Emma McGuigan: Might Migration: Exploring the Vertical Movements by Rangitāhua Zooplankton

<p dir="ltr">Diel vertical migration (DVM), the daily movement of zooplankton between surface and deep waters, is among the most widespread behaviours in the ocean. Zooplankton typically ascend to food-rich surface waters at night and descend to darker depths during the day to avoid visual predators. However, patterns of DVM remain poorly studied in the subtropical South Pacific, including around Rangitāhua, a culturally significant island for Ngāti Kuri and the centre of Aotearoa’s largest marine reserve. This study investigates zooplankton vertical distribution and migration near Rangitāhua using paired day and night multinet tows and acoustic backscattering data. Preliminary results show an overall nocturnal DVM pattern, but that the pattern and strength of migration differ among the different taxonomic groups present. Ongoing analyses will explore taxa-specific and local environmental drivers of DVM. These findings provide the first insights into zooplankton DVM at Rangitāhua, supporting Ngāti Kuri-led management of the marine ecosystem here. </p>