Keeping pest plants at bay
Promising results from GemexTM field trials
Seamount research extended
NIWA's biosecurity expertise sought in Middle East
NZ seabed biodiversity probed
Dr Graeme Inglis (centre) with workshop delegates in Hurghada, Egypt.
NIWA’s marine biosecurity expertise is in demand in far-flung places.
John Clayton records vegetation in Lake Dunstan. (Photo: Aleki Taumoepeau, NIWA)
Aquatic weeds pose a particular biosecurity problem in New Zealand. Plants are the key drivers of aquatic ecosystems, so the wrong plant in the wrong place can cause major disruptions to the natural ecological balance.
The NIWA freshwater biosecurity group, led by Dr John Clayton, has recently received $1.35 million from the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology to expand their programme on freshwater plants.
CenSeam, the global Census of Marine Life programme on seamounts, has received funding to expand its field research.
CenSeam’s aim is to integrate and expand seamount research around the world. Research is focused on evaluating factors driving community composition and biodiversity on seamounts, and determining the impacts of human activities on seamount community structure and function.
Over the past few years, CenSeam has supported many varied research activities according to NIWA’s Dr Malcolm Clark, who leads a three-strong CenSeam team in Wellington.
Scientists sort biological samples onboard RV Tangaroa. (Photo: Scott Nodder, NIWA)
Unexplained hexagonal life forms, swimming sea cucumbers, and an old boot lying on the seafloor 1800 m down.
The GemexTM pumping rig (NIWA’s Neil Blair is on the left) at Princhester Creek. (Photo: Bill Jarvie, Fish & Game Southland)
NIWA’s role in the battle against didymo took a significant step when it conducted a carefully orchestrated field trial to test control possibilities in Southland in February.
NIWA has been researching the chelated copper product, GemexTM, which was released into Princhester Creek, a tributary of the Mararoa River, at a prescribed rate over an hour on a single afternoon.
