CBER Reports
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Item Management of the University of Waikato campus lakes: Final report(Commissioned Report for External Body, Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, The University of Waikato, 2002-11) Hicks, Brendan J.; Bryant, NicholasThere are three small shallow lakes on the University of Waikato campus, and all have high nutrient loadings, creating ideal conditions for plant algal growth. These lakes were created by excavation during construction of the university for the purposes of stormwater detention. Water quality in the lakes has been a matter of concern to the University of Waikato Site Committee for a number of years, and the concern intensifies in late 2000 with the commissioning of the WEL Energy Academy of Performing Arts, which was built with a view over Knighton Lake.Item Physical environment, nutrient budget, and ecology of Lake Moana-nui, Tokoroa(Commissioned Report for External Body, Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, The University of Waikato, 2006-02) Miller, Dean C.; Hicks, Brendan J.This report is based on fortnightly monitoring data collected over a 14 month period from November 2000 to January 2002 and a survey of the lake bathymetry and vegetation distribution. The project also included a detailed investigation into the associations between macroinvertebrates and the native and exotic plants in the lake, and experiments evaluating the effects of the large populations of the water flea Simocephalus vetulus that the lake maintains on algal concentrations and therefore water clarity. The aim of this report is to present and discuss the results of the monitoring, surveys, and experiments in order to make recommendations for the future management and health of Lake Moana-nui.Item A sensitive genetic-based detection capability for Didymosphenia geminata(Commissioned Report for External Body, Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, The University of Waikato, 2006-12) Cary, S. Craig; Hicks, Brendan J.; Crawford, Naomi; Coyne, Kathryn J.It is now well recognized that the increase in global transportation over the last two decades has brought with it an increased potential for the introduction of unwanted microorganisms (aquatic or terrestrial) that may have drastic effects on human and ecosystem health and agriculture. We have developed and validated a unique genetic fingerprinting tool for D. geminata. In concert, we developed field collection and preservation techniques specific for D. geminata along with genetic-based procedures that can now reliably detect D. geminate from a complex environmental community with a high degree of sensitivity. Recent work (Phase 2) has shown that the described methods will provide detection levels from <1 – 10,000 cells ml-1. We contend that the genetic based detection approaches used in this study offer great promise to meet the increasing demands to monitor the global threat from invasive micro-organisms.Item The feasibility of using otolith microchemistry to trace movements of rainbow trout and common smelt in lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua(Commissioned Report for External Body, Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, The University of Waikato, 2007-05) Riceman, Matthew Sean; Hicks, Brendan J.Otolith microchemistry can be used to determine the natal origins of fish. Our feasibility study using single water samples has determined that the water chemistry around Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, have different elemental compositions warranting further investigation. We have shown that juvenile trout populations from spawning tributaries around lakes Rotorua and Rotoitit, Rotoua lakes district, New Zealand, could be grouped by using the ¹³⁷Ba:⁴³Ca isotopic ratio obtained from otolith laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis. The ⁸⁸Sr:⁴³Ca isotopic ration further distinguished between different sample locations when combined with the the ¹³⁷Ba:⁴³Ca isotopic ratio. Laser ablation analysis across common smelt otoliths provided information related to the movements between different chemical habitats across the fishes life and some distinct resident and migratory pattern are presented although further investigation into migration is required. Our preliminary results indicate that we will be able to distinguish natal steam for juvenile rainbow trout and probably lake of origin for common smelt.Item Nutrient budget and water balance for Lake Ngaroto(Commissioned Report for External Body, Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, The University of Waikato, 2007-06) Beaton, Rowena; Hamilton, David P.; Brokbartold, Marcel; Brakel, Christoph; Özkundakci, DenizThe objectives of the present study were to provide an indication of tributary nutrient and sediment levels, and the lake water quality for Lake Ngaroto over a period of summer sampling from December 2006 to February 2007. The measurements were designed to provide a foundation for a comprehensive water balance and nutrient load assessment for the lake in a future study, and to ultimately support informed decision making related to lake management.