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Make your own folding quadrat
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A metre square can easily be marked out using a rope, though scientists often use a metal quadrat to measure a metre square. The problem with a metal quadrat is that you cannot fold it up, so it is hard to fit it into a car if you have to take it into the field. We have developed a folding quadrat, and there have been so many requests for information about how to make one that we have drawn up a DIY instruction sheet.
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DOC education resource
Investigating marine reserves is an integrated curriculum teaching resource with New Zealand’s marine reserves as a real-life context for learning.
Check out the resource here
There is lots of background information about NZ’s marine environment and how we can sustainably manage it through marine reserves. Marine Metre Squared is one of the activities that is integrated into the unit.
DOC also has a new resource on estuaries which will be released very soon.
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Sediment and seashores project update
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The robustness of Mm2 data collected by Dunedin school students (average age 9-10), was assessed by Aless Smith (MSc candidate, Department of Marine Science, University of Otago), during a project monitoring the impacts of dredging to deepen the shipping channel on the intertidal area of Otago Harbour, Dunedin.
Students assessed biodiversity and percentage cover of substrate at two shore heights across six locations over three years (2016-2018) using transect/quadrat methods. In 2017, scientists collected data in the same manner as students and the two datasets were compared to assess the quality of the student collected data. Comparisons indicated that students and scientists show similar ability to quantify species presence and abundance in a specific area.
The findings of the first two years of the Sediment and Seashores study can be found here:
Sediment and Seashores Report 2016
Sediment and Seashores Report 2017
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Seashore guides in te reo Māori
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The Māori versions of the popular seashore guides (Northern, Southern, Rocky and Sandy and Muddy shore guides) are currently being reprinted. Waterproof versions will be available as well as the cardboard guides. Please get in touch if you would like copies.
Email marine.studies@otago.ac.nz
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Collins Guide to the New Zealand Seashore
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Looking for ways to spend your science budget? Need a Chrsitmas present for that special someone? Strugging to identify the species in your marine metre square?
The Collins Guide to the NZ Seashore is available from all good booksellers.
Teacher Notes are available to bring the seashore life to the classroom and assist teachers, educators and parents make the most of the book.
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