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.     

Plutonium occurrence and phase distribution in sediments of the Wyre estuary,northwest England

The occurrence of plutonium isotopes derived from the Windscale reprocessing facility discharges and weapons test fallout in intertidal sediments of the Wyre estuary, northwest England, is reported. Windscale plutonium appears to be slowly transported to the estuary in association with sedimentary material, and its distribution in surface and buried sediments is controlled by the variations in organic matter content of the sediments and/or their grain size characteristics. Results from chemical leaching experiments suggest that very little plutonium is ion exchangeable or in humic substances, but it is in other organic and Fe/Mn hydrous oxide fractions of the sediments. Plutonium shows a similar depositional behaviour to mercury which enters the Wyre directly in local industrial discharges.     

A comparison of rock mass disturbance in TBM and drill and blast drivages at the Donkin Mine,Nova Scotia

Summary The initial phase of the Donkin-Morien project involves the driving of two parallel tunnels through an interbedded sequence of coal measures strata to intersect the Harbour Seam which lies approximately 3.5 km offshore. The No. 2 tunnel was driven a total distance of 3579 m using a 7.6 m diameter full face shielded Lovat TBM and supported by steel ring beams. The No. 3 tunnel was initially driven a distance of 1027 m using conventional drill and blast methods (7.6 m wide by 5.3 m high with a uniradial arch and supported by rock bolts and shotcrete). The TBM was subsequently used to complete the drivage of the No. 3 tunnel to the Harbour Seam.Both the No. 2 and No. 3 tunnels followed a thick sandstone unit at a grade of –20% for the first 900 m. This provided an opportunity to compare the rock mass disturbance resulting from two different excavation methods. A programme of field and laboratory measurements was therefore undertaken, which included: the use of a borehole dilatometer to determinein situ rock modulus,in situ gas permeability testing, seismic reflection surveys on the tunnel walls, and the laboratory testing of core samples.The paper examines the four different techniques used and compares the results obtained.     

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.