Introduced Mammals and Islands 61
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TAYLOR: INTRODUCED MAMMALS AND ISLANDS 61 INTRODUCED MAMMALS AND ISLANDS: PRIORITIES FOR CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH Animal Ecology Division, D.S.I.R.. Lower Hull With so much of New Zealand's land surface tically modified by introduced mammals such as transformed during the past 120 years, many goats. pigs, rabbits, cats and rats, or through small off-shore and outlying islands are now exploitation by man. On some, these animals were unique samples of the relatively undisturbed en- introduced long ago and their populations now vironment. But the very characteristics that have approach equilibrium with the modified environ- protected and isolated them in nearly primitive ment. On others, populations of introduced mam- condition also make them extremely vulnerable to mals arc dcc1ining naturally, often where a further disturbance. Many have already been dras- dominant and increasing vegetation is making the AUCKLAND ISLANDS THREE KINGS IS. ,KAWAU I. ENDERBY J. ROSE I. ~ OCEAN I. EWING I. DISAPPOINTMENT I. -MOTUNAU I. MAIN AUCKLAN D I. 'BIG SOUTH CAPE 1. ADAMS I. AUCKLAND IS. MIL.ES CAfwtPBEL.L I. FIGUHE 1. Location of the islands mentioned in the text, with detail of the Auckland Island group. 62 PROCEEDINGS or THE NEW ZEALAND ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY, VOL. 15, 1968 environment progressively less favourable for modified islands with apparently balanced eco- them. On a few other islands, especially where systems, or on nearly stable islands with declining introduced animals have only recently become mammal populations, has no priority as far as established, the original flora and fauna is being conservation is concerned and should not be modified rapidly. attempted blindly just because the animals are These distinctions must be recognised for there. Jt is necessary to carefully consider the planned conservation, and the islands managed objectives, the need for eradication. the likelihood accordingly. The best management policy for one of achieving it, and the probable ecological reper- island - for example, the immediate removal of cussions. Research is usually necessary beforehand introduced browsing mammals - may be much so that the right decisions may be made. These less worthwhile on another, and indeed may lead principles are best iIJustrated by the contrasting to unexpected and even undesirable results. situations on specific islands: Two main priorities must always remain upper- most: (i) the vigorous protection of all islands The Auckland Island., still in a primitive state, and (ii) the control or The Auckland Islands are an uninhabited sub- extermination of introduced animals on unstable, antarctic group consisting of two large and four actively degrading islands. But animal control on smaller islands, and numerous small islets (Fig. I). EWING ID.I GOATS , OCEAN ID. SHEEP COATS ADAMS 10. SHEEP GOA TS ROSE ID. CATTI,.E SHEEP RAse ITS ENDERBY ID. GO" TS SHEEP CATTL.E MICE DOGS PIGS RAB B ITS MAIN AUCKLAND 10. HORSES CATTLE DOGS SHEEP GOATS '-4ICE CATS PIGS FIGURE2. Historical summary of introduced mammals on the Auckland Islands. (Based on published and unpublished references filed at Animal Ecology Division. D.S.I.R.) TAYLOR: INTRODUCED MAMMALS AND ISLANDS 63 Since their discovery in 1806, a variety of mam- and hundreds of rabbits. covers the entire open mals has been introduced, at first by sealers, or area behind the beach, including the high sand- as food for castaways and later. during attempts bill. Further back this gives way to scrub and at farming (Fig. 2). Today. pigs. cattle, goats, southern rata (Metrosidero.\' umbel/ata) forest. rabbits, cats and mice exist in various combina. Likewise, early accounts and photographs of the tions on most of the larger islands; but fortun- north coast of Enderby show that it was covered ately the few sheep and goats liberated on Adams by tall tussock where today there is only dose- Island in the 1880s and 1890s did not survive for cropped turf. Indications of the previous vegeta- more than a few years and this, the second largest tion may 8tiB be seen in remnants of Poa litorosa island, has remained in its primitive state. Thus, and plants of Anisotome latifalia existing on cliffs this group presents a unique opportunity for where they have survived fire and browsing. studying the effects of introduced mammals and On all parts of the island signs of induced man on the native plants and wildlife. changes in the vegetation are abundant. Old Enderby and Rose Islands have much in com- mounds show where tussock once flourished in mon, but modification of the original vegetation areas now dominated by sward species, and ]Oi1g~ by fire and animals has been markedly different on dead rata trees stand at the original forest edge each. Cattle, rabbits and mice are the only intro- which was pushed back by burning many years