title: Studies on Paphies australis (Mesodesmatidae) in Whangārei, Aotearoa New Zealand: an investigation into their declining health.

authors: Howells, Joanne Elizabeth

abstract: Disease outbreaks in marine species can have devastating consequences, including increasing host mortality, destabilising commercial production, altering ecosystem functioning, and jeopardising human health. A changing ocean climate is expected to increase host stress and the risk of disease outbreaks. Particularly through new and emerging diseases and opportunistic infections.
Wild bivalve molluscs provide economic, ecological, and socio-cultural benefits. Healthy and sustainable kaimoana (shellfish/bivalves, seafood) are intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of many communities in New Zealand. Over the past decade there has been a noticeable decline in the general health of native marine bivalves, characterised by an increase in observation of mass die-offs. Reasons for this are not clear and could be due to a number of factors, such as sedimentation, harvesting pressures, or disease. Baseline health data on wild bivalve populations are very rare and therefore it is very difficult to identify the causation of ill health. There is a need to establish health baselines to help benchmark changes in infection prevalence and intensity and identify drivers of bivalve mortality events.
Wild bivalve populations are often located in remote and isolated parts of New Zealand. When a mortality event occurs, the logistics of obtaining quality samples for accurate diagnosis can be hindered due to time delays and sample degradation. To gain a better understanding of these limitations for diagnostics using bacteriology, in Chapter 2 I investigate typical sample collection methods (i.e., samples collected and sent to a testing laboratory) and sample collections immediately in the field to understand what effect different sample methods have on number and types of bacteria isolated. Although the results of Chapter 2 found there were limitations to both sampling methods, it did identify that typical sampling techniques were not wholly optimal, and the information gained by sampling immediately in the field retained additional information that could be essential for disease diagnostics. Field sampling for bacteriology was applied throughout this thesis research.
Pipi (Paphies australis) are native bivalves to New Zealand, inhabiting the shallow subtidal of estuaries and bays. Pipi have suffered serious population declines in an area of northern New Zealand (Whangārei) since 2009. I investigate possible drivers of the poor health of pipi in Whangārei, with the objective of identifying the mechanisms that have contributed to the decline, and prevention of the recovery of pipi in Whangārei, with a primary focus of disease as a causative agent. I establish a health baseline of pipi from Whangārei using histopathology, bacteriology, and qPCR of Endozoicomonas spp., a bacteria previously identified in mortality bivalves (Chapter 3). The health baseline was compared against samples collected during three mass mortality events to help identify drivers of mass mortality events (Chapter 4). Through laboratory experimentation, I test whether pipi exposed to stressors had higher infection intensity and prevalence of Endozoicomonas spp. (Chapter 5). Finally, using archived samples, I test whether the baseline data established was consistent through time and help to provide insights into considerations when analysing bivalve mass mortality events (Chapter 6).
I found that Endozoicomonas spp. make an important part of pipi host microbiome. Although Endozoicomonas spp. are highly prevalent in pipi collected during a mass mortality event, their infection intensity was significantly lower in moribund pipi than healthy pipi. The prevalence and infection intensity of Endozoicomonas spp. were not driven by environmental stressors. The stressors, however, did appear to impact host health, with high suspended sediment loads and water temperatures of 24°C appeared to be unfavourable to pipi. Overall, Endozoicomonas sp. does not appear to be a main driver in the declining population of pipi from Whangārei and is probably not important to bivalve health. The reduced prevalence and infection intensity of Endozoicomonas sp. in healthy pipi strongly suggests these bacteria are symbiotic. A relationship that has been reported for this bacterial group in species of coral and sponges.
The establishment of a health baseline represents a significant step forward towards biosecurity preparedness by being able to identify changes in infection prevalence and intensity against it. The operational use of these data when paired with historical data will be a powerful tool to identify patterns of disease dynamics and emerging disease.

