title: Southern Hemisphere bog persists as a strong carbon sink during droughts

authors: Goodrich, Jordan Paul

abstract: Peatland ecosystems have been important global carbon sinks throughout the Holocene. Most of the research on peatland carbon budgets and effects of variable weather conditions has been done in Northern Hemisphere Sphagnum-dominated systems. Given their importance in other geographic and climatic regions, a better understanding of peatland carbon dynamics is needed across the spectrum of global peatland types. In New Zealand, much of the historic peatland area has been drained for agriculture but little is known about rates of carbon exchange and storage in unaltered peatland remnants that are dominated by the jointed wire-rush, Empodisma robustum. We used eddy covariance to measure ecosystem-scale CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes and a water balance approach to estimate the sub-surface flux of dissolved organic carbon from the largest remaining raised peat bog in New Zealand, Kopuatai bog. The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) was estimated over four years, which included two drought summers, a relatively wet summer, and a meteorologically average summer. In all measurement years, the bog was a substantial sink for carbon, ranging from 134.7 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹ to 216.9 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹, owing to the large annual net ecosystem production (−161.8 to −244.9 gCO2-C m⁻² yr⁻¹). Annual methane fluxes were large relative to most Northern Hemisphere peatlands (14.2 to 21.9 gCH4-C  m⁻² yr⁻¹1), although summer and autumn emissions were highly sensitive to dry conditions leading to very predictable seasonality according to water table position. The annual flux of dissolved organic carbon was similar in magnitude to methane emissions but less variable, ranging from 11.7 to 12.8 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹. Dry conditions experienced during late summer droughts led to significant reductions in annual carbon storage, which resulted nearly equally from enhanced ecosystem respiration due to lowered water tables and increased temperatures, and from reduced gross primary production due to vapor pressure deficit-related stresses to the vegetation. However, the net C uptake of Kopuatai bog during drought years was large relative to even the maximum reported NECB from Northern Hemisphere bogs. Furthermore, GWP fluxes indicated the bog was a strong sink for greenhouse gases in all years despite the relatively large annual methane emissions. Our results suggest that adaptations of E. robustum to dry conditions lead to a resilient peatland drought response of the NECB.

text: Southern Hemisphere bog persists as a strong carbon sink during droughts Peatland ecosystems have been important global carbon sinks throughout the Holocene. Most of the research on peatland carbon budgets and effects of variable weather conditions has been done in Northern Hemisphere Sphagnum-dominated systems. Given their importance in other geographic and climatic regions, a better understanding of peatland carbon dynamics is needed across the spectrum of global peatland types. In New Zealand, much of the historic peatland area has been drained for agriculture but little is known about rates of carbon exchange and storage in unaltered peatland remnants that are dominated by the jointed wire-rush, Empodisma robustum. We used eddy covariance to measure ecosystem-scale CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes and a water balance approach to estimate the sub-surface flux of dissolved organic carbon from the largest remaining raised peat bog in New Zealand, Kopuatai bog. The net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) was estimated over four years, which included two drought summers, a relatively wet summer, and a meteorologically average summer. In all measurement years, the bog was a substantial sink for carbon, ranging from 134.7 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹ to 216.9 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹, owing to the large annual net ecosystem production (−161.8 to −244.9 gCO2-C m⁻² yr⁻¹). Annual methane fluxes were large relative to most Northern Hemisphere peatlands (14.2 to 21.9 gCH4-C  m⁻² yr⁻¹1), although summer and autumn emissions were highly sensitive to dry conditions leading to very predictable seasonality according to water table position. The annual flux of dissolved organic carbon was similar in magnitude to methane emissions but less variable, ranging from 11.7 to 12.8 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹. Dry conditions experienced during late summer droughts led to significant reductions in annual carbon storage, which resulted nearly equally from enhanced ecosystem respiration due to lowered water tables and increased temperatures, and from reduced gross primary production due to vapor pressure deficit-related stresses to the vegetation. However, the net C uptake of Kopuatai bog during drought years was large relative to even the maximum reported NECB from Northern Hemisphere bogs. Furthermore, GWP fluxes indicated the bog was a strong sink for greenhouse gases in all years despite the relatively large annual methane emissions. Our results suggest that adaptations of E. robustum to dry conditions lead to a resilient peatland drought response of the NECB.

