Window

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Emily Voyde has graduated with a BA/BE(hons) from the University of Auckland earlier this year. She specialised in Environmental Engineering and majored in Physical Geography. Her main interest lies in the field of low impact design methodologies and sustainable development. For her PhD, she is currently researching the effectiveness of green roofs for stormwater management in Auckland City. The overall project was initiated by the ARC and is in conjunction with
Landcare Research. Emily has been awarded a Bright Futures Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship for her current research.

Further reading /
Earth Pledge (2005) Green Roofs: Ecological Design and Construction; and
Osmundson, T. (1999) Roof Gardens: History Design and Construction
http://www.greenroofs.com/index.html
http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/research/greenroofcenter/
http://www.hrt.msu.edu/greenroof/
http://www.greenroofs.org/grtok.html

Feasibility study of the harvest, processing and fertiliser potential of beach-cast seaweed waste
Aidan Hill

Beach-cast seaweed poses a nuisance to recreational users of urban beaches. Because of this the city council is obliged to remove it and, in the last two years, has removed 1802 tons of seaweed, sending it to the landfill.

This study investigates the current system of beach-cleaning and assesses the feasibility of reusing this organic waste. A method of processing the seaweed was devised and the effectiveness of the seaweed product as a fertiliser was studied.

Results (still in progress): To this point, there has been suggestive evidence that the beach-cast seaweed not only has potential for reuse but also has acceptable concentrations of salt and trace metals. The application of the liquified seaweed product may be related to increased seedling growth and seed germination rates.

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Aidan Hill holds a BSc and a PGDipSci (Environmental Science) and has work experience in the environmental sector in water and air quality monitoring and trade-wastewater audits. He is currently undertaking a Masters of Science on a waste issue identified by a waste minimisation officer at the North Shore City Council, who acknowledged beach-cast seaweed as a significant waste stream with potential for reuse.

Sustainable implementation of environmental technologies
Christian Davies-Colley

Abstract >

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Christian Davies-Colley is working towards his MSc in Environmental Management

Invertebrate decomposer communities in northern New
Zealand forests
Anne Tomlinson

Thesis >

Decomposition of plant litter is a critical process involving the recycling of nutrients in ecosystems. The key influences on the rate of decomposition are:

Litter quality: nutrient levels vary in the leaf litter of different plant species. Factors such as the lignin content of the litter will affect the rate of decay.
Decomposer community involving microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and soil invertebrates
Environmental factors including temperature, moisture levels and the soil type

New Zealand has a highly diverse litter fauna. Notably diverse groups include litter moths and weevils. However, there is little knowledge about the species composition of litter communities in different types of native forests. Specialisation by litter invertebrates on different species of plants is also poorly understood.

Decomposer communities were investigated in mixed conifer-angiosperm forests in the Waitakere Ranges. The aims were to determine whether:

The community composition of litter invertebrates varied with forest habitat.
This involved invertebrate sampling using the techniques of pitfall trapping and laboratory rearing of decomposer insects.
There was a correlation between invertebrate abundance and litter decomposition rates.
Litterbags were used to compare decomposition rates of litter in the presence and absence of invertebrates.
Three tree species were used in the study: kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) and kauri (Agathis australis) were sampled in conifer (i.e. kauri) dominated tree stands. Puriri (Vitex lucens) and kanuka (K. ericoides) were sampled in angiosperm dominated stands.

Acknowledgements /
Dr Jacqueline Beggs, supervisor, School of Biological Sciences, Dr Robert Hoare, co-supervisor, Landcare Research, and Auckland Regional Council for the use of regional parks in the Waitakere Ranges for her fieldwork.

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After graduating from Otago University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Anne Tomlinson worked for a number of years in financial markets before returning to university to pursue a longstanding passion for biology and ecology. Anne graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Science (Biology) in 2006 and has recently completed a Master of Science. The topic of the Masters research was the decomposition of leaf litter in northern New Zealand kauri and broadleaf forests. The focus of the study was the association of soil fauna, specifically insects and other invertebrate decomposers, with the litter of different species of native trees and their effect on decomposition rates. Anne will shortly be commencing a PhD, which will further develop the issues raised in the masters research, specifically the relationship between soil fauna and fungal decomposers and the impact of exotic invertebrates on native decomposer communities.

