title: Population Ecology of Thelymitra matthewsii  Cheeseman  Orchidaceae, in  Northern New Zealand

authors: Fraser, Elizabeth Anne

subjects: Thelymitra matthewsii

abstract: The terrestrial orchid Thelymitra matthewsii Cheeseman, uncommon in New Zealand, was studied to increase knowledge of the species life cycle, morphology and ecology. Results will enhance future conservation management for the species.

New information related to the morphology of T. matthewsii was obtained. The species was found to emerge in one of four discrete life stages of distinctive morphology and height range that remained constant for the season, not developing into a more advanced life stage. The leaf of the three pre adult life stages designated a hook, a spiral, and a non flowering stage, did not inflate at the base, but rose smoothly from the tuber. Apparent morphological differences in the column between descriptions of the Australian taxon and the small New Zealand sample examined suggested further study was needed.

Comprehensive monthly monitoring was carried out at five study sites in three locations in the Te Paki area of the Far North, from 2002 to 2004. No patterns emerged in plant life stage succession, flowering, and presence or absence at labels reinforcing the concept that variability was a common component of the population census.

Seasonal and partial absence was a major component of the populations. An average of 32.8% of plants, over five study sites, were present throughout three seasons, while 66.9% were recorded as absent (not visible) at monitoring. New plants appearing in 2003 and 2004 showed a high percentage of subsequent absence (mean 85.7%).

To determine population stability, recruitment and absence were compared. Plant absence exceeded recruitment by 7% (mean plant absence 30.5%; mean recruitment 23.4%). Plants continued to appear during the monitoring period, and labeled plants increased two-fold over commencement numbers.  

Adults recorded as 28% of labeled plants over three seasons, were out numbered by pre-flowering stages. Only 5% of population numbers exhibited succession from a smaller to a flowering plant. Life stage modeling indicated a life stage was more likely to be followed by the same stage than an expected successive stage.

Thelymitra matthewsii was found to be present in four substrates in the Far North.
The survey of vegetation found the indigenous species Kunzea ericoides and the exotic Hakea gibbosa dominant for both height, and cover. Litter and bare ground dominated ground cover. Differences in vegetation and ground cover, of sites supporting T. matthewsii and comparison sites that did not, were minor and suggested that another factor, for example a suitable fungal partner, influenced the species presence or absence.
 
The results of the study indicated the present threat classification of Thelymitra matthewsii is inadequate in the light of the species  relatively circumscribed, widely separated habitats, the small number of reproducing individuals and vulnerability to habitat modification.

text: Population Ecology of Thelymitra matthewsii  Cheeseman  Orchidaceae, in  Northern New Zealand The terrestrial orchid Thelymitra matthewsii Cheeseman, uncommon in New Zealand, was studied to increase knowledge of the species life cycle, morphology and ecology. Results will enhance future conservation management for the species.

New information related to the morphology of T. matthewsii was obtained. The species was found to emerge in one of four discrete life stages of distinctive morphology and height range that remained constant for the season, not developing into a more advanced life stage. The leaf of the three pre adult life stages designated a hook, a spiral, and a non flowering stage, did not inflate at the base, but rose smoothly from the tuber. Apparent morphological differences in the column between descriptions of the Australian taxon and the small New Zealand sample examined suggested further study was needed.

Comprehensive monthly monitoring was carried out at five study sites in three locations in the Te Paki area of the Far North, from 2002 to 2004. No patterns emerged in plant life stage succession, flowering, and presence or absence at labels reinforcing the concept that variability was a common component of the population census.

Seasonal and partial absence was a major component of the populations. An average of 32.8% of plants, over five study sites, were present throughout three seasons, while 66.9% were recorded as absent (not visible) at monitoring. New plants appearing in 2003 and 2004 showed a high percentage of subsequent absence (mean 85.7%).

To determine population stability, recruitment and absence were compared. Plant absence exceeded recruitment by 7% (mean plant absence 30.5%; mean recruitment 23.4%). Plants continued to appear during the monitoring period, and labeled plants increased two-fold over commencement numbers.  

