title: The ecology of the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis, in the South-Auckland/Waikato area

authors: Dentener, Peter Roeland

abstract: Lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis L., is an annual pest in pastures in the Auckland/Waikato area. It damages legumes, particularly white clover, from late autumn until early summer, with a peak in infestation in spring. No research into the seasonality of the lucerne flea (LF) has been done in New Zealand. It was therefore decided to study the bionomics and population dynamics of LF, and aspects related to the damage, caused by LF.

The study showed that the life cycle of LF consisted of three nymphal instars, one adult male and three adult female instars with the males being smaller and lighter in weight than the females. The population of LF built up steadily from March or April onwards to reach a peak in numbers in October or November after which the numbers declined to a low level and LF were only present as diapause eggs. Rainfall in March and April played an important role in the hatching of the diapause eggs and influenced the survival of the first instar larvae. The accumulated temperature (°D) above a zero development threshold of 4 °C determined the number of generations of LF per year, with five generations in 1982 and four in 1983 in Huntly. Shutting up a paddock for hay production as well as the consecutive cutting of the hay influenced the number of LF in the field. Population dynamic studies of LF showed that LF populations had overlapping stages of development as well as overlapping generations during the study period.  Examination of the data with methods, equivalent to the k-factor analysis, showed that LF populations were prone to great changes in number at the beginning of the immature stage of the life cycle of the males and the end of the life cycle of the females, but fairly stable at the time that sexual maturity was reached. The locomotory activity of LF took place during the day and night and all growth stages were active. No statistically significant relationship could be found between the locomotory activity and temperature or rainfall. The mite, Bdellodes lapidaria, a predator of LF, was found in the study sites in Huntly but their numbers were so low that no control effect on LF could be established. Feeding trials showed that adult female LF ate significantly more than adult male LF, and that the feeding rate was highest at 15 and 20 °C and a photophase of 12 and 16 hours light. Other results suggested that some feeding activity would also occur at night. Severe damage by LF in the field reduced the leaf surface area of white clover plants by up to 40 % during this study, and most severe damage was observed in October and November. Observations in the field and the laboratory established that LF is a wasteful feeder.

text: The ecology of the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis, in the South-Auckland/Waikato area Lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis L., is an annual pest in pastures in the Auckland/Waikato area. It damages legumes, particularly white clover, from late autumn until early summer, with a peak in infestation in spring. No research into the seasonality of the lucerne flea (LF) has been done in New Zealand. It was therefore decided to study the bionomics and population dynamics of LF, and aspects related to the damage, caused by LF.

The study showed that the life cycle of LF consisted of three nymphal instars, one adult male and three adult female instars with the males being smaller and lighter in weight than the females. The population of LF built up steadily from March or April onwards to reach a peak in numbers in October or November after which the numbers declined to a low level and LF were only present as diapause eggs. Rainfall in March and April played an important role in the hatching of the diapause eggs and influenced the survival of the first instar larvae. The accumulated temperature (°D) above a zero development threshold of 4 °C determined the number of generations of LF per year, with five generations in 1982 and four in 1983 in Huntly. Shutting up a paddock for hay production as well as the consecutive cutting of the hay influenced the number of LF in the field. Population dynamic studies of LF showed that LF populations had overlapping stages of development as well as overlapping generations during the study period.  Examination of the data with methods, equivalent to the k-factor analysis, showed that LF populations were prone to great changes in number at the beginning of the immature stage of the life cycle of the males and the end of the life cycle of the females, but fairly stable at the time that sexual maturity was reached. The locomotory activity of LF took place during the day and night and all growth stages were active. No statistically significant relationship could be found between the locomotory activity and temperature or rainfall. The mite, Bdellodes lapidaria, a predator of LF, was found in the study sites in Huntly but their numbers were so low that no control effect on LF could be established. Feeding trials showed that adult female LF ate significantly more than adult male LF, and that the feeding rate was highest at 15 and 20 °C and a photophase of 12 and 16 hours light. Other results suggested that some feeding activity would also occur at night. Severe damage by LF in the field reduced the leaf surface area of white clover plants by up to 40 % during this study, and most severe damage was observed in October and November. Observations in the field and the laboratory established that LF is a wasteful feeder.

