The effect of land use on benthic communities in Hawkes Bay streams of differing geology : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Ecology at Massey University

Benthic macroinvertebrate and periphyton communities of streams draining four different land use types within four distinct geological types were sampled between December 1996 and January 1997. Catchment land use comprised either standing mature or logged exotic forest, native forest, or hill country pasture. The geological types of these catchments were either Mesozoic sandstone-greywacke, Pleistocene-greywacke, Tertiary mudstone, or limestone in origin. Pastoral stream invertebrate community structure was significantly different from that found in forested streams, with no clear distinction separating communities from standing exotic, logged exotic, and native forest sites. Pastoral communities were dominated by dipterans and trichopterans. while in contrast, macroinvertebrate communities in streams draining sandstone-greywacke catchments were dominated by ephemeropterans and plecopterans, showing a clear influence of catchment geology on benthic macroinvertebrate communities. This sandstone-greywacke effect appeared to be independent of land use. Periphyton biomass was greatest in pastoral and exotic sites, particularly those draining limestone catchments. High nutrient and conductivity levels, both of which are characteristic of limestone streams, appeared to override the effect of light restrictions on periphyton growth in exotic forest sites. Overall, both geology and land use played major roles in determining the structure of stream benthic communities, with factors such as altitude and stream temperature also important influences on these communities. In November and December 1997, nutrient, shade, and disturbance effects were examined in periphyton communities colonising artificial substrates. These substrates were left in the 8 forested Hawkes Bay streams for 28 days with disturbance treatment substrates being physically abraded every 7 days. Nutrients (N + P) were added to nutrient treatment substrates and polythene cloth was used to create an artificially shaded environment for shade treatment substrates. Light availability and percentage canopy cover had the greatest effect upon periphyton, with light limitation being exhibited in closed canopy systems. Nutrient supply was also a factor determining periphyton biomass at both open and closed sites, although only up to a limit. Physical disturbance successfully removed organic matter from substrates as well as reducing chlorophyll a levels at open sites, however light and nutrient levels were more important determinants of chlorophyll a concentrations. In summary, both land use and geology play a considerable role in influencing both macroinvertebrate community structure and periphyton biomass. The geological influence was mediated through direct effects on nutrient inputs into the stream (as measured by conductivity), as well as by the indirect influence upon stream water temperatures. The influence of land use on benthic communities is predominantly as a result of shade levels created by vegetation types and enrichment levels derived from agriculturally influenced land. These results are of particular importance when comparing or analysing results from studies involving different land use types, particularly when these land uses cover a range of altitudes or are found in more than one geological type

New England Has the Highest Increase in Income Disparity in the Nation

New England is a generally prosperous region and its residents are doing relatively well economically (see Table 1). Yet, between 1989 and 2004, the region experienced the largest increase in income inequality in the country. Much of this widening gap between rich and poor was driven by growth among the top earners, but the changes are not simply the "rich getting richer." Rather, they reflect the hollowing out of the middle caused by significant changes in the nation's economy. The loss of manufacturing employment for low-skilled workers has been coupled with increased demand, and rewards, for high-skilled and high tech employment. These shifts were more pronounced in New England because of the region's highly educated population, strong research and development base, and relatively high cost of business operations, which pushes low-skilled jobs elsewhere

Changes in income distribution in New England

Although by some measures New Englanders are doing well economically, the region has experienced the largest jump in household income inequality of all nine census divisions. The authors parse the data.Income distribution - New England

Mitigating impacts of climate change in stream food webs

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of changing climates on the processes which support aquatic biodiversity is of critical importance for managing aquatic ecosystems. This research used an experimental approach to determine whether there are potential ecological surprises in terms of threshold relationships between climate and critical aquatic processes. These results were then placed in the context of the potential for riparian replanting to mitigate against these impacts.A review was carried out of climate change experiments in freshwaters, and revealed that the vast majority of studies have failed to take into account predicted increases in the frequency of extreme events (such as heatwaves) on biota. In order to include these components of changes in climate, a methodology was developed for downscaling global circulation models of climate change to generate realistic temperature data to use as an experimental treatment. Stream communities from the field were brought into experimental flumes and warmed according to the predictions of the down-scaled climate change models. Experiments were run for six weeks and responses were measured for basal processes (algal productivity and carbon dynamics) and aquatic invertebrate communities. Basal processes showed relatively small responses to the changed temperature regime, and appear to be relatively resistant for warming on the scale predicted under climate change scenarios for the next century. Aquatic invertebrate communities did show some responses, but these tended to be in terms of changes in size structure withion particular taxa rather than major impacts on patterns of biodiversity.The largest effects were seen for emerging adults of aquatic insects, were all species in the community responded in some way to our 2100 climate change treatment. Responses were species- and sex-specific. Males of all mayfly species emerged faster under 2100 temperatures compared to 1990-2000 temperatures. For the mayfly Ulmerophlebia pipinna (Leptophlebiidae), this implied a change in the sex ratio that could potentially compromise populations and, ultimately, lead to local extinctions. Furthermore, our results show a decrease in the overall community body size (average across taxa) due to a shift from bigger to smaller species.These results are in accord with the ecological rules dealing with the temperature-size relationships (in particular, Bergmann’s rule). Studies of streams in the field revealed that riparian vegetation did cool stream temperatures, and that the presence of riparian vegetation, ideally with extensive vegetation cover across the catchment, did appear to maintain higher diversity and abundance in stream invertebrate communities. Therefore it seems that restoring riparian vegetation does represent an effective means of adaptation to changing climates for temperate south eastern Australian freshwaters.Please cite this report as: Thompson, RM, Beardall, J, Beringer, J, Grace, M, Sardina, P 2013 Mitigating impacts of climate change on stream food webs: impacts of elevated temperature and CO2 on the critical processes underpinning resilience of aquatic ecosystems National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp.136.Understanding the effects of changing climates on the processes which support aquatic biodiversity is of critical importance for managing aquatic ecosystems. This research used an experimental approach to determine whether there are potential ecological surprises in terms of threshold relationships between climate and critical aquatic processes. These results were then placed in the context of the potential for riparian replanting to mitigate against these impacts.A review was carried out of climate change experiments in freshwaters, and revealed that the vast majority of studies have failed to take into account predicted increases in the frequency of extreme events (such as heatwaves) on biota. In order to include these components of changes in climate, a methodology was developed for downscaling global circulation models of climate change to generate realistic temperature data to use as an experimental treatment. Stream communities from the field were brought into experimental flumes and warmed according to the predictions of the down-scaled climate change models. Experiments were run for six weeks and responses were measured for basal processes (algal productivity and carbon dynamics) and aquatic invertebrate communities. Basal processes showed relatively small responses to the changed temperature regime, and appear to be relatively resistant for warming on the scale predicted under climate change scenarios for the next century. Aquatic invertebrate communities did show some responses, but these tended to be in terms of changes in size structure withion particular taxa rather than major impacts on patterns of biodiversity.The largest effects were seen for emerging adults of aquatic insects, were all species in the community responded in some way to our 2100 climate change treatment. Responses were species- and sex-specific. Males of all mayfly species emerged faster under 2100 temperatures compared to 1990-2000 temperatures. For the mayfly Ulmerophlebia pipinna (Leptophlebiidae), this implied a change in the sex ratio that could potentially compromise populations and, ultimately, lead to local extinctions. Furthermore, our results show a decrease in the overall community body size (average across taxa) due to a shift from bigger to smaller species.These results are in accord with the ecological rules dealing with the temperature-size relationships (in particular, Bergmann’s rule). Studies of streams in the field revealed that riparian vegetation did cool stream temperatures, and that the presence of riparian vegetation, ideally with extensive vegetation cover across the catchment, did appear to maintain higher diversity and abundance in stream invertebrate communities. Therefore it seems that restoring riparian vegetation does represent an effective means of adaptation to changing climates for temperate south eastern Australian freshwaters

