Ask a Scientist Ask a Scientist - Three Kings Islands

The latest news from the Three Kings Islands Marine Expedition

You're invited to meet the Three Kings scientists tomorrow

Our expedition team is back from the Three Kings Islands and ready to answer your questions about what they found and to show you some of the specimens they collected to help build their understanding of the marine environment. The blog has been a fantastic chance to follow their discoveries but now you can meet them face to face and talk to them about their preliminary findings about marine life in the Three Kings. In the few days since the team got back on dry land they've already identified that one of the fish they found is likely to be a new species. So who knows what tomorrow will bring. You can meet four of the team - including University of Queensland PhD student Libby Liggins and one of the expedition's photographers Richard Robinson - tomorrow at 11am at the Auckland Museum. There are some more details of the session below and we've also got some more underwater footagREAD MORE...

Apr19

Q- Have there been any sightings of spotted black ...

A- Thanks so much for your question Quentin. You’re right, they’re very special and I can’t believe I’ve forgotten to mention that we’ve seen spotted black grouper on most dives! Read More...

Apr10

Q- How long can you be under the water diving? How...

A- Ayesha and Jacqui’s classes and Charlotte, wanted to know more about the diving. Most of us are diving using scuba gear and breathing from a tank of compressed air on Read More...

Apr10

Q- How important is seaweed to the fish and to our...

A- Tom and Malcolm say ‘great question – and the answer is very important!’ Seaweed is home to all sorts of fish – it’s got lots of nooks and crannies Read More...

Apr10

Q- Can fish get sunburn?

A- What an interesting answer and, actually, the answer is yes (sort of)! Tom says that fish don’t get sunburnt and turn pink like we do in the sun – Read More...

Mar22

Q- When you went on an expedition to the Kermadecs...

A- No, it’s not the same in the Three Kings Islands. The reason we couldn’t catch and eat fish in the Kermadec Islands was because it is a marine reserve Read More...

Mar22

Q- Why do you collect more than one of any type of...

A- That’s a good question. Next time you’re in a room with about 20 people (maybe your classroom or maybe your office) take a look around and think about which Read More...

Mar14

Q- If you find a new species of fish will you get ...

A- If we find a species that has never been identified before we will get to name it but it won’t happen right away. The first thing we will have Read More...