year: 2017

title: Mental healthcare access indicators for trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa/New Zealand

authors: Gonzalez Gutierrez, Sofia Marisol

subjects: trans

abstract: Access to mental healthcare (MHC) is one of the social determinants of mental health that underlies the large mental health disparities faced by trans and non-binary people (TNB). TNB people may seek MHC for reasons related specifically to gender-affirming needs or for general mental health needs, which also needs to be affirmative of their gender. The topic of general MHC access has received some research, but there are still gaps regarding examining specific MHC settings and demographic differences. Furthermore, research in Aotearoa/New Zealand is still scarce being composed mainly of the Counting Ourselves survey. This thesis aimed to describe the rates of different MHC access indicators for TNB people in Aotearoa/New Zealand, including utilisation, unmet needs, satisfaction levels, and barriers to access. Subsequently, to examine demographic differences in these indicators across age, gender/sex assigned at birth (SAAB), and ethnicity groups. Demographic differences were hypothesised based on existing inequities. Analyses of data from the Counting Ourselves 2022 study were performed, which employed a cross-sectional methodology. Measures included demographic data, use of different MHC providers, unmet need for MHC, satisfaction with different MHC providers, and general and trans-specific barriers to MHC. In total, 2,631 valid responses were analysed, with almost all participants (99.8%) completing the survey online. All participants lived in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and their ages ranged from 14 to 86, with an average age of 27.1. The most common gender/SAAB groups were non-binary AFAB (43.7%) and transgender women (22.1%), while the most frequent ethnicity groups were European (75.3%) and Māori (13.9%). Results showed that the majority (58.1%) of participants had accessed at least one MHC service in the past year, with private MHC professionals being the most frequently accessed provider. Younger participants and non-binary AFAB were more likely to use MHC services, while service use did not differ significantly by ethnicity. Most participants (59.6%) reported an unmet need for MHC in the past year, with younger participants and non-binary AFAB participants being more likely to report this. Satisfaction with MHC providers was relatively positive, but approximately one-third of participants expressed dissatisfaction. Older participants were more satisfied with MHC, and transgender women were more satisfied, only in comparison with transgender men. The most frequent barriers to accessing MHC that are shared with the general population were cost (57.4%) and lack of knowledge of services (44.8%). The most frequent trans-specific barriers were fear of professionals lacking understanding of TNB people (50.2%) and fear of pathologisation (48.9%). Participants reporting most trans-specific barriers were more likely to be younger, and non-binary AFAB participants were more likely to report fear of insufficient understanding and fear of misgendering from providers. These findings indicate that younger and AFAB TNB people may face additional barriers to accessing and being satisfied with MHC, suggesting a need for targeted interventions. Overall, ethnicity did not significantly predict MHC access indicators, suggesting that it might not be a strong predictor of these within this population. Nevertheless, ethnicity findings differ from patterns observed in the general population of Aotearoa/New Zealand, calling for more targeted research.  The high rates of use of MHC services as well as unmet needs and experienced barriers underscore the importance of addressing barriers and improving MHC accessibility and quality for TNB people. This should include improving MHC providers’ education and training, as well as implementing routine procedures to ensure a culturally safe and respectful environment.

