Expedition Team
Expedition October/November 2015
Dr Tom Trnski
Auckland Museum
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David Aguirre
Massey University
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Libby Liggins
Massey University
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Phil Ross
University of Waikato
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Sam McCormack
University of Waikato
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Andrew Pinniket
Our Big Blue Backyard
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Brady Doak
Our Big Blue Backyard
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Kina Scollay
Our Big Blue Backyard
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Kyle Swann
Our Big Blue Backyard
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Lindsey Davidson
Our Big Blue Backyard
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Ross Funnell
Our Big Blue Backyard
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The Great Humpback Whale Trail Expedition Team
Dr Rochelle Constantine
University of Auckland
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Olive Andrews
Conservation International
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Dr Simon Childerhouse
Blue Planet Marine
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Rémi Dodemont
Operation Cétacés, New Caledonia
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Dr Claire Garrigue
IRD, France & Operation Cétacés, New Caledonia
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Steve Hathaway
Underwater Cameraman
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Becky Lindsay
University of Auckland
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Richard Robinson
Photographer, Depth
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James Tremlett
Research Consultant
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Chris Gaskin
Seabird researcher
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Mark Miller
James Cook University
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The January 2015 Expedition Team
Dr Tom Trnski
Research Manager and Curator Marine Biology
Auckland Museum Read full profile
Sally Reader
Technical Officer, Ichthyology Collection
Australian Museum
Richard Robinson
Underwater photographer
www.depth.co.nz
Irene Middleton
Biosecurity Officer
Aquatics at Northland Regional Council
The 2013 Expedition Team
Dr Tom Trnski
Research Manager and Curator Marine Biology
Auckland Museum Read full profile
Steve Hathaway
Underwater videographer
93 Percent Read full profile
The 2011 Expedition Team
Led by Auckland Museum fish specialist Dr Tom Trnski, the expedition team includes scientists from Auckland Museum, Te Papa, the Department of Conservation (DoC), and NIWA.
An underwater photographer, scientific communicator and journalist, and a film-maker are also part of the 20-strong crew.
Dr Tom Trnski
Research Manager and Curator Marine Biology
Auckland Museum Read full profile
Alison Ballance
Our Changing World producer
Radio New Zealand Read full profile
Carl Struthers
Research & Technical Officer: Fishes
Te Papa Read full profile
Clinton Duffy
Scientific Officer (Marine Species), Marine Conservation Team
Department of Conservation Read full profile
Ged Wiren
Collection Technician
Auckland Museum Read full profile
Dr Mandy Reid
Collection Manager, Malacology
Australian Museum Read full profile
Malcolm Francis
Principal Scientist
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Read full profile
Mark McGrouther
Fish Collection Manager
Australian Museum Read full profile
Peter J. de Lange
Threatened Plant Scientist
Department of Conservation Read full profile
Richard Robinson
Underwater Photographer/Photojournalist
Depth.co.nz Read full profile
Dr Stephen Keable
Collection Manager, Marine Invertebrates
Australian Museum Read full profile
Stephen R Ullrich
Contract Diver
Auckland Museum Read full profile
Vincent Zintzen
Researcher
Te Papa Read full profile
Warren Chinn
Invertebrate Ecologist
Department of Conservation Read full profile
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What we hope to find out
The expedition team want to know what species occur on the Kermadec islands. The answer to this fundamental question will allow them to answer other questions:
- Which nearby islands have the same species?
- For which species are the Kermadecs a stepping stone on to New Zealand?
- Are populations isolated from, or connected to other populations at surrounding islands?
Their mission is to:
- Discover and document new marine species and new records of marine species.
- Document the marine biodiversity of the Kermadec Islands focussing on marine plants and animals within 200m of the surface, and on species occuring to 1,000m.
- Determine the source of the closest relatives of the Kermadec populations.
- Provide a baseline record of species diversity against which to monitor changes over time. This will be important to track changes in species composition possibly resulting from global warming changes to regional water temperatures and currents.
Wish them luck!
An intrepid journey of this nature is weather dependent. Visiting the smaller islands will be difficult if the sea conditions are too rough. There is nowhere to hide if the wind is strong or the swell is large. Let’s hope for calm weather.
