title: The athleticism of drag queen practices and performance: A mixed-methods study of injury, prevention, and health care

authors: Diamond, Marisa

subjects: drag queen

abstract: Most research on drag performance has focused on gender and sexuality and/or performing arts. 
To date, very little has examined drag queens’ experiences of athleticism, injury, and injury care. This research provides insights into the physical experiences of professional drag queens, and the relationship of drag queens to health care, in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Specific areas of inquiry include: how drag queen performers of diverse gender identities, ages, experience levels, and athletic backgrounds experience the use of their bodies in their practice of drag; injury occurrence related to drag queen performance; and how drag queens perceive, access, and experience health care in direct connection to their drag practice. 
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a survey (96 participants) and interviews with six drag queens from Aotearoa New Zealand the U.S. This research draws on Queer and feminist theory, as well as public health models, to inform data collection and analysis techniques. The findings reveal drag to be a physically demanding discipline: the majority of drag queens have experienced drag-related injuries, despite practicing personally developed body maintenance behaviours. Participants also expressed a lack of, and necessity for, widely available, fully accessible, and visible LGBTQ+ and drag culturally safe and resonant healthcare. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of the physical body in drag queen performance, as well as the health care needs of drag queens in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Utilization of research findings, along with cross-sector discussions, could inform community health best practices and policy development, to improve health care for this historically marginalized population.

text: The athleticism of drag queen practices and performance: A mixed-methods study of injury, prevention, and health care Most research on drag performance has focused on gender and sexuality and/or performing arts. 
To date, very little has examined drag queens’ experiences of athleticism, injury, and injury care. This research provides insights into the physical experiences of professional drag queens, and the relationship of drag queens to health care, in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Specific areas of inquiry include: how drag queen performers of diverse gender identities, ages, experience levels, and athletic backgrounds experience the use of their bodies in their practice of drag; injury occurrence related to drag queen performance; and how drag queens perceive, access, and experience health care in direct connection to their drag practice. 
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a survey (96 participants) and interviews with six drag queens from Aotearoa New Zealand the U.S. This research draws on Queer and feminist theory, as well as public health models, to inform data collection and analysis techniques. The findings reveal drag to be a physically demanding discipline: the majority of drag queens have experienced drag-related injuries, despite practicing personally developed body maintenance behaviours. Participants also expressed a lack of, and necessity for, widely available, fully accessible, and visible LGBTQ+ and drag culturally safe and resonant healthcare. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of the physical body in drag queen performance, as well as the health care needs of drag queens in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Utilization of research findings, along with cross-sector discussions, could inform community health best practices and policy development, to improve health care for this historically marginalized population.

year: 2024

title: Early Jurassic palaeoenvironments in the Surat Basin, Australia - marine incursion into eastern Gondwana

authors: La Croix, Andrew D.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Interpretations of palaeodepositional environments are important for reconstructing Earth history. Only a few maps showing the Jurassic depositional environments in eastern Australia currently exist. Consequently, a detailed understanding of the setting of Australia in Gondwana is lacking. Core, wireline logs, two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional seismic from the Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin have been used to construct maps showing the evolution of depositional environments through the Early Jurassic. The results indicate the succession consists of three third‐order sequences (Sequence 1 to Sequence 3) that were controlled by eustatic sea level. The lowstand systems tract in Sequence 1 comprises braidplain deposits, confined to a fairway that parallels the basin centre. The strata were initially deposited in two sub‐basins, with rivers flowing in different orientations in each sub‐basin. The transgressive systems tract of Sequence 1 to lowstand systems tract of Sequence 3 is dominated by fluvio–deltaic systems infilling a single merged basin centre. Finally, the transgressive and highstand systems tracts of Sequence 3 show nearshore environments depositing sediment into a shallow marine basin. In the youngest part of this interval, ironstone shoals are the most conspicuous facies, the thickness and number of which increase towards the north and east. This study interprets a corridor to the open ocean through the Clarence–Moreton Basin, or the Carpentaria and Papuan basins, evidence of which has been eroded. These results challenge a commonly held view that eastern Australia was not influenced by eustasy, and propose a more dynamic palaeogeographic setting comprising a mixture of fluvial, deltaic and shallow marine sedimentary environments. This work can be used to unravel the stratigraphic relationships between Mesozoic eastern Australian basins, or in other basins globally as an analogue for understanding the complex interplay of paralic depositional systems in data poor areas.

