News
News and updates about our research, outreach and engagement
Posted on 21 May 2021
New eDNA research helps uncover the health of our estuaries
Recent research in two Nelson estuaries shows that environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a sensitive approach to detect nutrient enrichment effects.
MorePosted on 16 November 2020
Ocean robots show rivers flow further out to sea than expected
Aotearoa New Zealand's rivers don't just end at the coast, they travel much further than previously thought into our oceans, via eddies.
MorePosted on 12 November 2020
Interview with: Leonardo Durante
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, University of Otago PhD student Leonardo Durante recently submitted his thesis, funded through the Ecosystem connectivity project.
MorePosted on 12 March 2020
Aquaculture – it’s not just business, it's personal
Building genuine relationships with the communities they operate in is more important for NZ aquaculture companies than environmental, social or economic factors in determining whether that company gains and maintains…
MorePosted on 02 March 2020
Words matter when it comes to social licence
The term ‘social licence to operate’ (SLO) implies that communities have the power to grant or withhold approval for marine businesses, but new research suggests otherwise.
MorePosted on 04 December 2019
Decision-making in the face of uncertainty
The Tipping points team proposes harnessing expert opinions from scientists and mātauranga Māori holders to bridge key knowledge gaps so marine managers can plan for different outcomes and prevent tipping points.…
MorePosted on 13 October 2019
New ways of defining seafloor resilience
A recent publication from the Tipping Points project identifies the factors that characterise how resilient a seafloor ecosystem is to change caused by stressors or disturbances.
MorePosted on 29 July 2019
Understanding food webs to help manage coastal resources
A study of coastal food webs has revealed how ecosystem-based approaches to marine management could improve management of fish stocks and biodiversity in our changing coastal ocean.
MorePosted on 16 May 2019
Better connections would benefit biophysical research
Biophysical scientists could “better connect their fields of endeavour” to maximise scientific advances say researchers Assoc Professor Craig Stevens and Dr David Plew from the Stressor footprints and dynamics project.
MorePosted on 16 May 2019
Ocean research in Aotearoa: prospects and predictions
To best manage a marine ecosystem we need to know how it works – and one of the foundation stones is understanding the mechanics of water, nutrient, sediment and pollutant…
MorePosted on 25 February 2019
Monitoring for tipping points in the marine environment
Councils are welcoming new research from Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge that recommends monitoring regimes for detecting tipping points in Aotearoa New Zealand’s marine environment.
MorePosted on 06 December 2018
Developing ecosystem-based management principles for NZ
The Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge leadership team have proposed seven major principles for ecosystem-based management (EBM) in Aotearoa New Zealand.
More