Publications
Characterising potential participants in kelp monitoring in the recreational diving community: A comparative study of South Africa and New Zealand
Recreational divers show strong interest in kelp monitoring, with participation influenced by demographic, attitudinal, and behavioral factors. A study of 100 divers from South Africa and New Zealand identified five potential involvement scenarios: field-based monitoring, public education, conservation activities, and opportunistic monitoring. Geographic comparisons revealed shared experiences and context-specific differences among participants. The findings provide actionable insights for designing kelp citizen science projects, addressing global calls for increased long-term monitoring to support kelp conservation efforts.
Environmental DNA analysis needs local reference data to inform taxonomy-based conservation policy – A case study from Aotearoa / New Zealand
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, a promising tool for biodiversity surveillance, faces significant limitations without locally generated reference data. A case study from Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand's remote fiords reveals that eDNA-derived species identifications often lack accuracy compared to Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) data and regional biodiversity records. The study identified 116 fish species across four data sources, with eDNA showing the least concordance at lower taxonomic levels. While BRUV aligned better with local biodiversity information and detected regional dissimilarities more effectively, eDNA's potential for species-level conservation policy remains impaired without robust reference datasets.
People and Place:The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island in History and Literature
A distinctive regional literature has emerged on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, reflecting and shaping its unique physical and historical environment. This relationship between people, place, and narrative is explored through a study that traces the evolution of this literature over time, revealing how it both influences and is influenced by the region's geography and history. The research adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating historical analysis with literary criticism to uncover the enduring connection between the West Coast’s identity and its cultural expressions.
Plant invasions in New Zealand: global lessons in prevention, eradication and control
New Zealand's unique experience with non-native plant invasions offers critical global lessons for prevention, eradication, and control. Despite pioneering biosecurity policies—such as the first national permitted plant import list and bans on non-native species sales—the country faces persistent challenges due to uncoordinated efforts and cognitive biases that hinder long-term management success. While New Zealand has achieved limited eradication successes through biological control programs, most mechanical or herbicide treatments in natural areas have failed, reflecting broader global difficulties in managing invasive species. The study underscores the need for proactive strategies, including identifying 'sleeper weeds' likely to become problematic due to climate change, quantifying impacts on cherished values rather than easily measurable ones, and providing accurate projections of invasion trajectories. A shift in mindset is essential to overcome biases that favor intervention over inaction and underestimate the non-linear nature of invasions.
About the cover
Aoraki / Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand at 3,724 meters, stands as a cornerstone of geotourism within Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Region. This study highlights how geotourism, driven by visitor engagement and educational initiatives like the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, plays a pivotal role in both promoting awareness and supporting conservation efforts. The mountain's unique geological features, combined with its status as a major international tourist destination, underscore the significance of sustainable tourism practices in preserving natural heritage. With approximately half a million visitors annually, Aoraki / Mount Cook serves as a model for integrating scientific knowledge with tourism development to foster long-term ecological stewardship.
Piracy in the high trees: ectomycorrhizal fungi from an aerial ‘canopy soil’ microhabitat
Researchers discovered that ectomycorrhizal fungi, typically associated with terrestrial roots, also colonize adventitious canopy roots of Nothofagus menziesii trees in the temperate rainforests of South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. This unexpected finding suggests a novel mechanism for nutrient acquisition in these ecosystems, bypassing traditional soil-ground cycles by tapping into canopy soil nutrients. The study identified 14 fungal phylotypes from nine genera, including seven known to form ectomycorrhizas with terrestrial Nothofagus roots and two previously unreported in this context (Clavulina and Leotia). Using DNA sequencing and cluster analysis on 74 root tips collected from three old-growth trees, the research highlights the functional significance of canopy ectomycorrhizas, which may enhance host nutrition while also implicating competition for nutrients between the host tree and epiphytes in this aerial microhabitat.
Cultural Landscape and Goldfield Heritage: Towards a Land Management Framework for the Historic South-West Pacific Gold Mining Landscapes
A novel framework for interpreting and classifying historic gold mining landscapes as cultural landscapes is proposed, offering new insights into their heritage significance and sustainable tourism potential. The study argues that mid-nineteenth century goldfields, when analyzed within the context of organically evolved landscapes linked to surrounding farmland, reveal hidden disruptive aspects of mining that have been overlooked in World Heritage listings. By drawing on case studies from Victoria (Australia) and Otago (New Zealand), the research demonstrates how these landscapes can be thematically interpreted for their cultural value while addressing gaps in current heritage management approaches.
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