Emma McGuigan: Uncovering the Ocean's Hidden Heroes

Despite their ecological importance, zooplankton communities remain poorly understood in many regions, including Rangitāhua, a remote subtropical island within Aotearoa New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone. The island and surrounding waters are of significant ecological and cultural importance to Ngāti Kuri, highlighting the need to better understand the processes that sustain this marine ecosystem.

Zooplankton were sampled using a multiple net system across 50 m depth strata from 0-300 m at locations varying in distance and direction from the island and across seasons. Concurrent environmental measurements characterised water column conditions, including temperature, salinity, oxygen, and productivity. Preliminary results reveal strong vertical structuring of zooplankton communities, with productivity emerging as a key driver of filter-feeding taxa abundance.