New Zealand Natural History A brief over view of the natural systems in Aotearoa - New Zealand Hillary Jenkins, Otago Polytechnic 2008

Objective To gain a basic knowledge of the natural history systems which occur in New Zealand To understand the importance of those systems as a tourism resource and what they represent in today’s world

To gain a basic knowledge of the natural history systems which occur in New Zealand

To understand the importance of those systems as a tourism resource and what they represent in today’s world

We will look at 2 parts: Part 1 Gondwanaland Basic New Zealand Geology Climate and climatic zones Part 2 Indigenous Flora and Fauna What is happening in today’s world

Part 1

Gondwanaland

Basic New Zealand Geology

Climate and climatic zones

Part 2

Indigenous Flora and Fauna

What is happening in today’s world

Objective

Gondwanaland Geology and Climate

Part 1: Gondwanaland Ancient Southern super-continent Included India, Asia, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica as one big landmass Dates back 100 million years Big Bang theory Continental Drift - shifting landmasses to locations as we know them today

Ancient Southern super-continent

Included India, Asia, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica as one big landmass

Dates back 100 million years

Big Bang theory

Continental Drift - shifting landmasses to locations as we know them today

New Zealand’s Basic Geology Drifted away from Gondwanaland 100million years ago Sits upon the Pacific Ring of Fire - Volcanoes and hot springs Great Alpine Fault Line Lots of small earthquakes and the occasional big one Glaciations Mountain building Rock types and Fossils

Drifted away from Gondwanaland 100million years ago

Sits upon the Pacific Ring of Fire - Volcanoes and hot springs

Great Alpine Fault Line

Lots of small earthquakes and the occasional big one

Glaciations

Mountain building

Rock types and Fossils

Pacific Ring of Fire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire

www.otago.ac.nz/geology/af/ alpinefault www.geology.otago.ac.nz

Climate Unique geography Long thin islands with mountains reaching 3700 metres above sea level Entirely surrounded by ocean Roaring 40’s latitude Precipitation range from 20cm to 7m per yr = a diverse range of climatic zones

Unique geography

Long thin islands with mountains reaching 3700 metres above sea level

Entirely surrounded by ocean

Roaring 40’s latitude

Precipitation range from 20cm to 7m per yr

= a diverse range of climatic zones

Climatic Zones New Zealand’s main climatic zones: High Alpine Alpine Temperate Sub Tropical Coastal

New Zealand’s main climatic zones:

High Alpine

Alpine

Temperate

Sub Tropical

Coastal

SO…What does all this mean for the inhabitants of New Zealand??? New Zealand drifted away early taking with it the species of the time – Moa’s Ark Long time isolated so our indigenous species are a snap shot of ancient times Harsh and diverse climates, plants and animals need to be specially adapted for survival Dramatic impact with introduction of new species once man arrived

New Zealand drifted away early taking with it the species of the time – Moa’s Ark

Long time isolated so our indigenous species are a snap shot of ancient times

Harsh and diverse climates, plants and animals need to be specially adapted for survival

Dramatic impact with introduction of new species once man arrived

Lets take a closer look at the features of the different climatic zones …

High Alpine Zone Very cold temperatures, high precipitation, often covered in snow or ice, no soil, all rock, between 1800metres and 3700metres above sea level, very few birds and insects

Photo by Nicky Snoyink

Alpine zone Often cold and wet, maybe covered with snow for part of the year, between 900 metres and 1800 metres above sea level, some soil, few plants, no trees, few birds and insects

Photo by Nicky Snoyink

Temperate Zone Average to high precipitation, moderate to cold temperatures, some snow, some dry areas, between 400 and 900 metres above sea level though this varies depending on its proximity to the glaciers, reasonably good soil, some forests, birds and insects

Photo by Nicky Snoyink

Sub Tropical Zone Warm climates, rarely frosty, closer the ocean, mostly coastal North Island and small part of Northern Westland, good soil, great diversity of plant and animal life

Photo by Nicky Snoyink

Coastal Zone The unique coastal regions of New Zealand containing, sand dunes, estuaries, river mouths, coastal forest, ranging in temperatures and rainfall depending on the location in the country.

Photo by Nicky Snoyink

The End Photos by Nicky Snoyink