title: Radiocarbon dates on desiccated moa (Dinornithiformes) flesh from Inland Otago, New Zealand

authors: Anderson, Atholl

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Remains of soft tissues from extinct moa (Dinornithiformes), mainly desiccated sinew, muscle, skin, and feathers have been recovered rather seldom but their distribution is distinctive. Of 22 records of such finds accumulated between 1864 and 1987, 15 came from inland Otago (Anderson 1989: 67–68, Table 5.2), west of Dunedin in the southern South Island. Most were found in the late nineteenth century (13 records) in rockshelters, clefts or alluvial sediments and were regarded at the time as evidence of the survival of moa up to about AD 1800 (Hutton and Coughtrey 1874a). Improbable as this latter point is, it has not been tested by radiocarbon dating until now. Our particular impetus to do so, however, arises in another way. It is from research, again largely within inland Otago, on Maori artefacts which have also been made from various other kinds of soft tissues (flax, grasses, dog skin, bird skin, feathers etc.). A series of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates on these (Anderson et al., n.d.) shows that they are exclusively late, post-AD 1650, which begs the question of why the age range does not extend across the full prehistoric period, beginning about AD 1300.

text: Radiocarbon dates on desiccated moa (Dinornithiformes) flesh from Inland Otago, New Zealand Remains of soft tissues from extinct moa (Dinornithiformes), mainly desiccated sinew, muscle, skin, and feathers have been recovered rather seldom but their distribution is distinctive. Of 22 records of such finds accumulated between 1864 and 1987, 15 came from inland Otago (Anderson 1989: 67–68, Table 5.2), west of Dunedin in the southern South Island. Most were found in the late nineteenth century (13 records) in rockshelters, clefts or alluvial sediments and were regarded at the time as evidence of the survival of moa up to about AD 1800 (Hutton and Coughtrey 1874a). Improbable as this latter point is, it has not been tested by radiocarbon dating until now. Our particular impetus to do so, however, arises in another way. It is from research, again largely within inland Otago, on Maori artefacts which have also been made from various other kinds of soft tissues (flax, grasses, dog skin, bird skin, feathers etc.). A series of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates on these (Anderson et al., n.d.) shows that they are exclusively late, post-AD 1650, which begs the question of why the age range does not extend across the full prehistoric period, beginning about AD 1300.

year: 2010

title: Māori and medications: What happens when the pills go home?

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Māori

abstract: Chronic illnesses are a feature of many Māori homescapes. These illnesses are often managed at home through the use of health technologies, particularly medications. This article explores the meanings given to medications and the use of this health technology in four Māori households. We use a range of qualitative methods to engage with householders and to document how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes and everyday lives. From our discussions with householders about the procurement, storage, emplacement and administration of medications emerged five culturally patterned orientations to treating with medications. They are: 1) storage and administration practices that corresponded with the Māori hygiene practices of tapu (prohibited) and noa (permitted); 2) reminder strategies, or ngā pūrere whakamāharahara; 3) the enactment of the value of manaakitanga (kindness) in care relationships; 4) pōharatanga, or attitudes towards medication procurement and administration in households textured by low socio-economic status; and 5) rangatiratanga, the right of people to manage and make decisions about their own lives and health status. This study presents a view of how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes, relationships and daily routines. The use of health technologies by health professionals to interrupt illness and improve quality of life must be cognisant of the cultural contexts into which medications are prescribed.

