Native plants |

Aotearoa New Zealand, the Protectors of the Lost Ark

Department of Conservation — 27/09/2014

The Palais du Roi de Rome in Rambouillet, near Paris, was built for the son of Emperor Napoleon more than 200 years ago.

It may not be the most likely place to find floors full of New Zealand’s endemic biodiversity but, nevertheless, there it is—nine rooms, two floors, over 200 m² of kākāpō, kiwi, kakī…

Juvenile kakī

The multimedia exhibition, Aotearoa New Zealand, the Protectors of the Lost Ark, has been at the French palace for the past few weeks (finishing September 28).

It is the culmination of years of work by French writer / photographer Sabine Bernert, who wanted to “show the fascinating and rich endemic biodiversity of New Zealand and celebrate the tireless dedication of its protectors”.

Will Batson with long-tailed bat

The exhibition includes 93 stunning pictures, 20 illustrated posters, and a 17 minute film with interviews.

Morepork

Sabine, who has also been running special guided tours of the exhibition for schools, tells us that French audiences are captivated:

“People love it and are very surprised to discover these aspects of New Zealand, far from the rugby and the sheep!”

Marlborough green gecko

Sabine worked closely with DOC while creating this exhibition (a big shout out to Ros Cole and Les Moran in particular) and we’re excited to be so beautifully represented.

: Harlequin gecko

: Whio

: Takahē

: Kākāpō

: Weka

: Kākāriki

Surely the Palais du Roi de Rome has never experienced such remarkable treasures before.

The Palais du Roi de Rome

The exhibition inside the Palais du Roi de Rome

Yellow-eyed penguin / hoiho

In Native animals, Native plants nature, Photography, Sabine Bernert

Keep an eye out for kakabeak

Department of Conservation — 22/09/2014

If you’re out in the bush this spring, look out for one of our most striking native plants, the critically endangered ngutukākā/kakabeak.

In Native plants endangered, flora, kakabeak, Native, ngutukaka, plants

Photo of the week: Kakabeak/ kowhai ngutukaka

Department of Conservation — 03/09/2014

A beautiful pink kakabeak/kowhai ngutukaka flower to celebrate the first week of spring!

In Native plants, Photo of the week kakabeak, kowhai ngutukaka, plants, spring

Ruppia the key to healthy lagoons

Department of Conservation — 28/08/2014

By Sarah Thorne, Awarua Wetlands Project Manager

It sounds like a bad joke. What is green, stringy and lurks at the bottom of Waituna Lagoon? The answer is Ruppia. Or it should be. But right now the future is not looking very green for this aquatic plant.

The life support system for Waituna Lagoon

So what is Ruppia?

Ruppia is a green, salt tolerant aquatic plant that grows on the floor of Waituna Lagoon like a meadow of long wavy seagrass. It’s essential for a healthy lagoon and is the life support system for the lagoon.

Just like grass, its roots hold the sediment together. Its leaves use up nutrients and create oxygen and they also provide a home for fish and aquatic invertebrates to live. It is even a meal for some fish and wildlife.

Without Ruppia the water quality declines, animal numbers decrease and the lagoon could become dominated by algae. Put simply: healthy Ruppia means a healthy lagoon and healthy fish.

Ruppia is very sensitive to water levels

What’s up?

DOC has just received the latest annual monitoring report from NIWA, which describes the health of the ruppia beds in the Waituna lagoon. This year’s results recorded the lowest number of sites with Ruppia and a reduction of overall cover of Ruppia since annual monitoring began in 2009. One of the species—Ruppia megacarpa, was only found at one of the 48 monitoring sites. Nuisance algal species that cause algal blooms and could smother Ruppia plants were also recorded in the lagoon during the monitoring.

Ruppia growing in sediment at Waituna Lagoos.

A recent NIWA report describes the health of the ruppia beds

Why should we be worried?

We know that Ruppia is very sensitive to water levels, salty conditions during spring germination, nutrient loads (nitrogen and phosphorous) and water clarity. Even though some overseas species of Ruppia are marine species, ours are freshwater and estuarine species that are only tolerant of salty conditions as opposed to being salt lovers

Ruppia growing on the floor of Waituna Lagoon.

Ruppia grows on the floor of Waituna Lagoon

What’s next?

It is hoped that under ideal conditions (high water levels and low salinity) Ruppia will flourish in the lagoon again.

DOC is working with locals and the Waituna Partners and Working Groups to help create the best conditions possible for Ruppia in the Waituna Lagoon.

A piece of Ruppia being held from Waituna Lagoon.

It is hoped that under ideal conditions Ruppia will again flourish in the lagoon.

A full copy of the report is available on the DOC website.

In Native plants, Wetlands Aquatic, freshwater, lagoons, plants, ruppia, Waituna

Funky fungi hunting in Westland

Department of Conservation — 24/07/2014

By Jo Mead, Partnerships Ranger in Franz Josef

We can often get fixated on the grandeur of the Southern Alps and the centuries-old rimu forest in this amazing place where we live and work in Westland.

Southern Alps with big boulders in the foreground.

The grandeur of the Southern Alps

However if we stop and look down at our feet among the leaf litter and fallen branches, we can find sights that are just as incredible — funky fungi as well as some spectacular mosses and ferns to discover.

Amongst the leaf litter and broken branches

Here are some photos I’ve recently taken of the amazing fungi, ferns and mosses I’ve come across.

Yellow wax-gill fungus on Mananui Tramway south of Hokitika

We’re stumped on this one. We’re calling it “waxy orange-peel fungus” for now

Saprophytic fungus eating a woodpile.

Pore fungus – can anyone tell us which one it is? It’s living on a log along the Canoe Track at Lake Kaniere

Polystichum with capsules ready to release spores.

Polystichum (we think) with capsules ready to release spores

Beautiful kidney fern about to release spores

Orange jelly fungus living above a prickly gorse carpet.

Jelly fungus living above a prickly gorse carpet at Waita River

Fungal fairy forest along the Lake Wombat track near Franz Josef

In Jobs at DOC, Native plants, West Coast ferns, fungi, fungus, moss, Southern Alps, Westland

Archives For 30/11/1999

Aotearoa New Zealand, the Protectors of the Lost Ark

Keep an eye out for kakabeak

Photo of the week: Kakabeak/ kowhai ngutukaka