Effects of motorised boat passes on the time budgets of New Zealand dabchick, Poliocephalus rufopectus

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashleigh Bright ◽  
Gavin R. Reynolds ◽  
John Innes ◽  
Joseph R. Waas

New Zealand dabchicks, Poliocephalus rufopectus, are small grebes restricted to the North Island of New Zealand; with a total population of only ~1200–1500 birds, they are classed as endangered. We conducted experiments to examine the effects of boat passes of different speeds and frequencies on the time budgets of the New Zealand dabchick. We also examined whether New Zealand dabchicks became habituated to boat passes. We found that a single boat pass caused a significant short-term change in New Zealand dabchick behaviour compared with pre–boat pass patterns. This change in behaviour was more pronounced when the frequency of boat passes was higher, and may impose energetic constraints on New Zealand dabchicks. Differences between behaviour before and after the boat pass were no longer evident 15 minutes after the boat pass. We found no significant effects of boat speed (5 v. 10 knots) on the behaviour of New Zealand dabchicks. There was evidence of habituation to boat traffic in high-use recreational sites. Further studies are required to investigate the influence of other human activities and the influence that boat and wave wash have on the nesting and breeding success of the New Zealand dabchick.

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-183
Author(s):  
Mitsuharu Yagi

To study the effects of a typhoon on a temperate, coastal bay community, the species composition, catch amount, and diversity of epipelagic fish assemblages were investigated. Fish samples were taken from catches of a purse seine fishery in Tachibana Bay, Japan between May and July 2011, covering before and after the passage of a typhoon in the area. Although major changes in total catch amount were not observed before and after the passage of the typhoon, the abundance of the Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus Temminck et Schlegel, 1846, markedly decreased and bycatch of species increased, accompanied by increasing levels of diversity of the fish assemblage. Multivariate analysis showed that community differences before and after the passage were quantitative rather than qualitative. Comparisons in total length frequencies between the two periods indicated that specimens of the species compared were bigger in size for Trachurus japonicus (Temminck et Schlegel, 1844) and smaller for E. japonicus in the “after” period. These results suggest that the passage of the typhoon triggered not only interspecific faunal change but also intraspecific recruitment shifts in and around the bay.


2017 ◽  
Vol 177 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Rodie ◽  
M A V Mudaliar ◽  
P Herzyk ◽  
M McMillan ◽  
M Boroujerdi ◽  
...  

Background It is unclear whether a short-term change in circulating androgens is associated with changes in the transcriptome of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Aims and methods To explore the effect of hCG stimulation on the PBMC transcriptome, 12 boys with a median age (range) of 0.7 years (0.3, 11.2) who received intramuscular hCG 1500u on 3 consecutive days as part of their investigations underwent transcriptomic array analysis on RNA extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after hCG stimulation. Results Median pre- and post-hCG testosterone for the overall group was 0.7 nmol/L (<0.5, 6) and 7.9 nmol/L (<0.5, 31.5), respectively. Of the 12 boys, 3 (25%) did not respond to hCG stimulation with a pre and post median serum testosterone of <0.5 nmol/L and <0.5 nmol/L, respectively. When corrected for gene expression changes in the non-responders to exclude hCG effects, all 9 of the hCG responders consistently demonstrated a 20% or greater increase in the expression of piR-37153 and piR-39248, non-coding PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). In addition, of the 9 responders, 8, 6 and 4 demonstrated a 30, 40 and 50% rise, respectively, in a total of 2 further piRNAs. In addition, 3 of the responders showed a 50% or greater rise in the expression of another small RNA, SNORD5. On comparing fold-change in serum testosterone with fold-change in the above transcripts, a positive correlation was detected for SNORD5 (P = 0.01). Conclusions The identification of a dynamic and androgen-responsive PBMC transcriptome extends the potential value of the hCG test for the assessment of androgen sufficiency.


