Conservation status of New Zealand marine invertebrates, 2009

A re-evaluation of the threat status of New Zealand's marine invertebrates was undertaken in 2009, following earlier review of New Zealand's Threat Classification System and subsequent refinement of the national criteria for classifying threat of extinction to New Zealand's flora and fauna. Sufficient information was available to enable 295 marine invertebrate taxa to be fully evaluated and assigned to a national threat category. The 10 taxa at most risk of extinction (‘nationally critical’) were the giant seep clam Calyptogena sp., the primitive acorn barnacle Chionelasmus crosnieri, O'Shea's vent barnacle Volcanolepas osheai, the stalked barnacle Ibla idiotica, the four-blotched umbrella octopus Cirroctopus hochbergi, the roughy umbrella octopus Opisthoteuthis chathamensis, the giant squid Idioteuthis cordiformis, the large-egged polychaete Boccardiella magniovata and two gravel maggots, Smeagol climoi and Smeagol manneringi. The key threatening processes identified for marine invertebrates were fishing and land-use associated impacts such as sedimentation. We identified no taxa that had improved in threat status as a result of past or ongoing conservation management action, nor any taxa that had worsened in threat status because of known changes in their distribution, abundance or rate of population decline. We evaluated a small fraction of New Zealand's marine invertebrate fauna for their threat status. Many taxa remain ‘data deficient’ or unlisted. In addition to the most threatened taxa, we recommend these taxa and their habitats as priorities for further survey and monitoring.     

Evidence for discrete subpopulations of sea perch (Helicolenus ercoides) across four fjords in Fiordland,New Zealand

In coastal populations of invertebrates and fishes, the distribution of discrete subpopulations is influenced by adult and larval dispersal, as well as by the effects of habitat heterogeneity on site fidelity or connectivity. Here, we examine evidence for spatial structure of sea perch, Helicolenus percoides, populations among four fjords in the Fiordland region of southwestern New Zealand. We examine patterns in adult morphology, length-at-age, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of muscle tissue, and trace elemental composition of whole otoliths as proxies for population isolation among the four inner fjord regions. A multivariate analysis of morphometrics reveals significant differences among populations from each of the four sites, suggesting existence of four distinct subpopulations. These patterns are consistent with observed differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N, and length-at-age estimates among the four subpopulations. Differences in whole otolith concentrations of Sr, Ba, Mg and Li, and high classification scores based on the whole otolith elemental fingerprint are also consistent with significant subdivision among areas. Patterns across all four markers are consistent with discrete subpopulation structure of adult sea perch among the four study sites. These data indicate that the newly implemented network of marine protected areas in Fiordland is likely to contain discrete populations of sea perch.     

Polar non-hydrocarbon contaminants in reservoir core extracts

A geochemical investigation of oils in sandstone core plugs and drill stem test oils was carried out on samples from a North Sea reservoir. A sample of diesel used as a constituent of the drilling fluids was also analysed. The aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and polar non-hydrocarbons were isolated using solid phase extraction methods. GC analysis of the hydrocarbon fraction of the core extract indicated that contamination may be diesel derived. From analysis of diesel some compound classes are less likely to be affected by contamination from diesel itself including: steranes, hopanes, aromatic steroid hydrocarbons, benzocarbazoles and C₀–C₃-alkylphenols.     

Galvanic interaction between grinding media and arsenopyrite and its effect on flotation: Part I. Quantifying galvanic interaction during grinding

The Magotteaux Mill® system was used to quantify the galvanic interaction between four types of grinding media (mild steel, 15% chromium, 21% chromium, and 30% chromium media) and arsenopyrite, in situ of the mill. The galvanic current was determined from the polarization curves of individual electrodes, in situ of the mill. The high chromium media had a significantly weaker galvanic interaction with arsenopyrite, and produced a very much lower amount of oxidized iron species in the mill discharge than mild steel medium. Increasing the dissolved oxygen in the mill slurry enhanced galvanic interaction. A theoretical model was developed to describe the relationship between galvanic current and oxidized iron species in the slurry, as measured by EDTA extraction. The electrochemical data were correlated with the measurement of oxidation products after grinding under different conditions. The stronger the galvanic interaction, the higher the amount of hydrophilic oxidized iron species in the mill discharge.     

