Regional Estuary Monitoring Programme (Waikato Region)

Physical, chemical and biological monitoring of estuaries within the Waikato region for Waikato Regional Council.

Sampling sites are located in the Southern Firth of Thames and Whaingaroa (Raglan) Harbour.

Sampling frequency = 3month intervals until 2009 (Jan, Apr, Jul and Oct), biannually since 2009 (Apr and Oct).

Number of sites = 8.

Extent of site = 10,000m2 (100m x 100m).

Number of replicates = 12 infaunal cores and sediment samples per site, 2-6 sediment plates (depending on location), 10 measurements taken per plate.

Measured variables = Infaunal communities (species identifed to lowest taxonomic level possible and enumerated, key bivalves measured).

Indicator species condition analysis (using adult bivalves).

Sediment characteristics (grain size, TOC, chlorophyll a).

Sediment erosion/deposition (cm/y): depth of sediment layer is measured on each sampling occasion (using metal plates, initially buried at 100mm depth and 10 knitting needles).

Sampling protocol & QA = Follows methodology of Thrush (1988).

Sediment analysis used Galai laser sediment analyser, Malvern Particle Analyser, Hills Laboratories.

Infaunal samples used internal QA procedures and were processed internally or with Wilma Blom at Auckland Museum.

Citation proposal
. Regional Estuary Monitoring Programme (Waikato Region). https://dc.niwa.co.nz:/niwa_dc/srv/api/records/0a0eaacf-f7f5-478a-b7b8-d866ce7bb170

Simple

Date

Collective title: Thrush, S.F.; Pridmore, R.D.; Hewitt, J.E. and Roper, D.S. 1988: Design of an Ecological Monitoring Programme for the Manukau Harbour. Water Quality Consultancy Report No. 7099 / Auckland Regional Water Board Technical Publication; no. 79. Auckland Regional Water Board, Auckland

Credit: Waikato Regional Council

Status: On going

Point of contact

Waikato Regional Council - Hilke Giles (Coastal Scientist )

Private Bag 3038 Waikato Mail Centre Hamilton 3240 New Zealand

0800 800 401 or +64 7 859 0999

+64 7 859 0998

Website: Waikato Regional Council
Link to the Waikato Regional Council website

Keywords

intertidal sandflats infauna macrofauna marine estuarine coastal ecological chemistry physical benthic soft visual observation core

Specific usage: MEMP

Use limitation: Public

Metadata language: eng

Topic category

Environment

Description: Southern Firth of Thames sites: Te Puru, Gun Club, Kaiaua, Miranda, Kuranui Bay. Whaingaroa (Raglan) Harbour sites: Te Puna Point, Haroto Bay, Ponganui Creek, Whatitirinui Island Okete Bay.

OnLine resource: Point of truth URL of this metadata record
Point of truth URL of this metadata record

OnLine resource: Link to the report and Excel spreadsheet of dataset on the Waikato Regional Council website
Link to the report and Excel spreadsheet of dataset on the Waikato Regional Council website

Hierarchy level: Dataset

Statement

Quality assurance was imposed on methods.

Geographic data used NZTM (LINZ). Temporal data were in NZST.

Data collection information: Infaunal core = 150mm tall x 130mm diameter. Seive mesh = 500um. Sediment sample core (taken with trowel) = approx 20mm tall x 50mm diameter, metal sediment plates