<- Homepage: Freshwater ecology Taupō
Web conferences and experts
Web conference 1
The following questions from schools are answered by freshwater ecologists Krysia and James in web conference 1:
- What is the most common freshwater fish in Lake Taupo? Have their numbers there been stable over the last 150 years?
- Is your kowaro (spelling?) in Lake Taupo the same as the endangered Canterbury mudfish that shows up first on a web search?
- Where is the best place to find (water) animals for studying?
- Why around taupo river you can only fly fish and not spin?
- Our main focus is to put a plan into action i.e what can we do to make sure our wai remains abundant and clean? e.g clean up our wai
- What would happen if we stopped being sustainable?
- Which of the five whitebait species are endangered and do you think fishing for whitebait is sustainable?
- Why do you need an extra fishing license for taupo area, if you already have a fishing license?
- Your not allowed to buy and sell trout is that right? Perhaps should be the same, we were wondering the same about whitebaiting.
- What is the weirdest thing you have found in a river?
- What is fishing licence money used for? Is it different in your area compared to other parts of NZ?
Web conference 2
The following questions from schools are answered by freshwater ecologists Krysia and Michel in web conference 2:
- Do you think if the government was more environmentally focused the rivers wouldn’t be polluted? How do the polluted rivers affect the wildlife and creatures inhabiting them?
- What things can we do to protect rivers/streams?
- What is the most polluted river you have ever seen/visited?
- What is stopping laws being enforced on whitebaiting?
- What kind of groups or organizations are you with?
- Is there a good way to stop pollution of rivers altogether?
- How can we convince the people of Earth to stop polluting our seas?
- If you could suggest something to the government and they would probably do your suggestion, what would it be and why?
- When is it the best time to be sustainable? What do we get back if we are sustainable?
- What's the most effective way to be environmentally friendly?
- Why is the Manawatu River so polluted when its biggest city (Pamerston North 90,000) is so small compared to cities like Auckland (1.5 million)?
Web conference 3
The following concepts are exlored by freshwater environmentalists Cam and Krysia in web conference 3:
- Whio, biodiversity, predator control, stoats, habitat, ecology
- Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), minimum flows, resource consent, public consultation, stakeholders
- Environmental sustainability, Whio Forever, Genesis Energy
- Regional Council, Fish and Game, iwi, hapu, Department of Conservation, Federated Farmers
- Value of water, native species, recreation, irrigation, municipal water supplies
- Tuna (eels), migration, Tonga, whitebait, dams
- Tongariro Power Scheme, electricity, Wanganui River headwaters, environmental monitoring
- Algae, water temperature, stonefly, caddisfly, mayfly, midge, slime, floods
- Kayaking, rafting, Turangi
- Electricity from tidal flows.
Meet the experts
Meet Krysia Nowak
Krysia is an Environmental Science Educator, at Taupō for Tomorrow - Department of Conservation. Krysia has a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) and a Masters in Science Communication.
Meet James Cooper
James is an Aquarist for the Department of Conservation. He works at the native fish aquarium as part of the Tongariro National Trout Centre. James has a Certificate in pet care sciences, a Bachelor of Environmental Management, and a Masters in Biological Sciences.
Meet Garth Oakden
Garth works at Whitewater Rafting Fishing Adventure as a guide and as the company owner. Garth also is a Senior grade 5 rafting guide and is an active roving assessor for rafting
Meet Cam Speedy
Cam is an Ecologist and Environmental Coordinator for Renewable Energy @ Genesis Energy. Cam has a BSC in Zoology/Wildlife Management
Meet Michel Dedual
Michel is a Fisheries Scientist for the Department of Conservation. He has a PhD in ichthyology and post-doctorate in fish physiology.
Meet Andrew
Andrew is the LEARNZ field trip teacher who is leading this field trip. Andrew has a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, a Diploma of Teaching and a Graduate Diploma of Education Management.