year: 1985

title: Equilibrium moisture content of radiata pine at elevated temperature and pressure reveals measurement challenges

authors: Pearson, Hamish

subjects: water-vapor

abstract: Relatively few studies have been performed on the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of wood under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. Eight studies indicated that EMC near saturation decreased between 100 and 150 A degrees C, whilst five studies indicated that EMC increased. The aim of this study was to identify the likely source of the disagreement using radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) sapwood which was conditioned to a moisture content of around 3 % and then exposed for 1 h at 150 A degrees C and relative humidities of either 50, 70 or 90 %. Mean values of EMC, obtained through in situ gravimetric analyses, were 5.7, 7.6 and 12.6 % with 95 % confidence intervals of the order of 1 %. In two further experiments, the humidity was allowed to rise briefly above 90 % and the moisture content after 1 h was found to be > 30 % as in the five studies that indicated EMC increased above 100 A degrees C. The high moisture contents were attributed to condensation of liquid water on the specimen with subsequent evaporation at a rate that was too slow for the moisture content to reach equilibrium before it was measured. Reliable EMC data at elevated temperatures require (1) tight process control of experimental conditions with minimal standard error, (2) specimens with low initial moisture content to avoid unwanted wood mass loss over time, (3) a relative humidity upper limit that avoids drift above 95 %, and (4) extrapolation of data to humidity approaching 100 %.

text: Equilibrium moisture content of radiata pine at elevated temperature and pressure reveals measurement challenges Relatively few studies have been performed on the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of wood under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. Eight studies indicated that EMC near saturation decreased between 100 and 150 A degrees C, whilst five studies indicated that EMC increased. The aim of this study was to identify the likely source of the disagreement using radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) sapwood which was conditioned to a moisture content of around 3 % and then exposed for 1 h at 150 A degrees C and relative humidities of either 50, 70 or 90 %. Mean values of EMC, obtained through in situ gravimetric analyses, were 5.7, 7.6 and 12.6 % with 95 % confidence intervals of the order of 1 %. In two further experiments, the humidity was allowed to rise briefly above 90 % and the moisture content after 1 h was found to be > 30 % as in the five studies that indicated EMC increased above 100 A degrees C. The high moisture contents were attributed to condensation of liquid water on the specimen with subsequent evaporation at a rate that was too slow for the moisture content to reach equilibrium before it was measured. Reliable EMC data at elevated temperatures require (1) tight process control of experimental conditions with minimal standard error, (2) specimens with low initial moisture content to avoid unwanted wood mass loss over time, (3) a relative humidity upper limit that avoids drift above 95 %, and (4) extrapolation of data to humidity approaching 100 %.

year: 2013

title: Finding synergistic conservation values? Māori tikanga, science, resource management and law

authors: Simon, Katie

subjects: Indigenous knowledge

abstract: In this doctorate, I provide a balanced and collaborative approach to knowledge/value change between the contesting worldviews of indigenous knowledge and western science, termed 'synergistic'. My search for synergy is comparative and reconciliatory. This endeavours to overcome the popular pre-occupation with conflict and opposition. Rather, both difference and similarity are recognised. Through the comparison of such synergy, I argue that Māori development requires for its further advancement a focus not only on difference and conflict, but also on affinity and convergence.

My primary concern is to establish a better understanding of the synergistic, adaptive strategies or indigenous innovation of Māori kaitiaki, environmental stewards. I investigate conflicting and converging Māori and western scientific conservation and use values in Aotearoa/New Zealand  environmental governance and management regimes under the Resource Management Act 1991, with specific regard to indicator development. The balance of values were compared in ecological environmental governance, from five Aotearoa governmental authorities and three Māori river communities, utilising Māori and western social science methods. My focus on indicators pinpoints contesting knowledge/value change between the marginalisation of indigenous knowledge and dominance of western science. This seeks to highlight the potential viability of Māori kaitiakitanga, stewardship in global and national terms of sustainability.  

