Large River Ecology
Large river research programme
Large rivers have undergone significant modification globally over the last few hundred years. These iconic rivers play a pivotal role is sustaining estuarine, floodplain and upstream aquatic ecosystems. Consequently there is increasing concern worldwide over their ecological condition and interest in approaches to large river rehabilitation. However, compared to wadeable streams, little is known about the ways the biology or functional processes in large rivers respond to human pressures and restoration measures.
Map of large (≥6th order) New Zealand rivers (those sampled as part of a national large rivers survey are named see report).
We have commenced a suite of ongoing studies to address various issues related to:
developing large river sampling methodologies;
measuring the effects of various human activities;
developing approaches for ecological monitoring;
testing indicators of large river ecological condition;
understanding energy pathways fuelling fish nutrition;
evaluating the effectiveness of restoration approaches; and
developing models of large river ecosystems.
This work is focussing mainly on the Waikato River, but also includes a range of other large rivers spread around the country (see map). Read more
