dive.nu

biodiversity.nu

Undersea | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/undersea

Niue suited me to a tee, because where could one find a remote tropical island with incredibly friendly and civilised people, educated the New Zealand way and all speaking English? Stand empty and derelict as mementos of more populated times. A diver hangs motionless between surface an bottom, experiencing the extreme clarity of the water. Snorkelling is a new experience, being able to distinguish a sea cucumber at 30m depth. This photo was taken with a normal 28mm lens to avoid distortion. Niue is oval ...

biodiversity.nu

Land Life | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/land-life

Coconut crabs are threatened by being eaten and by being run over as this one we met on the road by night. It has disappeared from many other islands. Birgus latro. Already 30 years old, this foot-sized crab may not escape the pot. But for now it is safe under the admiring eyes of the photographer. Who could eat such a beautiful animal, so unique in the animal kingdom? Feisty female land crab brandishing her claws. G. A purple land crab on the road. Geograpsus grayi. A swarm of butterflies draws attentio...

biodiversity.nu

Habitat Pictures | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/habitat-pictures

The Alofi underwater barrens are created by large storms and maintained by a large variety of grazers. Small black needle urchins inside their sockets waiting for the night to emerge when they graze their gardens. The coralline reef flats found mainly on the Alofi side of the island. Reef gleaning for sustenance is still widely practised. The coralline reef flats do not consist of corals but coralline algae, covered in a sum of brown-green slimy algae. Mysterious rock pools break the surface. A salt-resi...

biodiversity.nu

Interesting Life | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/interesting-life

The coconut crab is quite an extraordinary and awesome beast. Born in the sea, it spends its ‘teenage’ and adult life on land, living in hiding and coming out at night to clean the forest floor from fallen coconuts. Like all sea creatures it breathes through gills that must be kept moist. Indeed, it needs to go back to the salt water now and then, to recharge its salt content. Now that most Niueans (20,000) live in Auckland, the uga (pronounce as. Joint-legged animals like insects and spiders), class.

biodiversity.nu

Fish Tree | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/fish-tree

Do you know these fishes and their Latin names? Let us know. Help to make this information better. Genus – species,. Common name (local name). [more optional information]. 8211; hagfishes. hagfish. 8211; lampreys: lamprey. Selachiformes – sharks and dogfishes. Brachaeluridae – blindsharks:. Long nasal barbels and both dorsal fins placed between beginning of ventral and anal fins. Usually black or dark brown. Rhiniodontidae – whale sharks:. Cetorhinidae – basking sharks:. Sand tiger shark,. Slender shape,...

biodiversity.nu

Marine Threats | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/marine-threats

Perceived marine and other threats in Niue. Overuse by visitors degrading area (such as Matapa Chasm and Talava Arches) or tourist activities invading area (M). Over use of tracks (walking and cars) may increase erosion along tracks when it rains; and walking on reef flat may trample sensitive organisms. Cause Effect data unavailable; Personal observations confirm water erosion on tracks but no little evidence of trampling. Broad-spectrum poisons are used in confined areas like pools to target a few spec...

biodiversity.nu

Principles | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/principles

Survival of the fittest. Meaning the types with the required (‘better’) characteristics. To better understand the principles of biodiversity, visit the important biodiversity chapter. Species to evolve here. Thus Niue is not likely to play a role in the world’s biodiversity and it is unlikely to find species here that are found nowhere else in the world. When species arrive in Niue’s coastal seas, they are subjected to the following deselecting influences:. Niue has very little hard shore, the place wher...

biodiversity.nu

Habitat Zoning | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/habitat-zoning

Habitat Zoning on the Land. The diagram shown here simplifies the natural habitat zoning on Niue, both above and under water. It shows a cross-section from roughly SE to NW such that the hurricane side is on the left side and the trade wind side on right. From left to right the following habitat zones can be distinguished:. Occasional tropical cyclones destroy coral life, resulting in a barren seascape to 70m depth, which is kept barren by incessant grazing of sea urchins, surgeonfish and parrotfish.

biodiversity.nu

Waves | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/waves

Theory and principles of waves, how they work and what causes them. By Dr J Floor Anthoni 2000 www.seafriends.org.nz/oceano/waves.htm. Waves have a major influence on the marine environment and ultimately on the planet’s climate. Waves travel effortlessly along the water’s surface. This is made possible by small movements of the water molecules. This chapter looks at how the motion is brought about and how waves can change speed, frequency and depth. Waves in shallow water. Waves in the environment.

biodiversity.nu

Strategy | Faahi Takatakai Motu

http://www.biodiversity.nu/strategy

Niue National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan. Niue is an environmentally friendly nation in which conservation and the sustainable management of resources is an integral part of the life style of the people. This is exemplified by Niue ratifying the Convention on Biological. This NBSAP’s Vision is: ‘Niue is an environmentally friendly nation in which conservation and the sustainable management of biological resources support all the living community.’. Full document available for download.