title: Introduced and indigenous fungi of the Ross Island historic huts and pristine areas of

authors: Farrell, Roberta L.

subjects: terrestrial

abstract: This review summarizes research concerning Antarctic fungi at the century-old historic huts of the Heroic Period of exploration in the Ross Dependency 1898–1917 and fungi in pristine terrestrial locations. The motivation of the research was initially to identify potential fungal causes of degradation of the historic huts and artifacts. The research was extended to study fungal presence at pristine sites for comparison purposes and to consider the role of fungi in the respective ecosystems. We employed classical microbiology for isolation of viable organisms, and culture independent DNA analyses. The research provided baseline data on microbial biodiversity. Principal findings were that there is significant overlap of the yeasts and filamentous fungi isolated from the historic sites, soil, and historic introduced materials (i.e., wood, foodstuffs) and isolated from environmental samples in pristine locations. Aerial spore monitoring confirmed that winter spore counts were high and, in some cases, similar to those found in summer. Microbial diversity varied between the three Ross Island historic sites, and one historic site showed noticeably higher diversity, which led to the conclusion that this is a variable that should not be generalized. Cultured fungi were cold active, and the broader scientific significance of this finding was that climate change (warming) may not adversely affect these fungal species unless they were out-competed by new arrivals or unfavorable changes in ecosystem domination occur.

text: Introduced and indigenous fungi of the Ross Island historic huts and pristine areas of This review summarizes research concerning Antarctic fungi at the century-old historic huts of the Heroic Period of exploration in the Ross Dependency 1898–1917 and fungi in pristine terrestrial locations. The motivation of the research was initially to identify potential fungal causes of degradation of the historic huts and artifacts. The research was extended to study fungal presence at pristine sites for comparison purposes and to consider the role of fungi in the respective ecosystems. We employed classical microbiology for isolation of viable organisms, and culture independent DNA analyses. The research provided baseline data on microbial biodiversity. Principal findings were that there is significant overlap of the yeasts and filamentous fungi isolated from the historic sites, soil, and historic introduced materials (i.e., wood, foodstuffs) and isolated from environmental samples in pristine locations. Aerial spore monitoring confirmed that winter spore counts were high and, in some cases, similar to those found in summer. Microbial diversity varied between the three Ross Island historic sites, and one historic site showed noticeably higher diversity, which led to the conclusion that this is a variable that should not be generalized. Cultured fungi were cold active, and the broader scientific significance of this finding was that climate change (warming) may not adversely affect these fungal species unless they were out-competed by new arrivals or unfavorable changes in ecosystem domination occur.

year: 2011

title: Social interaction affects acquisition of lithium chloride-induced conditioned taste aversion: identification of underlying changes in neuronal activation in key forebrain areas

authors: Brunton, Chloe

subjects: aversion

abstract: A conditioned taste aversion (CTA) develops when exposure to a novel tastant is followed by sickness/malaise. Recently, it has been shown that a CTA can be reduced if the animal is placed in a social environment, i.e., in the presence of a conspecific, during the CTA acquisition phase. The current project was aimed to expand on our understanding of this phenomenon by (a) identifying the magnitude of an aversive response to a saccharin solution induced by lithium chloride (LiCl), a known emetic agent, in mice maintained in the social versus non-social setting; and (b) defining differences in LiCl-induced neuronal activation in the key CTA-related forebrain areas of animals in the social and non-social scenario. In mice lacking social stimulation, LiCl at a dose of 1 mEq induced a mild CTA to saccharin and the 6-mEq dose produced a profound aversive response. On the other hand, 6 mEq was the lowest effective dose in mice kept in the social setting. Immunohistochemical analysis of a neuronal activity marker, c-Fos, showed that alteration of activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) is associated with the observed changes. In LiCl-injected mice subjected to social stimulation, also the percentage of Fos-positive oxytocin (OT), but not vasopressin neurons in the PVN was higher than in LiCl-treated single-housed mice. These results are discussed in context of the effects that sociality has on the magnitude of responses to adverse associative stimuli and an involvement of specific elements of brain circuitry in mediating these effects.

text: Social interaction affects acquisition of lithium chloride-induced conditioned taste aversion: identification of underlying changes in neuronal activation in key forebrain areas A conditioned taste aversion (CTA) develops when exposure to a novel tastant is followed by sickness/malaise. Recently, it has been shown that a CTA can be reduced if the animal is placed in a social environment, i.e., in the presence of a conspecific, during the CTA acquisition phase. The current project was aimed to expand on our understanding of this phenomenon by (a) identifying the magnitude of an aversive response to a saccharin solution induced by lithium chloride (LiCl), a known emetic agent, in mice maintained in the social versus non-social setting; and (b) defining differences in LiCl-induced neuronal activation in the key CTA-related forebrain areas of animals in the social and non-social scenario. In mice lacking social stimulation, LiCl at a dose of 1 mEq induced a mild CTA to saccharin and the 6-mEq dose produced a profound aversive response. On the other hand, 6 mEq was the lowest effective dose in mice kept in the social setting. Immunohistochemical analysis of a neuronal activity marker, c-Fos, showed that alteration of activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) is associated with the observed changes. In LiCl-injected mice subjected to social stimulation, also the percentage of Fos-positive oxytocin (OT), but not vasopressin neurons in the PVN was higher than in LiCl-treated single-housed mice. These results are discussed in context of the effects that sociality has on the magnitude of responses to adverse associative stimuli and an involvement of specific elements of brain circuitry in mediating these effects.

year: 2016

title: Ngōku whakaaro – hei maumaharatanga. Maori women facial adornment: A mark of remembrance

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

abstract: To honour the life and memory of the late Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, and the elevation of her son King Tuheitia, a group of women from Tainui iwi under took the process of taking moko kauae - of colouring their chins with traditional patterns. The adornment process took place at Turangawaewae marae with family, friends, elders, and grandchildren. In this presentation we will talk about the journey of these women to prepare themselves for their transformations, the process they went through, and their lives since. We will also consider how their decision also meant exposure to outside opinion, the associated risks of objectification, “image-snatching”, and cultural and intellectual property issues.

text: Ngōku whakaaro – hei maumaharatanga. Maori women facial adornment: A mark of remembrance To honour the life and memory of the late Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, and the elevation of her son King Tuheitia, a group of women from Tainui iwi under took the process of taking moko kauae - of colouring their chins with traditional patterns. The adornment process took place at Turangawaewae marae with family, friends, elders, and grandchildren. In this presentation we will talk about the journey of these women to prepare themselves for their transformations, the process they went through, and their lives since. We will also consider how their decision also meant exposure to outside opinion, the associated risks of objectification, “image-snatching”, and cultural and intellectual property issues.

year: 2008