Marine Ecology

We recently completed the first portion of the NZ Ecosystems course: Marine Ecology. In just one short, action-packed week, we learned about and encountered a number of fascinating marine organisms that call Kaikoura home. Local scientist Jody Weir was our professor for the week. She has studied dusky and Hector's dolphins, as well as little blue penguins, in Kaikoura, offering students an inside look into research and conservation happening in the area. Jody, Co-founder and Research Director of the Kaikoura Ocean Research Institute (KORI) also recently assisted a BBC film crew get footage of dusky dolphin calves for a new production called Life Story, set to air in 2015.

From Top to Bottom: Each day focused on a different group of marine organisms, incorporating a different field trip for each day. Day 1 we went tidepooling. Day 2 we took part in a PEAP and saw little blue penguins. Day 3 we went to the Ohau waterfall and learned about NZ fur seals. Day 5 we conducted a shore-based Hector's dolphin survey and luckily saw 2-4 swimming in the surf.

Each day we focused on a different group of marine organisms, including invertebrates and fish, birds, pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), whales, and dolphins. After learning about what makes each of these groups unique and important to the ecosystem, we spent time on field trips to see them up close. We went tidepooling, had a PEAP (Penguin Education and Awareness Program) presentation, visited the NZ fur seal colony and waterfall nursery, went on Whale Watch and saw three different sperm whales (as well as albatrosses, shearwaters, and other marine birds), and conducted a shore-based Hector's dolphin survey. We also had guest speakers, including Alastair Judkins, a local Seal Swim guide, Co-founder and Operations Manager of KORI, and, last but not, least Jody's husband. Other guests were sperm whale researcher Ophelie Sagnol, DOC worker Brett Cowan, and world-renowned dolphin and whale researcher from Texas A&M University Dr. Bernd Würsig. On "whale day" we were also fortunate to attend Barbara Todd's book launch for her new book Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa New Zealand. The launch marked the opening event for a week of whale and dolphin related activities in a celebration called WhaleFest.

While on Whale Watch we spotted 3 different sperm whales, hundreds of dusky dolphins, and a number of incredible marine birds. Individuals pictured: Top center: Alyssa (Messiah) and Cara (Houghton). Bottom Right: Jody points out a whale to Bennett (Northwestern).

Here are a few of the responses our students gave to the question, “What is the most important environmental issue you were made aware of through this course?”

“The use of plastic is an environmental issue that stuck out to me this week. It's definitely something that we take for granted, and it's so pervasive in our daily lives. It was good to look for alternative measures and brainstorm ways to avoid using it.”

-Amanda Beck, Messiah College

“The Tragedy of the Commons, and our involvement in the negative impact we have on these places, such as cod fishing.”

-Brett Finley, Messiah College

“The nets that have ended up catching dolphins and other marine animals. It is bad because these animals are critically endangered, like Maui’s dolphin, or may be close to becoming endangered.”

-Alex Rubin, Messiah College

“The necessity of marine preserves. They are just as essential as forest or wetland preserves. I tend to think about land more because that is where I live, but the ocean is just as important to preserve. There is a vast array of marine life on our planet and Kaikoura has just a (very diverse) piece of it.”

-Nathan Landis, Gordon College

Amanda (Messiah), Sarah (Gordon), and Cara (Houghton) display their research posters about whales and dolphins.

We ended the course with a poster fair, where each student presented on a different species of whale or dolphin to a panel of "celebrity judges." The students did a wonderful job, and even shared their posters the following day at the Schoolyard Market to the general public as part of WhaleFest. We also had plenty of whale and dolphin-shaped cookies to munch on! It was a whale of a time.