text: Mental healthcare access indicators for trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa/New Zealand Access to mental healthcare (MHC) is one of the social determinants of mental health that underlies the large mental health disparities faced by trans and non-binary people (TNB). TNB people may seek MHC for reasons related specifically to gender-affirming needs or for general mental health needs, which also needs to be affirmative of their gender. The topic of general MHC access has received some research, but there are still gaps regarding examining specific MHC settings and demographic differences. Furthermore, research in Aotearoa/New Zealand is still scarce being composed mainly of the Counting Ourselves survey. This thesis aimed to describe the rates of different MHC access indicators for TNB people in Aotearoa/New Zealand, including utilisation, unmet needs, satisfaction levels, and barriers to access. Subsequently, to examine demographic differences in these indicators across age, gender/sex assigned at birth (SAAB), and ethnicity groups. Demographic differences were hypothesised based on existing inequities. Analyses of data from the Counting Ourselves 2022 study were performed, which employed a cross-sectional methodology. Measures included demographic data, use of different MHC providers, unmet need for MHC, satisfaction with different MHC providers, and general and trans-specific barriers to MHC. In total, 2,631 valid responses were analysed, with almost all participants (99.8%) completing the survey online. All participants lived in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and their ages ranged from 14 to 86, with an average age of 27.1. The most common gender/SAAB groups were non-binary AFAB (43.7%) and transgender women (22.1%), while the most frequent ethnicity groups were European (75.3%) and Māori (13.9%). Results showed that the majority (58.1%) of participants had accessed at least one MHC service in the past year, with private MHC professionals being the most frequently accessed provider. Younger participants and non-binary AFAB were more likely to use MHC services, while service use did not differ significantly by ethnicity. Most participants (59.6%) reported an unmet need for MHC in the past year, with younger participants and non-binary AFAB participants being more likely to report this. Satisfaction with MHC providers was relatively positive, but approximately one-third of participants expressed dissatisfaction. Older participants were more satisfied with MHC, and transgender women were more satisfied, only in comparison with transgender men. The most frequent barriers to accessing MHC that are shared with the general population were cost (57.4%) and lack of knowledge of services (44.8%). The most frequent trans-specific barriers were fear of professionals lacking understanding of TNB people (50.2%) and fear of pathologisation (48.9%). Participants reporting most trans-specific barriers were more likely to be younger, and non-binary AFAB participants were more likely to report fear of insufficient understanding and fear of misgendering from providers. These findings indicate that younger and AFAB TNB people may face additional barriers to accessing and being satisfied with MHC, suggesting a need for targeted interventions. Overall, ethnicity did not significantly predict MHC access indicators, suggesting that it might not be a strong predictor of these within this population. Nevertheless, ethnicity findings differ from patterns observed in the general population of Aotearoa/New Zealand, calling for more targeted research.  The high rates of use of MHC services as well as unmet needs and experienced barriers underscore the importance of addressing barriers and improving MHC accessibility and quality for TNB people. This should include improving MHC providers’ education and training, as well as implementing routine procedures to ensure a culturally safe and respectful environment.

year: 2024-01-21

title: The use of Māori words in National Science Challenge online discourse

authors: Calude, Andreea S.

subjects: Maori loanwords

abstract: New Zealand English is well-known for its heavy borrowing of words from Māori. This lexical component, unique to New Zealand English alone has been studied intensely over the last 50 years, particularly in newspaper media. Current research suggests the use is still increasing today, primarily in Māori-related contexts. Here, we analyse a surprising and unexpected use of Māori loanwords in science digital discourse (neither genre being previously investigated), where we discover a strong presence of Māori borrowings in National Science Challenge website and Twitter content. Using corpus linguistics methods, we argue that the use of Māori loanwords in this genre functions as a national identity building tool, used by various authors to signal that the ‘challenges’ the country faces are uniquely New Zealand’s ‘challenges’.

text: The use of Māori words in National Science Challenge online discourse New Zealand English is well-known for its heavy borrowing of words from Māori. This lexical component, unique to New Zealand English alone has been studied intensely over the last 50 years, particularly in newspaper media. Current research suggests the use is still increasing today, primarily in Māori-related contexts. Here, we analyse a surprising and unexpected use of Māori loanwords in science digital discourse (neither genre being previously investigated), where we discover a strong presence of Māori borrowings in National Science Challenge website and Twitter content. Using corpus linguistics methods, we argue that the use of Māori loanwords in this genre functions as a national identity building tool, used by various authors to signal that the ‘challenges’ the country faces are uniquely New Zealand’s ‘challenges’.

year: 2019