: Biodiversity offsetting and compensation proposals are routinely employed through the resource consenting process to address development-induced indigenous biodiversity losses in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Determining the quantum of demonstrable biodiversity gain required to adequately account for development induced losses is a fundamental component of designing a biodiversity offset. However, trading biodiversity is complex and must account for substantial uncertainties. Therefore, biodiversity offset models that account for losses and gains are a necessary tool for determining the adequacy of an offset proposal. Yet there is currently no accepted standard approach to loss-gain calculations. Models of insufficient ecological and mathematical robustness can perpetuate systematic biodiversity losses and distract decision-makers from discussions regarding real-world ecological consequences of development. We discuss these issues and present a case study to demonstrate how poorly designed biodiversity models that are currently in use in Aotearoa/New Zealand facilitate biodiversity loss. Model development and implementation has been hampered by a tension between competing requirements: (1) simple models that are user-friendly and not resource intensive to parameterise, and (2) models that are sufficiently complex to represent ecological values at an appropriate resolution. It is imperative that newly developed models adhere to standards employed in other ecological modelling domains to curb current and future biodiversity loss. Ecological practitioners and decision-makers are often unable to assess the quality of models and a lack of guidance and oversight of biodiversity offset modelling by the wider ecological and academic community is evident. We conclude that biodiversity offset modelling is a critical research area and that advancements within this space are urgently needed to halt ongoing biodiversity declines.
{"title":"Poorly designed biodiversity loss-gain models facilitate biodiversity loss in New Zealand","authors":"Ilse Corkery, Laurence Barea, Justyna Giejsztowt, Fleur Maseyk, Cassie Mealey","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3548","url":null,"abstract":": Biodiversity offsetting and compensation proposals are routinely employed through the resource consenting process to address development-induced indigenous biodiversity losses in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Determining the quantum of demonstrable biodiversity gain required to adequately account for development induced losses is a fundamental component of designing a biodiversity offset. However, trading biodiversity is complex and must account for substantial uncertainties. Therefore, biodiversity offset models that account for losses and gains are a necessary tool for determining the adequacy of an offset proposal. Yet there is currently no accepted standard approach to loss-gain calculations. Models of insufficient ecological and mathematical robustness can perpetuate systematic biodiversity losses and distract decision-makers from discussions regarding real-world ecological consequences of development. We discuss these issues and present a case study to demonstrate how poorly designed biodiversity models that are currently in use in Aotearoa/New Zealand facilitate biodiversity loss. Model development and implementation has been hampered by a tension between competing requirements: (1) simple models that are user-friendly and not resource intensive to parameterise, and (2) models that are sufficiently complex to represent ecological values at an appropriate resolution. It is imperative that newly developed models adhere to standards employed in other ecological modelling domains to curb current and future biodiversity loss. Ecological practitioners and decision-makers are often unable to assess the quality of models and a lack of guidance and oversight of biodiversity offset modelling by the wider ecological and academic community is evident. We conclude that biodiversity offset modelling is a critical research area and that advancements within this space are urgently needed to halt ongoing biodiversity declines.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 11","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135092443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-10DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3549
Nicola Day, Barbara Barratt, Brendon Christensen, Timothy Curran, Katharine Dickinson, Sandra Lavorel, David Norton, Hannah Buckley
: Natural grasslands are among the most threatened biomes on Earth. They are under pressure from land cover change including afforestation, farming intensification, invasive species, altered fire regimes, and soil amendments, all of which impact native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In Aotearoa New Zealand, tussock-dominated native grasslands expanded due to increased fire activity during waves of human settlement. These areas have subsequently been maintained as modified grasslands by agricultural pastoral land management practices and effects of introduced feral mammals. Despite many decades of research on biodiversity in tussock grasslands, we need greater fundamental understanding of many processes causing change in their biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in order to predict how future global change will impact this important and increasingly threatened biome. In this perspective forum article, we present five key research questions that, if answered, would greatly enhance our understanding of connections between tussock grassland biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and associated ecosystem services: (1) What are the relative impacts of domesticated and non-domesticated mammals on indigenous biodiversity in grasslands? (2) Where will invasive plants undergo range expansion? (3) Will future fires tip tussock grasslands into alternative vegetation states? (4) What are the implications of woody thickening by native or non-native species? (5) What are the impacts of global change, and vegetation change in particular, on soil processes and ecosystem functioning? We provide recommendations for research to address and integrate across these questions using both existing and new data. This work would build on our current knowledge and lead to a framework to better understand the ecological impacts of ongoing global change in tussock grasslands.
