scholarly journals Subsistence practices, past biodiversity, and anthropogenic impacts revealed by New Zealand-wide ancient DNA survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (30) ◽  
pp. 7771-7776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik V. Seersholm ◽  
Theresa L. Cole ◽  
Alicia Grealy ◽  
Nicolas J. Rawlence ◽  
Karen Greig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Bone Fragments ◽  
Genetic Survey ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Subsistence Practices

New Zealand’s geographic isolation, lack of native terrestrial mammals, and Gondwanan origins make it an ideal location to study evolutionary processes. However, since the archipelago was first settled by humans 750 y ago, its unique biodiversity has been under pressure, and today an estimated 49% of the terrestrial avifauna is extinct. Current efforts to conserve the remaining fauna rely on a better understanding of the composition of past ecosystems, as well as the causes and timing of past extinctions. The exact temporal and spatial dynamics of New Zealand’s extinct fauna, however, can be difficult to interpret, as only a small proportion of animals are preserved as morphologically identifiable fossils. Here, we conduct a large-scale genetic survey of subfossil bone assemblages to elucidate the impact of humans on the environment in New Zealand. By genetically identifying more than 5,000 nondiagnostic bone fragments from archaeological and paleontological sites, we reconstruct a rich faunal record of 110 species of birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and marine mammals. We report evidence of five whale species rarely reported from New Zealand archaeological middens and characterize extinct lineages of leiopelmatid frog (Leiopelma sp.) and kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) haplotypes lost from the gene pool. Taken together, this molecular audit of New Zealand’s subfossil record not only contributes to our understanding of past biodiversity and precontact Māori subsistence practices but also provides a more nuanced snapshot of anthropogenic impacts on native fauna after first human arrival.

Blunt trauma observed in a common dolphin delphinus sp. Likely caused by a vessel collision in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Martinez ◽  
K A Stockin
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Common Dolphin ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Immature Male ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
The Impact

While coastal cetaceans can become habituated to watercraft, that may not prevent their injury or mortality as a consequence of vessel strike. Here we report a case of a likely collision between a Common Dolphin Delphinus sp. and a recreational vessel in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Injuries sustained by the immature male dolphin were fatal. Recovery and subsequent post-mortem of the carcass revealed a transection of the spinal cord, with the vertebral column sustaining fractures between L17 and Cd7 and between Cd3 and Cd8 of the neural and transverse processes, respectively. Cd4 likely received the brunt of the impact given the vertebral body and epiphyses were also fractured. Paralysis of the lower truck and associated extensive internal injuries resulted in a live stranding and subsequent mortality. Injuries sustained were consistent of those of blunt force trauma, a consequence of an impact caused by a collision with a small watercraft, most likely a jet-ski. This incident reinforces the need for continued public education concerning safe water practices around marine mammals, which are protected under the New Zealand Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 and Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992.

Environmental pollutants and marine mammal health: The potential impact of hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons on immune system dysfunction

2020 ◽  
pp. 223-248
Author(s):  
David Busbee ◽  
Ian Tizard ◽  
Jeffrey Sroit ◽  
Davide Ferrirc ◽  
Ellen Orr-reeves
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Marine Mammal ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Halogenated Hydrocarbons ◽  
Mechanisms Of Toxicity ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Immune System Dysfunction

This paper provides a detailed review of the immunotoxicological effects of environmental pollutants on the health of marine mammals, particularly in relation to their impact on the immune system and mechanisms of toxicity. Environmental pollutants are increasingly implicated (both directly and indirectly) with the onset of infectious disease and related mortality incidents in marine mammals,. The release of chemicals into the marine environment and the subsequent bioaccumulation up the food chain may pose a serious threat to marine mammals inhabiting contaminated areas; this has been documented in various studies of pollutant concentrations in tissue samples and large scale mass mortalities. Data correlating pollutant residues with altered reproductive/developmental states, and immune system dysfunction in particular, are reported for terrestrial mammals and suggest a similar association in marine mammals. Immunology is emphasised as a tool for assessing marine mammal health using quantitative and qualitative techniques to establish the effects of chemical pollutants. This has become increasingly important in relation to the subsequent dangers that may be posed to humans through any indirect exposure via the food chain.