duced mammals still present; rabbits are on both, ago. Although so common on Enderby today. the but cattle and mice are confined to Enderby conspicuous yellow-flowered Bulbinellu rossii is (Taylor, unpubl.). not mentioned in early botanical descriptions. Its , Considerable changes have taken place in the spread has apparently been favoured by burning vegetation of Enderby Island in the 160 years since and grazing (Godley 1965). the group was discovered. Dr M'Cormick of the About 70 years ago man ceased burning and Erebus and Terror Expedition landed at Sandy introducing stock and the surviving mammals are Bay in 1840 and described it as foUows: "Above now apparently in balance with the vegetation. the centre of the beach is a hoUow, fiUed with long This situation includes the rata forest as well as g'rass. growing in a rich boggy soil in such rank the sward and scrublands, for the forest is regener- luxuriance as to be up to the hips, and flanked by ating despite the presence of cattle. An old photo- a sand-hill clad to the summit by the same kind of graph taken on Enderby in .1888 (Fig. 3a) shortly grass, having the whole skirted by a thicket of before the cattle were introduced shows a previ- trees and bushes" (M'Cormick 1884). But today, ously-burnt area covered with low scrub and huts a short sward, closely grazed by a few wild cattle erected near a small wooden provision depot by , FIGURE3. Photographs taken at Sandy Bay. Enderby Island, showing changes in the vegetation over a/most 80 rears. (a) 1888. Vegetation near rhe huts built by survivors of the wreck of the Derry Castle. Photo. Dominion Museum. (b) The same /966. Only the top of the pole on the small wooden depot is visible above the canopy. 64 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW ZEALAND ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY, VOL. 15, 1968 survivors of the wreck of the Derrv Castle. Almost What are the interactions between these two eighty years later, in 1966, this depot was com- very different vegetations and the mammal popu- pletely overgrown with taJl Myrsine divaricata and lations remaining today? On Rose Island where the Metrosideros umhellata with the top of its roof plant cover is increasing the rabbit population has three feet below the canopy (Fig. 3b). In 1966 markedly declined since 1954. Apparently, the dis- there were no obvious differences between Enderby appearance of cattle about 1920 allowed the vege- and Rose Islands in the health of the rata forests tation to increase and this has made conditions Of in the amount of young rata regenerating. progressively less favourable for rabbits. Probably although cattle had been absent from Rose Island the rabbit population will continue to decline and for over 40 years. A careful comparison of photo- may eventually die out. On Enderby Island the graphs taken during the second World War with vegetation has remainded virtually unchanged for those taken on expeditions of which I was a at least the last 25 years and is apparently in member in 1954 and 1966, shows that, despite the balance with mammal populations that have not continued presence of cattle, rabbits and mice. the changed in size in recent years. vegetation on Enderby Island has not changed noticeably in the last 25 years. As far as conservation is concerned, these two islands are important. Sandy Bay on Enderby Rose Island has not been as drasticaJly modified Island is the main breeding ground and population as Enderby and stiJI has large areas of Poa litorosa centre of the southern sea-lion (Otaria hookeri), tussock grassland (Godley 1965). However, signs a species that breeds only on New Zealand's sub- of modified vegetation are abundant. The palatable antarctic islands (Fana 1965). And Enderby is Paa foliosa and Anisolome lalifalia are confined -lO the only breeding place in the Auckland Islands of cliffs and ledges, there are large areas of closely the royal albatross (Diomedea exulans). Although grazed sward and there is widespread evidence of recorded from Enderby in smaJl numbers in t840 early burning of both tussock grassland and rata (M'Cormick 1884) these birds were completely forest. exterminated there by sealers, colonists, and cast- aways in the second half of last century (Ogilvie- But unlike the now stable vegetation on Enderby, Grant 1905); but, since being unmolested by man, the vegetation on Rose Island is aggressive and they have recolonised and increased despite the increasing. Between 1954 and 1966 there was an presence of cattle and rabbits. Fifteen pairs of obvious increase in plant cover with Paa litorosa royal albatrosses were breeding on Enderby in tussocks invading areas previously under sward. 1966. Large numbers of yellow-eyed penguins Other places where scattered tussocks grew out of (Megadyptes antipodes) also nest on Enderby and the sward in 1954 were covered with almost con~ Rose .Islands, apparently in greater densities than tinuous tussock in 1966 (Figs.