title: Ras Al Khow-Eco-tourism in constructed wetlands: Post modernity in the modernity of the Dubai landscape

authors: Ryan, Chris

subjects: Authenticity

abstract: This study examines the role of a directed gaze in an urban eco-tourism setting of Ras Al Khor in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khor is a UNESCO RAMSAR accredited wetland and has significant conservation values, yet from one perspective it is an artificially constructed site. The site exists because of previous dredging in the Dubai Creek and the introduction of mangrove swamp planting and while replicating other sites found along the UAE coast line it had no prior existence until the 1980s. The paper uses textual analysis from open ended questions to visitors supplemented by other materials to discuss the authenticity of an eco-tourism experience primarily directed at flamingos. It identifies different tourist perceptions of that gaze in a location that is not too far distant from the world's tallest building, the Burj Al Khalifa, and its associated development of shopping malls, hotels and apartments and offices.

text: Ras Al Khow-Eco-tourism in constructed wetlands: Post modernity in the modernity of the Dubai landscape This study examines the role of a directed gaze in an urban eco-tourism setting of Ras Al Khor in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khor is a UNESCO RAMSAR accredited wetland and has significant conservation values, yet from one perspective it is an artificially constructed site. The site exists because of previous dredging in the Dubai Creek and the introduction of mangrove swamp planting and while replicating other sites found along the UAE coast line it had no prior existence until the 1980s. The paper uses textual analysis from open ended questions to visitors supplemented by other materials to discuss the authenticity of an eco-tourism experience primarily directed at flamingos. It identifies different tourist perceptions of that gaze in a location that is not too far distant from the world's tallest building, the Burj Al Khalifa, and its associated development of shopping malls, hotels and apartments and offices.

year: 2012

title: Denitrification and availability of carbon and nitrogen in a well-drained pasture soil amended with particulate organic carbon

authors: Stevenson, Bryan A.

subjects: particulate organic carbon

abstract: A well-drained soil in N-fertilized dairy pasture was amended with particulate organic carbon (POC), either sawdust or coarse woody mulch, and sampled every 4 wk for a year to test the hypothesis that the addition of POC would increase denitrification activity by increasing the number of microsites where denitrification occurred. Overall mean denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), on a gravimetric basis, was 100% greater for the woody mulch treatment and 50% greater for the sawdust treatment compared with controls, indicating the denitrifying potential of the soil was enhanced. Despite differences in DEA, no difference in denitrification rate, as measured by the acetylene block technique, was detected among treatments, with an average annual N loss of ∼22 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ Soil water content overall was driving denitrification in this well-drained soil as regression of the natural log of volumetric soil water content (VWC) against denitrification rate was highly significant (r ² = 0.74, P < 0.001). Addition of the amendments, however, had significant effects on the availability of both C and N. An additional 20 to 40 kg N ha⁻¹ was stored in POC-amended treatments as a result of increases in the microbial biomass. Basal respiration, as a measure of available C, was 400% greater than controls in the sawdust treatment and 250% greater than controls in the mulch. Net N mineralization, however, was significantly lower in the sawdust treatment, resulting in significantly lower nitrate N levels than in the control. We attribute the lack of measured response in denitrification rate to the high temporal variability in denitrification and suggest that diffusion of nitrate may ultimately have limited denitrification in the amended treatments. Our data indicate that manipulation of denitrification by addition of POC may be possible, particularly when nitrate levels are high, but quantifying differences in the rate of denitrification is difficult because of the temporal nature of the process (particularly the complex interaction of N availability and soil water content).

text: Denitrification and availability of carbon and nitrogen in a well-drained pasture soil amended with particulate organic carbon A well-drained soil in N-fertilized dairy pasture was amended with particulate organic carbon (POC), either sawdust or coarse woody mulch, and sampled every 4 wk for a year to test the hypothesis that the addition of POC would increase denitrification activity by increasing the number of microsites where denitrification occurred. Overall mean denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), on a gravimetric basis, was 100% greater for the woody mulch treatment and 50% greater for the sawdust treatment compared with controls, indicating the denitrifying potential of the soil was enhanced. Despite differences in DEA, no difference in denitrification rate, as measured by the acetylene block technique, was detected among treatments, with an average annual N loss of ∼22 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ Soil water content overall was driving denitrification in this well-drained soil as regression of the natural log of volumetric soil water content (VWC) against denitrification rate was highly significant (r ² = 0.74, P < 0.001). Addition of the amendments, however, had significant effects on the availability of both C and N. An additional 20 to 40 kg N ha⁻¹ was stored in POC-amended treatments as a result of increases in the microbial biomass. Basal respiration, as a measure of available C, was 400% greater than controls in the sawdust treatment and 250% greater than controls in the mulch. Net N mineralization, however, was significantly lower in the sawdust treatment, resulting in significantly lower nitrate N levels than in the control. We attribute the lack of measured response in denitrification rate to the high temporal variability in denitrification and suggest that diffusion of nitrate may ultimately have limited denitrification in the amended treatments. Our data indicate that manipulation of denitrification by addition of POC may be possible, particularly when nitrate levels are high, but quantifying differences in the rate of denitrification is difficult because of the temporal nature of the process (particularly the complex interaction of N availability and soil water content).

year: 2011

title: Taku Mana Māori Motuhake

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Waiata ā ringa (action song). Lyrics composed by Te Kahautu Maxwell. Musical score composed by Te Whānau Mitai, Te Kahautu Maxwell. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti (Kapa Haka group) (3mins)

Waiata: Tira Aroha
Whakaeke: Haere mai rā
Mōteatea: Te Pātere a Te Turuki
Poi: Iarararararī
Waiata ā ringa: Taku Mana Māori Motuhake
Haka: Waiwharangi
Whakawātea: Āio

text: Taku Mana Māori Motuhake Waiata ā ringa (action song). Lyrics composed by Te Kahautu Maxwell. Musical score composed by Te Whānau Mitai, Te Kahautu Maxwell. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti (Kapa Haka group) (3mins)

Waiata: Tira Aroha
Whakaeke: Haere mai rā
Mōteatea: Te Pātere a Te Turuki
Poi: Iarararararī
Waiata ā ringa: Taku Mana Māori Motuhake
Haka: Waiwharangi
Whakawātea: Āio

year: 2020-02-06