title: Effects of native forest and pastoral land use on the population dynamics and trophic role of the New Zealand freshwater crayfish Paranephrops planifrons (Parastacidae)

authors: Parkyn, Stephanie M.

abstract: Deforestation and conversion to pasture of over 50% of land area has affected the water quality, physical habitat, and fish and benthic invertebrate communities of New Zealand streams, but the impact of land use change on crayfish populations is unknown. The population dynamics, growth, and diet of crayfish in Waikato pastoral streams were compared to crayfish inhabiting native forest streams to determine whether conversion to pasture has adversely affected crayfish populations and whether the change in land use has affected their role in the stream community.

Crayfish densities were greater in native forest streams due primarily to greater juvenile recruitment. Crayfish populations in pastoral streams exhibited much greater growth than in native forest streams, but their longevity was shorter. Reproductive maturity occurred after 1 year in pasture streams, as opposed to 2 years in the native forest streams, and consequently juvenile crayfish endured only one winter period, where greatest mortality occurred, before reproducing. Temperature was the primary factor influencing the faster egg development and greater growth rates of juvenile P. planifrons in pasture sites, although food source may also have been a significant factor. Crayfish in pasture streams consumed more invertebrates than in native forest streams where leaf detritus dominated stomach contents. In laboratory growth experiments, invertebrate food sources increased the moult increment of juvenile crayfish and decreased the length of the intermoult period, whereas conditioned leaf litter did not promote growth and was not assimilated into body tissue. Warmer water temperatures decreased the length of the intermoult period, but had no effect on the size of moult increment.

Crayfish annual production estimates did not differ between land use, as a consequence of higher crayfish densities in native forest streams and faster growth of crayfish in pasture streams, suggesting that the overall success of the crayfish populations in pasture streams was similar to native forest streams. However, the removal of riparian trees (particularly the loss of their root systems) seems to have undermined the stability of habitat available to crayfish. Habitats of crayfish in native forest streams were primarily tree roots, undercut banks, and accumulations of woody debris. Deforestation has resulted in the loss of many of these habitats, and cobble substrates, macrophytes and terrestrial vegetation growing within the stream, now provide important habitats for crayfish in pasture streams. Crayfish in pasture streams were not as resistant to a major flood disturbance as those in native forest streams, suggesting that the habitats in these pasture streams did not provide stable refugia. Furthermore, the rate of recovery of a crayfish population in one pasture stream following the flood was very slow indicating that P. planifrons does not exhibit resilience traits and is dependent on stable refugia to persist during floods. 

Crayfish were identified as top invertebrate predators in these hill-country streams despite omnivorous feeding habits that allowed crayfish to exploit a variety of food resources. Crayfish in native forest streams had greater volumes of leaf detritus in their gut contents than those in pasture streams. However, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses and bioenergetic studies of the trophic basis of crayfish production identified aquatic invertebrates as the major energy source for crayfish growth in both native forest and pasture streams. Snails, mayflies and chironomids were the most important taxa to crayfish diet particularly in native forest streams, but by acting largely as a predator of a wide range of invertebrate taxa in pasture streams, crayfish were able to take advantage of both allochthonous and autochthonous energy pathways. As omnivores, crayfish may have dual functional roles as both predators and processors of organic matter, and through production of FPOM they may make leaf matter available to a wider range of invertebrates (e.g. collectors) in stream ecosystems. 

Juvenile crayfish had higher rates of assimilation for leaf detritus and higher ingestion rates of invertebrates and leaf detritus than adult crayfish, and most of the annual production of crayfish populations in both native forest and pasture streams was from juveniles. Age affected the role of crayfish in native forest streams where adult crayfish processed more leaf litter into FPOM, and juveniles were more carnivorous. However in pasture streams, the roles of juvenile and adult crayfish were similar, as large crayfish were able to utilise the abundant invertebrate resources. The role of crayfish as predators or processors of leaf detritus may change according to their growth requirements, but more importantly, according to environmental influences on local food resources. Flexible feeding habits have allowed P. planifrons to maintain their populations in pasture streams, despite considerable land use disturbance.

text: Effects of native forest and pastoral land use on the population dynamics and trophic role of the New Zealand freshwater crayfish Paranephrops planifrons (Parastacidae) Deforestation and conversion to pasture of over 50% of land area has affected the water quality, physical habitat, and fish and benthic invertebrate communities of New Zealand streams, but the impact of land use change on crayfish populations is unknown. The population dynamics, growth, and diet of crayfish in Waikato pastoral streams were compared to crayfish inhabiting native forest streams to determine whether conversion to pasture has adversely affected crayfish populations and whether the change in land use has affected their role in the stream community.

