Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Ecosystems are areas where plants, animals, landscape and weather co-exist. The health of an ecosystem can be measured by the diversity of species within it, which is known as biodiversity. SCIS no: 1978049

All items

Stories
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
This story explores ecosystems and key biodiversity hotspots in Aotearoa and around the world. It looks at their significance and decline, as well as how to protect them for future generations.
Stories
Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Introduction
Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Introduction
The National Geographic defines an ecosystem (ecological system) as "a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble ...
Images
Copper Butterfly
Copper Butterfly
Copper Butterfly pollinating shrubby native daisy, Olearia cymbifolia near Island Saddle, Molesworth.
Images
Midge larva
Scientists use species like midge larva to assess the quality of water in our streams, rivers and lakes.
The presence of an organism can be used as an indicator of water quality. Scientists in New Zealand have devised a scale from 1 to 10 to indicate an organism’s sensitivity to water quality. On the ...
Images
Krill
Tiny krill, present in their millions, are a keystone species in Antarctic marine ecosystems.
Animals, Marine, Krill
Images
New Zealand Longfin Eel
The New Zealand tuna (longfin and shortfin eel) plays an important role in our freshwater ecosystems.
Big ol' pile of big ol' eels. This is the eel-feeding area at Jester House, where you can buy a little cup of meat gobbets (looked like trimmings from the cafe) and feed them to the eels with the a...
Images
Forest Service Hut
Protecting ecosystems sometimes means eradicating or culling introduced species such as deer, goats and rabbits.
As part of a campaign to clear the hills of deer, the Forest Service cut tracks and built huts for deer cullers. This one on Harper Pass, near Lake Sumner in Canterbury, was built in 1964. It was r...
Images
New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bat
Bats are part of Aotearoa's estimated 80,000 endemic species that contribute to the biodiversity of our planet.
Images
Reducing by-catch
Commercial fishing has a huge impact on marine biodiversity worldwide, however sustainable practices are being adopted.
The SLED (Sea Lion Exclusion Device) is designed to reduce the number of marine mammals such as seals and sea lions that are trapped in the trawl nets of squid-fishing boats. The device allows sea ...
Stories
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
This story explores ecosystems and key biodiversity hotspots in Aotearoa and around the world. It looks at their significance and decline, as well as how to protect them for future generations.
Stories
Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Introduction
Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Introduction
The National Geographic defines an ecosystem (ecological system) as "a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble ...
Images
Copper Butterfly
Copper Butterfly
Copper Butterfly pollinating shrubby native daisy, Olearia cymbifolia near Island Saddle, Molesworth.
Images
Midge larva
Scientists use species like midge larva to assess the quality of water in our streams, rivers and lakes.
The presence of an organism can be used as an indicator of water quality. Scientists in New Zealand have devised a scale from 1 to 10 to indicate an organism’s sensitivity to water quality. On the ...
Images
Krill
Tiny krill, present in their millions, are a keystone species in Antarctic marine ecosystems.
Animals, Marine, Krill
Images
New Zealand Longfin Eel
The New Zealand tuna (longfin and shortfin eel) plays an important role in our freshwater ecosystems.
Big ol' pile of big ol' eels. This is the eel-feeding area at Jester House, where you can buy a little cup of meat gobbets (looked like trimmings from the cafe) and feed them to the eels with the a...
Images
Forest Service Hut
Protecting ecosystems sometimes means eradicating or culling introduced species such as deer, goats and rabbits.
As part of a campaign to clear the hills of deer, the Forest Service cut tracks and built huts for deer cullers. This one on Harper Pass, near Lake Sumner in Canterbury, was built in 1964. It was r...
Images
New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bat
Bats are part of Aotearoa's estimated 80,000 endemic species that contribute to the biodiversity of our planet.
Images
Reducing by-catch
Commercial fishing has a huge impact on marine biodiversity worldwide, however sustainable practices are being adopted.
The SLED (Sea Lion Exclusion Device) is designed to reduce the number of marine mammals such as seals and sea lions that are trapped in the trawl nets of squid-fishing boats. The device allows sea ...

Other resources

Top results for Ecosystems and Biodiversity from AnyQuestions

Conservation (New Zealand)
Conservation (New Zealand)

Conservation is about preserving and protecting New Zealand's natural environment, wildlife and their habitats...

Junior Secondary

Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef lies on the northeast coast of Australia. This natural reef is a unique ecosystem and home to...

Senior Primary

Sustainability
Sustainability

A sustainable situation is one that can continue. Examples of sustainability include an environment that can maintain...

Senior Secondary

Forests (New Zealand)
Forests (New Zealand)

Aotearoa New Zealand's forest ecosystem supports native and introduced trees, shrubs, animals, and birds. Forests...

Junior Secondary

See all 8 related entries on AnyQuestions

Top results for Ecosystems and Biodiversity from DigitalNZ

articles
New Zealand risks sleepwalking into a biodiversity extinction crisis

Opinion - The government deserves credit for determining that nature in Aotearoa is in serious trouble, however, the...

articles
Warning for the Pacific of the threat from invasive species

A New Zealand consultant says invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity ecosystems of remote...

articles
Avoiding climate breakdown depends on protecting biodiversity

Opinion -Thousands of delegates have gathered in Montreal, Canada, for a once-in-a-decade chance to address the...

archives
National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity 2023

The Rt Hon Dame CINDY KIRO, gnzm, qso, Governor-General Order in Council At Wellington this 31st day of May...

See all 1310 related entries on DigitalNZ

One of 157 topics in the

Topic Explorer

Related topics

Topic Explorer guide View resource guides