Adults recorded as 28% of labeled plants over three seasons, were out numbered by pre-flowering stages. Only 5% of population numbers exhibited succession from a smaller to a flowering plant. Life stage modeling indicated a life stage was more likely to be followed by the same stage than an expected successive stage.

Thelymitra matthewsii was found to be present in four substrates in the Far North.
The survey of vegetation found the indigenous species Kunzea ericoides and the exotic Hakea gibbosa dominant for both height, and cover. Litter and bare ground dominated ground cover. Differences in vegetation and ground cover, of sites supporting T. matthewsii and comparison sites that did not, were minor and suggested that another factor, for example a suitable fungal partner, influenced the species presence or absence.
 
The results of the study indicated the present threat classification of Thelymitra matthewsii is inadequate in the light of the species  relatively circumscribed, widely separated habitats, the small number of reproducing individuals and vulnerability to habitat modification.

year: 2008

title: Introduction to giftedness and talent: Australasian perspectives.

authors: Ballam, Nadine Dawn

abstract: The impetus for this book was a desire to make contemporary research more accessible to those with an interest in giftedness and talent; policymakers, re-searchers, students, practitioners, parents and gifted individuals themselves. The end product of doctoral research has traditionally been a large thesis that sits on either a physical or virtual ‘shelf’. This work may not often be accessed or read by people with increasingly busy lives or, worse still, those who would be interested in this work may never have any knowledge of its existence. With this in mind, we have endeavoured to present the authors’ doctoral research in a format that is readily available and showcases recent work in the area of giftedness and talent. In an era of limited official support for gifted education in Australia and New Zealand, it seems fitting to acknowledge some of the val-uable work that many are contributing to this field. It is promising to note a re-cent upsurge in doctoral theses in this field where, internationally, there has not been a tradition of robust, quality-assured research. Each one of the in-depth studies presented in this book has been defended before and examined by a panel of expert peer reviewers.

text: Introduction to giftedness and talent: Australasian perspectives. The impetus for this book was a desire to make contemporary research more accessible to those with an interest in giftedness and talent; policymakers, re-searchers, students, practitioners, parents and gifted individuals themselves. The end product of doctoral research has traditionally been a large thesis that sits on either a physical or virtual ‘shelf’. This work may not often be accessed or read by people with increasingly busy lives or, worse still, those who would be interested in this work may never have any knowledge of its existence. With this in mind, we have endeavoured to present the authors’ doctoral research in a format that is readily available and showcases recent work in the area of giftedness and talent. In an era of limited official support for gifted education in Australia and New Zealand, it seems fitting to acknowledge some of the val-uable work that many are contributing to this field. It is promising to note a re-cent upsurge in doctoral theses in this field where, internationally, there has not been a tradition of robust, quality-assured research. Each one of the in-depth studies presented in this book has been defended before and examined by a panel of expert peer reviewers.

year: 2017

title: Weaving Mana Wahine and Masi methodology: Centring the embodied experiences of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine in physical activity and everyday life

authors: Nemani, Mihi Joy

subjects: Aotearoa New Zealand

abstract: Young Indigenous Māori and Pasifika wāhine (women) in Aotearoa New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa) have too often been framed as vulnerable, ‘at risk’ and problematic in the media, policy and research. This thesis moves beyond these deficit framings and uses an Indigenous feminist, strengths-based approach by centring the voices and lived experiences of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine who are agentic in their everyday lives, celebrate their strong brown bodies and are physically active. 

Being an Indigenous feminist early career researcher of Māori-Samoan ancestry, I intentionally weave Mana Wahine (Māori) and Masi (Pasifika) methodologies throughout all aspects of this research. Employing wānanga (focus group discussions), individual interviews and digital methods, I gather knowledge from a total of 31 young Māori and Pasifika wāhine residing in two low socio-economic urban regions (Porirua and South Auckland) in Te Ika-a-Maui, the North Island of Aotearoa. Centring their voices and lived experiences, I examine how the young wāhine embrace and weave their intersectional identities with culture, body image and physical activity. 