Crayfish densities were greater in native forest streams due primarily to greater juvenile recruitment. Crayfish populations in pastoral streams exhibited much greater growth than in native forest streams, but their longevity was shorter. Reproductive maturity occurred after 1 year in pasture streams, as opposed to 2 years in the native forest streams, and consequently juvenile crayfish endured only one winter period, where greatest mortality occurred, before reproducing. Temperature was the primary factor influencing the faster egg development and greater growth rates of juvenile P. planifrons in pasture sites, although food source may also have been a significant factor. Crayfish in pasture streams consumed more invertebrates than in native forest streams where leaf detritus dominated stomach contents. In laboratory growth experiments, invertebrate food sources increased the moult increment of juvenile crayfish and decreased the length of the intermoult period, whereas conditioned leaf litter did not promote growth and was not assimilated into body tissue. Warmer water temperatures decreased the length of the intermoult period, but had no effect on the size of moult increment.

Crayfish annual production estimates did not differ between land use, as a consequence of higher crayfish densities in native forest streams and faster growth of crayfish in pasture streams, suggesting that the overall success of the crayfish populations in pasture streams was similar to native forest streams. However, the removal of riparian trees (particularly the loss of their root systems) seems to have undermined the stability of habitat available to crayfish. Habitats of crayfish in native forest streams were primarily tree roots, undercut banks, and accumulations of woody debris. Deforestation has resulted in the loss of many of these habitats, and cobble substrates, macrophytes and terrestrial vegetation growing within the stream, now provide important habitats for crayfish in pasture streams. Crayfish in pasture streams were not as resistant to a major flood disturbance as those in native forest streams, suggesting that the habitats in these pasture streams did not provide stable refugia. Furthermore, the rate of recovery of a crayfish population in one pasture stream following the flood was very slow indicating that P. planifrons does not exhibit resilience traits and is dependent on stable refugia to persist during floods. 

Crayfish were identified as top invertebrate predators in these hill-country streams despite omnivorous feeding habits that allowed crayfish to exploit a variety of food resources. Crayfish in native forest streams had greater volumes of leaf detritus in their gut contents than those in pasture streams. However, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses and bioenergetic studies of the trophic basis of crayfish production identified aquatic invertebrates as the major energy source for crayfish growth in both native forest and pasture streams. Snails, mayflies and chironomids were the most important taxa to crayfish diet particularly in native forest streams, but by acting largely as a predator of a wide range of invertebrate taxa in pasture streams, crayfish were able to take advantage of both allochthonous and autochthonous energy pathways. As omnivores, crayfish may have dual functional roles as both predators and processors of organic matter, and through production of FPOM they may make leaf matter available to a wider range of invertebrates (e.g. collectors) in stream ecosystems. 

Juvenile crayfish had higher rates of assimilation for leaf detritus and higher ingestion rates of invertebrates and leaf detritus than adult crayfish, and most of the annual production of crayfish populations in both native forest and pasture streams was from juveniles. Age affected the role of crayfish in native forest streams where adult crayfish processed more leaf litter into FPOM, and juveniles were more carnivorous. However in pasture streams, the roles of juvenile and adult crayfish were similar, as large crayfish were able to utilise the abundant invertebrate resources. The role of crayfish as predators or processors of leaf detritus may change according to their growth requirements, but more importantly, according to environmental influences on local food resources. Flexible feeding habits have allowed P. planifrons to maintain their populations in pasture streams, despite considerable land use disturbance.

