Recovery of wildlife and restoration of habitats New Zealand

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. E. Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Island Restoration ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Foraging Guilds ◽  
Rich Fauna ◽  
Intensive Control

Although New Zealand's native fauna shares a Gondwana origin with that of Australia, there are major differences between our countries. The near-absence of land mammals and the restricted biodiversity and habitat range of New Zealand, contrast with the species-rich fauna and habitat variety of Australia. Both countries share an unenviable extinction record, particularly birds in New Zealand and mammals in Australia. Introduced mammals, often interacting with habitat destruction, have frequently been responsible for these losses in New Zealand. In some places, entire vertebrate foraging guilds have disappeared. On the mainland, control of introduced mammals has had limited success but a steadily increasing number of islands have been cleared of alien mammals. This has created new opportunities for translocating threatened species of native vertebrates and invertebrates to pest-free islands. It has also created options for substituting an ecologically similar species for one that is extinct, thus potentially achieving a more comprehensive restoration. Recent progress with island restoration has stimulated a "mainland island" strategy involving simultaneous intensive control of several pest mammals within a limited area that is then used to re-establish viable populations of threatened species. Examples are given to illustrate these conservation actions.

scholarly journals Polymorphic DNA microsatellite markers for forensic individual identification and parentage analyses of seven threatened species of parrots (family Psittacidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Jan ◽  
Luca Fumagalli
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Markers ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Captive Breeding ◽  
Genomic Library ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Individual Identification ◽  
Illegal Trade ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Dna Microsatellite ◽  
Dna Microsatellite Markers

The parrot family represents one of the bird group with the largest number of endangered species, as a result of habitat destruction and illegal trade. This illicit traffic involves the smuggling of eggs and animals, and the laundering through captive breeding facilities of wild-caught animals. Despite the huge potential of wildlife DNA forensics to determine with conclusive evidence illegal trade, current usage of DNA profiling approaches in parrots has been limited by the lack of suitable molecular markers specifically developed for the focal species and by low cross-species polymorphism. In this study, we isolated DNA microsatellite markers in seven parrot species threatened with extinction (Amazona brasiliensis,A. oratrix,A. pretrei,A. rhodocorytha,Anodorhynchus leari,Ara rubrogenysandPrimolius couloni). From an enriched genomic library followed by 454 pyrosequencing, we characterized a total of 106 polymorphic microsatellite markers (mostly tetranucleotides) in the seven species and tested them across an average number of 19 individuals per species. The mean number of alleles per species and across loci varied from 6.4 to 8.3, with the mean observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.65 to 0.84. Identity and parentage exclusion probabilities were highly discriminatory. The high variability displayed by these microsatellite loci demonstrates their potential utility to perform individual genotyping and parentage analyses, in order to develop a DNA testing framework to determine illegal traffic in these threatened species.

scholarly journals Why and how might genetic and phylogenetic diversity be reflected in the identification of key biodiversity areas?

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1662) ◽  
pp. 20140019 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. M. Brooks ◽  
A. Cuttelod ◽  
D. P. Faith ◽  
J. Garcia-Moreno ◽  
P. Langhammer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Species Population ◽  
Threatened Taxa ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Ecosystem Diversity ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
A Site ◽  
Specific Conservation

‘Key biodiversity areas' are defined as sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity. The identification of these sites builds from existing approaches based on measures of species and ecosystem diversity and process. Here, we therefore build from the work of Sgró et al. (2011 Evol. Appl. 4 , 326–337. ( doi:10.1111/j.1752-4571.2010.00157.x )) to extend a framework for how components of genetic diversity might be considered in the identification of key biodiversity areas. We make three recommendations to inform the ongoing process of consolidating a key biodiversity areas standard: (i) thresholds for the threatened species criterion currently consider a site's share of a threatened species' population; expand these to include the proportion of the species' genetic diversity unique to a site; (ii) expand criterion for ‘threatened species' to consider ‘threatened taxa’ and (iii) expand the centre of endemism criterion to identify as key biodiversity areas those sites holding a threshold proportion of the compositional or phylogenetic diversity of species (within a taxonomic group) whose restricted ranges collectively define a centre of endemism. We also recommend consideration of occurrence of EDGE species (i.e. threatened phylogenetic diversity) in key biodiversity areas to prioritize species-specific conservation actions among sites.

scholarly journals Can threatened species adapt in a restored habitat? No expected evolutionary response in lay date for the New Zealand hihi

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Villemereuil ◽  
Alexis Rutschmann ◽  
John G. Ewen ◽  
Anna W. Santure ◽  
Patricia Brekke
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Evolutionary Response ◽  
Lay Date

scholarly journals Applying a values‐based decision process to facilitate comanagement of threatened species in Aotearoa New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thalassa McMurdo Hamilton ◽  
Stefano Canessa ◽  
Katie Clarke ◽  
Pani Gleeson ◽  
Fiona Mackenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Decision Process ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand

Australian Island Arks

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Island Restoration ◽  
Tourism Enterprises

Australia is the custodian of a diverse range of continental and oceanic islands. From Heard and Macquarie in the sub-Antarctic, to temperate Lord Howe and Norfolk, to the tropical Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s islands contain some of the nation’s most iconic fauna, flora and ecosystems. They are a refuge for over 35% of Australia’s threatened species and for many others declining on mainland Australia. They also have significant cultural value, especially for Indigenous communities, and economic value as centres for tourism. Australian Island Arks presents a compelling case for restoring and managing islands to conserve our natural heritage. With contributions from island practitioners, researchers and policy-makers, it reviews current island management practices and discusses the need and options for future conservation work. Chapters focus on the management of invasive species, threatened species recovery, conservation planning, Indigenous cultural values and partnerships, tourism enterprises, visitor management, and policy and legislature. Case studies show how island restoration and conservation approaches are working in Australia and what the emerging themes are for the future. Australian Island Arks will help island communities, managers, visitors and decision-makers to understand the current status of Australia’s islands, their management challenges, and the opportunities that exist to make best use of these iconic landscapes.

