New Zealand bats (pekapeka), comprising the long‐tailed bat ( Chalinolobus tuberculatus ) and the lesser short‐tailed bat ( Mystacina tuberculata ), are the country's only extant terrestrial mammals. Effective capture techniques are important for ecological research, monitoring and conservation management of these species. Acoustic lures are increasingly used to improve bat capture success, but little work has examined how lure design might be optimised for New Zealand bats. We compared capture rates during paired harp‐trapping trials using two acoustic lure stimulus sequences in three locations in Southland, New Zealand. One lure call sequence was derived from New Zealand bat social calls and the other derived from European bat social calls. Across 62 paired trap‐nights (31 trials), 58 bats were captured. Long‐tailed bats comprised most captures (70.7%), while lesser short‐tailed bats accounted for 29.3%. Traps broadcasting New Zealand‐derived lure stimuli captured bats significantly more frequently than traps broadcasting European‐derived stimuli. However, the number of bats captured per successful trap‐night did not differ between European and New Zealand lure sequences. These findings suggest that lure call origin may influence the probability of capturing bats, but not the number of bats captured. This study provides a preliminary assessment of acoustic lure performance and contributes to ongoing efforts to optimise capture techniques for New Zealand bat research.
Pest control is a global challenge for agriculture and biodiversity conservation, with the use of existing vertebrate pesticides increasingly constrained by regulatory, environmental, and social pressures. There is an urgent need for safer and more species-selective toxicants, but the development of novel vertebrate pesticides remains technically challenging. Novel methods to identify putative pathways for development are needed. Therefore, we focused on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for exploring a proof-of-concept approach for the identification of potential toxicant protein targets in an Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) conservation context, where invasive mammalian predators are the focus of pest control. GPCRs are a pharmacologically rich protein family extensively studied in humans and other model organisms. We evaluated two approaches for retrieving GPCR sequences from existing genomic databases, which both delivered comprehensive receptor repertoires for NZ pest and non-target species. We explored protein sequence, structure and toxicological relevance for a subset of GPCRs. We identified receptors exhibiting interspecific sequence and structural variation that may warrant further investigation for species-selective toxicant development. We also discuss the current challenges in progressing from candidate protein targets to validated toxicants. Although these represent early-stage findings within the broader pipeline of vertebrate toxicant development, our results show how genome mining approaches can support early prioritisation of toxicant protein targets by comparing proteins between pest and non-target species.
Biotic interactions are fundamental to the structuring of marine communities. Predator–prey and competitive interactions can drive species distribution, abundance and mediate individual behaviour. These interactions are especially important to understand in the context of restoration. There is little known about the relationship between three marine invertebrates that commonly co‐occur around New Zealand: blackfoot abalone ( Haliotis iris ), Cook's turban ( Cookia sulcata ) and the seven‐arm sea star ( Astrostole scabra ). Here, we describe the distribution and feeding behaviour of these species in a customary fisheries management area, the East Otago Taiāpure, where H. iris has been the focus of restoration. Using field surveys and laboratory experiments, we aimed to understand whether interactions among these species could threaten H. iris recovery. Field surveys conducted in 2012 and 2023 suggested no significant relationship between the densities of H. iris relative to C. sulcata and A. scabra ; however, a significant decline in H. iris between years was observed at one site. Laboratory experiments meanwhile found overlapping feeding preferences for H. iris and C. sulcata , no significant differences in grazing rates between H. iris and C. sulcata and direct and indirect effects of A. scabra presence on H. iris . This study highlights the importance of considering biotic interactions in management and adds to the literature on C. sulcata and the A. scabra , of which there is little.
A comprehensive review of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), including its molecular diversity and applications, is lacking. By comparing mtDNA structures from fish to mammals, this review provides a comprehensive account of the structural variations in vertebrate mtDNA in terms of its control region, structural heterogeneity, spacer sequences, sequence overlaps, and gene rearrangements. It discusses the inheritance, mutation mechanisms, and utilization of mtDNA markers, particularly cyt b and COI genes, in evolution and ecology, focusing on molecular barcoding. Moreover, focusing on technological advancements in next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and its revolutionary role in molecular biodiversity, ecological interrelations, and species extinction, we summarize different NGS‐based methods, namely minibarcode and SNP genotyping. eDNA metabarcoding further validated the capability of the COI marker as a minibarcode for fast and efficient biodiversity assessment. In this context, we discuss the relevance of mega‐biodiversity initiatives such as the Earth Biogenome Project and International Barcode of Life. The use of mtDNA in barcoding caters to intact specimens and scattered DNA fragments. This is a broad review of mtDNA structure and the role of a regulatory region, in addition to the functional biodiversity of the species.
