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New Caledonia is a French overseas territory in the South Pacific with a long history of differing attitudes towards independence (Fisher, 2019). The local government aims to challenge French cultural hegemony by building a "New Caledonian School" (Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, 2016). That is, a school in which students are exposed to resources that reflect the realities of the country and allow for marginalised groups to become more visible in the curriculum. It is through this context that this article investigates how children's literature, in particular picturebooks, began developing in New Caledonia. Children's literature in New Caledonia is a relatively new phenomenon. Using Gramsci's theory of hegemony, the paper explains the history of picturebooks in New Caledonia and their role in the curriculum. The official language of New Caledonia is French, but there are also 28 Kanak languages. Surrounded by Anglophone nations, such as Australia and New Zealand, education policies were put in place on this island to introduce English to students from primary school (Bissoonauth-Bedford, 2018). As a result, this article describes and analyses a bilingual picturebook written in French and English by Stephane Moysan (2017), entitled Yana's Treasure: An Amazing Trip in New Caledonia. In particular, it reviews how this picturebook provides opportunities to bring to consciousness essential elements of Pacific French culture and identity both within and beyond the New Caledonian context.

This article reports on research on adapting the Pacific Literacy and School Leadership Program in New Caledonia. The starting point of this study is the fact that many adults in New Caledonia have difficulties mastering the French language. In order to test the tools developed in the PLSLP program and to contextualise them in schools of New Caledonia, we first carried out a series of observations during a year with three schools. Following this phase of adaptation, the observed population was composed of seven teachers in three schools, comprising one man and five women over three years. The deployment of the program throughout New Caledonia would benefit pupils encountering difficulties in learning, particularly in schools of the North Province and of the Island Province. This would enable us to measure the efficiency of the program on the scaffolding of literacy-based skills alongside the professional support of teachers, while also progressing the research on comparisons with the countries of Oceania involved in the PLSLP.

The aim of this descriptive, qualitative study was to collect the representations and feelings concerning the use of digital technology in the education of teachers and educational consultants in two French overseas territories, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. As this is an exploratory study, we did not formulate hypotheses, but rather sought information regarding expectations regarding differences and trends in perceptions and practices according to (1) the territory, (2) the status and (3) the gender of the individuals interviewed. The results indicated that (1) social representations associated with digital technology are almost identical in the two territories, a similarity most likely linked to the influence of French educational directives on local policies regarding digital technology in schools; (2) the duties carried out by the interviewees seem to influence the representations and discourses: the teachers are concerned by the use of digital technology in the classroom versus the educational consultants by training issues; (3) the discourse appears to be gendered: the men's discourse is centred on digital tools, the women's discourse is centred on the pupil and the contribution of digital technology (difficulties and advantages).

Objective: Vaccine hesitancy is increasing worldwide and the World Health Organisation has declared it to be one of the 10 threats for global health in 2019. Lack of confidence in vaccines and fear of side effects seem to be the key reasons. Education may help restore confidence, and middle and high school biology teachers may have a particularly powerful role in countering vaccine hesitancy. The aim of this study was to compare biology teachers' opinions about vaccination with those of other teachers. Design: Cross-sectional study. Method: An electronic survey was sent to middle and high school teachers in New Caledonia. A total of 280 participants were recruited: 110 biology teachers and 170 teachers of other subjects. Attitudes about three common vaccine controversies were measured using Likert-type scales. Results were analysed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Biology teachers showed greater confidence in their knowledge about vaccines than other teachers. In general, their opinions agreed more with scientific knowledge than those of the other teachers, despite some disparities depending on their specific sub-specialty. Highest university qualification obtained was not correlated with the opinions expressed about vaccines. Conclusion: Biology teachers may be better able to restore confidence about vaccines than other teachers. Additional training and information are needed however to allow them to transmit accurate information about vaccines to adolescents.

In this paper, we discuss the challenges for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) with respect to achieving an appropriate balance between the three pillars of sustainable development--economy, society and the environment. In order to do this, we focus on specific concerns confronting a number of developing countries in the Pacific where unsustainable activities provide lessons for the implementation of ESD. ESD requires commitment from governments, commercial operators including transnational corporations, and local communities to facilitate positive changes through development of sustainable practices. In addition, we examine links between ESD and Environmental Education (EE) and advocate that they have the potential to work together to bring about the desired changes necessary to create a sustainable future.

