title: The evolutionary history of the extinct ratite moa and New Zealand Neogene paleogeography

authors: Bunce, M.

subjects: ancient DNA

abstract: The ratite moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) were a speciose group of massive graviportal avian herbivores that dominated the New Zealand (NZ) ecosystem until their extinction ≈600 years ago. The phylogeny and evolutionary history of this morphologically diverse order has remained controversial since their initial description in 1839. We synthesize mitochondrial phylogenetic information from 263 subfossil moa specimens from across NZ with morphological, ecological, and new geological data to create the first comprehensive phylogeny, taxonomy, and evolutionary timeframe for all of the species of an extinct order. We also present an important new geological/paleogeographical model of late Cenozoic NZ, which suggests that terrestrial biota on the North and South Island landmasses were isolated for most of the past 20–30 Ma. The data reveal that the patterns of genetic diversity within and between different moa clades reflect a complex history following a major marine transgression in the Oligocene, affected by marine barriers, tectonic activity, and glacial cycles. Surprisingly, the remarkable morphological radiation of moa appears to have occurred much more recently than previous early Miocene (ca. 15 Ma) estimates, and was coincident with the accelerated uplift of the Southern Alps just ca. 5–8.5 Ma. Together with recent fossil evidence, these data suggest that the recent evolutionary history of nearly all of the iconic NZ terrestrial biota occurred principally on just the South Island.

text: The evolutionary history of the extinct ratite moa and New Zealand Neogene paleogeography The ratite moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) were a speciose group of massive graviportal avian herbivores that dominated the New Zealand (NZ) ecosystem until their extinction ≈600 years ago. The phylogeny and evolutionary history of this morphologically diverse order has remained controversial since their initial description in 1839. We synthesize mitochondrial phylogenetic information from 263 subfossil moa specimens from across NZ with morphological, ecological, and new geological data to create the first comprehensive phylogeny, taxonomy, and evolutionary timeframe for all of the species of an extinct order. We also present an important new geological/paleogeographical model of late Cenozoic NZ, which suggests that terrestrial biota on the North and South Island landmasses were isolated for most of the past 20–30 Ma. The data reveal that the patterns of genetic diversity within and between different moa clades reflect a complex history following a major marine transgression in the Oligocene, affected by marine barriers, tectonic activity, and glacial cycles. Surprisingly, the remarkable morphological radiation of moa appears to have occurred much more recently than previous early Miocene (ca. 15 Ma) estimates, and was coincident with the accelerated uplift of the Southern Alps just ca. 5–8.5 Ma. Together with recent fossil evidence, these data suggest that the recent evolutionary history of nearly all of the iconic NZ terrestrial biota occurred principally on just the South Island.

year: 2009

title: Forecasting seasonal drawdowns in Whangamata town supply wells

authors: Jelley, Neil

subjects: groundwater

abstract: The coastal township of Whangamata's reticulated water supply is provided by a
number of groundwater bores, extracting water from local fractured rhyolite and
andesite aquifers. A need has arisen to create a greater understanding of the aquifers,
because of an increased demand for water abstraction. Water demand in Whangamata
increases dramatically during the summer vacation period. Occupant numbers
increase from 4,000 up to 50,000 during peak times, resulting in increased water
demand. Over the past five years an increase in groundwater abstraction has produced
an evident downward trend in bore water levels. Electrical conductivity is also
increasing in several aquifers, posing a realistic threat of sea water intrusion and
questioning the sustainability of current abstraction volumes.
Multiple linear regression and an artificial neural network model were investigated as
simple empirical forecasting tools for well drawdowns to predict the effect of future
increases in groundwater demand. This approach was adopted as opposed to a
groundwater numerical model because of poor time resolution of available data and
the complex, fractured nature of the aquifer. By using pumping volumes as variables,
seasonal bore water level variations and long term trends were predicted. The models
were evaluated with independent validation data sets. The actual ability of a model to
predict bore water level seasonal variation and long term trends was assessed using a
comparison with a moving average of the validation data set.
Multiple linear regression proved superior to the neural network in almost every bore
modelled. Although neural networks proved capable of modelling seasonal bore
water level variations it was not to the same degree of accuracy as the regression
approach. The regression approach yielded a modified index of agreement of 0.6-0.74
when comparing a moving average of observed data with the validation data sets. The
developed models were used to forecast well water levels with varying abstraction
volumes aiming to prevent further long term decline in bore water levels.

