WWF Shining a spotlight on the biodiversity of ... - MarineNZ.org.nz

Contents
Acknowledgments 2
Executive Summary 3
1.0 Introduction 5
1.1 The biological diversity of New Zealand’s marine ecoregion 5
1.2 Scope of this report and relation to other information
initiatives in New Zealand 6
1.3 <strong>WWF</strong> and the Ecoregion Approach to Conservation 6
1.4 The New Zealand Marine Ecoregion 7
2.0 Methods 9
2.1 Defining and identifying key biodiversity areas and features 9
2.2 Identifying information gaps and other obstacles to assessing
marine biodiversity 11
2.3 Identifying future steps for the assessment and conservation of
biodiversity; and formulating a statement from the workshop
participants 11
3.0 Results 13
3.1 The Oceanography of the New Zealand Marine Ecoregion 15
3.2 Cetaceans, seals, and seabirds 19
3.3 Fishes 33
3.4 Benthic invertebrates, algae, and plants 47
3.5 Information gaps and other obstacles to assessing
marine biodiversity 74
3.6 Future steps for the assessment/conservation of biodiversity;
and a common statement for the conservation of
New Zealand’s marine biodiversity 74
4.0 Discussion 77
5.0 References 79
Appendix 1: <strong>WWF</strong> Methodology for selection of the Global 200
ecoregions 81
Appendix 2: Information-based initiatives underway for
New Zealand’s marine environment 82
Appendix 3: Workshop reporting form
(Biodiversity Assessment Site Form) 83
Appendix 4: Workshop participants 84
BIODIVERSITY – NEW ZEALAND’S MARINE ECOREGION ■ 1