Dr Conrad Pilditch
Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: MSc Otago PhD Dalhousie
Contact Details
| Name | Extn. | Username | Room | Department | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilditch, AProf Conrad | 6132 | conrad | R.2.20 | Biological Sciences |
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 then enter the extension
- Direct dialling +64 7 838 then extension (for extensions starting with 4)
- Direct dialling +64 7 858 then extension (for extensions starting with 5)
- Emailing username@waikato.ac.nz
- Using the campus map to locate their room
Research Interests
My area of speciality is benthic oceanography/ecology focusing on the processes that influence the structure and function of soft-sediment communities. Specifically, I am interested in how hydrodynamics and benthic organisms interact to affect sediment transport, recruitment, nutrient fluxes and food supply. Together with colleagues and students, research has been conducted in a wide range of environments ranging from the inter-tidal to the deep sea, a reflection of the extensive occurrence of soft-sediment habitats.About Conrad
Since joining the Department of Biological Sciences I have lectured primarily in the area of marine ecology and oceanography. In addition to coordinating the marine ecology courses (see below) I also contribute to undergraduate courses in environmental science (ENVS101) and ecology (BIOL212).
I maintain an active student research laboratory and really enjoy helping them develop as scientists. I am looking for new students to join the laboratory and welcome inquires.
When not working I enjoy traveling with my family and outdoor activities. I am a keen (but not very good) surfer, enjoy diving, sailing and hiking.
Honours and Disctinctions
- ASLO DIALOG III Participant (1999)
- Elected New Zealand Marine Sciences Society elected council member (1999-2002, 2006-)
- Editorial advisory board for New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research
- New Zealand Marine Sciences Society since 1989
- American Society for Limnology and Oceanography since 1991
- Oceanography Society since 1998
Contribution to wider community
- Independent expert in various technical working groups co-ordinate by Environment Waikato, Auckland Regional Council and Department of Conservation to assess impacts of human activities on coastal environments.
- Provide expert reviews of research proposals for funding agencies in the UK, USA and Chile, regular reviewer for leading marine ecology journals.
- Assisted iwi groups to establish coastal monitoring programs and provided advice on environmental issues.
- Participated in national workshops on marine conservation and classification of the marine environment.
- Communicated the results of scientific research to the general public via numerous talks to community groups (e.g. Forest and Bird Society, high school students) and publication of popular articles.
- Co-convener of the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society annual meeting in 2000 & 2007.
Students Supervised
PhD
- Gutperlet, Ruth (in progress). Habitat dynamics in response to constructional impacts: a biological approach.
- Harris, Rachel (in progress). The effects of benthic communities on sediment stability.
- Niemand, Clarisse (in progress). The impact of macroalgal mats on the structure and function of estuarine benthic communities
- Pratt, Daniel (in progress). Interconnectivity in benthic nutrient fluxes between estuaries and their surrounding coastal habitats.
- Needham, Hazel (submitted). Effects of bioturbating crabs on nutrient fluxes in coastal sediments
- Ross, Phillip (in progress). Genetic structure of New Zealand cockle (Austrovenus stutchburyi) populations: connectivity amongst estuarine habitats
- Knox, Matt(in progress). Biodiversity and patterns of gene flow in benthic amphipods from the Chatham Rise, Challenger Plateau and Ross Sea
- Jones, Hannah (submitted). Role of suspension feeding bivalves in esturine ecosystem processes
- Dos Santos, Virginie (2011). Impacts of black swans and other stressors on seagrass productivity
- Burger , David (2006). Dynamics of internal nutrient loading in a eutrophic, polymictic lake (Lake Rotorua, New Zealand
- Giles, Hilke (2006). Dispersal and remineralisation of biodeposits: Ecosystem impacts of mussel aquaculture
MSc
- Gladstone-Gallagher, Rebecca (in progress). Determining the linkages between mangrove detritus and ecosystem functioning, in a temperate New Zealand estuary.
- McCartain, Lisa (in progress). Smothering ecosystem functioning: the effect of terrigenous sediment on macrofauna behaviour and porewater exchange.
- Greenfield, Barry (in progress). The effects of oscillating flows on juvenile bivalve resuspension and dispersal in the water column
- Gibson, Aimee (2009) Seasonal variation in bivalve antioxidant enzymes: can they be used as indicators of heavy metal contamination?
- Niemand, Clarisse (2009) The application of elemental fingerprinting techniques to identify population connectivity using Austrovenus stutchburyi recruits
- Simpson, Julia (2009) Effects of heavy metal contamination on burial rates of Austrovenus stutchburyi: implications for sediment transport
- Hailes, Sarah (2006) Contribution of seagrass (Zostera muelleri) to estuarine food webs revealed by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis
- Sandwell, Dean (2006) Austrovenus stutchburyi, regulators of estuarine benthic-pelagic coupling
- Keys, Elizabeth (2005) Experimental enhancement of black-foot abalone Haliotis iris in Tory Channel, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Petuha, Erin (2005) Post-settlement transport of of the wedge shell (Hanikura) Macomona liliana
- van Houte-Howes, Kristel (2003) Spatial differences in macro-invertebrate communities on intertidal sand flats: A comparison between seagrass habitats and unvegetated sediment in three estuaries on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand
- Margenau, (Kyle 2002) The flora and fauna of frigates: Colonization of the HMNZS Waikato
- Giles, Kate (2002) Seasonal dynamics of zooplankton in Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand
Teaching Commitments
Expertise
Marine benthic ecology and oceanography, in particular how water movement affects benthic community dynamics through sediment transport; recruitment and food supply; benthic biodiversity and ecosystem function; ecology of suspension-feeders and bivalve aquaculture.
Recent Publications
- Knox, M., Hogg, I., Pilditch, C., Lorz, A., Nodder, S. (2012) Abundance and diversity of epibenthic amphipods (Crustacea) from contrasting bathyalhabitats
Refereed Journal Articles - Deep-Sea Research 1 - Leduc, D., Rowden, A., Probert, P., Pilditch, C., Nodder, S., Vanreusel, A., Duineveld, G., Witbaard, R. (2011) Further evidence for the effect of particle-size diversity on deep-sea benthic biodiversity
Refereed Journal Articles - Deep-Sea Research I - Tay, H., Bryan, K., Pilditch, C., Park, S., Hamilton, D. (2011) Variations in nutrient concentrations at different time scales in two shallow tidally dominated estuaries
Refereed Journal Articles - Marine and Freshwater Research - Jones, H., Pilditch, C., Bruesewitz, D., Lohrer, A. (2011) Sedimentary environment influences the effect of an infaunal suspension feeding bivalve on estuarine ecosystem function
Refereed Journal Articles - PLoS ONE