Pycnocis Pecci-Maddalena, Souza-Gon & ccedil;alves & Lopes-Andrade gen. nov. (Ciinae: Ciini) is described to accommodate the four valid species currently placed in the Ceracis furcifer species group. These species are removed from Ceracis Melli & eacute;, 1849, mainly because of their relatively broad prosternal process, the apically enlarged lobes of the tegmen, and the transversely oriented basal baculum of the gonocoxites, in contrast with the sublaminate or laminate prosternal process, the acute or narrowly rounded tegminal lobes, and the obliquely oriented basal baculum observed in Ceracis. We provide an identification key to males of Pycnocis and new distributional records of Pycnocis cornifer (Melli & eacute;, 1849) comb. nov. from the Northeast Region of Brazil. We also discuss the use of basidiomes of Fabisporus as host fungi by ciids, the geographic distribution of Pycnocis species, and the composition of Ceracis after the most recent taxonomic works on the genus, including the present work.
Cephalopods play crucial roles in marine ecosystems due to their diverse and indispensable contributions to trophic webs. However, parasitological research on cephalopods remains limited in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), despite the commercial significance of certain squid species and the zoonotic potential of the parasites within them. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of parasitic infections in NZ deep-sea squid species. We examined 11 squid species, including the commercially harvested 'arrow' squids (Nototodarus sloanii and N. gouldi), alongside 5 additional large-bodied species: giant squid (Architeuthis dux), 'hooked' squids (Moroteuthopsis ingens and Onykia spp.), 'flying' squids (Todarodes angolensis and T. filippovae), Dana octopus squid (Taningia danae), and Pholidoteuthis sp., as well as a smaller-bodied glass squid (Teuthowenia pellucida), and cock-eyed squid (Histioteuthis sp.). Squid specimens were opportunistically collected during research surveys between 2016 and 2024. Their helminth parasites were sampled and sequenced for 28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, ITS1 and/or ITS2 rDNA. We identified 6 nematode taxa (Anisakis berlandi, A. pegreffi, Anisakis sp., Skrjabinisakis physeteris, Lappetascaris sp., and Crassicauda sp.), 3 cestode taxa (Tentacularia coryphaenae, Hepatoxylon trichiuri, and Clistobothrium sp.), and 1 trematode Accacoeliidae gen. sp. Furthermore, the genetic diversity of Anisakis spp. was analysed to explore potential influences of host geographic and phylogenetic patterns on parasite infections. This study contributes important baseline data to improve our understanding of parasite diversity in NZ cephalopods, with implications for ecological research and ecosystem management.
The extent of post-juvenile moult in passerines is influenced by both time constraints and environmental conditions. Conventional interpretations assume that shorter periods between fledging and adverse seasonal conditions should lead to less-extensive post-juvenile moults. However, this relationship often fails to hold across species. We propose a threshold model in which time constraints limit moult extent only up to a certain point, beyond which environmental factors become the primary evolutionary drivers of moult extent. We tested this model using the native passerines of mainland New Zealand, a largely non-migratory assemblage with a long breeding season (September-January), allowing us to disentangle time constraints from other ecological pressures. Post-juvenile moult extent was quantified using two metrics: mass of wing feathers replaced and occurrence of primary replacement. Phylogenetically corrected GAMs revealed no simple linear decline in extent with later fledging dates, peaking at intermediate values, particularly in species that replace primaries. Environmental predictors also played a key role: extent increased with habitat openness and decreased with latitude. The relative importance of predictors differed between metrics: habitat openness explained most variation in feather mass replaced, whereas fledging date best predicted primary replacement. These results are compatible with a threshold relationship between time constraints and post-juvenile moult extent in New Zealand passerines, suggesting that when time constraints are moderate, environmental adaptations play an important role in shaping this moult.
