Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity

NIWA scientists have compiled a spatial database of New Zealand’s cold-water springs. The database contains records of nearly 2000 springs, and links each with the geology, land-use, and climate of the area.

Over 100 of the springs have biological data linked to them, and work by a postdoctoral student at NIWA suggests that the main environmental factors driving the patterns of biodiversity in cold-water springs are height above sea level, and land-use in the catchment. For example, low elevation springs tend to be dominated by crustaceans and molluscs, whereas high elevation springs tend to be dominated by insects.

The database will provide a resource to improve the conservation and management of biodiversity of spring habitats throughout New Zealand. The database and associated research was funded by DOC, with additional funding from the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology.