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
Success stories
Dave Edwards aims to make Sentinel possum traps more user friendly
Traps need a powerful spring mechanism to kill humanely and that can make them difficult and a bit daunting to set, especially traps designed for larger pests and predators like possums and ferrets. Dave Edwards is a retired engineer, long-time community trapper (for Bay of Plenty kiwi and kōkako … [Read more...] about Dave Edwards aims to make Sentinel possum traps more user friendly
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
Ancient totara dune forest becomes new Southland reserve
In the far south of the South Island, in Otatara, Southland, there is a totara dune forest where ancient trees bend and twist and brace themselves against the prevailing winds. Sculpted by the winds, they grow in unusual shapes on the higher parts of the dry sand dunes. Windblown totara trees … [Read more...] about Ancient totara dune forest becomes new Southland reserve
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
No easy answers, but eradication efforts ongoing for Resolution Island
When the Resolution Island Stoat Eradication Programme began in Dusky Sound, Fiordland in 2008 no-one said it would be easy and, 12 years later there are still stoats on Resolution. But Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger, Peter McMurtrie, won’t be giving up any time soon. Biodiversity … [Read more...] about No easy answers, but eradication efforts ongoing for Resolution Island
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
World’s most expensive feather symbolises Huia’s fate
How much would you pay for a feather? In June 2010 a single huia tail feather sold at auction in Auckland for NZ$8,000 – making it the world’s most expensive feather ever. The previous ‘record-holder’ was the American bald eagle, with an eagle feather selling for a mere NZ$4,000 at a US … [Read more...] about World’s most expensive feather symbolises Huia’s fate
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
Farm biodiversity map highlights falcons, kākahi and glowworms
Mark and Felicity Brough have created a biodiversity map of their sheep and beef farm at Paerua near Waitomo, in the central King Country. It shows where on the farm their resident falcons are nesting, which streams have kākahi (freshwater mussels), where longfin and shortfin tuna are found and … [Read more...] about Farm biodiversity map highlights falcons, kākahi and glowworms