title: Development and validation of hydrolysis assays for seven species of exotic fish

authors: Banks, Jonathan C.

abstract: Determining the distribution and presence of exotic taxa are significant challenges for eradication efforts and for restoration ecology. One method is detect the presence of introduced species that has shown promise is the use of environmental DNA-DNA obtained from an environmental sample such as soil or sediment rather than directly from a tissue sample. As part of Intermediate Output 2 (IO2) of the Lake Ecosystem Restoration New Zealand project, we were asked to develop hydrolysis assays (Commonly called Taqman assays) to detect the presence of seven species of introduced fish. Here we report the sequences of the primers and the primers and the hydrolysis probe for assays for catfish, Ameiurus nebulosus; mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis; goldfish, Carassius auratus; Koi carp, Cyprinus carpio; perch Perca fluviatilis; rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus and tench, Tinca tinca. We identified assay conditions that resulted in true-negative results by testing for cross reactivity against the six species of exotic fish that were not the target species. Additionally, we compared the effect of adding different amounts of DNA to the found that adding more DNA template can result in false-negative results (DNA present but not detected) possibly due to the concentration of inhibitory substances reaching concentrations high enough to inhibit the assays.

text: Development and validation of hydrolysis assays for seven species of exotic fish Determining the distribution and presence of exotic taxa are significant challenges for eradication efforts and for restoration ecology. One method is detect the presence of introduced species that has shown promise is the use of environmental DNA-DNA obtained from an environmental sample such as soil or sediment rather than directly from a tissue sample. As part of Intermediate Output 2 (IO2) of the Lake Ecosystem Restoration New Zealand project, we were asked to develop hydrolysis assays (Commonly called Taqman assays) to detect the presence of seven species of introduced fish. Here we report the sequences of the primers and the primers and the hydrolysis probe for assays for catfish, Ameiurus nebulosus; mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis; goldfish, Carassius auratus; Koi carp, Cyprinus carpio; perch Perca fluviatilis; rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus and tench, Tinca tinca. We identified assay conditions that resulted in true-negative results by testing for cross reactivity against the six species of exotic fish that were not the target species. Additionally, we compared the effect of adding different amounts of DNA to the found that adding more DNA template can result in false-negative results (DNA present but not detected) possibly due to the concentration of inhibitory substances reaching concentrations high enough to inhibit the assays.

year: 2014

title: The global context of New Zealand's mining legislation

authors: Barton, Barry

abstract: The issues that mining and oil and gas raise are not unique to New Zealand, and the extractive industries are very international in character; so it can be illuminating to put New Zealand issues and law into a broader global context.

text: The global context of New Zealand's mining legislation The issues that mining and oil and gas raise are not unique to New Zealand, and the extractive industries are very international in character; so it can be illuminating to put New Zealand issues and law into a broader global context.

year: 2015

title: Whānau mentoring, Māori youth and crime

authors: Joseph, Robert

abstract: This article will discuss how the whänau was the traditional institution for teaching and nurturing children through (among other things) effective mentoring, and how children were taught tikanga, or the ‘right way’ to think, speak, act and become. Traditional leadership development, whänau dysfunction and whänau renewal are also discussed, followed by my conclusions. This article will not be discussing the place of colonisation, high unemployment, lower education rates and other socio-economic disparities among Mäori that play a part in the causes and perpetuation of Mäori youth and crime. A discussion on the Treaty of Waitangi, indigenous rights, and Mäori development is also omitted although the importance of each of these areas is acknowledged. As the theme of this issue of Childrenz Issues is ‘seeking pathways beyond colonisation’, the focus of this article is on Mäori dealing appropriately with the problems of Mäori youth and crime through effective mentoring within the institution of the whänau.

text: Whānau mentoring, Māori youth and crime This article will discuss how the whänau was the traditional institution for teaching and nurturing children through (among other things) effective mentoring, and how children were taught tikanga, or the ‘right way’ to think, speak, act and become. Traditional leadership development, whänau dysfunction and whänau renewal are also discussed, followed by my conclusions. This article will not be discussing the place of colonisation, high unemployment, lower education rates and other socio-economic disparities among Mäori that play a part in the causes and perpetuation of Mäori youth and crime. A discussion on the Treaty of Waitangi, indigenous rights, and Mäori development is also omitted although the importance of each of these areas is acknowledged. As the theme of this issue of Childrenz Issues is ‘seeking pathways beyond colonisation’, the focus of this article is on Mäori dealing appropriately with the problems of Mäori youth and crime through effective mentoring within the institution of the whänau.

year: 2007-01