dc.contributor.advisor |
Clout, Mick |
en |
dc.contributor.advisor |
Craig, John |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Stevens, Heidi |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2007-12-04T07:21:04Z |
en |
dc.date.available |
2007-12-04T07:21:04Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2006 |
en |
dc.identifier |
THESIS 06-074 |
en |
dc.identifier.citation |
Thesis (PhD--Environmental and Marine Science)--University of Auckland, 2006 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/2173 |
en |
dc.description |
Full text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only. |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
Native forest in New Zealand has become extensively fragmented due to agriculture and urban development. In many areas this has resulted in landscape mosaics composed of patches of remnant habitat surrounded by modified habitat. Little is known about the effects of habitat fragmentation on the native forest birds that survive in these modified landscapes.
This study aimed to determine the effects of landscape and remnant variables on the species richness and abundance of native forest birds in forest remnants within the Auckland Region, New Zealand. Five minute bird counts were conducted within 36 native forest remnants, and in 4 sites within continuous native forest, in the summer (November-January) and winter (May-July) from November 1999 to July 2001. Remnants were located within three surrounding landscape types: 'high linkage' urban, 'low linkage' urban and rural. Remnant size, isolation, and vegetation characteristics (heterogeneity, structure, composition, and phenology) were measured. Relative mammal abundances were determined using ink footprint-tracking tunnels.
Five year-round diurnal native forest species were detected: kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae), fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa), grey warblers (Gerygone igata), and silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis lateralis). Kereru, fantails, and grey warblers were most abundant in forest remnants within rural landscapes. Tui and silvereyes were most common in remnants within urban landscapes. Remnant size had a significant positive effect on native bird species richness, and on abundances of tui and fantails, particularly within the most 'hostile' surrounding landscape types. The presence of woody vegetation in the surrounding landscape influenced native bird species richness and abundances of kereru, fantails, grey warblers and silvereyes.
Abundances of all focal bird species were positively related to measures of native plant abundance (cover and species richness) and negatively related to measures of introduced plant abundance. Individual focal bird species abundances were positively affected by an increasing cover of vegetation in the height ranges that they most regularly forage within. Kereru spatial distribution among forest remnants was related to native fruit availability; tui distribution was related to nectar availability. No prevalent negative effects of introduced birds were detected. Abundances of introduced mammals were not related to concurrent abundances of the focal bird species. All relationships found varied between differing surrounding landscape types and seasons.
Radio-tagged kereru and tui were found to move large distances in an urban landscape (40km and 3km respectively). Both species utilised the resources present within an urban matrix.
Conservation and planting of a wide variety of native plant species (including fruiting and flowering species) that will grow to occupy a range of structural tiers is recommended within both forest remnants and surrounding landscapes. Control of introduced vegetation within native forest remnants is also recommended. |
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dc.language.iso |
en |
en |
dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.ispartof |
PhD Thesis - University of Auckland |
en |
dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA99156765014002091 |
en |
dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland. |
en |
dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.title |
Native birds in forest remnants |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
en |
thesis.degree.discipline |
Environmental and Marine Science |
en |
thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
en |
thesis.degree.level |
Doctoral |
en |
thesis.degree.name |
PhD |
en |
dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The author |
en |
dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112868812 |
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