{"title":"Predicting ecological change in tussock grasslands of Aotearoa New Zealand","authors":"Nicola Day, Barbara Barratt, Brendon Christensen, Timothy Curran, Katharine Dickinson, Sandra Lavorel, David Norton, Hannah Buckley","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3549","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3549","url":null,"abstract":": Natural grasslands are among the most threatened biomes on Earth. They are under pressure from land cover change including afforestation, farming intensification, invasive species, altered fire regimes, and soil amendments, all of which impact native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In Aotearoa New Zealand, tussock-dominated native grasslands expanded due to increased fire activity during waves of human settlement. These areas have subsequently been maintained as modified grasslands by agricultural pastoral land management practices and effects of introduced feral mammals. Despite many decades of research on biodiversity in tussock grasslands, we need greater fundamental understanding of many processes causing change in their biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in order to predict how future global change will impact this important and increasingly threatened biome. In this perspective forum article, we present five key research questions that, if answered, would greatly enhance our understanding of connections between tussock grassland biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and associated ecosystem services: (1) What are the relative impacts of domesticated and non-domesticated mammals on indigenous biodiversity in grasslands? (2) Where will invasive plants undergo range expansion? (3) Will future fires tip tussock grasslands into alternative vegetation states? (4) What are the implications of woody thickening by native or non-native species? (5) What are the impacts of global change, and vegetation change in particular, on soil processes and ecosystem functioning? We provide recommendations for research to address and integrate across these questions using both existing and new data. This work would build on our current knowledge and lead to a framework to better understand the ecological impacts of ongoing global change in tussock grasslands.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"63 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135092449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-27DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3546
Kerry Borkin, Justyna Giejsztowt, Joanna McQueen-Watton, Des Smith
: Accurate surveys and monitoring are required to guide the conservation and management of threatened species. Some fauna species are cryptic or difficult to observe because they are nocturnal, mimic other species, conceal themselves, or can be incredibly hard to survey. Emergence and activity of these species may be related to complex environmental cues including weather and atmospheric conditions. The conservation status of New Zealand’s long-tailed bat ( Chalinolobus tuberculatus ) is Threatened-Nationally Critical. Occurrence and activity of long-tailed bats is commonly monitored with acoustic bat detectors. However, even in locations where long-tailed bats are known to be present, they may only be detected on a subset of nights meaning that detection with acoustic detectors is imperfect. We analysed long-tailed bat detection data collected in Kinleith Forest, central North Island, New Zealand in 2006 and 2007 using zero-inflated generalised linear (mixed) effect models. We found relationships between bat detection and several environmental variables. Results suggest that bat surveys would be most effective at detecting bats when undertaken one to four hours after sunset, on nights when the temperature at sunset is above 8°C, and preferably when the temperature stays in the 8 and 17°C range during the night. Higher humidity and a light breeze may also be a desirable condition for monitoring. A night that is similar to, or slightly warmer, than recent nights may be favourable. Caution should be taken extrapolating these results to elsewhere because bats in other regions may respond differently to temperatures out of necessity. High site-specific variation in bat counts at higher temperatures and humidity occurred with zero activity often recorded. Therefore, we caution against assuming bats are absent because they have not been detected by surveys undertaken during higher temperatures and humidity conditions unless surveys have been run for multiple nights in suitable conditions.
