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Diet and Impacts of Brushtail Possum Populations Across an Invasion Front in South Westland, New Zealand

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Diet and Impacts of Brushtail Possum Populations Across an Invasion Front in South Westland, New Zealand SWEETAPPLE, FRASER, KNIGHTBRIDGE: DIET AND IMPACTS OF POSSUMS 19 Diet and impacts of brushtail possum populations across an invasion front in South Westland, New Zealand P. J. Sweetapple1, K. W. Fraser1 and P. I. Knightbridge2 1Landcare Research, P.O. Box 69, Lincoln 8152, New Zealand (E-mail: [email protected]) 2Department of Conservation, Private Bag 701, Hokitika, New Zealand ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: Impact of the irruptive fluctuation in abundance of brushtail possum populations since their initial colonisation was investigated in the forests of South Westland, New Zealand. Possum abundance, fecundity, and diet, the condition of common possum-palatable tree species, and the abundance of common forest birds were measured at three sites occupied by possums for c. 10, 20, and 30 years. Possum densities were highest at the site where possums had been present for c. 20 years. Possum fecundity was higher at the site they had recently colonised than at the two sites where they had been present for c. 20–30 years. Diet of possums where they had recently colonised was dominated by highly preferred foods (72% of total diet), whereas these same foods contributed just 36% of total diet at the site where possums had been present for more than two decades. Canopy condition of common possum-preferred trees was scored progressively lower in areas with increasing length of possum occupation, especially at the site where the possum population had apparently declined from its maximum density. Native forest bird abundance also declined with increasing length of possum occupation. The implications of these results for management are discussed. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: brushtail possums; colonisation; demography; diet; forest bird abundance; impacts; tree canopy condition; Trichosurus vulpecula. Introduction impacts with increasing length of site occupation (e.g. Pekelharing and Reynolds, 1983; Leutert, 1988; With the exception of some alpine areas and parts of Campbell, 1990; Rose et al., 1993), our knowledge of South Westland and Fiordland, brushtail possums the sequence, time frame, and magnitude of possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) occur throughout the main impacts with respect to possum colonisation and length islands of New Zealand, and are generally considered of site occupation is limited. This type of information to be a serious conservation pest because of their is of particular interest to forest ecosystem managers widespread impact on indigenous ecosystems (Payton, who are attempting to mitigate the impact of possums 2000; Sadleir, 2000). The impact of possums on the at sites where they have recently become established. indigenous vegetation has been the subject of numerous Sites with different lengths of pest-population studies, and we now have some appreciation of their occupation can be used as a surrogate for time to impacts on common forest species [see Payton (2000) describe pest impacts and demography over time for a review]. A few studies provide evidence that (Caughley, 1970). Possums are still colonising parts possums adversely affect indigenous forest birds and of South Westland (Rose et al., 1993) providing the other wildlife through predation (Cowan and Moeed, opportunity to investigate possum impacts during 1987; Pierce and Graham, 1995; Brown et al., 1993, colonisation. In this study three sites with different 1996; Innes et al., 1996; McLennan et al., 1996), while histories of possum occupation in the Waiatoto, others have suggested that forest bird populations may Waipara, and Arawata valleys (Fig. 1) are investigated have declined as a consequence of possum-induced to infer the impact process during possum colonisation forest modification and competition for food in South Westland. This cross-sectional approach is (Leathwick et al., 1983; Fitzgerald, 1984; Cowan, used instead of a longitudinal study of impact trends 1990b). However, few studies have attempted to through time because the latter would take c. 30 years quantify these predatory or competitive impacts, or more to complete (possum populations take some particularly for common forest birds. While a few 20–30 years to build up to peak densities following studies have provided some details of varying possum initial colonisation; Pekelharing and Reynolds, 1983; New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2004) 28(1): 19-33 ©New Zealand Ecological Society 20 NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, VOL. 28, NO. 1, 2004 168°40 N r e iv 44°20 R o t o t er io Riv a ata W aw Ar orge r G u o h 30-year site - 0 20-year site 1 r 10-year site ive River a R in ar ilk ip Pearson W a W Saddle ide Div Forest ain Figure 1. Location of the M Study sites three study sites in the Arawata Mt Aspiring 0 2 4 6 km and Waiatoto catchments, South Westland. Pekelharing