title: Investigating the Biodiversity of Microbial Communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: An Inter-Valley Comparison Study.

authors: Barbier, Béatrice A.

subjects: microbial biodiversity

abstract: Extreme environments provide a unique source of often highly adapted and tolerant organisms. Research on organisms in these habitats has led to the discovery of novel and useful compounds and may assist in understanding the impact of global change on biodiversity. The Dry Valleys of Eastern Antarctica are vast, ice-free regions believed to be the coldest, driest desert on Earth. Despite these harsh conditions, there is an increasing amount of evidence demonstrating that the soil ecosystems of the Dry Valleys sustain a wide diversity of microorganisms. The research presented is an inter-valley comparison study which aims to scrutinize microbial communities and environmental factors driving their distribution in the Dry Valleys. Automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) was used to provide a  snapshot  of bacterial and cyanobacterial communities living in the mineral sands in Miers Valley, Beacon Valley, Upper Wright Valley and at Battleship Promontory. Rigorous analysis of physico-chemical differences between the soils of these four valleys was undertaken in hope to understand the environmental parameters driving the distribution and biodiversity of microbial communities present. Multivariate statistical analysis and ordination of ARISA and physico-chemical data revealed that bacterial communities from each valley form distinctive clusters. Conversely, cyanobacterial communities showed less diversity and a more even distribution between valleys.

text: Investigating the Biodiversity of Microbial Communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: An Inter-Valley Comparison Study. Extreme environments provide a unique source of often highly adapted and tolerant organisms. Research on organisms in these habitats has led to the discovery of novel and useful compounds and may assist in understanding the impact of global change on biodiversity. The Dry Valleys of Eastern Antarctica are vast, ice-free regions believed to be the coldest, driest desert on Earth. Despite these harsh conditions, there is an increasing amount of evidence demonstrating that the soil ecosystems of the Dry Valleys sustain a wide diversity of microorganisms. The research presented is an inter-valley comparison study which aims to scrutinize microbial communities and environmental factors driving their distribution in the Dry Valleys. Automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) was used to provide a  snapshot  of bacterial and cyanobacterial communities living in the mineral sands in Miers Valley, Beacon Valley, Upper Wright Valley and at Battleship Promontory. Rigorous analysis of physico-chemical differences between the soils of these four valleys was undertaken in hope to understand the environmental parameters driving the distribution and biodiversity of microbial communities present. Multivariate statistical analysis and ordination of ARISA and physico-chemical data revealed that bacterial communities from each valley form distinctive clusters. Conversely, cyanobacterial communities showed less diversity and a more even distribution between valleys.

year: 2009

title: Holocene carbon accumulation in the peatlands of northern Scotland

authors: Ratcliffe, Joshua Lee

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: The response of peatland carbon accumulation to climate can be complex, with internal feedbacks and processes that can dampen or amplify responses to external forcing. Records of carbon accumulation from peat cores provide a record of carbon which persists as peat over long periods of time, demonstrating the long-term response of peatland carbon stocks to climatic events. Numerous records of long-term carbon accumulation exist globally. However, peatlands from oceanic climates, and particularly blanket bog, remain underrepresented. Scottish bogs, which collectively have more than 475 separate palaeoecological records, may prove to be a valuable resource for studying the impact of environmental change on past rates of carbon accumulation. Here we present 12 records of carbon accumulation from the north of Scotland. We support these results with a further 43 records where potential carbon accumulation is inferred from published ages. These reveal a trend of high carbon accumulation in the early Holocene, declining in the mid-to-late Holocene. The trend is consistent with accumulation profiles from other northern peatlands and is likely to have been caused by climatic cooling. Considerable variability in carbon accumulation rates between locations is apparent for the mid-to-late Holocene. We attribute to hydrologically induced changes in carbon accumulation which are likely to be inconsistent between sites.

text: Holocene carbon accumulation in the peatlands of northern Scotland The response of peatland carbon accumulation to climate can be complex, with internal feedbacks and processes that can dampen or amplify responses to external forcing. Records of carbon accumulation from peat cores provide a record of carbon which persists as peat over long periods of time, demonstrating the long-term response of peatland carbon stocks to climatic events. Numerous records of long-term carbon accumulation exist globally. However, peatlands from oceanic climates, and particularly blanket bog, remain underrepresented. Scottish bogs, which collectively have more than 475 separate palaeoecological records, may prove to be a valuable resource for studying the impact of environmental change on past rates of carbon accumulation. Here we present 12 records of carbon accumulation from the north of Scotland. We support these results with a further 43 records where potential carbon accumulation is inferred from published ages. These reveal a trend of high carbon accumulation in the early Holocene, declining in the mid-to-late Holocene. The trend is consistent with accumulation profiles from other northern peatlands and is likely to have been caused by climatic cooling. Considerable variability in carbon accumulation rates between locations is apparent for the mid-to-late Holocene. We attribute to hydrologically induced changes in carbon accumulation which are likely to be inconsistent between sites.

year: 2019

title: Ngā kanohi hou – identifying and exploring the issues: Experiences of an intern

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

subjects: Maori

abstract: The current paper reflects upon the discovery of an intern from the post graduate diploma in community psychology programme (PGDipPsych (Com). The PGDipPsych (Com) is currently facilitated through the University of Waikato School of Arts and Social Sciences, Psychology Department. This journey of discovery is presented from the perspective of a Māori student who is employed in a mainstream public health organisation. The perspective of a person who is new to the workforce, and the “real world,” who views the surrounding environment with a pair of fresh eyes.

This paper highlights the importance of the internship period as it supports the student who moves from a structured environment with a strong emphasis on theory, towards a competitive, semi structured environment that is driven by deadlines, budgets and contracts.

Factors identified are the demands of Māori communities on Māori health researchers, supportive versus competitive environments, the benefits and drawbacks of being based in a mainstream health organisation, and the future direction of Māori health research. It is hoped that the current paper will encourage further discussion about the future direction of a diploma programme such as the PGDipPsychCom for Māori graduates of a New Zealand tertiary institution.

text: Ngā kanohi hou – identifying and exploring the issues: Experiences of an intern The current paper reflects upon the discovery of an intern from the post graduate diploma in community psychology programme (PGDipPsych (Com). The PGDipPsych (Com) is currently facilitated through the University of Waikato School of Arts and Social Sciences, Psychology Department. This journey of discovery is presented from the perspective of a Māori student who is employed in a mainstream public health organisation. The perspective of a person who is new to the workforce, and the “real world,” who views the surrounding environment with a pair of fresh eyes.

This paper highlights the importance of the internship period as it supports the student who moves from a structured environment with a strong emphasis on theory, towards a competitive, semi structured environment that is driven by deadlines, budgets and contracts.

Factors identified are the demands of Māori communities on Māori health researchers, supportive versus competitive environments, the benefits and drawbacks of being based in a mainstream health organisation, and the future direction of Māori health research. It is hoped that the current paper will encourage further discussion about the future direction of a diploma programme such as the PGDipPsychCom for Māori graduates of a New Zealand tertiary institution.

year: 1999