of predicted environmental impacts linked with the redevelopment. A comprehensive monitoring programme was set up to verify the accuracy of the environmental impact assessment presented in the CEE and to detect unforeseen impacts or impacts that are more significant than expected.
In year one (January 2019) 25 monitoring sites were established around Scott Base to assess current levels of biodiversity and abundance of invertebrates and microbial communities, along with soil chemical characteristics, and visual characteristics within the wider redevelopment area. These monitoring plots established a baseline against which future changes can be detected. My role in year one of the project was to determine the chemical characteristics of soil from the monitoring plots, undertake visual site assessments around each monitoring plot, measure depth to ice-cement, and install 12 passive dust samplers adjacent to the monitoring plots.
In year two (December 2019 to January 2020) five control sites were established at Cape Evans, including installation of three passive dust samplers adjacent to the soil monitoring plots. Soil samples were taken and all the same parameters measured and defined in year one were replicated at the control sites.
This report is to be read in conjunction with the year one report (which gives background information on the general characteristics of Scott Base soils, including information on active layer, permafrost, soil moisture, soil organisms, and evidence of natural and human induced changes to the soil-permafrost environment; as well as sampling site selection criteria, and detailed methods). This report focusses on the results and discussion on my aspect of this multidisciplinary project, including, work undertaken at the newly established Cape Evans control sites: depth to ice-cement, visual site assessments, pXRF, and soil analysis; and new work at the Scott Base monitoring plots and environs: pXRF on surface soil at monitoring plots and target sites, melt water sampling, and particle size analysis of dust (from year 1).

text: Scott Base Redevelopment CEE environmental monitoring report: Year two (December 2019 - January 2020) An understanding of the soils and the underlying permafrost surrounding Scott Base is important to detect impacts of environmental change or human activities, such as the redevelopment of Scott Base, on the unique soil communities and on geomorphological processes. The Scott Base Redevelopment (SBR) is the largest project ever undertaken by New Zealand in Antarctica. It is a requirement of the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and New Zealand's Antarctica (Environmental Protection) Act (1994) that an environmental impact assessment be completed prior to any activity taking place in Antarctica. A Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) of the project is being completed in order to support decision-making with an assessment of predicted environmental impacts linked with the redevelopment. A comprehensive monitoring programme was set up to verify the accuracy of the environmental impact assessment presented in the CEE and to detect unforeseen impacts or impacts that are more significant than expected.
In year one (January 2019) 25 monitoring sites were established around Scott Base to assess current levels of biodiversity and abundance of invertebrates and microbial communities, along with soil chemical characteristics, and visual characteristics within the wider redevelopment area. These monitoring plots established a baseline against which future changes can be detected. My role in year one of the project was to determine the chemical characteristics of soil from the monitoring plots, undertake visual site assessments around each monitoring plot, measure depth to ice-cement, and install 12 passive dust samplers adjacent to the monitoring plots.
In year two (December 2019 to January 2020) five control sites were established at Cape Evans, including installation of three passive dust samplers adjacent to the soil monitoring plots. Soil samples were taken and all the same parameters measured and defined in year one were replicated at the control sites.
This report is to be read in conjunction with the year one report (which gives background information on the general characteristics of Scott Base soils, including information on active layer, permafrost, soil moisture, soil organisms, and evidence of natural and human induced changes to the soil-permafrost environment; as well as sampling site selection criteria, and detailed methods). This report focusses on the results and discussion on my aspect of this multidisciplinary project, including, work undertaken at the newly established Cape Evans control sites: depth to ice-cement, visual site assessments, pXRF, and soil analysis; and new work at the Scott Base monitoring plots and environs: pXRF on surface soil at monitoring plots and target sites, melt water sampling, and particle size analysis of dust (from year 1).

