Coastal and Aquatic Systems - Marine and Freshwater Ecology Consultancy and Systems

Coastal and Aquatic Systems (CAS), established in 1998, specialises in marine and freshwater consulting, ecological research and monitoring, including the assessment of effects and impacts in these environments. CAS aims to provide simple, cost-effective solutions to multi-faceted issues, advance knowledge and understanding of coastal and aquatic environments and, where appropriate, to sustain and enhance these environments.

Marine and freshwater consulting services

CAS provides a range of marine and freshwater consulting services, including the following areas of expertise:

• Marine impact assessments (BACI)
• Assessment of environmental effects
• Lobster, fish, invertebrate, algae and community quantitative ecology
• Marine reserve monitoring
• Aquaculture management area design and surveys
• Sub-tidal habitat restoration
• Marine habitat surveys and mapping
• Design and review of marine monitoring programmes
• Data analysis and reporting
• Programme reviews and audits
• Algal production and biochemistry

Marine and freshwater ecology consultancy

CAS collaborates with Amalgamates Solutions and Research (ASR) for all ecological-based projects, in order to broaden the level of expertise available to its clients. ASR provides marine consulting and research services.

CAS and ASR provide consultancy services in marine and freshwater ecology to regional councils, the Department of Conservation, the private sector and multi-stake-holder groups.

Ecosystem consultancy

Knowledge and understanding of the structure of ecosystems, the organisms within these systems and the interplay between them and their habitat (physical and biological), is vital for the assessment of any coastal use and development. We have particular expertise in quantifying physical processes and impacts and measuring their subsequent effects on biological ecosystems.

Tailored ecosystem packages

CAS can tailor an ecosystem package to suit specific project requirements. This includes the following:

• Qualitative and desk-top studies
• Audits and reviewing
• Long-term monitoring
• Remote video surveys
• Quantitative surveys
• Data analysis

Generally, a combination of techniques are used to achieve the desired outcome.

Ecosystem data analysis

Appropriate data presentation and analysis for ecosystems is important for describing trends, determining effects through space and time and quantifying the magnitude of such effects. We specialise in hierarchical and partially hierarchical designs, before and after impact (BACI) designs, repeated measures designs, and spatial analysis with accompanying and appropriate univariate and/or multivariate statistical analyses and detailed explanations of results.

As biological data rarely conforms to the assumptions of many traditional statistical techniques, even after appropriate transformations, we often employ generalised linear modelling with associated link functions to specific distributions to analyse univariate data.

Ecosystem quantitative surveys

Whether you or your organisation requires information on single species or communities, intertidal, subtidal, estuarine and/or freshwater habitats and ecosystems, we can design and implement an appropriate sampling design that meets your needs.

It is imperative to ensure that the data collection is appropriate to meet the requirements, outcomes and hypotheses of the project/study. Incorrect data collection techniques can result in meaningless information that leads to wrong inferences being made.

As physical processes often shape biological communities, we advocate the collection of physical data such as light, sediment, nutrients and currents in tandem with biological data. This, in turn, enables us to determine the magnitude of effects and processes through space and time.

Ecosystem remote video surveys

Remote video surveys can be used for broad-scale habitat identification and mapping. The survey methodology involves recording digital video images of the seabed at pre-determined locations. Video images are obtained by a drop camera, which consists of an underwater camera connected via cable to a surface recording unit.

Video samples are then layered over geo-referenced maps and provided in either CD-Rom or DVD format. This method of survey has been used in numerous applications. Video surveys often compliment quantitative surveys.

Marine research projects

CAS conducts numerous research projects; its current and on-going research includes:

• Biodiversity in marine reserves
• Response of crayfish to marine reserve protection
• Physical factors affecting lower limits of algal distribution
• Enhancement of marine habitats, in particular kelp forests
• Determining the effect of large-scale harvesting and disturbance of kelp forests

Marine reserve assessment and monitoring

CAS has particular expertise in marine reserve assessment and monitoring and has been involved in establishing monitoring programmes and/or specific research in Cape Rodney to Okakari Point Marine Reserve, Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, Te Angiangi Marine Reserve, Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Park, Tawharanui Marine Park and Tuhua Marine Reserve.

In addition, the company has carried out habitat surveys for the proposed marine reserves, undertaken species inventories of soft sediment and rocky reef subtidal communities, and audited and developed marine protected area monitoring programmes.