title: Entrepreneurial Action: Community and Buddhism contexts in Sri Lanka

authors: Dissanayake Mudiyanselage, Neelacksha
Srinath Wasala

subjects: Entrepreneurial action

abstract: Entrepreneurship research has long focused on singular views – the psychological traits, behaviour and opportunity approaches. These single-focus approaches limit the potential to understand entrepreneurship more fully and there are calls to move towards a more integrated view of entrepreneurship that includes context. This thesis supports a broader integration arguing that entrepreneurial action occurs through the interaction between community and religious contexts. This central argument embraces three notions. First, entrepreneurship involves a series of entrepreneurial actions. Second, entrepreneurial action interacts with the context, and third, entrepreneurial action requires agency.

The overarching research question for this study is: “How do community and Buddhism interact with entrepreneurial action?” Using the philosophical position of critical realism and the case study approach as the research strategy to theorise entrepreneurial action, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Buddhist entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

Findings revealed that the actions of an emergent venture flow through two discrete phases: pre-launch and post-launch. The entrepreneurial action themes that emerged in the pre-launch phase were entrepreneurial intention and resourcing, whereas, in this study, the post-launch phase extended beyond the venture to include community vitality. The two types of communities – family and social  interacted with entrepreneurs enabling and constraining their pre-launch actions. The interaction of the enabling and constraining roles of communities created tension for entrepreneurs when realising their venturing aspirations. Entrepreneurs’ religious background – that of Buddhism – guided them to eliminate the tensions imposed by communities. Discernment, right livelihood, and determination are considered the essential Buddhist tenets in this relationship. During the post-launch phase, communities were impacted by entrepreneurial actions. Making positive contributions to improve communities was an objective during the post-launch phase. This objective translated into different altruistic acts that improved community vitality. Serving communities offered excellent potential to improve the economic, social and natural environmental vitalities of those communities. These post-launch entrepreneurial actions were informed by the compassionate dimension of Buddhism.

These findings contribute to the entrepreneurial action literature by integrating the concepts involved within the intricacies of community and Buddhism contexts together to more fully inform entrepreneurial action. This study extends the understanding of entrepreneurial action by presenting it as process that incorporates a) pre- and post-launch actions, b) entrepreneurial action and context, c) the definition of community, d) the Buddhist tenets relevant to entrepreneurial actions, and e) entrepreneurial agency. Policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community members can benefit from the findings of this study as it highlights the mechanisms of entrepreneurial action in a Buddhist context.

text: Entrepreneurial Action: Community and Buddhism contexts in Sri Lanka Entrepreneurship research has long focused on singular views – the psychological traits, behaviour and opportunity approaches. These single-focus approaches limit the potential to understand entrepreneurship more fully and there are calls to move towards a more integrated view of entrepreneurship that includes context. This thesis supports a broader integration arguing that entrepreneurial action occurs through the interaction between community and religious contexts. This central argument embraces three notions. First, entrepreneurship involves a series of entrepreneurial actions. Second, entrepreneurial action interacts with the context, and third, entrepreneurial action requires agency.

The overarching research question for this study is: “How do community and Buddhism interact with entrepreneurial action?” Using the philosophical position of critical realism and the case study approach as the research strategy to theorise entrepreneurial action, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Buddhist entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

Findings revealed that the actions of an emergent venture flow through two discrete phases: pre-launch and post-launch. The entrepreneurial action themes that emerged in the pre-launch phase were entrepreneurial intention and resourcing, whereas, in this study, the post-launch phase extended beyond the venture to include community vitality. The two types of communities – family and social  interacted with entrepreneurs enabling and constraining their pre-launch actions. The interaction of the enabling and constraining roles of communities created tension for entrepreneurs when realising their venturing aspirations. Entrepreneurs’ religious background – that of Buddhism – guided them to eliminate the tensions imposed by communities. Discernment, right livelihood, and determination are considered the essential Buddhist tenets in this relationship. During the post-launch phase, communities were impacted by entrepreneurial actions. Making positive contributions to improve communities was an objective during the post-launch phase. This objective translated into different altruistic acts that improved community vitality. Serving communities offered excellent potential to improve the economic, social and natural environmental vitalities of those communities. These post-launch entrepreneurial actions were informed by the compassionate dimension of Buddhism.

