title: Lignin oxidation products in soil, dripwater and speleothems from four different sites in New Zealand

authors: Heidke, Inken

abstract: Lignin oxidation products (LOPs) are widely used as vegetation proxies in climate archives, such as sediment and peat cores. The total LOP concentration, Σ8, provides information on the abundance of vegetation, while the ratios C/V and S/V of the different LOP groups also provide information on the type of vegetation. Recently, LOP analysis has been successfully applied to speleothem archives. However, there are many open questions concerning the transport and microbial degradation of LOPs on their way from the soil into the cave system. These processes could potentially alter the original source-dependent LOP signals, in particular the C/V and S/V ratios, and thus complicate their interpretation in terms of past vegetation changes. We analyzed LOPs in leaf litter and different soil horizons as well as dripwater and flowstone samples from four different cave sites from different vegetation zones in New Zealand using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. We test whether the original source-dependent LOP signal of the overlying vegetation is preserved and can be recovered from flowstone samples and investigate how the signal is altered by the transport from the soil to the cave. The LOP concentrations range from mg g−1 in the soil to ng g−1 in the flowstones. Our results demonstrate that, from the soil to the flowstone, the C/V and S/V ratios both increase, while the total lignin content, Σ8, strongly decreases. This shows that the LOP signal is strongly influenced by both transport and degradation processes. Nevertheless, the relative LOP signal from the overlying soil at the different cave sites is preserved in the flowstone. We emphasize that for the interpretation of C/V and S/V ratios in terms of past vegetation changes, it is important to compare only samples of the same type (e.g., speleothem, dripwater or soil) and to evaluate only relative variations.

text: Lignin oxidation products in soil, dripwater and speleothems from four different sites in New Zealand Lignin oxidation products (LOPs) are widely used as vegetation proxies in climate archives, such as sediment and peat cores. The total LOP concentration, Σ8, provides information on the abundance of vegetation, while the ratios C/V and S/V of the different LOP groups also provide information on the type of vegetation. Recently, LOP analysis has been successfully applied to speleothem archives. However, there are many open questions concerning the transport and microbial degradation of LOPs on their way from the soil into the cave system. These processes could potentially alter the original source-dependent LOP signals, in particular the C/V and S/V ratios, and thus complicate their interpretation in terms of past vegetation changes. We analyzed LOPs in leaf litter and different soil horizons as well as dripwater and flowstone samples from four different cave sites from different vegetation zones in New Zealand using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. We test whether the original source-dependent LOP signal of the overlying vegetation is preserved and can be recovered from flowstone samples and investigate how the signal is altered by the transport from the soil to the cave. The LOP concentrations range from mg g−1 in the soil to ng g−1 in the flowstones. Our results demonstrate that, from the soil to the flowstone, the C/V and S/V ratios both increase, while the total lignin content, Σ8, strongly decreases. This shows that the LOP signal is strongly influenced by both transport and degradation processes. Nevertheless, the relative LOP signal from the overlying soil at the different cave sites is preserved in the flowstone. We emphasize that for the interpretation of C/V and S/V ratios in terms of past vegetation changes, it is important to compare only samples of the same type (e.g., speleothem, dripwater or soil) and to evaluate only relative variations.

year: 2021

title: “He has been the worst coach, but he’s also the one that said ‘let’s give it a go’”: Understanding inclusive coaching practices and education in mainstream sport in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Owen, Katherine

subjects: Disability

abstract: Looking to coach education as a principal mechanism of change in inclusive sport practice, this thesis reports research on the development of inclusive coaching practice related to disability in the context of mainstream sport in New Zealand. Guided by Participatory Action Research and drawing on social constructionism, the study utilises semi-structured interviews with disabled people, community sport coaches, and national coach developers as a triad of key stakeholders to provide insight into the knowledge and support that is required by coaches and coach developers to enhance inclusive experiences for disabled people in mainstream sport. In addressing this aim, I also sought to understand the possibilities within coach education to improve coaching practices to be more inclusive of disabled people. Using a reflexive thematic analysis, the research highlighted that despite the desire of coaches and coach developers to do more in providing opportunities for disabled people, there is a significant lack of support available for both coaches and national coach developers to enact inclusive policy. The analysis illustrates levels of ableism inherent within mainstream sport, coach education and consequently coaching practice, as well as the resourcing and structural barriers that exist within mainstream sport that present significant barriers for achieving the inclusive aims of policy intent. However, despite this, several actions were identified to improve coaching practice at a relational level – between the coach and disabled person – and at a systematic level within the coach education systems of mainstream sport.

text: “He has been the worst coach, but he’s also the one that said ‘let’s give it a go’”: Understanding inclusive coaching practices and education in mainstream sport in Aotearoa New Zealand Looking to coach education as a principal mechanism of change in inclusive sport practice, this thesis reports research on the development of inclusive coaching practice related to disability in the context of mainstream sport in New Zealand. Guided by Participatory Action Research and drawing on social constructionism, the study utilises semi-structured interviews with disabled people, community sport coaches, and national coach developers as a triad of key stakeholders to provide insight into the knowledge and support that is required by coaches and coach developers to enhance inclusive experiences for disabled people in mainstream sport. In addressing this aim, I also sought to understand the possibilities within coach education to improve coaching practices to be more inclusive of disabled people. Using a reflexive thematic analysis, the research highlighted that despite the desire of coaches and coach developers to do more in providing opportunities for disabled people, there is a significant lack of support available for both coaches and national coach developers to enact inclusive policy. The analysis illustrates levels of ableism inherent within mainstream sport, coach education and consequently coaching practice, as well as the resourcing and structural barriers that exist within mainstream sport that present significant barriers for achieving the inclusive aims of policy intent. However, despite this, several actions were identified to improve coaching practice at a relational level – between the coach and disabled person – and at a systematic level within the coach education systems of mainstream sport.

year: 2022

title: Here to stay: Reshaping the regions through mana Māori

authors: Simmonds, Naomi Beth

abstract: Situated 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton, Putāruru (population 3747 in the 2013 Census) is typical of the many farming service towns scattered across rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Bakeries, op shops, a sports bar and a farm equipment supplier occupy the main street. Unlike nearby Tirau, which transformed from a one-stop shop into a vibrant boutique village in the late 1990s, Putāruru township remains largely indistinguishable from other rural centres. There are few clues to the substantial farming-based and water-generated wealth that lies beyond the town.

text: Here to stay: Reshaping the regions through mana Māori Situated 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton, Putāruru (population 3747 in the 2013 Census) is typical of the many farming service towns scattered across rural Aotearoa New Zealand. Bakeries, op shops, a sports bar and a farm equipment supplier occupy the main street. Unlike nearby Tirau, which transformed from a one-stop shop into a vibrant boutique village in the late 1990s, Putāruru township remains largely indistinguishable from other rural centres. There are few clues to the substantial farming-based and water-generated wealth that lies beyond the town.

year: 2016