year: 2020

title: Population genetic structure of Antarctic springtails (Collembola) and New Zealand damselflies (Odonata)

authors: Nolan, Liam

subjects: Antarctic

abstract: Since Darwin (Darwin, 1859), the process of speciation and maintenance of biological diversity has caused intensive debate in the scientific and non-scientific communities alike. The ability to analyze differences in the molecular structure of enzymes and DNA sequences has provided an extremely sensitive tool for investigating gene flow within and among populations, a key facet of the genetic divergence required for speciation to occur.
Using such techniques, we are now able to gain a snapshot of the genetic structure of a population and its geographical distribution (Hewitt, 2001) In this way, the phylogeography of species from many environments around the globe have now been studied in fine detail. It has also been possible to generate hypotheses proposing restricted distribution in 'refugia' and subsequent recolonisation after climatic events such as glaciation have occurred. Refugia appear to be particularly important in shaping high latitude biodiversity (Willis & Whittaker, 2000). On such occasions the distribution of different populations may ultimately overlap again at a contact zone, and the species geographical subdivision may provide enough evidence to suggest speciation or the creation of a hybrid zone (Hewitt, 2001 ).
In addition, the DNA sequences may yield important information on the evolutionary history, dispersal and taxonomy of various species. Morphologically indistinguishable organisms may be discovered as 'cryptic species', and vice versa, taxa considered to be very different based on observable characteristics can be found to be genetically similar and not reproductively isolated (e.g. Trewick, 2000; Witt & Hebert, 2000).
In this way, the genetic diversity within and among closely related species may be determined to a high degree of resolution. In today's climate of human interference and relatively rapid environmental change, it is vital that we appreciate and make full use of the detailed population information available to us. In this way, we may be able to predict and potentially mitigate the consequences of environmental change for organisms by analyzing their evolutionary past.
This thesis contains an analysis of molecular data (mtDNA and allozymes) on two arthropod taxa. The thesis consists of two chapters. Chapter I describes the distribution of mitochondrial (mt) DNA haplotypes for the Antarctic springtail Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni (Collembola) in Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land. The observed distribution was congruent with a hypothesis of multiple refugia during the Pleistocene glaciations and a barrier to gene flow by a glacial lake. Chapter II assesses the genetic variability of the New Zealand damselfly genera (Odonata) from sites throughout the North, South and Chatham islands using both allozyme and mtDNA analyses. All morphologically recognized species were clearly discernible on the basis of both mtDNA and allozymes. However, variability within and among sites was limited for all species, and may have implications from a conservation perspective.
The thesis ends with a brief summary section highlighting the main findings contained in the thesis and outlining potential future research directions.

text: Population genetic structure of Antarctic springtails (Collembola) and New Zealand damselflies (Odonata) Since Darwin (Darwin, 1859), the process of speciation and maintenance of biological diversity has caused intensive debate in the scientific and non-scientific communities alike. The ability to analyze differences in the molecular structure of enzymes and DNA sequences has provided an extremely sensitive tool for investigating gene flow within and among populations, a key facet of the genetic divergence required for speciation to occur.
Using such techniques, we are now able to gain a snapshot of the genetic structure of a population and its geographical distribution (Hewitt, 2001) In this way, the phylogeography of species from many environments around the globe have now been studied in fine detail. It has also been possible to generate hypotheses proposing restricted distribution in 'refugia' and subsequent recolonisation after climatic events such as glaciation have occurred. Refugia appear to be particularly important in shaping high latitude biodiversity (Willis & Whittaker, 2000). On such occasions the distribution of different populations may ultimately overlap again at a contact zone, and the species geographical subdivision may provide enough evidence to suggest speciation or the creation of a hybrid zone (Hewitt, 2001 ).
In addition, the DNA sequences may yield important information on the evolutionary history, dispersal and taxonomy of various species. Morphologically indistinguishable organisms may be discovered as 'cryptic species', and vice versa, taxa considered to be very different based on observable characteristics can be found to be genetically similar and not reproductively isolated (e.g. Trewick, 2000; Witt & Hebert, 2000).
In this way, the genetic diversity within and among closely related species may be determined to a high degree of resolution. In today's climate of human interference and relatively rapid environmental change, it is vital that we appreciate and make full use of the detailed population information available to us. In this way, we may be able to predict and potentially mitigate the consequences of environmental change for organisms by analyzing their evolutionary past.
This thesis contains an analysis of molecular data (mtDNA and allozymes) on two arthropod taxa. The thesis consists of two chapters. Chapter I describes the distribution of mitochondrial (mt) DNA haplotypes for the Antarctic springtail Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni (Collembola) in Taylor Valley, southern Victoria Land. The observed distribution was congruent with a hypothesis of multiple refugia during the Pleistocene glaciations and a barrier to gene flow by a glacial lake. Chapter II assesses the genetic variability of the New Zealand damselfly genera (Odonata) from sites throughout the North, South and Chatham islands using both allozyme and mtDNA analyses. All morphologically recognized species were clearly discernible on the basis of both mtDNA and allozymes. However, variability within and among sites was limited for all species, and may have implications from a conservation perspective.
The thesis ends with a brief summary section highlighting the main findings contained in the thesis and outlining potential future research directions.

