Ecology

Ever spied a bird nest out on a walk? Some are quite complex constructions, delicately woven and expertly lined to keep their eggs safe. This week, Claire Concannon learns about bird nest design and… Audio

In the ever-shifting streams and channels of a braided river, creatures must adapt to change. Claire Concannon joins a researcher on the spectacular Cass River near Tekapo for a spot of electrofishing… Video, Audio

In braided rivers, shifting gravel and weaving water channels make for a complex and dynamic environment. But it's a habitat some species have adapted to – native fish like kōaro, and unique birds… Audio

Meet the winners of the 2022 Prime Minister's Science Prizes! We go behind the scenes with the Emerging Scientist, Science Teacher and Future Scientist winners to learn about cutting-edge research… Audio

As mountains get warmer with our changing climate, what will happen to the iconic alpine plants that live at high altitude? Claire Concannon visits the moonscape slopes of Mt Ruapehu with a team of… Audio

What will happen to our iconic alpine plants in a warmer and wetter world? Claire Concannon visits Mt Ruapehu with a research team investigating the future for mountain flora. Audio

This week, Claire Concannon returns to the Noises Islands in the Hauraki Gulf. While conservation action on the islands has led to thriving terrestrial ecosystems, under the water, it's a very… Audio

Claire Concannon visits the Noises Islands in the Hauraki Gulf, where conservation efforts on land have created a haven for native wildlife. Under the water, however, it's a very different story. Can… Audio

The Noises are a conservation success story in the Hauraki Gulf. Claire Concannon joins a team surveying the wētāpunga, seabirds, and other flora and fauna that now thrive on these predator-free… Audio

Claire Concannon joins a research team on the Noises Islands in the Hauraki Gulf to check up on its bird residents. How are the birds faring on these predator-free havens? Audio

In a room in the Manaaki Whenua building in Auckland are rows and rows of shelves, with cardboard boxes containing an array of weird and wonderful dried fungi. Claire Concannon visits to learn how and… Audio

Edin Whitehead inherited a love of birds from her father and became captivated by the majesty of seabirds on a trip to the Subantarctic Islands. Now a PhD student at the University of Auckland, she is… Audio

Edin Whitehead is a PhD student at the University of Auckland researching how best to help the birds of the Hauraki Gulf, who are facing many threats, including warming waters.  Audio