Quantifying the effect of wetland restoration īnanga growth using otoliths
Application process
A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm 22 September 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
Project number
105
Project description
This project aims to understand if, and how, wetland restoration enhances the growth of īnanga (Galaxias maculatus). Under the supervision of Prof. Jeffery Shima and Dr Simon Stewart (Cawthron Institute), the student will otolith samples each from streams with (treatment) and without (control) catchment wetland restoration initiatives to determine age and calculate subsequent growth rate.
The student will then assess patterns in daily growth increment sizes with relation hydrology data to test the hypothesis that floods enhance īnanga growth when wetlands are present.
The deliverables include:
Processing 30 īnanga otoliths with validated ages.
Quantifying daily ring widths for the outer otolith segments.
Undertake statistical analysis to assess the effect of flood events on daily growth rates.
Provide report outlining methods alongside the complete data set.
This project is for a single student.
Location
Mainly at the University.
Supervisor
Associate Dean, Postgraduate Research
Faculty of Science and Engineering