and Batcheler, 1990; Thomas et al., 1993). of Conservation, Hokitika, file note 1.7.2.4). This With just one site investigated for each of three nominal survey also noted low possum numbers on the east lengths of possum occupation there is no replication in bank of the mid-Waipara, but not elsewhere in that this study. Cost constraints prevented replication or catchment, suggesting they had recently arrived there, the inclusion of additional points within the nominal probably migrating from the Waiatoto Valley to the time sequence, and as a consequence the results must west. A faecal-pellet-count survey in 1990 (K. Fraser, be interpreted cautiously. Landcare Research, Lincoln, N.Z., unpubl.) indicated The study specifically aims to investigate the there were then moderate possum numbers near the impact of colonising possum populations on common confluence of the Waipara and Arawata rivers and that tree and bird species by measuring relative density and possum numbers on the east bank of the Arawata diet of possums, the condition of key tree species declined with increasing distance upstream from the palatable to possums, and relative bird densities at the Waipara. Near the 10-hour Gorge (Fig. 1) possums three study sites. The results are interpreted with were recorded from only the lower forested slopes. A particular emphasis on the timing of the main impact repeat survey in 1991 (K. Fraser, unpubl.) revealed processes with respect to the length of site occupation that possum numbers were increasing on the east bank by possums. of the Arawata, and their altidtunidal range was extending near the 10-hour Gorge. Methods Study site selection and characteristics The three sites chosen for study were the Arawata Colonisation history Valley, immediately below the 10-hour Gorge, the Possums were liberated in the Matukituki Valley to the mid-Waipara Valley, and the upper Waiatoto Valley south-east of the Waiatoto Valley in 1916 and in the (Fig. 1). All three sites were on forested slopes above Wilkin Valley to the east in 1932 (Pracy, 1974). No the eastern banks of these rivers. The available possum sign was seen during an animal survey of the information (above) indicates that possums had recently Arawata, Waipara, and Waiatoto valleys in 1970/71 colonised the 10-hour-Gorge site when this study was (Tustin, 1972) but the first reports of possums in the undertaken in 1997, had been present on the east bank upper Waiatoto date from about this time (Department of the mid-Waipara since the early 1980s, and had of Conservation, Hokitika, file note 1.7.2.4). The been present in the head of the Waiatoto since about possums had probably migrated from the Wilkin Valley the early 1970s. For convenience we name these sites via Pearson Saddle (Fig. 1). Field inspection by New the 10-, 20-, and 30-year sites (Fig. 1), reflecting our Zealand Forest Service staff in 1986 revealed high best estimates of how long possums had occupied possum numbers in the upper Waiatoto (Department these areas. SWEETAPPLE, FRASER, KNIGHTBRIDGE: DIET AND IMPACTS OF POSSUMS 21 The topography of the region is characterised by on the valley floor, climbed to between 750 and 840 m very steep valley sides with extensive bluff systems attitude, traversed the face for about 1 km, then and forested boulder fields. The three sites were descended back to the valley floor. Sampling stations subjectively selected following field inspection, to were systematically established along each transect, ensure that they could be traversed on foot and that but because transect length varied (3–5 km) intervals other physical and habitat parameters were similar. between stations varied between sites to give 20–21 All three sites were situated on western-facing, lightly stations per site. Intervals were 150, 200, and 300 m at dissected faces above unforested river flats. Slopes are the 20-, 30-, and 10-year site, respectively. A moderate (c. 30°) with sampling transects (see below) consequence of this sampling strategy is that high ranging in altitudes from 80–200 m a.s.l., up to 750– altitudes (700–840 m a.s.l.) were sampled more heavily 840 m a.s.l. than lower altitudes. All sites were visited Forests at the study sites are mixed beech-hardwood simultaneously in January, April, and November 1997, forests with a low density of podocarps on lower slopes when the relative abundances of possums and common and silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) forests on upper bird species were monitored, and vegetation forested slopes. Silver and red beech (N. fusca) dominate composition and condition were assessed. The sampling the canopies of mature forest on lower slopes at the 10- strategy used in this study means that we effectively and 20-year sites, but red beech is absent at the 30-year have a sample size of one for each site sampled, site where silver beech dominates mature forest at all although we use sampling stations and individual altitudes. Some localised patches of short-stature forest possums as pseudoreplicates for comparing parameter on old stable surfaces dominated by silver and mountain means among the three sites.
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