New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Breeding biology and breeding success of the blue penguin (Eudyptula
minor) on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island
Sol Heber*
Centre for Nature Conservation, Georg-August University,
von-Siebold-Str. 2, 37075
Göttingen, Germany
Kerry-Jayne Wilson
Laura Molles
Bio-Protection and Ecology Division
Lincoln University
PO Box 84, Lincoln 7647
Canterbury, New Zealand
*Address for correspondence: Sol.Heber@gmx.de
Abstract This paper presents the first
detailed study of the
timing and breeding success of an apparently declining population of
blue penguins (Eudyptula minor) on the West Coast, South Island,
New Zealand. Nest contents of 138 natural burrows and 19 nest boxes
were determined at regular intervals during the 2006 breeding season.
Hatching, fledging, and overall breeding success rates were
comparatively high at 78.9, 83.9, and 66.2%, respectively, suggesting
that the apparent population decline cannot be explained solely by low
breeding success. With 1.18 fledglings produced per pair, productivity
was lower than on the east coast of the South Island, possibly due to
the absence of double clutching. The high incidence of road kills
suggests that road traffic may be a major contributing factor to the
decline of the blue penguin population in the study area.
Keywords Eudyptula minor;
breeding success; breeding
timing; conservation; New Zealand; productivity; road kills;
threats; West Coast
Z07031; Online publication date 22 February 2008; Received 5 July
2007; accepted 10 December 2007
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 63–71
0301–4223/08/3501–0063 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008
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