{"title":"Influence of weather on long-tailed bat detection in a North Island exotic forest","authors":"Kerry Borkin, Justyna Giejsztowt, Joanna McQueen-Watton, Des Smith","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3546","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3546","url":null,"abstract":": Accurate surveys and monitoring are required to guide the conservation and management of threatened species. Some fauna species are cryptic or difficult to observe because they are nocturnal, mimic other species, conceal themselves, or can be incredibly hard to survey. Emergence and activity of these species may be related to complex environmental cues including weather and atmospheric conditions. The conservation status of New Zealand’s long-tailed bat ( Chalinolobus tuberculatus ) is Threatened-Nationally Critical. Occurrence and activity of long-tailed bats is commonly monitored with acoustic bat detectors. However, even in locations where long-tailed bats are known to be present, they may only be detected on a subset of nights meaning that detection with acoustic detectors is imperfect. We analysed long-tailed bat detection data collected in Kinleith Forest, central North Island, New Zealand in 2006 and 2007 using zero-inflated generalised linear (mixed) effect models. We found relationships between bat detection and several environmental variables. Results suggest that bat surveys would be most effective at detecting bats when undertaken one to four hours after sunset, on nights when the temperature at sunset is above 8°C, and preferably when the temperature stays in the 8 and 17°C range during the night. Higher humidity and a light breeze may also be a desirable condition for monitoring. A night that is similar to, or slightly warmer, than recent nights may be favourable. Caution should be taken extrapolating these results to elsewhere because bats in other regions may respond differently to temperatures out of necessity. High site-specific variation in bat counts at higher temperatures and humidity occurred with zero activity often recorded. Therefore, we caution against assuming bats are absent because they have not been detected by surveys undertaken during higher temperatures and humidity conditions unless surveys have been run for multiple nights in suitable conditions.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"45 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136234838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-24DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3544
Samantha Turner, Grant Norbury
: Predator-free sanctuaries can assist the conservation of multiple endemic species, but quantitative evidence of these benefits is often lacking, especially for herpetofauna. We measured population responses of three common lizard species (schist geckos, Woodworthia ‘ Central Otago’; McCann’s skinks, Oligosoma maccanni ; and southern grass skinks, O. aff. polychroma Clade 5) 1 year before and 5 years after mammalian predators were removed inside a mammal-proof fence in a dry grass/shrubland habitat with abundant schist rock in Central Otago, New Zealand. Gecko counts in 25 artificial retreats (ARs) along replicated, 250-m long transects inside the fence increased from 5.2 to 17.7 per transect, compared with 3.3 to 5.4 per transect outside the fence where predators were present. This indicates a doubling of counts inside the fence when changes outside the fence are accounted for. The number of skinks seen along these transects increased from 1.3 to 2.3 per transect without predators, compared with 0.6 to 0.4 with predators. Lizard tracking tunnel indices (recorded only after predators were removed) were significantly higher without predators (62% geckos, 42% skinks) than where predators were present (12% geckos, 2% skinks). Tail loss in geckos was significantly higher where predators were present (24%) than where they were absent (1%). These data suggest that common lizard species are being suppressed to a significant degree by mammalian predators and demonstrate the potential for their recovery where predators are removed.
