Nature and conservation research at Lincoln University

New Zealand has a unique biota with a high proportion of endemic species relative to many countries.  Our long geographic isolation of about 80 million years, the changing climate, shorelines, orogonies, glaciation, and vulcanism have all helped shape the composition of the biota and ecosystems present today.  Understanding of the biology of our indigenous biota and ecosystems is cruicial for conservation and for management.

Disciplines in this area include ecology, fundamental biology, taxonomy and biogeography.

Staff in this field include

John Marris
Adrian Paterson

Highlighted research

Southern salpingids: taxonomy and biogeography of Antarcticodomus  (PDF 106 KB)

Invasive pests and weeds have a large impact on the structure, functioning and biological diversity New Zealand's natural ecosystems.  In addition many invasive weeds and pests have an economic impact on crops and livestock in our agroecosystems.  Research in this area is important in understanding the effects of invasive species on our ecosystems and can contribute to conservation of native biological diversity.

Staff in this field include

John Marris
Dr Richard Duncan

Highlighted research
Post dispersal seed predation by introduced mammals

New Zealand has a unique biota with a high proportion of endemic species relative to many countries.  Our long geographic isolation of about 80 million years, the absence of mammalian predators, the changing climate, shorelines, glaciation and vulcanism have all helped shape the composition of our biota. Today our endemic species face a variety of pressures, including reduction of habitat, habitat modification, and increased predation and competiton from introduced species.
 

Highlighted research
Kaupapa Kereru (PDF 98 KB)

The New Zealand environment has changed dramatically since the arrival of humans, most notably through the modification of habitats and the introduction of exotic species.  Major changes have occurred in land use through activities such as harvesting, deforestation and wetland drainage for urban development, rural farming, and forestry.  This has resulted in a number of habitats becoming greatly reduced in area, and fragmented in distribution.  Many modified habitats have conservation value and there is a recent interest in returning biodiversity and natural values to modified ecosystems through restoration. 

Research areas in this field include urban ecology, agroecosystem management, forestry and nature conservation and the environmental effects of transport.

Staff in this field include

Ken Hughey
Ian Spellerberg
Simon Swaffield

Highlighted Research

Ecological effects of roads  (PDF 56 KB)

The use of natural resources raises complex issues such as management of resources according to cultural and political frameworks.  Therefore law, planning and policy must play integral roles in nature conservation.  Environment laws are developed based on the ethic of sustainability which obliges us to protect the natural environment - not just for our use but for its intrinsic values and potential value to future generations.

Staff in this field include

Geoff Kerr 
Simon Swaffield

Highlighted research

Policy development for mitigation of environmental impacts (PDF 59 KB)

Our environment is under constant pressure from human activities.  Only by monitoring the state of our environment will we know how people are effecting it and how well our current laws and policies are working.  One aspect of this process is analysis of socio-environmental matters such as the public perception of environmental condition.  Information from research on environmental indicators and the public perception of environmental parameters may be useful for policy makers, and show where improvement in policy and future education programmes are required.

Staff in this field include

Ross Cullen
Ken Hughey

Geoff Kerr 
Ian Spellerberg
Simon Swaffield 

Highlighted research

2004 Survey Perceptions of the state of the New Zealand Environment
Available from AERU, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, for $50 including P&P.

Tourism, Recreation Research and Education Centre (TRREC)