text: Studies on Paphies australis (Mesodesmatidae) in Whangārei, Aotearoa New Zealand: an investigation into their declining health. Disease outbreaks in marine species can have devastating consequences, including increasing host mortality, destabilising commercial production, altering ecosystem functioning, and jeopardising human health. A changing ocean climate is expected to increase host stress and the risk of disease outbreaks. Particularly through new and emerging diseases and opportunistic infections.
Wild bivalve molluscs provide economic, ecological, and socio-cultural benefits. Healthy and sustainable kaimoana (shellfish/bivalves, seafood) are intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of many communities in New Zealand. Over the past decade there has been a noticeable decline in the general health of native marine bivalves, characterised by an increase in observation of mass die-offs. Reasons for this are not clear and could be due to a number of factors, such as sedimentation, harvesting pressures, or disease. Baseline health data on wild bivalve populations are very rare and therefore it is very difficult to identify the causation of ill health. There is a need to establish health baselines to help benchmark changes in infection prevalence and intensity and identify drivers of bivalve mortality events.
Wild bivalve populations are often located in remote and isolated parts of New Zealand. When a mortality event occurs, the logistics of obtaining quality samples for accurate diagnosis can be hindered due to time delays and sample degradation. To gain a better understanding of these limitations for diagnostics using bacteriology, in Chapter 2 I investigate typical sample collection methods (i.e., samples collected and sent to a testing laboratory) and sample collections immediately in the field to understand what effect different sample methods have on number and types of bacteria isolated. Although the results of Chapter 2 found there were limitations to both sampling methods, it did identify that typical sampling techniques were not wholly optimal, and the information gained by sampling immediately in the field retained additional information that could be essential for disease diagnostics. Field sampling for bacteriology was applied throughout this thesis research.
Pipi (Paphies australis) are native bivalves to New Zealand, inhabiting the shallow subtidal of estuaries and bays. Pipi have suffered serious population declines in an area of northern New Zealand (Whangārei) since 2009. I investigate possible drivers of the poor health of pipi in Whangārei, with the objective of identifying the mechanisms that have contributed to the decline, and prevention of the recovery of pipi in Whangārei, with a primary focus of disease as a causative agent. I establish a health baseline of pipi from Whangārei using histopathology, bacteriology, and qPCR of Endozoicomonas spp., a bacteria previously identified in mortality bivalves (Chapter 3). The health baseline was compared against samples collected during three mass mortality events to help identify drivers of mass mortality events (Chapter 4). Through laboratory experimentation, I test whether pipi exposed to stressors had higher infection intensity and prevalence of Endozoicomonas spp. (Chapter 5). Finally, using archived samples, I test whether the baseline data established was consistent through time and help to provide insights into considerations when analysing bivalve mass mortality events (Chapter 6).
I found that Endozoicomonas spp. make an important part of pipi host microbiome. Although Endozoicomonas spp. are highly prevalent in pipi collected during a mass mortality event, their infection intensity was significantly lower in moribund pipi than healthy pipi. The prevalence and infection intensity of Endozoicomonas spp. were not driven by environmental stressors. The stressors, however, did appear to impact host health, with high suspended sediment loads and water temperatures of 24°C appeared to be unfavourable to pipi. Overall, Endozoicomonas sp. does not appear to be a main driver in the declining population of pipi from Whangārei and is probably not important to bivalve health. The reduced prevalence and infection intensity of Endozoicomonas sp. in healthy pipi strongly suggests these bacteria are symbiotic. A relationship that has been reported for this bacterial group in species of coral and sponges.
The establishment of a health baseline represents a significant step forward towards biosecurity preparedness by being able to identify changes in infection prevalence and intensity against it. The operational use of these data when paired with historical data will be a powerful tool to identify patterns of disease dynamics and emerging disease.

year: 2023

title: Tarāwhai Tāngata Rau

authors: Hiini, Anaha Te Wheoro

subjects: Tarāwhai

abstract: Ngāti Tarāwhai are a unique tribal group from the Te Arawa confederation of tribes.  Located around their traditional stronghold of Lake Okataina, Tarāwhai have endured throughout history to become a proud and noble clan, maintaining their culture and distinctive tribal practises.  Part of their survival throughout time has been their ability to rely on particular traits and attributes that have been portrayed and maintained by members of Tarāwhai across the generations.  These special characteristics have not only supported the development of Tarāwhai, but have also helped the evolution of Tarāwhai’s identity.

This thesis is concerned with four aspects that have been identified as common traits throughout Ngāti Tarāwhai history.  In particular, this study will look at the roles of leaders, tohunga, warriors and carving experts and explore how these qualities have featured significantly within Tarāwhai’s history for many generations.  Furthermore, this thesis will discuss how these aspects have influenced the development of the tribe from early time through to the present day.