Insect pollinators in Wenderholm Regional Park
Justin C. Smith

The collection of eighteen days of flower visitor observation data from Wenderholm Regional Park gave 4384 instantaneous observations, 132 insect vouchers and 66 plant vouchers for the ‘Community Pollination Project’. Based on flower visitor observation the two native bees of the genus Argogorytes were the main native visitors while honey bees and bumble bees were the main exotic visitors to flowers. Pollen counts of insect vouchers yielded morphological adaptations of hair density and body length to increase pollen transportation. The flight intercept traps were found to provide good replication for ecological studies. The sorting, identification and analysis of 116 flight intercept traps from across New Zealand revealed latitudinal, longitudinal and date variations in insect groups.

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Justin C. Smith completed his Bachelors of Science majoring in Statistics and Biology in 2006 and Postgraduate Diploma in Science in 2007 both at the
University of Auckland. He completing a studentship in 2006/2007 in insect pollination and this combined with his ten years experience in breeding and handling NZ Gecko in captivity has lead to his current research area. He is now endeavouring on his thesis of New Zealand lizard pollination for his Master of Science under the supervision of Dr Jacqueline Beggs. This project entails a variety of laboratory and field work as an attempt to unravel this phenomenon which remains largely unstudied.

Further reading /
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination_syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_level
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_cascade
http://sparkleberrysprings.com/v-web/b2/?p=615

Auditory neuroethology of the Auckland tree weta
(Hemideina thoracica)
Kate Lomas

Thesis >

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Kate Lomas graduated from the University of Auckland with a Master of Science degree with first class honours this year studying auditory neuroethology of Auckland tree weta (Hemideina thoracica). Following the completion of her Masters in 2006, Kate won a scholarship to study under Prof David Yager at the University of Maryland to learn the latest neurological recording techniques in Prof Yager’s lab with the intention of beginning a PhD in 2007. Kate is now pursuing her PhD in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland examining the calling and hearing behaviour of all four weta groups (tree, ground, giant and tusked weta).

Vocalisations of the Australatian gannet (Morus serrator)
Cheryl Miner-Wihttp://windowgallery.blogspot.com//lliams

The objective is to see if gannets have regional dialects and also if there are differences in the vocalisations of males and females, and between individual birds. Recordings were taken from Muriwai and Cape Kidnappers, where the behaviour accompanying the calls were also noted. Each bird is banded, and would return to the same nest site so the identity of the individuals was ensured.

The recordings were then visualised with a sound analysis programme. This was analysed producing a library of elements and syllables common to that species. This was then statistically analysed to determine the variability between the parameters outlined above.
The research may have implications on our understanding of individual recognition in this species and their communication systems in divergent lineages. Vocal dialects and differences in acoustic behaviours may also have implications in the conservation management of this species.

Cheryl Miner-Williams, School of Biological Sciences in collaboration with the Auckland Museum

About the Gannet Field Recordings /
Cheryl gave me a whole lot of recorded gannet vocalisation. I thought having a selection would be nice as otherwise it might seem repetitive. I decided to let Ian-John do the selection as he seem to possess a particularly acute awareness of different types of sounds. He noted the different recording styles between the three recorders, their varied English 'dialects' and enjoyed the incidental noises from the process of recording. He was so enthusiastic that he also made three sound collage pieces.

About Ian-John Hutchinson /
Developing from an interest in poetry Ian-John began making field recordings in the late 90’s, making collages with both a journalistic, documentary ethos and a flavour of audio-book narration…and none of the above.

Subsequently he has developed a fascination with the linguistic and extra-linguistic vocal products (utterance objects) of various social situations, an interest amplified through exposure to the sound environments of Taiwan and Japan.

One strategy is a performance practise of integrating utterances into various sound environments e.g. he’s that nutter in the street wearing headphones and talking into an expensive looking microphone.

Starting in 2003 he has published a short series of field recordings of utterance objects collected around particular themes under the title ‘Utterbooks ‘.

