1954 Chatham Islands expedition

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1954 Chatham Islands expedition

The 1954 Chatham Islands expedition was a research expedition organised by George Knox of the University of Canterbury to explore the distribution of benthic and pelagic marine fauna living between the Chatham Islands / Rēkohu and the eastern coast of New Zealand.

Origin

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The idea for the expedition came from George Knox.[1] Funding was received from the New Zealand Oceanographic Committee, via the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).[2][3]

Expedition

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The expedition took place in January and February 1954.[3][4][5] The vessel used to undertake this expedition was the MV Alert.[3] The Alert, which had been used for other scientific expeditions,[6] was specially fitted out for this expedition with dredging and trawling equipment, a winch and specially designed sorting benches.[7]

On its way to the Chathams the expedition did oceanographic work on the Mernoo Bank on the Chatham Rise, the area of sea bed between Banks Peninsula and the Chatham Islands.[2] They visited a number of locations on Rekohu (the main island) including Owenga, Kaingaroa, Waitangi, Petre Bay, Te Whanga Lagoon and Port Hutt.[3] Scientists also landed on the smaller islands of South East (Rangatira) Island, Pitt Island, The Sisters and the Forty-Fours.[1][3]

Members

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Members of the expedition came from several different institutions: University of Canterbury, Canterbury Museum, Dominion Museum, Victoria University, the DSIR, Portobello Marine Laboratory and the University of Otago Medical School.[1][2][3]

Results

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The expedition collected thousands of specimens of both land and marine fauna including over 150 new species.[1][3][6] Over 1200 specimens from the expedition are held by Te Papa.[5] Photographs taken by Dawson are held in the Alexander Turnbull Library.[8]

Dell named a deep water snail after the expedition ship and its master Alertalex blacki while another snail was named Chathamidia expeditionis after the expedition.[6]

Bibliography

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The following publications resulted from the expedition:

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  • Knox, G. A. (1957). General account of the Chatham Islands 1954 expedition by G.A. Knox. New Zealand. Department of Scientific Industrial Research.[3]
  • Pike, R. B. (1961). A new bopyrid parasite collected by the Chatham Islands 1954 expedition. New Zealand. Marine Department.
  • Biological results of the Chatham Islands 1954 expedition. (1960–1972). Wellington: New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Parts 1–7.

See also

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References

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