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WBS News Sep 02 Wellington Botanical NEWSLETTER Society December 2002 Last Issue: September 2002 ISSN 1171-9982 What are their new addresses? Manawa Karioi Society Mail to the following members has been returned “Gone – no address” Can Revegetation Programme you help us by telling me their new addresses please? WORK BEES Michael Campbell, Frank Li, Alex James, Mrs K S Bourke, Jo Mackay, Randall Milne, Jeremy Rowson, Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture, Jayne 10.00 am every Wednesday Drysdale, K F Ross, Dr Fran Kell, Clare Miller, Kirsty Yeats, Whanganui and 2nd Sunday each month. Museum Botanical Group, Nick Robinson, Phil Swallow, Kathryn Hurr, Lunch provided. Rebecca James. Potted locally-sourced native Jane Humble, Treasurer seedlings welcome. Thank you. Ph: 04 971 6970 Contact: Morgan Cox ph 383 5168 or Newsletter delivery Sally Bowman ph 934 7041 If you are receiving hard copy of the Newsletter, when you asked to receive it by e-mail, please let us know. We still have a few bugs in our system! If you now want to receive a PDF of your Newsletter electronically, Meetings please send your e-mail address to Penny Currier [email protected]. BotSoc meetings are usually The Committee held at 7.30 pm on the third Monday of each month at Victoria University, W’gton – WBS Bulletin Lecture Theatre 101, ground floor, Murphy Building, west We welcome articles for consideration for the next issue of the Bulletin. Members with interesting observations on field trips, and memories of side of Kelburn Parade. other special occasions, are invited to submit articles. Enter building about 20 m Please send your article ASAP to John Sawyer, Editor, WBS Bulletin, down Kelburn Pde from Department of Conservation, PO Box 5086, Wellington. Ph 04 472 5821, pedestrian overbridge. fax 04 499 0077, e-mail: [email protected] Field trips Day trips to locations in the Wellington Botanical Society Wellington region are usually President: Chris Horne 475 7025 held on the first Saturday of Secretary: Barbara Clark 233 8202 233 2222 (fax) each month. Treasurer: Jane Humble 971 6970 Extended excursions are Auditor: Peter Beveridge 237 8777 usually held at New Year, Submissions Wellington Anniversary co-ordinator: Barbara Mitcalfe ph/fax 04 475 7149 Weekend and Easter. Address: PO Box 10-412, Wellington 6036 Web site: www.wellingtonbotsoc.wellington.net.nz Bulletin Editor: John Sawyer, DOC, PO Box 5086, Wellington Contributions for Newsletter (news, views, information) to: Chris Horne, 28 Kaihuia St, Northland, WN 5. Tel 475 7025 Annual Subscription: ordinary $27; country $22; student $17. Send your subscription to Treasurer, WBS, PO Box 10-412, WN. Please use the subscription form at the back of the newsletter. Hebe elliptica var. crassifolia. Illustration by Lisa Paton. DEADLINE FOR COPY FOR NEXT ISSUE – 1 April 2003 ATTENDING FIELD TRIPS AND MEETINGS Ideas please Fitness and experience Our field trips vary considerably in the level of fitness and We welcome your ideas about: tramping experience required. Although our main focus is • places to visit on field trips botanical, our programme sometimes offers trips which, • topics for evening meetings in the pursuit of our botanical aims, are more strenuous • speakers at evening meetings. than others. Although leaders take care to minimise risks, Please send ideas to our secretary, Barbara Clark, everyone participates at their own risk. If you have any PO Box 10-412, Wellington 6036, ph 233 8202. questions about whether you are fit enough for a Field trips particular trip, please contact the leader well beforehand. If you intend to join a trip, PLEASE phone the leader at Reimbursement of drivers least TWO DAYS beforehand. This will enable him/her If you travel on a trip in someone else’s vehicle, please to arrange for a copy of the species list for you, and to let pay your share