This research investigates the diversity and behaviour of zooplankton around Rangitāhua, Aotearoa New Zealand. By combining microscopy and underwater acoustics, it identifies species and tracks their daily vertical migrations. The findings will improve understanding of marine ecosystems, climate change impacts, and support Ngāti Kuri's stewardship of this culturally significant region.

Climate change is forcing marine species to migrate across hostile coastal environments. Using environmental DNA from seawater, this research demonstrates a powerful new way to detect and monitor biodiversity, revealing hundreds of species per sample. eDNA offers a scalable, sensitive tool for tracking ecosystem change and guiding conservation in rapidly changing marine environments.