Tourist Disturbance On New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctophalus Forsteri)

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Boren ◽  
NJ Gemmell ◽  
KJ Barton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Current Minimum ◽  
The Impact

Marine mammals are significant tourist attractions around New Zealand, however, the impact of eco-tourism on these species is poorly documented. Effective management to mitigate any negative effects requires an understanding of target species? reactions to tourist activities. We have studied the effects of tourist activities on New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) using a novel combination of observations and controlled approaches. Three study areas were selected reflecting a range of visitor density, type of tourism, and the anticipated sensitivity of fur seals to disturbance. Behaviour was observed using instantaneous scan sampling and attributes of tourist approaches were tested experimentally by controlled approaches. Approaches were made on land, by kayak, and motorboat. Fur seal responses and the distance at which the seal responded were recorded. Our results indicate that A. forsteri behaviour was being modified by tourist activities. Habituation was occurring at study areas with high levels of tourist activity. Approachers following current minimum approach distances still caused some animals to modify their behaviour and new minimum approach distances are recommended based on controlled approaches to seals at all study areas. Our work demonstrated that controlled approaches can be a useful tool to develop effective management guidelines to lessen impacts from eco-tourism activities.

scholarly journals MONITORING SEABIRDS AND MARINE MAMMALS BY GEOREFERENCED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B8 ◽  
pp. 689-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kemper ◽  
A. Weidauer ◽  
T. Coppack
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mandatory Requirement

The assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment is challenged by the accessibility, accuracy and validity of biogeographical information. Offshore wind farm projects require large-scale ecological surveys before, during and after construction, in order to assess potential effects on the distribution and abundance of protected species. The robustness of site-specific population estimates depends largely on the extent and design of spatial coverage and the accuracy of the applied census technique. Standard environmental assessment studies in Germany have so far included aerial visual surveys to evaluate potential impacts of offshore wind farms on seabirds and marine mammals. However, low flight altitudes, necessary for the visual classification of species, disturb sensitive bird species and also hold significant safety risks for the observers. Thus, aerial surveys based on high-resolution digital imagery, which can be carried out at higher (safer) flight altitudes (beyond the rotor-swept zone of the wind turbines) have become a mandatory requirement, technically solving the problem of distant-related observation bias. A purpose-assembled imagery system including medium-format cameras in conjunction with a dedicated geo-positioning platform delivers series of orthogonal digital images that meet the current technical requirements of authorities for surveying marine wildlife at a comparatively low cost. At a flight altitude of 425 m, a focal length of 110 mm, implemented forward motion compensation (FMC) and exposure times ranging between 1/1600 and 1/1000 s, the twin-camera system generates high quality 16 bit RGB images with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 2 cm and an image footprint of 155 x 410 m. The image files are readily transferrable to a GIS environment for further editing, taking overlapping image areas and areas affected by glare into account. The imagery can be routinely screened by the human eye guided by purpose-programmed software to distinguish biological from non-biological signals. Each detected seabird or marine mammal signal is identified to species level or assigned to a species group and automatically saved into a geo-database for subsequent quality assurance, geo-statistical analyses and data export to third-party users. The relative size of a detected object can be accurately measured which provides key information for species-identification. During the development and testing of this system until 2015, more than 40 surveys have produced around 500.000 digital aerial images, of which some were taken in specially protected areas (SPA) of the Baltic Sea and thus include a wide range of relevant species. Here, we present the technical principles of this comparatively new survey approach and discuss the key methodological challenges related to optimizing survey design and workflow in view of the pending regulatory requirements for effective environmental impact assessments.

scholarly journals Detection and attribution of global change effects on river nutrient dynamics in a large Mediterranean basin

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 4085-4098 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Aguilera ◽  
R. Marcé ◽  
S. Sabater
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Global Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Phosphate Concentration ◽  
Dynamic Factor ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Attributing changes in river water quality to specific factors is challenging because multiple factors act at different temporal and spatial scales, and it often requires examining long-term series of continuous data. Data consistency is sometimes hindered by the lack of observations of relevant water quality variables and the low and uneven sampling frequency that characterizes many water quality monitoring schemes. Nitrate and dissolved phosphate concentration time series (1980–2011) from 50 sampling stations across a large Mediterranean river basin were analyzed to disentangle the role of hydrology, land-use practices, and global climatic phenomena on the observed nutrient patterns, with the final aim of understanding how the different aspects of global change affected nutrient dynamics in the basin. Dynamic factor analysis (DFA) provided the methodological framework to extract underlying common patterns in nutrient time series with missing observations. Using complementary methods such as frequency and trend analyses, we sought to further characterize the common patterns and identify the drivers behind their variability across time and space. Seasonal and other cyclic patterns were identified as well as trends of increase or decrease of nutrient concentration in particular areas of the basin. Overall, the impact of global change, which includes both climate change and anthropogenic impacts, on the dynamics of nitrate concentration across the study basin was found to be a multifaceted process including regional and global factors, such as climatic oscillations and agricultural irrigation practices, whereas impacts on phosphate concentration seemed to depend more on local impacts, such as urban and industrial activities, and less on large-scale factors.