The surface dilational viscosity of polypropylene glycol solutions and its influence on water flow and foam behavior

The non-equilibrium interfacial properties of a homologous series of aqueous polypropylene glycol solutions (400–2000 g/mol) were investigated as a function of concentration to understand their role in determining foam behavior. The overflowing cylinder technique was used to generate a continually expanding surface. Static and dynamic surface tensions, as well as the surface velocity of the expanding surface, were characterized. The surface dilational viscosity was compared to water flow rate and foam retention time of the polypropylene glycol solutions reported in the literature. This study suggests that the surface dilational viscosity is a key parameter in the Marangoni effect which retards water drainage, resulting in wetter foam and increased water recovery across flowing foams.     

Observations on temporal red shift of wheat from multi-date spaceborne MOS-B spectrometer data

High spectral resolution spectroscopy enables to have detailed information on chemical and morphological status of crop. An attempt of using space platform for detecting red edge shift during different growth stages of wheat crop is reported. Study was conducted during rabi 1996–97 season using Modular Opto-Electronic Scanner MOS-B Imaging data onboard IRS-P3 satellite. Inverted Gaussian model was fitted for satellite derived reflectances between 650 and 870 nm to derive inflection wavelength and its subsequent change with crop stages i.e. red shift. Red shift of 10 nm observed from crown root initiation stage (703.8 nm) to peak vegetative stage (714.2 nm). A comparative study on temporal behaviour of vegetative indices like NDVI and ARVI with Red edge showed that latter is more atmospherically stable parameter. It is concluded that red edge shift which hitherto has been observed from ground and airborne sensors, can also be detected from space.     

Hydrodynamics and scale up in Rushton turbine flotation cells: Part 2. Flotation scale-up for laboratory and pilot cells

A series of flotation experiments was carried out in three Rushton turbine cells of volumes 2.25, 10 and 50 dm³ using hydrophobic quartz particles to determine a set of scale-up criteria that would produce the same size-by-size flotation rate constants. Flotation was performed at a constant Sauter mean bubble diameter over a range of superficial gas velocities and impeller rotational speeds.     

Hydrodynamics and scale up in Rushton turbine flotation cells: Part 1 — Cell hydrodynamics

The effect of operating parameters on the hydrodynamics of three geometrically similar Rushton turbine flotation cells with volumes of 2.25, 10 and 50 dm³ was determined. The operating parameters investigated were superficial gas velocity (J_g), impeller rotational speed (N), and frother (methyl isobutyl carbinol, MIBC) concentration.     

Tea acreage estimation and condition assessment using satellite data in nilgiri district,tamilnadu

In the present study an attempt has been made to estimate acreage and condition of tea plantations by using satellite based digital remotely sensed data in visible, near infra-red and middle infra-red spectral regions, in the Nilgiri district of Tamilnadu state. Landsat MSS and TM data, acquired on Dec. 26, 1990 were used in the analysis, Different spectral band combinations, Landsat MSS (1234), TM (1234), TM (2345) and TM (123457) were used for identification of tea plantations. District-boundary-overlaying approach with complete enumeration of digital data was used for estimation of tea acreages. Condition assessment of tea plantations is based on the Greenness Index. Use of Landsat MSS data resulted in an underestimation of area under tea whereas the acreages estimated by using TM spectral band combinations 1234 and 2345 compared closely with the estimates of Department of Horticulture (DOH). The distribution pattern of various condition classes of tea plantations compared well with the prevailing ground conditions as observed during post-classification field survey in September 1992 in the district.     

DEFORESTATION-A CAUSE FOR THE ECOLOGICAL DISASTER OF SOIL EROSION IN IMO STATE,SE NIGERIA

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