title: Biotreatability studies of oil-contaminated soils from Antarctica

authors: Jimenez, Maria-Luisa Gutierrez-Zamora

abstract: Human activity in Antarctica has resulted in accidental fuel spills on soils. These are broadly damaging to the Antarctic ecosystem, and expensive to clean up completely by physical removal, therefore, alternative remediation techniques, like bioremediation, are required. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria have been isolated from Antarctic soils, but few biotreatability studies have been described. On the basis that limiting factors to bioremediation can be manipulated to enhance biodegradation of contaminated soils, this thesis research project aimed to test these limiting factors to contribute to the development of bioremediation protocols for hydrocarbon-contaminated soils from the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica. 
Hydrocarbon-contaminated and control uncontaminated soils collected from Scott Base, Marble Point and Wright Valley were chemically analysed for total hydrocarbons and chemical properties, and analysed for total heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-degrading microbes. Both contaminated and uncontaminated control soils were screened for the alkane catabolic genes Pp alkB, Rh alkBJ, Rh alkB2 and Rh alkB194 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced to determine the soils' alkane-degrading genetic potential. Additionall, hydrocarbondegrading bacteria isolated from Scott Base soils were characterised morphologically and screened for alkB gene homologues. The degradative ability of microbes was assessed by ¹⁴C-hexadecane mineralisation in soil microcosms at 15°C in all untreated soils, water and nitrogen amended Scott Base soils, Scott Base contaminated soil diluted 1 : 1 with uncontaminated soil, and Bull Pass soil bioaugmented with strains Rhodococcus sp. 5/1 and SB0-1, a hydrocarbondegrading microbial isolate from this study. Molecular analysis of 16S rDNA of SB0-1 showed DNA sequence homology of 99% with Rhodococcus sp. 5/14. Changes in microbial populations in the most successful enhancement treatments were detected by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). 
Hydrocarbon-degraders were found only in Marble Point and Scott Base soils (from 10³ to 10⁶ colonies per gram dry weight soil). The most abundant alk gene in the soils was Pp a/kB, followed (in deceasing order of abundance) by Rh a/kB 1, Rh alkB2 and Rh alkB194. This indicated the possible presence of Pseudomonas and Rhodoeoeuss species in these soils. High rates of mineralisation were detected in Marble Point, ea. 60% in 75 days, and low rates in Scott Base soil, ea. 4% in 75 days. Nitrogen overfertilisation and water adjustments decreased mineralisation, but addition of 2500 mg N/kg-H20-soil combined with 10% moisture enhanced mineralisation ea. 4 times in a recent and old spill site in Scott Base soil, indicating that nitrogen was a limiting factor. Dilution of this soil with uncontaminated soil resulted in enhanced mineralisation, 8 times that of unamended soil, reaching ea. 40% mineralisation. DGGE showed that the diluted soil was enriched in a Rhodoeoeeus species. Dilution of the soil, and consequently of the contaminant, was the most successful treatment for Scott Base soil. This indicated that contaminant concentration was a limiting factor in this soil. Bioaugmentation of Bull Pass soil was partially successful; mineralisation was enhanced after addition of inoculum, but reduction in total hydrocarbons was minimal and attributed to abiotic loss. 
Overall, limiting factors to bioremediation can be manipulated to enhance biodegradation by nutrient amendments, dilution of contaminant, and inoculation of hydrocarbon-degraders. The implementation of these treatments may aid in remediation of contaminated soils from the Ross Sea Region.

text: Biotreatability studies of oil-contaminated soils from Antarctica Human activity in Antarctica has resulted in accidental fuel spills on soils. These are broadly damaging to the Antarctic ecosystem, and expensive to clean up completely by physical removal, therefore, alternative remediation techniques, like bioremediation, are required. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria have been isolated from Antarctic soils, but few biotreatability studies have been described. On the basis that limiting factors to bioremediation can be manipulated to enhance biodegradation of contaminated soils, this thesis research project aimed to test these limiting factors to contribute to the development of bioremediation protocols for hydrocarbon-contaminated soils from the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica. 
Hydrocarbon-contaminated and control uncontaminated soils collected from Scott Base, Marble Point and Wright Valley were chemically analysed for total hydrocarbons and chemical properties, and analysed for total heterotrophic and hydrocarbon-degrading microbes. Both contaminated and uncontaminated control soils were screened for the alkane catabolic genes Pp alkB, Rh alkBJ, Rh alkB2 and Rh alkB194 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced to determine the soils' alkane-degrading genetic potential. Additionall, hydrocarbondegrading bacteria isolated from Scott Base soils were characterised morphologically and screened for alkB gene homologues. The degradative ability of microbes was assessed by ¹⁴C-hexadecane mineralisation in soil microcosms at 15°C in all untreated soils, water and nitrogen amended Scott Base soils, Scott Base contaminated soil diluted 1 : 1 with uncontaminated soil, and Bull Pass soil bioaugmented with strains Rhodococcus sp. 5/1 and SB0-1, a hydrocarbondegrading microbial isolate from this study. Molecular analysis of 16S rDNA of SB0-1 showed DNA sequence homology of 99% with Rhodococcus sp. 5/14. Changes in microbial populations in the most successful enhancement treatments were detected by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). 
Hydrocarbon-degraders were found only in Marble Point and Scott Base soils (from 10³ to 10⁶ colonies per gram dry weight soil). The most abundant alk gene in the soils was Pp a/kB, followed (in deceasing order of abundance) by Rh a/kB 1, Rh alkB2 and Rh alkB194. This indicated the possible presence of Pseudomonas and Rhodoeoeuss species in these soils. High rates of mineralisation were detected in Marble Point, ea. 60% in 75 days, and low rates in Scott Base soil, ea. 4% in 75 days. Nitrogen overfertilisation and water adjustments decreased mineralisation, but addition of 2500 mg N/kg-H20-soil combined with 10% moisture enhanced mineralisation ea. 4 times in a recent and old spill site in Scott Base soil, indicating that nitrogen was a limiting factor. Dilution of this soil with uncontaminated soil resulted in enhanced mineralisation, 8 times that of unamended soil, reaching ea. 40% mineralisation. DGGE showed that the diluted soil was enriched in a Rhodoeoeeus species. Dilution of the soil, and consequently of the contaminant, was the most successful treatment for Scott Base soil. This indicated that contaminant concentration was a limiting factor in this soil. Bioaugmentation of Bull Pass soil was partially successful; mineralisation was enhanced after addition of inoculum, but reduction in total hydrocarbons was minimal and attributed to abiotic loss. 
Overall, limiting factors to bioremediation can be manipulated to enhance biodegradation by nutrient amendments, dilution of contaminant, and inoculation of hydrocarbon-degraders. The implementation of these treatments may aid in remediation of contaminated soils from the Ross Sea Region.

