Conservation biology project reports of Cleardale Station and Taniwha Farm, Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury, New Zealand Edited by Nick Dickinson & Mike Bowie Lincoln University Wildlife Management Report No. 73 2020 ©Department of Pest-management & Conservation, Lincoln University ISSN: 1179-7738 ISBN: 978-0-86476-451-5 Lincoln University Wildlife Management Report No. 73 September 2020 Conservation biology project reports of Cleardale Station and Taniwha Farm, Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury, New Zealand Cleardale Station looking towards Rakaia River (Photo: Tanmayi Pagadala) Edited by Nick Dickinson and Mike Bowie Department of Pest-management & Conservation, Lincoln University, PO Box 85084, Lincoln 7647 Email:[email protected] i Contents List of Tables ............................................................................................................................v List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... vi Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 Cleardale and Taniwha Stations ............................................................................................... 2 : Habitat Preference of Birds ................................................................................... 3 Fraser Gurney Abstract ...............................................................................................................................................3 1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................4 1.2 Methodology .............................................................................................................................4 1.3 Results .......................................................................................................................................6 1.4 Discussion..................................................................................................................................8 1.5 References ............................................................................................................................. 10 1.6 Appendix A ............................................................................................................................. 11 : Soil organic carbon levels in irrigated and non-irrigated pasture at Cleardale Station, Canterbury ..........................................................................................12 Jocelyn Henderson Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Background ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.2.1 Soil Ecosystem Services ..............................................................................................13 2.2.2 Agricultural Practices and Soil Carbon .......................................................................13 2.2.3 The Effects of Irrigation on Soil Carbon .....................................................................14 2.3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Study Site ...................................................................................................................15 2.3.2 Fieldwork ....................................................................................................................15 2.3.3 Soil Analysis ................................................................................................................16 2.4 Results .................................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.1 Visual Assessment ......................................................................................................17 2.4.2 Analysis by Loss on Ignition ........................................................................................18 2.5 Discussion............................................................................................................................... 19 2.6 Conclusion and Further Research .......................................................................................... 19 2.7 References ............................................................................................................................. 20 : Fire Management at Cleardale Station Using Green Firebreaks ............................. 21 Tanmayi Pagadala Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ 21 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.1 About the study site ...................................................................................................22 3.1.2 Flora and Fauna ..........................................................................................................23 ii 3.1.3 Defining green firebreaks and its purpose .................................................................23 3.1.4 New Zealand High-Country and flammability of its biodiversity ...............................24 3.1.5 Purpose of study ........................................................................................................24 3.2 Methods ................................................................................................................................. 25 3.2.1 Study site ....................................................................................................................25 3.2.2 Process .......................................................................................................................25 3.3 Results .................................................................................................................................... 26 3.3.1 Main observations and results ...................................................................................26 3.3.2 Information from interviews ......................................................................................27 3.4 Discussion............................................................................................................................... 28 3.4.1 The connection between fire risk, fire regimes, biodiversity and climate.................28 3.5 Recommendations to the farmer .......................................................................................... 30 3.5.1 Potential green firebreaks species .............................................................................31 3.5.2 Structure and positioning of the green firebreaks .....................................................31 3.6 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 31 3.7 References ............................................................................................................................. 32 3.8 Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................................. 34 3.9 Appendix 2 ............................................................................................................................. 35 : Browsing/ grazing damage on exotic and native plant species by pest herbivores along vegetation types .........................................................................................36 Maximillion Sterk 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 36 4.1.1 Impacts on vegetation by pest species ......................................................................36 4.1.2 Study task ...................................................................................................................36 4.1.3 Importance of the study ............................................................................................37 4.2 Methods ................................................................................................................................. 37 4.2.1 Preparation ................................................................................................................37 4.2.2 On-site inspection ......................................................................................................37 4.3 Results .................................................................................................................................... 39 4.3.1 Vegetation types ........................................................................................................39 4.3.2 Confirmed presence of herbivorous pest mammals ..................................................41 4.3.3 Browsing and grazing damage on identified plant species ........................................41 4.4 Discussion..............................................................................................................................