Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts

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Stable isotopic (δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C) analysis of wood in trees growing in past and present colonies of burrow-nesting seabirds in New Zealand. I. δ¹⁵N in two species of conifer (Podocarpaceae) from a mainland colony of Westland petrels (Procellaria westlandica), Punakaiki, South Island

Richard N. Holdaway¹, David J. Hawke², Olivia M. Hyatt³, and G. C. Wood⁴

¹Palaecol Research Ltd, PO Box 16 569, Hornby, Christchurch, New Zealand and School of Biological Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. piopio@paradise.net.nz

²School of Applied Science, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, PO Box 540, Christchurch 8015, New Zealand.

³Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

⁴Department of Conservation, Punakaiki Field Centre, Punakaiki, New Zealand.

Abstract   Marine nitrogen (N) has been traced into terrestrial and freshwater food chains at petrel (Aves: Procellariiformes) colonies on the South Island of New Zealand, but the effects of N or other marine-derived nutrients on the productivity of mainland forests are unknown. Mean ring widths in matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia; n = 3) and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum; n = 2) trees growing in a Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica) colony were 0.9-1.4 mm yr^-1, similar to ring widths reported elsewhere. However, series of much wider rings in cores showed that trees in a petrel colony can experience periods of accelerated growth. δ¹⁵N values of whole wood were, at 3.2-11.1‰, significantly enriched in comparison to other temperate forest trees. The highest δ¹⁵N values were at the cambial and pith ends of different cores, so isotopic fractionation during N remobilisation is unlikely to have been significant. The radial extent of ¹⁵N enrichment suggests that petrels have bred at the site since at least the mid 18th century.

Keywords   Podocarpaceae; matai; Prumnopitys spicata; rimu; Dacrydium cupressinum; stable isotopes; nitrogen-15; tree growth; marine nutrients

R06012; Received 11 August 2006; accepted 2 May 2007; Online publication date 24 May 2007

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Volume 37, Number 2, June, 2007, pp 75—84

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