title: Quantifying macrodetritus fluxes from a small temperate estuary

authors: Gladstone-Gallagher, Rebecca

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Empirical measurements of estuary-to-coast material fluxes usually exclude the fraction of primary production that is exported as macrodetritus (marine plant litter), potentially leaving a gap in our understanding of the role of estuaries as outwelling systems. To address this gap, we sampled water and suspended material seasonally from the mouth of Pepe Inlet, Tairua Estuary, New Zealand. From samples collected hourly over 24 h, we calculated the lateral tidal fluxes (import, export, net flux) of macrodetritus, particulate and dissolved forms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Annually, the inlet was a net exporter of N and P (5145 and 362 kg respectively). However, macrodetritus accounted for <13 and <3% of seasonal N and P exports respectively. Macrodetritus is an obvious and visible source of estuary-to-coast subsidy, but our derived nutrient budgets suggest the dissolved and particulate forms dominate the net export of N and P (>87%). Nevertheless, seasonal pulses in the source and supply of macrodetritus may have consequences for the temporal scales over which this resource subsidy affects receiving ecosystems (e.g. intertidal sandflats). These mensurative investigations are useful to inform estuarine nutrient budgets that quantify the ecosystem services provided by temperate estuaries (e.g. contribution to fisheries food webs).

text: Quantifying macrodetritus fluxes from a small temperate estuary Empirical measurements of estuary-to-coast material fluxes usually exclude the fraction of primary production that is exported as macrodetritus (marine plant litter), potentially leaving a gap in our understanding of the role of estuaries as outwelling systems. To address this gap, we sampled water and suspended material seasonally from the mouth of Pepe Inlet, Tairua Estuary, New Zealand. From samples collected hourly over 24 h, we calculated the lateral tidal fluxes (import, export, net flux) of macrodetritus, particulate and dissolved forms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Annually, the inlet was a net exporter of N and P (5145 and 362 kg respectively). However, macrodetritus accounted for <13 and <3% of seasonal N and P exports respectively. Macrodetritus is an obvious and visible source of estuary-to-coast subsidy, but our derived nutrient budgets suggest the dissolved and particulate forms dominate the net export of N and P (>87%). Nevertheless, seasonal pulses in the source and supply of macrodetritus may have consequences for the temporal scales over which this resource subsidy affects receiving ecosystems (e.g. intertidal sandflats). These mensurative investigations are useful to inform estuarine nutrient budgets that quantify the ecosystem services provided by temperate estuaries (e.g. contribution to fisheries food webs).

year: 2017

title: The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) in US grand strategy

authors: Okpaleke, Francis Nnadezie

subjects: Drones

abstract: This Ph.D. thesis examines the role of drones in US grand strategy based on their use by successive US administrations post 9/11 in 'targeted states' (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya) in pursuant of different typologies of grand strategies. Since 9/11, drones have been used for targeted killing operations and for dismantling terrorist organizations. However, while drones on the battlefield present tactical benefits and are attractive to modern militaries and political decision-makers, their use has several unintended consequences. These include the negative impact in targeted states, destabilizing international politics and, undermining US strategic objectives. These are real problems that have not been adequately explored in the existing literature on the topic. To address this gap, the overarching research question of the thesis investigates how drones support or undermine US grand strategy. In doing so, the thesis attempts to determine the broader strategic ramifications of drone use for US grand strategy beyond their short-term tactical relevance.
Furthermore, it probes the political and strategic goals they supposedly advance and the consequences of drone proliferation for US strategic objectives at the national and global level. The thesis draws on publicly available data sets on drone strikes in targeted states since 9/11. It utilizes the international relations theories of realism, liberalism, and security dilemma theory to explain drone use and their intersection with US grand strategy.
To examine the research questions, the utility and impact of drones in facilitating the grand strategy of successive US administrations before and after 9/11 are analyzed. Case analyses of the aftermath of drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan are undertaken, and the impact of continued drone diffusion among state and non-state actors is assessed. The thesis finds that continued use of drones by the US as a central counterterrorism tactic and an offensive war strategy in targeted states undermines US grand strategy. It does so by creating contradictory outcomes: on the one hand, it eliminates terrorists, but on the other, it causes anti-Americanism, the death of non-combatants, and generates unintended blowback. The significance of this thesis is that it supports the contention that the tactical use of drones has strategic ramifications that serve to undermine US grand strategy in the long term. These speak to a broader point about the evolving nature of modern warfare and its intersection with powerful emerging technologies. As these new technologies are integrated into warfighting and come to play an ever-larger role in statecraft, there needs to be a much more robust assessment and debate about their long-term strategic implications.

