Browsing Marine Science by Date Published
Now showing items 1-20 of 140
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Dynamics of faecal contamination in the Waikouaiti estuary and implications for non-commercial harvest
For many New Zealand catchments, rainfall-induced faecal contamination is a primary mechanism for introducing gastro bacterial pathogens into shellfish harvesting environments. Bivalves have the ability to accumulate ... -
The ecology and conservation of hotspots for Hector’s dolphin
Many species of marine top-predator have ‘hotspots’ in their distribution. Hotspots can be defined as areas within the distribution of a population that are used disproportionately more than other locations. Usually ... -
Population biology, expansion and harvestability of the invasive Undaria pinnatifida in southern New Zealand
In the marine environment, 84% of eco-regions have been subject to biological invasions. These invasions can be ecologically costly through displacing native species, shifting community structure, altering food webs, and ... -
Foraging ecology of sperm whales at Kaikōura
The submarine canyon of Kaikōura, New Zealand, is a foraging ground for male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus). The abundance of whales feeding in this area during summer has almost halved over the last three decades, ... -
Drivers of temperate reef fish community structure and food web architecture
An understanding of the drivers that influence community structure and functioning is essential to predict and manage the impacts of human induced stressors on the marine environment. The current thesis aimed to resolve ... -
Physical processes in a time-dependent salt wedge estuary with a region of repeated sharp curvature
This thesis presents a comprehensive study of physical processes in the Taieri River of the South Island, New Zealand, a poorly studied time-dependent salt wedge estuary with a region of repeated sharp curvature. A series ... -
Using photo-ID data to investigate population parameters and social structure of sperm whales visiting Kaikōura
In order to effectively manage and protect populations, it is crucial that long-term trends in abundance and population structure are understood. Kaikōura is one of the few places worldwide where sperm whales can be found ... -
Effects of coralline algal diffusion boundary layers on growth of newly settled sea urchins: implications for ocean acidification conditions
Macroalgae are able to modify their local environment via biological processes, thereby creating a diffusive boundary layer (DBL) where the chemical and physical environment differs from the overlying bulk seawater. In ... -
Growth, development, and aging methods of the midget octopus, Octopus huttoni
This is the first study to be completed on the growth, developmental rates, and aging methods in the midget octopus, Octopus huttoni. Understanding life histories and population dynamics are important for fisheries management. ... -
The relative importance of pelagic and benthic primary production for Austrovenus stutchburyi in Blueskin Bay in the South Island, New Zealand
Bivalves are commercially and ecologically important in estuarine ecosystem. Austrovenus stutchburyi is a dominant bivalve species in the Blueskin Bay inlet, New Zealand, and has been considered as culturally, commercially ... -
Valuation as destruction? The social effects of valuation processes in contested marine spaces
Valuation encompasses far more than the practice of estimating the financial value of environmental services and changes. It extends to almost any socio-political process in which local actors seek to shape the development ... -
Underwater noise from pile-driving and its impact on Hector's dolphins in Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand
Noise levels were measured in Lyttelton Harbour in order to study pile-driving noise produced during wharf reconstruction. Sound recordings were made throughout the harbour, using several moored and mobile recording systems. ... -
Estimating mark rate and its effect on the precision of estimates of survival rate for a long-term study of Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) at Banks Peninsula, NZ
An accurate and precise estimate of mark rate (the proportion of individuals with marks suitable for photo-ID) is essential for adjusting estimates of abundance from capture-recapture models to include the unmarked portion ... -
Is The Hearing of Whales and Dolphins Fully Developed at Birth?: An investigation of the odontocete inner ear
Sound is an essential component of toothed whale and dolphin (odontocete) biology. The advanced hearing-dependent activities of precocial calves lead us to believe that hearing is fully functional by birth. Nevertheless, ... -
Does host diet govern the structure and diversity of tapeworm assemblages in sharks? Insights from the literature and a model shark species; Cephaloscyllium isabellum
Previous research has shed some light on what phylogenetic and ecological factors may be important determinants of tapeworm parasite diversity in elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays). However, several potentially key ... -
Changes to Austrovenus stutchburyi growth rate since early human settlement in New Zealand: an indication of the extent of human impact on estuarine health
When humans first arrived in New Zealand around 1250AD they started making changes to the environment to make it more habitable. Coastal marine ecosystems such as estuaries are an important link between the land and the ... -
Optimising indicators of ecological condition in shallow tidal estuaries as function of nitrogen loading
Developing robust means of identifying anthropogenic stressor levels that degrade aquatic ecosystems represents a global management and conservation challenge. Among the known threats for coastal biodiversity and ecosystem ... -
Acclimatisation and adaptive capacity of echinoderms in response to ocean acidification and warming
Future ocean acidification and warming pose a substantial threat to the viability of some marine populations. In order to persist, marine species will need to acclimate or adapt to the forecasted changes. Recent research ... -
Sinks of agriculturally derived nitrogen in estuarine and coastal lagoon ecosystems
Increased nutrient runoff from mismanaged agricultural farming results in excess inputs of nutrients to coastal ecosystems, which can increase primary productivity causing eutrophication. Estuarine sediments provide the ... -
Responses to climate change of the sea urchin (Pseudechinus sp.) and sea star (Odontaster validus) through hybridisation, local adaptations and transgenerational plasticity
Climate change, through ocean warming and ocean acidification, can affect the life cycles and population dynamics of marine species, which react by developing acclimation mechanisms. Sea urchins (Pseudechinus sp.) may ...