title: Contemporary carbon fluxes do not reflect the long-term carbon balance for an Atlantic blanket bog

authors: Ratcliffe, Joshua Lee

subjects: Core scanning

abstract: Peatlands are one of the largest terrestrial stores of carbon. Carbon exchange in peatlands is often assessed solely by measurement of contemporary fluxes; however, these fluxes frequently indicate a much stronger sink strength than that measured by the rate of C accumulation in the peat profile over longer timescales. Here we compare profile-based measurements of C accumulation with the published net ecosystem C balance for the largest peatland area in Britain, the Flow Country of northern Scotland. We estimate the long-term rate of C accumulation to be 15.4 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ for a site where a recent eddy covariance study has suggested contemporary C uptake more than six times greater (99.37 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹). Our estimate is supported by two further long-term C accumulation records from nearby sites which give comparable results. We demonstrate that a strong contemporary C sink strength may not equate to a strong long-term sink and explore reasons for this disparity. We recommend that contemporary C sequestration should be viewed in the context of the long-term ecological drivers, such as fires, ecohydrological feedbacks and the changing quality of litter inputs.

text: Contemporary carbon fluxes do not reflect the long-term carbon balance for an Atlantic blanket bog Peatlands are one of the largest terrestrial stores of carbon. Carbon exchange in peatlands is often assessed solely by measurement of contemporary fluxes; however, these fluxes frequently indicate a much stronger sink strength than that measured by the rate of C accumulation in the peat profile over longer timescales. Here we compare profile-based measurements of C accumulation with the published net ecosystem C balance for the largest peatland area in Britain, the Flow Country of northern Scotland. We estimate the long-term rate of C accumulation to be 15.4 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ for a site where a recent eddy covariance study has suggested contemporary C uptake more than six times greater (99.37 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹). Our estimate is supported by two further long-term C accumulation records from nearby sites which give comparable results. We demonstrate that a strong contemporary C sink strength may not equate to a strong long-term sink and explore reasons for this disparity. We recommend that contemporary C sequestration should be viewed in the context of the long-term ecological drivers, such as fires, ecohydrological feedbacks and the changing quality of litter inputs.

year: 2017

title: Psychological collectivism and its effects on group member job performance and taking charge behaviour

authors: Belfield, William John

subjects: collectivism

abstract: The nature of work in contemporary organisations has become increasingly group orientated. Several studies have linked psychological collectivism with important outcomes for individuals working in groups. The present research sought to build upon existing research, via examining the performance benefits of psychological collectivism within the New Zealand context. This study had two main aims: to examine whether employees within New Zealand who are more collectivistic are better performing group members, and engage in increased taking charge behaviours; and to investigate the possible moderating role of TMX, or the quality of co-worker relationships, in these relationships. Participants in this study were employees from various businesses throughout New Zealand, representing a wide range of industries, who completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire measured psychological collectivism, four dimensions of group member job performance (task performance, citizenship behaviour, counterproductive behaviour, and withdrawal behaviour), taking charge, and TMX-quality. To test the proposed hypotheses, correlation, regression, and moderation analyses were conducted in SPSS. Several of the proposed hypotheses received support: psychological collectivism positively predicted group member citizenship behaviour and taking charge behaviour, and negatively predicted group member counterproductive behaviour and group member withdrawal behaviour. TMX- quality significantly moderated the relationship between psychological collectivism and group member withdrawal behaviour. However, several of the proposed hypotheses did not receive support: psychological collectivism did not positively predict group member task performance, and TMX-quality did not significantly moderate the relationships between psychological collectivism and the other variables. Possible reasons why these hypotheses were unsupported are outlined. Additionally, significant non-hypothesized relationships were also obtained, which are discussed in detail. Concerning practical implications, organisations should aim to maximise psychological collectivism when necessary, via selection and placement or employee training and development programs. Moreover organisations should focus on improving the quality of co-worker relationships (i.e., TMX-quality). With respect to future research, research is needed which explicitly examines whether psychological collectivism can be developed in individuals. Taken together, the findings from this study highlight the far-reaching performance benefits of psychological collectivism and high-quality TMX in the workplace.

