title: The art of dialogue with indigenous communities in the new biotechnology world

authors: Hudson, Maui

subjects: biotechnology

abstract: Te Hau Mihi Ata is a research project that aims to negotiate spaces for and develop processes of dialogue that allow for a deeper level of interaction between mtauranga Māori (Māori indigenous knowledge) and science. Over a two-year period a series of facilitated exchanges or wnanga were held focusing on areas of new technology (assisted reproductive technologies, life technologies, and future food technologies) that involved Māori scientists and people with expertise in mtauranga Māori. These dialogue events were designed to explore, through the challenge of considering new biotechnologies, the similarities and differences that emerge from approaching these issues from different knowledge paradigms. This paper will outline the key project findings from this series of exchanges including the barriers and facilitators to the dialogue process and knowledge exchange as well as discuss how participants created connections between scientific discourse and indigenous knowledge frameworks.

text: The art of dialogue with indigenous communities in the new biotechnology world Te Hau Mihi Ata is a research project that aims to negotiate spaces for and develop processes of dialogue that allow for a deeper level of interaction between mtauranga Māori (Māori indigenous knowledge) and science. Over a two-year period a series of facilitated exchanges or wnanga were held focusing on areas of new technology (assisted reproductive technologies, life technologies, and future food technologies) that involved Māori scientists and people with expertise in mtauranga Māori. These dialogue events were designed to explore, through the challenge of considering new biotechnologies, the similarities and differences that emerge from approaching these issues from different knowledge paradigms. This paper will outline the key project findings from this series of exchanges including the barriers and facilitators to the dialogue process and knowledge exchange as well as discuss how participants created connections between scientific discourse and indigenous knowledge frameworks.

year: 2012

title: Boat electrofishing survey of fish abundance in the Ohau Channel, Rotorua, in 2014

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The aim of the survey was to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance by boat electrofishing in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (eels, goldfish, and koura). In the current study, we present the findings from the eighth year of sampling (2014) and a summary of previous surveys.
We used the University of Waikato’s 4.5 m-long, aluminium-hulled electrofishing boat to catch a total of 642 fish (11.3 kg) 11 sites on 9 December 2014, which comprised 2,914 lineal m and 11,656 m² in area. Koura and 4 fish species were present, with common bully most abundant (up to 27 fish 100 m⁻² at the site 5, edge habitat). Goldfish (up to 5.92 g m⁻²) was the next most abundant species, and was most abundant in sites 8-11 the lower channel, especially at site 11, the excavated side channel. Rainbow trout were next the most abundant species (up to 0.25 fish 100 m⁻² ). Mean bully biomass (5.25 g m⁻²) was much higher than for smelt (0.07 g m⁻²). Koura had a patchy distribution; 5 individuals were caught.
Comparing catches over the 8 years of sampling, the abundance of common bullies in 2014 (4.81 fish 100 m⁻²) was consistent with catch rates in most post-wall years (after 2007; range 0.81-5.72 fish 100 m⁻²), but lower than in 2013. The cause of fluctuating bully abundance is not known, and was not accounted for by changes in water clarity expressed as black disc distance (BDD), water temperature, or water conductivity. Poor water clarity can reduce the efficiency of electrofishing, suggesting that bully density estimates might decrease with decreasing BDD. However, common bully densities in 2012 and 2011 were inversely related BDD. In 2014, catches of smelt, a similar sized fish to bullies, were extremely low.
Goldfish biomass increased initially 2009 and 2010 because of targeted fishing in the excavated side channel (site 11), which has dense macrophyte beds that provide good habitat for goldfish. The continued rise in goldfish density from 2012 on suggests a real increase in goldfish numbers has occurred. Eels were scarce in the Ohau Channel and catches were very variable. Longfin eels were caught in most years, and in 2012 and 2013 shortfin eels were also caught, but in 2014 no eels were caught.
Analysis of fish densities before and after wall closure is hampered by the single data point before closure. However, we now have 7 years of post-wall data, and comparison of means and standard deviations suggest that the number of bullies has decreased.
An intriguing trend of decreasing rainbow trout densities with increasing BDD, which is a measure of both water clarity and phytoplankton abundance, has occurred following wall construction (Figure 3). The trend is opposite to the usual decline of catch rate by boat electrofishing with reduced water clarity. The explanation for this is not immediately clear, and could be increased avoidance of the electrofishing boat by trout in clearer water. It is also possible that reduced BDD indicates high algal productivity in Lake Rotorua, which in turn could increase trout abundance in the Ohau Channel. This remains to be tested

