title: Development of a molecular tool to identify brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus) from environmental DNA in water

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The aim of this work was to develop a molecular tool to positively identify brown bullhead catfish using environmental DNA (eDNA) that is suspended within the water column. The project had five main objectives: 1) to develop a protocol for the collection of eDNA, 2) to select and test primer sets that are specific to brown bullhead catfish, 3) to optimise DNA extraction and amplification, 4) to validate the methodology through sequencing the amplified DNA, and 5) to evaluate its sensitivity by sampling at various sites that had a range of catfish abundances.

Water was sampled from Lake Rotoiti from a boat with a 1 litre labelled plastic container attached to a telescopic pole, retrieving water samples about 30 cm above the lake bottom in about 2 m of water depth and from deeper water. Each container was deployed container-opening facing down, and on reaching the desired collection depth, the opening was rotated uppermost to allow the entry of water. The full container was then pulled back to the surface, a plastic screw cap firmly screwed onto the container, and then subsequently placed in a chilly bin on a 20-cm layer of crushed ice. The collection was recorded on a GPS instrument.

text: Development of a molecular tool to identify brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus) from environmental DNA in water The aim of this work was to develop a molecular tool to positively identify brown bullhead catfish using environmental DNA (eDNA) that is suspended within the water column. The project had five main objectives: 1) to develop a protocol for the collection of eDNA, 2) to select and test primer sets that are specific to brown bullhead catfish, 3) to optimise DNA extraction and amplification, 4) to validate the methodology through sequencing the amplified DNA, and 5) to evaluate its sensitivity by sampling at various sites that had a range of catfish abundances.

Water was sampled from Lake Rotoiti from a boat with a 1 litre labelled plastic container attached to a telescopic pole, retrieving water samples about 30 cm above the lake bottom in about 2 m of water depth and from deeper water. Each container was deployed container-opening facing down, and on reaching the desired collection depth, the opening was rotated uppermost to allow the entry of water. The full container was then pulled back to the surface, a plastic screw cap firmly screwed onto the container, and then subsequently placed in a chilly bin on a 20-cm layer of crushed ice. The collection was recorded on a GPS instrument.

year: 2020-08-21

title: Meaning and social reality of sexuality in the lives of children in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Flanagan, Paul G.

abstract: How sexuality in pre-pubescent childhood is spoken about varies enormously within societies: almost swinging like a pendulum between perspectives of healthy and normal exploration, to panic of children being victims of abuse and ideas of sexualisation by the media (Egan and Hawkes 2008; Jackson 1982, 1990; Postman 1994).  Reflecting initially from my practice as a family counsellor, and more recently as a counsellor educator and researcher, this chapter explores multiple discourses in children’s lives on the meaning and social reality of sexuality.  The aim is to question and deconstruct concepts that have shaped discourse of childhood and sexuality, and which is currently a binary position of children who are safe (i.e. asexual or un-sexual) or not (sexualised) (see, for example, Postman 1994).  The intention behind this questioning of constructions is not to deny this dominant discourse, but to expose the presence of multiple discourses, and multiple meanings for children’s words and actions.  Put simply: children’s sexual actions are frequently ascribed adult notions of sexuality, or taken to mean that maltreatment has occurred.  My argument here from counselling practice and research is that sexual actions by children do not necessarily mean some harm has occurred, but that adults’ understandings and responses are informed by discourses that guide them to assume the worst.  This can have effects for children’s identities, through disruption of their relationships within family, in addition to experiences of isolation and exclusion within school, neighbourhood and friendship contexts.

text: Meaning and social reality of sexuality in the lives of children in Aotearoa New Zealand How sexuality in pre-pubescent childhood is spoken about varies enormously within societies: almost swinging like a pendulum between perspectives of healthy and normal exploration, to panic of children being victims of abuse and ideas of sexualisation by the media (Egan and Hawkes 2008; Jackson 1982, 1990; Postman 1994).  Reflecting initially from my practice as a family counsellor, and more recently as a counsellor educator and researcher, this chapter explores multiple discourses in children’s lives on the meaning and social reality of sexuality.  The aim is to question and deconstruct concepts that have shaped discourse of childhood and sexuality, and which is currently a binary position of children who are safe (i.e. asexual or un-sexual) or not (sexualised) (see, for example, Postman 1994).  The intention behind this questioning of constructions is not to deny this dominant discourse, but to expose the presence of multiple discourses, and multiple meanings for children’s words and actions.  Put simply: children’s sexual actions are frequently ascribed adult notions of sexuality, or taken to mean that maltreatment has occurred.  My argument here from counselling practice and research is that sexual actions by children do not necessarily mean some harm has occurred, but that adults’ understandings and responses are informed by discourses that guide them to assume the worst.  This can have effects for children’s identities, through disruption of their relationships within family, in addition to experiences of isolation and exclusion within school, neighbourhood and friendship contexts.

year: 2013

title: Commentary on 'Family obligations in Micronesian cultures: implications for educators'

authors: Bishop, Russell

subjects: education

abstract: The paper makes some interesting observations about the need for educators to understand the cultural positionings of Micronesian students and by implication challenges readers to extend these understandings to other migrant and minoritised student groups. I would like to take up this challenge and illustrate how useful it is to theorise from a relational discourse when seeking solutions to what many educators are suggesting as the greatest problem we face in contemporary education, i.e. the seemingly immutable and growing educational disparities that accompany the increasing diversity of our student bodies in association with the continuing dominance of monocultural and deficit explanations by teachers about the causes of the disparities. This problem negatively affects indigenous students and students of colour along with migrant students and the paper rightly points to the need for solutions.

text: Commentary on 'Family obligations in Micronesian cultures: implications for educators' The paper makes some interesting observations about the need for educators to understand the cultural positionings of Micronesian students and by implication challenges readers to extend these understandings to other migrant and minoritised student groups. I would like to take up this challenge and illustrate how useful it is to theorise from a relational discourse when seeking solutions to what many educators are suggesting as the greatest problem we face in contemporary education, i.e. the seemingly immutable and growing educational disparities that accompany the increasing diversity of our student bodies in association with the continuing dominance of monocultural and deficit explanations by teachers about the causes of the disparities. This problem negatively affects indigenous students and students of colour along with migrant students and the paper rightly points to the need for solutions.

year: 2010