title: The parasite release hypothesis and the success of invasive fish in New Zealand

authors: Zhang, Keshi

subjects: parasite release hypothesis

abstract: Non-indigenous species are commonly released from their native enemies, including parasites, when they are introduced into new geographical areas. This has been referred to as the enemy release hypothesis and more strictly as the parasite release hypothesis. The loss of parasites is commonly inferred to explain the invasiveness of non-indigenous species. I examined parasite release in New Zealand non-indigenous freshwater fishes. A literature review was undertaken in order to collate lists of the known parasite fauna of 20 New Zealand non-indigenous freshwater fish species. Records were collated from their home range, New Zealand, and some other introduced ranges, to determine whether these species have a reduced parasite diversity in the New Zealand and other introduced ranges. Five non-indigenous freshwater fish, mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), goldfish (Carassius auratus), koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) and catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus), and one native freshwater fish, common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), were sampled and examined for metazoan parasites. Mosquitofish and bullies, of similar size and habitat, were examined with greater intensity than the other species. Based on the literature review and fish examination, I found that the non-indigenous freshwater fish in New Zealand have seemingly lost their parasites. Being “lost overboard” is likely to have caused the loss of some parasites as most of the additional hosts required for non-indigenous parasites are no present in New Zealand. However, the loss of most of mosquitofish’s parasites is likely due to “missing the boat”, as introduction into New Zealand was a two-step process, from their native range in North America, via Hawaii, before release in New Zealand. Additionally, other hosts required for parasites of mosquitofish are not present in New Zealand. The native common bullies were found to harbour more parasites than the non-indigenous mosquitofish. Two parasites were found from common bullies, the cysts of the trematodes Eustrongylides ignotus and Telogaster opisthorchis, and no parasites were found on mosquitofish. A lack of spillback of Eustrongylides ignotus from bullies to mosquitofish, despite being parasititised by this species in its native range, may due to mosquitofish not being able to feed on intermediate the hosts present in New Zealand. The establishment and spread of non-indigenous fish in New Zealand waters is likely not the sole result of parasite release, but given their apparent reduction or lack of parasites, it may be a factor contributing to their success.

text: The parasite release hypothesis and the success of invasive fish in New Zealand Non-indigenous species are commonly released from their native enemies, including parasites, when they are introduced into new geographical areas. This has been referred to as the enemy release hypothesis and more strictly as the parasite release hypothesis. The loss of parasites is commonly inferred to explain the invasiveness of non-indigenous species. I examined parasite release in New Zealand non-indigenous freshwater fishes. A literature review was undertaken in order to collate lists of the known parasite fauna of 20 New Zealand non-indigenous freshwater fish species. Records were collated from their home range, New Zealand, and some other introduced ranges, to determine whether these species have a reduced parasite diversity in the New Zealand and other introduced ranges. Five non-indigenous freshwater fish, mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), goldfish (Carassius auratus), koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) and catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus), and one native freshwater fish, common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), were sampled and examined for metazoan parasites. Mosquitofish and bullies, of similar size and habitat, were examined with greater intensity than the other species. Based on the literature review and fish examination, I found that the non-indigenous freshwater fish in New Zealand have seemingly lost their parasites. Being “lost overboard” is likely to have caused the loss of some parasites as most of the additional hosts required for non-indigenous parasites are no present in New Zealand. However, the loss of most of mosquitofish’s parasites is likely due to “missing the boat”, as introduction into New Zealand was a two-step process, from their native range in North America, via Hawaii, before release in New Zealand. Additionally, other hosts required for parasites of mosquitofish are not present in New Zealand. The native common bullies were found to harbour more parasites than the non-indigenous mosquitofish. Two parasites were found from common bullies, the cysts of the trematodes Eustrongylides ignotus and Telogaster opisthorchis, and no parasites were found on mosquitofish. A lack of spillback of Eustrongylides ignotus from bullies to mosquitofish, despite being parasititised by this species in its native range, may due to mosquitofish not being able to feed on intermediate the hosts present in New Zealand. The establishment and spread of non-indigenous fish in New Zealand waters is likely not the sole result of parasite release, but given their apparent reduction or lack of parasites, it may be a factor contributing to their success.

year: 2012

title: Personal Semantic Timeframe

authors: Alahmari, Muteeb Saad

abstract: Human memories are often not grouped around objective times and places but rather guided by subjective perception of these dimensions. Various techniques are used to recall personal information such as remembering names, conferences and numbers, but how different experiences or events or the event that has taken place two years earlier raises a question. Occasionally, having experienced an event, one may be asked about its absolute time in autobiographical memory. It is surprisingly difficult to predict the time when this date needs to be remembered. There is a tendency to use partial temporal information such as birthdays, parties or seasons to remember, rather than a specific date e.g. 21 September 1996. People need appropriate facts or personal semantics of their time to access to their past experiences while remembering.

