Recent research shows that native plant regeneration under wilding contorta pine (Pinus contorta) forest is limited mainly by the availability of native seeds.
Seed supply limits native regeneration under wilding pines
Back from the brink?
Seedlings of the nationally endangered Armstrong’s whipcord hebe were recently discovered for the first time at Enys Scientific Reserve in Canterbury by Moa’s Ark Research ecologist Dr Debra Wotton and Department of Conservation botanist Nick Head.
Can habitat restoration save endangered shrub?
We are investigating whether habitat restoration could be used to promote regeneration of the critically endangered dry plains shrub daisy, instead of spraying herbicide.
Fernbirds calling
I enjoyed a close encounter with a pair of North Island fernbirds in Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve a couple of days ago.
Fruit-eating animals spread invasive plants
In a paper recently published online, Moa’s Ark Research Principal Ecologist Debra Wotton and co-author Kate McAlpine (Department of Conservation) found that nearly a third of invasive plant species in New Zealand have fleshy-fruits whose seeds are dispersed by animals.
Lizards, berries & seed dispersal
Debra Wotton, Principal Ecologist & Director at Moa’s Ark Research, recently gave an invited talk on the role of lizards as seed dispersers in New Zealand at the SRARNZ (Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand) conference in Nelson.