title: Environmental factors affecting the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) distribution in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

authors: Suyatiningsih, Februanty

subjects: water quality

abstract: Tropical rivers are known to support high biodiversity, and are often characterised by vast floodplain areas and seasonal inundation patterns (Dudgeon, 1992). These rivers are places for many important terrestrial and freshwater species such as three true river dolphins species (Platanista gangetica, Platanista minor and Lipotes vexillifer) and the facultative freshwater dolphin – the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). The Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, is typical of other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia but is distinguished by a riverine population of the iconic Irrawaddy dolphins, known locally as Pesut. This freshwater population is classified as “Critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Like many other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia, the Mahakam River is also facing problems from rapid development in rural areas, characterised by a massive conversion of peatland forest to oil palm plantation, an increasing number of mining activities, and ongoing development of settlements. These developments are likely to have had both direct and indirect effects on the Irrawaddy dolphins.

Water quality parameters and land use type from sites in the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Mahakam River were used to quantify relationships with between broadscale catchment land-use changes and river habitat changes while anthropogenic factors such as fishing pressure and other forms of human disturbance were also assessed in relation to dolphin distribution. The objectives of this analysis were to (i) quantify changes in water quality in relation to land use, (ii) investigate the key environmental factors associated with Irrawaddy dolphin distribution and abundance in the Mahakam River, and (iii) integrate these findings with other information on dolphin ecology to make recommendations that support dolphin conservation management.

Over 1996–2017, the land use in the sub-catchments of government water quality monitoring sites demonstrated changes that reflected decreasing forestland and increasing estate cropland, mainly due to the development of the oil palm plantations in Indonesia. The downstream section of the river also received disturbance from a high proportion of agricultural and settlement land. These land-use changes were shown to be related to the state of water quality in the Mahakam River. Increasing TDS and SO4 were associated with increasing estate cropland and agricultural intensification, respectively, while decreasing COD and BOD concentration were related to changes in swampland area.

The middle reach of the Mahakam River was indicated as the primary habitat for the Irrawaddy dolphins. Several land-use related water quality parameters appeared to influence dolphin distribution through indirect effects on prey distribution. However, other forms of human disturbances such as settlements and boat traffic likely had direct effects on dolphins, contributing to their absence from the lower reach of the river. Accordingly, conservation management of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River should focus on factors influencing prey species productivity in the river, such as the formation of fish reserves.

text: Environmental factors affecting the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) distribution in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Tropical rivers are known to support high biodiversity, and are often characterised by vast floodplain areas and seasonal inundation patterns (Dudgeon, 1992). These rivers are places for many important terrestrial and freshwater species such as three true river dolphins species (Platanista gangetica, Platanista minor and Lipotes vexillifer) and the facultative freshwater dolphin – the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). The Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, is typical of other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia but is distinguished by a riverine population of the iconic Irrawaddy dolphins, known locally as Pesut. This freshwater population is classified as “Critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Like many other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia, the Mahakam River is also facing problems from rapid development in rural areas, characterised by a massive conversion of peatland forest to oil palm plantation, an increasing number of mining activities, and ongoing development of settlements. These developments are likely to have had both direct and indirect effects on the Irrawaddy dolphins.

Water quality parameters and land use type from sites in the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Mahakam River were used to quantify relationships with between broadscale catchment land-use changes and river habitat changes while anthropogenic factors such as fishing pressure and other forms of human disturbance were also assessed in relation to dolphin distribution. The objectives of this analysis were to (i) quantify changes in water quality in relation to land use, (ii) investigate the key environmental factors associated with Irrawaddy dolphin distribution and abundance in the Mahakam River, and (iii) integrate these findings with other information on dolphin ecology to make recommendations that support dolphin conservation management.

Over 1996–2017, the land use in the sub-catchments of government water quality monitoring sites demonstrated changes that reflected decreasing forestland and increasing estate cropland, mainly due to the development of the oil palm plantations in Indonesia. The downstream section of the river also received disturbance from a high proportion of agricultural and settlement land. These land-use changes were shown to be related to the state of water quality in the Mahakam River. Increasing TDS and SO4 were associated with increasing estate cropland and agricultural intensification, respectively, while decreasing COD and BOD concentration were related to changes in swampland area.

The middle reach of the Mahakam River was indicated as the primary habitat for the Irrawaddy dolphins. Several land-use related water quality parameters appeared to influence dolphin distribution through indirect effects on prey distribution. However, other forms of human disturbances such as settlements and boat traffic likely had direct effects on dolphins, contributing to their absence from the lower reach of the river. Accordingly, conservation management of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River should focus on factors influencing prey species productivity in the river, such as the formation of fish reserves.

year: 2018

title: Smart cards: State-of-the-art to future directions

authors: Akram, Raja Naeem

subjects: security of data

abstract: The evolution of smart card technology provides an interesting case study of the relationship and interactions between security and business requirements. This paper maps out the milestones for smart card technology, discussing at each step the opportunities and challenges. The paper reviews recently proposed innovative ownership/management models and the security challenges associated with them. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible future directions for the technology, and the challenges these present.

text: Smart cards: State-of-the-art to future directions The evolution of smart card technology provides an interesting case study of the relationship and interactions between security and business requirements. This paper maps out the milestones for smart card technology, discussing at each step the opportunities and challenges. The paper reviews recently proposed innovative ownership/management models and the security challenges associated with them. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible future directions for the technology, and the challenges these present.

year: 2013

title: Kāinga tahi, kāinga rua: A kaupapa Māori response of Te Puea Memorial Marae.

authors: Lee-Morgan, Jenny Bol Jun

abstract: In the winter of 2016, Te Puea Memorial Marae (TPMM) initiated a kaupapa Māori marae-led response, opening their doors to vulnerable whānau seeking emergency housing. Following in the legacy of Te Puea Herangi,¹ the marae answered the call of homeless whānau in Auckland and in doing so disrupted the dominant Auckland housing narrative where the government had until that time refused to acknowledge homelessness as a serious issue. In the full view of the media, TPMM not only made the reality of homelessness visible by caring for 181 people (of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds), but named the housing situation in Auckland as a ‘crisis’. ²

text: Kāinga tahi, kāinga rua: A kaupapa Māori response of Te Puea Memorial Marae. In the winter of 2016, Te Puea Memorial Marae (TPMM) initiated a kaupapa Māori marae-led response, opening their doors to vulnerable whānau seeking emergency housing. Following in the legacy of Te Puea Herangi,¹ the marae answered the call of homeless whānau in Auckland and in doing so disrupted the dominant Auckland housing narrative where the government had until that time refused to acknowledge homelessness as a serious issue. In the full view of the media, TPMM not only made the reality of homelessness visible by caring for 181 people (of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds), but named the housing situation in Auckland as a ‘crisis’. ²

year: 2017