title: Convenient large-scale purification of yessotoxin from Protoceratium reticulatum culture and isolation of a novel furanoyessotoxin

authors: Loader, Jared I.

subjects: chemistry

abstract: Yessotoxins from a large-scale culture (226 L) of Protoceratium reticulatum strain CAWD129 were harvested by filtration followed by solid-phase extraction. The extract was purified by column chromatography over basic alumina and reverse-phase flash chromatography to afford pure yessotoxin (193 mg). Isolation of yessotoxin was greatly facilitated by selection of a strain which did not produce analogues that interfered with yessotoxin isolation. In addition to yessotoxin, numerous minor yessotoxins were detected by LC-MS in other fractions. From one of these, an early eluting minor analogue with the same molecular weight as yessotoxin and a similar mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern was isolated. This analogue was identified by NMR and mass spectrometry as a novel yessotoxin analogue containing a furan ring in the side chain. This finding reveals biosynthetic flexibility of the yessotoxin pathway in P. reticulatum and confirms earlier findings of production of many minor yessotoxin analogues by this alga. Production of these analogues appeared to be a constitutive trait of P. reticulatum CAWD129.

text: Convenient large-scale purification of yessotoxin from Protoceratium reticulatum culture and isolation of a novel furanoyessotoxin Yessotoxins from a large-scale culture (226 L) of Protoceratium reticulatum strain CAWD129 were harvested by filtration followed by solid-phase extraction. The extract was purified by column chromatography over basic alumina and reverse-phase flash chromatography to afford pure yessotoxin (193 mg). Isolation of yessotoxin was greatly facilitated by selection of a strain which did not produce analogues that interfered with yessotoxin isolation. In addition to yessotoxin, numerous minor yessotoxins were detected by LC-MS in other fractions. From one of these, an early eluting minor analogue with the same molecular weight as yessotoxin and a similar mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern was isolated. This analogue was identified by NMR and mass spectrometry as a novel yessotoxin analogue containing a furan ring in the side chain. This finding reveals biosynthetic flexibility of the yessotoxin pathway in P. reticulatum and confirms earlier findings of production of many minor yessotoxin analogues by this alga. Production of these analogues appeared to be a constitutive trait of P. reticulatum CAWD129.

