title: Priority species to support the functional integrity of coral reefs

authors: Wolfe, Kennedy

abstract: Ecosystem-based management on coral reefs has historically focussed on biodiversity conservation through the establishment of marine reserves, but it is increasingly recognised that a subset of species can be key to the maintenance of ecosystem processes and functioning. Specific provisions for these key taxa are essential to biodiversity conservation and resilience-based adaptive management. While a wealth of literature addresses ecosystem functioning on coral reefs, available information covers only a subset of specific taxa, ecological processes and environmental stressors. What is lacking is a comparative assessment across the diverse range of coral reef species to synthesise available knowledge to inform science and management. Here we employed expert elicitation coupled with a literature review to generate the first comprehensive assessment of 70 taxonomically diverse and functionally distinct coral reef species from microbes to top predators to summarise reef functioning. Although our synthesis is largely through the lens of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, a particularly data-rich system, it is relevant to coral reefs in general. We use this assessment to evaluate which taxa drive processes that maintain a healthy reef and whether management of these taxa is considered a priority (i.e. are they vulnerable?) or is feasible (i.e. can they be managed?). Scientific certainty was scored to weight our recommendations, particularly when certainty was low. We use five case studies to highlight critical gaps in knowledge that limit our understanding of ecosystem functioning. To inform the development of novel management strategies and research objectives, we identify taxa that support positive interactions and enhance ecosystem performance, including those where these roles are currently underappreciated. We conclude that current initiatives effectively capture many priority taxa but that there is significant room to increase opportunities for underappreciated taxa in both science and management to maximally safeguard coral reef functioning.

text: Priority species to support the functional integrity of coral reefs Ecosystem-based management on coral reefs has historically focussed on biodiversity conservation through the establishment of marine reserves, but it is increasingly recognised that a subset of species can be key to the maintenance of ecosystem processes and functioning. Specific provisions for these key taxa are essential to biodiversity conservation and resilience-based adaptive management. While a wealth of literature addresses ecosystem functioning on coral reefs, available information covers only a subset of specific taxa, ecological processes and environmental stressors. What is lacking is a comparative assessment across the diverse range of coral reef species to synthesise available knowledge to inform science and management. Here we employed expert elicitation coupled with a literature review to generate the first comprehensive assessment of 70 taxonomically diverse and functionally distinct coral reef species from microbes to top predators to summarise reef functioning. Although our synthesis is largely through the lens of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, a particularly data-rich system, it is relevant to coral reefs in general. We use this assessment to evaluate which taxa drive processes that maintain a healthy reef and whether management of these taxa is considered a priority (i.e. are they vulnerable?) or is feasible (i.e. can they be managed?). Scientific certainty was scored to weight our recommendations, particularly when certainty was low. We use five case studies to highlight critical gaps in knowledge that limit our understanding of ecosystem functioning. To inform the development of novel management strategies and research objectives, we identify taxa that support positive interactions and enhance ecosystem performance, including those where these roles are currently underappreciated. We conclude that current initiatives effectively capture many priority taxa but that there is significant room to increase opportunities for underappreciated taxa in both science and management to maximally safeguard coral reef functioning.

year: 2020-01-01

title: Introduction

authors: Peters, Sally

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This special edition of Early Years draws on research from Aotearoa New Zealand and comprises six papers that shed light on both the policy context and the curriculum in action. This focus on New Zealand is timely as New Zealand has attracted world-wide attention in recent years for its curricular innovations at both the early childhood (Te Whariki, Ministry of Education 1996) and school level (New Zealand Curriculum, Ministry of Education 2007). There has also been a strong focus on early years research, funded through the current Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) and the Centres of Innovation programme (which ran from 2003– 2009). A vibrant early childhood sector is providing new insights into learning and teaching, whilst also navigating a time of political change with challenges around funding. This introductory paper provides a brief overview of early years education in New Zealand, picking up on and extending some of background information provided by the contributors to this special edition.

text: Introduction This special edition of Early Years draws on research from Aotearoa New Zealand and comprises six papers that shed light on both the policy context and the curriculum in action. This focus on New Zealand is timely as New Zealand has attracted world-wide attention in recent years for its curricular innovations at both the early childhood (Te Whariki, Ministry of Education 1996) and school level (New Zealand Curriculum, Ministry of Education 2007). There has also been a strong focus on early years research, funded through the current Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) and the Centres of Innovation programme (which ran from 2003– 2009). A vibrant early childhood sector is providing new insights into learning and teaching, whilst also navigating a time of political change with challenges around funding. This introductory paper provides a brief overview of early years education in New Zealand, picking up on and extending some of background information provided by the contributors to this special edition.

year: 2011

title: Tūturu whakamaua ko te kupu, haumi e, hui e, ko ngā kupu o te mātauranga ē!

authors: Dale, Hēmi

subjects: Reo Māori

abstract: Ko tā tēnei tuhinga he arotahi ki ētahi o ngā take reo e pā ana ki ngā mahi whakangungu pouako mā te huarahi o te reo Māori i roto i te whare wānanga. Ka mutu, ka kōrerorerotia ngā urupare a te Huarahi Māori (tētahi kaiwhakarato whakangungu pouako mā te huarahi o te reo Māori) ki ētahi o ēnei take reo.

text: Tūturu whakamaua ko te kupu, haumi e, hui e, ko ngā kupu o te mātauranga ē! Ko tā tēnei tuhinga he arotahi ki ētahi o ngā take reo e pā ana ki ngā mahi whakangungu pouako mā te huarahi o te reo Māori i roto i te whare wānanga. Ka mutu, ka kōrerorerotia ngā urupare a te Huarahi Māori (tētahi kaiwhakarato whakangungu pouako mā te huarahi o te reo Māori) ki ētahi o ēnei take reo.

year: 2017