Pinus contorta is one of Aotearoa’s worst weeds. Evidence suggests that its spread and growth rates in Aotearoa are greater than in its native range in North America, yet the underlying drivers remain poorly understood. In this study, we examine cone and seed traits of P. contorta across several major invasion sites in Aotearoa and compare their traits with values from the native range.
The preference-performance hypothesis suggests that female insects prefer to oviposit on the host plant that provides the highest fitness for offspring. However, introduced plants can cause ecological traps, wherein animals lay eggs on low quality (often introduced) species instead of higher quality (usually native) species. Pūrerehua kahukura/New Zealand red admiral butterfly (Vanessa gonerilla gonerilla) lay eggs on native and introduced nettles (Urtica spp.). We tested both host preference for female oviposition and host performance for development of larvae.
The global Human Footprint Map is a measure of human pressures on the environment that has been linked to changes in species extinction risks and the loss of intact ecosystems. Previous work assessed the utility of downscaling the global map to more precise regional scales using a 90 m resolution, and found that doing so supported conservation-based land-use planning. We created a New Zealand human pressure layer in a resolution (100 m) and projection (New Zealand Transverse Mercator 2000) suitable for national-scale analysis for the years 2012 and 2018.
Solitary bees (Hymenoptera: Insecta) are key pollinators for natural ecosystems and agricultural crops. Unlike social bees, such as bumblebees and honeybees, solitary bees forage and build their nests independently and are more vulnerable to ongoing threats, including habitat loss and pesticides, than social bees. New Zealand has 27 native solitary bee species, and understanding foraging and nesting behaviours of native bees is critical for conservation efforts. However, few New Zealand studies have investigated the behavioural ecology of native bees.
Managers of ecosanctuaries often need to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. Model-based tools which aim to assist this process, for example proof-of-absence models, are underpinned by assumptions about the behaviour of target animals, including their spatial movements. In some cases, however, there are few empirical data to draw on to inform these models. The movement behaviour of individual pests in low-density environments, as well as the dispersal of juveniles away from their natal location, is poorly understood for many species, including the ship rat (Rattus rattus).
Aerial 1080 is the primary method of large-scale predator control of ship rats (Rattus rattus) and stoats (Mustela erminea) in the southern beech (Nothofagaceae) forests of mainland New Zealand. Measuring outcomes for native species of such predator control is essential to ensuring wise use of conservation resources. Rifleman/tītitipounamu (Acanthisitta chloris sp.) are a common endemic passerine that are declining, even in large remote forests.
Scientific knowledge production in the form of scientific publication is an increasingly connected and global endeavour, and institutional and funding pressures make it likely that studies addressing local questions may become less frequent and less obvious in the literature. We used the Scopus database and a focused subset of research published in ecological journals to evaluate trends in scientific publishing in New Zealand from 1980–2020 in the broad field of biological and environmental sciences.
Understanding the long-term implications of translocation methods is essential when refining best translocation practices for a species. High rates of movement and dispersal away from release sites have been key concerns when hard releasing lizards. A recent proliferation of research on translocation of New Zealand’s endemic green geckos (Naultinus spp.) has confirmed that penning for at least four months promotes initial site fidelity.
The Hochstetter’s frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) is a nationally At Risk – Declining species, but management decisions for this species are limited by the lack of established monitoring protocols and analytical methods. We compared methods for inferring spatial and temporal patterns in abundance on Aotea (Great Barrier Island) using count data collected from fifteen 100 m stream transects in 2012, 2015 and 2021. Each transect was surveyed 2–3 times on the same day each year.
The fragmentation of forested environments in Aotearoa | New Zealand has resulted in many small, geographically isolated populations that face an increased risk of extinction. However, population extinction itself, and its proximate causes, are rarely witnessed scientifically. As part of a broader study, we assessed the population status of a remnant kakaruai (South Island robin; Petroica australis) population within the Ōtepoti | Dunedin area.