The use of the notion of "decolonization", applied to indigenous people's schooling, is somehow misleading. It refers to a certain period, namely the colonial period, which officially ended in New Caledonia in 1946, then a French colony and now a French overseas territory. It also refers to contemporary efforts to address the colonial legacy. It thus minimizes the fact that post-coloniality shaped a radically different education from its colonial counterparts. The paper aims to question this "problematic temporality": though the recognition of indigenous languages and culture is an important aspect of "decolonization", it might not encompass it. The paper addresses some ongoing reforms, which witness the implementation of Kanak languages in formal education and "ipso facto" recognize linguistic diversity as a key element for the decolonization of the New Caledonian school system: do they actually lead to a recovery of sovereignty, and what kind of sovereignty are we then talking about? The announced purposes of what constitutes a radical shift in the former French monolingual dogma are threefold: it is intended to facilitate, together with the efforts made by families, the transmission of the linguistic and cultural heritage; it is expected to improve the academic performance of those whose mother tongue is the vernacular language, by promoting their emotional and intellectual development and strengthening their linguistic skills; it is expected to favor the emergence of a renewed social bond between communities. In the light of the persistent local resistances to the recognition of Kanak languages as languages of education, the paper demonstrates that instead of being congruent, these official goals assigned to the reforms are contradictory, revealing what is really at stake when the notion of "decolonization" is taken seriously.

The archipelago located in the South Pacific known as New Caledonia is part of the "confetti" of the French colonial empire. Violent uprisings in the 1980s revealed that the impact of colonization had a long-lasting traumatic effect on the aboriginal Melanesian people: the Kanaks. As indigenous school failure became visible, educational claims became a key issue of Kanak sovereignist struggles. Over the last 30 years the question of inequalities in New Caledonian schools has almost always been attributed to cultural factors. Rooted in a philosophical and anthropological tradition that postulates a radical Kanak otherness, contemporary analysis of failure in school seems incapable of overcoming this stereotype. This paper examines possible reorientations for a revival of educational sociology in the New Caledonian context. (Contains 2 notes.)

A community college librarian from Southern California describes her semester-length sabbatical on the Pacific island territory of New Caledonia, and how the professional, cultural, and language experiences changed her outlook about her job back home. Working at a local library on several projects organizing and processing special collections of materials, the author returned with a new set of useful skills, a refreshed sense of purpose, and a greater understanding of the cultural and language experiences of her own library's diverse users.

This article analyzes how tourism, encouraged within New Caledonia by the French government, is used to (try to) overcome decades of colonial rule in spite of political and colonial resistance by the white settler community known as Caldoche. Caldoche often includes other white groups who have settled in New Caledonia, even if only temporarily. The article first justifies the postcolonial framework used for this analysis, including its limitations. It then describes the (post?) colonial context of New Caledonia. Tourism is examined from a postcolonial geographic perspective to determine its validity as a tool to rebalance economic wealth in New Caledonia through economic growth in areas where the Kanak population is predominant. One aim of tourism is to counter emigration so that people remain on and exploit the tribal lands located in the two provinces where the Kanak are the majority. Land alienation, in spite of the recent return of some land, has been a major issue because of the role of land in Kanak identity. The author does not presume to speak for the Kanak or express how they view or undertake tourism activities. The author does intend to examine and monitor the colonial imprint (or its abandonment or absence) in the implementation of plans for tourism development in New Caledonia and to report the results in anglophone publications. (Contains 7 figures and 60 notes.)

Describes the Kanak culture in New Caledonia, a French colony located in the South Pacific. Explores the educational system in New Caledonia and the role Kanak culture, or la coutume, plays in schools. Examines the implications of didactic and customary learning and customary influences in school that affect Kanak students, learning, and culture. (VWC)

Analyzes the ethnic and social class distributions of 1,572 sixth graders in 40 public elementary schools in greater Noumea, New Caledonia. Finds clear patterns of ethnic and class segregation reflecting residential patterns but intensified by White student transfers to the most desirable schools. Contains 26 references and 6 tables. (SV)

Roger Boulay (1943–2024) devoted the majority of his professional life to building an inventory of Kanak material culture from New Caledonia. In 1979, Jean-Marie Tjibaou had passed the idea for this project on to Boulay, who immediately set to work in New Caledonia and in European museums. In 1982, he became a part-time curator at the National Museum of the Arts of Africa and Oceania in Paris, and began reorganizing that museum collection and its displays. In subsequent years he created or co-commissioned an amazing variety of exhibitions, in Paris, Nouméa, and elsewhere. He often looked at objects from unexpected angles, preferring the critical eye of the craftsman he had been. From 1993 to 1998, Boulay worked in Nouméa as a member of the team that was key to bringing the Centre Culturel Tjibaou to functioning. Roger Boulay passed away on July 2, 2024.

