title: Deterring birds from baits by manipulating colour and odour

authors: Hartley, Lynette J.

abstract: Poisonous baits are used extensively in New Zealand to control introduced mammalian pest species particularly brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rats (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, R. exulans). This thesis examined bait characteristics that could be manipulated to make poisonous baits less attractive to native birds. The first characteristic examined was colour as the appearance of foods was believed to be important to foraging birds. The target mammalian species may be more attentive when foraging to other aspects of food such as taste and smell. A six colour choice method for testing colour preference in birds was developed using chickens (Gallus domesticus). The procedure involved testing birds individually, on six occasions, with novel food of six different colours presented simultaneously. All three species of birds tested; captive New Zealand weka (Gallirallus australis), wild New Zealand robins (Petroica australis), and free range domestic chickens showed similar colour preferences. The red and yellow novel food was preferred to the blue novel food. Baits in New Zealand are currently dyed green to deter birds but this study suggested blue may be a more effective deterrent.

There was considerable individual variability in colour preference suggesting one colour is not likely to deter all birds in a population from poisonous baits. Both weka and chickens showed a pattern of increasing consumption from test to test and the implications of this behaviour pattern are discussed in terms of poisonous bait consumption.

Free range chickens were used to investigate whether chickens avoided some shades of blue more than others but no preferences were detected. The relative luminance of the colours offered to the chickens was calculated, however, and there was an indication that chickens preferred lighter rather than darker colours. I would suggest, therefore, that light coloured poisonous baits should not be used.

It was suggested that natural predator-prey systems may provide useful concepts for the design of bird deterrents. Many toxic insects have a combination of several conspicuous characteristics, all of which assault different senses at the same time. I investigated combinations of colour, novelty and methyl pyrazine, an odour used by toxic insects to deter birds. Wild robins were not deterred from familiar food by methyl pyrazine odour and the addition of methyl pyrazine did not alter chickens’ colour preferences or their consumption of novel food. Pyrazine, however, was very effective in deterring captive weka from red and blue novel food. The weka ate very little of either colour when it was associated with pyrazine odour.

The combination of pyrazine and blue, which was effective in captivity, was tested in the field using real (non toxic) baits. Consumption over six days was compared with that of the green-coloured, cinnamon-flavoured, baits commonly used in poisoning operations. Fewer of the blue-pyrazine baits were eaten on the first day and there was an indication that consumption of blue-pyrazine baits was lower overall. Methyl pyrazine may be useful in deterring birds from poisonous baits and is certainly worthy of more investigation.

text: Deterring birds from baits by manipulating colour and odour Poisonous baits are used extensively in New Zealand to control introduced mammalian pest species particularly brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rats (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, R. exulans). This thesis examined bait characteristics that could be manipulated to make poisonous baits less attractive to native birds. The first characteristic examined was colour as the appearance of foods was believed to be important to foraging birds. The target mammalian species may be more attentive when foraging to other aspects of food such as taste and smell. A six colour choice method for testing colour preference in birds was developed using chickens (Gallus domesticus). The procedure involved testing birds individually, on six occasions, with novel food of six different colours presented simultaneously. All three species of birds tested; captive New Zealand weka (Gallirallus australis), wild New Zealand robins (Petroica australis), and free range domestic chickens showed similar colour preferences. The red and yellow novel food was preferred to the blue novel food. Baits in New Zealand are currently dyed green to deter birds but this study suggested blue may be a more effective deterrent.

There was considerable individual variability in colour preference suggesting one colour is not likely to deter all birds in a population from poisonous baits. Both weka and chickens showed a pattern of increasing consumption from test to test and the implications of this behaviour pattern are discussed in terms of poisonous bait consumption.

Free range chickens were used to investigate whether chickens avoided some shades of blue more than others but no preferences were detected. The relative luminance of the colours offered to the chickens was calculated, however, and there was an indication that chickens preferred lighter rather than darker colours. I would suggest, therefore, that light coloured poisonous baits should not be used.

It was suggested that natural predator-prey systems may provide useful concepts for the design of bird deterrents. Many toxic insects have a combination of several conspicuous characteristics, all of which assault different senses at the same time. I investigated combinations of colour, novelty and methyl pyrazine, an odour used by toxic insects to deter birds. Wild robins were not deterred from familiar food by methyl pyrazine odour and the addition of methyl pyrazine did not alter chickens’ colour preferences or their consumption of novel food. Pyrazine, however, was very effective in deterring captive weka from red and blue novel food. The weka ate very little of either colour when it was associated with pyrazine odour.

