Rose Stuart
2024: Dr Rose Stuart of Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago will study the diversity and ecology of animals in lakes of Aotearoa New Zealand
With depths exceeding 400 m, the glacier-formed lakes in the south-western South Island are some of the deepest on Earth. Deep lakes are often biodiversity hot spots, as they offer a huge variety of ecological niches. However, little is known about the species that are present in the depths of these lakes, their ecological connections, and how they have evolved. Dr Stuart will sample along the whole depth gradient of these lakes to characterise environmental conditions and collect fish and macroinvertebrates (insects, crustaceans, and other small creatures). The study will determine the diversity and connectivity of these species across depths and between different lakes and improve our ability to protect and sustain these ecosystems.
Lake Manapouri in Fiordland is 444 m deep (Photo: Rose Stuart)