of the running costs to your driver. If a you know of any changes and/or particular trip on the inter-island ferry is involved, please pay your requirements. If you cannot ring so far in advance, you driver your share of the ferry fare. are still welcome to join on the day. Clothing for field trips Meetings Sun hat, balaclava1 or hat1, waterproof/windproof parka, Public transport to meetings long-sleeved cotton shirt, singlet1, bushshirt1, 1 or 2 jerseys1, waterproof/windproof overtrousers, nylon shorts, You may find the following bus services useful. They longjohns1, longs1, underclothes, swimming togs, 4pr stop on Kelburn Parade, about 50 m from Lecture Theatre socks1, hut shoes, boots, gaiters, mittens1, handkerchief. M101 in the Murphy Building, Victoria University: TO MEETINGS Day trip gear No. 23 Mairangi–6.30 pm from Houghton Bay, 6.40 Zoo, 6.50 Courtenay Place, 6.57 Pastoral House, 7.02 First aid kit, compass2, map2, insect repellant, whistle, University. matches in waterproof container, water purification tablets, No. 23 Mairangi–6.55 pm from Southgate, 7.05 water bottle, thermos, pocket knife, camera2, binoculars2, Hospital, 7.15 Courtenay Place, 7.22 Pastoral House, hand lens2, note book2, pen and pencil2, sunblock, 7.27 University. sunglasses, large plastic survival bag to line pack. No. 22 Southgate–6.55 pm from Mairangi, 7.10 Overnight trip gear and food University. No. 23 Houghton Bay–7.25 pm from Mairangi, 7.40 As well as the day trip gear listed above, bring torch, spare University. bulb and batteries, candle, mug, plate, knife, fork, spoon, No. 17 Railway Station – 6.35 pm from Karori Park, small towel, soap, tooth brush, tent, fly, poles and pegs, 6.52 University. groundsheet, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, liner and stuff Cable Car at 00, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 min past each hour bag. Bring bread, butter/margarine, biscuits, fresh fruit and from Lambton Quay terminus. Alight at Salamanca scroggin. SCROGGIN = Sultanas, Chocolate or Carob, Station. Raisins, Orange peel, Glucose3, Ginger, Including Nuts. FROM MEETINGS 1 = wool, polypropylene or polarfleece as applicable. No. 23 Southgate – 9.10 from University. 2 Optional No. 23 Southgate – 10.10 from University. 3 Dried apricots are recommended instead of glucose but Cable Car at approx. 01, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 minutes past would spoil the acronym!! each hour from Salamanca Station. Last service 10.01 BotSoc equipment pm. For further information ring Ridewell Enquiry Service In addition to the gas stoves, billies, kitchen utensils, 801-7000. flies etc., used on our long field trips, we have the following for use on any field trip: • a first aid kit Help the Editor • ten NZMS 260 Sheet R27, Pt.Q27 maps Compiling this newsletter takes several days. If you • ten Silva Type 3 compasses can help by word-processing your own material and If you are leading a BotSoc trip, and would like to sending it on disk, preferably in Microsoft Word, it take these items, please ring Chris Horne ph 04 475 would be much appreciated. 7025, or Barbara Mitcalfe ph 04 475 7149. 2 FIELD TRIPS AND EVENING MEETINGS: JANUARY–JUNE 2003 The following programme IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If you wish to go on a field trip, PLEASE help with planning by giving the leader 2 days’ notice before a day trip, MORE notice before weekend trips, and SEVERAL WEEKS’ notice before the New Year’s trip. Saturday January 18: Field trip Rimutaka Forest Park Botanise Whakanui Track from Sunny Grove, Wainuiomata, to McMcKerrow Junction. Return via Nikau Stream to Hine Road. The area contains at least 55 species of fern, silver beech, tussock and fine rimu and rata. Meet 9 am at carpark on east side of Woburn Railway Station. Catch 8.35 am train from Wellington, or 8.30 am train from Upper Hutt. Map R27 Wellington. Phone leader: Chris