Tahuna Environmental Science Making a Difference

For the past eight years keen scientists from Tahuna have been keeping an eye on the quality of water at Tomahawk Lagoon. Our findings have been shared with other interested parties but this year with the help of our long term Science Advisor, Mr Andrew Innes, Tahuna Scientists are maintaining regular monitoring at our chosen site.

Due to the long term study we have been doing and the interest that it has generated we were joined by local high schools who were keen to participate.  Andrew Innes and Dr Jonathan Kim have been providing expert analysis, specialised equipment and their unique sense of humour with Tahuna students.  We are really excited to provide this enrichment activity for Science and Environment minded Tahuna students.

Our focus is water testing but we also regularly survey the biodiversity through macroinvertebrate and fish studies. This week we set our own Gee Minnow Traps and  Fyke Net to survey fish numbers. Kyall and Shelby were involved in bringing in the traps and net and counting the fish. Common Bullies ( https://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/nzffd/NIWA-fish-atlas/fish-species/common_bully) were plentiful and we also caught a lone Perch with a few Dragonfly Nymphs. Interesting that the bullies still seem to have parasites around their dorsal fins. This could be an interesting Science Fair project?

Any interested students should talk to Miss Leonard or Mr Scoles if they are keen to find out more and come along and see what we do.