{"title":"Population responses of common lizards inside a predator-free dryland sanctuary","authors":"Samantha Turner, Grant Norbury","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3544","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3544","url":null,"abstract":": Predator-free sanctuaries can assist the conservation of multiple endemic species, but quantitative evidence of these benefits is often lacking, especially for herpetofauna. We measured population responses of three common lizard species (schist geckos, Woodworthia ‘ Central Otago’; McCann’s skinks, Oligosoma maccanni ; and southern grass skinks, O. aff. polychroma Clade 5) 1 year before and 5 years after mammalian predators were removed inside a mammal-proof fence in a dry grass/shrubland habitat with abundant schist rock in Central Otago, New Zealand. Gecko counts in 25 artificial retreats (ARs) along replicated, 250-m long transects inside the fence increased from 5.2 to 17.7 per transect, compared with 3.3 to 5.4 per transect outside the fence where predators were present. This indicates a doubling of counts inside the fence when changes outside the fence are accounted for. The number of skinks seen along these transects increased from 1.3 to 2.3 per transect without predators, compared with 0.6 to 0.4 with predators. Lizard tracking tunnel indices (recorded only after predators were removed) were significantly higher without predators (62% geckos, 42% skinks) than where predators were present (12% geckos, 2% skinks). Tail loss in geckos was significantly higher where predators were present (24%) than where they were absent (1%). These data suggest that common lizard species are being suppressed to a significant degree by mammalian predators and demonstrate the potential for their recovery where predators are removed.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"28 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135219741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-24DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3545
Marley Ford, Mahajabeen Padamsee, Luitgard Schwendenmann, Andrew Dopheide, Peter de Lange
: The widespread endemic tree Lophomyrtus bullata (ramarama; Myrtaceae) is in serious decline. Lophomyrtus bullata is now considered threatened due to the ongoing spread of Austropuccinia psidii , a rust fungus causing myrtle rust disease. Mycorrhizal communities play an important role in the survival of plant species and have a potential role in disease resistance. Thus, we examined the fungal communities of L. bullata , with special emphasis on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, together with vegetation and site characteristics in three forest associations in Northern New Zealand. Molecular analyses demonstrated a diverse fungal community, including representatives of nine families of arbuscular mycorrhizae. The family Archaeosporaceae was particularly abundant and diverse. Other fungal phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota) were also found to associate with L. bullata . Mycorrhizal species composition across vegetation associations was similar but abundances differed. This is the first study to demonstrate the multiple fungal species associated with L. bullata , which may help in the remediation of this vulnerable plant.
{"title":"The mycorrhizal communities of Lophomyrtus bullata Burret (Myrtaceae) within three natural forest associations of New Zealand","authors":"Marley Ford, Mahajabeen Padamsee, Luitgard Schwendenmann, Andrew Dopheide, Peter de Lange","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3545","url":null,"abstract":": The widespread endemic tree Lophomyrtus bullata (ramarama; Myrtaceae) is in serious decline. Lophomyrtus bullata is now considered threatened due to the ongoing spread of Austropuccinia psidii , a rust fungus causing myrtle rust disease. Mycorrhizal communities play an important role in the survival of plant species and have a potential role in disease resistance. Thus, we examined the fungal communities of L. bullata , with special emphasis on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, together with vegetation and site characteristics in three forest associations in Northern New Zealand. Molecular analyses demonstrated a diverse fungal community, including representatives of nine families of arbuscular mycorrhizae. The family Archaeosporaceae was particularly abundant and diverse. Other fungal phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota) were also found to associate with L. bullata . Mycorrhizal species composition across vegetation associations was similar but abundances differed. This is the first study to demonstrate the multiple fungal species associated with L. bullata , which may help in the remediation of this vulnerable plant.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"42 1-2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135219742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-10-06DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3543
Sarah Herbert, Carey Knox, Debbie Clarke, Trent Bell
: The main drivers of lizard population declines in Aotearoa New Zealand are habitat loss and introduced predators. Therefore, habitat enhancement could be useful for mitigating declines, but there is little information on how Aotearoa-endemic lizards respond to these interventions. We examined whether novel habitats created by ten c. 375 m 3 constructed rock piles would be used by McCann’s skinks ( Oligosoma maccani ), southern grass skinks ( O. aff. polychroma Clade 5), and kōrero geckos ( Woodworthia “Otago/Southland large”). The rock piles and their immediate edges were surveyed 22 times between four months and 2.4 years post-construction, resulting in 228 sightings of McCann’s skinks on all ten piles, 20 sightings of southern grass skinks on six piles, and two sightings of kōrero geckos on two piles. Estimated abundance of McCann’s skinks increased over time, and neonates were observed. These observations indicate that rock pile construction could create habitats for McCann’s skinks, but further inference is limited. We recommend that future mitigation programs quantify how habitat construction affects lizard populations and suggest methods for achieving this.