Hopkins 564 3980; deputy leader Chris Horne 475 7025. Saturday February 1-2: Field trip Wharekauhau Stream and Mukamuka coastline Saturday: Botanise Wharekauhau Stream for first time. Walk up stream bed through surrounds that change from severely eroded fault lines, elevated flats to a patch of podocarp forest. Very easy gradient but variable terrain from walking in the stream bed to clambering up banks. Sunday: Explore coastline from Corner Creek to Windy Point, including Mukamukaiti Stream, provided the coast road is accessible by 4WD saloon cars or if other suitable transport is available. More 4WD saloons would be useful. Alternatives include local patches of bush or botanising forest remnants near Pirinoa and Whangaimoana. Phone co-leaders: Sunita Singh and Gavin Dench Ph 387 9955. Accommodation: Sunita’s bach: will sleep four on bunks, two on double air mattress on floor, plus floor space for one on own mat. Two tent sites available as well as public camping areas near Corner Creek, five minutes walk away. Note: wet feet crossing streams unavoidable. Pot luck dinner. Meet 9 am at Dorset Square Native Reserve, cnr SH2 and Moore St which becomes Western Lake Road and goes directly to Ocean Beach, Palliser Bay. Ring Chris Horne 475 7025 re car offers/bookings, etc. Monday February 17: Evening meeting Links between invertebrates and plants Speaker: Dr George Gibbs, Senior Associate, School of Biological Science, Victoria University. Most insects rely on plants for their livelihoods. How plant-lovers see insects depends very much on their viewpoint, either as pests or benefactors. George will review various New Zealand cases. Saturday March 1: Field trip Eastbourne hills Walk from Days Bay, climb the ridge behind it into beech forest and walk towards Lowry Bay. Return by various routes; options to be discussed before the start of the walk. Plenty of birdlife and good views. Public transport: 10 am ferry from Wellington to Days Bay. Travel time under half an hour. Single trip ticket Senior Citizen/Student $6.00; Adult $7.50.
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  • Peraxilla Colensoi
    Peraxilla colensoi COMMON NAME Scarlet mistletoe, korukoru, pirita, roeroe SYNONYMS Elytranthe colensoi (Hook.f.) Engl. Loranthus colensoi Hook. f. FAMILY Loranthaceae AUTHORITY Peraxilla colensoi (Hook.f.) Tiegh. FLORA CATEGORY Vascular – Native ENDEMIC TAXON Yes ENDEMIC GENUS Yes Peraxilla colensoi, Catlins. Photographer: John Barkla ENDEMIC FAMILY No STRUCTURAL CLASS Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons NVS CODE PERCOL CHROMOSOME NUMBER 2n= 24 CURRENT CONSERVATION STATUS 2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: CD PREVIOUS CONSERVATION STATUSES 2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: CD 2004 | Gradual Decline BRIEF DESCRIPTION Fleshy shrub to 3m wide growing on outer branches of beech trees with glossy green fleshy paired leaves and masses of red tubular flowers. Leaves to 8cm long, smooth with a red edge. Flowers to 2.5cm long. Fallen petals litter forest floor under plants. Fruit yellow. Photographer: Brian Molloy DISTRIBUTION North and South Island, but common only in southern parts of the South Island. HABITAT A parasite mainly found in silver beech forest but has been recorded on 16 host species (9 exotic) in New Zealand including red beech and black beech. Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) and bellbird (Anthonis melanura) disperse this species in the North Island. FEATURES A shrub up to 3 m across. It parasitises further out on branches of its host than Peraxilla tetrapetala. The veins on leaves are hardly evident and only the midrib is conspicuous. Leaf tips are never notched and the leaves themselves are large and never blistered. The leaves sit in pairs on opposite sides of the stem and are thick and have a leathery texture. Leaf margins are usually smooth with red slightly rough margins.