1953 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. R. McDowell

Variations in the unsaturated acid constituents of butterfat samples from the Manawatu district of the North Island of New Zealand over the months October to April were studied by the spectrophotometric technique, applied both before and after alkali isomerization of the fat.The seasonal variations in the iodine values of the butterfats were found to be closely related to the changes in oleic acid content. Conjugated dienoic acids, though present in relatively small amounts, showed a somewhat similar seasonal trend in values to oleic acid. The results for percentage content of non-conjugated dienoic acids were low, and they fluctuated considerably from month to month. Conjugated trienoic and tetraenoic acids were absent or present only in traces. Small but fairly consistent quantities of nonconjugated trienoic and tetraenoic acids were found in all samples.


2018 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-196
Author(s):  
Michael Darby

Some 2,000 Ptiliidae collected in the North and South Islands of New Zealand in 1983/1984 by Peter Hammond of the Natural History Museum, London, are determined to 34 species, four of which are new to the country. As there are very few previous records, most from the Auckland district of North Island, the Hammond collection provides much new distributional data. The three new species: Nellosana insperatus sp. n., Notoptenidium flavum sp. n., and Notoptenidium johnsoni sp. n., are described and figured; the genus Ptiliodes is moved from Acrotrichinae to Ptiliinae, and Ptenidium formicetorum Kraatz recorded as a new introduction. Information is provided to aid separation of the new species from those previously recorded.


Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 341 (6150) ◽  
pp. 1085-1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Graven ◽  
R. F. Keeling ◽  
S. C. Piper ◽  
P. K. Patra ◽  
B. B. Stephens ◽  
...  

Seasonal variations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Northern Hemisphere have increased since the 1950s, but sparse observations have prevented a clear assessment of the patterns of long-term change and the underlying mechanisms. We compare recent aircraft-based observations of CO2 above the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans to earlier data from 1958 to 1961 and find that the seasonal amplitude at altitudes of 3 to 6 km increased by 50% for 45° to 90°N but by less than 25% for 10° to 45°N. An increase of 30 to 60% in the seasonal exchange of CO2 by northern extratropical land ecosystems, focused on boreal forests, is implicated, substantially more than simulated by current land ecosystem models. The observations appear to signal large ecological changes in northern forests and a major shift in the global carbon cycle.


Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Gladys N. Benitez ◽  
Glenn D. Aguilar ◽  
Dan Blanchon

The spatial distribution of corticolous lichens on the iconic New Zealand pōhutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) tree was investigated from a survey of urban parks and forests across the city of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. Lichens were identified from ten randomly selected trees at 20 sampling sites, with 10 sites classified as coastal and another 10 as inland sites. Lichen data were correlated with distance from sea, distance from major roads, distance from native forests, mean tree DBH (diameter at breast height) and the seven-year average of measured NO2 over the area. A total of 33 lichen species were found with coastal sites harboring significantly higher average lichen species per tree as well as higher site species richness. We found mild hotspots in two sites for average lichen species per tree and another two separate sites for species richness, with all hotspots at the coast. A positive correlation between lichen species richness and DBH was found. Sites in coastal locations were more similar to each other in terms of lichen community composition than they were to adjacent inland sites and some species were only found at coastal sites. The average number of lichen species per tree was negatively correlated with distance from the coast, suggesting that the characteristic lichen flora found on pōhutukawa may be reliant on coastal microclimates. There were no correlations with distance from major roads, and a slight positive correlation between NO2 levels and average lichen species per tree.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3245
Author(s):  
Emma C. Atakpa ◽  
Adam R. Brentnall ◽  
Susan Astley ◽  
Jack Cuzick ◽  
D. Gareth Evans ◽  
...  