year: 2005

title: "Getting beneath the skin": A tok stori approach to reviewing the literature of leadership in Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Marshall Islands

authors: Sanga, Kabini

abstract: A literature review is generally a compendium of written material on a topic presented as research background. It functions to describe what is known in academic circles and to justify research questions that step beyond the known. A more nuanced approach involves getting “beneath the skin” of the literature itself; considering the fabric of the literature; what worldviews are evident, the questions that started inquiry, and the usefulness to communities of the knowledge gained. In this article, we discuss the place of the literature review by going beyond a compendium approach. We offer summaries of literature from the Pacific Island Countries of Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Marshall Islands as background to a research effort on leadership indigenous to the Pacific region, before getting beneath the skin of our reading. We augment our approach by imagining a conference tok stori discussion of Pacific leadership literature as a form of literature itself. This acts to re-value real-time discursive exploration and erodes the boundaries between the written and oral. Our aim is to investigate a more open and inclusive research space that honours Pacific-origin processes so that our research contribution can be increasingly permeated by Pacific values, wisdom and perspectives.

text: "Getting beneath the skin": A tok stori approach to reviewing the literature of leadership in Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Marshall Islands A literature review is generally a compendium of written material on a topic presented as research background. It functions to describe what is known in academic circles and to justify research questions that step beyond the known. A more nuanced approach involves getting “beneath the skin” of the literature itself; considering the fabric of the literature; what worldviews are evident, the questions that started inquiry, and the usefulness to communities of the knowledge gained. In this article, we discuss the place of the literature review by going beyond a compendium approach. We offer summaries of literature from the Pacific Island Countries of Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Marshall Islands as background to a research effort on leadership indigenous to the Pacific region, before getting beneath the skin of our reading. We augment our approach by imagining a conference tok stori discussion of Pacific leadership literature as a form of literature itself. This acts to re-value real-time discursive exploration and erodes the boundaries between the written and oral. Our aim is to investigate a more open and inclusive research space that honours Pacific-origin processes so that our research contribution can be increasingly permeated by Pacific values, wisdom and perspectives.

year: 2021

title: Spill-over of sustainability values and practices - a psychology PhD thesis proposal

authors: Rua, Mohi

subjects: Maori

abstract: The following presentation relates to my proposed PhD topic. As an audience you’re probably reading the title and wondering what relevance my topic has to the symposium theme Claiming Spaces. My immediate response is ‘nothing’. Nada, zilch, kore. As a ‘fill-in’ speaker for a presenter unable to be here, I’m reminded that despite my topics irregularity in the programme, I claim a space as both a psychologist and Maori person seeking to work with in the field of sustainability and conservation. Psychologists and Maori are interested in more than mental health and clinical investigation. We are interested in how the world goes around and seek to claim a space here too. So, this symposium and my participation DOES have relevance and I’d like to acknowledge those who remind me so. Let’s take a peep into my world for the next 3 years.

text: Spill-over of sustainability values and practices - a psychology PhD thesis proposal The following presentation relates to my proposed PhD topic. As an audience you’re probably reading the title and wondering what relevance my topic has to the symposium theme Claiming Spaces. My immediate response is ‘nothing’. Nada, zilch, kore. As a ‘fill-in’ speaker for a presenter unable to be here, I’m reminded that despite my topics irregularity in the programme, I claim a space as both a psychologist and Maori person seeking to work with in the field of sustainability and conservation. Psychologists and Maori are interested in more than mental health and clinical investigation. We are interested in how the world goes around and seek to claim a space here too. So, this symposium and my participation DOES have relevance and I’d like to acknowledge those who remind me so. Let’s take a peep into my world for the next 3 years.

year: 2008