Tag Archives: fish

Fish research team en route for the cold waters of the Sub Antarctic Islands

9 February 2012 – 1.35pm

It’s only about three years I have been living in New Zealand and there is still plenty to learn about the country. But one thing I already know for sure, it’s that February is the best month in the year to enjoy good sun, low winds and warm weather. It might actually be the only one! So I am starting to think that I might be a little bit insane to plan a survey down the Sub Antarctic islands, right in the middle of February. Of course there is a very good reason to do this, but it comes at the cost of abandoning my dreams of diving warm waters this summer.

Map showing the sampling locations already achieved (green) and the two locations still to be sampled (red).

February is supposedly the best month of the year and this should also apply to the Auckland Islands where we will be studying the taxonomy, ecology and behaviour of the fish fauna in cold and deep waters. With the use of our video systems, we are going to film the never filmed before: the deep-sea fauna of those very wild and remote islands.

The Auckland Islands are located at 51°S, about 500 km south of Invercargill and are basically lost in the middle of the Ocean. The group of islands is 43 km long by 24 km wide. The first stretch of land on the West is the tip of South America, some 8000 km away. The first land on the East is actually also South America, and is not closer. This means that winds, rarely dropping under 60 km/h, and sea state can be remarkably unfriendly in the Auckland Islands, with no protection from land for thousands of kilometres. Now you start understanding why I am ready to give up on some mainland New Zealand warmth, in the hope of having acceptable conditions to deploy our video systems.

The MV Tranquil Image is being loaded with scientific gear in Tauranga

 

Working deck of the MV Tranquil Image crowded with all the scientific equipment used to study fish diversity and behaviour.

 

A video unit being hauled back after having filmed the fish fauna off the Kermadec Islands at 1200m depth (May 2011).

 

During this survey, we will also stop by around the Otago Peninsula to do similar work. We will sample the deep canyons up to 1200 m, learning more about fish diversity and behaviour in the area.

In one day, our boat the MV Tranquil Image will be in Wellington and we will be departing.

Speak to you soon,

Vincent

By Vincent Zintzen | Posted in Field trips, Fish | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Kermadec marine biodiscovery – a survey and inventory of marine biodiversity

20 May 2011 – 3.32pm

Te Papa is a collaborative partner with Auckland Museum in this important expedition to intensively sample and survey the fishes of the remote Kermadec Islands. The Te Papa fish team is participating because of their unique specialised skills in collecting and identifying fishes underwater on scuba in the wild, as well as their ship-based photographic and curatorial skills in working up the collections, preparatory to transport back to Wellington and registration into the National Fish Collection at Te Papa Tory Street. We cannot wait to get our hands on them to discover what hidden gems this fish fauna contains! 

Get more details on the expedition’s daily blog

Our collection of fishes from remote location around the NZ EEZ, such as the Kermadec Islands, is relatively poor with only about 2000 specimens in 500 registered lots from that area. It is expected that this fieldwork will at least double the size of our registered holdings, and so greatly increase the scientific value of our Kermadec collection.

Zebra lionfish Dendrochirus zebra photo. Photograph by M. Francis, reproduced courtesy of Auckland Museum

Zebra lionfish Dendrochirus zebra photo. Photograph by M. Francis, reproduced courtesy of Auckland Museum

The new material will include many rare fishes, some collected for the first time from our EEZ as well as specimens of fish species new to science. Once preserved and accurately identified, this collection will underpin the species inventory being compiled for the area, and all specimens will be available for examination by fish researchers to support biosystematic projects for many decades to come. This includes an identification guidebook to all New Zealand fishes, currently in preparation by the fish team and over 30 authors from around the world and will be published in 2013 in full colour by Te Papa Press.

See Te Papa’s Carl Struthers photograph a Zebra Lionfish for the catalogue:

See other related videos on Auckland Museum’s Youtube channel

Dr Clive Roberts, Curator of Fishes.

By Te Papa | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Joining the Kermadec expedition

9 May 2011 – 4.11pm

Our Fish team will join a team of 15 researchers travelling to the Kermadec Islands (around 1000km north east of NZ) for three weeks to collect new specimens, hopefully identify new species and learn about one of the most pristine (and isolated) marine environments in the world.

