Multi-scale dynamic maps for the management of invading and established wildlife populations: brushtail possums in New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Shepherd ◽  
S. Gillingham ◽  
T. Heuer ◽  
M. C. Barron ◽  
A. E. Byrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Spatial Model ◽  
General Public ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Wildlife Populations

Context The abundance and distribution of mammalian species often change in response to environmental variability, losses or gains in suitable habitat and, in the case of pest species, control programs. Consequently, conventional distribution maps rapidly become out of date and fail to provide useful information for wildlife managers. For invasive brushtail possum populations in New Zealand, the main causes of change are control programs by central and local government agencies, and post-control recovery through recolonisation and in situ recruitment. Managers need to know current, and likely future, possum population levels relative to control targets to help assess success at preventing the spread of disease or for protecting indigenous species. Information on the outcomes of government-funded possum control needs to be readily available to members of the general public interested in issues such as conservation, disease management and animal welfare. Aims To produce dynamic, scalable maps of the current and predicted future distribution and abundance of possums in New Zealand, taking into account changes due to control, and to use recent visualisation technology to make this information accessible to managers and the general public for assessing control strategies at multiple spatial scales. Methods We updated an existing individual-based spatial model of possum population dynamics, extending it to represent all individuals in a national population of up to 40 million. In addition, we created a prototype interface for interactive web-based presentation of the model’s predictions. Key results The improved capability of the new model for assessing possum management at local-to-national scales provided for real-time, mapped updates and forecasts of the distribution and abundance of possums in New Zealand. The versatility of this platform was illustrated using scenarios for current and emerging issues in New Zealand. These are hypothetical incursions of possums, reinvasion of large areas cleared of possums, and impacts on animal welfare of national-scale management of possums as vectors of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Conclusions The new individual-based spatial model for possum populations in New Zealand demonstrated the utility of combining models of wildlife population dynamics with high-speed computing capability to provide up-to-date, easily accessible information on a species’ distribution and abundance. Applications include predictions for future changes in response to incursions, reinvasion and large-scale possum control. Similar models can be used for other species for which there are suitable demographic data, typically pest species, harvested species or species with a high conservation value. Implications Models such as the spatial model for possums in New Zealand can provide platforms for (1) real-time visualisation of wildlife distribution and abundance, (2) reporting and assessing progress towards achieving management goals at multiple scales, (3) use as a decision-support tool to scope potential changes in wildlife populations or simulate the outcomes of alternative management strategies, and (4) making information about pest control publicly available.

A systematic approach to evaluating and ranking the relative animal welfare impacts of wildlife control methods: poisons used for lethal control of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 553 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. Beausoleil ◽  
P. Fisher ◽  
K. E. Littin ◽  
B. Warburton ◽  
D. J. Mellor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Welfare Impacts ◽  
Wildlife Control ◽  
Management Decision Making

Context Control of unwanted wildlife (‘pest’ animals) is undertaken for conservation and economic reasons, and when such animals are considered a nuisance. Such control should be undertaken using approaches that minimise, as far as possible, detrimental impacts on the welfare of the animals. Using a scientific framework based on the Five Domains model, the relative welfare impacts of pest control methods can be compared across methods and pest species. Aims We demonstrate the application of a modified version of this framework to evaluate the relative impacts of seven Vertebrate Toxic Agents (VTAs) used to control brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand. The evaluation is used to produce a ranking of the seven VTAs based on their relative impacts on possum welfare. Methods Scientific literature describing mode of toxic action, specific effects in possums or other animals and reports from human poisonings was collated as reference material for a panel of six experts. The panel produced a median welfare impact score (‘none’ to ‘extreme’) for each of the Five Domains. The ‘Overall Grade’ (1 to 8) reflected the intensity and duration of all impacts of a VTA on possums. Key results All VTAs evaluated have at least moderate impacts on possum welfare, lasting for at least minutes. Cyanide was assessed as having the lowest welfare impacts (median grade 4), and cholecalciferol and the anticoagulants the highest impacts (7.5 to 8). Zinc phosphide was assigned an intermediate grade (6) with high confidence. While the overall impacts of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) and phosphorus were also assessed as intermediate (6), the panel’s confidence in these scores was low. Conclusions From an animal welfare perspective, anticoagulant poisons and cholecalciferol should be the least preferred options for controlling possums in New Zealand, as VTAs with less severe welfare impacts are available. Implications The results of such assessments allow animal welfare impacts to be integrated with other factors in wildlife management decision-making and policy development, and are thus useful for managers, researchers, regulators and operators. Evaluation of welfare impacts aligns with the goals and mandates of ethical wildlife control and may also be valuable in wider wildlife research and management activities.

