Aquatic Biodiversity & Biosecurity - Research Projects

Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity

The Ross Sea Trophic Model

Understanding the feeding relationships between different species in the Ross Sea, and how they are affected by commercial fishing, is essential for the establishment of a sustainable fishery in the region.

Mapping marine biodiversity in Bay of Islands

 

Building a publicly-available database from the results of a marine mapping survey of the Bay of Islands provides us with a stocktake of the local aquatic resource, in turn giving us valuable information on what areas we can better manage for the future.

Kaikoura Canyon Survey

New Zealand's Kaikoura Canyon is a 'biodiversity hotspot', containing far more life than seen before at such depths.

Reintroducing giant kōkopu to Nukumea Stream

 

The giant kōkopu is a native whitebait species considered rare and vulnerable. NIWA is working with Mahurangi Technical Institute and environmental consultancy Boffa Miskell to test the feasibility of reintroducing giant kōkopu to Nukumea Stream, north of Auckland.

IceCUBE - Antarctic coastal marine ecosystems

IceCUBE (Coastal Underwater Benthic Ecosystems) is the umbrella name for our coastal marine research project that had its first field year in 2001/02. The project aims to better understand the structure and functioning of benthic (seafloor) ecosystems along the Ross Sea coast.

Plankton Biodiversity in the Southern Ocean

NIWA is conducting a five–year study to map changes in the distribution of plankton species in surface waters between New Zealand and the Ross Sea. Officially known as Continuous Plankton Recorder Time Series, this study is part of a Ministry of Fisheries marine biodiversity programme.

Restoring Kōaro in the Rotorua lakes

 

The kōaro was once abundant in the Te Arawa lakes near Rotorua in New Zealand’s North Island. NIWA has assessed the viability of restoring this species in the region.

Effects of ocean acidification on plankton in New Zealand waters

Our oceans are expected to become more acidic as carbon dioxide concentrations rise. This will likely have impacts on the plankton, which play a major role in ocean ecosystems and processes. This study will measure plankton diversity and productivity in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and predict their response to ocean acidification, warming, and stratification.