title: Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA variability within the New Zealand damselfly genera Xanthocnemis, Austrolestes, and Ischnura (Odonata)

authors: Nolan, Liam

subjects: allozymes

abstract: We collected larval damselflies from 17 sites in the North, South and Chatham Islands, and tested the hypotheses that: (1) genetic markers (e.g., allozymes, mtDNA) would successfully ¬discriminate taxa; and (2) the dispersal capabilities of adult damselflies would limit differentiation among locations. Four species from three genera were identified based on available taxonomic keys. Using 11 allozyme loci and the mitochondrial cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, we confirmed that all taxa were clearly discernible. We found evidence for low to moderate differentiation among locations based on allozyme (mean FST = 0.09) and sequence (COI) divergence (<0.034). No obvious patterns with respect to geographic location were detected, although slight differences were found between New Zealand’s main islands (North Island, South Island) and the Chatham Islands for A. colensonis (sequence divergence 0.030–0.034). We also found limited intraspecific genetic variability based on allozyme data (Hexp < 0.06 in all cases). We conclude that levels of gene flow/dispersal on the main islands may have been sufficient to maintain the observed homogeneous population structure, and that genetic techniques, particularly the COI gene locus, will be a useful aid in future identifications.

text: Allozyme and mitochondrial DNA variability within the New Zealand damselfly genera Xanthocnemis, Austrolestes, and Ischnura (Odonata) We collected larval damselflies from 17 sites in the North, South and Chatham Islands, and tested the hypotheses that: (1) genetic markers (e.g., allozymes, mtDNA) would successfully ¬discriminate taxa; and (2) the dispersal capabilities of adult damselflies would limit differentiation among locations. Four species from three genera were identified based on available taxonomic keys. Using 11 allozyme loci and the mitochondrial cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, we confirmed that all taxa were clearly discernible. We found evidence for low to moderate differentiation among locations based on allozyme (mean FST = 0.09) and sequence (COI) divergence (<0.034). No obvious patterns with respect to geographic location were detected, although slight differences were found between New Zealand’s main islands (North Island, South Island) and the Chatham Islands for A. colensonis (sequence divergence 0.030–0.034). We also found limited intraspecific genetic variability based on allozyme data (Hexp < 0.06 in all cases). We conclude that levels of gene flow/dispersal on the main islands may have been sufficient to maintain the observed homogeneous population structure, and that genetic techniques, particularly the COI gene locus, will be a useful aid in future identifications.

year: 2007

title: Characterisation and applications of marine derived calcium phosphates and carbonates

authors: Mackintosh, Liam Jack

abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterise extensively, and process fishbone derived and shellfish mineral powders, followed by the investigation of potential applications for these materials. A variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and analytical techniques were used in this study, including FT-IR, SS-NMR, pXRD, SEM, ICP-MS, and laser diffraction particle sizing. These techniques enabled tracking of changes in the chemical and physical nature of the materials as a function of processing techniques. The potential applications covered in this study were the investigation of the immobilisation of the enzyme malL to bone materials with the aid of a coupling reagent, as well as investigations into the removal of various ionic species from aqueous water samples.
Differences in the mineral components of the materials between species were insignificant. Slight variations were found in the organic component of the bone materials, however these were most likely due to varying levels of oils remaining in the materials after processing by Plant and Food, Nelson, as the organic matter was found to be primarily composed of collagen in all species.
Thermally treating the bone samples to 800 oC was found to be the most effective and reliable method for removing the organic content from the bone materials. Synthetic HAp powders were successfully produced through the digestion and reprecipitation of bone-derived materials and an optimum method to produce these powders was devised.
Promising yet unexpected results were found in the enzyme immobilisation studies, results suggest that there is the potential for some enzymes to be bound to the bone materials, however more thorough investigations are required to understand the complex system. Promising results were also found from the adsorption experiments involving ionic species. The species trialled were Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Sr²⁺, AsO₄³⁻ and F⁻. Bone materials heated to 500 oC were consistently the most effective material for adsorption of the divalent metal cation species trialled. Adsorptions between this material and the divalent nickel and cadmium ions were found to follow pseudo second order kinetics, with Langmuir type isotherm behaviour. Fluoride adsorptions were also found to have a Langmuir type isotherm however the adsorption kinetics of this system were not investigated.
Overall the results from this study outline a few potential applications, which if investigated and developed further could add significant value to materials which are currently produced in high volumes as waste by-products from the fishing industry in New Zealand.