text: The role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) in US grand strategy This Ph.D. thesis examines the role of drones in US grand strategy based on their use by successive US administrations post 9/11 in 'targeted states' (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya) in pursuant of different typologies of grand strategies. Since 9/11, drones have been used for targeted killing operations and for dismantling terrorist organizations. However, while drones on the battlefield present tactical benefits and are attractive to modern militaries and political decision-makers, their use has several unintended consequences. These include the negative impact in targeted states, destabilizing international politics and, undermining US strategic objectives. These are real problems that have not been adequately explored in the existing literature on the topic. To address this gap, the overarching research question of the thesis investigates how drones support or undermine US grand strategy. In doing so, the thesis attempts to determine the broader strategic ramifications of drone use for US grand strategy beyond their short-term tactical relevance.
Furthermore, it probes the political and strategic goals they supposedly advance and the consequences of drone proliferation for US strategic objectives at the national and global level. The thesis draws on publicly available data sets on drone strikes in targeted states since 9/11. It utilizes the international relations theories of realism, liberalism, and security dilemma theory to explain drone use and their intersection with US grand strategy.
To examine the research questions, the utility and impact of drones in facilitating the grand strategy of successive US administrations before and after 9/11 are analyzed. Case analyses of the aftermath of drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan are undertaken, and the impact of continued drone diffusion among state and non-state actors is assessed. The thesis finds that continued use of drones by the US as a central counterterrorism tactic and an offensive war strategy in targeted states undermines US grand strategy. It does so by creating contradictory outcomes: on the one hand, it eliminates terrorists, but on the other, it causes anti-Americanism, the death of non-combatants, and generates unintended blowback. The significance of this thesis is that it supports the contention that the tactical use of drones has strategic ramifications that serve to undermine US grand strategy in the long term. These speak to a broader point about the evolving nature of modern warfare and its intersection with powerful emerging technologies. As these new technologies are integrated into warfighting and come to play an ever-larger role in statecraft, there needs to be a much more robust assessment and debate about their long-term strategic implications.

year: 2021

title: Te Whariki revisited: How approaches to assessment can make valued learning visible

authors: McLachlan, Claire

abstract: In 2016, Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early Childhood Curriculum (Te Whariki) (Ministry of Education [MoE], 2017), New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum was updated for the first time in 20 years. Although the gazetted principles, strands and goals of the curriculum were not part of the update, the remainder of the curriculum was revised to meet the changing social and linguistic context, the revised national curriculum and associated documents, reviews of early childhood practice and relevant theory and research. The updated curriculum has reduced learning outcomes (from 118 to 20) and stronger guidance on the need for both informal and formal approaches to assessment to ensure children’s learning in each strand are assessed. This article reflects on the changes between the 1996 and 2017 version of the curriculum in relation to assessment and the rationale for the changes. Approaches to both ‘in the moment’ and planned assessment are explored and the usefulness of approaches which enable teachers to reflect on ‘discrepant data’ and support children’s learning in each strand are examined.

text: Te Whariki revisited: How approaches to assessment can make valued learning visible In 2016, Te Whariki: He Whariki Matauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early Childhood Curriculum (Te Whariki) (Ministry of Education [MoE], 2017), New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum was updated for the first time in 20 years. Although the gazetted principles, strands and goals of the curriculum were not part of the update, the remainder of the curriculum was revised to meet the changing social and linguistic context, the revised national curriculum and associated documents, reviews of early childhood practice and relevant theory and research. The updated curriculum has reduced learning outcomes (from 118 to 20) and stronger guidance on the need for both informal and formal approaches to assessment to ensure children’s learning in each strand are assessed. This article reflects on the changes between the 1996 and 2017 version of the curriculum in relation to assessment and the rationale for the changes. Approaches to both ‘in the moment’ and planned assessment are explored and the usefulness of approaches which enable teachers to reflect on ‘discrepant data’ and support children’s learning in each strand are examined.

year: 2018