Jon Waters
Ancient kelp reveals Dunedin's major earthquake risk
Ancient kelp has revealed Dunedin is at risk of a large earthquake similar in size to the 2016 Kaikōura quake.
The DNA of old kelp found south of Dunedin shows a major earthquake occurred 1000 years… Audio
Bull kelp genes and earthquake uplift - a surprising connection
New research shows that bull kelp along a tectonically uplifted stretch of coast south of Dunedin has a surprisingly different genetic signature to the kelp on either side. Audio
Our Changing World for 7 March 2019
We've a story about bull kelp and earthquake uplift for Seaweek, and we meet some volunteer kakapo helpers. Audio
If kelp can reach Antarctica, so can plastic
New research has found it's nowhere near as isolated as once thought. Kelp drifted 20,000 kilometres to reach the continent, the longest biological rafting trip ever recorded. Audio
Human hunting and Stewart Island Shags
Hunting by Maori had very different effects on the Stewart Island and Otago populations of Stewart Island shags. Audio
Scientists unravel secrets of the Taieri River in Otago
Zooloogists and geologists from Otago University have discovered a big secret about the Taieri River and why there are two distinct species of the same fish in the upper and lower reaches of it. Audio
Jon Waters: aquatic mammal prehistory
Professor in the Department of Zoology, Otago University, and a principal investigator at the Allan Wilson Centre, whose research focuses on prehistoric sea lions, penguins and other coastal species. Audio
Extinct Sealion Species
Like yellow-eyed penguins, New Zealand sealions only recently colonised the mainland, after another sealion species went extinct Audio
Our Changing World - Discovering prehistoric New Zealand
A research programme at the University of Otago is forcing a re-think about the impact of early Maori on our fauna, especially coastal species. Alison Ballance is at Dunedin's Sandfly Bay with… Audio
When Biology Meets Geology
A biologist and geologist combine efforts to figure out how rivers changed course in the past. Audio
Catching a Ride with Bull Kelp
University of Otago biologists track the ocean journey of the giant seaweed and its passengers. Audio
Environment Story
What's big, brown and thrives in the surf zone on rocky shores in the south of New Zealand? Giant bull kelp. Audio
New Extinct Penguin
Scientists have discovered a new species of penguin whose extinction allowed hoiho to colonise New Zealand. Audio