scholarly journals Unorthodox: An ancient tradition - A contemporary context

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anne Isaac
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
The Body ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Sense Of Identity ◽  
Church Design ◽  
The Impact

<p>For decades, New Zealand historians and architects have sought answers to the question: What is New Zealand architecture? New Zealand longs for a place in the architectural world, seeking the significance of our buildings in the wider realm of world architecture. In 2016, in a presentation based on his book Worship: a history of New Zealand church design, Bill McKay suggested that perhaps, “our most interesting architecture lies in the intersections of our cultures”.  An opportunity is offered by the current shifts of New Zealand society where the impact of immigration on society is one of the most pressing issues that currently needs addressing. This thesis endeavours to explore the specific relationship between the heritage and culture of the existing Assyrian community and its context of Wellington, with reference to McKay’s suggestion that our most interesting architecture is birthed from the intersection of different cultures.  Socially speaking, sense of identity and place attachment play a vital role in the integration of migrant communities into their new home country. Recalling and employing elements of not only tangible Assyrian heritage, but also the intangible qualities found in traditional Assyrian architecture, has the potential to create the connection and enhance the sense of identity which allows for the feeling of belonging in migrants in their host society. This thesis focuses on the space of worship.   This project of an Assyrian Orthodox church building in New Zealand might reflect the life of the migrants who occupy it. Is it a replica of the traditional building in its original context, unchanged and uninfluenced by the shift to a new place? Or is it influenced and integrated; a building which can identify with the soil it stands on? Furthermore, if one considers that architecture reflects society, it is hoped that this design led research will participate in the discussion about New Zealand architecture’s unique identity and emerging new societal makeup.  This design led research discovers that creating a sense of belonging relies on both keeping aspects of the traditional and gaining influence from its new context. As focus shifts from the design of the building at a large scale to details and objects at a small scale, it becomes more important to reflect and retain the traditional qualities of the architecture. At a large scale, the building may be influenced by its context so as to be integrated into its new place, as if it belongs within its new urban fabric. As we move into the smaller scale in design, we draw closer to the body. It is these elements of the design which an occupant experiences more intimately, and through sensory experience and triggering memories of home, can help to create a feeling of belonging. The main findings of this research express the close relationship between architectural scales of intervention and the effects of individual and collective memory.</p>

The effect of upzoning on house prices and redevelopment premiums in Auckland, New Zealand

Urban Studies ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 004209802094060
Author(s):  
Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy ◽  
Gail Pacheco ◽  
Kade Sorensen
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
House Prices ◽  
Property Values ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Land Use Regulations ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Impact

We study the short-run effects of a large-scale upzoning on house prices and redevelopment premiums in Auckland, New Zealand. Upzoning significantly increases the redevelopment premium but the overall effect on house prices depends on the economic potential for site redevelopment, with underdeveloped properties appreciating relative to intensively developed properties. Notably, intensively developed properties decrease in value relative to similar dwellings that were not upzoned, showing that the large-scale upzoning had an immediate depreciative effect on pre-existing intensive housing. Our results show that the economic potential for site redevelopment is fundamental to understanding the impact of changes in land use regulations on property values.

scholarly journals Review Article: Potential geomorphic consequences of a future great (<i>M</i><sub>w</sub> = 8.0+) Alpine Fault earthquake, South Island, New Zealand

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2279-2299 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Robinson ◽  
T. R. H. Davies
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Alluvial Fans ◽  
Large Magnitude ◽  
Alpine Fault ◽  
Landslide Dams ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Near Future

Abstract. The Alpine Fault in New Zealand's South Island has not sustained a large magnitude earthquake since ca. AD 1717. The time since this rupture is close to the average inferred recurrence interval of the fault (~300 yr). The Alpine Fault is therefore expected to generate a large magnitude earthquake in the near future. Previous ruptures of this fault are inferred to have generated Mw = 8.0 or greater earthquakes and to have resulted in, amongst other geomorphic hazards, large-scale landslides and landslide dams throughout the Southern Alps. There is currently 85% probability that the Alpine Fault will cause a Mw = 8.0+ earthquake within the next 100 yr. While the seismic hazard is fairly well understood, that of the consequential geomorphic activity is less well studied, and these consequences are explored herein. They are expected to include landsliding, landslide damming, dam-break flooding, debris flows, river aggradation, liquefaction, and landslide-generated lake/fiord tsunami. Using evidence from previous events within New Zealand as well as analogous international examples, we develop first-order estimates of the likely magnitude and possible locations of the geomorphic effects associated with earthquakes. Landsliding is expected to affect an area > 30 000 km2 and involve > 1billion m3 of material. Some tens of landslide dams are expected to occur in narrow, steep-sided gorges in the affected region. Debris flows will be generated in the first long-duration rainfall after the earthquake and will continue to occur for several years as rainfall (re)mobilises landslide material. In total more than 1000 debris flows are likely to be generated at some time after the earthquake. Aggradation of up to 3 m will cover an area > 125 km2 and is likely to occur on many West Coast alluvial fans and floodplains. The impact of these effects will be felt across the entire South Island and is likely to continue for several decades.