However, potential synergy is held back by a prevailing viewpoint of the indigenous worldview as backward, past-oriented and non-synergistic. An oppositional dogma predominates, which is a key problem to overcome. It spans world and national literature, resulting in considerable gaps in knowledge on synergy, conceptually, methodologically, empirically and analytically.  


This is addressed by an authoritative Māori synergistic standpoint from my own cultural lens and decolonised theorising, termed 'nuanced problem solving'. I articulate both worldviews in knowledge/value change through comparative, evolutionary, multi-dimensional, cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary research on synergy. My nuanced problem solving encapsulates the two main parts of the doctorate, whereby synergy is correlated between theory and social practice. Part one deals with value comparison in theory utilising high abstracted concepts and methods at the global level of environmental governance. Part two deals with value balance in social practice utilising medium abstracted and concrete empirical and analytical research at global, national, regional, district and cross-tribal levels of environmental governance. Potential synergy cross-cuts each part from high abstracted thought down and from the practical flax roots up. I argue that Māori advancement fluctuates between them. 

Drawing on cultural and theoretical leanings of the Māori synergistic standpoint, both a strong correlation with existing theory and expanded synergistic theorising was found. Due to the expansiveness of the research, these correlated findings only provide an embryonic understanding of potential synergy.

A postscript describes my other work on synergy with five external agencies concerning foreshore, lakeside, wastewater, land disposal and carbon marketing kaitiakitanga.  I argue that additional research on synergy is needed in order to further advance Māori.

text: Finding synergistic conservation values? Māori tikanga, science, resource management and law In this doctorate, I provide a balanced and collaborative approach to knowledge/value change between the contesting worldviews of indigenous knowledge and western science, termed 'synergistic'. My search for synergy is comparative and reconciliatory. This endeavours to overcome the popular pre-occupation with conflict and opposition. Rather, both difference and similarity are recognised. Through the comparison of such synergy, I argue that Māori development requires for its further advancement a focus not only on difference and conflict, but also on affinity and convergence.

My primary concern is to establish a better understanding of the synergistic, adaptive strategies or indigenous innovation of Māori kaitiaki, environmental stewards. I investigate conflicting and converging Māori and western scientific conservation and use values in Aotearoa/New Zealand  environmental governance and management regimes under the Resource Management Act 1991, with specific regard to indicator development. The balance of values were compared in ecological environmental governance, from five Aotearoa governmental authorities and three Māori river communities, utilising Māori and western social science methods. My focus on indicators pinpoints contesting knowledge/value change between the marginalisation of indigenous knowledge and dominance of western science. This seeks to highlight the potential viability of Māori kaitiakitanga, stewardship in global and national terms of sustainability.  

However, potential synergy is held back by a prevailing viewpoint of the indigenous worldview as backward, past-oriented and non-synergistic. An oppositional dogma predominates, which is a key problem to overcome. It spans world and national literature, resulting in considerable gaps in knowledge on synergy, conceptually, methodologically, empirically and analytically.  


This is addressed by an authoritative Māori synergistic standpoint from my own cultural lens and decolonised theorising, termed 'nuanced problem solving'. I articulate both worldviews in knowledge/value change through comparative, evolutionary, multi-dimensional, cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary research on synergy. My nuanced problem solving encapsulates the two main parts of the doctorate, whereby synergy is correlated between theory and social practice. Part one deals with value comparison in theory utilising high abstracted concepts and methods at the global level of environmental governance. Part two deals with value balance in social practice utilising medium abstracted and concrete empirical and analytical research at global, national, regional, district and cross-tribal levels of environmental governance. Potential synergy cross-cuts each part from high abstracted thought down and from the practical flax roots up. I argue that Māori advancement fluctuates between them. 

Drawing on cultural and theoretical leanings of the Māori synergistic standpoint, both a strong correlation with existing theory and expanded synergistic theorising was found. Due to the expansiveness of the research, these correlated findings only provide an embryonic understanding of potential synergy.

A postscript describes my other work on synergy with five external agencies concerning foreshore, lakeside, wastewater, land disposal and carbon marketing kaitiakitanga.  I argue that additional research on synergy is needed in order to further advance Māori.

year: 2007