{"title":"Use of constructed rock piles by lizards in a grassland habitat in Otago, New Zealand","authors":"Sarah Herbert, Carey Knox, Debbie Clarke, Trent Bell","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3543","url":null,"abstract":": The main drivers of lizard population declines in Aotearoa New Zealand are habitat loss and introduced predators. Therefore, habitat enhancement could be useful for mitigating declines, but there is little information on how Aotearoa-endemic lizards respond to these interventions. We examined whether novel habitats created by ten c. 375 m 3 constructed rock piles would be used by McCann’s skinks ( Oligosoma maccani ), southern grass skinks ( O. aff. polychroma Clade 5), and kōrero geckos ( Woodworthia “Otago/Southland large”). The rock piles and their immediate edges were surveyed 22 times between four months and 2.4 years post-construction, resulting in 228 sightings of McCann’s skinks on all ten piles, 20 sightings of southern grass skinks on six piles, and two sightings of kōrero geckos on two piles. Estimated abundance of McCann’s skinks increased over time, and neonates were observed. These observations indicate that rock pile construction could create habitats for McCann’s skinks, but further inference is limited. We recommend that future mitigation programs quantify how habitat construction affects lizard populations and suggest methods for achieving this.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"207 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135304242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-27DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3542
Jason Wu, James Brock
: New Zealand has been subject to extensive plant introductions since the 1840s leading to c. 2700 naturalised plant taxa including 500 serious environmental weeds. To date, non-native plant invasions in New Zealand have not included epiphytic invasions in forest canopies. Numerous records indicate non-mediated naturalisation of individuals of the non-native epiphytic fern Platycerium bifurcatum have been made; further, recent survey work on urban epiphytes identified a number of juveniles across the Auckland isthmus. To investigate the extent of P. bifurcatum naturalisation across Auckland we identified 30 mature plants of varying sizes that had been planted across the Auckland isthmus on both public and private land using iNaturalist NZ. A further 46 mature plants were identified during field surveys and whilst driving between field sites. All adult plants were measured and all publicly accessible walls and trees for up to 100 m around each plant were checked for juvenile plants. We recorded 104 juvenile (naturally established) plants; all but 19 had at least two publicly accessible adults within 100 m. Platycerium bifurcatum is establishing on trees with fissured or cracked bark-types and on scoria walls. Where large, fertile specimens of P. bifurcatum occur within 100 m, and suitable surfaces are available, this non-native epiphyte is successfully establishing in Auckland’s urban forest canopy. The potential for this non-native epiphyte to spread into native forest ecosystems is not assessed in this study; however, key risks are highlighted along with suggested next steps to monitor and potentially control P. bifurcatum before this fern can invade
{"title":"The invasion of non-native epiphyte Platycerium bifurcatum in Auckland’s urban forest canopy","authors":"Jason Wu, James Brock","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3542","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3542","url":null,"abstract":": New Zealand has been subject to extensive plant introductions since the 1840s leading to c. 2700 naturalised plant taxa including 500 serious environmental weeds. To date, non-native plant invasions in New Zealand have not included epiphytic invasions in forest canopies. Numerous records indicate non-mediated naturalisation of individuals of the non-native epiphytic fern Platycerium bifurcatum have been made; further, recent survey work on urban epiphytes identified a number of juveniles across the Auckland isthmus. To investigate the extent of P. bifurcatum naturalisation across Auckland we identified 30 mature plants of varying sizes that had been planted across the Auckland isthmus on both public and private land using iNaturalist NZ. A further 46 mature plants were identified during field surveys and whilst driving between field sites. All adult plants were measured and all publicly accessible walls and trees for up to 100 m around each plant were checked for juvenile plants. We recorded 104 juvenile (naturally established) plants; all but 19 had at least two publicly accessible adults within 100 m. Platycerium bifurcatum is establishing on trees with fissured or cracked bark-types and on scoria walls. Where large, fertile specimens of P. bifurcatum occur within 100 m, and suitable surfaces are available, this non-native epiphyte is successfully establishing in Auckland’s urban forest canopy. The potential for this non-native epiphyte to spread into native forest ecosystems is not assessed in this study; however, key risks are highlighted along with suggested next steps to monitor and potentially control P. bifurcatum before this fern can invade","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135477035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-26DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3541
Jason Malham, Graeme Elliott
