New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Discovery and spatial assessment of a Hochstetter’s frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) population found in Maungatautari Scenic Reserve, New Zealand
Matthew Baber
Heather Moulton*
EcoQuest Education Foundation
RD3 East Coast Road
Pokeno
Auckland, New Zealand
matthew.baber@unh.edu
Chris Smuts-Kennedy
Ecological Consultant to Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust
168 Burns St
Cambridge, New Zealand
Neil Gemmell
School of Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
Michael Crossland
Waikato Conservancy
Department of Conservation
New Zealand
*Present address: Department of Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.
Abstract We describe the discovery, genetic status, and survey of a Hochstetter’s frog population (Leiopelma hochstetteri)
found in Maungatautari Scenic Reserve, New Zealand. The strongest
genetic affinities of the Maungatautari population are with a
population of frogs at Mt Ranginui, approximately 55 km away,
according to the single genetic sample taken. Frogs were found
over an area of at least 120 ha on Maungatautari, and the
encounter rate (0.66 frogs/person hour) and relative abundance
(2.7/100 m) was low compared to most other populations. The survey
results suggest that the population is relatively small, and that
introduced mammals, particularly ship rats (Rattus rattus) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa)
may pose a significant threat. Weather conditions and observer
experience/bias were also likely to have influenced our results.
Eradication of introduced mammals from Maungatautari is scheduled for
late 2006. Continued monitoring of frogs will document their response
to mammalian pest eradication, and the functional importance of
Hochstetter’s frog in a large mainland island free of introduced
mammals.
Keywords amphibians; anurans; frogs; Hochstetter’s frog; introduced mammals; Leiopelma hochstetteri; Maungatautari
Z05033; Received 26 September 2005; accepted 28 February 2006; Online publication date 16 May 2006
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2006, Vol. 33: 147–156
0301–4223/06/3302–0147 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2006
PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality (512K) | screen-quality (423K)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