year: 2007

title: Boat electrofishing survey of the Awatapu Lagoon and lower Tarawera River

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council contracted the University of Waikato to conduct a boat electrofishing survey of the Awatapu Lagoon, the old Rangitaiki River channel and the lower Tarawera River. This survey was in response to sightings of large orange fish at these sites by members of the public and the consequent concern that these fish might be koi carp (Cyprinus carpio; Pete Livingstone, DOC, Whakatane). We also recorded species of native fish to determine their relative density and biomass.  
We fished the Awatapu Lagoon in October 2005 and December 2014, and we fished the old Rangitaiki River channel and the lower Tarawera River in December 2014. In the Awatapu Lagoon on 31 October 2005, we caught 260 fish, comprising 170 goldfish weighing a total of 27.5 kg, 88 shortfin eels (Anguilla australis), and two brown trout. In addition, common smelt (Retropinna retropinna), inanga (Galaxias maculatus) and gambusia (Gambusia affinis) were abundant, though their numbers were not quantitatively determined. The two adult brown trout we caught measured 450 and 460 mm fork length (FL), giving calculated weights of approximately 1.21 and 1.29 kg. Mean goldfish density was 1.70 fish 100 m⁻², with individuals ranging in size from 40 to 277 mm (FL) (mean FL 178 mm ± 42 mm standard deviation, SD). Mean weight of 162 g (± 97 g SD), and mean goldfish areal biomass was 1.70 g m⁻². Shortfin eel density was estimated as 1.87 fish 100 m⁻² in East Lagoon, but biomass was not estimated for shortfin eels. Eels were seen in West Lagoon but not caught. No koi carp or other invasive fish species were found. 
In December 2014, we caught 271 fish comprising 12 species (two introduced, and 10 native). Common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) and shortfin eels were the most numerous species. In the Awatapu Lagoon, we caught 102 common bullies, 64 goldfish and 22 shortfin eels. In the lower Tarawera River, we caught parore (Girella tricuspidata), a stargazer (Leptoscopus macropygus), and yelloweye mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri). Site T4 in the Tarawera River had the greatest species richness (7 species). We verified that the large orange cyprinids that were seen in the old Rangitaiki River channel were large goldfish and not koi carp.  
As the main purpose of this fishing was to establish the identity of large orange fish seen in and round the lower Tarawera and the Awatapu Lagoon, the occurrence of goldfish was significant. From the size and colour ranges and abundance of the goldfish caught it is highly likely that any orange fish seen were large orange goldfish and not koi carp. However, before this fishing it was quite reasonable to conclude that large orange fish might be koi carp. This is similar to the Kaituna River, where goldfish were found but there were no koi carp. The high diversity of native fish species in the lower  Tarawera  River  is  predictable  from  known  fish  distribution  patterns,  where  the  most  diverse fish communities are found close to the coast. The occurrence of parore is unusual in freshwater fishing, as these are generally considered to be a marine species, but do stray into estuaries. One giant bully was found in this survey, and these are quite common in the lower reaches of large river systems. Yelloweye mullet are also common in Bay of Plenty fresh waters close to the sea.  Stargazers are a relatively unusual catch, but we have found these previously in Bay of Plenty rivers and in the lower Manawatu River.

text: Boat electrofishing survey of the Awatapu Lagoon and lower Tarawera River The Department of Conservation (DOC) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council contracted the University of Waikato to conduct a boat electrofishing survey of the Awatapu Lagoon, the old Rangitaiki River channel and the lower Tarawera River. This survey was in response to sightings of large orange fish at these sites by members of the public and the consequent concern that these fish might be koi carp (Cyprinus carpio; Pete Livingstone, DOC, Whakatane). We also recorded species of native fish to determine their relative density and biomass.  
We fished the Awatapu Lagoon in October 2005 and December 2014, and we fished the old Rangitaiki River channel and the lower Tarawera River in December 2014. In the Awatapu Lagoon on 31 October 2005, we caught 260 fish, comprising 170 goldfish weighing a total of 27.5 kg, 88 shortfin eels (Anguilla australis), and two brown trout. In addition, common smelt (Retropinna retropinna), inanga (Galaxias maculatus) and gambusia (Gambusia affinis) were abundant, though their numbers were not quantitatively determined. The two adult brown trout we caught measured 450 and 460 mm fork length (FL), giving calculated weights of approximately 1.21 and 1.29 kg. Mean goldfish density was 1.70 fish 100 m⁻², with individuals ranging in size from 40 to 277 mm (FL) (mean FL 178 mm ± 42 mm standard deviation, SD). Mean weight of 162 g (± 97 g SD), and mean goldfish areal biomass was 1.70 g m⁻². Shortfin eel density was estimated as 1.87 fish 100 m⁻² in East Lagoon, but biomass was not estimated for shortfin eels. Eels were seen in West Lagoon but not caught. No koi carp or other invasive fish species were found. 
In December 2014, we caught 271 fish comprising 12 species (two introduced, and 10 native). Common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) and shortfin eels were the most numerous species. In the Awatapu Lagoon, we caught 102 common bullies, 64 goldfish and 22 shortfin eels. In the lower Tarawera River, we caught parore (Girella tricuspidata), a stargazer (Leptoscopus macropygus), and yelloweye mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri). Site T4 in the Tarawera River had the greatest species richness (7 species). We verified that the large orange cyprinids that were seen in the old Rangitaiki River channel were large goldfish and not koi carp.  
As the main purpose of this fishing was to establish the identity of large orange fish seen in and round the lower Tarawera and the Awatapu Lagoon, the occurrence of goldfish was significant. From the size and colour ranges and abundance of the goldfish caught it is highly likely that any orange fish seen were large orange goldfish and not koi carp. However, before this fishing it was quite reasonable to conclude that large orange fish might be koi carp. This is similar to the Kaituna River, where goldfish were found but there were no koi carp. The high diversity of native fish species in the lower  Tarawera  River  is  predictable  from  known  fish  distribution  patterns,  where  the  most  diverse fish communities are found close to the coast. The occurrence of parore is unusual in freshwater fishing, as these are generally considered to be a marine species, but do stray into estuaries. One giant bully was found in this survey, and these are quite common in the lower reaches of large river systems. Yelloweye mullet are also common in Bay of Plenty fresh waters close to the sea.  Stargazers are a relatively unusual catch, but we have found these previously in Bay of Plenty rivers and in the lower Manawatu River.

