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Quantifying the effect of wetland restoration īnanga growth using otoliths
Scholarship details
| Study levels | Degree |
|---|---|
| Close date | Monday, 22 September 2025 |
| Domestic/international | Domestic Only |
About the scholarship
This project aims to understand if, and how, wetland restoration enhances the growth of 墨nanga (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 墨nanga growth when wetlands are present. The deliverables include processing 30 墨nanga otoliths with validated ages, quantifying daily ring widths for the outer otolith segments, undertaking statistical analysis to assess the effect of flood events on daily growth rates, and providing a report outlining methods alongside the complete data set.
Entry requirements
A completed online application must be submitted by 4:30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by the closing date.