WHEN THE PAST COMES KNOCKING: AN ALTER-CENTRIC PERSPECTIVE ON NETWORK MOBILIZATION IN PROSOCIAL OCCUPATIONS

Networks are vital to our ability to access resources. However, scholars have often overlooked just how social networks are mobilized. Underexplored in the literature is how individuals think and feel about mobilizing networks with little attention directed towards the person (alter) being reached out to. In this dissertation, I use a basic, interpretive design to better understand how people think and feel about receiving requests for task-related help, paying particular attention to when those requests originate from people from one’s past. To do so, I conducted interviews with 40 animal rescuers given their passion for helping, but their inability to assist everyone, so they must be selective about which ties to mobilize. My findings show that simply possessing a tie does not always translate into successful mobilization, alters think and feel differently about help-seekers from their past as compared to people they currently interact with, and that people from one’s past may be useful reservoirs of value, but present unique challenges that must be overcome before benefiting from these connections. This work contributes to the literature by better incorporating alters into the mobilization process and helps shift the focus away from only mobilizing current connections and towards mobilizing people from the past

Licensing and Access Problems Producers of Video Games Face in Foreign Markets: A Case Study

Nearly a decade ago an American online video game called Everquest swept the world markets and generated enormous profits. Since then a genre of video games known as Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games has developed. Capitalizing on the genre\u27s huge success, Blizzard Entertainment\u27s World of Warcraft (WoW) has catapulted gaming to new heights earning over USD $1 billion annually. While the game is sold globally, Chinese players account for nearly half of WoWs player base. Keeping this enormous market has, however, been challenging and for nearly two years Blizzard lost its market access in China. Using Chinese WoW as a case study, this Note examines what producers of foreign video games must do in order to gain and maintain access to the vast Chinese market. Topics such as the Chinese legal protection of virtual goods, a regulatory battle between two branches of the Chinese government, and a new (currently) dominant set of regulations are discussed. Ultimately, some uncertainty remains, but understanding WoWs trip through rapidly evolving Chinese regulations is critical to seeking some clarity in accessing the enormous Chinese video game market

Analytical Models for Reinforced Concrete Columns Retrofitted with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Traditional rebar reinforcement methods in concrete columns have been accepted for many years as the common practice among designers and contractors. There has been a tremendous amount of research completed and designers are capable of predicting the future performance of the columns. More recently, retrofit methods have been used on aging concrete columns. This includes adding an additional layer of concrete or composite material around the existing column to slow the deterioration and to increase the concrete confinement. Current models exist in the use of a combination of a rebar cage and concrete as the retrofit method. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wraps are fast becoming a new form of technology to replace traditional rebar retrofit technology. The fiber-reinforced polymer wraps are a composite material that can be attached to the existing concrete column using an epoxy resin. The wrap increases the concrete confinement of the column and provides support for the concrete dilation in the column. However, FRP wraps are not heavily used in structural applications because there is not an accepted model that has been proven to accurately predict future strength characteristics of the confined concrete column. The focus of this research project is to use the results of an already completed test of concrete columns confined by FRP wraps, and compare the resulting stress-strain curves to the commonly proposed modeling technology available. FRP modeling is still relatively new and there is not a widely accepted model. The purpose of this research project is to determine how accurately the proposed FRP models predict the strength of the tested columns. There are many different models that have been proposed, but the key to the future of FRP retrofitting is to create a widely accepted, reliable model that engineers can use in design. It is important to normalize the design process of FRP retrofitted columns in order to better use the technology in the future. Advisor: Halil SezenCollege of EngineeringDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Geodetic Scienc