text: Early Jurassic palaeoenvironments in the Surat Basin, Australia - marine incursion into eastern Gondwana Interpretations of palaeodepositional environments are important for reconstructing Earth history. Only a few maps showing the Jurassic depositional environments in eastern Australia currently exist. Consequently, a detailed understanding of the setting of Australia in Gondwana is lacking. Core, wireline logs, two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional seismic from the Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin have been used to construct maps showing the evolution of depositional environments through the Early Jurassic. The results indicate the succession consists of three third‐order sequences (Sequence 1 to Sequence 3) that were controlled by eustatic sea level. The lowstand systems tract in Sequence 1 comprises braidplain deposits, confined to a fairway that parallels the basin centre. The strata were initially deposited in two sub‐basins, with rivers flowing in different orientations in each sub‐basin. The transgressive systems tract of Sequence 1 to lowstand systems tract of Sequence 3 is dominated by fluvio–deltaic systems infilling a single merged basin centre. Finally, the transgressive and highstand systems tracts of Sequence 3 show nearshore environments depositing sediment into a shallow marine basin. In the youngest part of this interval, ironstone shoals are the most conspicuous facies, the thickness and number of which increase towards the north and east. This study interprets a corridor to the open ocean through the Clarence–Moreton Basin, or the Carpentaria and Papuan basins, evidence of which has been eroded. These results challenge a commonly held view that eastern Australia was not influenced by eustasy, and propose a more dynamic palaeogeographic setting comprising a mixture of fluvial, deltaic and shallow marine sedimentary environments. This work can be used to unravel the stratigraphic relationships between Mesozoic eastern Australian basins, or in other basins globally as an analogue for understanding the complex interplay of paralic depositional systems in data poor areas.

year: 2019

title: The role of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) riparian plantings in the mitigation of diffuse agricultural nitrogen

authors: Adamson, Olivia María

subjects: Manuka

abstract: The disruption of nutrient cycles in agricultural settings, particularly pastoral farming, is responsible for up to 70% of the nitrogen (N) loads entering streams in New Zealand (NZ) — resulting in the widespread degradation of freshwater ecosystems. Riparian plantings are one strategy to mitigate the losses of N from land to water, removing N by denitrification and plant uptake. Some types of vegetation are more effective than others at intercepting N, due to their ecology, impact on soil quality and root exudates. Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a plant native to NZ, and the species could be a good candidate to mitigate N losses due its ability to tolerate high N loads and co-benefits such as farm diversification through apiculture or essential oil production. Previous work also suggests that L. scoparium could be a biological nitrification inhibitor (BNI), limiting nitrate (NO₃⁻) production in soil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of mānuka to intercept and remove N in an experimental riparian buffer in Lake Waikare. Currently, the lake is eutrophic due to high nutrient and sediment inputs. Significant restoration efforts have been made in recent years, led by many hapuu around the lake. All are very passionate and determined to recover the mauri of this ecosystem and reconnect the people to the lake, as well as provide economic opportunities. The riparian band had been established for four years and was set up as a series of experimental plots with different vegetation types, including plots solely in mānuka, and grassed controls. The plots are on a Perch- Gley Ultic Soil underlain by a slowly permeable clay layer— the Hamilton Ash. Further, the study sought to explore the relationship between soil physical properties and N cycling, and to identify influences expected by the local hydrology— as there was evidence of perching and lateral flow in the site. A series of suction-cup lysimeters were installed and pore water was sampled seven times between May and July 2021. Samples were analysed for total N (TN), total Kjeldahl N (TKN), NO₃⁻ and ammonium (NH₄⁺).