The combination of pyrazine and blue, which was effective in captivity, was tested in the field using real (non toxic) baits. Consumption over six days was compared with that of the green-coloured, cinnamon-flavoured, baits commonly used in poisoning operations. Fewer of the blue-pyrazine baits were eaten on the first day and there was an indication that consumption of blue-pyrazine baits was lower overall. Methyl pyrazine may be useful in deterring birds from poisonous baits and is certainly worthy of more investigation.

year: 1999

title: The impact of culture on women's leadership in Vanuatu secondary schools

authors: Warsal, Daisy

subjects: Educational leadership

abstract: The government of Vanuatu ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1995. Following the ratification, Gender Equity in Education Policy was developed in 2005 by the Ministry of Education of Vanuatu. One of the objectives was to increase the number of women principals. However, recent statistics on women in educational leadership in Vanuatu show a decline in the number of women principals. The low percentage of women in educational leadership in the secondary schools of Vanuatu indicates that gender equity in educational leadership is still far from being achieved.

This study looks at how Vanuatu culture affects women's leadership in secondary schools and identifies ways in which women's leadership might be developed. Qualitative methods were employed to study the experiences of six women leaders and five aspiring women leaders in several Vanuatu secondary schools. The findings from the study indicate three main areas inherent in Vanuatu culture that significantly impact upon the leadership practices of the participants. The findings reveal the existence of entrenched cultural barriers in the education system, in the social structures of Vanuatu and in the attitudes of individual men, women and some students towards women leaders. These barriers, it seems, are the major impediments to women's advancement in educational leadership in Vanuatu secondary schools.

text: The impact of culture on women's leadership in Vanuatu secondary schools The government of Vanuatu ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1995. Following the ratification, Gender Equity in Education Policy was developed in 2005 by the Ministry of Education of Vanuatu. One of the objectives was to increase the number of women principals. However, recent statistics on women in educational leadership in Vanuatu show a decline in the number of women principals. The low percentage of women in educational leadership in the secondary schools of Vanuatu indicates that gender equity in educational leadership is still far from being achieved.

This study looks at how Vanuatu culture affects women's leadership in secondary schools and identifies ways in which women's leadership might be developed. Qualitative methods were employed to study the experiences of six women leaders and five aspiring women leaders in several Vanuatu secondary schools. The findings from the study indicate three main areas inherent in Vanuatu culture that significantly impact upon the leadership practices of the participants. The findings reveal the existence of entrenched cultural barriers in the education system, in the social structures of Vanuatu and in the attitudes of individual men, women and some students towards women leaders. These barriers, it seems, are the major impediments to women's advancement in educational leadership in Vanuatu secondary schools.

year: 2009

title: Ecological, genetic and cultural status of Solanum aviculare, poroporo (Solanaceae)

