title: Assessing mitochondrial DNA (CO1) barcodes for measuring diversity of Schizaphis spp. and abundance of Aploneura lentisci

authors: Podmore, Colleen

subjects: barcoding

abstract: We examined the diversity of mitochondrial DNA (CO1) sequences in the New Zealand native aphids with a particular focus on the genus Schizaphis (syn. Euschizaphis). Previously, the genus was thought to consist of two species, each host-specific to endemic New Zealand plants (Aciphylla and Dracophyllum). These unnamed native taxa are reasonably common but have either a narrow distribution (Aciphylla-host) or low local abundances (Dracophyllum-host). There is also some uncertainty over the number of Schizaphis species present on the various host plants. Specimens from both host plants were collected from ten sites in the North (n=3) and South (n=8) Islands. A total of 29 new COI sequences were obtained. A further 189 sequences were obtained from the Barcode of Life Datasystems (n=187) and GenBank (n=2). Thirteen of the 15 known native aphids were analysed by Maximum Likelihood and their taxonomic classification confirmed, the majority belonging to the Aphidinae, but also representatives in other sub-families. Maximum Likelihood analyses and pairwise genetic distances confirmed taxonomic groupings of the Aphididae sub-family Aphidinae and within the Aphidinae the monophyly of the sub-tribe Rhopalosiphina which contains two genera: Rhopalosiphum spp.and Schizaphis spp. Two distinct, well supported clades within Schizaphis were clearly delineated according to the host plant. However, we also found two distinct clusters within the Aciphylla-host South Island individuals and four within the Dracophyllum-host individuals (North & South Islands), suggesting six potentially cryptic species. Based on these data, we suggest that the CO1 gene region is effective for identifying aphids and could assist in the on-going discovery and protection of these taxa in New Zealand. New information regarding the diversity of New Zealand native Schizaphis aphids is using COI gene sequences to reveal additional diversity. International databases such as the Barcode of Life Datasystems and GenBank will be particularly helpful in examining global relationships within the New Zealand native aphid taxon.
Root Aphids (Aploneura lentisci) are an introduced taxon, which live exclusively on the roots of Poaceae and can cause detrimental effects to New Zealand pastures, reducing the forage available for farmed livestock. In order to assess abundances of A. lentisci in soil samples, specific primers were first developed to target and amplify the mitochondrial gene region cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene region. Three DNA extraction protocols, the PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit , Extract-N-Amp™Tissue PCR and a phenol chloroform DNA extraction protocol  were then assessed and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure the amount of amplicon produced, which was compared to a standard curve of known aphid numbers. The developed primers successfully amplified a 317 nucleotide fragment of the COI gene region and had limited cross reactivity with other aphid taxa tested. Of the three extraction methods, the Extract-N-Amp Tissue PCR Kit was the most effective. Adult root aphids were selected as representatives of infestations. DNA concentrations extracted using the Extract-N-Amp Kit were linear over the entire range of aphid numbers (R²=0.98). Further dilutions were carried out: 10-fold, 100-fold and 1000-fold to test linearity and when combined produced a standard curve with a regression of 0.93 over a cycle threshold range of 18-33 cycles. DNA extractions from mixtures of 60 aphids in soil produced amplifiable aphid DNA. We conclude that this method will successfully measure root aphid abundances from soil samples using mitochondrial CO1 gene sequences and qPCR.

text: Assessing mitochondrial DNA (CO1) barcodes for measuring diversity of Schizaphis spp. and abundance of Aploneura lentisci We examined the diversity of mitochondrial DNA (CO1) sequences in the New Zealand native aphids with a particular focus on the genus Schizaphis (syn. Euschizaphis). Previously, the genus was thought to consist of two species, each host-specific to endemic New Zealand plants (Aciphylla and Dracophyllum). These unnamed native taxa are reasonably common but have either a narrow distribution (Aciphylla-host) or low local abundances (Dracophyllum-host). There is also some uncertainty over the number of Schizaphis species present on the various host plants. Specimens from both host plants were collected from ten sites in the North (n=3) and South (n=8) Islands. A total of 29 new COI sequences were obtained. A further 189 sequences were obtained from the Barcode of Life Datasystems (n=187) and GenBank (n=2). Thirteen of the 15 known native aphids were analysed by Maximum Likelihood and their taxonomic classification confirmed, the majority belonging to the Aphidinae, but also representatives in other sub-families. Maximum Likelihood analyses and pairwise genetic distances confirmed taxonomic groupings of the Aphididae sub-family Aphidinae and within the Aphidinae the monophyly of the sub-tribe Rhopalosiphina which contains two genera: Rhopalosiphum spp.and Schizaphis spp. Two distinct, well supported clades within Schizaphis were clearly delineated according to the host plant. However, we also found two distinct clusters within the Aciphylla-host South Island individuals and four within the Dracophyllum-host individuals (North & South Islands), suggesting six potentially cryptic species. Based on these data, we suggest that the CO1 gene region is effective for identifying aphids and could assist in the on-going discovery and protection of these taxa in New Zealand. New information regarding the diversity of New Zealand native Schizaphis aphids is using COI gene sequences to reveal additional diversity. International databases such as the Barcode of Life Datasystems and GenBank will be particularly helpful in examining global relationships within the New Zealand native aphid taxon.
Root Aphids (Aploneura lentisci) are an introduced taxon, which live exclusively on the roots of Poaceae and can cause detrimental effects to New Zealand pastures, reducing the forage available for farmed livestock. In order to assess abundances of A. lentisci in soil samples, specific primers were first developed to target and amplify the mitochondrial gene region cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene region. Three DNA extraction protocols, the PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit , Extract-N-Amp™Tissue PCR and a phenol chloroform DNA extraction protocol  were then assessed and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure the amount of amplicon produced, which was compared to a standard curve of known aphid numbers. The developed primers successfully amplified a 317 nucleotide fragment of the COI gene region and had limited cross reactivity with other aphid taxa tested. Of the three extraction methods, the Extract-N-Amp Tissue PCR Kit was the most effective. Adult root aphids were selected as representatives of infestations. DNA concentrations extracted using the Extract-N-Amp Kit were linear over the entire range of aphid numbers (R²=0.98). Further dilutions were carried out: 10-fold, 100-fold and 1000-fold to test linearity and when combined produced a standard curve with a regression of 0.93 over a cycle threshold range of 18-33 cycles. DNA extractions from mixtures of 60 aphids in soil produced amplifiable aphid DNA. We conclude that this method will successfully measure root aphid abundances from soil samples using mitochondrial CO1 gene sequences and qPCR.

