Diet, nesting behaviour, and home range size of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in the braided riverbeds of the Mackenzie Basin, New Zealand ...
The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was introduced to New Zealand in 1870 and it has now become a predator of endangered ground-nesting birds in the braided riverbeds of the central South Island. To see if the hedgehog is a widespread predator and whether other endangered species are at risk...
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
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University of Canterbury
1999
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.26021/14355 https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/105260 |
| Summary: | The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was introduced to New Zealand in 1870 and it has now become a predator of endangered ground-nesting birds in the braided riverbeds of the central South Island. To see if the hedgehog is a widespread predator and whether other endangered species are at risk, I examined the hedgehog diet through gut analysis. Insects were the dominant prey of hedgehogs, particularly Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Dermaptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera. Rare species of insect were also eaten. No remains of the threatened robust grasshopper (Brachaspis robustus) were found; this is attributed to their rarity. However, a consistently high percentage frequency (15 ± 2.0 %) of bird remains and/or eggshell was found in all five drainage basins. Lizards were found in 9 ± 1.7 % of guts containing food. They were consumed significantly more by adult females than by adult males. I also studied hedgehog nesting behaviour on the riverbeds where many endangered fauna live. Hedgehogs were found to nest ... |
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