: Kākā ( Nestor meridionalis ) are vulnerable to predation by stoats ( Mustela erminea ) and possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ), particularly when nesting. Without predator control kākā populations decline. Control of stoats and possums both by trapping and aerial application of the poison 1080 leads to increased kākā nesting success. In recent years, many 1080 poison operations have been undertaken to control ship rat ( Rattus rattus ) and stoat plagues that occur after beech mast. Kākā do not breed every year but breed in anticipation of heavy fruiting. They do not usually breed during the spring and summers following beech mast when 1080 operations are often undertaken to control rat and stoat irruptions. Using radio-tags we measured the nesting success and survival of kākā for six years in South Westland during which there were beech (Nothofagaceae) and rimu ( Dacrydium cupressinum ) masts, stoat and rodent plagues, five 1080 operations, and four seasons in which kākā bred. We then simulated varying timings and frequencies of masting and 1080 use to explore the impact of masting and predator control on kākā population growth. In the absence of pest control simulated kākā populations declined. Aerial 1080 applied a year before or just before kākā breeding resulted in increased nesting success, but 1080 applied more than two years before kākā breeding had no impact. Aerially applied 1080 also increased adult kākā survivorship for at least 18 months. Annual 1080 operations or 1080 operations at intervals less than or equal to the time it takes stoat populations to recover resulted in the most rapid simulated kākā population growth. 1080 operations in (1) kākā breeding years, (2) when following mast, and (3) during rodent and stoat plagues each resulted in progressively smaller kākā population growth rates.
{"title":"The effect of aerially applied 1080 on the nesting success and survival of kākā","authors":"Jason Malham, Graeme Elliott","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3541","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3541","url":null,"abstract":": Kākā ( Nestor meridionalis ) are vulnerable to predation by stoats ( Mustela erminea ) and possums ( Trichosurus vulpecula ), particularly when nesting. Without predator control kākā populations decline. Control of stoats and possums both by trapping and aerial application of the poison 1080 leads to increased kākā nesting success. In recent years, many 1080 poison operations have been undertaken to control ship rat ( Rattus rattus ) and stoat plagues that occur after beech mast. Kākā do not breed every year but breed in anticipation of heavy fruiting. They do not usually breed during the spring and summers following beech mast when 1080 operations are often undertaken to control rat and stoat irruptions. Using radio-tags we measured the nesting success and survival of kākā for six years in South Westland during which there were beech (Nothofagaceae) and rimu ( Dacrydium cupressinum ) masts, stoat and rodent plagues, five 1080 operations, and four seasons in which kākā bred. We then simulated varying timings and frequencies of masting and 1080 use to explore the impact of masting and predator control on kākā population growth. In the absence of pest control simulated kākā populations declined. Aerial 1080 applied a year before or just before kākā breeding resulted in increased nesting success, but 1080 applied more than two years before kākā breeding had no impact. Aerially applied 1080 also increased adult kākā survivorship for at least 18 months. Annual 1080 operations or 1080 operations at intervals less than or equal to the time it takes stoat populations to recover resulted in the most rapid simulated kākā population growth. 1080 operations in (1) kākā breeding years, (2) when following mast, and (3) during rodent and stoat plagues each resulted in progressively smaller kākā population growth rates.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":"37 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134903440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-08DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3540
Matthew Turner, Dave Kelly, M. Lettink
: The capture of animals in live traps poses inherent risks of heat stress and mortality to trapped individuals. Despite a long history of pitfall trap use in New Zealand for monitoring small lizards, the design of traps and their covers often varies; however, the effects that this has on the internal temperature of the traps is unknown. Poor trap design may increase the risk of stress and mortality if internal temperatures exceed thermal limits. We tested the influence of three aspects of trap design (cover material, cover colour, and internal trap size) on the maximum and mean internal trap temperatures at Kaitorete Spit, New Zealand. Temperatures were recorded with dataloggers across 24 days during midsummer (December 2020 to January 2021). Internal temperatures reached a maximum of 38.2 ° C (on a day with a maximum air temperature around 31 ° C). Those trap temperatures are above predicted harmful thermal limits of some New Zealand gecko species and levels that induce avoidance behaviour in some skinks. Maximum temperatures were lower under plywood covers than those made of plastic or Onduline, brown covers than black, and in 4 L traps rather than 1 L. The best trap design had thermal maxima 3.9 ° C lower than the worst design, averaging 4.9 ° C above air maximum temperatures in the best design compared with 8.6 ° C above for the worst. As climate change increases temperatures in some areas, the risk of heat stress and mortality rises for lizards constrained in pitfall traps. We recommend the use of plywood covers and larger internal trap sizes to reduce this risk.
