What are New Zealand beef and sheep farmers’ views on managing and protecting native biodiversity on-farm and what barriers do they face to taking positive action? Those were some of the issues investigated in a nation-wide phone survey. Fleur Maseyk and colleagues report on their findings in the … [Read more...] about Researchers survey farmer attitudes to biodiversity
Research
‘Social attractants’ tested for terns
Ground-nesting river birds are tricky to protect. Their eggs and chicks are an easy meal for predators and even though some species, like terns, nest together in colonies, the birds may choose a different stretch of river to nest on from one year to the next. Black-fronted tern. Photo: Francesco … [Read more...] about ‘Social attractants’ tested for terns
Less stress = translocation success for tiny rifleman
Translocation is an important tool for conservation management – but it comes with risks. The capture and transfer process can be highly stressful to wildlife. Some individuals can and have died. Finding ways to reduce translocation stress can save lives. And the lives that are saved are often … [Read more...] about Less stress = translocation success for tiny rifleman
Know your bird calls – human brain vs hard-drive
It was human vs hard-drive in Rawhiti, Northland when researchers pitted volunteer bird enthusiasts of various ages and experience against Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). Senses were pitted against sensors to see who (or what) was best at detecting and identifying calls. Both humans and machines … [Read more...] about Know your bird calls – human brain vs hard-drive
Rats, mice and 264,457 tracking records shed light on rodent dynamics
Researchers Susan Walker, Joshua Kemp, Graeme Elliott, Corey Mosen and John Innes used 264,457 rodent tracking records collected quarterly from 23,709 tracking tunnel stations in forests across the length and breadth of New Zealand over an 18 year period from late 1999 to late 2016 to get a clearer … [Read more...] about Rats, mice and 264,457 tracking records shed light on rodent dynamics
‘Wine wētā’ makes itself at home in Marlborough vineyards
It’s not often you hear of native species benefitting from human modifications of its habitat – but one little-known wētā species has gone against trend and embraced the changes in its world. It’s been nicknamed the ‘wine wētā’ due to its fondness for hanging out in Marlborough vineyards and … [Read more...] about ‘Wine wētā’ makes itself at home in Marlborough vineyards
When economics meets ecology – assessing the ‘ecosystem services’ of farmland
Wetland areas and covenanted bush blocks on farms have a clear ecological value, but do they have an economic value as well? The answer is yes. But that leads to another question. How can you assess the economic value of an area of wetland or remnant forest that isn’t producing saleable crops or … [Read more...] about When economics meets ecology – assessing the ‘ecosystem services’ of farmland
Study looks at kiore when rival rat species absent
The kiore is Aotearoa’s first, smallest and sometimes overlooked rat. It was also our first introduced mammal predator, arriving about 750 years ago with seafaring Polynesian explorers. Because of its arrival history, the kiore is considered both a threat to our native taonga and also a taonga … [Read more...] about Study looks at kiore when rival rat species absent
Tūī numbers treble in predator control study
When you remove predators from islands and restore forest habitat, the expectation is that native forest birds will flourish and that the new ‘improved’ conditions may favour native birds over introduced species. But is that what happens Researchers John Ralph, Carol Ralph and Linda Long looked … [Read more...] about Tūī numbers treble in predator control study
Blue Mountains study shows 1080 effective – even for hedgehogs, mice
In the past there’s been some uncertainty over the effectiveness of large-scale aerial 1080 operations to control mice and little is known about its effect on hedgehogs. Recent trail camera monitoring of mammal predators before and after a control operation in the Blue Mountains, West Otago, … [Read more...] about Blue Mountains study shows 1080 effective – even for hedgehogs, mice