Ian-John is an active member of the Auckland improvised music network ‘Vitamin-S’, and is a contributor to the online archive ‘soundtransit.nl’."

Acknowledgements /
Steffi Ismar, Jenni Matthews, Brent Stephenson, Todd Landers and Mark Hauber.

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Cheryl Miner-Williams graduated from the University of Auckland last year with a Bsc majoring in Marine science, she was also named senior Marine scholar of 2006. However after a spending the summer studying the vocal dialects of the North Island Kokako (A New Zealand endemic bird), Cheryl decided to pursue her interests in the avian world. She is now continuing her study with a Bsc (Hons) at the University of Auckland, in collaboration with the Auckland Museum. Her thesis topic is the vocalisations of the Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator).

Personal journaling online or 'blogging' and its perceived effects on relationships and self
Meredith Bean

Thesis >

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Meredith Bean is a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland, with a MA from Auckland, in Sociology. She is writing her doctoral thesis on Internet Dating "Cybersexuality and romance in Aotearoa: Lived experiences of online dating in New Zealand. " Her areas of interest are: Online Social Networking, Internet Dating, Internet Privacy, Blogging, Online communication and impacts on society, and Internet Ethics. She has been interviewed extensively by the media on her research, including television interviews (TVNZ Sunday Programme), newspaper/magazine articles (The Listener, Canvas), and discussions with the New Zealand Law Commission on upcoming Internet Privacy regulations.

Motorcycle in the art gallery : industrial design and art
Geoffrey Roche

Full Article >

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Geoffrey Roche graduated from the University of Auckland with Master of Arts (Philosophy) in 1997. After two years in South Korea, Geoffrey returned to the University of Auckland to complete his PhD, a study on the philosophy of the Marquis de Sade, graduating in 2005. After two years of lecturing philosophy in Tokyo, Geoffrey has recently returned to New Zealand to work as a policy analyst in the Ministry of Health. His current interests are machine aesthetics, neuroethics, 18th Century French philosophy, and the philosophy of psychopharmacology.

Further reading /
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fa20061109a1.html
http://www.zero-eng.com/

Also see Shinya Kimura

Acknowledgements /
Xin Cheng would like to thank all of the researchers for participating in this show. She would also like to thank the following individuals for their assistance in making this show happen:

Ash Kilmartin, for keeping me on track.
Sandra Anderson from the School of Biological Sciences, for loaning equipment, sourcing the bat video, and providing help in general.
Lee Elliot from the Elam School of Fine Arts, for assisting with wood construction.
Daniel Munn and Luke Munn, for the video-editing tutorials.
Daniel Goudie for proofreading and making dinner.
Nick Spratt, for the writing and doing gallery-minding for me.
Warren Olds, for meeting me after-hours with helpful design advice.
Stephen Cleland, for curatorial advice.
Fiona Connor, for her enthusiasm.
Sarah Hopkinson, for introducing me to the idea of showing in Window.

For help with getting materials for the show:
Stuart Parsons
Todd Landers
Priscilla Cameron
Jill Irwin

John Hayward and Guy Little for shelving loan and help.
For helping me track down the researchers:
Philosophy: Professor Robert Wicks.
School of Geology, Geography and Environmental Sciences: Lorraine Stone, Chris de Freitas, Marie McEntee.
School of Biological Sciences : Mark Hauber.
Department of Psychology: Michael Corballis, Meena Sadera, Larissa Isted.
Engineering: Professor. Mohammed Farid.
Computer Science: Beryl Plimmer.
School of Architecture and Planning: Janet Ann Reader & Professor Brenda Vale.

Organiser: Xin Cheng
Poster and book-cover design: Claire Cooper
Conceptual consultant: Daniel Munn

References /
Cabinet of curiosities : Mark Dion and the university as installation / Colleen J. Sheehy, editor.
How to mind map / Tony Buzan.
Visual explanations: images and quantities, evidence and narrative / Edward Tufte.
Envisioning information / Edward Tufte.
p. mule <dr.> et al original research output category <j>
Trash Palace, 9 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn.