This review was carried out to improve understanding of marine habitats in New Zealand. The review focuses on 15 key biogenic habitats in New Zealand and discusses available data and literature to determine the condition, extent, and any data gaps for these habitats. Biogenic habitats provide many ecosystem services such as stabilising sediments, providing food, filtering water, and recycling nutrients, without which rapid ecosystem degradation would occur. They are valuable commercially, recreationally, and aesthetically. The review found that only two out of 15 biogenic habitats have national inventories – seagrass and mangroves – reflecting large data gaps and the lack of national knowledge about these habitats.
This review was carried out to improve understanding of marine habitats in New Zealand. The review focuses on 15 key biogenic habitats in New Zealand and discusses available data and literature to determine the condition, extent, and any data gaps for these habitats. Biogenic habitats provide many ecosystem services such as stabilising sediments, providing food, filtering water, and recycling nutrients, without which rapid ecosystem degradation would occur. They are valuable commercially, recreationally, and aesthetically. The review found that only two out of 15 biogenic habitats have national inventories – seagrass and mangroves – reflecting large data gaps and the lack of national knowledge about these habitats.