scholarly journals The Molecular Phylogeny of the New Zealand Endemic Genus Hadramphus and the Revival of the Genus Karocolens

Diversity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Emily Fountain ◽  
Robert Cruickshank ◽  
Adrian Paterson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Gene Sequence ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Morphological Similarity ◽  
Coalescent Approach ◽  
Systematic Relationships

The delineation of species is important to the fields of evolution, ecology and conservation. The use of only a single line of evidence, e.g., morphology or a single gene sequence, may underestimate or overestimate the level of diversity within a taxon. This problem often occurs when organisms are morphologically similar but genetically different, i.e., for cryptic species. The Hadramphus genus contains four endangered, morphologically similar species of weevils, each endemic to a specific New Zealand region (Hadramphus spinipennis Chatham Islands, H. stilbocarpae Fiordland, H. tuberculatus McKenzie Country, H. pittospori Poor Knights Islands). The systematic relationships among these species are unclear. We used samples from these species and a closely related genus, Lyperobius huttoni, to obtain data from the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the nuclear gene internal transcribe spacer 2. In addition to the multi-locus coalescent approach, we modelled morphological characteristics combined with the genetic data. We found that H. spinipennis, H. tuberculatus and H. stilbocarpae were a closely related clade. Despite a strong morphological similarity, Hadramphus pittospori was found to be genetically distinct from the other Hadramphus species, which supports the resurrection of the monotypic genus Karocolens for this species.

First records of Epimeriidae and Iphimediidae (Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Macquarie Ridge, with description of a new species and its juveniles

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3200 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNE-NINA LÖRZ
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Amphipod Species ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Unique Combination ◽  
Heard Island ◽  
Mid Ocean Ridge ◽  
Ocean Ridge ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species

Amphipod species of the families Epimeriidae and Iphimediidae are recorded for the first time from Macquarie Ridge, asparsely sampled mid-ocean ridge between New Zealand and Antarctica. Epimeria ashleyi sp. nov. collected from twoseamounts on the Macquarie Ridge between 676–1025 m water depth is described in detail.Epimeria ashleyi sp. nov. can be distinguished from similar species by the unique combination of following charac-ters: pointed coxa 1–3, dorsal doublecarinae as well as three lateral projections on epimeral plates 1–3. The juveniles ofthe new species are described and are considerably different from the adults. Additionally, Labriphimedia pulchridentata(Stebbing, 1888), previously known only from Heard Island, is recorded from Macquarie Ridge seamounts with first images of its colour in life.

The flora of ultramafic soils in the Australia–Pacific Region: state of knowledge and research priorities

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antony van der Ent ◽  
Tanguy Jaffré ◽  
Laurent L'Huillier ◽  
Neil Gibson ◽  
Roger D. Reeves
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Ultramafic Soils ◽  
High Concentration

In the Australia–Pacific Region ultramafic outcrops are both widespread and extensive, covering thousands of km2. Soils derived from ultramafic bedrock impose edaphic challenges and are widely known to host highly distinctive floras with high levels of endemism. In the Australia–Pacific Region, the ultramafics of the island of New Caledonia are famed for harbouring 2150 species of vascular plants of which 83% are endemic. Although the ultramafic outcrops in Western Australia are also extensive and harbour 1355 taxa, only 14 species are known to be endemic or have distributions centred on ultramafics. The ultramafic outcrops in New Zealand and Tasmania are small and relatively species-poor. The ultramafic outcrops in Queensland are much larger and host 553 species of which 18 (or possibly 21) species are endemic. Although New Caledonia has a high concentration of Ni hyperaccumulator species (65), only one species from Western Australia and two species from Queensland have so far been found. No Ni hyperaccumulator species are known from Tasmania and New Zealand. Habitat destruction due to forest clearing, uncontrolled fires and nickel mining in New Caledonia impacts on the plant species restricted to ultramafic soils there. In comparison with the nearby floras of New Guinea and South-east Asia, the flora of the Australia–Pacific Region is relatively well studied through the collection of a large number of herbarium specimens. However, there is a need for studies on the evolution of plant lineages on ultramafic soils especially regarding their distinctive morphological characteristics and in relation to hyperaccumulation.

scholarly journals Lepidozia bragginsiana, a new species from New Zealand (Marchantiopsida)

Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 173 (2) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Endymion D. Cooper ◽  
Matt A. M. Renner
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Humid Forest ◽  
Small Leaf ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Forest Habitats ◽  
Secondary Shoot

Molecular and morphological data support the recognition of a new Lepidozia species related to L. pendulina and also endemic to New Zealand, which we dedicate to Dr John Braggins. Lepidozia bragginsiana can be distinguished from closely related and other similar species by its bipinnate branching, the narrow underleaf lobes, typically uniseriate toward their tip on both primary and secondary shoots, the asymmetric underleaves on primary shoots that are usually narrower than the stem and also possess basal spines and spurs, the production of spurs and spines, or even accessory lobes, on the postical margin of primary and secondary shoot leaves; and by the relatively small leaf cells with evenly thickened walls.  Lepidozia bragginsiana is an inhabitant of hyper-humid forest habitats where it occupies elevated microsites on the forest floor. A lectotype is proposed for L. obtusiloba.

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