Squids are important components of marine ecosystems because of their role as both predator and prey. Across the Tasman Sea, Gould's arrow squid (Nototodarus gouldi) is a commercially targeted ommastrephid squid that supports an economically important fishery. However, the ecology of this species in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) waters remains poorly understood. This study is the first integrative analysis of the feeding ecology of N. gouldi within the NZ Exclusive Economic Zone. We analyzed gut contents by combining morphological observations to identify hard parts, DNA barcoding to identify soft tissue, and a parasite analysis to further understand trophic linkages and parasite-host associations. In total, 29 prey taxa spanning six phyla were identified, including 17 prey species not previously reported in the diet of N. gouldi. The most frequently occurring prey items include cephalopods (with evidence of cannibalism), crab megalopa, red rock crab, and opalfish. Two parasites were identified, which can be associated with anisakiasis in humans. Most individuals (68.8%) had Anisakis sp. larvae encysted in the wall of their stomach caecum, and three individuals had Hysterothylacium sp. within their gut contents. Our results suggest that N. gouldi has a diverse and opportunistic feeding strategy and plays an important role in coupling pelagic and benthic food webs. This ecological information is important for the development of ecosystem-based fisheries management models.
A taxonomic species, the formal name applied to a segment of an evolving lineage, is a scientific representation named by a taxonomist. There is a dearth of taxonomists, which continues to decline, leading to the oft-mentioned bottleneck in the formal naming of undescribed species and their revision. For conservationist's dependent upon formal names and practitioners who describe species, this has many implications for the preservation and protection of species. While advances in technologies, such as machine learning and genetic barcoding, offer potential benefits for species monitoring, early detection of invasive species, discovering and identifying species, they are by no means universal for all invertebrate groups and cannot replace the role of a taxonomist for providing binomials for identifiable threat-listed species.
Parasites are integral components of biodiversity, yet they remain poorly represented in large-scale biogeographic theory. In this study, we test whether marine parasites follow three macroecological patterns established for free-living taxa, namely that parasite species richness: (1) scales positively with area (both host body size and geographic area) and (2) follows the latitude diversity gradient and (3) increases with host species richness. We assembled a spatially explicit dataset of parasites of cartilaginous fish, which were relatively well-sampled, and consisted of 7198 host-parasite associations involving 778 host species and 2093 parasite species. We found strong support for all predictions. Host traits (notably body size and range size) explained significant variation in parasite richness across host species. Parasite richness followed a bimodal latitudinal gradient, with richness peaks in both hemispheres-consistent with emerging patterns in marine biodiversity. Finally, parasite richness covaried with host species richness across space. These results provide robust, global-scale evidence that parasite distributions are shaped by the same large-scale processes as free-living organisms.
As aquaculture expands, a deeper understanding of its ecological implications, particularly those associated with organic enrichment, is needed. Marine filter-feeding invertebrates serve as ecosystem engineers, nutrient cyclers and trophic intermediaries and are essential to maintaining water quality. However, their physiological responses, host-parasite interactions and reproductive biology under stress are poorly understood. New Zealand scallops (Pecten novaezelandiae), horse mussels (Atrina zelandica) and brachiopods (Neothyris lenticularis), which are endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, were exposed to controlled laboratory and in situ organic enrichment regimes designed to simulate organic loading associated with finfish aquaculture. Their responses were explored using histopathological techniques. Several parasites and tissue conditions were detected, with some showing variability across organic enrichment levels. For instance, in A. zelandica, a higher prevalence of Endozoicomonas-like organisms (ELOs) was observed under enrichment, and an unidentified parasite was linked to haemocyte infiltration. Pecten novaezelandiae showed a lower prevalence of ELOs in enriched treatments, and some individuals exposed to lower enrichment conditions exhibited digestive gland tubules without digestive epithelial virosis. No parasites were observed in N. lenticularis, but subtle changes in ceroid accumulation in relation to organic enrichment were observed. The insights gained from this research establish an initial foundation for understanding benthic invertebrate health in relation to environmental stressors and highlight the importance of considering host physiology and host-parasite-microbiome dynamics within an ecosystem-based aquaculture management framework.
Although conservation practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand are world-leaders in predator exclusion fencing for threatened species conservation, the degree to which fences protect invertebrates has not been extensively studied, especially in non-forested environments. This study examines the potential impact of a predator exclusion fence on the threatened Tekapo ground w & emacr;t & amacr; (Hemiandrus fabella) in a dryland environment. A mark-recapture study was conducted to compare w & emacr;t & amacr; relative abundance, sex ratios, size, and microhabitat associations inside and outside a predator exclusion fence. W & emacr;t & amacr; captures were 4.8 times higher inside the fence. Females accounted for approximately 67% of w & emacr;t & amacr; both inside and outside the fence and were larger inside the fence. W & emacr;t & amacr; captures were higher in pitfalls situated in open microhabitats dominated by mat cover plants compared to microhabitats dominated by grasses. Overall, the predator exclusion fence appears to have had a significant positive impact on the H. fabella population; however, this result is strictly correlative because no population data was collected before the fence was installed. We hypothesise that the predator exclusion fence has increased the w & emacr;t & amacr; population within by excluding hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) which are considered a key predator of the species. We discuss evidence for and against this mechanism as a driver of w & emacr;t & amacr; population density and what future work is required to confirm our hypothesis.
