Biodiversity and Conservation
Introduction
Moth on manuka. Image – Richard Toft
The Biodiversity & Conservation team consists of about 50 scientists and science technicians based in Auckland, Hamilton, Nelson, Lincoln and Dunedin. Its mission is to undertake world class scientific research to underpin the protection of New Zealand's biodiversity, and to minimise the impacts of invasive weeds and invertebrates. We provide research and advice on conservation planning, biodiversity inventory and monitoring, species recovery strategies, biocontrol of weeds, management of invasive invertebrates, management and restoration of wetlands and forest fragments, pollination biology, genetic structure of populations, gene flow in the environment, and biotic risk assessment. Much of our research is carried out in highly modified areas and where the natural landscape abuts areas managed for production. Although we mainly deal with native organisms, and weeds and pests of the natural environment, many of these invasive species also affect productive land, and many native species find a home within agricultural systems. Our research therefore has strong implications for agriculture and forestry as well.
Research themes
- Biocontrol and Ecology of Weeds
Primary contact: Lynley Hayes
Reducing the environmental, economic and social impacts of invasive plants by undertaking research to understand how best to manage them, including a strong focus on developing biological control programmes. - Bird population monitoring
Primary contact: Eric Spurr
Landcare Research, in collaboration with members of the Ornithological Society, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Royal Society, Department of Conservation, and various city and regional councils, is establishing a garden bird survey to monitor the distribution and population trends of common garden birds in New Zealand. - Conservation science
Primary contact: Susan Walker
Understanding the distribution of native ecosystems, habitats and species, their ecological processes, the threats that impact upon them, and actions required to retain them. - Ecological Genetics
Primary contact: Dianne Gleeson
Managing genetic diversity and evolutionary processes in native species, offering a range of services that apply DNA diagnostics for identification of species/populations. - Ecological restoration
Primary contact: Bruce Burns
Assisting the recovery of damaged, degraded or destroyed ecosystems by undertaking research into setting appropriate restoration goals, identifying and removing degrading processes, and manipulating ecosystem composition and structure (including techniques for revegetation and reintroduction of missing fauna). - Environmental Biosafety
Primary contact: Linda Newstrom-Lloyd
Looking at environmental risks, in particluar gene flow and weed invasion potential from domestic crops, focusing on novel traits introduced through genetic modification. - Invasive invertebrates
Primary contact: Richard Toft
Looking at risks to natural ecosystems posed by invasive ant species established in New Zealand, developing strategies to control wasps and ants, and other invaders that might breach our borders. - New Zealand terrestrial molluscs
Primary contact: Gary Barker
New Zealand’s land snail fauna is globally distinctive, and illustrative of many of the evolutionary and community patterns seen in the New Zealand invertebrate fauna as a whole. This research aims to provide a better understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, the biological roles of molluscs in terrestrial environments, and the conservation status of species and communities. - Pollination
Primary contact: Linda Newstrom-Lloyd
The New Zealand Pollination Project uses research to investigate the interactions between pollinators and plants.
Tools & Services
-
Green Toolbox Species Selector
Free Windows–based software package to help users choose and evaluate plants for a variety of land management applications. -
Keys to New Zealand land snails
A series of LUCID keys to identify New Zealand land snails -
The Biological Control of Weeds Book
A series of information sheets explaining all about the philosophy and practice of biocontrol of weeds in New Zealand, including how to recognise and get the most out of weed biocontrol agents.
Science leader
 | Matt McGlone Email  |
Landcare Research | |
Phone: 03 321 9999 |