Landcare Research New Zealand Limited
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Landcare Research, or Manaaki Whenua in the Maori language, is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. The focus of the research at this company is the environment, biodiversity, and sustainability.
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[edit] History
Landcare Research was originally part of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), but was established as an independent organisation when the Crown Research Institutes were created in 1992. As part of that process, it was semi-commercialised, and now operated as a government-owned company rather than as a government department. The commercialisation has led to greater emphasis on financial viability, and Landcare Research is employed by various private groups to provide advice and information.
[edit] Locations
The main site is in Lincoln, near Christchurch. There are also other sites at Auckland on the Tamaki campus of Auckland University, Hamilton, Gisborne, Havelock North, Palmerston North, Nelson, Alexandra, and Dunedin.
[edit] Collections
Landcare Research holds several collections of organisms that are of significant national importance to New Zealand.
[edit] International collection of microorganisms from plants
The International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants (ICMP) in Auckland holds live bacterial and fungal specimens that are preserved under liquid nitrogen or in freeze dried ampoules. Currently there are over 15,000 specimens in the collection.
[edit] National fungal herbarium
The Auckland office also has the National Fungal Herbarium (PDD), containing over 80,000 dried fungal specimens, including all the New Zealand fungal type species. This represents one of the most extensive compilations on the national fungal biota of any country.
[edit] New Zealand arthropod collection
The New Zealand Arthropod Collection (NZAC) or Ko te Aitanga Pepeke O Aotearoa in Maori. NZAC has the most complete coverage of terrestrial invertebrates of all the collections held in New Zealand. In addition to its fundamental systematics value, the collection underpins quarantine and border control decisions e.g., verifying the presence or absence of species in New Zealand. NZAC is held at Landcare Research's Tamaki site.
[edit] National nematode collection of New Zealand
The National Nematode Collection of New Zealand (NNCNZ) contains hundreds of nematode specimens. It is contained within the Arthropod Collection.
[edit] Landcare Research Allan Herbarium
The Landcare Research Allan Herbarium (CHR) at Lincoln, contains species from around the world but specialises in plants (indigenous and exotic) of the New Zealand region and the Pacific. It also has specialist collections of seed, fruit, wood, plant leaf cuticle, liquid-preserved specimens, and microscope slides. The oldest samples are the 91 duplicate specimens collected by Banks and Solander during Captain Cook's first voyage to New Zealand in 1769-1770.
There are currently over 550 000 specimens in the Allan Herbarium with 5000-8000 being added annually. Two-thirds of the specimens are of indigenous plants with the remainder divided between naturalised, cultivated, and foreign specimens. It was named the Allan Herbarium to acknowledge the contributions of H. H. Allan to New Zealand botany.
[edit] Research
Landcare Research has six main research areas.
[edit] Biodiversity
Understanding and conserving the environment and indigenous species of New Zealand. Biodiversity - native animals, plants, fungi, forests and ecology. Understanding and conserving the environment and indigenous species of New Zealand.
Landcare Research organised a BioBlitz—a survey of all species—in the Auckland suburb of St Heliers on 30 April – 1 May 2004. In a remnant of native forest at Dingle Dell reserve, 925 separate species were found, and 631 species were found in a native bush gully at Meadowbank Primary School.
A second BioBlitz in the Auckland Domain on 12 – 13 March 2005 found 1575 distinct species.
Another BioBlitz occurred at Hagley Park, Christchurch on 8 – 9 April, here 1197 species were found.
Landcare Research web page on the 2005 BioBlitzes.
[edit] Greenhouse gases & carbon sinks
Investigation into greenhouse gases & carbon sinks, and developing management strategies to mitigate the effects of global climate change.
[edit] Sustainable business and communities
Supporting work towards a national sustainable development strategy.
[edit] Biosecurity and pest management
Working to manage the impact of New Zealand's worst environmental pests and weeds.
[edit] Rural land use effects
Investigating rural land use - soil quality, contaminated sites and land management. Maintaining environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production systems.
[edit] Urban environmental management
Improving urban design to enhance the quality of urban life.