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  • Explosive New Zealand Mistletoe Example, 4 of 7 Flowers on Sheet AK103910)
    SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE pattern, as do herbarium sheets (for Explosive New Zealand mistletoe example, 4 of 7 flowers on sheet AK103910). Trilepidea almost certainly SIR- Many flowers of the mistletoe arium sheets show an even more special­ had more complex explosive flowers than Peraxilla tetrapetala (Loranthaceae) in New ized explosive mechanism than in Peraxilla. Peraxilla. Such specialization may have Zealand open from the bottom (f in the We discovered explosive flower opening rendered Trilepidea more sensitive to figure) rather than the top (d); Kuijtl called in both endemic New Zealand Peraxilla reduced bird densities due to introduced this an "unsolved mystery ... we cannot species when we noted that flower buds mammalian predators, contributing to its even guess at the meaning of this bizarre bagged for hand pollination almost never rapid and puzzling5 decline. performance." Here we report that flower opened (3/394 for P. tetrapetala, 1/82 for P. Explosive flower opening is well known buds of P. tetrapetala and P. colensoi open colensoi). The petals remained fused at the in other mistletoes6, including many of from the top only when twisted by top, while eventually undergoing abscis­ the 230 species in Africa3, and a few a bird, a form of 'explosive' flower open­ sion from their base (fin the figure). Field species in India7, Java, New Guinea and ing common in Africa but previously observations of unbagged flowers revealed South America1•6. However, this is the unknown in Australasia. Kuijt's "bizarre that they were opened by two native first report from Australasia. The New performance" is simply the consequence of honeyeaters (Meliphagidae ): tuis (Pros­ Zealand flora generally displays few flowers not being visited by birds.
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  • Spatial Variation in Impacts of Brushtail Possums on Two Loranthaceous Mistletoe Species
    SWEETAPPLE:Available on-line at:POSSUM http://www.newzealandecology.org/nzje/ IMPACTS ON MISTLETOE 177 Spatial variation in impacts of brushtail possums on two Loranthaceous mistletoe species Peter J. Sweetapple Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand (Email: [email protected]) Published on-line: 8 October 2008 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: Browsing by introduced brushtail possums is linked to major declines in mistletoe abundance in New Zealand, yet in some areas mistletoes persist, apparently unaffected by the presence of possums. To determine the cause of this spatial variation in impact I investigated the abundance and condition (crown dieback and extent of possum browse cover) of two mistletoes (Alepis flavida, Peraxilla tetrapetala) and abundance and diet of possums in two mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) forests in the central-eastern South Island of New Zealand. Mistletoe is common and there are long-established uncontrolled possum populations in both forests. Mistletoes were abundant (216–1359 per hectare) and important in possum diet (41–59% of total diet), but possum density was low (c. 2 per hectare) in both areas. Possum impacts were slight with low browse frequencies and intensities over much of the study sites. However, impacts were significantly greater at a forest margin, where possum abundance was highest, and at a high-altitude site where mistletoe density was lowest. Mistletoe crown dieback was inversely proportional to intensity of possum browsing. These results suggest that the persistence of abundant mistletoe populations at these sites is due to mistletoe productivity matching or exceeding consumption by possums in these forests of low possum-carrying _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________capacity, rather than low possum preference for the local mistletoe populations.
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  • The Responses of New Zealand's Arboreal Forest Birds to Invasive
    The responses of New Zealand’s arboreal forest birds to invasive mammal control Nyree Fea A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Victoria University of Wellington Te Whare Wānanga o te Ūpoko o te Ika a Māui 2018 ii This thesis was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Hartley (primary supervisor) School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand and Associate Professor Wayne Linklater (secondary supervisor) School of Biological Sciences Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand iii iv Abstract Introduced mammalian predators are responsible for over half of contemporary extinctions and declines of birds. Endemic bird species on islands are particularly vulnerable to invasions of mammalian predators. The native bird species that remain in New Zealand forests continue to be threatened by predation from invasive mammals, with brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) ship rats (Rattus rattus) and stoats (Mustela erminea) identified as the primary agents responsible for their ongoing decline. Extensive efforts to suppress these pests across New Zealand’s forests have created “management experiments” with potential to provide insights into the ecological forces structuring forest bird communities. To understand the effects of invasive mammals on birds, I studied responses of New Zealand bird species at different temporal and spatial scales to different intensities of control and residual densities of mammals. In my first empirical chapter (Chapter 2), I present two meta-analyses of bird responses to invasive mammal control. I collate data from biodiversity projects across New Zealand where long-term monitoring of arboreal bird species was undertaken.
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  • New Zealand Mistletoe
    New Zealand Mistletoe Table of Contents Introduction 1 Alepis flavida 2 Ileostylus micranthus 3 Korthalsella clavata 4 Korthalsella lindsayi 5 Korthalsella salicornioides 6 Peraxilla colensoi 7 Peraxilla tetrapetala 8 Tupeia antarctica 9 Made on the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network website – www.nzpcn.org.nz Copyright All images used in this book remain copyright of the named photographer. Any reproduction, retransmission, republication, or other use of all or part of this book is expressly prohibited, unless prior written permission has been granted by the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network ([email protected]). All other rights reserved. © 2016 New Zealand Plant Conservation Network Introduction About the Network This book was compiled from information stored on the The Network has more than 800 members worldwide and is website of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network New Zealand's largest non­governmental organisation solely (www.nzpcn.org.nz). devoted to the protection and restoration of New Zealand's indigenous plant life. This website was established in 2003 as a repository for information about New Zealand's threatened vascular The vision of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network is plants. Since then it has grown into a national database of that 'no indigenous species of plant will become extinct nor be information about all plants in the New Zealand botanic placed at risk of extinction as a result of human action or region including both native and naturalised vascular indifference, and that the rich, diverse and unique plant life of plants, threatened mosses, liverworts and fungi. New Zealand will be recognised, cherished and restored'.
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  • Restoration Planting in Taranaki
    CONTENTS Part one: Getting started Introduction .................................................................... 2 Ecological Regions and Districts of Taranaki .................... 3 Plan of Action ................................................................. 4 Part two: Target ecosystems Vegetation patterns .........................................................9 What to plant and where ...............................................11 Coastal Spinifex duneland ..........................................................13 Harakeke–raupo–kuta wetland .......................................14 Saltmarsh ribbonwood–oioi estuary shrubland ..............15 Taupata–kawakawa–harakeke/wharariki shrubland ........16 Coastal herbfield ...........................................................17 Tainui forest ...................................................................18 Karaka-tawa–puriri forest ...............................................19 Coastal–semi-coastal Kahikatea–pukatea swamp/semi-swamp forest .......... 21 Kohekohe–karaka–puriri forest .......................................22 Semi-coastal–lowland Manuka–Gaultheria–wharariki shrubland .......................23 Tawa forest .....................................................................24 Tawa–pukatea forest ......................................................25 Lowland Tawa–kamahi forest .......................................................27 Hard beech and black beech forest ................................28 Waitaanga area silver beech–kamahi forest....................29
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    66 AvailableNew on-lineZealand at: Journal http://www.newzealandecology.org/nzje/ of Ecology, Vol. 34, No. 1, 2010 special issue: Feathers to Fur The ecological transformation of Aotearoa/New Zealand Mutualisms with the wreckage of an avifauna: the status of bird pollination and fruit- dispersal in New Zealand Dave Kelly1*, Jenny J. Ladley1, Alastair W. Robertson2, Sandra H. Anderson3, Debra M. Wotton1, and Susan K. Wiser4 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand 2Ecology, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand 3School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1010, New Zealand 4Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand *Author for correspondence (Email: [email protected]) Published on-line: 9 November 2009 Abstract: Worldwide declines in bird numbers have recently renewed interest in how well bird–plant mutualisms are functioning. In New Zealand, it has been argued that bird pollination was relatively unimportant and bird- pollination failure was unlikely to threaten any New Zealand plants, whereas dispersal mutualisms were widespread and in some cases potentially at risk because of reliance on a single large frugivore, the kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). Work since 1989, however, has changed that assessment. Smaller individual fruits of most plant species can be dispersed by mid-sized birds such as tui (Prosthemadera novaezelandiae) because both fruits and birds vary in size within a species. Only one species (Beilschmiedia tarairi) has no individual fruits small enough for this to occur. Germination of 19 fleshy-fruited species, including most species with fruits >8 mm diameter, does not depend on birds removing the fruit pulp.