A collection of large data sets from different orogenic belts was compiled for a correlation between organic matter (OM) versus clay mineral (CM) indices calibrated with the vitrinite reflectance, (VR) vs Kübler-Indices (KI) method. Data selection was based on a normal geothermal gradient (25 to 35 °C/km) as determined in previous studies, e.g. by maturity modelling and clay mineral reaction progress calculations. In the Lower Austroalpine (Eastern Switzerland, European Alps) a 20 myr lasting metamorphic overprint caused an OM–CM thermal equilibrium among the indices used. The observed correlation enables to determine gradual changes in metamorphic factors such as pressure, temperature and time causing sensitive shifts of the gradient slope in the range of normal gradients. For New Caledonia, an identical correlation has been determined. Prior to re-equilibration of the VR/KI indices, sediments in New Caledonia of diagenetic to incipient metamorphic grade underwent a high-pressure subduction event. VR/KI indices are in or close to equilibrium, while slight differences in OM vs CM indices allow for a better understanding of polyphase conditions, especially with respect to pressure. Temperature estimations are identical despite of their poly-phase metamorphic history, which was mainly controlled by the last orogenic thermal event lasting > 5 to < 10 myr. In the eastern Helvetic Alps and Northern Calcareous Alps similar correlations were found with slightly different slopes. Comparison between different regions is possible when using KI standardization and same data discrimination. In both parts of the Alps a complex thermal history of short durations (< 5.0 myr for the Northern Calcareous Alps to 10 myr for the Helvetic Alps) caused similar VR/KI trends, but disequilibrium is suggested by weaker regression parameters. The following correlation is calculated for a moderate geotherm (55 to 74 mWm2, mean = 61 mWm2) and normal temperature gradient conditions (25 to 35 °Ckm−1): KI = 1.134e−0.305VR, (R2 = 0.880, n = 462) with VR given as %Rmax, KI as Δ°2θ (limited to values between 0.2 to 1.0 Δ°2θ). With increasing depth (z) a VR gradient of 1.4 ± 0.2%Rmaxkm−1 is determined and a KI gradient of 0.09 ± 0.002 Δ°2θ km−1 is observed. The study illustrates that a normal geotherm can be described by VR/KI correlation, even if different heating episodes may occur. For the detection of a poly-phase or plurifacial thermal history, several indices of clay minerals and organic matter with very different kinetics should be used, as e.g. demonstrated by strong differences in smectite content at equal VR/KI values versus structural depth. A specific interest is given to the correlation of vitrinite like solid bitumen reflectance as an alternative method to VR, the persistent preservation of liptinite macerals and the stability range of clay minerals and sub-greenschist facies critical minerals compared with VR/KI data. Until now, despite the Alps in this study, systematic liptinite maceral studies have not been published in other orogenic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific islands are widely exposed to several strong wave events all year long. However, comprehensive analyses of coastal vulnerabilities to wave climates and their extremes are often lacking in those islands. In the present paper, the wave climate around the reef of New Caledonia is analyzed using a 28-year simulation performed with the Wave Watch III model, and accounting for realistic wind intensity forcing from tropical cyclones. Four mean wave regimes are defined with clustering methods, and are shown to vary along the reef depending on its main orientation. The western reef is mostly exposed to energetic south-western swells (significant height over 1.5 m, peak period of ~ 12 s) generated in the Tasman Sea that are reinforced during austral winter. The northern sector and the Loyalty Islands, are hit by shorter waves (~ 8 to 9 s period) coming from the south-east to the north-east, with height ranging on average from 0.8 m in the Loyalty Channel to 1.5 m at the northern tip of the Grande Terre reef. These waves mainly result from the south-eastern trade winds that blow over the central south-western Pacific all year long. In austral summer, additional swell remotely generated by both the extra-tropical westerlies and the north-eastern trade winds of the northern hemisphere reach the north-eastern reef of the archipelago. These wave regimes also strongly vary in response to the interannual El Niño-Southern Oscillation. El Niño events tend to increase the frequency of the south-western swell regime in austral spring and fall, and of the south-eastern trade wind waves in austral summer. In contrast, during La Niña, waves generated in the northern hemisphere are more likely to reach New Caledonia all year long. Finally, extreme wave events and their return periods were assessed. Wave amplitude reaching 7 m is estimated to occur every 100 years. On the west and southern tip of the Grande Terre reef, extreme waves are 80% of the time westerly waves generated by storms in the Tasman Sea or in the Coral Sea, while on the eastern reefs (Loyalty Islands and Channel), 70% of the extreme wave episodes are associated to tropical cyclone-induced waves. During La Niña episodes, more tropical cyclones pass by New Caledonia, increasing their contribution to extreme wave events along the western and southern coasts of the island. Conversely, in El Niño conditions, the exposure to tropical cyclone-induced waves is predominantly concentrated on the northeastern side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Diahot Tooth" is an isolated postcanine tooth of a large herbivorous mammal, discovered in the Diahot region of northern New Caledonia in 1875. Most authors have identified it as an upper premolar of a rhinocerotid, but an alternative proposal is that it belongs to a diprotodontoid marsupial that has been named Zygomaturus diahotensis. Either possibility raises biogeographical difficulties, because New Caledonia has been isolated from other major landmasses for 80 million years, and neither rhinocerotids nor diprodotontoids appear to be good candidates for such a