Restoring Balance: Soil Invertebrates as Indicators of Native Riparian Regeneration around a Degraded Lake in New Zealand
Papouschek, Mya
Papouschek, Mya
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Abstract
Lake Waikare is one of the most degraded freshwater bodies in New Zealand and the most polluted in the Waikato region. Centuries of intensive dairy farming and flood control have increased sediment, nutrient, and pathogen runoff into the lake. Native restoration plantings, including m?nuka (Leptospermum scoparium), can help filter pollutants from agriculture and improve water quality. The EcoQuest Foundation established a longitudinal study in 2017 to investigate how soil invertebrates can be used as indicators of ecological health in native restoration plantings and remnant forests near Lake Waikare. Soil invertebrates are used as an indicator of changes in this ecosystem. The effect on invertebrate composition will be evaluated as the sites mature from pasture to native vegetation. Four different sample methods (pitfall, soil samples, tree beating, and leaf litter) are used to assess the abundance and richness of soil invertebrate species in six experimental plots. In 2025, there were 15,995 individuals collected, and 791 unique taxa identified. There are 34 species that have not been found in the previous five years of this study, and two new species to science have been identified. There has been increased richness and decreased abundance in many of the sites since 2017. The Shannon Diversity Index from 2025 indicates the highest level of species evenness and the most balanced distribution across all sites compared to previous years. Since the start of the study, there have been no significant increases in the proportion of native invertebrate individuals and species in the m?nuka plots. This suggests that there is stability in the current restoration plantings for maintaining current ecological conditions. Continued research on soil invertebrates through this study will inform future restoration practices aimed at improving the ecological function of riparian zones that increase diversity, ecosystem resilience, and enhance the water quality of Lake Waikare.
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Date
1/1/2026
Student Status
Senior (Graduating in 2026)
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Poster
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Environmental Science
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Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
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Life Science