dc.contributor.advisor |
Beggs, Jacqueline |
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dc.contributor.author |
Smith, Justin C |
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dc.date.accessioned |
2013-06-13T23:37:43Z |
en |
dc.date.available |
2013-06-13T23:37:43Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2009 |
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dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/20526 |
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dc.description |
Full text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
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dc.description.abstract |
The New Zealand pollination system is believed to be generalised and entomophilic,
while the visitation of lizards to flowers has generally been considered as nectar thieving.
Observations of New Zealand lizard-plant interactions are limited and their relative
importance and effectiveness as potential pollinators was unknown. The existence and the
effectiveness of the lizard genera Hoplodactylus and Naultinus (Gekkonidae) as pollinators
of Metrosideros excelsa (Myrtaceae) and Phormium tenax (Hemerocallidaceae) was assessed
using several lines of evidence. On Otata Island, a regenerating native ecosystem, flower
visitor observations were conducted. Exotic ants, Hoplodactylus maculatus and native
bees were the main flower visitors to M. excelsa. The standing nectar crop decreased
at night time when the nocturnal H. maculatus visited. Hoplodactylus maculatus also
consumed Macropiper excelsum (Piperaceae) fruit but this interaction may be disrupted
by exotic bird competition. Pollinator effectiveness was assessed with pollinator exclusion
experiments. In the field experiment there was very weak evidence that H. maculatus
were having an effect on pollination of M. excelsa. Laboratory experiments provided very
strong evidence that these lizards could self-pollinate Metrosideros collina ‘Tahiti’ flowers.
In a naturalised laboratory setting components of the pollinator efficiency of H. maculatus,
H. duvaucelii, H. granulatus and N. elegans elegans were measured. The geckos collected
large amounts of pollen, transported it for many hours and deposited it on M. excelsa or P.
tenax stigmas effectively. Thus New Zealand geckos can physically function as a pollinator
vector. The importance of these findings provides further understanding on the ecology
of lizards, the New Zealand pollination system. New Zealand geckos are not necessarily
nectar thieves and can be pollinators. With the decline in range and abundance of New
Zealand lizards and the lack of data on lizard-flower interactions a conservation concern is
raised about the state of pollination interactions. |
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dc.relation.ispartof |
Masters Thesis - University of Auckland |
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dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA1908814 |
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dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland. |
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dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. |
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dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
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dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
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dc.title |
Pollination by New Zealand Geckos |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
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thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
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thesis.degree.level |
Masters |
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dc.date.updated |
2013-06-13T21:59:22Z |
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dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: the author |
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dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112882400 |
|