Glossary

K-selected A species is described as a K-selected (or competitor) species as a reference to its reproductive and survival strategy.

A K-selected species produces few offspring but these are usually nurtured and protected until they reach reproductive age. Humans are a good example of K-selected species as opposed to r-selected species, such as rabbits, which breed within a few months of birth and reproduce many offspring per breeding cycle.

MDNA Mitochondrial DNA. mDNA is DNA that is located in the mitochondria rather than the nucleus of the cell (nuclear DNA). mDNA is passed on only from the mother to the offspring whereas the offspring receive equal contributions of nuclear DNA from both parents. Because mDNA is essentially cloned from generation to generation, most change is the result of mutation. Since the mutation rate of mtDNA is easily measured, mDNA serves as a useful tool for tracking genetic change through time.

Treaty of Waitangi The treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of agreement between the Maori and the British Crown. Written in both English and Maori, it was first signed on 6 February 1840 in Waitangi, the Bay of Islands. The treaty was initially set up to assist in the peaceful settlement of Europeans and enabled the Crown to set up a governorship to establish laws, in New Zealand. In return, Maori received the same rights and status as the British citizens and continue to have tribal control over their lands, fisheries, forest, valuables and cultures.

Wiggle matching Wiggle matching is a technique used in radiocarbon dating to improve age estimates. It relies on the fact that there have been fluctuations in the concentration of radioactive carbon isotopes (radiocarbon) in atmospheric carbon dioxide through time, and that these fluctuations are recorded in the carbon isotope ratios in living organisms. A high-resolution sequence of radiocarbon dates from organic samples can be matched against wiggles in the radiocarbon calibration curve to provide a more accurate assessment of the age of the dated samples.