This is a PhD with publication. It begins with an introductory chapter and a literature review chapter that locates the project in the context of Aotearoa and the local and international literature. In the methods chapter, which is a published article, I focus on the importance of creating culturally safe and supportive spaces for young wāhine to participate in research that feels meaningful to them. The empirical chapters are presented in three different manuscripts. Chapter Four contains a manuscript (currently under review) that focuses on the intersectional identities of the young wāhine. It is structured using three key themes, including 1) ethnic and cultural identities, 2) navigating, and 3) how they embrace cultural pride, particularly through family values, customs and responsibilities. Chapter Five is a published manuscript that explores body image through an intersectional Indigenous feminist lens. This publication examines cultural perspectives that influence their views on body image and provides insights into how the young wāhine navigate body image stereotypes. Chapter six is the final empirical manuscript (currently under review) that evaluates the motivations the young wāhine have for participation in physical activity. It examines the types of activities they enjoy and provides insights into how and why they use cultural knowledge as a motivator for participation.

This research contributes to international literature conducted with, for and by Indigenous feminist scholars on young women’s identities, body image and physical activity. It responds to the limited academic scholarship that explores the lived experiences of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine in Aotearoa and their nuanced cultural knowledge of their bodies. In so doing, this research offers insights and new ways of understanding the complex lives of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine, and highlights the importance of intersectional approaches and localized Indigenous methods that listen to, and amplify the voices of young wāhine.

text: Weaving Mana Wahine and Masi methodology: Centring the embodied experiences of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine in physical activity and everyday life Young Indigenous Māori and Pasifika wāhine (women) in Aotearoa New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa) have too often been framed as vulnerable, ‘at risk’ and problematic in the media, policy and research. This thesis moves beyond these deficit framings and uses an Indigenous feminist, strengths-based approach by centring the voices and lived experiences of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine who are agentic in their everyday lives, celebrate their strong brown bodies and are physically active. 

Being an Indigenous feminist early career researcher of Māori-Samoan ancestry, I intentionally weave Mana Wahine (Māori) and Masi (Pasifika) methodologies throughout all aspects of this research. Employing wānanga (focus group discussions), individual interviews and digital methods, I gather knowledge from a total of 31 young Māori and Pasifika wāhine residing in two low socio-economic urban regions (Porirua and South Auckland) in Te Ika-a-Maui, the North Island of Aotearoa. Centring their voices and lived experiences, I examine how the young wāhine embrace and weave their intersectional identities with culture, body image and physical activity. 

This is a PhD with publication. It begins with an introductory chapter and a literature review chapter that locates the project in the context of Aotearoa and the local and international literature. In the methods chapter, which is a published article, I focus on the importance of creating culturally safe and supportive spaces for young wāhine to participate in research that feels meaningful to them. The empirical chapters are presented in three different manuscripts. Chapter Four contains a manuscript (currently under review) that focuses on the intersectional identities of the young wāhine. It is structured using three key themes, including 1) ethnic and cultural identities, 2) navigating, and 3) how they embrace cultural pride, particularly through family values, customs and responsibilities. Chapter Five is a published manuscript that explores body image through an intersectional Indigenous feminist lens. This publication examines cultural perspectives that influence their views on body image and provides insights into how the young wāhine navigate body image stereotypes. Chapter six is the final empirical manuscript (currently under review) that evaluates the motivations the young wāhine have for participation in physical activity. It examines the types of activities they enjoy and provides insights into how and why they use cultural knowledge as a motivator for participation.

This research contributes to international literature conducted with, for and by Indigenous feminist scholars on young women’s identities, body image and physical activity. It responds to the limited academic scholarship that explores the lived experiences of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine in Aotearoa and their nuanced cultural knowledge of their bodies. In so doing, this research offers insights and new ways of understanding the complex lives of young Māori and Pasifika wāhine, and highlights the importance of intersectional approaches and localized Indigenous methods that listen to, and amplify the voices of young wāhine.

year: 2024-10-20