long-distance overwater dispersal event. Here, we present a novel interpretation of the affinities and origin of the Diahot Tooth, based on qualitative study of its preserved morphology and quantitative phylogenetic analyses that include both rhinocerotids and diprotodontoids. We show that the Diahot Tooth most closely resembles the first deciduous premolar of Western Eurasian Miocene teleoceratine rhinocerotid Brachypotherium brachypus, with the few discrepancies relating to traits that are known to be variable in B. brachypus. Our phylogenetic analyses also support this relationship. The preservation of the Diahot Tooth closely resembles that of B. brachypus teeth from the "Faluns Sea" of the Loire basin, and we propose that the New Caledonian specimen originated there and was taken to New Caledonia by a European colonist during the mid-19th century, where it was lost, rediscovered, and incorrectly assumed to be autochthonous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA tools are increasingly used for identifying species, however, successful DNA-based identification requires a reference library of DNA sequences from accurately identified specimens. Here we present a reference library of COI and 12S sequences for New Caledonian freshwater fish. Our library contains 523 MNHN voucher specimens, representing 84 valid species compared to type specimens, including 11 new records. The development of this DNA library will allow managers and researchers to explore the ichthyodiversity of New Caledonia, to manage the species and to promote action or conservation plans. We encourage taxonomists to build and publish molecular libraries linked to species accurately identified and museum voucher specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytophagous insects differ in their degree of specialization to their host plants. It ranges from monophagous or oligophagous species that can only develop on a single host plant, or family of host plants, to extremely polyphagous species that can develop on plants from many distinct botanical families. The aim of this study was to compare the larval performance and adult preference of a highly generalist species, the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and a highly specialist species, the breadfruit fruit fly (B. umbrosa) among several fruits covering both species' host range. (i) larval performance was tested on 16 fruit species, and (ii) a female preference was tested on a subset of five fruit species. In addition, (iii) a field survey was carried out on 11 fruit species. B. umbrosa infested only Artocarpus fruits in the field. Accordingly, B. umbrosa larvae survived and developed only on fruits belonging to the Artocarpus genus. Female B. umbrosa did not lay their eggs on non‐Artocarpus fruits, except Terminalia catappa. Female B. tryoni, on the other hand, made little selection between the fruits tested, and its larvae developed on 13 of the 16 fruit species tested. The larval performance of both species, adjusted when tested by female preference, predicted in large part the fruit infestation in the field. These data are essential to better estimate invasion risk where the species are not established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) face threats from human exploitation and activity in several regions of the world and crucial information on the ecology of the species is needed. The species is observed at several sites in all parts of the archipelago of New Caledonia where anthropogenic influence is presumed to be minimal. This study is the first to investigate the population of New Caledonia and focuses on its characteristics and its habitat use. Photographs of reef manta rays were collected directly from the authors (14.4%) between 2017 and 2020 and gathered from recreational divers and snorkelers (85.6%) from 11 sites around New Caledonia. The authors used the unique ventral coloration patterns of the manta rays that were clearly identifiable from 1741 of these photographs to identify 391 individuals and record their physical characteristics (sex, injuries, and colour morph) and resighting rates. These results highlight the widespread distribution of the species in the archipelago (11 sites) with little connectivity between all aggregations sites, with only 5.4% of the individuals observed at more than one site. Strong and long-term site fidelity was recorded at all studied sites through re-sighting rates (52.2% overall) and residency analysis. The population also records the world highest known proportion of melanistic manta rays (43%) to date, and a balanced male: female ratio (1.0:1.15). The analysis of injuries reported that 44.8% of all reef manta rays identified (n = 391) had noticeable wounds or injuries with no significant difference in the proportions of males and females injured. From these injured individuals only 9.8% of injuries judged to be of anthropogenic origin and 29.7% from attempted predation. Our study complements and correlates previous findings on this population that revealed strong site fidelity and low connectivity. The different characteristics of this population of reef manta rays also emphasize that concerns about species in New Caledonia are limited and that such favourable context needs to be preserved as reference for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the lived experience and self-advocacy of three troupes of colonial actors displayed globally between 1929 and 1931: two troupes of Sara men and women from Chad and a troupe of Kanak actors from New Caledonia and Dependencies. While multiple studies of colonial ethnic displays have focused on the nature and reception of these spectacles, actors themselves have rarely been researched as subjects. In listening to their voices and retracing their agency, this article shows the numerous and nuanced ways they resisted the violence of their displays and the strategies they deployed to make their voices heard on the global stage of empire. Furthermore, this research argues for a scholarly reconsideration of the term human zoo and demonstrates the central role played by those on display in the gradual disappearance of this phenomenon of colonial entertainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological success of shallow water corals hinges on their association with photosynthetic Symbiodiniaceae algae. This is affected by environmental drivers among which sea temperature is pivotal. In 2016, a prolonged heat wave challenged New Caledonia reefs triggering a severe bleaching event. Here, we tracked 72 coral colonies comprising two species of Pocillopora and Porites from a cross-shelf gradient during the event and subsequent recovery period. Symbiodiniaceae association over time was assessed using the ITS2 marker. Bleaching prevalence and photosynthetic efficiency showed that 83% of Pocillopora and 29% of Porites colonies were affected, with corals from a mid-shelf site having been most impacted. The majority of tracked colonies recovered by December 2016, with a recorded 33% mortality of Pocillopora, while Porites showed higher resilience. Consistent with previous studies, genotyping data suggest stable, species- and site-specific associations between corals and Symbiodiniaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on metal hyperaccumulating plants has concentrated on New Caledonia, Brazil, Cuba, the Mediterranean basin, and southeastern Asia, while other regions remain under studied. This work used a systematic approach in the targeted search for new hyperaccumulators in Mesoamerica, with a focus on characterizing nickel (Ni) hyperaccumulation in six species of Orthion and the monotypic genus Mayanaea (Violaceae), to complement earlier global studies on the related genus Hybanthus. We screened major herbarium collections, using x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis to measure metal concentrations in specimens of Orthion and Mayanaea ranging from Mexico to Nicaragua. In addition, fresh samples collected in Mexico were analyzed with associated rhizosphere soils. The results indicated that all species of Orthion and Mayanaea are able to hyperaccumulate Ni. Ni concentration ranges in leaves of herbarium specimens were (in mg kg−1 dry weight): Orthion guatemalense (380–5100), O. malpighiifolium (24–5620), O. montanum (1620–5850), O. oblanceolatum (60–1440), O. subsessile (450–18,700), and O. veracruzense (22–3660). The available specimen of Mayanaea caudata had foliar Ni concentration of 5390 mg kg−1. Field‐collected samples of O. veracruzense and O. subsessile had similar Ni concentrations to herbarium specimens. Additionally, many Orthion species were facultative hyperaccumulators of cobalt. This is the first report of Ni hyperaccumulation in Violaceae from the Western Hemisphere. Ni hyperaccumulation in Orthion and Mayanaea is consistent with published phylogenies showing that they belong to a clade which also includes strong hyperaccumulators in the genus Hybanthus from Australia and New Caledonia. Orthion subsessile has suitable traits to become a potential crop for agromining of Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flora of New Caledonia is renowned as one of the world's most significant biodiversity hotpots. The contrasting soil conditions that characterize this small archipelago profoundly influence species local diversity and distribution. Because the difference between soil chemistry is likely to cause variation in leaf elemental composition, we wanted to test how different soil properties affect plant community and leaf elemental concentration. We focused on two adjacent forests, of similar physiognomy, growing on serpentinite (ultramafic rock), and on volcano‐sedimentary rock. Both soils strongly differed in their pH, cation exchange capacity, and element concentration (Al, Mn, and Ni). The two adjacent forests have a diverse endemic flora and share a relatively high proportion of species (35%–42%). The tree composition differs more than the total vascular flora. Leaf element concentrations of 30 tree species that grow on both soil types, as well as the corresponding soil–plant‐available nutrients, were analyzed. Leaf element concentrations indicated N, P, K, and Ca deficiency. Despite higher plant‐available Mn concentration in ultramafic soil than volcano‐sedimentary soil, leaf Mn concentrations were significantly higher for plants growing on volcano‐sedimentary soil. Leaf Ni concentrations were higher on ultramafic soil and Al concentration was higher on volcano‐sedimentary soil. Major differences in leaf elemental concentration were for micronutrients (metals) while macronutrients varied in much lower proportion between the two soil types, suggesting a tight regulation of macronutrients compared to micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even seemingly homogeneous on the surface, the oceans display high environmental heterogeneity across space and time. Indeed, different soft barriers structure the marine environment, which offers an appealing opportunity to study various evolutionary processes such as population differentiation and speciation. Here, we focus on Amphiprion clarkii (Actinopterygii; Perciformes), the most widespread of clownfishes that exhibits the highest colour polymorphism. Clownfishes can only disperse during a short pelagic larval phase before their sedentary adult lifestyle, which might limit connectivity among populations, thus facilitating speciation events. Consequently, the taxonomic status of A. clarkii has been under debate. We used whole‐genome resequencing data of 67 A. clarkii specimens spread across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to characterize the species' population structure, demographic history and colour polymorphism. We found that A. clarkii spread from the Indo‐Pacific Ocean to the Pacific and Indian Oceans following a stepping‐stone dispersal and that gene flow was pervasive throughout its demographic history. Interestingly, colour patterns differed noticeably among the Indonesian populations and the two populations at the extreme of the sampling distribution (i.e. Maldives and New Caledonia), which exhibited more comparable colour patterns despite their geographic and genetic distances. Our study emphasizes how whole‐genome studies can uncover the intricate evolutionary past of wide‐ranging species with diverse phenotypes, shedding light on