title: An Adaptive Model-based Mutation Operator for the Wind Farm Layout Optimisation Problem

authors: Mayo, Michael

subjects: Machine learning

abstract: A novel mutation operator for the wind farm layout optimisation problem is proposed and tested. When a wind farm layout is simulated, statistics such as an individual turbine’s wake free ratio can be computed. These statistics are in addition to the global measure being optimised, for example the overall cost of energy extraction of the farm. We present algorithms that first of all build a predictive model of the wake free ratio across an entire wind farm. This model is then used inside a mutation operator to perturb turbines towards positions of high predicted wake free ratio. We evaluate our approach by comparing a 1+1 Evolutionary Strategy using this new mutation operator vs. the same algorithm with a more standard random mutation operator, and show that our new operator leads to the discovery of wind farm layouts having a statistically significantly lower cost of energy extraction.

text: An Adaptive Model-based Mutation Operator for the Wind Farm Layout Optimisation Problem A novel mutation operator for the wind farm layout optimisation problem is proposed and tested. When a wind farm layout is simulated, statistics such as an individual turbine’s wake free ratio can be computed. These statistics are in addition to the global measure being optimised, for example the overall cost of energy extraction of the farm. We present algorithms that first of all build a predictive model of the wake free ratio across an entire wind farm. This model is then used inside a mutation operator to perturb turbines towards positions of high predicted wake free ratio. We evaluate our approach by comparing a 1+1 Evolutionary Strategy using this new mutation operator vs. the same algorithm with a more standard random mutation operator, and show that our new operator leads to the discovery of wind farm layouts having a statistically significantly lower cost of energy extraction.

year: 2015

title: Testing the effectiveness of the mt DNA Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene locus for identifying species of Polychaete worm (Polychaeta: Annelida) in New Zealand

authors: Brett, Christy Donna

subjects: mt DNA

abstract: The ability to accurately identify species is fundamental to ecological research and environmental monitoring. Current taxonomic identifications often rely on differentiation of morphologically ambiguous characters, and a process of categorization which is tedious and often leads to misidentifications. This is compounded by the presence of cryptic taxa, which may be prevalent among Polychaete worms (Polychaeta: Annelida). With increased access to genetic techniques, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I has been suggested as a possible aid to assist in the discrimination of species resources.
In this study, I tested the hypothesis that the mtDNA COI gene locus is effective in discriminating morphologically recognised species of Polychaete worms.
A 543 base-pair fragment of the COI locus was successfully extracted for 111 individuals from 16 out of 20 morphologically recognised species. Average intraspecific divergences were 0.8 %, ranging from 0 % to 5 %. Average interspecific variation was 26.4 %, ranging from 13.8 % to 36.8 %. The lowest divergences were found between two Nereid species (13.8 %), and two Glycera americana species (17.2 %). Relatively high maximum divergences of over 30 % suggest that some species may have reached a divergence saturation level, which may partially explain why familial groupings in constructed trees were not monophyletic. Divergences within the different Nereid species - a group previously known to have morphologically cryptic species - did not reveal the presence of any cryptic taxa. Pairwise comparisons showed a clear divide between percentages of intra- and interspecific divergences, and the suggested threshold of 11 % is effective for the taxa investigated here.
On the basis of these results, I conclude that sequence variation in the mtDNA COI gene locus is effective in discriminating morphologically recognised species of Polychaete worms, but may not be appropriate for deeper (e.g. generic or familial) phylogenetic relationships among taxa.

text: Testing the effectiveness of the mt DNA Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene locus for identifying species of Polychaete worm (Polychaeta: Annelida) in New Zealand The ability to accurately identify species is fundamental to ecological research and environmental monitoring. Current taxonomic identifications often rely on differentiation of morphologically ambiguous characters, and a process of categorization which is tedious and often leads to misidentifications. This is compounded by the presence of cryptic taxa, which may be prevalent among Polychaete worms (Polychaeta: Annelida). With increased access to genetic techniques, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I has been suggested as a possible aid to assist in the discrimination of species resources.
In this study, I tested the hypothesis that the mtDNA COI gene locus is effective in discriminating morphologically recognised species of Polychaete worms.
A 543 base-pair fragment of the COI locus was successfully extracted for 111 individuals from 16 out of 20 morphologically recognised species. Average intraspecific divergences were 0.8 %, ranging from 0 % to 5 %. Average interspecific variation was 26.4 %, ranging from 13.8 % to 36.8 %. The lowest divergences were found between two Nereid species (13.8 %), and two Glycera americana species (17.2 %). Relatively high maximum divergences of over 30 % suggest that some species may have reached a divergence saturation level, which may partially explain why familial groupings in constructed trees were not monophyletic. Divergences within the different Nereid species - a group previously known to have morphologically cryptic species - did not reveal the presence of any cryptic taxa. Pairwise comparisons showed a clear divide between percentages of intra- and interspecific divergences, and the suggested threshold of 11 % is effective for the taxa investigated here.
On the basis of these results, I conclude that sequence variation in the mtDNA COI gene locus is effective in discriminating morphologically recognised species of Polychaete worms, but may not be appropriate for deeper (e.g. generic or familial) phylogenetic relationships among taxa.

year: 2006

title: Maori perspectives of the environment: A review of Environment Waikato iwi environmental management plans.

authors: Whangapirita, Laura

subjects: Maori

abstract: The purpose of this report is to gather, summarise, analyse and distribute information held by Environment Waikato on Maori and the environment. To achieve this we evaluated and summarised the Ngaati Te Ata Iwi Policy Statement, Iwi Environmental management Plans and iwi contributions made toward the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan (1998) using a Maori values framework. This report has been prepared to contribute towards developing a resource for Environment Waikato’s Strategic Plan Review Teams. The report itself refers to values and beliefs sourced from iwi documents held by Environment waiakto and are presented using a Maori values framework providing the reader with an introduction to the environmental perspectives of tangat whenua in  the Waikato region.

text: Maori perspectives of the environment: A review of Environment Waikato iwi environmental management plans. The purpose of this report is to gather, summarise, analyse and distribute information held by Environment Waikato on Maori and the environment. To achieve this we evaluated and summarised the Ngaati Te Ata Iwi Policy Statement, Iwi Environmental management Plans and iwi contributions made toward the Proposed Waikato Regional Plan (1998) using a Maori values framework. This report has been prepared to contribute towards developing a resource for Environment Waikato’s Strategic Plan Review Teams. The report itself refers to values and beliefs sourced from iwi documents held by Environment waiakto and are presented using a Maori values framework providing the reader with an introduction to the environmental perspectives of tangat whenua in  the Waikato region.

year: 2003-09