The team ready to sail and join with our Fish team © M Francis

The team ready to sail and join up with our Fish team © M Francis

Also on the expedition is a team from Auckland Museum (including expedition lead Dr Tom Trnski) and researchers from the Department of Conservation, the Australian Museum and NIWA. You can find out more about the trip and join in on the voyage of discovery by following the daily blog at http://kermadec.aucklandmuseum.com

Follow the Kermadec expedition

The team includes a photographer and writer and they will be keeping you up to date with what happens on the ship each day and what the researchers are finding. You can leave a comment or question on the Kermadec Expedition blog and a shore-based team will answer them if they know the answer or pass them on to the Kermadecs team aboard the RV Braveheart – to answer when they find a moment between dives!

Auckland Museum logo

By Te Papa | Posted in Biodiversity, Fish | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

En route to the Kermadec Islands

6 May 2011 – 8.53am

A Te Papa expedition, in collaboration with Massey University, is going to study the fish fauna of the Kermadec Islands, some 1000km North of mainland New Zealand.

We left Tauranga aboard the MV Tranquil Image yesterday. Loading all the gear on the deck was a bit more of a challenge than usual because of the extra fuel that we had to take for this long trip going far offshore. It is now just over 24 hours that we are steaming non-stop to the North. We will need another 36 hours at least to reach our destination, Raoul Island.

Loading up the Tranquil Image with gear

Loading up the Tranquil Image with gear. More than 10km of rope for deployments of video units and fish traps are necessary.

The night was, let’s say interesting, since the sea became a little bit rougher when it was time to get a rest. I think that like everybody else aboard, I only half-slept.

But in two days, we will be able to start our sampling campaign in one of the most amazing place on earth. It is enough to keep us awake. My shipmates Charlie, Carl, Adam and Tom are all looking forward to discover this untouched ground.

By Vincent Zintzen | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)

Te Papa fish scientists leaving soon for the lost world: survey to the Kermadec Islands

30 April 2011 – 5.09pm

The Kermadec Islands’ are the most isolated piece of rock that New Zealand has, some 1,000km North of Tauranga, right in the middle of very deep oceans. The isolation, recent geological origin and predominantly subtropical marine flora and fauna make them unique both nationally and internationally. I often imagine the Kermadec as one of the last untouched area on the planet.

Many species found at the Kermadecs do not occur on mainland New Zealand. The limited sampling to date has discovered that almost every major taxonomic group studied so far, with the exception of the algae and corals, has one or more species endemic to the islands.

On Wednesday, I am leaving with a team of Te Papa scientists to work on the fish fauna of this fantastic location. It’s going to be a three long days trip steaming to Raoul Island, the main island of the Kermadec. Then, we will mostly do video and collecting work, deploying systems from the shallow and colourful 50m depth zone, to the dark deep-sea waters beyond 1500m where no light penetrates. It is a very exciting time and I expect lots of new discoveries out of this survey. Hopefully, I will be able to share them with you with the help of satellite communication. Thank you technology!

More to come later…

Vincent

Boat and gear
Our Boat heavily loaded with gear during our previous survey off Kaikoura.

More about the Fish Team and our projects, including links to videos

By Vincent Zintzen | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Kaikoura deep-sea field work: a few pictures

19 November 2010 – 9.48pm

Te Papa fish team is off Kaikoura onboard the MV Star Keys to study deep-sea fish fauna.

 

We are blessed with good weather since Wednesday which allows us to being close to the minimum number of samples we have to achieve. That’ excellent news!

I though I would show you some pictures aboard the Star Keys. You will see the Kaikoura range is superb in the background.

Early in the morning aboard the Star Keys, fully loaded with scientific gear (underwater video systems, fish traps and ropes). Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen.

Early in the morning aboard the Star Keys, fully loaded with scientific gear (underwater video systems, fish traps and ropes). Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen.

 

The Kaikoura range in the background.

The Kaikoura range in the background.

 

Deep-sea shark caught with the fish traps. Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen.

Deep-sea shark caught with the fish traps. Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen.

 

Fish trap being retrieved after deployment at 700m depth. Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen.

Fish trap being retrieved after deployment at 700m depth. Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen.

 

All the best,

Vincent

By Vincent Zintzen | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)

Deep-sea fishes survey off Kaikoura: it’s a go! (3 days before departure)

12 November 2010 – 8.43am

The start of a new sampling campaign is always a very exciting moment for scientists. After months of careful preparations, our fourth deep-sea sampling station is becoming a reality.

In three days, Carl, Tom and myself from Te Papa are joining our boat the Star Keys, her crew and two other scientists from Massey University for 7 days at sea. In three days, we will be sampling in deep waters off Kaikoura! Once again, we will be using video equipment and deep-sea fish traps. Similarly to what we have done in the past, we are going to deploy this scientific equipment at depth ranging from 50 to 1200 m to study diversity patterns of New Zealand fish fauna.

