George Mason Scholarship Lectures

The George Mason Scholarships are awarded to postgraduate students who are either from Taranaki or are researching an aspect of natural history. Join us to hear from:

Epiphytes of Mahood-Lowe Reserve
Presenter: Raul Johnson
Raul Johnson will speak on his research to develop management plans around the fascinating epiphytes species present in host trees in the Mahood-Lowe Reserve beside Egmont National Park. In particular he will examine the conditions that contribute to such a highly diverse epiphyte community.

Aquatic Ecology of Lake Rotokare
Presenters: Dylan Smith and Brendan Hicks
This research measured the extent of longfin and shortfin eel populations and the introduced European perch in the lake. The research also mapped the numbers of crayfish (kōura) and banded kokopu found in its tributaries. This data, along with isotope studies of the food web, is used to investigate their contribution to algal bloom.

A Biogeographic Baseline of Taranaki Sponge Communities
Presenter: Sam McCormack
Sam McCormack examines both the distribution and ecological relationships of sponge communities, particularly with respect to the influence of river catchment management and sediment discharges. The sponges are also examined to determine whether their food is derived predominantly from freshwater or marine sources.