Our latest research reveals that unexpected modes of seed dispersal are critical to weed spread.
When seeds mislead, weeds succeed
Serendipitous discovery of Castle Hill forget-me-not
Moa’s Ark Research Principal Ecologist Dr Debra Wotton and University of Canterbury PhD candidate Jane Gosden recently made the exciting and unexpected discovery of a previously unknown population of the Nationally Critical Castle Hill forget-me-not.
Seed supply limits native regeneration under wilding pines
Recent research shows that native plant regeneration under wilding contorta pine (Pinus contorta) forest is limited mainly by the availability of native seeds.
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.
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.