Image: Dave Allan

Holistic lake health

Wai oranga

Aim

We are developing comprehensive approaches to measuring lake health that incorporates cultural values and biodiversity.

New environmental DNA based tools will be used to determine what native and non-native species are present and establish the natural condition of the lake.

Biodiversity

We are developing environmental DNA methods to detect native and non-native species and to characterise biodiversity. These techniques will be applied to sediment core samples to explore how biodiversity has changed over the last 500-1000 years.

Cultural assessment models 

In partnership with four iwi we are collectively developing and/or reviewing iwi-specific cultural assessment models. These will be applied to specific roto within each rohe.

Function, connectivity, and resilience 

Data from as stable isotopes and environmental DNA is being combined to assess the health and stability of food webs.

Resilience will be explored by applying environmental DNA techniques to sediment core samples to determine how much lakes have changed compared to the natural conditions.

Phytoplankton are the foundation of the aquatic food web.

Image: Blue Planet Society

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