Thursday | Rāpare Conservation Week quiz

Q1: What percentage of wetlands in Aotearoa New Zealand have been drained by humans? 10% 30% 50% 90%

A shallow pond in a wood.
Brown mudfish habitat
Image: Susan Harris | DOC

No, it's 90%!

Draining of wetlands to make space for agriculture and urban development is unfortunately common. While they have historically been undervalued, wetlands are important living and breathing ecosystems.

That's right.

Q2: True or false, wetlands have a higher concentration of wildlife than any other habitat in Aotearoa New Zealand. True False

An alpine pond surrounded by mountains.
Ahuriri Conservation Park
Image: © Kierstan McKinley

No, it's true.

That is correct.

Q3: Fill in the blank:. Wetlands are often referred to as the _____ of the earth. Heart Liver Kidneys Stomach

A boardwalk in a wetland.
Kepler Track wetland access
Image: © Shellie Evans

The correct answer is kidneys.

Wetland habitats are the hardest working water filtration systems, trapping soils and sediments, filtering nutrients, removing contaminants, and returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Correct!

Wetland habitats are the hardest working water filtration systems, trapping soils and sediments, filtering nutrients, removing contaminants, and returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Q4: Up to what distance can the booms of matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bitterns be heard? 4 km 1 km 10 km 500 m

A long beaked bird among reeds.
Australasian bittern
Image: Colin O'Donnell | DOC

The answer is 4 km.

This is the maximum distance recorded to date – it is often shorter due to the weather.

Yes!

This is the maximum distance recorded to date – it is often shorter due to the weather.

Q5: Why are wetland habitats important? Water quality Flood control Wildlife habitats All of the above

A small pond ringed by green hills.
Pekapeka Wetlands
Image: © Shellie Evans

Yes, but in fact these are all reasons why wetlands are important.

Wetland habitats are a great reminder of the importance of living with nature rather than on it.

Correct.

Wetland habitats are a great reminder of the importance of living with nature rather than on it.

Q6: How long can black mudfish survive out of water during the dry season? 48 hours 1-2 weeks 2-3 months 6-12 months

A small tubular fish swimming near the bottom of a pond.
Black mudfish
Image: © Rod Morris

The correct answer is 2-3 months.

Yes indeed. 2-3 months is correct.

Q7: Peat bogs are water retention experts. How much of their weight can they retain in water? 80% 90% 85% 95%

A cushion bog
Cushion bog
Image: DOC

No, it's 90%!

Acting like a sponge, peat bogs help control water flow during droughts and floods.

Yes, 90% is correct!

Acting like a sponge, peat bogs help control water flow during droughts and floods.

Q8: How many species of fish can be found in whitebait? 2 3 4 6

Incorrect.

Whitebait is a mixture of the juveniles of 6 species of native fish. Inanga is the most commonly caught species.

Yep.

Whitebait is a mixture of the juveniles of 6 species of native fish. Inanga is the most commonly caught species.

Q9: What can you say to your friends who don’t understand how cool and vital wetland habitats are? That’s silly! Have you seen season 2 episode 5 of TVNZ’s Endangered Species Aotearoa? Let’s go to one of the 40 wetland areas across Aotearoa! Well maybe mudfish don’t think your house is cool or vital either!

Yep, any of these rejoiners should do the trick.

Q10: What’s the best way we can act for nature? Donate Speak up Volunteer Educating yourself and others

People planting trees on a hillside.
Volunteer tree planting
Image: Dick Veitch | DOC

Yes, any of these actions will help.

Nature needs help, and it’s going to take all of us to turn the tide on protecting and restoring it. Any action you can take to educate yourself and others, support important initiatives with time or money, or advocate for nature will make a difference.

Four quizzes down, one more quiz to go.

Tomorrow's theme is birds.

Step 1/ 21