Summer fieldwork at geothermal sites in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

In December 2024 and January 2025, we began fieldwork for our new research on whether geothermal areas influence animal and plant parasite and pathogen loads, sampling around Rotorua and other geothermal (and non-geothermal) locations in New Zealand. We have two summer students - soon to be postgraduate students! - on the project: Rani Cousens, and Dion Watts (Te Arawa), who spent the summer collecting data on birds such as black swans, pīwakawaka, gulls, and pūkeko both in and away from geothermal sites, to see if their behaviour is different at geothermal sites. PhD student Claudia Hird (https://claudiahird99.wixsite.com/claudia-hird) worked with DoC threatened species guru Troy Makan to sample bird microbiomes (external), and with colleague Ian Kusabs (Te Arawa) to sample fish microbiomes. Amazing locations and species to be working with!

Claudia Hird, Rani Cousens and Dion Watts - research students - sampling at Lake Rotorua

Dion and Rani sampling a geothermal creek

Swabbing fish

Aquatic invertebrates

Black-billed gulls nest at a geothermal site on the edge of Lake Rotorua

Swabbing gull chicks for microbiome analysis

Environmental analysis was carried out at each site - gases and water

This idea came about after observing cold-adapted penguins, seals and other wildlife seeking out geothermal areas in Antarctica. Cold-loving species shouldn't be so keen on a sauna - so there could be more to it. At Rotorua, too, coastal birds seem oddly drawn to the goethermal sites, even nesting and roosting, year after year, right in the steamiest parts.

Penguins bask in geothermal steam at Deception Island, Antarctica, 2016