Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity

The presence of torrentfish after some 20 years of rafting is encouraging.

In Waitomo Caves, native fish live quietly alongside wetsuit clad tourists. Scientists from NIWA and DOC, and experienced caving guides from the Black Water Rafting Company, recently conducted a preliminary survey of three cave systems there. They found good populations of longfin eels (tuna), freshwater crayfish (koura), and – most surprisingly – torrentfish (papanoko), whose closest relative is the marine blue cod.

Future research will look at potential competition between the fish and the glow-worms for the aquatic insects they prey on, and identify more precisely what these fish are eating.

The survey was funded by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology, with additional funding from Environment Waikato and DOC for further planned studies.