Assessing the Success of Restoration Plantings at Cape Foulwind, New
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Assessing the Success of Restoration Plantings at Cape Foulwind, New Zealand A thesis submitted in partial fulfihnent of the requirelnents for the Degree of Master of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury by Hilary Lee Phipps University of Canterbury 2003 Table of Contents :LDD3TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ........... , ............................................................................. i List of Tables .................................................... ", .. ' ...... , .................. , ........ vi List of Figures ............................................................................... : ........... ix Ackno\vledgements ............. , ........................................................................ x Abstract ... , ....................... , .............. , ..... , .......... " ....................... , .......... " ... xi Chapter 1: Introduction .......................................... 111 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 1.1. What is Ecological Restoration? .. ,. ........................................................... 1 1.2. Justification for Ecological Restoration ....................................................... 4 1.3. Goals of Ecological Restoration ........ , ....................................................... 6 1.3.1. Goals of Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd............................... , ................. " .. 8 1.4. Success of Ecological Restoration ............................................................... 9 1.5. Objectives ......................................................................................... 10 1.6. Thesis Outline ....... , ............................................................................ 11 Chapter' 2: Study Area ................................................................ , .... e •••••••••• 12 2.1. Introduction ..................................................................................... 12 2.2. Landform and Geology ........................................................................ 12 2.3. Soils .............................................................................................. 15 2.4. Climate .......................................................................................... 16 2.5. Human History ................................................................................. 17 2.6. Vegetationllistory ............................................................................. 18 2.6.1. Vegetation Modification ............................................................. ". 20 2.7. Study Site Selection ............................................................................ 20 2.7.1. Description of Study Sites ............................................................... 20 Chapter 3: Vegetation Modification ............................................................... 26 3.1. Introduction ........... , ........................................................................ 26 3.2. Methods .......................................................................................... 26 3.2.1. Field Methods ....... , ...................................................................... 26 3.2.2. Data Analysis .............................................................................. 28 3.2.3. Importance Values ........................................................................ 28 3.2.3.1. Diversity Indices ........................ " ................... , ........................ 28 18 MAR 2001, Table of Contents ii 3.2.3.2. Statistical Analysis .................................................................... 31 3.2.3.3. Mode of Dispersal ..................................................................... 31 3.3. Results ........................................................................................... 32 3.3.1. Regeneration .............................................................................. 32 3.3.1.1. Diversity Assessments ............................................................... 32 3.3.1.2. Mode of Dispersal ..................................................................... 38 3.3.2. Ferns and Allied Plants .................................................................. 43 3.3.2.1. Diversity Assessments ............................................................... 43 3.3.3. All Woody Species ........................................................................ 49 3.3.3.1. Diversity Assessments ................................................................ 49 3.3.3.2. Growth in Planted Restoration Study Sites ........................................ 56 3.4. Preliminary Discussion of Results ........................................................... 57 3.4.1. Did Species Composition Vary Between Planted Restoration and Remnant Study Sites? ........ '....................... ~ ....................................................... 57 3.4.1.1. Regeneration ........................................................................... 57 3.4.1.2. Ferns and Allied Plants ............................................................... 59 3.4.1.3. All Woody Species ................................................................... 59 3.4.1.4. Sum,mary ............................................................................... 60 3.4.2. Did Species Composition Vary Between Planted Restoration Study Sites? ...... 60 3.4.2.1. Regeneration ........................................................................... 60 3.4.2.2. Ferns and Allied Plants ............................................................... 61 3.4.2.3. All Woody Species .................................................................... 62 3.4.2.4. Sulnmary ..............................,' ................................................ 63 3.4.3. Was Regeneration Dependent on the Dominance of Canopy Species? ............ 64 3.4.4. Are Planted Restoration Study Sites Facilitation Restoration? ..................... 64 3.4.5. Does Growth of Woody Species within Planted Restoration Study Sites Differ with Time Since Planting? ............................................................... 66 3.5. Summary ........................................................................................ 66 Chapter 4: Ground Active Invertebrates ......................................................... 67 4.1. Introduction ...................................................................................... 67 4.2. Methods .......................................................................................... 68 4.2.1. Field Methods .............................................................................. 68 4.2.1.1. Recognisable Taxonomic Units ..................................................... 70 Table of Contents iii 4.2.2. Data Analysis ....................... " ..................................................... 70 4.2.2.1. Diversity Assessments ................................................................ 70 4.2.2.2. Statistical Analysis .................................................................... 72 4.2.2.3. Ordination ............................................................................... 72 4.3. Results ........................................................................................... 73 4.3.1. Diversity Assessments ................................................................... 73 4.3.1.1. All Invertebrates ....................................................................... 73 4.3.1.2. Coleoptera .............................................................................. 79 4.3.1.3. Araneida ................................................................................. 85 4.3.2. Ordination .................................................................................. 90 4.3.2.1. All Invertebrates .......................................... : ............................ 90 4.3.2.2. Coleoptera .............................................................................. 93 4.3.2.3. Araneida ................................................................................ 95 4.4. Preliminary Discussion of Results ..., ........................................................ 97 4.4.1. Did Species Composition Vary Between Planted Restoration and Remnant Study Sites? ....................................................................................... 97 4.4.1.1. All Invertebrates ........................................................ , .............. 97 4.4.1.2. Coleoptera ............................................................ , ................. 98 4.4.1.3. Araneida ................................................................................ 99 4.4.2. Did Species Composition Vary Between Planted Restoration Study Sites? ...... 99 4.4.2.1. All Invertebrates ........................................................................ 99 4.4.2.2. Coleoptera ............................................................................ 100 4.4.2.3. Araneida .............................................................................. 101 4.4.3. Was the Distribution of Ground Active Invertebrates Between Study Sites Related to Environmental Variables? ........................................................... 101 4.4.4. Use of Pitfall Traps ..................................................................... 104 4.4.5. What is the Potential of Ground Active Invertebrates to be used as Environmental Indicators for Restoration Success? ................................................... 106