Effects of point source discharges on common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) along the Waikato River, New Zealand

Te Parapara Garden is the only complete pre-European-style Māori horticultural garden in the world. Historically inspired and empirically researched, it lies within the Hamilton Gardens on a young river terrace immediately adjacent to the Waikato River in Hamilton (Kirikiriroa), Aotearoa New Zealand. In this article, Wiremu Puke (Ngāti Wairere, Ngāti Porou) – a tohunga whakairo (master carver, including using pre-steel tools) and a tohunga whakapapa (genealogical expert on his tribal affiliations) of Ngāti Wairere (the mana whenua, or first people of the traditional ancestral tribal lands of Kirikiriroa) – describes the design and development of Te Parapara Garden from its initial concept in 2003 and the construction of its many features, including the waharoa (gateway), pou (carved pillars), pātaka (storehouse), whatarangi (small storehouse), taeapa (fencing) and rua kūmara (underground storage pit), and the sourcing and use of kōkōwai (red ochre). The garden was completed in 2010. Its ongoing functioning, including the annual planting and harvesting of traditional pre-European kūmara (sweet potato) using modified, mounded soils (puke or ahu), is also covered. The unique Te Parapara Garden is of great cultural importance and a source of pride, knowledge and understanding for national and international visitors and empirical and academic researchers.

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Physiological Health of Common Bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) in the Tarawera and Rangitaiki Rivers of New Zealand: Evidence of Diminished Ecological Effects of Pulp and Paper Effluents in Wild Fish Populations

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2010.025 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (2) ◽

pp. 223-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael J. Landman ◽

Natalie A. Bleackley ◽

Nicholas Ling ◽

Michael R. van den Heuvel

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Microscopic Analysis ◽

Pulp And Paper ◽

Steroid Production ◽

River Population ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Pulp And Paper Effluent ◽

Gobiomorphus Cotidianus

Abstract This study examined the comparative physiological health of the endemic New Zealand common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) in the Tarawera and Rangitaiki Rivers. Bully were sampled downstream of pulp and paper effluent inputs in the Tarawera River and compared with a similar inland population in the Rangitaiki River. Condition factor and liver somatic index did not differ between populations, but Tarawera River bullies possessed larger gonads. Haematological assessments found smaller erythrocytes with reduced haemoglobin content, and increased leukocyte concentrations in Tarawera River females. Male and female Tarawera River bullies had significantly induced hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity. Greater ovarian follicular steroid production was also found for Tarawera River females. Microscopic analysis of ovarian tissue samples found no histopathological abnormalities in either population and indicated a slightly advanced vitellogenic stage of development in the Tarawera River population. It is concluded that the difference in steroid production between populations was most likely linked to gonad size and developmental status. In line with the disappearance of physiological effects in recent controlled laboratory and mesocosm pulp and paper effluent exposures, this study further demonstrates that, with the exception of EROD induction, characteristic pulp and paper effluent effects are not obvious in wild Tarawera fish.

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Predicting potential change in agricultural sediment inputs to rivers across England and Wales by 2015

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf08033 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 60 (7) ◽

pp. 626 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Adrian L. Collins ◽

Steven G. Anthony ◽

Julia Hawley ◽

Tony Turner

Keyword(s):

Point Source ◽

Suspended Sediment ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Ecological Status ◽

The European Union ◽

England And Wales ◽

Modelling Framework ◽

Projected Change ◽

Compliance Testing ◽

Point Source Discharges

Recent work has evaluated the gap between current and compliant suspended sediment losses due to farming across England and Wales and the potential for change by 2015. The study adopted the guideline annual average sediment threshold of 25 mg L–1 cited by the European Union Freshwater Fish Directive. Compliance testing required national scale sediment source apportionment to assess the current contributions of diffuse agricultural and urban sector losses, channel bank erosion and point source discharges to the total suspended sediment loads delivered to all rivers. Results suggested that the agricultural sector dominates present day (year 2000) sediment inputs to rivers (1929 kt = 76%) compared with eroding channel banks (394 kt = 15%), diffuse urban sources (147 kt = 6%) and point source discharges (76 kt = 3%). Projected change in farming by 2015, represented by the Business As Usual forecast of structural developments and predicted uptake of sediment mitigation methods, suggested a 9% reduction in sediment losses from the agricultural sector across England and Wales. Further mitigation of diffuse agricultural sediment transfers to watercourses will therefore be necessary to ensure ‘good ecological status’ in some catchments. A similar modelling framework could be applied in other countries.

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