title: Distribution of small mammals in five New Zealand forest habitats

authors: Watkins, Alison Fern

subjects: small mammals

abstract: This project aimed to reanalyse two large historical data sets from two different locations in New Zealand (Fiordland in the South Island and Pureora Forest Park in the North Island). The data describe populations of mice (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), and stoats (Mustela erminea) collected using standard monitoring techniques from five distinct types of forest habitat. The new analysis methods selected were an index of patchiness and Site Occupancy analysis.

The objectives of the analysis were (1) to evaluate whether the patchiness index and Site Occupancy analysis methods might contribute to improved protocols for monitoring small mammal populations in the future, and (2) to use formal tests of five hypotheses to evaluate two of the assumptions made by the conventional density index often used in small mammal studies.

I describe the results of the analyses for each species, including any problems encountered (such as the inability of the Site Occupancy method to analyse very sparse data sets). I also describe the results pooled from each of the two study locations and potential consequences for small mammal monitoring and control.

This analysis has suggested that in most cases the density index is not a rigorous measure of small mammal populations. However, both the index of patchiness and Site Occupancy analysis provided useful, new information about these populations of rodents and stoats, despite the fact that these historical data sets were not designed for use with modern methods of analysis.

Please note: some figures and tables were printed separately and added to the thesis as unnumbered pages.  These can be found in the file 03Plates_and_Tables.pdf.

text: Distribution of small mammals in five New Zealand forest habitats This project aimed to reanalyse two large historical data sets from two different locations in New Zealand (Fiordland in the South Island and Pureora Forest Park in the North Island). The data describe populations of mice (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), and stoats (Mustela erminea) collected using standard monitoring techniques from five distinct types of forest habitat. The new analysis methods selected were an index of patchiness and Site Occupancy analysis.

The objectives of the analysis were (1) to evaluate whether the patchiness index and Site Occupancy analysis methods might contribute to improved protocols for monitoring small mammal populations in the future, and (2) to use formal tests of five hypotheses to evaluate two of the assumptions made by the conventional density index often used in small mammal studies.

I describe the results of the analyses for each species, including any problems encountered (such as the inability of the Site Occupancy method to analyse very sparse data sets). I also describe the results pooled from each of the two study locations and potential consequences for small mammal monitoring and control.

This analysis has suggested that in most cases the density index is not a rigorous measure of small mammal populations. However, both the index of patchiness and Site Occupancy analysis provided useful, new information about these populations of rodents and stoats, despite the fact that these historical data sets were not designed for use with modern methods of analysis.

Please note: some figures and tables were printed separately and added to the thesis as unnumbered pages.  These can be found in the file 03Plates_and_Tables.pdf.

year: 2007

title: Scaling of Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Model Parameters In Phosphate Buffered Saline

authors: Jones, Mark Hedley

subjects: Electrical stimulation

abstract: We report how the impedance presented by a platinum electrode scales with the concentration of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). We find that the constant phase element of the model scales with approximately the log of concentration, whereas the resistivity is inversely proportional. Using a novel DC measurement technique we show that the Faradaic response of a platinum electrode, and thus the safe exposure limit, does not scale with concentration below 900mV overpotential across a pair of electrodes. We compare objective measurements made in saline to those made in the spinal cavity of live sheep. We comment upon the appropriateness of using PBS as a substitute for living sheep.

text: Scaling of Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Model Parameters In Phosphate Buffered Saline We report how the impedance presented by a platinum electrode scales with the concentration of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). We find that the constant phase element of the model scales with approximately the log of concentration, whereas the resistivity is inversely proportional. Using a novel DC measurement technique we show that the Faradaic response of a platinum electrode, and thus the safe exposure limit, does not scale with concentration below 900mV overpotential across a pair of electrodes. We compare objective measurements made in saline to those made in the spinal cavity of live sheep. We comment upon the appropriateness of using PBS as a substitute for living sheep.

year: 2014

title: Ka Pū Te Ruha, Ka Hao Te Rangatahi: Maori identities in the twenty-first century

authors: Kukutai, Tahu

abstract: These social divides and problems are at the heart of this text.

text: Ka Pū Te Ruha, Ka Hao Te Rangatahi: Maori identities in the twenty-first century These social divides and problems are at the heart of this text.

year: 2017-02