text: Boat electrofishing survey of fish abundance in the Ohau Channel, Rotorua, in 2014 The aim of the survey was to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance by boat electrofishing in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (eels, goldfish, and koura). In the current study, we present the findings from the eighth year of sampling (2014) and a summary of previous surveys.
We used the University of Waikato’s 4.5 m-long, aluminium-hulled electrofishing boat to catch a total of 642 fish (11.3 kg) 11 sites on 9 December 2014, which comprised 2,914 lineal m and 11,656 m² in area. Koura and 4 fish species were present, with common bully most abundant (up to 27 fish 100 m⁻² at the site 5, edge habitat). Goldfish (up to 5.92 g m⁻²) was the next most abundant species, and was most abundant in sites 8-11 the lower channel, especially at site 11, the excavated side channel. Rainbow trout were next the most abundant species (up to 0.25 fish 100 m⁻² ). Mean bully biomass (5.25 g m⁻²) was much higher than for smelt (0.07 g m⁻²). Koura had a patchy distribution; 5 individuals were caught.
Comparing catches over the 8 years of sampling, the abundance of common bullies in 2014 (4.81 fish 100 m⁻²) was consistent with catch rates in most post-wall years (after 2007; range 0.81-5.72 fish 100 m⁻²), but lower than in 2013. The cause of fluctuating bully abundance is not known, and was not accounted for by changes in water clarity expressed as black disc distance (BDD), water temperature, or water conductivity. Poor water clarity can reduce the efficiency of electrofishing, suggesting that bully density estimates might decrease with decreasing BDD. However, common bully densities in 2012 and 2011 were inversely related BDD. In 2014, catches of smelt, a similar sized fish to bullies, were extremely low.
Goldfish biomass increased initially 2009 and 2010 because of targeted fishing in the excavated side channel (site 11), which has dense macrophyte beds that provide good habitat for goldfish. The continued rise in goldfish density from 2012 on suggests a real increase in goldfish numbers has occurred. Eels were scarce in the Ohau Channel and catches were very variable. Longfin eels were caught in most years, and in 2012 and 2013 shortfin eels were also caught, but in 2014 no eels were caught.
Analysis of fish densities before and after wall closure is hampered by the single data point before closure. However, we now have 7 years of post-wall data, and comparison of means and standard deviations suggest that the number of bullies has decreased.
An intriguing trend of decreasing rainbow trout densities with increasing BDD, which is a measure of both water clarity and phytoplankton abundance, has occurred following wall construction (Figure 3). The trend is opposite to the usual decline of catch rate by boat electrofishing with reduced water clarity. The explanation for this is not immediately clear, and could be increased avoidance of the electrofishing boat by trout in clearer water. It is also possible that reduced BDD indicates high algal productivity in Lake Rotorua, which in turn could increase trout abundance in the Ohau Channel. This remains to be tested

year: 2015

title: Structural complexity in isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether lipid cores of Sulfolobus and other archaea revealed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

authors: Knappy, Chris S.

subjects: archaea

abstract: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of membrane lipid cores from Sulfolobus species reveals isomeric forms of ring-containing isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether components not previously recognised via the use of NMR and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Equivalent isomerism was confirmed for the components in other hyperthermophilic genera and in sediments which contain the lipids of mesophilic archaea. The recognition of the isomeric structures in distinct archaeal clades suggests that profiles of tetraether lipids reported previously may have oversimplified the true lipid complexity in archaeal cultures and natural environments. Accordingly, the extent of variation in tetraether structures revealed by the work should direct more informative interpretations of lipid profiles in the future. Moreover, the results emphasise that tandem mass spectrometry provides a unique capability for assigning the structures of intact tetraether lipid cores for co-eluting species during chromatographic separation.

text: Structural complexity in isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether lipid cores of Sulfolobus and other archaea revealed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of membrane lipid cores from Sulfolobus species reveals isomeric forms of ring-containing isoprenoid glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether components not previously recognised via the use of NMR and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Equivalent isomerism was confirmed for the components in other hyperthermophilic genera and in sediments which contain the lipids of mesophilic archaea. The recognition of the isomeric structures in distinct archaeal clades suggests that profiles of tetraether lipids reported previously may have oversimplified the true lipid complexity in archaeal cultures and natural environments. Accordingly, the extent of variation in tetraether structures revealed by the work should direct more informative interpretations of lipid profiles in the future. Moreover, the results emphasise that tandem mass spectrometry provides a unique capability for assigning the structures of intact tetraether lipid cores for co-eluting species during chromatographic separation.

year: 2012