Biodiversity of springs and rock seepages 2003

Massey Periphyton 2003 These samples were collected by Massey University from Horizons Regional Council river monitoring sites. NIWA analysed the samples.

Five replicate quantitative periphyton samples (415 mm2) were collected from the edge and mid-stream in a riffle of the Patea River. Water depth 0.3-0.8 m at time of sampling. The samples were pooled for taxonomic analysis. The objective was to characterise periphyton biomass and community composition at the site, which was below the Patea Dam and experienced low levels of dissolved oxygen. Note that the exact day of sampling is unknown.

Periphyton was sampled from Canavans Creek, Franz Josef, as part of an EEA for potential realignment works for this small creek if a stop babnk were to be built. Four sites were selected, and periphyton collected non-quantitatively by scraping rocks. Relative abundances were assessed by coded abundance.

Samples were collected as part of a FRST-funded freshwater biodiversity programme, between 1998 and 2004. Samples were collected from a range of freshwater habitats throughout New Zealand. Diatom species were listed from permanent slide mounts of diatom frustules (extracted from each sample by removing organic material using strong oxidisers). In most cases, the relative abundance of each species was noted using a scale of 1 (rare) to 5 (dominant). The slide collection is held at NIWA, with slides referenced by the sample number. Photographs of each specimen identified are held on NIWA's Atlas database.

Periphyton samples were collected from landslide lakes in the Mokihinui, Karamea and Young (Otago) catchments, to allow an assessment of the likely periphyton communities in the reservoir formed by the proposed Mokihinui hydroelectric dam. Data from up to three replicate samples at each site have been merged to give overall taxa relative abundances (%).

Periphyton samples were collected from over 20 stream sites in four catchments east of Te Anau, which were potentially affected by a proposed monorail to take tourist traffic from the Mararoa River to Te Anau Downs. Samples comprised 3 - 4 subsamples, pooled, at each site.

Diatoms from 20 ponds on Bealey Spur, all collected on 24/08/2001

Non-quantitative algae samples were collected from about 140 sites in ~45 wetlands throughout New Zealand. The wetlands sampled represented the "best available" in the regions sampled (i.e. all were relatively unimpacted). In general samples were from the west of the country as no eastern areas were considered to have unimpacted wetlands. At each site, where possible, an algae sample was collected from the benthos (sediment) and from submerged plants (epiphytic). The data on diatoms were obtained from counts of species on permanent slides prepared from the samples by acid-cleaning. The data are reported as relative abundnaces (%). The project was aimed at decribed the biodiversity of algae in wetlands and relating this to wetland characteristics.

Periphyton samples were collected from small tributaries and rock seepages in the Mokihinui Gorge withinthe area that would be inundated by the reservoir formed by the proposed Mokihinui hydroelectric dam. For comparison, samples were also collected from similar habitats in the Mokihinui catchment outside the affected area, and from the Karamea, a neighbouring catchment. Community composition was determined for up to three samples at each site, covering a range of habitats (i.e. habitats were kept separate).