Expedition to the Sea shore

A trip lead by Dr. Lisa Russell, Teaching Fellow in Botany. The intertidal zone (region between high and low tides) is particularly stressful for for seaweed growth. Despite this however, there is a high diversity of species found within this zone on southern beaches around the Otago coast. Providing the weather is calm we will be heading to Shag Point to look at some diverse rocky platforms. Shag Point is a region of special conservation value not only in relation to marine species but also rare terrestrial species. It is also the site of one of New Zealand's few underwater coalmines. We will also look at the nearby reef at Moeraki where the intertidal seaweed community has been replaced by the invasive kelp Undaria and discuss some of the implications this species might have on our native species. If the weather is not so good we will head out closer to home to the rocky shore at Brighton, where there is a diverse seaweed community comprising of a number of species which are only found in South Australia and southern New Zealand. Including a large number of seaweeds that are made up of a single cell but display a wide range of morphological forms. You will be surprised what a single cell can do! People should bring gum boots if they want their feet to remain dry. Also lunch, hat, warm wind-proof and/or water-proof clothing. Basically we'll be doing a bit of wading bacause the tide is not a very low one. Meet at the Botany carpark at 9:30 AM. Contact Lisa Russell on 479 9061 (w) or Ian Radford as below.