Research on ecological change in sanctuaries and proposed indicators of restoration success. Bruce Burns

Research on ecological change in sanctuaries and proposed indicators of restoration success. Bruce Burns

Two themes 1. What ecological changes are occurring in sanctuaries as a result of the exclusion of mammalian pests? 2. What can we measure to indicate successful ecological restoration?

Current situation

Ecological release!

Predators Herbivores Plants? Trophic cascade?

Predators Herbivores Plants? Mesopredator release?

Kokako at Otamatuna (Te Urewera) 180 160 paired single 140 120 Start of intensive control No. of birds 100 80 60 40 20 0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 Year

Bird community changes % differences with reference sites based on 5 minute bird counts Species Boundary Stream Rotoiti Tiritiri Matangi Kapiti Bellbird 169.7% 59.1% 89.5% 1503% Whitehead 138.6% Introduced 16,135% Tui 8.0% 614.3% 9.5% 41% Kereru 59.3% 39% Fantail 107.7% 50.0% 11.1% 86% Tomtit 56.8% 150.0% 80% Grey warbler 47.9 Detected 48.3 Not detected Silvereye 39.7 38.8 72.2% 98% >10% increase >10% decrease

Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) What are characteristics of birds that increase in abundance compared to birds that decrease? Old endemics vs natives Forest specialists vs habitat generalists

Seedling and sapling densities 1997 (initial) 2004 (remeasurement) Seedlings 45 135 cm tall m 2 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 A. Mainland Island Non Mainland Island C. B. Changes in densities of larger seedlings and saplings in plots at Boundary Stream mainland island by ungulate preference class (Bellingham 2006) 0.0 Saplings >135 cm tall and <2.5 cm dbh m 2 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.00 B. C. Avoided Not selected Preferred D. Avoided Not selected Preferred Ungulate browse preference classes

Invertebrate abundance increases Mean pitfall trap catch set within pest free enclosure and in reference sites Number of beetle individuals caught per trap day 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 mammal eradication southern exclosure Sept Oct 2004 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Months since mammal eradication mammal eradication Maungatautari Nov Dec 2006

Beetle composition changes PCA Axis 2 1.5 1.0 inside after V 0.5 IV III 0.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 Axis 1 inside before outside before I outside after 0.5 II 1.0 1.5 May Jun 04 Jun Jul 04 Nov Dec 04 Dec 04 Jan 05 Jan Feb 05 Nov Dec 06 Dec 06 Jan 07 Jan Feb 07

Changes in invertebrate community at Karori 3 years post mammal eradication No difference in number of beetles caught (beetle activity density) No difference in number of beetle species caught Proportions of small (<10 mm) and large (>30 mm) beetles increased in Karori but stayed similar at Otari (Watts 2004)

Ordination showed beetle communities changed in composition within Karori but stayed similar at Otari (compared to pre fence data)

What changes could we look for? Detecting changes in species abundance and diversity 5 minute bird counts, permanent vegetation plots, pitfall traps for invertebrates Detecting changes in ecosystem processes pollination effectiveness, regeneration rate in treefall gaps, nitrogen mineralisation rates Detecting consequences of ecological release competition between bird species, weed abundance, mesopredator release Detecting and managing trophic cascades rates of herbivory

Can we use measures of change to indicate restoration success? What is success? How close the restoration site resembles a reference ecosystem Conservation value provided (e.g. no. of threatened species present)?* Quantity of ecosystem services provided? Ecological integrity of the restored site?* Public satisfaction provided?*

Elements of ecological integrity Indigenous dominance Level of indigenous influence in ecosystem Species occupancy How many of the full potential complement of species are present. Environmental representation How many of the full range of potential environments are represented in a protected area. (Lee et al. 2005)

Draft success indicators demonstrating progress towards restoration in sanctuaries 1. A measure of public participation: No. visitors per year, or no. involved volunteers per year. 2. A measure of indigenous dominance: a. Counts of abundance of resident native bird species b. Changes in 5 minute bird counts of native compared with exotic bird species in annual counts. 3. A measure of species occupancy: Number of threatened species present. 4. A measure of ecosystem process: Rates of pollination of fuchsia flowers. We would like to obtain baseline measurements using them in as many Sanctuaries as possible in 2008, then take annual snapshots until 2013.