A portion of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene in the caddisfly Orthopsyche fimbriata and in the crayfish Paranephrops planifrons was used to evaluate population genetic differentiation and define conservation units at small spatial scales among neighbouring catchments in the central‐west North Island of New Zealand. Hierarchical analysis of populations from 14 streams found 20 haplotypes in O. fimbriata and 23 haplotypes in P....

Habitat fragmentation and destruction can lead to loss of genetic diversity within and among populations. One goal of restoration proj ects is to minimise loss of genetic diversity and to preserve genetic structure. Restoration may involve the release of wild‐caught or hatchery‐produced individuals to re‐establish or augment populations, and targets species with weak dispersal potential. Key criteria to consider in restoration...

A colonial ascidian was first reported by marine farmers in Houhora Harbour, Northland, New Zealand in early 2005 and subsequently found on oyster racks in Parengarenga Harbour and the Bay of Islands. The Northland ascidian was identified with a combination of morphological characters and DNA cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequence data, as Eudistoma elongatum , a species native to Australia, where it is found from northern New...

The taxonomic status of the banded giant stargazer in New Zealand waters is uncertain. Mitochondrial DNA partial sequences of the cytochrome b gene and the control region, along with three meristic characters (numbers of dorsal fin rays, anal fin rays, and vertebrae), were compared among six recognised species of Kathetostoma and specimens of the banded giant morph. New Zealand specimens referred to as banded giant stargazer w...

Nucleotide sequences of 422 base pairs of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used to assess phylogeographic structure in the New Zealand hydropsychid caddisfly Orthopsyche fimbriata. A hierarchical examination of populations from 16 streams at different spatial scales in the central and northern North Island of New Zealand found 23 haplotypes. Most regions were characterised by unique haplotypes with geneticall...

Twenty‐four blennies collected in east Auckland, New Zealand, were identified as the Australian oyster blenny, Omobranchus anolius using taxonomic and molecular characters. This species appears to have been introduced recently to New Zealand. Auckland oyster blennies mainly inhabited dead oyster shells in water pooled under intertidal boulders on mudflats. Specimens ranged from small juveniles to large mature males, suggesting...

Iso‐electric focusing was used to identify fish tissue in Westland petrel ( Procellaria westlandica ) diet samples. Forty‐five percent of the samples from Westland petrel stomachs produced clear protein banding patterns and more than half of these were identified as species common in fisheries’ waste. Proteins in the other samples were presumably too digested for this technique. Iso‐electric focusing is a comparatively quick a...