text: Māori and medications: What happens when the pills go home? Chronic illnesses are a feature of many Māori homescapes. These illnesses are often managed at home through the use of health technologies, particularly medications. This article explores the meanings given to medications and the use of this health technology in four Māori households. We use a range of qualitative methods to engage with householders and to document how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes and everyday lives. From our discussions with householders about the procurement, storage, emplacement and administration of medications emerged five culturally patterned orientations to treating with medications. They are: 1) storage and administration practices that corresponded with the Māori hygiene practices of tapu (prohibited) and noa (permitted); 2) reminder strategies, or ngā pūrere whakamāharahara; 3) the enactment of the value of manaakitanga (kindness) in care relationships; 4) pōharatanga, or attitudes towards medication procurement and administration in households textured by low socio-economic status; and 5) rangatiratanga, the right of people to manage and make decisions about their own lives and health status. This study presents a view of how medications are acculturated into Māori homescapes, relationships and daily routines. The use of health technologies by health professionals to interrupt illness and improve quality of life must be cognisant of the cultural contexts into which medications are prescribed.

year: 2011

title: Induced reproduction in Pātiki (Rhombosolea leporina), a novel endemic aquaculture candidate

authors: Ellis-Smith, Brooke Georgia

subjects: Aquaculture

abstract: The rapid global population growth combined with the decline of wild-capture fisheries has resulted in the global expansion of aquaculture. New Zealand’s aquaculture industry remains largely underdeveloped and as such, industry growth would benefit from species diversification. The endemic yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina) is a promising candidate species for New Zealand aquaculture due to its high market value, fast growth rate and the global demand for flatfishes. At present, very limited knowledge exists regarding the reproductive biology of this species, and notably the control of reproduction in captivity. Successful finfish aquaculture requires a robust understanding of reproduction for effective broodstock management. This thesis investigates induced ovulation in yellowbelly flounder using a gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). The study pairs physiology and genetics to advance the current knowledge of reproduction in this species.
GnRHa was administrated to induce ovulation in yellowbelly flounder, over a 28-day period. One of three treatments were assigned to 27 female yellowbelly flounder (n=9): 50 µg/kg GnRHa, 100 µg/kg GnRHa, or a sham treatment of 50 µg/kg Ringer’s solution. Histological and fresh oocyte analyses were carried out and batch fecundity, fertilization and ovulation rates were assessed. Reproductive dysfunction experienced by yellowbelly flounder in this study was through incomplete germinal vesicle migration and a failure to enter hydration. Ovulation was only observed in GnRHa treated fish and the ovulatory periodicity appeared to be approximately 72 hours in fish that ovulated more than once. This study confirms that yellowbelly flounder are multiple group synchronous batch spawners. Although fewer fish than expected ovulated (four), significantly more GnRHa treated fish completed final oocyte maturation and entered hydration compared to the controls. Furthermore, fecundity, fertilization rates and egg viability were high, with fertilization >80% achieved in some initial ovulations. In contrast, eggs obtained from fish that had ovulated for a second time, were characterised by low fecundity and fertilization rates. Nonetheless, this data indicates GnRHa can successfully induce ovulation at dosages of at least 50 µg/kg without adversely affecting egg quality in at least the first batch. Further refinement is essential to optimize a protocol for the reliable induction of reproduction in this species. Low incidences of ovulation may be a factor of dosage or inappropriate ovarian maturity at the time of hormone administration. This highlights the need to confirm oocyte maturity immediately prior to GnRHa treatment. To aid future work, a classification index for the identification of ovarian developmental stage based on fresh oocyte morphology was developed for yellowbelly flounder. 
To further advance future research into yellowbelly flounder reproduction, brain, pituitary and gonad transcriptomic libraries were generated for female yellowbelly flounder using RNA-seq. Protein sequences of eight reproduction related genes were successfully identified and characterised, which were StAR, Gpr54, Lhβ, Fshβ, Fshr, Cyp19a1a, Cyp19a1b and Hsd17b1. Conserved functional regions, phylogenetic analysis and homology with sequences from other Pleuronectiformes confirmed the identities of these genes and indicated that their functional roles are likely conserved. Characterisation of these genes provides highly valuable information for future quantitative assessment of gene expression throughout the yellowbelly flounder reproductive axis. 
The results presented in this thesis will help to inform future work to control and optimize reproduction in captive yellowbelly flounder. In addition, the genetic data will enable molecular tools to be developed, including quantitative PCR primers as well as the potential for recombinant gonadotropins to develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. These tools will be highly valuable to accurately assess the effects of GnRHa treatment on reproduction and gene expression under differing culture conditions. This study indicates that successful ovulation and good quality eggs may be achieved in yellowbelly flounder using GnRHa treatment.

