Environment Waikato funds plant research

Environment Waikato is funding research into plants that could be used
to clean up the region's freshwater lakes.

It has granted $3611 to science consultant Aareka Hopkins to grow two
different charophyte species in artificial ponds over 12 months.

Charophytes are highly developed macro-algae that grow mainly in
alkaline, freshwater lakes and ponds. They bind to bottom sediments,
helping to prevent mud and soil particles being stirred up by wind.

They are currently in huge demand for lake restoration projects, but
natural sources of them are limited.

Mr Hopkins aims to take naturally occurring plants and raise them in two
"nursery" ponds at Hamilton Zoo, monitoring their impact on water
quality.

He hopes to find out whether they can successfully be grown in
artificial ponds and his study will make recommendations on how this can
best be done.

"This is a relatively small grant to fund what could be hugely important
research," Environment Committee chairman Jane Hennebry said.

Mr Hopkins, who studied the plants for his MSc, is undertaking the
research on a not-for-profit basis.

Environment Waikato's lakes restoration programme will contribute
further funding to the project to cover reporting and equipment costs.