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  • Identifying Native Beeches: Fuscospora and Lophozonia
    Identifying native beeches: Fuscospora and Lophozonia Fuscospora cliffortioides Fuscospora solandri Fuscospora truncata Fuscospora fusca Lophozonia menziesii (Nothofagus cliffortioides) (Nothofagus solandri) (Nothofagus truncata) (Nothofagus fusca) (Nothofagus menziesii) mountain beech black beech hard beech red beech silver beech tāwhairauriki tāwhairauriki tāwhairauriki, tāwhairaunui tāwhairaunui tāwhairauriki smooth margins toothed margins • glabrous • may be sparsely hairy • 8-12 teeth each side, blunt, • 6-8 long, twisted, pointed teeth • small rounded marginal teeth uncurved on each side curve strongly in pairs or threes, blunt-ended towards leaf tip (crenate) no domatia domatia* • 4-16 x 3.5-9 mm • 8-20 x 3.5-11 mm • 13–43 × 8–30 mm • 12–45(–55) × 7–35(–40) mm • (4.8–)9–12(–30) × 5.5–14(–25) mm • ovate to triangular-ovate, often • oblong-elliptic to ovate, not • broadly ovate • broadly ovate • broadly ovate wavy usually wavy • tapered evenly to base • tapered obliquely to base, often • veins indistinct • narrowed to tip, tapered obliquely • rounded at tip, often pointed, • veins distinct, 5-6 pairs reddish • 1-4 fringed domatia in basal leaf to base tapered evenly to base axils on underside • short hairs in spaces between • veins distinct, 3-4 pairs, hairs on • veins indistinct • veins indistinct teeth veins • favoured host for mistletoe Peraxilla colensoi • dense white tomentum on • tomentum on underside shed • trunk often has flanges and • spaces between teeth deeply underside • sooty mould on bark buttresses rounded with short
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  • Does Disturbance Determines the Prevalence of Dwarf Mistletoe
    DWARF MISTLETOES AFFECTED BY DISTURBANCE 181 REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 86: 181-190, 2013 © Sociedad de Biología de Chile RESEARCH ARTICLE Does disturbance determines the prevalence of dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium, Santalales: Viscaceae) in Central Mexico? ¿El disturbio determina la prevalencia del muérdago enano (Arceuthobium, Santalales: Viscaceae) en el centro de México? MÓNICA E. QUEIJEIRO-BOLAÑOS*, ZENÓN CANO-SANTANA & IVÁN CASTELLANOS-VARGAS Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 México, D.F., México * Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Large vegetation disturbance rates have been reported in the “Zoquiapan y Anexas” Protected Natural Area in Central Mexico. Arceuthobium globosum and A. vaginatum coexist within this area and have a deleterious impact on Pinus hartwegii. This study seeks to understand the relationship between this disturbance and the two dwarf mistletoe species prevalent in this zone. Twenty-four plots measuring 60 × 55 m containing P. hartwegii trees were selected. Within these plots, the physical features of the land, the density of host and non-host trees, the prevalence of each mistletoe species, and six disturbance indicators were recorded. We found that A. vaginatum infests up to 47 % of P. hartwegii trees and that its prevalence is affected positively by the slope, non-host tree density, and the proportion of stump and dead trees, but is negatively affected by the prevalence of A. globosum, fi re incidence, waste deposit, and the distance to the nearest disturbance. Arceuthobium globosum infests up to 37 % of the trees and is affected positively by altitude, the density of non-host trees, waste deposit and the distance to the nearest disturbance, but is negatively affected by the prevalence of A.
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  • New Zealand's Loranthaceous Mistletoes Has Only Recently Been Documented, with Many Facets Still to Be Fully Explored
    Part 3 Threats to New Zealand mistletoes 139 Evidence for the impacts of possums on mistletoes Colin C. Ogle Department of Conservation, Private Bag 3016, Wanganui SUMMARY The evidence is updated on the impacts of introduced brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) on New Zealand’s loranthaceous mistletoes. It is concluded that possums eat mistletoes and they probably kill both individual plants and populations of mistletoes. Management practices that prevent possums reaching mistletoe plants have produced improvements in mistletoe growth and abundance. Because it is desirable to obtain further evidence of the impacts of possums, managers of mistletoe habitats should endeavour to incorporate a research component into their work to enhance mistletoe populations. 1. INTRODUCTION The work of Wilson (1984) was the first published study on the impacts of the introduced brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) on a population of New Zealand mistletoes. Ogle & Wilson (1985) extended this to a national review, collating published and unpublished sources on the distribution and abundance of loranthaceous mistletoes and related these to the occurrence and impacts of possums. Much of the evidence was anecdotal and the case pointing to possums as the cause of mistletoe decline was based more on indirect evidence than on experiments or direct observations of possums destroying mistletoe plants. Nevertheless, widespread mistletoe decline was demonstrated and possums were identified as the main (but not the only) cause. Ten years on from Ogle & Wilson's (1985) review, the case against possums has been widely accepted, especially in “popular” articles and books (Barlow 1987, James 1990, Webb et al. 1990, Clark 1993). However, some of the key questions posed by Ogle & Wilson (1985) remain largely unanswered.