the complex nature of the species concept paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The geographical origin and evolutionary mechanisms underpinning the rich and distinctive New Caledonian flora remain poorly understood. This is attributable to the complex geological past of the island and to the scarcity of well-resolved species-level phylogenies. Here, we infer phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of New Caledonian palms, which comprise 40 species. We use this framework to elucidate the biogeography of New Caledonian palm lineages and to explore how extant species might have formed. Methods A phylogenetic tree including 37 New Caledonian palm species and 77 relatives from tribe Areceae was inferred from 151 nuclear genes obtained by targeted sequencing. Fossil-calibrated divergence times were estimated and ancestral ranges inferred. Ancestral and extant ecological preferences in terms of elevation, precipitation and substrate were compared between New Caledonian sister species to explore their possible roles as drivers of speciation. Key Results New Caledonian palms form four well-supported clades, inside which relationships are well resolved. Our results support the current classification but suggest that Veillonia and Campecarpus should be resurrected and fail to clarify whether Rhopalostylidinae is sister to or nested in Basseliniinae. New Caledonian palm lineages are derived from New Guinean and Australian ancestors, which reached the island through at least three independent dispersal events between the Eocene and Miocene. Palms then dispersed out of New Caledonia at least five times, mainly towards Pacific islands. Geographical and ecological transitions associated with speciation events differed across time and genera. Substrate transitions were more frequently associated with older events than with younger ones. Conclusions Neighbouring areas and a mosaic of local habitats shaped the palm flora of New Caledonia, and the island played a significant role in generating palm diversity across the Pacific region. This new spatio-temporal framework will enable population-level ecological and genetic studies to unpick the mechanisms underpinning New Caledonian palm endemism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of narrow-waisted bark beetle is described from Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine): Diagrypnodes villumi sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Salpingidae). This fossil refutes a simplistic view of the genus Diagrypnodes as a typical Gondwanan lineage whose extant species are disjunct between Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. Diagrypnodes villumi is the first definitive fossil species of the subfamily Inopeplinae, the other being Eopeplus stetzenkoi Kirejtshuk and Nel from lowermost Eocene (53 Ma) Oise amber which was placed in this subfamily, albeit tentatively. Extant inopeplines occur in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. The presence of Diagrypnodes and Eopeplus in Eocene Europe suggest a formerly different and presumably wider distribution of the subfamily. Furthermore, the ant Lasius schiefferdeckeri Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) preserved in the amber piece as a eusyninclusion with D. villumi is a new example of the simultaneous presence of the temperate and frost intolerant elements in European Eocene amber forests.LSID [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique feature of Pacific Journalism Review, compared with many other journalism and media research journals, has been a particular focus on photography and documentary. Contributors have been eclectic and varied, ranging from activist photojournalist John Miller (Ngapuhi), who charted the new wave of Māori assertiveness from the first Nga Tamatoa protest at Waitangi in 1971 and who offered a research portfolio on the Ngatihine Land/Forestry legal dispute in Northland Aotearoa, to Ben Bohane's 'Melanesian mythical places with unreported conflicts', to Kasun Ubayasiri's 'Manus to Meanjin' study of refugee migration, to Filipino Fernando G. Sepe's stunning but shocking portrayal of President Rodrigo Duterte's extrajudicial 'war on drugs' (in reality a 'war on poverty'), through to Todd M. Henry's Tongan 'Gangsters in Paradise' and the realm of kava in New Zealand. At least a dozen portfolios have been published by the journal and this article examines and reflects on some of the highlights. The photoessay is completed with a portfolio of protest photographs from the seven months of Israel's War on Gaza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta is a large marine turtle with a cosmopolitan repartition in warm and temperate waters of the planet. The South Pacific subpopulation is classified as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List, based on the estimated demographic decline. This precarious situation engages an urgent need to monitor nesting populations in order to highlight conservation priorities and to ensure their efficiency over time. New Caledonia encompasses a large number of micro and distant nesting sites, localized on coral islets widely distributed across its large lagoon. Adequately surveying nesting activities on those hard-to-reach beaches can prove to be challenging. As a result, important knowledge gaps prevail in those high-potential nesting habitats. For the first time, an innovative monitoring scheme was conducted to assess the intensity of nesting activities, considered as a proxy of the population size, on an exhaustive set of islets located in the 'Grand Lagon Sud' area. These data were analyzed using a set of statistical methods specially designed to produce phenology and nesting activity estimates using Bayesian methods. This analysis revealed that this rookery hosts a large nesting colony, with a mean annual estimate of 437 nests (95% Credible Interval = 328–582). These numbers exceed that of the previous estimated annual number of loggerhead turtle nests in New Caledonia, highlighting the exceptional nature of this area. Considering the fact that similar high-potential aggregations have been identified in other parts of New Caledonia, but failed to be