In 1968, people interested in amphibians and reptiles formed the New Zealand Herpetological Society (N.Z.H.S.). Boosted by a handful of herpetologists employed in a government department or university, it produced regular newsletters, held monthly meetings in Wellington, formed an Auckland branch and organised occasional field trips. Membership grew from the inaugural 46 to about 160. The early N.Z.H.S. was the first New Zealand herpetological network and forerunner to two current herpetological organisations: the contemporary N.Z.H.S. and the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand, formed in 1987. The 25 newsletters issued from 1969 to 1974 contained useful reference material, including a series of 'field-guide' articles providing information and photographs for various native lizards. Tensions developed between members (mostly in Wellington), mainly interested in studying wild animals, and those (including many Auckland members) more interested in keeping captive animals. In 1974, no Wellington members stood for office, and the running of the society shifted to Auckland. This article reviews the formative first 6 years of the N.Z.H.S.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (SMM), New Zealand's largest pest-fenced ecosanctuary, provides a unique opportunity to study invertebrate responses to mammal eradication. Beetles and w & emacr;t & amacr; were monitored within the mouse-free southern exclosure and in adjacent comparable forests on the mountain, within the predator-proof fence (in 2004/05, then 2006/07 to 2012/13; n = 8 years), with methods and analyses repeated for monitoring in summer 2023/24 (1 year) and then compared across the 9 years. Data collected during 2004-2013 showed higher beetle species richness and abundance inside the southern exclosure in several earlier summers, with differences in patterns through time and among beetle size classes; the 2023/24 data revealed little difference between inside and outside. Beetle community composition changed following mammal eradication and then changed again with increasing mouse densities outside the southern exclosure. W & emacr;t & amacr; showed a stronger positive response, with consistently higher abundance inside the southern exclosure across multiple years and declines outside when mouse control ceased, supporting evidence that large Orthoptera benefit from mammal, particularly mouse, removal. Nineteen years after mammal eradication, invertebrate communities continue to show variable responses; these responses are influenced by both predation from recovering bird populations and persistent mice. The SMM dataset represents the longest-running invertebrate monitoring in an ecosanctuary in New Zealand, providing critical insights into the long-term impacts of pest mammal removal. Decadal resampling will be needed to track ongoing responses, with the next sampling scheduled for summer 2033/34.
Insects use sensilla to detect chemical and physical stimuli, mediating behaviours such as mate finding, foraging and mechanosensory responses. The distribution and density of sensilla can be examined using scanning electron microscopy. Investigating these structures can help elucidate rarely observed behaviours (e.g. mate finding and foraging). The mating behaviour of the Geodorcus stag beetles of New Zealand is not well understood, as most species (eight of ten) are listed as 'threatened', 'at risk' or 'data deficient' under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. We examined the most common species of Geodorcus, G. helmsi, and compared sensilla on the maxillary palps, antennae and legs of males and females. Male antennae were more densely packed with sensilla and had sensilla campaniformia, absent in females. Additionally, male antennae were larger than those of females, scaling proportionally with body size, suggesting that males have greater sensory capacity and are likely attracted to a pheromone the females emit. Our study sheds new insight into the sensory biology, mating behaviour and life history of G. helmsi. More broadly, it contributes to understanding the reproductive ecology of Geodorcus. Understanding how these beetles interact and locate mates can inform conservation management, for example, by guiding captive breeding programmes and pheromone-based monitoring strategies for threatened Geodorcus species.
Monitoring population trends are essential for the conservation of threatened species, and establishing best-practice methods improves the efficiency, accuracy and long-term value of data collected. For the nationally endangered Prodontria lewisii (Cromwell chafer beetle), monitoring has typically included soil core sampling for larvae, and pitfall trapping or nighttime quadrat surveys for adult beetles. However, these approaches often yield low capture rates and/or limited comparability between years. We tested whether adding drift barriers or bait (canned pear) to pitfall traps would increase adult beetle captures. Drift barriers increased captures by 29% across two seasons, whereas bait had no effect. A preliminary assessment also indicated that trail cameras can detect P. lewisii, although capture rates were low, and further testing-particularly earlier in the season-is required to determine their efficacy. Overall, pitfall traps fitted with drift barriers provide a more reliable monitoring method for P. lewisii than unmodified pitfalls. If applied consistently within the Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve each year, this approach has the potential to generate robust long-term population trend data, but substantial work is still required to develop an appropriate sampling design. Given other known limitations of pitfall traps, we recommend drift barriers and different baits are also investigated for use in combination with trail cameras as an alternative monitoring tool, and that other novel monitoring technologies are investigated.
