The impact of deer farming on the ecological health of New Zealand streams : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Ecology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2022
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Massey University
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Abstract
There is limited research on what water chemistry and habitat factors of streams may be affected by deer farming in New Zealand and thus impact their ecological health. Nine high country and hill country deer farms across New Zealand were assessed using freshwater macroinvertebrate samples, nutrient data, periphyton biomass and visual habitat assessments. Biological metrics calculated from the macroinvertebrate samples indicated that the waterways on these deer farms had moderate to severe impairment. This impairment, as well as the community composition, was linked most strongly with the levels of deposited sediment found at the sites. Deposited sediment was clearly the most significant impact on the ecological health of streams of these high country and hill country deer farms. The Stream Health Check is a tool developed to help landowners assess the quality of their waterways while also providing education and environmental awareness. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the score from a Stream Health Check assessment correlated with freshwater macroinvertebrate biological metrics of the site. The scores from the Stream Health Check correlated with the Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) and the Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Community Index (QMCI) of deer farm streams and also streams in mixed agricultural practice catchments. This suggests that the Stream Health Check would be a useful tool for landowners in the development of Environmental Farm Plans as it is an inexpensive way to assess the physical and ecological quality of a waterway that relates well to more scientific methods for assessing ecological health.