Jacqueline Theis – The Conversation

The black tunnelweb spider. Samuel Purdie

December 31, 2025

Are you a hellraiser mite or a knobbled weevil? Take the quiz and vote for NZ’s Bug of the Year

Connal McLean, University of Otago and Jacqueline Theis, University of Otago

Take the personality quiz to match with one of NZ’s larger-than-life little creatures, then cast your vote.

Jacqueline Theis

December 18, 2025

Dunedin’s inner‑city greening project shows even small spaces can be wildlife havens

Jacqueline Theis, University of Otago; Barbara I.P. Barratt, University of Otago; Connal McLean, University of Otago, and Yolanda van Heezik, University of Otago

Medium-density housing has limited green spaces, but even small planted patches can provide enough food and habitat to enhance urban biodiversity.

Getty Images

May 16, 2024

Denser housing can be greener too – here’s how NZ can build better for biodiversity

Yolanda van Heezik, University of Otago; Christopher K. Woolley, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Jacqueline Theis, University of Otago, and Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

The majority of 25 surveyed developments around New Zealand lacked healthy, ecologically meaningful vegetation. Applying biodiversity targets for medium-density housing could turn this around.

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