University of Auckland researchers, James Brock and Kathleen Collier, have discovered yet another reason why we really should appreciate our native bat species. It seems short-tailed bats have a role to play in spreading fern spores throughout the forest, helping the spores to spread a greater … [Read more...] about Native bats may have fern dispersal role
Research
Catching feral cats on camera
Feral cats are nocturnal, elusive creatures and can cover a lot of ground. They can range up to 6 kilometres, making monitoring difficult. So how do you go about detecting them? Camera trap monitoring reveals a feral cat... Camera traps are a useful, non-invasive way to determine whether … [Read more...] about Catching feral cats on camera
Study compares beetle and wētā responses to mammal eradication
Wētā are one of our most studied insects and are regarded as ‘bioindicators’ of the health of forest ecosystems. So when introduced predators – including mice – were removed from Maungatautari, the response of the local wētā population was followed closely by researchers. Female Auckland tree … [Read more...] about Study compares beetle and wētā responses to mammal eradication
Putting the case for using Māori bird names
Should we be making a greater effort to use Māori bird names in science communication and environmental reporting – promoting their wider everyday use in the community? The answer seems an obvious yes! If fact we already have tūī, kea and kākā, for example. So what’s stopping us? Priscilla … [Read more...] about Putting the case for using Māori bird names
Uncovering the secret life of urban mangroves
What do we know about New Zealand’s mangroves? Not nearly as much as we know about our forests and many other habitats. Their changing tidal environment makes mangroves a difficult location for research and perhaps we just don’t care about our mangroves as much as we do about our forest … [Read more...] about Uncovering the secret life of urban mangroves
Biodiversity and farming – achieving win-win outcomes
‘Rules stifle innovation,’ say researchers looking at how we can achieve win-win outcomes for pastoral farming and biodiversity conservation in New Zealand. Pastoral farming and the environment can both benefit from good farming practices. “To obtain win-win outcomes for biodiversity … [Read more...] about Biodiversity and farming – achieving win-win outcomes
Little penguin breeding success includes ‘triple brooding’
Little penguins in Kaikōura have been doing their bit to try and keep species numbers buoyant – with multiple nesting per breeding season and some birds even resorting to a bit of partner-swapping. It all helped bring successful fledgling numbers up to 1.66 chicks per pair, according to researchers, … [Read more...] about Little penguin breeding success includes ‘triple brooding’
Kingfisher cashes in on bird feeder
Feeding backyard birds is popular in New Zealand – one recent study revealed up to half of us feed the birds in our gardens. It’s usually the seed-eaters and sugar-water sippers that benefit. No-one seems to have invented a feeder for birds that catch their food on the wing – the insectivores like … [Read more...] about Kingfisher cashes in on bird feeder
Kea demonstrate their maths skills
Kea are known to be smart and the more we learn about them, the smarter we realise they are. But did you know kea can do maths? Female kea. Photo: Herb Christophers, Department of Conservation. Yes - it turns out that kea are pretty good at basic mathematical statistics – especially when it … [Read more...] about Kea demonstrate their maths skills
Kaitiakitanga and urban restoration
How might traditional concepts and values of kaitiakitanga be included more holistically in urban restoration projects? Authors Erana Walker, Priscilla Wehi, Nicola Nelson, Jacqueline Beggs and Hēmi Whaanga discuss what kaitiakitanga means, its significance to Māori and the contribution … [Read more...] about Kaitiakitanga and urban restoration