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  • Peraxilla Tetrapetala
    Peraxilla tetrapetala COMMON NAME Red mistletoe, pikirangi, pirita, roeroe, pirinoa SYNONYMS Elytranthe tetrapetala (L.f.) Engl., Loranthus tetrapetalus L.f., Loranthus decussatus Kirk FAMILY Loranthaceae AUTHORITY Peraxilla tetrapetala (L.f.) Tiegh. FLORA CATEGORY Vascular – Native ENDEMIC TAXON Yes ENDEMIC GENUS Yes ENDEMIC FAMILY No STRUCTURAL CLASS Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons NVS CODE Leaf showing blisters. Kaitoke Regional Park, PERTET Upper Hutt. Photographer: Jeremy Rolfe CHROMOSOME NUMBER 2 n= 24 CURRENT CONSERVATION STATUS 2012 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: CD PREVIOUS CONSERVATION STATUSES 2009 | At Risk – Declining | Qualifiers: CD 2004 | Gradual Decline Photographer: Cathy Jones BRIEF DESCRIPTION Fleshy shrub to 3m wide growing on inner branches of beech trees with glossy green fleshy paired leaves and masses of red tubular flowers. Leaves to 2.5cm long, blistered, diamond shaped. Flowers to 4cm long. Fallen petals litter forest floor under plants. Fruit green. DISTRIBUTION North and South Island, but less common in the North Island. HABITAT Coastal to montane. A hemiparasite whose main hosts are mountain beech (N. solandri var. cliffortioides), black beech (Nothofagus solandri var. solandri), red beech (N. fusca), and silver beech (N. menziesii). However, it has been recorded as a parasite on a further 17 species (2 exotic) including puriri (Vitex luceans) and pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa). FEATURES A shrub that can grow up to 2 m across. It usually parasitises close to the trunk of its host. It has characteristic small raised blisters or lesions on small, usually rhombic leaves. The flowers are solitary or 2-4 together and are bright red (up to 40 mm long). The ripe fruit is fleshy and green.
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  • 2. Possum Effects on Biodiversity
    Index to the Rare Bits Newsletters about Threatened Species Work - 2. POSSUM EFFECTS ON BIODIVERSITY Vol., Date Page Conservancy 2. Possum Effects on Biodiversity Quotes Monitoring of Dactylanthus..At Te Kopia, even with low possum numbers following last winter’s 1080 operation any uncaged flowers were still 37 Jun -00 4 destroyed. kokako: Hunua Ranges Management Block: There were seven nesting attempts, of which five failed due to flooding and suspected harrier and 48 Apr -03 4 possum predation. Moturemu Island: there are a number of seedlings that have germinated from the natural seedbank on the island. These are in a natural tree 45 Jun-02 4 Auckland gap that has been kept open by trimming back native foliage (pohutukawa and houpara). [browsing increasing biodiversity] Dactylanthus: where most plants are caged, flowering was average with little sign of animal activity... where only a few plants are caged, flowering was monitored to see what effect the previous winter’s 1080 operation would have on flowering success. With significant flower damage occurring as expected, a trapper was employed, and nine possums were removed from the area, four of which had bracts present in their stomachs. This possum cull enabled some of the later developing flowers to survive..On the Mamaku plateau a possum gut survey occurred in late March in several reserves where Dactylanthus was thought to be present. Although several possum stomachs were 41 Jun -01 7 Bay of Plenty investigated for staining none contained Dactylanthus flowers. discovery of Peraxilla tetrapetala on Quintinia serrata at the northern Mamaku plateau in the Opuiaki Ecological Area (part of the Kaimai- Mamaku Forest Park), and in Te Kopia Scenic Reserve on the Paeroa Range near Reporoa.
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