scholarly journals MONITORING SEABIRDS AND MARINE MAMMALS BY GEOREFERENCED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B8 ◽  
pp. 689-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kemper ◽  
A. Weidauer ◽  
T. Coppack
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mandatory Requirement

The assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the marine environment is challenged by the accessibility, accuracy and validity of biogeographical information. Offshore wind farm projects require large-scale ecological surveys before, during and after construction, in order to assess potential effects on the distribution and abundance of protected species. The robustness of site-specific population estimates depends largely on the extent and design of spatial coverage and the accuracy of the applied census technique. Standard environmental assessment studies in Germany have so far included aerial visual surveys to evaluate potential impacts of offshore wind farms on seabirds and marine mammals. However, low flight altitudes, necessary for the visual classification of species, disturb sensitive bird species and also hold significant safety risks for the observers. Thus, aerial surveys based on high-resolution digital imagery, which can be carried out at higher (safer) flight altitudes (beyond the rotor-swept zone of the wind turbines) have become a mandatory requirement, technically solving the problem of distant-related observation bias. A purpose-assembled imagery system including medium-format cameras in conjunction with a dedicated geo-positioning platform delivers series of orthogonal digital images that meet the current technical requirements of authorities for surveying marine wildlife at a comparatively low cost. At a flight altitude of 425&thinsp;m, a focal length of 110&thinsp;mm, implemented forward motion compensation (FMC) and exposure times ranging between 1/1600 and 1/1000&thinsp;s, the twin-camera system generates high quality 16 bit RGB images with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 2&thinsp;cm and an image footprint of 155 x 410&thinsp;m. The image files are readily transferrable to a GIS environment for further editing, taking overlapping image areas and areas affected by glare into account. The imagery can be routinely screened by the human eye guided by purpose-programmed software to distinguish biological from non-biological signals. Each detected seabird or marine mammal signal is identified to species level or assigned to a species group and automatically saved into a geo-database for subsequent quality assurance, geo-statistical analyses and data export to third-party users. The relative size of a detected object can be accurately measured which provides key information for species-identification. During the development and testing of this system until 2015, more than 40 surveys have produced around 500.000 digital aerial images, of which some were taken in specially protected areas (SPA) of the Baltic Sea and thus include a wide range of relevant species. Here, we present the technical principles of this comparatively new survey approach and discuss the key methodological challenges related to optimizing survey design and workflow in view of the pending regulatory requirements for effective environmental impact assessments.

scholarly journals 311Effective prospective study sampling from an existing large-scale national survey using propensity score methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Stanley ◽  
Ricci Harris ◽  
Donna Cormack ◽  
Andrew Waa ◽  
Richard Edwards
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Sampling Frame ◽  
Propensity Score Model ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Focus of Presentation Cohort study recruitment can be complex, often requiring extensive pre-screening to recruit sufficient numbers of exposed and unexposed participants. We discuss a prospective study of the impact of racism on adult health in New Zealand (NZ), with emphasis on propensity-score based sampling and recruitment methods accessing participants from a national survey (NZ Health Survey 2017/18, n = 12,530 eligible adults). Discussion will cover sampling design, response rate, and confounder balance in the final sample. Key empirical results will be summarised. Findings The NZHS provided a sampling frame with complete baseline exposure and covariate data, giving n = 2,099 exposed individuals (reported racial discrimination on NZHS). A propensity-score model (stratified by ethnicity) allowed invitation of unexposed individuals balanced on key sociodemographic confounders. Recruitment used postal invitations with telephone follow-up: individuals could respond by paper survey, online questionnaire or telephone interview. Response rate was 54%, with comparable rates in exposed/unexposed individuals, with key sociodemographic factors well-balanced by exposure status. Conclusions/Implications Racism is an important determinant of health inequity, with limited prospective research in New Zealand. Our approach enabled appropriate recruitment from a sampling frame with baseline exposure status (NZHS), including allowance for exposure variability by ethnicity. Propensity-score matching on baseline covariates allowed for balance on key confounders at invitation, with balance maintained in the final sample. Key messages Secondary sampling from large national surveys can provide efficient recruitment for prospective studies. We achieved a highly satisfactory response rate, and propensity-score based sampling substantially balanced confounders between exposed and unexposed groups, enhancing study validity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document