What’s lurking in the Waituna wetlands? A freshwater fish survey – Arawai Kakariki Project
Introduction
View the report What’s lurking in the Waituna wetlands? A freshwater fish survey – Arawai Kakariki Project. Published 2008.Download the publication
Summary
Intensification of agriculture in the Awarua/Waituna wetlands has resulted in land use changes, land development and water quality issues. Human induced change in the catchment over time places pressure on the natural environment and the biota living within it. As a result of changes to the environment, the fish fauna composition, abundance, and habitat use may change.
Therefore, it is important to establish baseline fish data in order to measure change across seasons and changes in the environment (both as a result of land use changes and management initiatives).
Thus, the study aims to establish baseline fish data in the Waituna catchment, including information on habitat associations, composition, relative abundance and population structure. This information will be used to guide future fish biodiversity programmes in the wetlands, as well as management options, monitoring and further field survey.