Scientists preparing video unit before its deployment at 1200 m depth. March 2010, Three Kings Islands. Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen

Scientists preparing video unit before its deployment at 1200 m depth. March 2010, Three Kings Islands. Te Papa, photograph by Vincent Zintzen

 

For the first time, our sampling site is located in the South Island. A guarantee for exciting discoveries! In the past year, we have worked off White Island, Great Barrier Island and the Three Kings Islands, which are all located North of Wellington. Those sites, just like Kaikoura, are particularly adapted to our sampling approach because the slope of the seabed  is very steep. It is then easy and fast to travel from one sampling station to another. Imagine, off Kaikoura, to go from a 100 m to 900 m depth, you only have to travel about 2 km on the sea surface. Steeper than the steepest hills in Wellington (and I am a cyclist, I know they can be steep…).

We should have a pretty good internet connection so that I will be able to post some news about how our work is progressing.

In the meantime, have a look at those videos from our past trips which show you the kind of amazing fish diversity New Zealand has to offer.

Speak to you soon,

Vincent

By Vincent Zintzen | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Deep-sea fishes and coral garden discovered at the Three Kings Islands

20 August 2010 – 11.09am

Aquarium like scenery, deep-sea coral and sponge gardens (an extremely rich and rare habitat), hungry groupers and sharks, as well as a frenzy of deep-sea eel-like creatures: the Three Kings Islands have it all for you.

In April 2010, a team of five scientists from Te Papa and Massey University have been carrying research for about a week around the Three Kings Islands. These isolated stacks of rocks are located about 50km North of Northland and are stunning place to work. In addition to a feeling of being at the end of the world, this place is special for marine scientists because it is at the intersection of different water masses, concentrating an extremely diverse underwater fauna.

Our objectives were to study the fish fauna of the area, at depth ranging from 50 to 1200m. Quite a challenge, considering this place is exposed to bad weather and is famous for the strength of its tidal currents. These can be so strong that they often submerge the surface buoys which are attached to gear, making them impossible to find till they pop up again when tides slacken. A stressful time…

I probably lost hair during the week because of this, but in the end, everything ran smoothly and we deployed our video systems over 50 times, capturing some very neat footage. I have been reviewing them here in the lab and wanted to share some of the interesting sections with you.

One of the highlight of the fieldwork was the discovery of extended deep-sea coral and sponge gardens at depths ranging from 300 to 700m. This complex habitat is composed of a mixture of coral species that are adapted to the deep-sea conditions, i.e. they do not need light like their shallow-water associated species to thrive. Although poorly studied, we know that those habitats are rare, fragile and harbour a significant amount of biodiversity. They can also be important spawning and nursery grounds for many fish species. Seeing this habitat for the first time with such clear video images was soul-stirring for the team.

Coral garden Three Kings

If you want to know more about this project, you can visit the home page of the fish team.

Vincent Zintzen, Te Papa researcher.

By Te Papa | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Impressive deep-sea shark filmed during White Island survey

27 April 2010 – 10.31am

As research scientist for the Marsden funded project on diversity of deep-sea fishes of New Zealand, I have to analyse hundreds of hours of video footage taken during our surveys. Sometimes, amazing creatures appear on the screen, often when you least suspect it. Here is a shot that really surprised me. I virtually stepped back about a meter from my screen when a large sand tiger shark (Odontaspis ferox Risso, 1810) first swam towards me.

This is a large female, close to 400 cm in length. The species is a rare one, although it has been reported from scattered localities around the world. The sensors attached to our video system recorded a depth of 880 m, exactly the same depth as the deepest known record for the species. However, this species is sometimes spotted at scuba diving depths.

You will have noticed that we are using blue light to illuminate our footage. Indeed, at 880 m depth, there is no natural light or rather I should say no light that can be seen by a human eye. There is still a little bit of light that some deep sea organisms can use to find their prey. We are using blue LED systems because it appears that most fish species that we are interested in cannot see this kind of light. Because our light source is invisible to fishes, they are not disturbed and behave naturally in front of the camera, making our observations more accurate.

More amazing species from the deep to come later! Right now, I have started to process videos from recent fieldwork around Great Barrier Island and Three Kings Islands. In the meantime, you can learn more about our project by visiting the Te Papa Fish Team website.

Te Papa scientists recovering a video unit sent underwater to film deep-sea fish life.

Te Papa scientists recovering a video unit sent underwater to film deep-sea fish life. Note the bait bag at the front which is used to attract the fish towards the camera and the blue light at the top of the frame.

By Te Papa | Posted in Fish | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)
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