title: Cost-effective strategies to mitigate multiple pollutants in an agricultural catchment in North Central Victoria, Australia

authors: Doole, Graeme J.

subjects: multiple pollutants

abstract: Strategies to reduce phosphorus and sediment yields are identified for two Australian catchments using a nonlinear optimisation model. This provides novel insight into the cost-effective management of dual pollutants of water courses in Australia. A strong degree of complementarity between the two pollutants is highlighted, given the adsorption of phosphorus to sediment that augments the value of gully and streambank management for mitigation. However, the relationship between the two pollutants is asymmetric. A 30 per cent reduction in phosphorus yield achieves a 75 per cent reduction in sediment yield in one catchment, while a 30 per cent reduction in sediment yield achieves only a 12 per cent reduction in phosphorus yield. Sediment abatement costs are low given the efficiency of gully and streambank management. A 30 per cent phosphorus reduction lowers profit by 3–7 per cent, while a 30 per cent sediment reduction lowers profit by around 1 per cent. Land-use optimisation requires spatial heterogeneity in land-use and gully/streambank management responses. Overall, this research demonstrates the need to determine whether one pollutant is more important than another, while recognising the potential that mitigation practices possess for the reduction of multiple emissions during their evaluation.

text: Cost-effective strategies to mitigate multiple pollutants in an agricultural catchment in North Central Victoria, Australia Strategies to reduce phosphorus and sediment yields are identified for two Australian catchments using a nonlinear optimisation model. This provides novel insight into the cost-effective management of dual pollutants of water courses in Australia. A strong degree of complementarity between the two pollutants is highlighted, given the adsorption of phosphorus to sediment that augments the value of gully and streambank management for mitigation. However, the relationship between the two pollutants is asymmetric. A 30 per cent reduction in phosphorus yield achieves a 75 per cent reduction in sediment yield in one catchment, while a 30 per cent reduction in sediment yield achieves only a 12 per cent reduction in phosphorus yield. Sediment abatement costs are low given the efficiency of gully and streambank management. A 30 per cent phosphorus reduction lowers profit by 3–7 per cent, while a 30 per cent sediment reduction lowers profit by around 1 per cent. Land-use optimisation requires spatial heterogeneity in land-use and gully/streambank management responses. Overall, this research demonstrates the need to determine whether one pollutant is more important than another, while recognising the potential that mitigation practices possess for the reduction of multiple emissions during their evaluation.

year: 2013

title: Genotypic variation among Gammarus fasciatus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River: implications for the conservation of widespread freshwater invertebrates

authors: Hogg, Ian D.

abstract: We examined the population genetic structure of the amphipod Gammarus fasciatus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) over two years from a total of 11 sites within the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River system using allozyme electrophoresis. In 1995, we examined differences within the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall to Quebec City), and in 1996, we focused on larger scale, whole-system differences from Lake Superior to Lake Champlain. We found very low levels of genetic differentiation among sites (Wright's FST < 0.03). This was not unexpected for an active disperser in a relatively contiguous system. However, we also found low levels of genetic variability within sites (Hobs = 0.07- 0.15), a result that was not anticipated. We surveyed the available literature on gammarid and other amphipods and found that limited genetic variability is characteristic of continuously distributed taxa, contrary to the expectations of current conservation theory. This is potentially of concern, especially in light of recently reported declines of G. fasciatus at several locations within the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes. Given the importance of species such as G. fasciatus in aquatic food webs, further work is clearly needed on the consequences of population genetic structure to species' responses to novel environmental changes (e.g., exotic species introductions).

text: Genotypic variation among Gammarus fasciatus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River: implications for the conservation of widespread freshwater invertebrates We examined the population genetic structure of the amphipod Gammarus fasciatus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) over two years from a total of 11 sites within the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River system using allozyme electrophoresis. In 1995, we examined differences within the St. Lawrence River (Cornwall to Quebec City), and in 1996, we focused on larger scale, whole-system differences from Lake Superior to Lake Champlain. We found very low levels of genetic differentiation among sites (Wright's FST < 0.03). This was not unexpected for an active disperser in a relatively contiguous system. However, we also found low levels of genetic variability within sites (Hobs = 0.07- 0.15), a result that was not anticipated. We surveyed the available literature on gammarid and other amphipods and found that limited genetic variability is characteristic of continuously distributed taxa, contrary to the expectations of current conservation theory. This is potentially of concern, especially in light of recently reported declines of G. fasciatus at several locations within the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes. Given the importance of species such as G. fasciatus in aquatic food webs, further work is clearly needed on the consequences of population genetic structure to species' responses to novel environmental changes (e.g., exotic species introductions).

year: 2000

title: Teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the Whānau Rūmaki teacher education programme, 1990-1992

authors: Kana, Fred

subjects: Maori Language

abstract: In 1990 the School of Education, the University of Waikato, initiated a special option within its regular pre-service teacher training programmes, an option designed to prepare teachers to deliver the New Zealand curriculum in bilingual and total immersion schools through the medium of te reo Māori. This alternative programmed, designated Whānau Rūmaki, was experimental and evolutionary. Inevitably particular elements of it had to be varied with each year's operation as its architects attempted 'to get the mix right'. It is difficult, however, when engaged in the day to day running of a programme, to stand back and review with any degree of objectivity its strengths and weaknesses. This study, therefore, in retrospect attempts to do three things: one, to follow the initial Whānau Rūmaki student cohort through its three or four year training cycle noting especially the difficulties confronting individual students some of whom dropped out of the programme; two, to gather information from as many as possible of the graduates who graduated about how well they felt they had been prepared for the rigours of classroom teaching; three, to be able, after analysing the data gathered, to recommend ways of improving the on-going Whānau Rūmaki programme.

text: Teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the Whānau Rūmaki teacher education programme, 1990-1992 In 1990 the School of Education, the University of Waikato, initiated a special option within its regular pre-service teacher training programmes, an option designed to prepare teachers to deliver the New Zealand curriculum in bilingual and total immersion schools through the medium of te reo Māori. This alternative programmed, designated Whānau Rūmaki, was experimental and evolutionary. Inevitably particular elements of it had to be varied with each year's operation as its architects attempted 'to get the mix right'. It is difficult, however, when engaged in the day to day running of a programme, to stand back and review with any degree of objectivity its strengths and weaknesses. This study, therefore, in retrospect attempts to do three things: one, to follow the initial Whānau Rūmaki student cohort through its three or four year training cycle noting especially the difficulties confronting individual students some of whom dropped out of the programme; two, to gather information from as many as possible of the graduates who graduated about how well they felt they had been prepared for the rigours of classroom teaching; three, to be able, after analysing the data gathered, to recommend ways of improving the on-going Whānau Rūmaki programme.

year: 1997