Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity

Mazus radicans
This native plant is good for pond edges. [Photo: John Barkla, DOC.]

Ranunculus limosella
This native plant can be used as ground cover in aquariums. [Photo: Trevor James, AgResearch.]

Aquarium hobbyists now have additional resources to guide them in selecting and culturing benign plants in the place of pest plants.

NIWA has worked with hobbyists, growers, the pet trade industry, and DOC to produce two pictorial plant guides for this purpose. One shows ten species that are at high-risk of becoming pests if introduced to New Zealand. The other outlines 54 alternative native or low risk plants to grow in their place.

The project was jointly funded by DOC’s Terrestrial & Freshwater Biodiversity Information Systems Programme, and the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology.

Download the guides for free at: www.niwa.co.nz/ncabb/tools/