title: Reproductive biology and spawning substrate preferences of European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) from two New Zealand lakes

authors: Whitaker-White, Hannah

abstract: European perch (Perca fluviatilis) has dominated freshwater systems in New Zealand since its introduction in 1868. This introduced species has established itself by outcompeting native species and altering the physicochemical properties of habitats. Eradication and control efforts in New Zealand seldom focus on initiating management at spawning, with little attention to their reproductive biology and plasticity. Despite many studies across the world focusing on these aspects, most are in the context of population protection within their native territories or in fisheries. Lake Rototoa and the Hamilton Lake (also known as Lake Rotoroa) are two lakes within the North Island of New Zealand that vary considerably in size and quality, and host populations of European perch that have dominated both systems. 
Sampling from both lakes occurred over a 12-month period, where measurements of body size, gonad development, fecundity and condition were collected to provide insight into each population’s health and reproductive biology. An artificial spawning substrate experiment over six weeks consisted of three different substrates at five sites in both lakes and in laboratory tanks to investigate the potential for spawning substrate preferences.  
A total of 159 perch were caught and dissected from the Hamilton Lake, and 126 were caught and dissected from Lake Rototoa. Spawning appeared to be asynchronous at Lake Rototoa from condition and GSI results, and synchronous at the Hamilton Lake. Size and condition indices were higher at the Hamilton Lake and displayed some seasonal patterns. Fecundity at the Hamilton Lake ranged from 71,202 to 80,400.96 compared to 40,844 to 73,232.21 eggs per female at Lake Rototoa during the spawning season. Oocyte diameters were slightly larger at the Hamilton Lake, with a range of 0.836 mm and 2.019 mm compared to 0.839 mm and 1.886 mm at Lake Rototoa. Perch did not use any artificial spawning substrates at all three sites. 
Results suggested a more stunted population at Lake Rototoa, likely due to different water qualities and resource availability. These results provide a solid foundation for control methods targeting spawning strategies in European perch. However, improved techniques for artificial spawning substrates are necessary, particularly focusing on the location and timing of where and when they are deployed.

text: Reproductive biology and spawning substrate preferences of European Perch (Perca fluviatilis) from two New Zealand lakes European perch (Perca fluviatilis) has dominated freshwater systems in New Zealand since its introduction in 1868. This introduced species has established itself by outcompeting native species and altering the physicochemical properties of habitats. Eradication and control efforts in New Zealand seldom focus on initiating management at spawning, with little attention to their reproductive biology and plasticity. Despite many studies across the world focusing on these aspects, most are in the context of population protection within their native territories or in fisheries. Lake Rototoa and the Hamilton Lake (also known as Lake Rotoroa) are two lakes within the North Island of New Zealand that vary considerably in size and quality, and host populations of European perch that have dominated both systems. 
Sampling from both lakes occurred over a 12-month period, where measurements of body size, gonad development, fecundity and condition were collected to provide insight into each population’s health and reproductive biology. An artificial spawning substrate experiment over six weeks consisted of three different substrates at five sites in both lakes and in laboratory tanks to investigate the potential for spawning substrate preferences.  
A total of 159 perch were caught and dissected from the Hamilton Lake, and 126 were caught and dissected from Lake Rototoa. Spawning appeared to be asynchronous at Lake Rototoa from condition and GSI results, and synchronous at the Hamilton Lake. Size and condition indices were higher at the Hamilton Lake and displayed some seasonal patterns. Fecundity at the Hamilton Lake ranged from 71,202 to 80,400.96 compared to 40,844 to 73,232.21 eggs per female at Lake Rototoa during the spawning season. Oocyte diameters were slightly larger at the Hamilton Lake, with a range of 0.836 mm and 2.019 mm compared to 0.839 mm and 1.886 mm at Lake Rototoa. Perch did not use any artificial spawning substrates at all three sites. 
Results suggested a more stunted population at Lake Rototoa, likely due to different water qualities and resource availability. These results provide a solid foundation for control methods targeting spawning strategies in European perch. However, improved techniques for artificial spawning substrates are necessary, particularly focusing on the location and timing of where and when they are deployed.

year: 2025-11

title: Climate change adaptation narratives: Linking climate knowledge and future thinking

authors: Coulter, Liese

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: Even in countries with high capacity to adapt to climate change, when future-oriented adaptation narratives are neither explicit nor common, climate knowledge may not be accessed, examined, or shared to support active adaptation. This research analyzed interviews with Australian and Canadian professionals who worked with climate change knowledge in research, policy, and practice to gauge in what way their climate knowledge was linked to autonomous adaptation in personal circles. Analysis combined a thematic approach and a novel Future Climate Narrative (FCN) typology informed by literature relating to Future Thinking, Climate Knowledge, and Narrative Communication. The results identified four main narratives: Distance, Vulnerability, Agency, and Change. Findings showed that where Change narratives were not commonly shared, little climate change knowledge was exchanged in personal circles, especially information that might increase a sense of danger; challenge the imagination; or present unfamiliar scenarios. This research shows that without future-oriented narratives supporting autonomous and community adaptation planning and practice, the benefits of currently high social adaptive capacity and relatively low vulnerability to climate change may not be realized through proactive adaptation. In developed nations where near-term, and in some cases unavoidable, climate change impacts are not commonly discussed, new Change narratives linking Climate Knowledge and Future Thinking are needed to reflect swiftly evolving climate change scenarios. In addition, lack of adaptation planning among well-informed professionals again challenges expectations that more and better climate change knowledge will directly increase adaptation behavior, irrespective of engagement in future thinking.

text: Climate change adaptation narratives: Linking climate knowledge and future thinking Even in countries with high capacity to adapt to climate change, when future-oriented adaptation narratives are neither explicit nor common, climate knowledge may not be accessed, examined, or shared to support active adaptation. This research analyzed interviews with Australian and Canadian professionals who worked with climate change knowledge in research, policy, and practice to gauge in what way their climate knowledge was linked to autonomous adaptation in personal circles. Analysis combined a thematic approach and a novel Future Climate Narrative (FCN) typology informed by literature relating to Future Thinking, Climate Knowledge, and Narrative Communication. The results identified four main narratives: Distance, Vulnerability, Agency, and Change. Findings showed that where Change narratives were not commonly shared, little climate change knowledge was exchanged in personal circles, especially information that might increase a sense of danger; challenge the imagination; or present unfamiliar scenarios. This research shows that without future-oriented narratives supporting autonomous and community adaptation planning and practice, the benefits of currently high social adaptive capacity and relatively low vulnerability to climate change may not be realized through proactive adaptation. In developed nations where near-term, and in some cases unavoidable, climate change impacts are not commonly discussed, new Change narratives linking Climate Knowledge and Future Thinking are needed to reflect swiftly evolving climate change scenarios. In addition, lack of adaptation planning among well-informed professionals again challenges expectations that more and better climate change knowledge will directly increase adaptation behavior, irrespective of engagement in future thinking.

year: 2019-08-01

title: Breaking the browsing barrier for historic search of newspaper texts

authors: Keegan, Te Taka Adrian Gregory

subjects: computer science

abstract: Traditionally, to find information in a newspaper collection it has been necessary to painstakingly browse through the individual issues hoping that relevant words will catch your eye. Researchers of New Zealand’s encounter history received a boost when, in 1996, the Alexander Turnbull Library produced a collection on microfiche totaling almost 18,000 pages and covering a printing period from 1842 to 1933. While having all the newspapers in a single collection was a large step forward, browsing or searching for information in this microfiche collection was still time consuming.
By incorporating the collection into a digital library with an Internet interface, and by enabling full-text search, we have broken this browsing barrier. Making the information available this way is even more significant as the majority of the collection is written in the Māori language; we have created a Māori language resource that is sorely needed by education and research institutes, and one that provides quick and accurate access to the previously obscure source. The process involved in developing this unique digital library collection, the advantages of traditional newspaper stored in this medium, and the possibilities that we intend to investigate in the future, will be discussed in this paper.

text: Breaking the browsing barrier for historic search of newspaper texts Traditionally, to find information in a newspaper collection it has been necessary to painstakingly browse through the individual issues hoping that relevant words will catch your eye. Researchers of New Zealand’s encounter history received a boost when, in 1996, the Alexander Turnbull Library produced a collection on microfiche totaling almost 18,000 pages and covering a printing period from 1842 to 1933. While having all the newspapers in a single collection was a large step forward, browsing or searching for information in this microfiche collection was still time consuming.
By incorporating the collection into a digital library with an Internet interface, and by enabling full-text search, we have broken this browsing barrier. Making the information available this way is even more significant as the majority of the collection is written in the Māori language; we have created a Māori language resource that is sorely needed by education and research institutes, and one that provides quick and accurate access to the previously obscure source. The process involved in developing this unique digital library collection, the advantages of traditional newspaper stored in this medium, and the possibilities that we intend to investigate in the future, will be discussed in this paper.

year: 2001