comprehensively assessed to this day, we recommend carrying out this replicable monitoring scheme to other locations. It could allow a significant re-evaluation of the New Caledonian nesting population importance and, ultimately, of its prevailing responsibility for the protection of this patrimonial yet endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraburkholderia ultramafica STM10279T is a metal-tolerant rhizobacterium that promotes plant growth. It was isolated from the roots of Tetraria arundinaceae, a pioneer endemic tropical herb growing on ultramafic soils in New Caledonia. We have recently shown that the main mechanism of metal tolerance of P. ultramafica is related to the production of an acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS). To explore the potential role of this EPS in the plant's environmental adaptation, we first elucidated its structure by employing a combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. These analyses revealed that the EPS is highly branched and composed of galactosyl (35.8%), glucosyl (33.2%), rhamnosyl (19.5%), mannosyl (7.2%), and glucuronosyl residues (4.4%), similar to the EPS of the Burkholderia cepacia complex known as cepacian. We subsequently conducted greenhouse experiments on Tetraria comosa plantlets inoculated with P. ultramafica or a solution of its EPS during transplanting onto ultramafic substrate. The data showed that the dry weight of T. comosa shoots was 2.5 times higher in the plants treated with the EPS compared to the unexposed plants. In addition, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis revealed that exposure to the EPS significantly increased Ca, Mg, K, and P uptake as well as K content in roots. In vitro experiments using the Pikovskaya method showed that the EPS was able to solubilize phosphorus. Consistent with the retention of metals in roots and a reduction in shoots, our data revealed a significant decrease in metal translocation factors (TFs) in the plants inoculated with the EPS. These results suggest a beneficial effect of the rhizobacterial EPS on plant growth and abiotic stress mitigation. In addition, the data suggest that the reduced levels of trace metals in plants exposed to P. ultramafica STM10279T are due to metal chelation by the EPS. Further investigations are needed to firmly demonstrate whether this EPS could be used as a biostimulant for plant growth and adaptation to ultramafic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hyperdiverse orchid genus Bulbophyllum is the second largest genus of flowering plants and exhibits a pantropical distribution with a center of diversity in tropical Asia. The only Bulbophyllum section with a center of diversity inAustralasia is sect. Adelopetalum. However, the phylogenetic placement, interspecific relationships, and spatio-temporal evolution of this section remain largely unclear. To infer broad-level relationships within Bulbophyllum, and interspecific relationshipswithinsect. Adelopetalum, a genome skimmingdatasetwasgenerated for 89 samples, which yielded 70 plastid coding regions and a nuclear ribosomal DNA cistron. For 18 additional samples, Sanger data fromtwo plastid loci (matK and ycf1) and nuclear ITSwere added using a supermatrix approach. The study provided newinsights into broad-level relationships in Bulbophyllum, including phylogenetic evidence for the non-monophyly of sections Beccariana, Brachyantha, Brachypus, Cirrhopetaloides, Cirrhopetalum, Desmosanthes, Minutissima, Oxysepala, Polymeres, and Sestochilos. Section Adelopetalum and sect. Minutissima s.s. formed a highly supported clade that was resolved as a sister group to the remainder of the genus. Divergence time estimations based on a relaxed molecular clock model placed the origin of Bulbophyllum in the Early Oligocene (ca. 33.2 Ma) and sect. Adelopetalumin the Late Oligocene (ca. 23.6 Ma). Ancestral range estimations based on a BAYAREALIKE model identified the Australian continent as the ancestral area of the sect. Adelopetalum. The section underwent crown diversification fromthemid-Miocene to the late Pleistocene, predominantly in continental Australia. At least two independent long-distance dispersal events were inferred eastward from the Australian continent to New Zealand and to New Caledonia from the early Pliocene onwards, likely mediated by predominantly westerly winds of the Southern hemisphere. Retraction and fragmentation of the eastern Australian rainforests from the early Miocene onwards are likely drivers of lineage divergence within sect. Adelopetalum facilitating allopatric speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Otoliths, calcified biomineralised structures in bony fish inner ear, are remarkable objects as keepers of individual life, both in terms of time and environment. Otolith microchemical analysis was undertaken with a synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence 2D high-resolution mapping method and we developed analytical imaging processes to retrieve biological information. Strontium incorporation in the otoliths of four pipefish species from Pacific island streams was analysed, as its presence in otoliths is a sign of life in a marine environment, while its absence corresponds to life in freshwater. Their life cycle is expected to be diadromous, allowing for species sustainability in labile and fragmented habitats. From a biological point of view, we uncovered the existence of plasticity in the diadromous life cycle, enhancing our knowledge of these poorly studied species, which are highly threatened by anthropogenic actions. In addition, our 2D hyperfine-scale images outlined the heterogeneity of strontium distribution in the otolith to a greater extent than what is generally assumed. Our results led us to uncover a trade-off in expression between the biological and chemical driving forces that govern element incorporation in the otoliths. Our methods and results provide a strong basis for future works and prospects in fish biology, ecology, and conservation. Indo-Pacific tropical island streams are home to freshwater pipefish (Microphis spp., Syngnathidae). Otoliths were used to uncover life history traits in four species, including a New Caledonian endemic. All four species present the same methodological challenge: their otoliths are small, fragile and mute for growth marks using basic observation tools. Strontium (Sr) is calcium substituent in the mineral lattice, driven by salinity conditions, and thus useful to study diadromous migrations. Synchrotron-based scanning X-ray fluorescence 2D high-resolution mapping allowed us to tackle the global and hyperfine strontium (Sr) distribution. We developed analytical imaging processes to retrieve biological information from otoliths from the data generated via synchrotron analysis. We uncovered plasticity in the life cycle: all species were amphidromous, apart from some freshwater residents from New Caledonia. Understanding life cycle modalities is crucial to categorize species distribution limits and to implement adapted conservation measures, especially when endemic species are at stake. 