title: Ecology of the invertebrate predatory fauna across Centre Bank, Tauranga Harbour

authors: Putt, Fiona Gloria

subjects: Centre Bank

abstract: The distribution, abundance, population size structure and behaviour of three common invertebrate predators were studied on Centre Bank, the flood-tidal delta of Tauranga Harbour. The study assessed the role of the predators in controlling the distribution and abundance of bivalve shellfish and provided information concerning the biology of Centre Bank for Port of Tauranga Ltd.
Two broad-scale surveys were conducted to describe the broad-scale spatial patterns of Patiriella regularis, Coscinasterias calamaria and Cominella adspersa. Results found P. regularis was the numerically dominant species across Centre Bank and it maintained a widespread distribution over the sampling period. C. calamaria was of low abundance and typically exhibited a patchy distribution. C. adspersa was also found to be of low abundance and similarly distributed as C. calamaria. Size structures of all 3 species comprised mostly adults in both surveys.
Temporal monitoring at finer scales was undertaken, two-monthly, to describe small-scale spatial patterns. P. regularis was found at similar densities to that of the large-scale surveys and it was the most prevalent species across the grid; C. calamaria was present at higher abundances within a small patch of the grid and appeared stable over time. C. adspersa was initially absent from the grid, but became more abundant and widespead over the 9 month sampling period.
Investigations included monitoring the natural movement behaviour of C. adspersa in relation to tidal currents and the body condition. Results showed the directions moved and distances displaced by C. adspersa may be influenced by the rate and direction of current movement and therefore potentially influencing the dispersal ability of C. adspersa, in relation to available prey. An experiment to determine the body condition of C. adspersa in the field suggested that food deprivation may be less detrimental than first realised, or that C. adspersa is able to feed on a greater variety of food types than known of.
Little evidence was found that indicated predation was an important mechanism controlling bivalve populations across Centre Bank. However, predators may be potentially important as scavengers of decaying or dead organisms. Their predatory activities may also provide shell substrate for macroalgae, and this, in combination with dense aggregations of C. calamaria, appeared to provide habitat for small fishes.

text: Ecology of the invertebrate predatory fauna across Centre Bank, Tauranga Harbour The distribution, abundance, population size structure and behaviour of three common invertebrate predators were studied on Centre Bank, the flood-tidal delta of Tauranga Harbour. The study assessed the role of the predators in controlling the distribution and abundance of bivalve shellfish and provided information concerning the biology of Centre Bank for Port of Tauranga Ltd.
Two broad-scale surveys were conducted to describe the broad-scale spatial patterns of Patiriella regularis, Coscinasterias calamaria and Cominella adspersa. Results found P. regularis was the numerically dominant species across Centre Bank and it maintained a widespread distribution over the sampling period. C. calamaria was of low abundance and typically exhibited a patchy distribution. C. adspersa was also found to be of low abundance and similarly distributed as C. calamaria. Size structures of all 3 species comprised mostly adults in both surveys.
Temporal monitoring at finer scales was undertaken, two-monthly, to describe small-scale spatial patterns. P. regularis was found at similar densities to that of the large-scale surveys and it was the most prevalent species across the grid; C. calamaria was present at higher abundances within a small patch of the grid and appeared stable over time. C. adspersa was initially absent from the grid, but became more abundant and widespead over the 9 month sampling period.
Investigations included monitoring the natural movement behaviour of C. adspersa in relation to tidal currents and the body condition. Results showed the directions moved and distances displaced by C. adspersa may be influenced by the rate and direction of current movement and therefore potentially influencing the dispersal ability of C. adspersa, in relation to available prey. An experiment to determine the body condition of C. adspersa in the field suggested that food deprivation may be less detrimental than first realised, or that C. adspersa is able to feed on a greater variety of food types than known of.
Little evidence was found that indicated predation was an important mechanism controlling bivalve populations across Centre Bank. However, predators may be potentially important as scavengers of decaying or dead organisms. Their predatory activities may also provide shell substrate for macroalgae, and this, in combination with dense aggregations of C. calamaria, appeared to provide habitat for small fishes.

year: 1996

title: Off-line signature verification

authors: Larkins, Robert L.

subjects: off-line signature verification

abstract: In today’s society signatures are the most accepted form of identity verification. However, they have the unfortunate side-effect of being easily abused by those who would feign the identification or intent of an individual. This thesis implements and tests current approaches to off-line signature verification with the goal of determining the most beneficial techniques that are available. This investigation will also introduce novel techniques that are shown to significantly boost the achieved classification accuracy for both person-dependent (one-class training) and person-independent (two-class training) signature verification learning strategies. The findings presented in this thesis show that many common techniques do not always give any significant advantage and in some cases they actually detract from the classification accuracy. Using the techniques that are proven to be most beneficial, an effective approach to signature verification is constructed, which achieves approximately 90% and 91% on the standard CEDAR and GPDS signature datasets respectively. These results are significantly better than the majority of results that have been previously published. Additionally, this approach is shown to remain relatively stable when a minimal number of training signatures are used, representing feasibility for real-world situations.

text: Off-line signature verification In today’s society signatures are the most accepted form of identity verification. However, they have the unfortunate side-effect of being easily abused by those who would feign the identification or intent of an individual. This thesis implements and tests current approaches to off-line signature verification with the goal of determining the most beneficial techniques that are available. This investigation will also introduce novel techniques that are shown to significantly boost the achieved classification accuracy for both person-dependent (one-class training) and person-independent (two-class training) signature verification learning strategies. The findings presented in this thesis show that many common techniques do not always give any significant advantage and in some cases they actually detract from the classification accuracy. Using the techniques that are proven to be most beneficial, an effective approach to signature verification is constructed, which achieves approximately 90% and 91% on the standard CEDAR and GPDS signature datasets respectively. These results are significantly better than the majority of results that have been previously published. Additionally, this approach is shown to remain relatively stable when a minimal number of training signatures are used, representing feasibility for real-world situations.

year: 2009

title: Reflections on the renewal of music: a polemic

authors: Lodge, Martin

abstract: Pluralism has been accepted as the best broad working definition of the current cultural and artistic situation in the West for some time now. In New Zealand, the debate over 'biculturalism' versus 'multiculturalism' drones on. Commercially this is reflected in both 'market segmentation' and its opposite-attempts at 'cross-over'. Artistically, it has made 'bicultural' works fashionable, as creative
attempts are made to fuse various traditions together, especially the Maori and Western, and nowhere more so than in music. The key to making successful 'fusion' pieces seems to lie in first grasping the essential differences between the musics, then trying to resolve the clashes or accommodate friendly juxtapositions.

text: Reflections on the renewal of music: a polemic Pluralism has been accepted as the best broad working definition of the current cultural and artistic situation in the West for some time now. In New Zealand, the debate over 'biculturalism' versus 'multiculturalism' drones on. Commercially this is reflected in both 'market segmentation' and its opposite-attempts at 'cross-over'. Artistically, it has made 'bicultural' works fashionable, as creative
attempts are made to fuse various traditions together, especially the Maori and Western, and nowhere more so than in music. The key to making successful 'fusion' pieces seems to lie in first grasping the essential differences between the musics, then trying to resolve the clashes or accommodate friendly juxtapositions.

year: 1998