Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand
Declines and extinctions of amphibian populations are a global dilemma with complex local causes, which should be viewed in the context of a much larger biodiversity crisis. As other animal groups, amphibians with restricted distributions, such as island endemics, are thought to be more vulnerable t...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Other Authors: | , |
Format: | Thesis |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Auckland University of Technology
2009
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10292/736 |
id |
ftautuniv:oai:openrepository.aut.ac.nz:10292/736 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftautuniv:oai:openrepository.aut.ac.nz:10292/736 2023-10-01T03:59:07+02:00 Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand Najera-Hillman, Eduardo Alfaro, Andrea Breen, Barbara 2009 application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/10292/736 en eng Auckland University of Technology https://hdl.handle.net/10292/736 OpenAccess Habitat-use Frogs Leiopelma New Zealand Diet Decision support system Thesis 2009 ftautuniv 2023-09-06T14:02:58Z Declines and extinctions of amphibian populations are a global dilemma with complex local causes, which should be viewed in the context of a much larger biodiversity crisis. As other animal groups, amphibians with restricted distributions, such as island endemics, are thought to be more vulnerable to environmental change and susceptible to population declines. In the New Zealand archipelago, the only four native species of frogs (Leiopelma hochstetteri, L. archeyi, L. hamiltoni and L. pakeka) are classified as threatened. In particular Leiopelma hochstetteri, the most widespread and abundant endemic frog species in New Zealand, now survives only in spatially fragmented populations as a result of direct or indirect human activity. Hence, it is recognised as threatened and fully protected by legislation. In the last fifty years, some L. hochstetteri populations have been studied, providing descriptive information, which may be used to assess the current status (increasing, stable or declining) of previously or never monitored populations. This thesis examines the diet and trophic level, the effects ship rats (Rattus rattus) as well as the distribution and abundance of L. hochstetteri on a habitat-use context, to provide a basis for evaluating conceivable decline-agents, and to establish a platform to design directed conservation strategies. The Waitakere Ranges are considered a Leiopelma hochstetteri conservation management unit, on which L. hochstetteri has been previously studied. This area consists of a series of hills that run roughly north–south, which are mostly covered in regenerating indigenous vegetation. Today, 60% of the Waitakere Ranges fall within a Regional Park, which together with its surrounding residential areas is afforded protection to minimise the effects of development on the region. The accessibility and conservation character of this area makes it an ideal area for the study of L. hochstetteri populations. As a first step to characterise the diet and trophic level of L. hochstetteri within ... Thesis Rattus rattus Auckland University of Technology: Tuwhera Open Research New Zealand |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Auckland University of Technology: Tuwhera Open Research |
op_collection_id |
ftautuniv |
language |
English |
topic |
Habitat-use Frogs Leiopelma New Zealand Diet Decision support system |
spellingShingle |
Habitat-use Frogs Leiopelma New Zealand Diet Decision support system Najera-Hillman, Eduardo Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand |
topic_facet |
Habitat-use Frogs Leiopelma New Zealand Diet Decision support system |
description |
Declines and extinctions of amphibian populations are a global dilemma with complex local causes, which should be viewed in the context of a much larger biodiversity crisis. As other animal groups, amphibians with restricted distributions, such as island endemics, are thought to be more vulnerable to environmental change and susceptible to population declines. In the New Zealand archipelago, the only four native species of frogs (Leiopelma hochstetteri, L. archeyi, L. hamiltoni and L. pakeka) are classified as threatened. In particular Leiopelma hochstetteri, the most widespread and abundant endemic frog species in New Zealand, now survives only in spatially fragmented populations as a result of direct or indirect human activity. Hence, it is recognised as threatened and fully protected by legislation. In the last fifty years, some L. hochstetteri populations have been studied, providing descriptive information, which may be used to assess the current status (increasing, stable or declining) of previously or never monitored populations. This thesis examines the diet and trophic level, the effects ship rats (Rattus rattus) as well as the distribution and abundance of L. hochstetteri on a habitat-use context, to provide a basis for evaluating conceivable decline-agents, and to establish a platform to design directed conservation strategies. The Waitakere Ranges are considered a Leiopelma hochstetteri conservation management unit, on which L. hochstetteri has been previously studied. This area consists of a series of hills that run roughly north–south, which are mostly covered in regenerating indigenous vegetation. Today, 60% of the Waitakere Ranges fall within a Regional Park, which together with its surrounding residential areas is afforded protection to minimise the effects of development on the region. The accessibility and conservation character of this area makes it an ideal area for the study of L. hochstetteri populations. As a first step to characterise the diet and trophic level of L. hochstetteri within ... |
author2 |
Alfaro, Andrea Breen, Barbara |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Najera-Hillman, Eduardo |
author_facet |
Najera-Hillman, Eduardo |
author_sort |
Najera-Hillman, Eduardo |
title |
Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand |
title_short |
Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand |
title_full |
Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand |
title_fullStr |
Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand |
title_full_unstemmed |
Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger 1861 (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the Waitakere Ranges, New Zealand |
title_sort |
leiopelma hochstetteri fitzinger 1861 (anura: leiopelmatidae) habitat ecology in the waitakere ranges, new zealand |
publisher |
Auckland University of Technology |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10292/736 |
geographic |
New Zealand |
geographic_facet |
New Zealand |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_relation |
https://hdl.handle.net/10292/736 |
op_rights |
OpenAccess |
_version_ |
1778532687118598144 |