We evaluated the association between short-term change in body mass index (BMI) and breast density during a 1 year weight-loss intervention (Manchester, UK). We included 65 premenopausal women (35–45 years, ≥7 kg adult weight gain, family history of breast cancer). BMI and breast density (semi-automated area-based, automated volume-based) were measured at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years after study entry (1 year post intervention). Cross-sectional (between-women) and short-term change (within-women) associations between BMI and breast density were measured using repeated-measures correlation coefficients and multivariable linear mixed models. BMI was positively correlated with dense volume between-women (r = 0.41, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.61), but less so within-women (r = 0.08, 95%CI: −0.16, 0.28). There was little association with dense area (between-women r = −0.12, 95%CI: −0.38, 0.16; within-women r = 0.01, 95%CI: −0.24, 0.25). BMI and breast fat were positively correlated (volume: between r = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.69, 0.84, within r = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.36, 0.75; area: between r = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.63, 0.82, within r = 0.45, 95%CI: 0.23, 0.63). Multivariable models reported similar associations. Exploratory analysis suggested associations between BMI gain from 20 years and density measures (standard deviation change per +5 kg/m2 BMI: dense area: +0.61 (95%CI: 0.12, 1.09); fat volume: −0.31 (95%CI: −0.62, 0.00)). Short-term BMI change is likely to be positively associated with breast fat, but we found little association with dense tissue, although power was limited by small sample size.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 856.1-856
Author(s):  
C. Lao ◽  
D. Lees ◽  
D. White ◽  
R. Lawrenson

Background:Osteoarthritis of the hip and knee is one of the most common causes of reduced mobility. It also causes stiffness and pain. Opioids can offer pain relief but is usually used for severe acute pain caused by major trauma or surgery. The use of opioids for relief of chronic pain caused by arthritis has increased over the last few decades.[1]Objectives:This study aims to investigate the use of strong opiates for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis before and after joint replacement surgery, over a 13 years period in New Zealand.Methods:This study included patients with osteoarthritis who underwent publicly funded primary hip and knee replacement surgeries in 2005-2017 in New Zealand. These records were identified from the National Minimum Dataset (NMD). They were cross referenced with the NZJR data to exclude the admissions not for primary hip or knee replacement surgeries. Patients without a diagnosis of osteoarthritis were excluded.The PHARMS dataset was linked to the NMD to identify the use of strong opiates before and after surgeries. The strong opiates available for community dispensing in New Zealand and included in this study are: dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, oxycodone and pethidine. Use of opiate within three months prior to surgery and within 12 months post-surgery were examined by gender, age group, ethnicity, Charlson Comorbidity Index score and year of surgery. Differences by subgroup was examined with Chi- square test. Logistic regression model was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios of strong opiate use before and after surgery compared with no opiate use.Results:We identified 53,439 primary hip replacements and 50,072 primary knee replacements with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Of patients with hip osteoarthritis, 6,251 (11.7%) had strong opiate before hip replacement surgeries and 11,939 (22.3%) had opiate after surgeries. Of patients with knee osteoarthritis, 2,922 (5.8%) had strong opiate before knee replacement surgeries and 15,252 (30.5%) had opiate after surgeries.The probability of patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis having opiate decreased with age, increased with Charlson comorbidity index score, and increased over time both before and after surgeries. Male patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis were less likely to have opiate than female patients both before and after surgeries. New Zealand Europeans with hip and knee osteoarthritis were more likely to receive opiate than other ethnic groups prior to surgeries, but were less likely to have opiate than Asians post-surgeries.Patients who had opiate before surgeries were more likely to have opiate after surgeries than those who did not have opiate before surgeries. The odds ratio was 8.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.87-8.84) for hip osteoarthritis and 11.94 (95% CI: 10.84-13.16) for knee osteoarthritis after adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity, year of surgery and Charlson comorbidity index score. Having opiate prior to surgeries also increased the probability of having opiate for 6 weeks or more after surgeries substantially. The adjusted odds ratio was 21.46 (95% CI: 19.74-23.31) for hip osteoarthritis and 27.22 (95% CI: 24.95-29.68) for knee osteoarthritis.Conclusion:Preoperative opiate holidays should be encouraged. Multiple strategies need to be used to develop analgesic plans that allow adequate rehabilitation, without precipitating a chronic opiate dependence. Clinicians would also benefit from clear guidelines for prescribing strong opiates.References:[1] Nguyen, L.C., D.C. Sing, and K.J. Bozic,Preoperative Reduction of Opioid Use Before Total Joint Arthroplasty.J Arthroplasty, 2016.31(9 Suppl): p. 282-7.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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