New Zealand translocations: theory and practice

1995 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug P. Armstong ◽  
Ian G. McLean
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Habitat Requirements ◽  
Metapopulation Dynamics ◽  
Behavioural Adaptation ◽  
New Locations ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tests Of Hypotheses

One of the most common tools in New Zealand conservation is to translocate species to new locations. There have now been over 400 translocations done for conservation reasons, mainly involving terrestrial birds. Most translocations have been done strictly as management exercises, with little or no reference to theory. Nevertheless, translocations always involve some underlying theory, given that people must inevitably choose among a range of potential translocation strategies. We review theory relevant to translocations in the following areas: habitat requirements, susceptibility to predation, behavioural adaptation, population dynamics, genetics, metapopulation dynamics, and community ecology. For each area we review and evaluate the models that seem to underpin translocation strategies used in New Zealand. We report experiments testing some of these models, but note that theory underlying translocation strategies is largely untested despite a long history of translocations. We conclude by suggesting key areas for research, both theoretical and empirical. We particularly recommend that translocations be designed as experimental tests of hypotheses whenever possible.

Population dynamics in changing environments: the case of an eruptive forest pest species

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyrre Kausrud ◽  
Bjørn Økland ◽  
Olav Skarpaas ◽  
Jean-Claude Grégoire ◽  
Nadir Erbilgin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Forest Pest ◽  
Changing Environments

scholarly journals Verification of impact-based operational weather warnings at ZAMG using real-time fire brigade and eye-witness data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Pistotnik ◽  
Hannes Rieder ◽  
Simon Hölzl ◽  
Rainer Kaltenberger ◽  
Thomas Krennert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
General Public ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
State Level ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Civil Protection ◽  
Fire Brigade ◽  
Primary Basis

<p>Development, verification and feedback of impact-based weather warnings require novel data and methods. Unlike meteorological data, impact information is often qualitative and subjective, and therefore needs some sort of quantification and objectivation. It is also inherently incomplete: an absence of reporting does not automatically imply an absence of impacts.<br>The reconciliation of impact information with conventional meteorological data demands a paradigm change. We designed and implemented a verification scheme around a backbone of weather-related fire brigade operations and eye-witness reports at ZAMG, the national meteorological service of Austria. Meteorological stations, radar and derived gridded data are conceptualized as a backstop to mitigate impact voids (possibly arising from a lack of vulnerability, exposure or simply a lack of reporting), but are not the primary basis anymore.<br>Operation data from fire brigade units across Austria are stored at civil protection authorities at federal state level and copied to ZAMG servers in real-time. Their crucial information is condensed into a few components: time, place, a keyword (from a predefined list of operations) and an optional free text field. This compact information is cross-checked with meteorological data to single out weather-related operations, which are then assigned to event types (rain, wind, snow, ice, or thunderstorm) and categorized into three different intensity levels („remarkable”, „severe” and „extreme”) according to an elaborated criteria catalogue. This quality management and refinement is performed in a three-stage procedure to utilize the dataset for different time scales and applications:<br> „First guess” based on automatic filtering: available in real-time and used for an immediate adjustment of active warnings, if necessary;<br> „Educated guess” based on a semi-manual plausibility check: timely available (ideally within a day) and used for an evaluation of latest warnings (including possible implications for follow-up warnings);<br> Final classification based on a thorough manual quality control: available some days to weeks later and used for objective verification.<br>Eye-witnesses can report weather events and their impacts in real-time via a reporting app implemented at ZAMG (wettermelden.at). Reports from different sources and trustworthiness are funneled into a standardized API. Observations from the general public are treated like a „first guess”, those from trained observers like an „educated guess”, and are merged with the refined fire brigade data at the corresponding stages.<br>The weather event types are synchronized with our warning parameters to allow an objective verification of impact-based warnings. We illustrate our measures to convert these point-wise impact data into spatial impact information, to circumvent artifacts due to varying population density and to include the “safety net” of conventional meteorological data. Yellow, orange and red warnings are thereby translated into probabilities for certain scenarios, which are meaningful and intuitive for the general public and for civil protection authorities.</p>

scholarly journals The key roles of seed banks in plant biodiversity management in New Zealand

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
W.M. Williams
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Introduced Species ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Plant Biodiversity ◽  
Biodiversity Management ◽  
Recent Initiative ◽  
New Zealand Flora ◽  
Pasture Plants

