Discuss topic with a fellow student. Does it make sense in view of available lit.?

Assignment 2 topics are essentially your choice, but for most will be an extension of Assignment 1, in analysing an aspect of a significant environment management issue for New Zealand. You choose the method of analysis; for example, a document review, analysis of a survey or qualitative exploration among your friends (no ethics approval needed), a limited environmental investigation, or a combination of methods. Some examples could be:

an analysis of the role and performance of a NZ environmental agency in managing freshwater quality
a review of impacts of commercial fishing on the state of an aspect of the NZ marine environment
results of a survey of fellow class members on their views and actions on waste management on the VUW campus.

Suggested Research project (Assign 2) schedule / suggested nominal deadlines for your guidance:

*Task*	*‘Deadline’*
2-3 page proposal outline: identify topic & aim; do a first cut at lit review. Proposals may be optionally submitted to me by email by Tues 23 April for short comment by Tues 30 April	Fri 18 April (during break)
Discuss topic with a fellow student. Does it make sense in view of available lit.?	Tues 30 April
Revised lit review and first draft (focusing on Research Question(s), Method, and early draft of Findings. (Don’t bother with Intro / Conclusions at this stage)	Fri 2 May (during break)
Second draft done; give to a fellow student for comment	Fri 9 May
Rewrite/tidy up and proofread final research project before you submit it	Noon, Wed 16 May

L (2015) Sustainable seas: managing the marine environment: shows how Marine protected areas are for scientific research and exploitation.
J (2019) Understanding main threats to Hector’s and Maui dolphins: Although commercial fishing causes death of the dolphins, toxoplasmosis may cause it more.
Palliser, A (2017) Controversy in dolphin threat management: Number of dolphins decreased dramatically does not match with reported bycatch from commercial fishing. Still, commercial fishermen say “that’s not a happening thing” (highlights that commercial fishing is a livelihood for some people. This can contribute to the written literature review of the findings) https://www.niwa.co.nz/news/scientists-reach-new-understanding-of-main-threats-to-hectors-and-maui-dolphins

M (2001) Are deepwater fisheries sustainable? (orange roughy example): shows that results are mixed. Data still too short to be confident that deepwater stock will be resilient to commercial fishing due to having slow growth rate
M (2009) Effect of deepwater trawling of the macro-invertebrate assbleys of seamounts on the chantham rise: Aimed to identify the effects of commercial fishing and other activities on the benthic habitat of deepwater seamount
S (1998) Disturbance of the marine benthic habitat by commercial fishing: shows that changes in density of large epifauna is linked to commercial fishing when larger macrofaunal are collected
https://www.niwa.co.nz/fisheries/research-projects/is-the-black-petrel-at-risk-from-commercial-fisheries

References

‘Population parameters of the black petrels (Procellaria parkinsoni) on Great Barrier Island (Aotea Island), 2009/10.’ Elizabeth A. Bell, Joanna L. Sim, Paul Scofield and Chris Francis (PDF 1.3 MB)