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Flight of the Huia: Ecology and Conservation of New Zealand's Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals

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Flight of the Huia: Ecology and Conservation of New Zealand's Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals BOOK REVIEWS Flight of the Huia: Ecology and Conservation of New Zealand's Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals Wilson, K-J. (2004) species now exist only as refugees on small offshore Canterbury Univel'sity Press, Christchurch, New islands, which represent a mere fraction of their Zealand (www.cup.canterbury.ac.nz) former ranges; their survival has hinged on escaping 411 + xii pp., ISBN 0-908812-52-3 the onslaught of introduced mammals and habitat RRP $NZ 49.95 modification. Wilson explicitly demonstrates the synergy with which these factors act to create a land in which the balance has been tipped in favour of JOANNE HOARE' introduced species. After creating a picture of New Zealand flora and Huia HelemlDelta acutirostris (Passerifonnes: THE fauna as that of both an "archipelago and mini­ Callaeidae) was a remarkable bird, endemic to New continent", Wilson takes the reader on a journey Zealand and famous for its sexual dimorphism in through the ecology of frogs, reptiles, bats, birds and beak shape, which allowed differentiation of marine mammals, with a closer examination of prc­ invertebrate resource collection by foraging pairs. human life in New Zealand, subsequent threats to Huia were once widespread throughout New Zealand, biodiversity and resulting ecosystem modification. but declined rapidly followillg human settlement due Her writing achieves elegance by wandering lightly to predation by introduced mammals, habitat loss, through seemingly disparate topics while retaining a hunting and collecting, until their extinction in the loose thread of connectivity in the overarching early 20th Century. The plight of the Huia is, themes of biodiversity and conservation. For tragically, parallel to the stories of many of New example, the chapter on seabirds and marine Zealand's endemic vertebrates, and is a fitting mammals darts from the teeth of cetaceans to the frontispiece for Kerry:Jane Wilson's new book which complex bathymetry and hydrology of the New delves into the ecological history of the New Zealand Zealand region that supports such diversity, and from fauna. the traditional harvesting of fledgling seabirds to Flight of the Huia is one of two recent syntheses of Fairy Prions PachyjJlila furtur becoming entangled in New Zealand ecological discovery, which have the exotic Boxthorn Lycium fe1'Oeissi1Jwut which itself drastically condensed scientific knowledge, the other is entangled in conservation debate. being Worthy and Holdaway's The Lost World of the Following an annotated ecological history of the Moa. Worthy and Holdaway (2002) delve into fauna, Wilson embarks on a historical look at incredible detail on moa and their huge eagle conservation in New Zealand, which she views as an predators, incorporating other New Zealand relics attempt to "heal some of the ecological wounds primarily to provide context for their story. In inflicted ... since first human contact". Since Europco:U1 contrast, Wilson's Flight of the Huia traces out the settlement when conventional wisdom dictated that history of New Zealand's birds, mammals, reptiles "things colonial were inferior to things European", and frogs, synthesizing ecological research that is the conservation and its associated philosophy has basis of current scientific thinking to a conservation progressed through a phase of passive (legislative) end. Wilson conveys the magnitude of destructive protection to present active management. Today a changes to species and ecosystems in a non­ government department is dedicated to conservation, sensational manner that nonetheless creates an and local communities are involved in restoring awareness for the reader of the extent of problems ecosystems. Flagship species such as Takahe Porphyrio facing conservation in New Zealand. Each chapter is mantel/i, IZakapo StrigojJs ltab1'OjJlilis, the Black Robin divided into small sections in which ·Wilson has Pet1'Oica tmversi and, more recently, Tuatara, Sj)henocion captured one aspect of her story and provided the spp., have been used both by popular media to most relevant example to illustrate the point. Cleat; create conservation awareness in the New Zealand black and white graphs and diagrams are used public and by Wilson in Flight of the Huia to walk us sparingly, and often creatively, to provide significant through the development of active conservation visual additions to the text, yet supporting tables are strategies. She believes that New Zealand and its often not intuitive to follow. people have become world leaders in conservation. Extinctions worltl-widc are occurring at a rate Novel strategies developed to deal with local hlstel' than at any time in the last 65 million years. conservation crises have resulted in pioneering many Humans and the mammals they brought to New of the eradication and translocation strategies now Zealand in the past 2000 years have wreaked havoc employed around the world. Alongside a "growing on the indigenous fauna. During this time, "40 per sophistication of endangered species management", cent of the terrestrial and freshwater bird species current conservation efTorts are targeting progress in native to the New Zealand mainland, five marine public awareness through making endangered species birds, three fl'ogs, a bat, at least three lizards, one accessible, with open sanctuaries like Tiritiri Matangi freshwater fish, some plants and unknown species of Island and the IZarori Wildlife Sanctuary (a mainland invertebrates have become extinct". Many more island in the country's capital city). lSrhuol of Biological Sciences. Vicloria t!nil'ersiLy of'WellinglOn. 1'.0. Box 600. Wellinglun, New Zcaland.joannc.hoare@vlllI'.ac.l1Z. PACIFIC CONSERVKnON BIOLOGY While Flight oj the I-Iuia primarily fulfils the role of to only the most committed of "armchair" ecologists an annotated history of New Zealand ecology and due to her factual and detailed style which can be conservation, Wilson also develops her personal views rather dry. Little gems of weaponry do occasionally on the future of New Zealand conservation in her pop out to equip the conservation-minded New final chapter, "Seeking solutions". Her message that Zealander with an argument against invasive species conservation will become even more challenging in or continuing habitat modification: the Stephens the future is an unfortunate reality as it competes Island Wren XeniCl(s lyalli was both discovered and with ever-increasing resource use and a growing, exterminated in 1894, courtesy of a light-house increasingly affluent population. To progress beyond keeper's cat! However, such tid-bits are deeply "the 'band aid' stage" Wilson believes that entrenched in the factual reality of a comprehensive conservation must become a mainstream activity, as ecological history, which is the major aim of this important to society as health or education, which book. Flight of the Huia represents a highly accurate is dependent on continued development of a synthesis of old and new ecological research on New conservation ethic. Hel' idea that we are merely Zealand's vertebrate fauna, which will be an excellent "holding the fort" until technology advances to the source of reference for swdents and ecologists alike. point when cost-effective management allows significant conservation gain seems a solid and REFERENCE realistic, though not innovative, stance on the current plight of conservation in New Zealand. Worthy, '[ H. and Holdaway, R. N., 2002. 'rhe Lost World of the Moa: Prehistoric Life of New Zealand. Indiana Although Wilson uses terminology and detailed University Press, Bloomington, Indiana. expian]tion that enable a non-specialist to easily follow her arguments, Flight oj the I-Iuia is accessible Achieving Sustainable Freshwater Systems: A Web of Connections M. M. Holland, E. R. Blood and L. R. Shaffer political, social and environmental aspects to achieve (Ed •. ), 2003. appropriate management. Island Press, Washington. Pp. xiii and 351. ISBN 1 55963929 6 Information is delivered clearly and enhanced by RRP A$30.00 (ppr). the appropriate use of figures and tables. The evidence and references used to support statements throughout the book are generally relevant and MICHELLE CUMBERS' recent. Interest may waver for some readers due to THE question being asked around the globe is the limited scope and repetition of examples, "how to satisfy the water demands of an ever­ particularly the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. In expanding human population while at the same time my view, the lack of information describing our use protecting the aquatic ecosystems and ecological and impacts on aquifers, and the limited services upon which all life depends" (p. 1). Achieving acknowledgement of financial and human resources Sustainable Freshwater Systems addresses this question as an obstacle to achieving sustainable freshwater with the purpose of encouraging an integrated, systems, especially in developing countries detracts cooperative and adaptive approach to sustaining Ii'om the books value. Howevel~ the book succeeded wetlands and water resources. in providing a broad introduction to the problems and potential solutions associated with the The book is divided into four sections, 'Freshwater management of freshwater systems into the future. Systems from Past to Present' emphasizes the move away from regulations and towards a voluntary, Achieving Sustainable Freshwater Systems is different integrative, adaptive, co-managed approach to to other wetland books as it collates and evaluates controlling wetland degradation. 'Recent Scientific all the existing information pertaining to the Perspectives' describes interesting insights in the field achievement of sustainable freshwater systems. I and the need for further research. 'Freshwater would recommend this book to anyone who is management' explains the practical process of interested in learning how to better manage our restoration and 'Can we Achieve Sustainable limited water resources. Freshwater Systems in the Future?' describes the steps relating to the integration of economic, 'Schuol "I' Natural .scicncc~. Edith Cowan University. JooT1dalup. Western Australia, Australia 6027. .
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