authors: Weavers, Graeme Morris

subjects: Solanum aviculare

abstract: Solanum aviculare, endemic to Australasia, is an opportunist pioneer secondary successional plant occupying disturbed and open lowland habitats, and was an important medicinal and cultural species to Māori known as poroporo. It is currently in 'decline', the ecological decline appearing to correspond to a decline in knowledge and cultural use of the species. To gain understanding of the reasons for the decline, enhance ecological knowledge, assist conservation and cultural restoration of Solanum aviculare this research documented the successional role and cycle of regeneration dynamics and tactics, established morphological characteristics, investigated the genetic diversity and recorded cultural and conservation information.
The successional status and role was identified. Growth data identified cohort development and inter-site differences, metadata found height and crown spread growth to be significantly correlated and likely part of an early reproduction and dispersal strategy. Germination of soil cores from differing depths confirmed a viable seed bank exists sufficient for species maintenance. Viable seed spread via animal gut passage was determined by germination and chemical tests, results showed rats passed higher rates of viable seed than birds. Seed germination trials with stratified and fresh seed confirmed temporal and depth behaviour, flowering observation documented temporal differences with the closely allied species Solanum laciniatum, indicating a relationship to stasis induction. Leaf morphology studies documented differences between the two allied species and proposed further nomenclature.
Genetic diversity was investigated through the use of PCR/ISSR techniques. Chloroplast DNA was extracted by CTAB and DNA kit protocols. CTAB extraction was unable to effectively remove RNA, although use of DNA samples with high quantities of RNA confirmed that RNA was not an inhibiting factor in PCR production. The production of consistent reliable ISSR bands proved difficult, with no technical explanation found. ISSR findings indicate that Solanum aviculare is highly monomorphic, consisting of predominant invariant monomorphic loci. Twenty primers were tested with no polymorphic loci
identified and no intra species variation documented. Indications were also that Solanum aviculare and Solanum laciniatum are inter species invariant on monomorphic loci. Monomorphic loci may possibly be the evolutionary markers of generic differentiation within Solanum.
Surveys identified Solanum aviculare as uncommon and rare, existing mainly as single plants or small groups in the majority of areas surveyed. The Threatened and Uncommon Plant listing of Solanum aviculare as an 'at risk declining' species is confirmed and a further Recommendation category proposed. Ecological decline and corresponding decline in cultural use and knowledge of Solanum aviculare was identified through specialist interviews; appearing to be related to removal from Māori of control over their land. The name poroporo being now associated mainly with non indigenous Solanum species. Māori cultural concepts in practice were highlighted as fundamentally important to reversing the decline, with an example of a successful traditional practice based (tikanga) integrative collaborative restoration program being documented.
This research forwards that optimal collaborative solutions, programs integrating scientific and tikanga knowledge and practices, provide the best opportunity of reversing the declining trend and for increasing and maintaining knowledge associated with the traditional role of poroporo.

text: Ecological, genetic and cultural status of Solanum aviculare, poroporo (Solanaceae) Solanum aviculare, endemic to Australasia, is an opportunist pioneer secondary successional plant occupying disturbed and open lowland habitats, and was an important medicinal and cultural species to Māori known as poroporo. It is currently in 'decline', the ecological decline appearing to correspond to a decline in knowledge and cultural use of the species. To gain understanding of the reasons for the decline, enhance ecological knowledge, assist conservation and cultural restoration of Solanum aviculare this research documented the successional role and cycle of regeneration dynamics and tactics, established morphological characteristics, investigated the genetic diversity and recorded cultural and conservation information.
The successional status and role was identified. Growth data identified cohort development and inter-site differences, metadata found height and crown spread growth to be significantly correlated and likely part of an early reproduction and dispersal strategy. Germination of soil cores from differing depths confirmed a viable seed bank exists sufficient for species maintenance. Viable seed spread via animal gut passage was determined by germination and chemical tests, results showed rats passed higher rates of viable seed than birds. Seed germination trials with stratified and fresh seed confirmed temporal and depth behaviour, flowering observation documented temporal differences with the closely allied species Solanum laciniatum, indicating a relationship to stasis induction. Leaf morphology studies documented differences between the two allied species and proposed further nomenclature.
Genetic diversity was investigated through the use of PCR/ISSR techniques. Chloroplast DNA was extracted by CTAB and DNA kit protocols. CTAB extraction was unable to effectively remove RNA, although use of DNA samples with high quantities of RNA confirmed that RNA was not an inhibiting factor in PCR production. The production of consistent reliable ISSR bands proved difficult, with no technical explanation found. ISSR findings indicate that Solanum aviculare is highly monomorphic, consisting of predominant invariant monomorphic loci. Twenty primers were tested with no polymorphic loci
identified and no intra species variation documented. Indications were also that Solanum aviculare and Solanum laciniatum are inter species invariant on monomorphic loci. Monomorphic loci may possibly be the evolutionary markers of generic differentiation within Solanum.
Surveys identified Solanum aviculare as uncommon and rare, existing mainly as single plants or small groups in the majority of areas surveyed. The Threatened and Uncommon Plant listing of Solanum aviculare as an 'at risk declining' species is confirmed and a further Recommendation category proposed. Ecological decline and corresponding decline in cultural use and knowledge of Solanum aviculare was identified through specialist interviews; appearing to be related to removal from Māori of control over their land. The name poroporo being now associated mainly with non indigenous Solanum species. Māori cultural concepts in practice were highlighted as fundamentally important to reversing the decline, with an example of a successful traditional practice based (tikanga) integrative collaborative restoration program being documented.
This research forwards that optimal collaborative solutions, programs integrating scientific and tikanga knowledge and practices, provide the best opportunity of reversing the declining trend and for increasing and maintaining knowledge associated with the traditional role of poroporo.

year: 2010