year: 2000

title: Baristas: The artisan precariat

authors: Piercy, Gemma Louise

subjects: interactive service work

abstract: My research on the work identit(ies) of baristas demonstrates that different workplaces, in conjunction with individual biographies, produce different kinds of work identities. Connected to these differences are the actual and perceived levels of skill and/or social status ascribed to workers within the service work triadic relationship (customers, coworkers/managers and workers). The higher the level of skill or social status, the greater the capacity of workers to experience more autonomy in their work and/or access improved working conditions. These findings are informed by my research approach, which incorporates three key methods: key informant interviews; observation/participant observation; life history interviews; all of which is underpinned by the mystory approach and autoethnography. 
My findings from the case study research on the barista work identity are expressed in the following. (1) The different work identities within a specific occupation contribute to the heterogeneity of service workers and service work. This heterogeneity, in turn, obscures the range of skills utilised in the technical and presentational labour mobilised in service work. The skills are obscured by the social and practice-based nature of knowledge transmission in service work like that of baristas, as well as by the dynamic and shifting alliances that may occur in the triadic relationship of customer, workers and employer/manager. (2) Interactive service workers are involved in providing labour or work that is more complex than is socially understood and recognised. This complexity stems from the ways in which presentational labour is commodified, appropriated and mobilised in the workplace within the spaces of the organisational context, internal practices, and the service encounter. (3) I further argue that service workers are also dehumanised as part of the service encounter through the structure of capitalism, specifically the application of commodity fetishism to workers by customers, colleagues, managers, capital and at times themselves. Commodity fetishism dehumanises workers, creating an empathy gap between customers/managers and workers. As such, the commodity fetishisation of service workers also reinforces and promotes compliance with the insecure and precarious employment practices common to occupations in the service sector. (4) As the conditions of precarious work continue to spread, the employment relationship is being altered in relation to consumption practices. Based on this shift in employment relations, I argue that we are moving towards a labour market and society shaped by the practices of the consumer society as well as the traditional production-based economy. However, the increasing influence of consumption practices stems from neoliberal inspired changes in employment relationships rather than the consumer society emphasis on agentic identity projects. As such, the self-determining identity projects highlighted by researchers engaged in aspects of service work and consumption-based research also need to be accompanied by an understanding of the political economy and structural forces which shape the labour process.

text: Baristas: The artisan precariat My research on the work identit(ies) of baristas demonstrates that different workplaces, in conjunction with individual biographies, produce different kinds of work identities. Connected to these differences are the actual and perceived levels of skill and/or social status ascribed to workers within the service work triadic relationship (customers, coworkers/managers and workers). The higher the level of skill or social status, the greater the capacity of workers to experience more autonomy in their work and/or access improved working conditions. These findings are informed by my research approach, which incorporates three key methods: key informant interviews; observation/participant observation; life history interviews; all of which is underpinned by the mystory approach and autoethnography. 
My findings from the case study research on the barista work identity are expressed in the following. (1) The different work identities within a specific occupation contribute to the heterogeneity of service workers and service work. This heterogeneity, in turn, obscures the range of skills utilised in the technical and presentational labour mobilised in service work. The skills are obscured by the social and practice-based nature of knowledge transmission in service work like that of baristas, as well as by the dynamic and shifting alliances that may occur in the triadic relationship of customer, workers and employer/manager. (2) Interactive service workers are involved in providing labour or work that is more complex than is socially understood and recognised. This complexity stems from the ways in which presentational labour is commodified, appropriated and mobilised in the workplace within the spaces of the organisational context, internal practices, and the service encounter. (3) I further argue that service workers are also dehumanised as part of the service encounter through the structure of capitalism, specifically the application of commodity fetishism to workers by customers, colleagues, managers, capital and at times themselves. Commodity fetishism dehumanises workers, creating an empathy gap between customers/managers and workers. As such, the commodity fetishisation of service workers also reinforces and promotes compliance with the insecure and precarious employment practices common to occupations in the service sector. (4) As the conditions of precarious work continue to spread, the employment relationship is being altered in relation to consumption practices. Based on this shift in employment relations, I argue that we are moving towards a labour market and society shaped by the practices of the consumer society as well as the traditional production-based economy. However, the increasing influence of consumption practices stems from neoliberal inspired changes in employment relationships rather than the consumer society emphasis on agentic identity projects. As such, the self-determining identity projects highlighted by researchers engaged in aspects of service work and consumption-based research also need to be accompanied by an understanding of the political economy and structural forces which shape the labour process.

year: 2018

title: The Hospital Transfers Project: Supporting whanau engagement during hospitalisations

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

abstract: For Māori, as the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand, the care of those who are unwell has always been the concern of whānau (family) and community. Māori have established knowledge systems relating to health and wellbeing, and long-standing practices for both promoting good health and responding to illness (Taskforce on Whānau Centred Initiatives [hereafter referred to as the Taskforce], 2009; Waitangi Tribunal, 2001). These systems recognise the importance of relationships between peoples and broader environments to health and wellbeing (Mark & Lyons, 2010; Taskforce, 2009), something which has been more recently acknowledged in Māori health strategy and policy by government (Ministry of Health, 2014b).

text: The Hospital Transfers Project: Supporting whanau engagement during hospitalisations For Māori, as the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand, the care of those who are unwell has always been the concern of whānau (family) and community. Māori have established knowledge systems relating to health and wellbeing, and long-standing practices for both promoting good health and responding to illness (Taskforce on Whānau Centred Initiatives [hereafter referred to as the Taskforce], 2009; Waitangi Tribunal, 2001). These systems recognise the importance of relationships between peoples and broader environments to health and wellbeing (Mark & Lyons, 2010; Taskforce, 2009), something which has been more recently acknowledged in Māori health strategy and policy by government (Ministry of Health, 2014b).

year: 2019