Publications

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has transformed biodiversity monitoring by making it possible to detect species and assess whole communities from small water, soil, or sediment samples.

Wetlands are among Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important ecosystems, supporting rich biodiversity and providing cultural, hydrological, and ecological services. Yet less than 10% of their

Along the upper reaches of a river that winds from native bush into farmland, local communities and mana whenua (people of the land/tribal authority) came

Invasive species are a major threat to island ecosystems, where they drive biodiversity loss and extinction. But detecting them can be tough – especially on

Effective management of invasive species relies on early detection and reliable surveillance tools. House mice (Mus musculus) are among the world’s most widespread invasive mammals,

Estuaries are among the most valuable and vulnerable ecosystems, providing habitat, food resources, and nursery grounds for a wide range of species. Urbanisation places increasing

Bat boxes are often installed to offset the loss of mature trees that provide natural roosting sites for bats, but confirming whether bats actually use

Hector’s dolphin, an endemic and culturally significant (taonga) species in Aotearoa New Zealand, is known to consist of several regional subpopulations, but traditional genetic studies

This study tested a simple but innovative idea: using small, widely available paint rollers to collect eDNA from submerged marine surfaces. Researchers compared four different

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is becoming a widely used tool for assessing biodiversity, but many agencies still question how well it matches traditional monitoring methods based

Invasive marine species (IMS) pose a major threat to coastal ecosystems, often spreading rapidly and causing ecological and economic damage. Because these species are difficult

Wetlands are culturally and ecologically important ecosystems, but they are also among the world’s most threatened. While eDNA biomonitoring is well established in rivers, lakes,

The Ross Sea in Antarctica is one of the planet’s most pristine marine environments, but growing human activity is increasing the need for effective biodiversity

This paper documents the first known discovery of a giant kōkopu spawning site in a tidal waterway. The finding was made opportunistically through DNA barcoding

Non-native fish can cause major damage to New Zealand lakes, so detecting them early is crucial for protecting local ecosystems. Traditional netting or trapping methods

This study demonstrates how environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to monitor one of the world’s rarest birds — the critically endangered kākāpō. Researchers developed

As climate change accelerates, the need for fast and accurate ways to monitor threatened ecosystems is becoming increasingly urgent. Coral reefs, in particular, have suffered

Monitoring the health of freshwater ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand is becoming increasingly important, especially under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM),

Biodiversity loss affects the productivity and stability of coastal ecosystems, yet it is rarely tracked across both time and space. This study uses environmental DNA

Coral reefs are under increasing pressure from climate change and human activity, making it essential to develop fast, accurate, and cost-effective ways to monitor their