The study of Neotropical Apicotermitinae remains challenging due to the large number of undescribed taxa (Linnean shortfall) as well as the scarcity of distributional data (Wallacean shortfall). Despite recent efforts to reduce the first one, the second remains an even more significant challenge. To mitigate these gaps, we conducted a study based on a collaborative taxonomy approach, which brought together samples and expertise from multiple research groups across South America. We describe Scheffrahnitermes ubuntu, gen. and sp. nov., a new Apicotermitinae genus and species characterized by the presence of two asymmetrical sclerotized armed plates on the enteric valve seating (EVS), the EVS forming a small unique sac, and by workers that turn reddish when preserved in alcohol. The collaborative effort revealed a wide distribution for the new taxon, spanning various phytogeographic domains in Brazil (Amazon, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and Caatinga) and the Colombian Llanos. Our work demonstrates the efficacy of cooperative taxonomy as an essential tool for overcoming biogeographical deficits, promoting a more robust understanding of termite diversity and distribution.
In ecological field studies where species-level identification is challenging, practical approaches based on external morphological traits may provide a useful basis for rapid assessments. Here, New Zealand serpulid worms were initially grouped based on their external calcareous tube morphology and subsequently sequenced using the 18S rRNA gene to explore whether tube features may be used to distinguish ecologically relevant morphogroups in local Spirorbinae and Serpulinae assemblages. Preliminary phylogenetic analyses consistently grouped individuals assigned to the same morphogroups into distinct molecular lineages, indicating a close association between tube-based grouping under field conditions and genetic differentiation. While recent studies have improved the description of tube features for some Spirorbinae taxa, much of the group remains insufficiently characterised, particularly at regional scales. Our results highlight the potential of tube-based morphogroups as a practical framework for organising serpulid assemblages in ecological studies and emphasise the need for future work combining detailed morphology, voucher material and expanded molecular reference libraries to further validate and refine this approach, including its application in palaeoecological reconstructions.
Bird biodiversity faces persistent threats from habitat loss, wildlife trafficking, and exotic species. Conservation strategies such as artificial nests and supplementary feeders are widely implemented to support managed populations. However, these structures may also facilitate resource overlap among taxa. We inspected artificial and natural nests and feeding stations in conservation areas to document patterns of use by birds, bees, and social wasps, and conducted a Hymenoptera survey to compare artificial-structure occupants with local diversity. Nest occupancy differed by nest type and height, with wasps were more commonly recorded in lower polyvinyl chloride nests, while birds and bees occupied wooden and natural cavities at similar heights. At feeders, birds and wasps frequently cooccurred without displacement, whereas the exotic honeybee Apis mellifera consistently displaced birds upon arrival. Of the 46 Hymenoptera species recorded in the area, only six used artificial structures. We also documented a fatal attack by A. mellifera on Ara ararauna. These findings highlight how artificial structures are differentially used by taxa and underscore the importance of monitoring their implementation in conservation contexts.
The Cromwell Chafer Beetle (Prodontria lewisii) is an endangered flightless scarab that is extremely vulnerable to extinction because of its small single population at the Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve. Captive rearing and translocation are being tested as additional tools to support existing conservation management of this species. To optimize both, a better understanding of factors supporting larval development are required. This study investigates variation in development rates and survival over a 6-month period when larvae were reared on an exotic vs. a native grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum and Rytidosperma maculatum) and either with or without the addition of an exotic herbaceous plant (Rumex acetosella). Both grasses successfully supported the growth and survival of P. lewisii larvae. There was no significant difference in either monthly or overall weight change between larvae reared on the plant combinations tested. Survival did not vary significantly between larvae reared on the exotic vs the native grass (60% vs. 67% survival) and there was no significant difference in mortality risk. However, in the presence of the herb Ru. acetosella, survival of larvae reared on the exotic grass increased from 60% to 86%. This equated to a significant 3.7-fold increase in mortality risk for larvae reared on the exotic grass in the absence of Ru. acetosella compared to those with the herb present and supports the hypothesis that diet diversity may benefit the development of larvae.
