Conference Prizes are awarded for outstanding student presentations during the NZMSS annual conference.
Best Overall Student Talks
First place (sponsored by NIWA): Lindsay Wickman – University of Otago
“Decreasing mark rate affects the precision of estimates of survival rate in Hector’s dolphins”
Runner-up (sponsored by Cawthron Institute): Melissa Marquez – Victora University of Wellington
“Habitat use throughout a Chondrichthyans life”
Best Student Posters
Best Overall
Sponsored by: Victoria University of Wellington
Susan Wells – University of Otago
“Changes to Austrovenus stutchburyi growth rate since early human settlement in Otago, New Zealand: an indication of the extent of human impact on estuarine health”
Most Original
Sponsored by: NZLMFR
Willemein de Kock – University of Waikato
“Flowering patterns for seagrass in Raglan Harbour”
Best Student Presentations - Special Topic
Innovation
Sponsored by: Plant and Food Research
Jared Kibele – University of Auckland
“Low cost subtidal habitat mapping of temperate reefs with multispectral satellite imagery”
Use of Quantitative Methodology
Sponsored by: MPI
Eliza Oldach – University of Canterbury
“Habitat Cascade: An overlooked process maintaining biodiversity in New Zealand estuaries”
Applied Environmental Science
Sponsored by: Coastal Special Interest Group
Stine Sorensen – University of Waikato
“Seagrass (Zostera muelleri) vulnerability and resilience: The threat of sediment burial”
Technology
Sponsored by: Zebra Tech
Tom Brough – University of Otago
“Nearshore habitat use by Hector’s dolphins at Banks Peninsula: a comparison of visual and acoustic methods”
Marine Protected Areas
Sponsored by: Department of Conservation
Alix Laferriere – Victoria University of Wellington
“Linking Physical and Biogenic Habitats to Reveal Kapiti Island’s Submarine Landscape”
Aquaculture Research
Sponsored by: NZMSS
Paul South – University of Auckland, Cawthron Institute
“Time to settle down: can co-seeding adult and juvenile Perna canaliculus promote their retention during the early aquaculture production cycle?”