The New Zealand flora is a mixture of indigenous and introduced species. The indigenous species have a high intrinsic value while the introduced species include all of the crop and pasture plants upon which the export-led economy depends. New Zealand must maintain both of these important sources of biodiversity in balance. Seed banks are useful tools for biodiversity management. In New Zealand, a seed bank for indigenous species has been a very recent initiative. By contrast, seed banks for introduced species have been established for over 70 years. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. For the economic species, conserved genetic diversity is used to enhance productivity and the environment. Large advances can be gained from species that are not used as economic plants. The gene-pool of white clover has been expanded by the use of minor species conserved as seeds in the Margot Forde Germplasm Centre. Keywords: Seed banks, biodiversity conservation, New Zealand flora

scholarly journals The Critical Relationship between Climate Change Awareness and Action: An Origin-Based Perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Tiller ◽  
Christian Schott
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
General Public ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Overwhelming Majority

<p>While it is now widely accepted by scientists and governments that human activity contributes to climate change, there is a lack of understanding whether this realisation is now gaining greater attraction with the general public than it had 5 or 10 years ago. Additional gaps in knowledge relate to the link between awareness and action, which could be hypothesised to have become stronger in light of evidence being produced of some projected climate changes occurring already. This article examines climate change awareness and the link with travel-related decision-making by adopting an under-utilised origin perspective in Wellington, New Zealand. The findings, generated by a household mail survey, indicate that the majority of the respondents are aware of tourism’s contribution to climate change and think that it is likely that their lives in New Zealand will be negatively affected by climate change. However, when examining the respondents’ recent holiday decision-making, it is evident that for the overwhelming majority, climate change awareness does not appear to influence travel-related decisions. This article concludes by discussing demand-focused measures aimed at reducing the GHG emissions generated by tourism.</p>

scholarly journals Separating the effects of climate, bycatch, predation and harvesting on tītī (Ardenna grisea) population dynamics in New Zealand: A model-based assessment

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243794
Author(s):  
Sam McKechnie ◽  
David Fletcher ◽  
Jamie Newman ◽  
Corey Bragg ◽  
Peter W. Dillingham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Enso Events ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Best Fitting

A suite of factors may have contributed to declines in the tītī (sooty shearwater; Ardenna grisea) population in the New Zealand region since at least the 1960s. Recent estimation of the magnitude of most sources of non-natural mortality has presented the opportunity to quantitatively assess the relative importance of these factors. We fit a range of population dynamics models to a time-series of relative abundance data from 1976 until 2005, with the various sources of mortality being modelled at the appropriate part of the life-cycle. We present estimates of effects obtained from the best-fitting model and using model averaging. The best-fitting models explained much of the variation in the abundance index when survival and fecundity were linked to the Southern Oscillation Index, with strong decreases in adult survival, juvenile survival and fecundity being related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Predation by introduced animals, harvesting by humans, and bycatch in fisheries also appear to have contributed to the population decline. It is envisioned that the best-fitting models will form the basis for quantitative assessments of competing management strategies. Our analysis suggests that sustainability of the New Zealand tītī population will be most influenced by climate, in particular by how climate change will affect the frequency and intensity of ENSO events in the future. Removal of the effects of both depredation by introduced predators and harvesting by humans is likely to have fewer benefits for the population than alleviating climate effects.

scholarly journals Faecal Microbiota of Forage-Fed Horses in New Zealand and the Population Dynamics of Microbial Communities following Dietary Change

PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e112846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlette A. Fernandes ◽  
Sandra Kittelmann ◽  
Christopher W. Rogers ◽  
Erica K. Gee ◽  
Charlotte F. Bolwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Dietary Change ◽  
Faecal Microbiota

Dairy cow welfare: the role of research and development in addressing increasing scrutiny

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 924 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Fisher ◽  
J. R. Webster
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Dairy Management ◽  
Animal Management ◽  
Cow Welfare

Pasture-based dairying in New Zealand and Australia has come under increasing animal welfare scrutiny as a result of changing public expectations for farm animal management. Concurrently, efficiency-driven changes in dairy management practices and a broadening of the feedbase beyond traditionally grazed pasture have resulted in increased intensification and stocking density within the dairy industries. This intensification has included a higher proportion of grain concentrates in the diet (particularly in Australia), and the greater management of cows off pasture and even in housing (particularly in New Zealand). Research to assess the animal welfare implications of these changes and to recommend good practice management has concentrated on issues of cow environments and cow feeding, including body condition. Research has shown that cows may be managed for a few hours per day on concrete surfaces without compromising their lying behaviour and other indicators of welfare, but that longer periods off pasture require the provision of a well drained and comfortable lying surface. Other research has defined the extremes of hot and cold/wet conditions beyond which cows benefit from provision of adequate shade and shelter. Research on cow body condition has indicated that welfare responses are aligned with measures of health and productivity in supporting the need to maintain a minimum body condition before calving and during the subsequent weight loss period of early lactation. Continued research, extension and industry adoption will enable dairy producers to address community expectations as they continue to change their farming practices.

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