New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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The limitations of using kiore (Rattus exulans) diet-sampling to determine woodrose (Dactylanthus taylori, Balanophoraceae) distribution on Hauturu (Little Barrier Island), New Zealand

SAM M. FERREIRA

Department of Conservation
Auckland Conservancy
Private Bag 68-908
Newton
Auckland, New Zealand

GRAEME ATKINS

Department of Conservation
Te Araroa Field Centre
8 Rimu Street
Te Araroa, New Zealand

SID MARSH
IRENE PETROVE

Department of Conservation
Little Barrier Island Field Base
Little Barrier Island
Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand

WALLY MAY
LANCE TE HIRA

Ngati Wai Trust Board
P.O. Box 1332
Whangarei, New Zealand

Abstract  We tested the use of a vertebrate diet-sampling technique to assess its suitability for determining woodrose (Dactylanthus taylorii) distribution on Hauturu (Little Barrier Island). Kiore (Rattus exulans) is the only suitable vertebrate occurring on the island. Populations of kiore varied between three years of comparison and were not predictable during flowering periods of D. taylorii. Stains of presumed D. taylorii colouring were recorded in guts, but no confirmed D. taylorii bracts or flowers were recorded. Furthermore, no signs of D. taylorii were recorded in the gut of an animal six hours after it was observed eating a D. taylorii specimen. We concluded that the technique has limited application with kiore as a sampling animal.

Keywords  diet-sampling technique; woodrose; Dactylanthus taylorii; kiore; Rattus exulans; distribution

B00038
Received 6 September 2000; accepted 12 April 2001

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2001, Vol. 39: 465-470

0028-825X/01/3903-465 $7.00 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 2001

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (502K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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