Began in 1948 as the Animal Ecology Section of DSIR. It became a separate Animal Ecology Division in 1960 and was renamed Ecology Division in 1970 when its functions were broadened to include freshwater research. On April 1 1990 the Ecology Division merged with the Botany Division, Division of Land and Soil Sciences and the Science Mapping Unit to form DSIR Land Resources. On July 1, 1992 the functions of DSIR Land Resources were taken over by Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd. and Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences Limited.
New Zealand. Ecology Division
New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Ecology Division
There are 6 related items to this topic
Manuscript
Alexander Mowat - Correspondence and papers
Date: [1915-1970]
From: Mowat family : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-7496-03
Description: Personal and business correspondence and papers Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Audio
Interview with Mike Meads
Date: 14 Oct - 17 Nov 2005
From: Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch oral history project
By: Brownlie, Zoe Madeleine, 1982-; Meads, Michael John, 1938-; Persse, Robert, active 2000-2011
Reference: OHInt-1008-11
Description: Interview with Mike (Michael) Meads, born in London in 1938. Refers to his parents who died when he was young, childhood, the war, boarding school, and the Channel Islands. Outlines moving to Melbourne, Australia where he worked for a time in the Department of Social Services. Talks about moving to New Zealand, working on a farm near Gisborne and later farming near Marton 1962-1969. Discusses working for the Ecology Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) from 1969 and his interest in skinks, geckos and bats. Talks about working on possums in rata trees and trapping moths. Discusses his main interests - giant wetas, transferring them to Maud Island after rats and mice were removed. Comments on other endangered invertebates including land snails and weevils, and work on offshore islands. Refers to his book 'Forgotten fauna : the rare, endangered, and protected invertebrates of New Zealand' (DSIR Publishing, 1990). Talks about the restructuring of the DSIR into Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), and being transferred to Landcare Research. Discusses commercial surveys and lignite mining on the West Coast. Mentions the use of 1080 poison by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Comments on his retirement hobbies - vintage cars and orchids, marine invertebrates and working as a fisheries officer. Refers to museums, Darwin and the Galapagos Islands. Reflects on his career with the DSIR, communicating with lay people and conservation. Mentions belief in oneself, observation, lateral vision and interpretation. Interviewer(s) - Zoe Brownlie Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-023170 - OHC-023172 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s) OHA-7608 (handwritten summary). 1 interview(s). 2.28 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7608 (handwritten summary). Colour photograph of Mike Meads (2005) Search dates: 2005
Manuscript
Animal Ecology Division - Reports
Date: [1951-1955]
From: Mowat family : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-7496-26
Description: Reports, mostly by Kazimierz Wodzicki, from the Animal Ecology Division, DSIR, particularly relating to rabbits Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Audio
Interview with John Flux
Date: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sep 2005 - 02 Sep 2005 - 30 Sep 2005
From: Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch oral history project
By: Flux, John Etheridge C., 1934-; Marr, Julene, active 2000s
Reference: OHInt-1008-03
Description: Interview with Dr John Flux, born in Maymyo, Burma in 1934. Outlines his family background, growing up in Stonehaven, Scotland during World War II and his schooling. Comments on his early interest in fish, bird watching and bird photography. Refers to the importance of education, role models, and to science teaching in universities. Mentions that his initial qualification was a useful preparation, being able to write and draw and to work independently. Refers to the increasing influence of statistics and of modern techniques on biology, including night vision scopes for fieldwork. Talks about coming to New Zealand [1960] to work for the [Animal] Ecology Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). Comments on funding, equipment, and joint research with the Wildlife Division of the Department of Internal Affairs. Discusses working on the ecology of hares. Comments on his food theory of stable populations of birds and rabbits, disagreements with fellow scientists, and attempts to control rabbits in Central Otago. Talks about his published research papers, the citation system, and the internet and publication. Mentions periods spent working overseas including in Kenya 1967-1968 and Sumatra in 1979. Discusses changes and restructuring in the DSIR during his career culminating in the formation of crown research institutes in 1992 when he took redundancy. Comments on the consequences of specialisation of scientists for society, market driven research, and business and science. Discusses the relationship between science and society and science communication. Talks about his most admired scientists including Charles Fleming. Reflects on the support of his wife Meg and the influence of his career on his family. Interviewer(s) - Julene Marr Accompanying material - List of the interviewee's publications (8 p.); photocopy of a paper "Increasing efficiency in science - a bad thing?" presented by John Flux at a symposium 'Social responsibility in science' held at the 49th Congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science, Auckland, 1979 [with abstract] Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-023128 - OHC-023133 Quantity: 6 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 5.54 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7600 (handwritten). Search dates: 1934 - 1960 - 2005 - 1992
Audio
Interview with Bruce Thomas
Date: 16 June 2016
From: Herpetofauna researchers of New Zealand oral history project
By: McCahon, Shona, active 2005-2014
Reference: OHInt-1217-07
Description: Interview with Bruce Thomas conducted by Shona McCahon. Topics covered include: family background and childhood; schooling and interest in natural history; keeping lizards; the Hamilton Junior Naturalist Club; working in the Ecology Division Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR); catching lizards; working with Tony Whitaker; off shore islands; pest control and the eradication of rats; the New Zealand Herpetological Society; tuatara breeding; and technological changes in the industry. Quantity: 1 Interview(s). 10 digital sound recording(s). 4 Electronic document(s). 2 digital photograph(s). Search dates: 2016
Image
New Zealand. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research :[Ephemera, up to octavo ...
Date: 1970 - 1979
Reference: Eph-A-DSIR-1970s
Description: Includes: 1970: DSIR Centre, Auckland. Issued by the Ministry of Works, Information leaflet no. 23, April 1970. 1972: Physics and Engineering Laboratory, Lower Hutt. Open days, 1-2 December 1972. [Booklet, 24 pages] Poisonous plants. [Pamphlets about: Solanum species, Oleander, the Arums, Castor oil, Oxalis, Hemlock] 1974: Physics and Engineering Laboratory, Lower Hutt. Open days, 29-30 November 1974. [Booklet, 30 pages] 1975: DSIR Chemistry Division. Open days, 17-18 October 1975. [Explanatory booklet] NZ-UNIDO; Fertiliser Production Technology Workshop, November 9-22 1975. Tour guide 1976: DSIR. Auckland Industrial Development Division. AIDD. A guide to open week, 20-24 September 1976. [Booklet] DSIR; science working for you. Prepared by Science Infomation Division, DSIR [Pamphlet] (2 copies) Mount Albert Research Centre welcomes you to Open Week, 14-18 September 1976, on the occasion of DSIR's 50th anniversary. Display guide DSIR 50, 1926-1976. Gracefield open days, Friday 26 & Saturday 27 November 1976. Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Physics and Engineering laboratory, Chemistry Division. [Booklet, 12 pages] Plant Physicology Division, DSIR. ca 1976 [Pamphlet] Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in Auckland. [Entomology Division, Auckland, September 1976. Pamphlet] 1979?: Ecology Division, DSIR [Pamphlet. ca 1979?] Compliment slip from Applied Mathematics Division, DSIR. 1,000/4/79 Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Offset prints, mimeographs, etc, sizes varying up to 240 mm.