text: Forecasting seasonal drawdowns in Whangamata town supply wells The coastal township of Whangamata's reticulated water supply is provided by a
number of groundwater bores, extracting water from local fractured rhyolite and
andesite aquifers. A need has arisen to create a greater understanding of the aquifers,
because of an increased demand for water abstraction. Water demand in Whangamata
increases dramatically during the summer vacation period. Occupant numbers
increase from 4,000 up to 50,000 during peak times, resulting in increased water
demand. Over the past five years an increase in groundwater abstraction has produced
an evident downward trend in bore water levels. Electrical conductivity is also
increasing in several aquifers, posing a realistic threat of sea water intrusion and
questioning the sustainability of current abstraction volumes.
Multiple linear regression and an artificial neural network model were investigated as
simple empirical forecasting tools for well drawdowns to predict the effect of future
increases in groundwater demand. This approach was adopted as opposed to a
groundwater numerical model because of poor time resolution of available data and
the complex, fractured nature of the aquifer. By using pumping volumes as variables,
seasonal bore water level variations and long term trends were predicted. The models
were evaluated with independent validation data sets. The actual ability of a model to
predict bore water level seasonal variation and long term trends was assessed using a
comparison with a moving average of the validation data set.
Multiple linear regression proved superior to the neural network in almost every bore
modelled. Although neural networks proved capable of modelling seasonal bore
water level variations it was not to the same degree of accuracy as the regression
approach. The regression approach yielded a modified index of agreement of 0.6-0.74
when comparing a moving average of observed data with the validation data sets. The
developed models were used to forecast well water levels with varying abstraction
volumes aiming to prevent further long term decline in bore water levels.

year: 2007

title: A critical analysis of the place of culture in evaluation

authors: Masters-Awatere, Bridgette

abstract: For the past 100 or so years formal evaluation has taken its lead from frameworks that originate from a culturally blind standpoint. Worldwide the major influence on evaluation practice comes from the United States of America. The absence of non-dominant (or indigenous) culturally constructed frameworks has been replicated around the world. Before the formation of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA), as a New Zealand specific evaluation group, practitioners generally belonged to the Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) and joined in the sharing, adoption and adaptation of USAs Program Evaluation Standards. However, the context of evaluation in New Zealand has been somewhat different from the rest of the world, becoming more culturally centered than other countries. The role and place of the Treaty of Waitangi has been acknowledged as an attributing factor (ANZEA, 2011). Four indigenous “By Maori for Maori” health & wellbeing programmes externally evaluated were case studies within my research. I draw upon examples from the cases studies to highlight the vulnerable and contentious position indigenous service providers and indigenous evaluators were in. Adapting Sandra Grande’s (2004) analysis, I critiqued the context of the case study evaluations that commissioners considered as Kaupapa Maori. In this presentation I argue that while stakeholders perceived the work to be an indigenous evaluation, the case studies demonstrate that whitestream evaluation was prevalent.

text: A critical analysis of the place of culture in evaluation For the past 100 or so years formal evaluation has taken its lead from frameworks that originate from a culturally blind standpoint. Worldwide the major influence on evaluation practice comes from the United States of America. The absence of non-dominant (or indigenous) culturally constructed frameworks has been replicated around the world. Before the formation of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA), as a New Zealand specific evaluation group, practitioners generally belonged to the Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) and joined in the sharing, adoption and adaptation of USAs Program Evaluation Standards. However, the context of evaluation in New Zealand has been somewhat different from the rest of the world, becoming more culturally centered than other countries. The role and place of the Treaty of Waitangi has been acknowledged as an attributing factor (ANZEA, 2011). Four indigenous “By Maori for Maori” health & wellbeing programmes externally evaluated were case studies within my research. I draw upon examples from the cases studies to highlight the vulnerable and contentious position indigenous service providers and indigenous evaluators were in. Adapting Sandra Grande’s (2004) analysis, I critiqued the context of the case study evaluations that commissioners considered as Kaupapa Maori. In this presentation I argue that while stakeholders perceived the work to be an indigenous evaluation, the case studies demonstrate that whitestream evaluation was prevalent.

year: 2015