This project brings together mātauranga Māori and science to develop new knowledge about cumulative effects
Project Leader
Duration
Budget
Simon Thrush (University of Auckland) & Kura Paul-Burke (MUSA Environmental/University of Waikato)
March 2020 – June 2023
$3,904,000
Overview
This project addresses the cumulative effects (CE) of multiple stressors on soft-sediment and rocky reef biodiversity and ecosystem function. This knowledge is necessary to underpin models, decision-making processes and to implement EBM.
Co-develop place-based tohu (traditional indicators) of the ecological condition of our estuaries and coasts
Develop ecological footprint analysis to support improved decision-making, investment and knowledge of how activities and stressors impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services
Investigate bottlenecks to recovery of reef and soft-sediment seafloor ecosystems
Develop new methods to map ecological response footprints of stressors and their impacts on ecosystem services
Provide a cumulative effects assessment (CEA) framework that is based on understanding of interactions between ecosystem components to inform marine spatial planning and risk assessment
Identify the constraints on ecosystem recovery to better manage risk and expectations.
We will engage in field studies, develop models and work with broader environmental initiatives across Aotearoa New Zealand proposed by iwi, community groups, central or regional government that support EBM developments. This includes:
Hauraki Gulf Seas Change process
Tauranga Harbour and Ōhiwa Harbour in response to actions to improve biodiversity and ecosystem function
Marlborough Sounds with multi-sector interests in trailing EBM
Southland estuaries with interests in enhancing the removal of nitrogen from the coastal ecosystem
In the context of each of these initiatives, we will work ecological communities and processes that play important roles in ecosystem service delivery and resilience.
For example, in Ōhiwa Harbour we will work with the potential for shellfish populations to enhance the ecosystem recovery of estuaries and rehabilitate negative effects of sediments and nutrients.
This research will allow us to develop frameworks across the Challenge that improve the way we make decisions about the risks posed by different activities in the marine environment, and the opportunities we have to improve the ecological health and mauri of our coasts and estuaries.
Research Team
Simon Thrush (University of Auckland)
Kura Paul-Burke (MUSA Environmental/University of Waikato)
Conrad Pilditch (University of Waikato)
Karin Bryan (University of Waikato)
Nick Shears (University of Auckland)
Judi Hewitt (NIWA/University of Auckland)
Drew Lohrer (NIWA)
Carolyn Lundquist (NIWA/University of Auckland)
Dave Schiel (University of Canterbury)
Steve Wing (University of Otago)
Candida Savage (University of Otago)
This is a research round-up of our tools, resources and research that support an EBM approach to fisheries management. It is a living document, and more will be added as they develop. Latest update: 2 August 2021
Te Au o Te Moana | Special Webinar Series: Healthy Seas
Presentation
This webinar was presented by Conrad Pilditch, Megan Ranapia, Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Simon Thrush, Joanne Ellis, and Tom Brough. March 2022 (1hr, 30mins Q&A)
This document provides an ecological perspective on how to overcome ecological issues related to the use of national environmental limits. Hewitt J, Bulmer R, Clark D, Couzens G, Ellis J, Gladstone-Gallagher R, Lohrer D, Pilditch D, Thrush S (May 2022)
This is a research round-up of our tools, resources and research that support an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach to the seafood industry (July 2022)
Cascading impacts of earthquakes and extreme heatwaves have destroyed populations of an iconic marine foundation species
Academic publication
Thomsen M S, Mondardini L, Thoral F, Gerber D, Montie S, South P M, Tait L, Orchard S, Alestra T, & Schiel D R (2021). Diversity and Distributions, 27, 2369– 2383.
Coastal darkening substantially limits the contribution of kelp to coastal carbon cycles
Academic publication
CO Blain, SC Hansen, NT Shears. (2021). Coastal darkening substantially limits the contribution of kelp to coastal carbon cycles. Global change biology, 27, 5547-5563.
Developing the next generation of marine managers and researchers
Summary
This impact case study describes how our researchers are sharing EBM knowledge and building lasting relationships with students and teachers – inspiring the next generation (August 2021)
This impact case study demonstrates how our research is having a real-time impact on how our marine environment is managed to reduce the impact of cumulative effects (August 2022)
These impact case studies show our research is supporting management, influencing policy, and inspiring the next generation. Each was developed at a point in time to showcase our work.
The combined meeting of the New Zealand Marine and Freshwater Science Societies was held in November 2022, and research from several of our projects was presented.
Cumulative effects erode resilience in coastal ecosystems
Summary
This summary gives the main points of three articles published between 2021 and 2023, which highlight how cumulative effects can induce an overarching snowball effect, and how understanding this mechanism is crucial to predicting ecological shifts.
Ngā tohu o te taiao: Observing signs of the natural world to identify seastar over-abundance as a detriment to shellfish survival in Ōhiwa Harbour, Aotearoa/New Zealand
Coastal ecosystem management: Managing multiple stressors by considering network interactions
Summary
This summary suggests a series of questions which will enable environmental managers and scientists to understand the potential for unexpected risks, and to develop strategies for handling unexpected environmental outcomes.
We are developing a research base for policy makers, Māori and stakeholders to navigate the legislative, policy and practice constraints surrounding EBM and any changes required to enable it.
Awhi Mai Awhi Atu: Enacting a kaitiakitanga-based approach to EBM
This project combines mātauranga Māori, science and local kaitiakitanga to better understand the culturally and socially important species in Ōhiwa Harbour.
We are investigating people's perceptions of risk and uncertainty in the marine environment and how these different experiences can improve decision-making about marine resources.
Sediment tolerance and mortality thresholds of benthic habitats
We investigated the effects that suspended sediment from human activities has on the health and survival of deep water species in the South Taranaki Bight.
Ecosystem connectivity: tracking biochemical fluxes to inform EBM
We traced the fate of water and sediments from land through coastal food webs, evaluating connections between coastal and deep sea habitats, and identified the effects of key coastal developments (such as aquaculture) on food web connectivity.
