Kiwi ecologist interested in biodiversity, food webs, and ecosystem functioning. Hike, bike, ultimate, and the outdoors for fun. Views my own.
Frank Burdon
Beyond the ecological impacts, the findings have serious cultural implications. In Lake Rotoiti, the decline of kōura has reached a point where customary Māori fisheries are no longer viable.
What does this mean for management? Restoring kōura populations will require:
- Targeted catfish control
- Habitat enhancement to support recovery
- Continued long-term monitoring to guide adaptive management
We examined the influence of invasive brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus) on native kōura/freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops planifrons) across four lakes in Aotearoa New Zealand. We comparing two invaded lakes (Rotoiti and Rotorua) with two control lakes (Ōkāreka and Rotokākahi).
Invasive species are widely recognised as a major threat to biodiversity—yet quantifying their true impact can be challenging without long-term data. Our recent research highlights just how significant these effects can be.
More broadly, this research reinforces the importance of integrated invasive species management paired with habitat restoration to protect both biodiversity and cultural values in freshwater systems.
#FreshwaterEcology #InvasiveSpecies #Conservation #Aotearoa #Biodiversity #MātaurangaMāori
Cool study of the impact of an introduced North American freshwater fish on crayfish in New Zealand.