{"title":"Effect of pitfall trap design on internal trap temperature and the implications for live-trapped lizards","authors":"Matthew Turner, Dave Kelly, M. Lettink","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3540","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3540","url":null,"abstract":": The capture of animals in live traps poses inherent risks of heat stress and mortality to trapped individuals. Despite a long history of pitfall trap use in New Zealand for monitoring small lizards, the design of traps and their covers often varies; however, the effects that this has on the internal temperature of the traps is unknown. Poor trap design may increase the risk of stress and mortality if internal temperatures exceed thermal limits. We tested the influence of three aspects of trap design (cover material, cover colour, and internal trap size) on the maximum and mean internal trap temperatures at Kaitorete Spit, New Zealand. Temperatures were recorded with dataloggers across 24 days during midsummer (December 2020 to January 2021). Internal temperatures reached a maximum of 38.2 ° C (on a day with a maximum air temperature around 31 ° C). Those trap temperatures are above predicted harmful thermal limits of some New Zealand gecko species and levels that induce avoidance behaviour in some skinks. Maximum temperatures were lower under plywood covers than those made of plastic or Onduline, brown covers than black, and in 4 L traps rather than 1 L. The best trap design had thermal maxima 3.9 ° C lower than the worst design, averaging 4.9 ° C above air maximum temperatures in the best design compared with 8.6 ° C above for the worst. As climate change increases temperatures in some areas, the risk of heat stress and mortality rises for lizards constrained in pitfall traps. We recommend the use of plywood covers and larger internal trap sizes to reduce this risk.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48684804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-01DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.47.3539
Hayley Alena, D. Wotton, G. Perry
: Fruit is an important component in the diet of many lizards, but their role as seed dispersers is often overlooked. Seed retention time and animal movement determine how far a fleshy fruited seed will be dispersed from the parent plant. Seed retention times were investigated in 78 captive Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Duvaucel’s geckos). Geckos were offered fruits from 10 plant species. Fifty-one geckos consumed fruits and the mean seed retention time was 69 hours (range 31 to 145 hours). There was no difference between the mean seed retention in adult males and females, but juvenile geckos had significantly shorter mean seed retention times. There was no relationship between seed retention time and body mass in adult geckos. Based on their seed retention times, we suggest Duvaucel’s geckos and other native lizards with body mass ≥ 14 g could disperse seeds over 10 m away from the parent plant.
{"title":"Seed retention times in New Zealand’s largest gecko, Hoplodactylus duvaucelii, and implications for seed dispersal","authors":"Hayley Alena, D. Wotton, G. Perry","doi":"10.20417/nzjecol.47.3539","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3539","url":null,"abstract":": Fruit is an important component in the diet of many lizards, but their role as seed dispersers is often overlooked. Seed retention time and animal movement determine how far a fleshy fruited seed will be dispersed from the parent plant. Seed retention times were investigated in 78 captive Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Duvaucel’s geckos). Geckos were offered fruits from 10 plant species. Fifty-one geckos consumed fruits and the mean seed retention time was 69 hours (range 31 to 145 hours). There was no difference between the mean seed retention in adult males and females, but juvenile geckos had significantly shorter mean seed retention times. There was no relationship between seed retention time and body mass in adult geckos. Based on their seed retention times, we suggest Duvaucel’s geckos and other native lizards with body mass ≥ 14 g could disperse seeds over 10 m away from the parent plant.","PeriodicalId":49755,"journal":{"name":"New Zealand Journal of Ecology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42418358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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