year: 2015

title: Five critical knowledge management organizational themes

authors: Sun, Peter Yih-Tong

subjects: knowledge management

abstract: Purpose – This study is motivated by the question “how do organizational routines influence the three knowledge management processes of acquisition, creation, utilization and sharing?” and accordingly it seeks to address this issue. 
Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is first built by linking absorptive capacity (a routine-based capability) with knowledge management processes. A literature search guided by the theoretical framework, and evidence from two case studies, were used to address the objective of the study. 
Findings – The study elicited the organizational routines that influence the three knowledge management processes. These routines were then clustered into five key organizational themes: systemic knowledge; strategic engagement; social networking (external and internal); cultural context; process and structural context. 
Research limitations/implications – Several implications for research are suggested. More specifically, the study offers five propositions that can be further tested. The key limitation of this study is the use of only two case studies for empirical data, and therefore further testing is needed. 
Practical implications – The study shows that, although leadership behavior is critical for knowledge management, its impact depends on the platform of routines and processes built for it. The identified routines and their influence on knowledge management are invaluable for knowledge management practitioners. 
Originality/value – The paper furthers understanding of how organizational routines influence the three knowledge management processes of knowledge acquisition, creation, utilization and sharing. This aspect has been little studied and is of value to both academics and practitioners.

text: Five critical knowledge management organizational themes Purpose – This study is motivated by the question “how do organizational routines influence the three knowledge management processes of acquisition, creation, utilization and sharing?” and accordingly it seeks to address this issue. 
Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is first built by linking absorptive capacity (a routine-based capability) with knowledge management processes. A literature search guided by the theoretical framework, and evidence from two case studies, were used to address the objective of the study. 
Findings – The study elicited the organizational routines that influence the three knowledge management processes. These routines were then clustered into five key organizational themes: systemic knowledge; strategic engagement; social networking (external and internal); cultural context; process and structural context. 
Research limitations/implications – Several implications for research are suggested. More specifically, the study offers five propositions that can be further tested. The key limitation of this study is the use of only two case studies for empirical data, and therefore further testing is needed. 
Practical implications – The study shows that, although leadership behavior is critical for knowledge management, its impact depends on the platform of routines and processes built for it. The identified routines and their influence on knowledge management are invaluable for knowledge management practitioners. 
Originality/value – The paper furthers understanding of how organizational routines influence the three knowledge management processes of knowledge acquisition, creation, utilization and sharing. This aspect has been little studied and is of value to both academics and practitioners.

year: 2010

title: Iwi, institutes, societies & community led initiatives

authors: Whaanga, Hēmi

abstract: With the rapid evolution, innovation and incredible growth of ICT, the avenues to exchange, access, manage, create, disseminate, display and research Indigenous data and Mātauranga Māori have increased at astounding rates. This generation, often referred to as ‘digital natives', ‘homo zappiëns’, ‘Net generation’, ‘millennials’, ‘i-generation’ (see, for example Akçayır, Dündar, & Akçayır, 2016; Kirschner & De Bruyckere, 2017; Prensky, 2001; Yong & Gates, 2014), have been raised, immersed and exposed to a myriad of digital technologies, video games, computers, digital music players and cellular phones during their brief lifetimes. Technologies have dramatically transformed how each generation access, communicate, share knowledge, distribute and view information. Social networks like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, Tumblr and social networking apps such as Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, QQ Chat, QZone, Viber, LINE, and Snapchat, with billons of active users per month, are as familiar to this generation as was the radio, television and landline telephones to the Baby Boomers who grew up with pre-cellphone mobile technology.

text: Iwi, institutes, societies & community led initiatives With the rapid evolution, innovation and incredible growth of ICT, the avenues to exchange, access, manage, create, disseminate, display and research Indigenous data and Mātauranga Māori have increased at astounding rates. This generation, often referred to as ‘digital natives', ‘homo zappiëns’, ‘Net generation’, ‘millennials’, ‘i-generation’ (see, for example Akçayır, Dündar, & Akçayır, 2016; Kirschner & De Bruyckere, 2017; Prensky, 2001; Yong & Gates, 2014), have been raised, immersed and exposed to a myriad of digital technologies, video games, computers, digital music players and cellular phones during their brief lifetimes. Technologies have dramatically transformed how each generation access, communicate, share knowledge, distribute and view information. Social networks like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, Tumblr and social networking apps such as Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, QQ Chat, QZone, Viber, LINE, and Snapchat, with billons of active users per month, are as familiar to this generation as was the radio, television and landline telephones to the Baby Boomers who grew up with pre-cellphone mobile technology.

year: 2017