These findings contribute to the entrepreneurial action literature by integrating the concepts involved within the intricacies of community and Buddhism contexts together to more fully inform entrepreneurial action. This study extends the understanding of entrepreneurial action by presenting it as process that incorporates a) pre- and post-launch actions, b) entrepreneurial action and context, c) the definition of community, d) the Buddhist tenets relevant to entrepreneurial actions, and e) entrepreneurial agency. Policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community members can benefit from the findings of this study as it highlights the mechanisms of entrepreneurial action in a Buddhist context.

year: 2021

title: Geochemical, Spatial, and Temporal Drivers of Microbial Community Heterogeneity in the Meltwater Ponds of Antarctica

authors: Archer, Stephen David James

subjects: microbial

abstract: Antarctic meltwater ponds are an abundant, dynamic and sensitive yet poorly understood ecosystem. In this thesis, bacterial communities from surface waters, the water column and benthic zone in geochemically variable meltwater ponds in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica were investigated. The primary objective of this research was to provide a detailed description of the community composition and to determine the temporal, geochemical and geomorphological drivers of community structure.
	A coordinated comparable analysis method was used for all samples so that, although separated into the previously mentioned zones, findings could be directly compared across studies. Bacterial community structure between samples was initially investigated by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA) of the 16S rRNA gene which, combined with in-situ collected geochemistry data was used to identify trends requiring high throughput sequencing (454 pyrosequencing of the V5-V6 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene) analysis coupled with nutrient and elemental data.
	A preliminary study in December 2009 compared the water columns of five geochemically distinct ponds. Communities between ponds were distinct, their structure driven primarily by pH and conductivity. One geochemically stratified pond formed distinct surface and bottom clusters with increasing diversity and changes to phyla structure with depth. 
	Temporal and geomorphological (Bratina Island and Miers Valley) drivers of variation in the microbial community structure between the surface waters of 41 ponds were examined. Conductivity was identified as the most significant driver across all ponds for the dominant cosmopolitan community, however trace elements were more significant drivers of community structure for the unique community (those sequences absent in at least one pond). Pronounced variation was identified between December and January samples and although the bacterial components of the community were similar between January 2012 and 2013 the community structure varied significantly. Despite different environments, communities from the Miers Valley were not well differentiated from Bratina Island, suggesting biological exchange between locations.
	The stratified water column of six Bratina Island and two Miers Valley ponds was investigated. Strongly geochemically stratified ponds exhibited a heterogeneous vertical community structure related to conductivity and dissolved oxygen. Variation in community structure was primarily driven by the abundance of a small number of cosmopolitan OTUs that changed with depth. Although the biological constituents were the same, minor variation in community structure was identified within Huey pond between years (2012 and 2013). Variation between Huey pond (Bratina Island) and Morepork pond (Miers Valley) was correlated with variation of iron and mercury concentration.
	Lastly the benthic zone of six ponds from Bratina Island and six from the Miers Valley was examined. The community structure was highly heterogeneous and diverse with 21 phyla identified. No distinction was identified between the two locations with the majority of pyrosequencing reads shared. Potassium, sodium and cobalt were identified as the most significant explanatory variables to the cosmopolitan community and aluminium, uranium and magnesium to the unique community.
	This study has granted an unprecedented understanding of the bacterial communities in the meltwater ponds of the Ross Sea Region. Geochemical inter pond heterogeneity is matched with an equally heterogeneous bacterial communities, primarily driven by conductivity. Although harboring a complex and diverse community the majority is comprised of a small number of shared OTUs across spatial and temporal scales.

text: Geochemical, Spatial, and Temporal Drivers of Microbial Community Heterogeneity in the Meltwater Ponds of Antarctica Antarctic meltwater ponds are an abundant, dynamic and sensitive yet poorly understood ecosystem. In this thesis, bacterial communities from surface waters, the water column and benthic zone in geochemically variable meltwater ponds in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica were investigated. The primary objective of this research was to provide a detailed description of the community composition and to determine the temporal, geochemical and geomorphological drivers of community structure.
	A coordinated comparable analysis method was used for all samples so that, although separated into the previously mentioned zones, findings could be directly compared across studies. Bacterial community structure between samples was initially investigated by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA) of the 16S rRNA gene which, combined with in-situ collected geochemistry data was used to identify trends requiring high throughput sequencing (454 pyrosequencing of the V5-V6 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene) analysis coupled with nutrient and elemental data.
	A preliminary study in December 2009 compared the water columns of five geochemically distinct ponds. Communities between ponds were distinct, their structure driven primarily by pH and conductivity. One geochemically stratified pond formed distinct surface and bottom clusters with increasing diversity and changes to phyla structure with depth. 
	Temporal and geomorphological (Bratina Island and Miers Valley) drivers of variation in the microbial community structure between the surface waters of 41 ponds were examined. Conductivity was identified as the most significant driver across all ponds for the dominant cosmopolitan community, however trace elements were more significant drivers of community structure for the unique community (those sequences absent in at least one pond). Pronounced variation was identified between December and January samples and although the bacterial components of the community were similar between January 2012 and 2013 the community structure varied significantly. Despite different environments, communities from the Miers Valley were not well differentiated from Bratina Island, suggesting biological exchange between locations.
	The stratified water column of six Bratina Island and two Miers Valley ponds was investigated. Strongly geochemically stratified ponds exhibited a heterogeneous vertical community structure related to conductivity and dissolved oxygen. Variation in community structure was primarily driven by the abundance of a small number of cosmopolitan OTUs that changed with depth. Although the biological constituents were the same, minor variation in community structure was identified within Huey pond between years (2012 and 2013). Variation between Huey pond (Bratina Island) and Morepork pond (Miers Valley) was correlated with variation of iron and mercury concentration.
	Lastly the benthic zone of six ponds from Bratina Island and six from the Miers Valley was examined. The community structure was highly heterogeneous and diverse with 21 phyla identified. No distinction was identified between the two locations with the majority of pyrosequencing reads shared. Potassium, sodium and cobalt were identified as the most significant explanatory variables to the cosmopolitan community and aluminium, uranium and magnesium to the unique community.
	This study has granted an unprecedented understanding of the bacterial communities in the meltwater ponds of the Ross Sea Region. Geochemical inter pond heterogeneity is matched with an equally heterogeneous bacterial communities, primarily driven by conductivity. Although harboring a complex and diverse community the majority is comprised of a small number of shared OTUs across spatial and temporal scales.