text: Psychological collectivism and its effects on group member job performance and taking charge behaviour The nature of work in contemporary organisations has become increasingly group orientated. Several studies have linked psychological collectivism with important outcomes for individuals working in groups. The present research sought to build upon existing research, via examining the performance benefits of psychological collectivism within the New Zealand context. This study had two main aims: to examine whether employees within New Zealand who are more collectivistic are better performing group members, and engage in increased taking charge behaviours; and to investigate the possible moderating role of TMX, or the quality of co-worker relationships, in these relationships. Participants in this study were employees from various businesses throughout New Zealand, representing a wide range of industries, who completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire measured psychological collectivism, four dimensions of group member job performance (task performance, citizenship behaviour, counterproductive behaviour, and withdrawal behaviour), taking charge, and TMX-quality. To test the proposed hypotheses, correlation, regression, and moderation analyses were conducted in SPSS. Several of the proposed hypotheses received support: psychological collectivism positively predicted group member citizenship behaviour and taking charge behaviour, and negatively predicted group member counterproductive behaviour and group member withdrawal behaviour. TMX- quality significantly moderated the relationship between psychological collectivism and group member withdrawal behaviour. However, several of the proposed hypotheses did not receive support: psychological collectivism did not positively predict group member task performance, and TMX-quality did not significantly moderate the relationships between psychological collectivism and the other variables. Possible reasons why these hypotheses were unsupported are outlined. Additionally, significant non-hypothesized relationships were also obtained, which are discussed in detail. Concerning practical implications, organisations should aim to maximise psychological collectivism when necessary, via selection and placement or employee training and development programs. Moreover organisations should focus on improving the quality of co-worker relationships (i.e., TMX-quality). With respect to future research, research is needed which explicitly examines whether psychological collectivism can be developed in individuals. Taken together, the findings from this study highlight the far-reaching performance benefits of psychological collectivism and high-quality TMX in the workplace.

year: 2019

title: Traditional plant harvesting in contemporary fragmented and urban landscapes

authors: Wehi, Priscilla M.

subjects: ethnobiology

abstract: Ecosystem fragmentation and destruction can lead to restrictive administration policies on traditional harvesting by indigenous peoples from remaining ecosystem tracts. In New Zealand, concerns about endangered species and governmental policies that focus on species and ecosystem preservation have resulted in severely curtailed traditional harvesting rights. Although provision has been made for limited gathering of traditional plants from government-administered conservation lands, it is unclear how much harvesting is undertaken on these lands and elsewhere and what this harvest might consist of. We interviewed seven expert Maori elders from the Waikato, New Zealand, to identify plant species they currently harvested and from where. We compared these data with the data we collected on permits issued for plant collecting on conservation lands in the same region. We sought to gain information on indigenous plant harvesting to determine the extent of permitted harvesting from conservation lands in the Waikato and to identify issues that might affect plant harvesting and management. Elders identified 58 species they harvest regularly or consider culturally important; over 50% of these species are harvested for medicinal use. Permit data from 1996 to 2006 indicated no apparent relationship between species of reported cultural significance and the number of permits issued for each of these species. Currently, few plant species are harvested from conservation lands, although some unofficial harvesting occurs. Elders instead reported that medicinal plants are frequently collected from urban and other public areas. They reported that plant species used for dyeing, carving, and weaving are difficult to access. Elders also discussed concerns such as spraying of roadsides, which resulted in the death of medicinal species, and use of commercial hybrids in urban planning. Local government may have an increasingly important role in supporting native traditions through urban planning, which takes account of cultural harvesting needs while potentially reducing future harvesting pressure on conservation lands. We suggest that active participation by the Māori community in the development and management of urban harvesting resources will result in positive outcomes.

text: Traditional plant harvesting in contemporary fragmented and urban landscapes Ecosystem fragmentation and destruction can lead to restrictive administration policies on traditional harvesting by indigenous peoples from remaining ecosystem tracts. In New Zealand, concerns about endangered species and governmental policies that focus on species and ecosystem preservation have resulted in severely curtailed traditional harvesting rights. Although provision has been made for limited gathering of traditional plants from government-administered conservation lands, it is unclear how much harvesting is undertaken on these lands and elsewhere and what this harvest might consist of. We interviewed seven expert Maori elders from the Waikato, New Zealand, to identify plant species they currently harvested and from where. We compared these data with the data we collected on permits issued for plant collecting on conservation lands in the same region. We sought to gain information on indigenous plant harvesting to determine the extent of permitted harvesting from conservation lands in the Waikato and to identify issues that might affect plant harvesting and management. Elders identified 58 species they harvest regularly or consider culturally important; over 50% of these species are harvested for medicinal use. Permit data from 1996 to 2006 indicated no apparent relationship between species of reported cultural significance and the number of permits issued for each of these species. Currently, few plant species are harvested from conservation lands, although some unofficial harvesting occurs. Elders instead reported that medicinal plants are frequently collected from urban and other public areas. They reported that plant species used for dyeing, carving, and weaving are difficult to access. Elders also discussed concerns such as spraying of roadsides, which resulted in the death of medicinal species, and use of commercial hybrids in urban planning. Local government may have an increasingly important role in supporting native traditions through urban planning, which takes account of cultural harvesting needs while potentially reducing future harvesting pressure on conservation lands. We suggest that active participation by the Māori community in the development and management of urban harvesting resources will result in positive outcomes.

year: 2010