title: Monitoring and identification of airborne fungi at historic locations on Ross Island, Antarctica

authors: Duncan, Shona Margaret

subjects: fungi

abstract: Air sampling in the ‘Heroic Era’ historic huts on Ross Island, Antarctica confirmed fungal presence, viability and winter survival. Cultivation and consensus sequence-based identification of Cladosporium cladosporioides, Pseudeurotium desertorum, Geomyces sp. and Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus demonstrated that they dominated the air environment within the huts. Cadophora sp. and Thebolus sp. were also isolated from the air and identified by morphological characteristics. Viable fungal colony forming units generally dropped in winter 2007 samplings from levels recorded in summer 2006 but were still substantial and greater than observed in summer 2008 and summer 2009 sampling at some locations. Comparing interior to exterior sampling, at the Hut Point and Cape Evans sites, there were more fungi recovered from the air in the interiors but at Cape Royds location, more fungi were recovered from the outside environment, possibly due to the impact of large amounts of organic material from the nearby Adélie penguin rookery. This research reveals airborne fungal biodiversity in summer and winter and demonstrates spores are widespread particularly in the interiors of the huts. Completed conservation efforts appear to have reduced fungal blooms and spores, which should reduce future adverse impacts to wood, textiles, paper and other artefacts so that this important polar heritage can be preserved.

text: Monitoring and identification of airborne fungi at historic locations on Ross Island, Antarctica Air sampling in the ‘Heroic Era’ historic huts on Ross Island, Antarctica confirmed fungal presence, viability and winter survival. Cultivation and consensus sequence-based identification of Cladosporium cladosporioides, Pseudeurotium desertorum, Geomyces sp. and Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus demonstrated that they dominated the air environment within the huts. Cadophora sp. and Thebolus sp. were also isolated from the air and identified by morphological characteristics. Viable fungal colony forming units generally dropped in winter 2007 samplings from levels recorded in summer 2006 but were still substantial and greater than observed in summer 2008 and summer 2009 sampling at some locations. Comparing interior to exterior sampling, at the Hut Point and Cape Evans sites, there were more fungi recovered from the air in the interiors but at Cape Royds location, more fungi were recovered from the outside environment, possibly due to the impact of large amounts of organic material from the nearby Adélie penguin rookery. This research reveals airborne fungal biodiversity in summer and winter and demonstrates spores are widespread particularly in the interiors of the huts. Completed conservation efforts appear to have reduced fungal blooms and spores, which should reduce future adverse impacts to wood, textiles, paper and other artefacts so that this important polar heritage can be preserved.

year: 2010

title: Pacific students and pedagogical success [Editorial]

authors: Sharma, Sashi

abstract: Debates about rates of achievement for Pacific students have been a feature of educational conversations in New Zealand for over three decades. We do not intend rehearsing the substance of them here, as components of them are included in the articles in this special edition. However, two aspects of this ongoing commentary continue to stand out. Points related to the educational underachievement of Pacific students are an enduring feature of these discussions. Secondly, Pacific students are seen to struggle, in particular, in Science, Technology and Maths (STEM) related areas of the New Zealand curriculum. Individual Pacific students can, and do, experience success in New Zealand educational environments including in STEM-related subjects, as Fonua in this edition points out. However, their achievements are considered examples of ‘exceptions that prove the rule’ related to the continuity of a dominant assumption of underachievement. As Chu, also in this edition remarks, “education for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand is a contentious issue” (Chu, C. 2018, p. 5) and the articles in this edition reinforce the strength of this claim.

text: Pacific students and pedagogical success [Editorial] Debates about rates of achievement for Pacific students have been a feature of educational conversations in New Zealand for over three decades. We do not intend rehearsing the substance of them here, as components of them are included in the articles in this special edition. However, two aspects of this ongoing commentary continue to stand out. Points related to the educational underachievement of Pacific students are an enduring feature of these discussions. Secondly, Pacific students are seen to struggle, in particular, in Science, Technology and Maths (STEM) related areas of the New Zealand curriculum. Individual Pacific students can, and do, experience success in New Zealand educational environments including in STEM-related subjects, as Fonua in this edition points out. However, their achievements are considered examples of ‘exceptions that prove the rule’ related to the continuity of a dominant assumption of underachievement. As Chu, also in this edition remarks, “education for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand is a contentious issue” (Chu, C. 2018, p. 5) and the articles in this edition reinforce the strength of this claim.

year: 2018

title: Te Piringa

authors: Dickson, Matiu

abstract: Māori have an oral tradition, that is, the transfer of knowledge within and between generations, which was carried out orally by way of story-telling or the more formal speech-making. Ngā korero purākau are the stories and whaikōrero is formal talking on the marae or ancestral gathering places of Māori people. The value of public speaking is expressed in the saying: Ko te kōrerote kai a te Rangatira – (The chiefs thrive on talking and debating). This article looks at the transfer of knowledge to the next generation.

text: Te Piringa Māori have an oral tradition, that is, the transfer of knowledge within and between generations, which was carried out orally by way of story-telling or the more formal speech-making. Ngā korero purākau are the stories and whaikōrero is formal talking on the marae or ancestral gathering places of Māori people. The value of public speaking is expressed in the saying: Ko te kōrerote kai a te Rangatira – (The chiefs thrive on talking and debating). This article looks at the transfer of knowledge to the next generation.

year: 2010