title: Macroinvertebrate–pressure relationships in boatable New Zealand rivers: Influence of underlying environment and sampling substrate

authors: Collier, Kevin J.

subjects: bioassessment

abstract: Responses of macroinvertebrate communities to human pressure are poorly known in large rivers compared with wadeable streams, in part because of variable substrate composition and the need to disentangle pressure responses from underlying natural environmental variation. To investigate the interaction between these factors, we sampled macroinvertebrates from the following: (i) submerged wood; (ii) littoral substrates < 0.8 m deep; and (iii) inorganic substrates in deep water (> 1.5 m) benthic habitats in eleven 6th- or 7th-order New Zealand rivers spanning a catchment vegetation land cover gradient. Cluster analysis identified primary site groupings reflecting regional environmental characteristics and secondary groupings for moderate gradient rivers reflecting the extent of catchment native vegetation cover. Low pressure sites with high levels of native vegetation had higher habitat quality and higher percentages of several Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera taxa than sites in developed catchments, whereas developed sites were more typically dominated by Diptera, Mollusca and other Trichoptera. Partial regression analysis indicated that the combination of underlying environment and human pressure accounted for 77–89% of the variation in Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Plecoptera taxa richness, %Diptera and %Mollusca, with human pressure explaining more variance than underlying environment for %Mollusca. Analysis of replicate deepwater and littoral samples from moderate gradient sites at the upper and lower ends of the pressure gradient indicated that total Trichoptera and Diptera richness and %Diptera responded to land use differences in these boatable river catchments. Responses to human pressure were substrate specific with the combination of littoral and deepwater substrates providing the most consistent response and yielding the highest number of taxa. These results indicate that multiple substrate sampling is required to document the biodiversity and condition of boatable river macroinvertebrate communities and that spatial variation in the underlying natural environment needs to be accounted for when interpreting pressure–response relationships.

text: Macroinvertebrate–pressure relationships in boatable New Zealand rivers: Influence of underlying environment and sampling substrate Responses of macroinvertebrate communities to human pressure are poorly known in large rivers compared with wadeable streams, in part because of variable substrate composition and the need to disentangle pressure responses from underlying natural environmental variation. To investigate the interaction between these factors, we sampled macroinvertebrates from the following: (i) submerged wood; (ii) littoral substrates < 0.8 m deep; and (iii) inorganic substrates in deep water (> 1.5 m) benthic habitats in eleven 6th- or 7th-order New Zealand rivers spanning a catchment vegetation land cover gradient. Cluster analysis identified primary site groupings reflecting regional environmental characteristics and secondary groupings for moderate gradient rivers reflecting the extent of catchment native vegetation cover. Low pressure sites with high levels of native vegetation had higher habitat quality and higher percentages of several Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera taxa than sites in developed catchments, whereas developed sites were more typically dominated by Diptera, Mollusca and other Trichoptera. Partial regression analysis indicated that the combination of underlying environment and human pressure accounted for 77–89% of the variation in Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Plecoptera taxa richness, %Diptera and %Mollusca, with human pressure explaining more variance than underlying environment for %Mollusca. Analysis of replicate deepwater and littoral samples from moderate gradient sites at the upper and lower ends of the pressure gradient indicated that total Trichoptera and Diptera richness and %Diptera responded to land use differences in these boatable river catchments. Responses to human pressure were substrate specific with the combination of littoral and deepwater substrates providing the most consistent response and yielding the highest number of taxa. These results indicate that multiple substrate sampling is required to document the biodiversity and condition of boatable river macroinvertebrate communities and that spatial variation in the underlying natural environment needs to be accounted for when interpreting pressure–response relationships.

year: 2012

title: The advent of liberal internationalism in New Zealand's foreign policy

authors: McCraw, David

subjects: New Zealand foreign policy

abstract: In 1935, the first Labour government introduced elements of Liberal Internationalism into New Zealand's foreign policy for the first time. Before that, New Zealand's foreign policy had been wholly Realist. The new elements were an enthusiastic support for international organisations and a concern for human rights, democracy and self-determination. These elements have formed part of New Zealand's foreign policy ever since, although they have been emphasised more by Labour governments than National ones. The first Labour government continued a number of Realist policies as well, and this mix of Idealism and Realism set the pattern of modern New Zealand foreign policy. Two further elements of Liberal Internationalism- the promotion of disarmament and of free trade — were not adopted by the first Labour government, but they would be added to New Zealand's foreign policy mix by later Labour governments.

text: The advent of liberal internationalism in New Zealand's foreign policy In 1935, the first Labour government introduced elements of Liberal Internationalism into New Zealand's foreign policy for the first time. Before that, New Zealand's foreign policy had been wholly Realist. The new elements were an enthusiastic support for international organisations and a concern for human rights, democracy and self-determination. These elements have formed part of New Zealand's foreign policy ever since, although they have been emphasised more by Labour governments than National ones. The first Labour government continued a number of Realist policies as well, and this mix of Idealism and Realism set the pattern of modern New Zealand foreign policy. Two further elements of Liberal Internationalism- the promotion of disarmament and of free trade — were not adopted by the first Labour government, but they would be added to New Zealand's foreign policy mix by later Labour governments.

year: 2003

title: How Maui captured the sun: using a MUD for educational simulation

authors: Cunningham, Sally Jo

subjects: computer science

abstract: MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons) are text-based, multi-user communication and modelling programs. This paper investigates the potential of a popular extensible MUD, the LambdaMOO system, as a tool for second language training and for educational simulation gaming.

text: How Maui captured the sun: using a MUD for educational simulation MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons) are text-based, multi-user communication and modelling programs. This paper investigates the potential of a popular extensible MUD, the LambdaMOO system, as a tool for second language training and for educational simulation gaming.

year: 1995-12