It is the proposition of this thesis that the above mentioned attributes have shaped the people of Tarāwhai into the tribal group that they are today.  In addition, while Māori society has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, Tarāwhai continue to display these characteristics in a modern world, and they are still central to the reaffirmation of Tarāwhai identity and the overall wellbeing of the people.  Finally this thesis believes that these attributes must be maintained and perpetuated for Tarāwhi to have a secure place in the future.

text: Tarāwhai Tāngata Rau Ngāti Tarāwhai are a unique tribal group from the Te Arawa confederation of tribes.  Located around their traditional stronghold of Lake Okataina, Tarāwhai have endured throughout history to become a proud and noble clan, maintaining their culture and distinctive tribal practises.  Part of their survival throughout time has been their ability to rely on particular traits and attributes that have been portrayed and maintained by members of Tarāwhai across the generations.  These special characteristics have not only supported the development of Tarāwhai, but have also helped the evolution of Tarāwhai’s identity.

This thesis is concerned with four aspects that have been identified as common traits throughout Ngāti Tarāwhai history.  In particular, this study will look at the roles of leaders, tohunga, warriors and carving experts and explore how these qualities have featured significantly within Tarāwhai’s history for many generations.  Furthermore, this thesis will discuss how these aspects have influenced the development of the tribe from early time through to the present day.

It is the proposition of this thesis that the above mentioned attributes have shaped the people of Tarāwhai into the tribal group that they are today.  In addition, while Māori society has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, Tarāwhai continue to display these characteristics in a modern world, and they are still central to the reaffirmation of Tarāwhai identity and the overall wellbeing of the people.  Finally this thesis believes that these attributes must be maintained and perpetuated for Tarāwhi to have a secure place in the future.

year: 2013

title: Mindful publishing in the AI era: An editor’s perspective on trends, challenges, and insights in mindfulness research

authors: Medvedev, Oleg N.

abstract: In an age where AI influences many facets of academic pursuit, the dissemination of mindfulness research is undergoing significant transformation. This keynote delivers an editor's perspective on the latest trends in mindfulness research, navigating through the possibilities and perils that AI presents to scholarly publishing.
The talk will cover the core trends revolutionizing how mindfulness research reaches academic and public domains. It will also elaborate on how AI impacts the success rates of paper acceptance and publication, and the broader implications for researchers striving to contribute novel insights in a highly competitive space. This discussion will outline the increased efficiency and new opportunities for disseminating research findings, while also considering the challenges of maintaining rigorous peer-review standards in the fast-paced digital era.
From an editorial vantage point, we share insights on harnessing AI to enhance the visibility and impact of mindfulness studies, and how this influences the themes and narratives that gain prominence in the literature. The talk will reflect on the emerging challenges such as ensuring the ethical use of AI, addressing the digital divide in research accessibility, and preserving the integrity of mindfulness as a discipline amidst rapid technological change.
This keynote presentation aims to equip researchers with an understanding of current publishing trends in mindfulness research, stimulate discussion on overcoming associated challenges, and inspire innovative approaches to sharing their work effectively. Attendees will leave with a clearer vision for navigating the evolving landscape of mindfulness research publication in the era of AI integration.

text: Mindful publishing in the AI era: An editor’s perspective on trends, challenges, and insights in mindfulness research In an age where AI influences many facets of academic pursuit, the dissemination of mindfulness research is undergoing significant transformation. This keynote delivers an editor's perspective on the latest trends in mindfulness research, navigating through the possibilities and perils that AI presents to scholarly publishing.
The talk will cover the core trends revolutionizing how mindfulness research reaches academic and public domains. It will also elaborate on how AI impacts the success rates of paper acceptance and publication, and the broader implications for researchers striving to contribute novel insights in a highly competitive space. This discussion will outline the increased efficiency and new opportunities for disseminating research findings, while also considering the challenges of maintaining rigorous peer-review standards in the fast-paced digital era.
From an editorial vantage point, we share insights on harnessing AI to enhance the visibility and impact of mindfulness studies, and how this influences the themes and narratives that gain prominence in the literature. The talk will reflect on the emerging challenges such as ensuring the ethical use of AI, addressing the digital divide in research accessibility, and preserving the integrity of mindfulness as a discipline amidst rapid technological change.
This keynote presentation aims to equip researchers with an understanding of current publishing trends in mindfulness research, stimulate discussion on overcoming associated challenges, and inspire innovative approaches to sharing their work effectively. Attendees will leave with a clearer vision for navigating the evolving landscape of mindfulness research publication in the era of AI integration.

year: 2024