100 research outputs found
Distribution and abundance of fish and crayfish in a Waikato stream in relation to basin area
The aim of this study was to relate the longitudinal distribution of fish and crayfish to increasing basin area and physical site characteristics in the Mangaotama Stream, Waikato region, North Island, New Zealand. Fish and crayfish were captured with two-pass removal electroshocking at 11 sites located in hill-country with pasture, native forest, and mixed land uses within the 21.6 km2 basin. Number of fish species and lineal biomass of fish increased with increasing basin area, but barriers to upstream fish migration also influenced fish distribution; only climbing and non-migratory species were present above a series of small waterfalls. Fish biomass increased in direct proportion to stream width, suggesting that fish used much of the available channel, and stream width was closely related to basin area. Conversely, the abundance of crayfish was related to the amount of edge habitat, and therefore crayfish did not increase in abundance as basin area increased. Densities of all fish species combined ranged from 17 to 459 fish 100 m-2, and biomass ranged from 14 to 206 g m-2. Eels dominated the fish assemblages, comprising 85-100% of the total biomass; longfinned eels the majority of the biomass at most sites. Despite the open access of the lower sites to introduced brown trout, native species dominated all the fish communities sampled
Satellite university campuses and economic development in peripheral regions
Satellite university campuses â whereby established universities decentralise part of their activities, often to areas previously lacking a university â contribute to the diversification of university systems. While satellite campuses, due to their small scale and limited resources, might perform some activities less efficiently than their larger parent universities, we argue that they are uniquely placed to serve the needs of their localities. Based on the case of a satellite campus in North-West Italy, we show that: (i) the campusâ main contribution lies in widening access to higher education to residents who would not attend university in the absence of local provision; (ii) the campus contributes to local development also through research and business and community engagement, and by stimulating local demand for knowledge-intensive services; (iii) research and engagement are more effective for local development where local firms possess relevant absorptive capacity and where there is a favourable institutional framework
Omnivoria e repartição de recursos em åguas pobres em nutrientes da Bacia do Rio Negro
Amazonian biodiversity is notorious, this is also valid for the fauna of the mineral-deficient waters of the Rio Negro System. Some 25 years of research on the benthic fauna of Central Amazonian streams resulted in species-rich foodwebs with a high degree of omnivory within dense animal communities. To exemplify the taxonomic range of omnivorous consumers, the detailed resource spectra of 18 consumer species, including Protozoa (2 species), Platyhelminthes (1 species), insects (2 species), fish (6 species) and shrimps (Decapoda, 7 species), associated primarily with the benthic habitats of Rio Negro tributaries, are presented. Special features of omnivory are characterized, and the importance of litter-decomposing fungi as essential energy input into the foodwebs is documented. It is shown that general omnivory -diverse omnivore consumers sharing most of the resource types- is a prevalent feature. The relevance of this general omnivory for the maintenance of biodiversity is discussed.A biodiversidade do Amazonas Ă© notĂłrio e isto tambĂ©m Ă© vĂĄlido para as ĂĄguas pobres em nutrientes da bacia do Rio Negro. Uma pesquisa de 25 anos da fauna bĂ©ntica de igarapĂ©s da AmazĂŽnia Central resultou em redes alimentares caraterizadas por alta diversidade de espĂ©cies, por intensa omnivoria e por alta densidade populacional. Para demonstrar a generalidade taxonĂŽmica de omnivoria no bentos dos igarapĂ©s, sĂŁo apresentados as listas de presas / recursos de 18 espĂ©cies de consumidores, sendo Protozoa (2 epĂ©cies), Platyhelminthes (1 espĂ©cie), insetos (2 espĂ©cies), peixes (6 espĂ©cies) e camarĂ”es (Decapoda, 7 espĂ©cies). Diferentes categorias de omnivoria sĂŁo apresentados, e a importĂąncia de fungos decompositores da liteira submersa como input bĂĄsico de energia nas redes alimentares Ă© demonstrada. Ă prevalente a omnivoria geral, sendo que as diferentes espĂ©cies omnĂvoros estĂŁo utilizando os mesmos recursos. Considera- se a relevĂąncia desta omnivoria geral para a manutenção da biodiversidade
Detecting impacts of invasive non-native sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus, within invaded and non-invaded rivers.