2D fine-scale images outlined the heterogeneity of Sr distribution: in addition to the trivial Sr incorporation driven by environmental ionic conditions, there is an unusual mosaic arrangement of Sr distribution and we hypothesize that biological control, especially growth during the early life stages, may sometimes overrule stoichiometry. This shows that it is worth studying otolith formation and element integration at imbricated scales, and our methods and results provide a strong basis for future works and prospects in otolith science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports findings from four group experiments in New Caledonia. They have as a common denominator: the 'Intermediate Transcultural Space' as inspired by Winnicott (1971) that all feature the themes of violence, the influence of culture and support group therapy. They all take place over a period of 10 years of practice. I continued to develop each of these group formats until I eventually arrived at an intergenerational, multicultural group for adolescents with a record of violence and criminal offences who fell within the remit of the French Child and Youth Judicial Protection Service along with the Kanak Custody Senate. The group offers an accessible landing stage that allows the young people to move forward along the long road of restoring self-esteem, and transforming their trauma and violent behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroxenites, comprising only approximately 2 %–10 % by volume of the upper mantle, are among the most important lithological heterogeneity in the mantle. The formation of pyroxenite veins within peridotites is often attributed to migrating melts which provides an important mechanism for crust-mantle interaction. The Re–Os isotope system provides valuable insight into crust-mantle interaction, as there is a significant contrast in 187Os/188Os between crustal and mantle rocks. Previous Os isotope studies have shown that the forearc mantle wedge mainly consists of highly heterogeneous ancient peridotites. However, limited Re–Os isotope data of forearc mantle pyroxenites exist. Here, two types of mantle pyroxenites from the New Caledonia forearc ophiolite were selected for a comparative study. Contrasting microtextures and geochemical compositions support that these pyroxenites were formed by different processes. The Massif du Sud pyroxenites, hosted in harzburgites, have a cumulate origin and crystallized from boninitic melts generated by remelting of depleted mantle during subduction initiation, whereas the Tiebaghi pyroxenites within the host lherzolites are the products of melt-peridotite reactions. Both types of pyroxenites display highly fractionated highly siderophile element (HSE) patterns. The Massif du Sud pyroxenites are strongly enriched in palladium group platinum-group elements (PPGE) relative to iridium group platinum-group elements (IPGE) with remarkable positive Pt anomalies, which are similar to those of primitive arc lavas and mantle wedge pyroxenite xenoliths. In contrast, the Tiebaghi pyroxenites have flat IPGE but variable PPGE and Re patterns. Compared to the forearc mantle peridotites, the Tiebaghi pyroxenites have higher Os isotope ratios. Ancient basaltic melt percolation followed by long-term (>1 Ga) radiogenic ingrowth can successfully produce the observed correlations of 187Os/188Os with Os or Al 2 O 3 contents. Besides, the oldest Re-depletion model age (T RD) of ∼1.35 Ga has been obtained for the host lherzolites. Therefore, the Tiebaghi pyroxenites and their host lherzolites probably represent a stranded old mantle relict that has undergone ancient partial melting and melt percolation events. Our study supports the presence of highly radiogenic mantle domains in the forearc and provides significant constraints on the role of ancient basaltic melt percolation for generating mantle heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several remote sensing projects have produced coral reef habitat maps globally. This includes the Allen Coral Atlas (ACA) project. The present study focuses on assessing the accuracy of the ACA 6-class benthic habitat products available for New Caledonia in the 0–10-m depth range. The assessment involves using independent control data collected through thousands of in situ photographs of the benthic environment during sea cucumber stock assessments on multiple sites around New Caledonia. The overall accuracy of the ACA benthic product ranked from 20 to 67% depending on the sites and evaluation method. These results are generally lower than those achieved by other global and local coral reef mapping and products which can be primarily explained by the lack of local ground-truth data to train the classifications. In addition, we discuss other significant misclassifications immediately detectable through historical knowledge, and the limited relevance of the classification scheme to represent the actual diversity of New Caledonia coral reef habitats, a key criteria to guide conservation with habitat maps. Overall, the study highlights the limitations of the ACA benthic product that users should be aware of and offer some recommendations and caveats for both potential users and map producers in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]