year: 2015

title: Assessment of effects of proposed treated wastewater discharge to the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua)

authors: Dada, Ayokunle Christopher

abstract: After 2019, irrigation operations at the Land Treatment System (LTS) in the Whakarewarewa Forest are scheduled to cease. A number of options and locations have been considered for the discharge of the treated wastewater when the current discharge consent ceases. Following consultations and technical assessments, the preferred option of Rotorua Lakes Council is to upgrade the existing plant to a full Membrane Bioreactor Plant with the addition of an Ultraviolet Disinfection System (or alternative treatment to achieve an equivalent performance in terms of treated wastewater quality). Under this arrangement, wastewater would be subjected to biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, and the treated wastewater discharged through Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel to Sulphur Bay. Rotorua Lakes Council is thus undertaking an environmental impact assessment study to determine the effects of discharging treated wastewater to the thermal channel and Puarenga Bay (Lake Rotorua), with particular reference to aesthetic, water quality and ecological considerations. These considerations include potential effects related to faecal indicator bacteria, nutrient concentrations, metals, dissolved oxygen, and taonga species (native species of cultural significance).
The assessment focused on:
(i)	The projected treated wastewater characteristics;

(ii)	Existing conditions of the receiving water;

(iii)	The sensitivity of the receiving water and the impact of the proposed discharge on water quality and taonga species (native species of cultural significance) in Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay.

The main techniques used to inform the assessment in this study were:
1) Analysis of historical water quality data, 2011-2014;
2) Collection of additional water quality data at Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay and along a transect to quantify spatial variability (sampling in 2016 and 2017);
3) Mass balance dilution modelling to predict water quality in the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua), at a site outside of the assumed mixing zone;
4) Lake ecosystem modelling conducted by Abell et al. (2015) to assess effects related to eutrophication;
5) Background review of biological information and field investigations for taonga species at Sulphur Bay and Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel (2017).

text: Assessment of effects of proposed treated wastewater discharge to the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua) After 2019, irrigation operations at the Land Treatment System (LTS) in the Whakarewarewa Forest are scheduled to cease. A number of options and locations have been considered for the discharge of the treated wastewater when the current discharge consent ceases. Following consultations and technical assessments, the preferred option of Rotorua Lakes Council is to upgrade the existing plant to a full Membrane Bioreactor Plant with the addition of an Ultraviolet Disinfection System (or alternative treatment to achieve an equivalent performance in terms of treated wastewater quality). Under this arrangement, wastewater would be subjected to biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, and the treated wastewater discharged through Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel to Sulphur Bay. Rotorua Lakes Council is thus undertaking an environmental impact assessment study to determine the effects of discharging treated wastewater to the thermal channel and Puarenga Bay (Lake Rotorua), with particular reference to aesthetic, water quality and ecological considerations. These considerations include potential effects related to faecal indicator bacteria, nutrient concentrations, metals, dissolved oxygen, and taonga species (native species of cultural significance).
The assessment focused on:
(i)	The projected treated wastewater characteristics;

(ii)	Existing conditions of the receiving water;

(iii)	The sensitivity of the receiving water and the impact of the proposed discharge on water quality and taonga species (native species of cultural significance) in Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay.

The main techniques used to inform the assessment in this study were:
1) Analysis of historical water quality data, 2011-2014;
2) Collection of additional water quality data at Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay and along a transect to quantify spatial variability (sampling in 2016 and 2017);
3) Mass balance dilution modelling to predict water quality in the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua), at a site outside of the assumed mixing zone;
4) Lake ecosystem modelling conducted by Abell et al. (2015) to assess effects related to eutrophication;
5) Background review of biological information and field investigations for taonga species at Sulphur Bay and Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel (2017).

year: 2018