In aquatic ecosystems, impacts by invasive introduced fish can be likened to press disturbances that persistently influence communities. This study examined invasion disturbances by determining the relationship between non-native sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus and aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A Multiple BeforeâAfter ControlâImpact (MBACI) experimental design was used to examine macroinvertebrate communities within two rivers: one with catfish and another one without catfish. Within the invaded river, macroinvertebrates showed little response to catfish presence, whereas predator exclusion appeared to benefit community structure. This suggests that the macroinvertebrate community within the invaded river was adapted to predation impact because of the dominance of resilient taxa, such as Hirudinea, Oligochaeta and Chironomidae that were abundant in the Impact treatment relative to the Control treatment. High macroinvertebrate diversity and richness that was observed in the Control treatment, which excluded the predator, relative to the Impact treatment suggests predator avoidance behaviour within the invaded river. By comparison, within the uninvaded river, catfish introduction into the Impact treatment plots indicated negative effects on macroinvertebrate community that was reflected by decrease in diversity, richness and biomass. A community level impact was also reflected in the multivariate analysis that indicated more variation in macroinvertebrate composition within the Impact treatment relative to the Control in the uninvaded river. Catfish impact within the uninvaded river suggests the dominance of vulnerable taxa, such as odonates that were less abundant in the Impact treatment plots after catfish introduction. From a disturbance perspective, this study revealed different macroinvertebrate responses to catfish impact, and suggests that within invaded habitats, macroinvertebrates were less responsive to catfish presence, whereas catfish introduction within uninvaded habitats demonstrated invasion impact that was shown by a decrease in the abundance of vulnerable taxa. The occurrence of non-native sharptooth catfish within many Eastern Cape rivers is a concern because of its predation impact and potential to influence trophic interrelationships, and efforts should be taken to protect uninvaded rivers, and, where possible, eradicate the invader
Risk and resilience in gifted young people from low socio-economic backgrounds
Gifted and talented young people from low socio-economic backgrounds are consistently under-represented in gifted programmes in New Zealand schools. This chapter reports on a qualitative study that explored the lived experiences of 101 gifted New Zealand young people from low socio-economic back-grounds. An overarching question for this study was âWhat is it about gifted young people from low socio-economic backgrounds who have achieved to exceptional levels, that has enabled them to do so?â The risk and resilience construct was used as a lens through which to explore their experiences across a range of contexts. These young people reflected on their perceptions of their giftedness and socio-economic circumstances, their childhoods and school ex-periences, and their home lives. The stories of the participants in this study in-dicated that there are particular risks associated with both giftedness and low socio-economic status, and contribute to ideas about how these young people might be more effectively supported to develop their potential
So Awkward: Never Meet Your Heroes
Part of a series of 6 x 30 minute comedy drama episodes directed by Vito Rocco for BBC (UK) and ABC (Australia) as part of the BAFTA award winning childrenâs series. Roccoâs episodes were broadcast between September and December 2019 in the UK on the BBCâs CBBC channel and are available for catch up viewing on BBC iPlayer and was broadcast in Australia on ABC. So Awkward is CBBCâs most popular series viewed by iPlayer views. Rocco worked on each episode as lead director on the series which examines issues faced by a group of smart seventeen year olds in a UK school. Episodes focus on issues within a work/life balance; teen relationships; borders between virtual reality and real life. The end user is able to add continuing commentary within social media interfaces linked to the series which helps to develop a sense of kinship with the characters. The episodes connect with and continue Rocco's on-going research into the impact of user-generated content as an initiator and source of cross-platform content. This work follows on from Rocco's investigation within Faintheart (the world's first user-generated feature film) into the creative relationship between end user and filmmaker, fictitious and real-life characters and reflects on the successes and failures of working within this mode
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