Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity

The Poor Knights Marine Reserve is a popular spot with divers [Photo: Malcolm Francis, NIWA]

The Poor Knights Marine Reserve is a popular spot with divers, thanks to its rich marine life, clear waters, and labyrinth of underwater caves, arches, and tunnels. A gorgonian coral (or sea fan) is captured growing on the side of Middle Arch, at a depth of 25–30 m, surrounded by feathery bryozoans (coral-like organisms), sponges, and coralline algae.

NIWA and Auckland University are investigating interactions between tourism and the marine environment in the Poor Knights Marine Reserve, about 20 km off the Northland coast, as part of a four-year study funded by FRST.

We’ve recently completed field mapping the ecological resources of the entire reserve, using multibeam bathymetry to characterise seabed habitats down to 120 m, and an underwater video camera system to survey plant and animal communities.