Zoology collection
The mission of the Department of Zoology is to provide an environment, open to all sections of the community, for the extension, sharing and application of knowledge in zoology, through research and teaching of the highest international standard.
The Department of Zoology is distinctive internationally for its focus on whole organism biology (it is one of the few departments of zoology in universities throughout the world). Our staff have international reputations in their areas of expertise and make major contributions to answering fundamental questions in basic and applied research.
For further information go to the Department of Zoology.
Recent Deposits
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Sub-lethal effects of brodifacoum pesticide exposure on Wellington tree weta, Hemideina crassidens
Non-target pesticide exposure causes a myriad of detrimental sub-lethal effects in a broad range of taxa, with pesticide-induced changes in behaviour, physiology and reproduction documented widely. Most studies have focused ... -
Disturbance, predation and competition in a flood-prone stream
Among the drivers of the patchy distribution of organisms in space and time are abiotic factors, including physical disturbance, and biotic interactions such as predation and competition. Our understanding of the interplay ... -
Using Stable Isotope Analysis to study the diet of stoats (Mustela erminea) in the alpine zone of New Zealand
Threats posed by alien invasive species are a leading cause of global biodiversity decline. In island archipelagos such as New Zealand, introduced mammalian predators prey heavily on endemic fauna that have evolved without ... -
The fight for coexistence: niche partitioning between kiore (Rattus exulans) and ship rats (Rattus rattus) on Chatham Island
Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity throughout the world. In New Zealand, invasive rats represent a significant threat to native species, especially to island seabird populations. In order to determine the ... -
Population biology and the effects of tourism on Hector's Dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori), in Porpoise Bay, NZ
A small population of Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) in Porpoise Bay, New Zealand, attracts a single commercial dolphin-watch vessel as well as an increasing number of swimmers who enter the water from the ... -
Fish assemblages and life history patterns in estuaries along the Otago coastline, New Zealand
Understanding the ways in which fish use estuaries is crucial to develop effective interrealm management plans that take into account all components of these highly connected ecosystems. Fish assemblages of New Zealand ... -
Ecology of the giant kokopu
This study aimed to determine the distribution of giant kokopu, G. argenteus within the Lower Taieri Floodplain in New Zealand's South Island and then to examine various ecological aspects of this species including ... -
Parasitology of the yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes)
The goal of this study was to determine whether parasites represent a threat to the continued existence of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes. The population of this rare penguin has suffered from two severe ... -
Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Responses to Multiple Stressors: Interactions Between Fine Sediment Grain Size and Flow Velocity Reduction
Agricultural development has resulted in the degradation of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Disentangling the individual and combined effects of agricultural stressors is crucial for future land-use management and restoration ... -
Early exposure to atrazine in zebrafish: intergenerational effects and animal personality
Animal personality (consistent inter-individual differences in behaviour over time and context) is important for an individual’s fitness. Acute exposure studies in adults show that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can ... -
Taxonomy and genetic management of New Zealand's Leiopelma frogs
The taxonomic status of some of New Zealand’s endemic and threatened leiopelmatid frogs has been debated for years. I thus re-examined leiopelmatid diversity by studying the skeletal and external morphology of extinct and ... -
Foraging activity and colony thermoregulation of the honey bee Apis mellifera following exposure to the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos
Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are important pollinators and yet, an increasing number of reports suggest honey bee populations worldwide are in decline. Pollinators face many environmental stressors, including exposure ... -
Linking science and management for effective long-term conservation: A case study of black-fronted terns/tarapirohe (Chlidonias albostriatus)
Conservation biologists are facing a huge challenge. Ongoing, human-induced global change is leading to accelerating biodiversity loss, particularly in freshwater ecosystems where many highly mobile and migratory species ... -
Population status and genetic diversity of the endemic black-billed gull Larus bulleri of New Zealand
The endangered black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) is endemic to New Zealand, and is the world’s most threatened gull species due to suspected large population declines. These gulls primarily rely on open gravel beds in ... -
Conservation Genetics of North Island Kōkako (Callaeas wilsoni)
Conservation genetics has recently been recognised as an important, although often overlooked, aspect of wildlife management. Applying molecular techniques and genetic concepts to management strategies has the potential ... -
Effects of avian predation and habitat degradation on the population dynamics of the jewelled gecko (Naultinus Gemmeus) from the Every Scientific Reserve, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
This study examined population dynamics of jewelled geckos at the Eve1y Scientific Reserve (ESR), Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. Research was conducted between November 1998 and December 1999. Based on mark-recapture I ... -
Ship rat density in urban Dunedin and the development of a non-invasive estimation method
In New Zealand ship rats (Rattus rattus) are one of the major threats to endemic fauna and flora. Rural ship rat populations have been implicated in the ongoing decline and extinction of many species of endemic wildlife. ... -
Parasite-mediated interspecific interactions in a community of crustaceans
Differential impacts of parasitism among sympatric species influence important interactions among hosts, both directly and indirectly, which can translate to impacts on communities and ecosystems. This thesis investigated ... -
Effects of land use on the diet and growth of freshwater crayfish Paranephrops zealandicus in some New Zealand streams
I investigated the relationship between landuse and the diet and growth of the fresh-water crayfish Paranephrops zealandicus in the Taieri River catchment, South Island, New Zealand. The thesis presents a detailed dietary ... -
Mainland and near-shore islet colonies of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus) in Otago
INVESTIGATION OVERVIEW: Many mainland breeding colonies of Sooty Shearwaters are thought to have become extinct, although there is no concern for the abundant offshore island populations of these burrow-nesting seabirds. ...