year: 2015

title: Keeping Chooks at Home in the Waikato:  Exploring Postcolonial, Feminist and  Kaupapa M ori Perspectives

authors: Burnett, Zavier

subjects: Chooks

abstract: This thesis considers the narratives of eight M ori chook keepers from the Waikato rohe, Aotearoa. The Waikato rohe has been selected due to its significant history of M ori horticultural and agricultural practises, including chook keeping. 

I build on the growing corpus of m tauranga about indigenous studies. Using a postcolonial, feminist and Kaupapa M ori theoretical framework, I undertook five semi-structured interviews and one focus r p  with M ori kaum tua. This thesis does not attempt to represent all M ori. There may be considerable difference between wh nau, hap  and iwi practices. However, the rangahau provides insights into the views of eight individuals and their experiences with chooks. I have also utilised Country Calendar (1970; 1977a; 1977b and 1980) episodes and children's pukapuka such as Nanny Mihi's Garden (Drewery 2002) for the purposes of discourse analysis. 

By listening to these stories, kaupapa including race, class and ethnicity emerge that affect the participants' everyday lives as chook keepers. The participants view chooks in a variety of ways. First, as a means of food production. By integrating chooks into their communities, the participants are able to provide a nutritious and low-cost kai source for themselves and their wh nau. This attempts to at least in part address their poverty problems. Second, as a hybridised P keh  and M ori kararehe. Third, as hysterical, comical, silly and helpless. I explore these issues within the broader context of colonial, neocolonial and anticolonial practices.

text: Keeping Chooks at Home in the Waikato:  Exploring Postcolonial, Feminist and  Kaupapa M ori Perspectives This thesis considers the narratives of eight M ori chook keepers from the Waikato rohe, Aotearoa. The Waikato rohe has been selected due to its significant history of M ori horticultural and agricultural practises, including chook keeping. 

I build on the growing corpus of m tauranga about indigenous studies. Using a postcolonial, feminist and Kaupapa M ori theoretical framework, I undertook five semi-structured interviews and one focus r p  with M ori kaum tua. This thesis does not attempt to represent all M ori. There may be considerable difference between wh nau, hap  and iwi practices. However, the rangahau provides insights into the views of eight individuals and their experiences with chooks. I have also utilised Country Calendar (1970; 1977a; 1977b and 1980) episodes and children's pukapuka such as Nanny Mihi's Garden (Drewery 2002) for the purposes of discourse analysis. 

By listening to these stories, kaupapa including race, class and ethnicity emerge that affect the participants' everyday lives as chook keepers. The participants view chooks in a variety of ways. First, as a means of food production. By integrating chooks into their communities, the participants are able to provide a nutritious and low-cost kai source for themselves and their wh nau. This attempts to at least in part address their poverty problems. Second, as a hybridised P keh  and M ori kararehe. Third, as hysterical, comical, silly and helpless. I explore these issues within the broader context of colonial, neocolonial and anticolonial practices.

year: 2006