AUT Lab for Cephalopod Ecology and Systematics (ALCES)

The main research interest of AUT’s Lab for Cephalopod Ecology and Systematics (Squid Squad) is the great diversity of cephalopods (mostly squid) that live in New Zealand waters. Our squid and octopus species comprise one of the highest cephalopod diversities in the world, and we find new taxa here on a regular basis.

We study the diversity and ecology of these beautiful and fascinating animals, from the very smallest 'fire' squids (family Pyroteuthidae) up to the giant and colossal squids. Through projects focusing on systematics, genetics, trophic interactions, and vision, especially in deep-sea squids, we seek to better understand these unique animals' biology and their roles in New Zealand's marine ecosystems.

Giant and colossal squid research events

Some of the AUT Squid Squad's higher-profile projects involve the largest known cephalopod species: the giant squid (Architeuthis dux) and the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni). In 2014, ALCES members participated in two public webcast events focusing on these animals—a dissection of three Architeuthis specimens on site at AUT, and an examination of the most recent colossal squid specimen to arrive at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, as part of the Museum’s Science Live series.  Samples collected during these events are forming the basis of more than a dozen collaborative projects by lab members and international colleagues investigating these animals’ biology and ecology.

In 2020, we also examined the largest known specimen of Taningia fimbria (a species recently described by ALCES alumnus Dr Jesse Kelly) and have several resulting projects underway.

Squid Squad members

Squid science at AUT began with Dr Steve O’Shea, who first captured paralarval (a young giant squid) and participated in the expedition that obtained the first in-situ footage of live adult giant squid off Japan in 2012. Steve has now retired and the lab is run by Dr Kat Bolstad, a deep-sea squid biologist originally from the USA.

In addition to her work at AUT, Kat has conducted research at the:

• Smithsonian Institution
• New England Aquarium
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Western Australian Museum

She has participated in documentaries and dived in submersibles to depths of 1000m in the Antarctic to observe deep-sea cephalopods, resulting in the 2017/2019 documentary film Deep Ocean: Giants of the Antarctic Deep. Her current research interests include systematics, ecology, biodiversity, and vision, primarily of deep-sea squids.