A user study was conducted to explore the use of past personal temporal information and capture this information to be used as personal time search features in an augmented memory system called Digital Parrot. These features aim to make temporal dates more easily accessible while remembering.
A proposed design was made according to requirements that are derived from findings of psychology perspective, an exploration of the use of time study, and the visualizing time study.
To evaluate how effective these features in locating and recalling past experiences, a user study was conducted with post questionnaires. The result of this study indicated that the most beneficial personal time search features are personal timespans, personal and public landmarks, and personal images.
The findings from all studies of the thesis were used to provide recommendations for future work to develop and implement personal time search in Digital Parrot system.

text: Personal Semantic Timeframe Human memories are often not grouped around objective times and places but rather guided by subjective perception of these dimensions. Various techniques are used to recall personal information such as remembering names, conferences and numbers, but how different experiences or events or the event that has taken place two years earlier raises a question. Occasionally, having experienced an event, one may be asked about its absolute time in autobiographical memory. It is surprisingly difficult to predict the time when this date needs to be remembered. There is a tendency to use partial temporal information such as birthdays, parties or seasons to remember, rather than a specific date e.g. 21 September 1996. People need appropriate facts or personal semantics of their time to access to their past experiences while remembering.

A user study was conducted to explore the use of past personal temporal information and capture this information to be used as personal time search features in an augmented memory system called Digital Parrot. These features aim to make temporal dates more easily accessible while remembering.
A proposed design was made according to requirements that are derived from findings of psychology perspective, an exploration of the use of time study, and the visualizing time study.
To evaluate how effective these features in locating and recalling past experiences, a user study was conducted with post questionnaires. The result of this study indicated that the most beneficial personal time search features are personal timespans, personal and public landmarks, and personal images.
The findings from all studies of the thesis were used to provide recommendations for future work to develop and implement personal time search in Digital Parrot system.

year: 2012

title: Teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the Whānau Rūmaki teacher education programme, 1990-1992

authors: Kana, Fred

subjects: Maori Language

abstract: In 1990 the School of Education, the University of Waikato, initiated a special option within its regular pre-service teacher training programmes, an option designed to prepare teachers to deliver the New Zealand curriculum in bilingual and total immersion schools through the medium of te reo Māori. This alternative programmed, designated Whānau Rūmaki, was experimental and evolutionary. Inevitably particular elements of it had to be varied with each year's operation as its architects attempted 'to get the mix right'. It is difficult, however, when engaged in the day to day running of a programme, to stand back and review with any degree of objectivity its strengths and weaknesses. This study, therefore, in retrospect attempts to do three things: one, to follow the initial Whānau Rūmaki student cohort through its three or four year training cycle noting especially the difficulties confronting individual students some of whom dropped out of the programme; two, to gather information from as many as possible of the graduates who graduated about how well they felt they had been prepared for the rigours of classroom teaching; three, to be able, after analysing the data gathered, to recommend ways of improving the on-going Whānau Rūmaki programme.

text: Teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the Whānau Rūmaki teacher education programme, 1990-1992 In 1990 the School of Education, the University of Waikato, initiated a special option within its regular pre-service teacher training programmes, an option designed to prepare teachers to deliver the New Zealand curriculum in bilingual and total immersion schools through the medium of te reo Māori. This alternative programmed, designated Whānau Rūmaki, was experimental and evolutionary. Inevitably particular elements of it had to be varied with each year's operation as its architects attempted 'to get the mix right'. It is difficult, however, when engaged in the day to day running of a programme, to stand back and review with any degree of objectivity its strengths and weaknesses. This study, therefore, in retrospect attempts to do three things: one, to follow the initial Whānau Rūmaki student cohort through its three or four year training cycle noting especially the difficulties confronting individual students some of whom dropped out of the programme; two, to gather information from as many as possible of the graduates who graduated about how well they felt they had been prepared for the rigours of classroom teaching; three, to be able, after analysing the data gathered, to recommend ways of improving the on-going Whānau Rūmaki programme.

year: 1997