text: Induced reproduction in Pātiki (Rhombosolea leporina), a novel endemic aquaculture candidate The rapid global population growth combined with the decline of wild-capture fisheries has resulted in the global expansion of aquaculture. New Zealand’s aquaculture industry remains largely underdeveloped and as such, industry growth would benefit from species diversification. The endemic yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina) is a promising candidate species for New Zealand aquaculture due to its high market value, fast growth rate and the global demand for flatfishes. At present, very limited knowledge exists regarding the reproductive biology of this species, and notably the control of reproduction in captivity. Successful finfish aquaculture requires a robust understanding of reproduction for effective broodstock management. This thesis investigates induced ovulation in yellowbelly flounder using a gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). The study pairs physiology and genetics to advance the current knowledge of reproduction in this species.
GnRHa was administrated to induce ovulation in yellowbelly flounder, over a 28-day period. One of three treatments were assigned to 27 female yellowbelly flounder (n=9): 50 µg/kg GnRHa, 100 µg/kg GnRHa, or a sham treatment of 50 µg/kg Ringer’s solution. Histological and fresh oocyte analyses were carried out and batch fecundity, fertilization and ovulation rates were assessed. Reproductive dysfunction experienced by yellowbelly flounder in this study was through incomplete germinal vesicle migration and a failure to enter hydration. Ovulation was only observed in GnRHa treated fish and the ovulatory periodicity appeared to be approximately 72 hours in fish that ovulated more than once. This study confirms that yellowbelly flounder are multiple group synchronous batch spawners. Although fewer fish than expected ovulated (four), significantly more GnRHa treated fish completed final oocyte maturation and entered hydration compared to the controls. Furthermore, fecundity, fertilization rates and egg viability were high, with fertilization >80% achieved in some initial ovulations. In contrast, eggs obtained from fish that had ovulated for a second time, were characterised by low fecundity and fertilization rates. Nonetheless, this data indicates GnRHa can successfully induce ovulation at dosages of at least 50 µg/kg without adversely affecting egg quality in at least the first batch. Further refinement is essential to optimize a protocol for the reliable induction of reproduction in this species. Low incidences of ovulation may be a factor of dosage or inappropriate ovarian maturity at the time of hormone administration. This highlights the need to confirm oocyte maturity immediately prior to GnRHa treatment. To aid future work, a classification index for the identification of ovarian developmental stage based on fresh oocyte morphology was developed for yellowbelly flounder. 
To further advance future research into yellowbelly flounder reproduction, brain, pituitary and gonad transcriptomic libraries were generated for female yellowbelly flounder using RNA-seq. Protein sequences of eight reproduction related genes were successfully identified and characterised, which were StAR, Gpr54, Lhβ, Fshβ, Fshr, Cyp19a1a, Cyp19a1b and Hsd17b1. Conserved functional regions, phylogenetic analysis and homology with sequences from other Pleuronectiformes confirmed the identities of these genes and indicated that their functional roles are likely conserved. Characterisation of these genes provides highly valuable information for future quantitative assessment of gene expression throughout the yellowbelly flounder reproductive axis. 
The results presented in this thesis will help to inform future work to control and optimize reproduction in captive yellowbelly flounder. In addition, the genetic data will enable molecular tools to be developed, including quantitative PCR primers as well as the potential for recombinant gonadotropins to develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. These tools will be highly valuable to accurately assess the effects of GnRHa treatment on reproduction and gene expression under differing culture conditions. This study indicates that successful ovulation and good quality eggs may be achieved in yellowbelly flounder using GnRHa treatment.

year: 2022