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Biodiversity and taxonomy research
Understanding the biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand is a critical precursor to living sustainably within our terrestrial and marine environments. AUT staff and students research the identities and ecological roles of groups ranging from terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates to deep-sea squids.
This research directly contributes to our knowledge of how native and endemic species fit into the Earth’s overall biodiversity, and how we can engage with and better conserve the natural world.
AUT “squid lab” (ALCES) members visit NIWA (Wellington) to assist in identifying deep-sea animals.
Pericoptus is an endemic genus of sand scarab beetles whose coastal dune habitats are threatened by several factors including human activities and climate change.
AUT “squid lab” (ALCES) members lead a collaborative research team to examine a rare deep-sea squid (Taningia fimbria) collected from Whakaari / White Island.
Dr Aaron Evans (AUT PhD graduate) examines a giant squid specimen at Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Courses this topic is linked to
Researchers involved
AUT Lab for Cephalopod Ecology and Systematics (ALCES)
Researchers at the AUT Lab for Cephalopod Ecology and Systematics study the great diversity of cephalopods to better understand these unique animals' biology and their roles in New Zealand's marine ecosystems.