year: 2006

title: A criterion referenced analysis and evaluation of the processes involved in formulating a Māori language regeneration strategy for Whakamārama marae

authors: Lewis, Roger Brian

subjects: critical success factors

abstract: The quality of the processes involved in language regeneration strategy formation is critical to the creation of an effective language regeneration strategy and this, in turn, is critical to the achievement of successful language regeneration outcomes. The overall aim of this research project was to evaluate, using a range of effectiveness criteria, the processes involved in the creation of a marae-based te reo Māori regeneration strategy in the hope that others involved in similar projects in the future would benefit and in the hope that the Whakamārama whānau will themselves derive benefit from it in reviewing what has already been achieved. In Chapter 1, the background to the research project and its rationale are outlined
and the research questions and research methods are introduced. Chapter 2 provides a critical review of selected literature in the area of strategic planning aspects of language regeneration and relevant aspects of mātauranga Māori. Using an ethnographic approach, the processes and immediate outcomes (in terms of a
survey report and a regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae) of the language regeneration project are outlined in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, effectiveness criteria are derived on the basis of the literature review in Chapter 2. These include criteria relating to leadership, participation, Kaupapa Māori values, environmental
analysis and outcomes. The criteria are then applied to the analysis and evaluation of the processes and outcomes outlined in Chapter 3 in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The overall conclusion is that Whakamārama's
language regeneration activities to date can be regarded as successful in many ways, including the fact that they have resulted in the production of high quality documentation that is widely appreciated by the whānau in the form of a maraebased language survey and a marae-based te reo Māori regeneration plan. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment,
motivation and determination, in addition to the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which resulted in a build up of work at a number of stages. This, in turn, lead to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. It also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the reo plan goals. The information and analysis provided here
have relevance to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type. It is hoped therefore that this thesis may help others to not only avoid the problems experienced by the Whakamārama whānau but also to benefit from their successes.

text: A criterion referenced analysis and evaluation of the processes involved in formulating a Māori language regeneration strategy for Whakamārama marae The quality of the processes involved in language regeneration strategy formation is critical to the creation of an effective language regeneration strategy and this, in turn, is critical to the achievement of successful language regeneration outcomes. The overall aim of this research project was to evaluate, using a range of effectiveness criteria, the processes involved in the creation of a marae-based te reo Māori regeneration strategy in the hope that others involved in similar projects in the future would benefit and in the hope that the Whakamārama whānau will themselves derive benefit from it in reviewing what has already been achieved. In Chapter 1, the background to the research project and its rationale are outlined
and the research questions and research methods are introduced. Chapter 2 provides a critical review of selected literature in the area of strategic planning aspects of language regeneration and relevant aspects of mātauranga Māori. Using an ethnographic approach, the processes and immediate outcomes (in terms of a
survey report and a regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae) of the language regeneration project are outlined in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, effectiveness criteria are derived on the basis of the literature review in Chapter 2. These include criteria relating to leadership, participation, Kaupapa Māori values, environmental
analysis and outcomes. The criteria are then applied to the analysis and evaluation of the processes and outcomes outlined in Chapter 3 in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The overall conclusion is that Whakamārama's
language regeneration activities to date can be regarded as successful in many ways, including the fact that they have resulted in the production of high quality documentation that is widely appreciated by the whānau in the form of a maraebased language survey and a marae-based te reo Māori regeneration plan. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment,
motivation and determination, in addition to the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which resulted in a build up of work at a number of stages. This, in turn, lead to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. It also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the reo plan goals. The information and analysis provided here
have relevance to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type. It is hoped therefore that this thesis may help others to not only avoid the problems experienced by the Whakamārama whānau but also to benefit from their successes.

year: 2007