The results show that the riparian buffer is effectively removing N from subsurface flows, with TN declining from an average of 9.32 mg/l at 1 m into the buffer to 2.03 mg/l at 7 m. Although N concentrations were higher under mānuka, the total amount of N extracted from those plots was 21% less due to high rainfall interception by the canopy (63.9%), limiting the transport of the solute. Indicators of soil physical quality, bulk density (ρb) and macroporosity (MP), were investigated as potential causes for differences in the movement of N. There was a 17% improvement in ρb, and 38% improvement in MP relative to 2017 measurements, before the riparian band was established. No appreciable differences in soil physical properties were found between vegetation types at this early stage in the inception of the riparian buffer, although changes are likely to occur as the mānuka trees mature and the impact of roots is more developed. Shallow wells were deployed to monitor the dynamics of the water table, as there was evidence of winter perching. Dip wells demonstrated the existence of a short- lived perched water table, resulting in lateral flow, and likely impacting the degree of soil gleying in different parts of the riparian band. Water and contaminants are likely to move laterally over the Hamilton Ash towards the drain, supported by the accumulation of NO₃⁻ at the boundary with the clay layer.
Future work should be devoted to better quantifying NO₃⁻ leaching from the riparian plot by incorporating a drainage model, as well as further investigating the relative importance of N removal pathways at this site (i.e. denitrification and plant uptake)— including the potential for the lower part of the riparian band, closest to the drain, to become a hotspot for nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. It would also be of value to revisit this study in 4-10 years to explore how the buffer impacts soil quality and N dynamics in the subsurface as it matures.

text: The role of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) riparian plantings in the mitigation of diffuse agricultural nitrogen The disruption of nutrient cycles in agricultural settings, particularly pastoral farming, is responsible for up to 70% of the nitrogen (N) loads entering streams in New Zealand (NZ) — resulting in the widespread degradation of freshwater ecosystems. Riparian plantings are one strategy to mitigate the losses of N from land to water, removing N by denitrification and plant uptake. Some types of vegetation are more effective than others at intercepting N, due to their ecology, impact on soil quality and root exudates. Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a plant native to NZ, and the species could be a good candidate to mitigate N losses due its ability to tolerate high N loads and co-benefits such as farm diversification through apiculture or essential oil production. Previous work also suggests that L. scoparium could be a biological nitrification inhibitor (BNI), limiting nitrate (NO₃⁻) production in soil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of mānuka to intercept and remove N in an experimental riparian buffer in Lake Waikare. Currently, the lake is eutrophic due to high nutrient and sediment inputs. Significant restoration efforts have been made in recent years, led by many hapuu around the lake. All are very passionate and determined to recover the mauri of this ecosystem and reconnect the people to the lake, as well as provide economic opportunities. The riparian band had been established for four years and was set up as a series of experimental plots with different vegetation types, including plots solely in mānuka, and grassed controls. The plots are on a Perch- Gley Ultic Soil underlain by a slowly permeable clay layer— the Hamilton Ash. Further, the study sought to explore the relationship between soil physical properties and N cycling, and to identify influences expected by the local hydrology— as there was evidence of perching and lateral flow in the site. A series of suction-cup lysimeters were installed and pore water was sampled seven times between May and July 2021. Samples were analysed for total N (TN), total Kjeldahl N (TKN), NO₃⁻ and ammonium (NH₄⁺).

The results show that the riparian buffer is effectively removing N from subsurface flows, with TN declining from an average of 9.32 mg/l at 1 m into the buffer to 2.03 mg/l at 7 m. Although N concentrations were higher under mānuka, the total amount of N extracted from those plots was 21% less due to high rainfall interception by the canopy (63.9%), limiting the transport of the solute. Indicators of soil physical quality, bulk density (ρb) and macroporosity (MP), were investigated as potential causes for differences in the movement of N. There was a 17% improvement in ρb, and 38% improvement in MP relative to 2017 measurements, before the riparian band was established. No appreciable differences in soil physical properties were found between vegetation types at this early stage in the inception of the riparian buffer, although changes are likely to occur as the mānuka trees mature and the impact of roots is more developed. Shallow wells were deployed to monitor the dynamics of the water table, as there was evidence of winter perching. Dip wells demonstrated the existence of a short- lived perched water table, resulting in lateral flow, and likely impacting the degree of soil gleying in different parts of the riparian band. Water and contaminants are likely to move laterally over the Hamilton Ash towards the drain, supported by the accumulation of NO₃⁻ at the boundary with the clay layer.
Future work should be devoted to better quantifying NO₃⁻ leaching from the riparian plot by incorporating a drainage model, as well as further investigating the relative importance of N removal pathways at this site (i.e. denitrification and plant uptake)— including the potential for the lower part of the riparian band, closest to the drain, to become a hotspot for nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. It would also be of value to revisit this study in 4-10 years to explore how the buffer impacts soil quality and N dynamics in the subsurface as it matures.

year: 2021