text: Characterisation and applications of marine derived calcium phosphates and carbonates The purpose of this study was to characterise extensively, and process fishbone derived and shellfish mineral powders, followed by the investigation of potential applications for these materials. A variety of spectroscopic, microscopic and analytical techniques were used in this study, including FT-IR, SS-NMR, pXRD, SEM, ICP-MS, and laser diffraction particle sizing. These techniques enabled tracking of changes in the chemical and physical nature of the materials as a function of processing techniques. The potential applications covered in this study were the investigation of the immobilisation of the enzyme malL to bone materials with the aid of a coupling reagent, as well as investigations into the removal of various ionic species from aqueous water samples.
Differences in the mineral components of the materials between species were insignificant. Slight variations were found in the organic component of the bone materials, however these were most likely due to varying levels of oils remaining in the materials after processing by Plant and Food, Nelson, as the organic matter was found to be primarily composed of collagen in all species.
Thermally treating the bone samples to 800 oC was found to be the most effective and reliable method for removing the organic content from the bone materials. Synthetic HAp powders were successfully produced through the digestion and reprecipitation of bone-derived materials and an optimum method to produce these powders was devised.
Promising yet unexpected results were found in the enzyme immobilisation studies, results suggest that there is the potential for some enzymes to be bound to the bone materials, however more thorough investigations are required to understand the complex system. Promising results were also found from the adsorption experiments involving ionic species. The species trialled were Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Sr²⁺, AsO₄³⁻ and F⁻. Bone materials heated to 500 oC were consistently the most effective material for adsorption of the divalent metal cation species trialled. Adsorptions between this material and the divalent nickel and cadmium ions were found to follow pseudo second order kinetics, with Langmuir type isotherm behaviour. Fluoride adsorptions were also found to have a Langmuir type isotherm however the adsorption kinetics of this system were not investigated.
Overall the results from this study outline a few potential applications, which if investigated and developed further could add significant value to materials which are currently produced in high volumes as waste by-products from the fishing industry in New Zealand.

year: 2018

title: Lost in translation: western representations of Māori knowledge

authors: Mika, Carl Te Hira

abstract: We recently attended a conference at which a non-Māori presenter, drawing on a particular metaphor already established by Māori writers, related Māori natural world features to a research method. The presentation was useful because it highlighted several issues that call for our concern as Māori philosophers. In this article, we outline these concerns, which are: first, that a blunt response to such a presentation is not undertaken lightly from a Māori viewpoint; and, second, that the presenter’s talk exemplifies a wider problem of warping Māori concepts and labels to fit a Western philosophical approach. We call this latter problem ‘Translation’, because it involves moving the Māori world and its phenomena over into one that is palatable for policy and research. The aim of the article is not to single out the presenter, but rather to refer to his presentation in order to consider the prior issue of Translation. In cases where Translation occurs, a Māori critical philosophical stance is clearly needed, in order to both investigate the warping of Māori thought on which it relies, and review the place of Māori philosophy and philosophical response in the arena of educational research.

text: Lost in translation: western representations of Māori knowledge We recently attended a conference at which a non-Māori presenter, drawing on a particular metaphor already established by Māori writers, related Māori natural world features to a research method. The presentation was useful because it highlighted several issues that call for our concern as Māori philosophers. In this article, we outline these concerns, which are: first, that a blunt response to such a presentation is not undertaken lightly from a Māori viewpoint; and, second, that the presenter’s talk exemplifies a wider problem of warping Māori concepts and labels to fit a Western philosophical approach. We call this latter problem ‘Translation’, because it involves moving the Māori world and its phenomena over into one that is palatable for policy and research. The aim of the article is not to single out the presenter, but rather to refer to his presentation in order to consider the prior issue of Translation. In cases where Translation occurs, a Māori critical philosophical stance is clearly needed, in order to both investigate the warping of Māori thought on which it relies, and review the place of Māori philosophy and philosophical response in the arena of educational research.

year: 2017