The tiger beetle Zecicindela tekapoensis was described in 2018 from three specimens collected on the river flats of the lower Tekapo River, Canterbury, New Zealand. An extensive 2019 survey of various habitat types around the lower Pukaki and Tekapo Rivers resulted in the collection of additional specimens. Zecicindela tekapoensis was absent from degraded tussock lands and areas dominated by exotic pasture grasses, preferring open uncultivated shrubby herb field dominated by Rosa rubiginosa, Pilosella officinarum/praealtum, Styphelia nesophila, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Carex breviculmis. Relative abundance was estimated at 0.042 beetles per pitfall trap night over the Tekapo river flats.

The presence of the nationally critical ground beetles, Holcaspis abdita and H. bidentella on the Simons Pass and Pukaki River Tekapo River Confluence Dryland Recovery Conservation Areas was confirmed and the habitat described. Pitfall trap surveys collected 63 specimens from most sites within the conservation areas, but predominantly on the Pukaki Flats where the habitat was degraded, indigenous herb field.

Amphibians are considered susceptible to a range of potential effects generated by climate change.We applied species distribution model (SDM) techniques to predict future areas of climatic suitability for Archey's and Hochstetter's frogs under two different climate change scenarios using climate variables derived from their existing geographic extent.For Hamilton's frog their current range was too restricted to model future range, so we used past climate data from current strongholds to establish that these sites may not be suitable for this species in the long-term.Model projections for Archey's frog showed the climatically suitable area expanded and extended south as greenhouse gas concentrations increased.Under the mid-range gas concentration scenario, suitable areas were similar in 2040 and 2090, and both had an 88% overlap with the current distribution.Under the high-end gas concentration scenario suitable areas for occupancy were similar to the mid-range concentrations by 2040 (84.6% overlap), but by 2090, while their currently occupied areas remain suitable for occupancy (85.5% overlap), the suitable area stretched south resulting in a large range expansion.For Hochstetter's frog, the predicted climatically suitable area also moved south, but the proportion of their current range able to be occupied lessened as greenhouse gas concentrations increased.With the mid-range concentrations, less than half of their current areas were still suitable to occupy by 2040 and 2090 (46.1% and 35.7% respectively).The high-end greenhouse gas pathway produced a similar outcome by 2040 with only 47.3% of the current occupied area remaining suitable.Under this pathway, by 2090, suitable areas were much further south, and the northern North Island was no longer suitable for Hochstetter's frog.We conclude that a shift from traditional conservation methods will be required to allow Leiopelma species to persist under a changing climate.

Translocations are becoming increasingly common although the effectiveness of this conservation tool for amphibians is highly variable.We reviewed ten translocations of Leiopelma frogs occurring between 1924 and 2016.Data were gathered on factors which may have influenced translocation outcomes.Results at each location were measured against an established four-step framework for stages of success: survival of individuals, reproduction, population growth, and population viability.Three conservation translocations and two mitigation translocations were considered to have failed, indicated by no or low survival of founders or lack of evidence of reproduction within a reasonable timeframe.Causes of failure include invasive predators at the release site, small founder numbers, homing, and poor habitat quality.The remaining five translocations were considered either successful (meeting all four stages of success), or on the road to success (meeting at least the first two stages of success).Successful translocations included predator control, total release of more than 70 founders, and in some cases adaptive management to address management decisions over time.Our findings emphasise the need for long-term post-release monitoring (> 25 years) to determine translocation success for K-selected species.Better, cost-effective, methods for monitoring population growth and population viability are required for Leiopelma frogs.Improvements could be made in open access reporting of methods and decision-making, disease risk analysis and stakeholder engagement.Further, improving our knowledge of what makes high quality Leiopelma habitat would help to objectively assess potential future translocation sites.Future translocations should consider the impacts of predicted global climate change; assisted migration may be required in the future.Translocations are a risky conservation strategy, so should only be undertaken with good cause, quality planning, and sufficient long-term resources for monitoring and management.Any future translocations for Leiopelma, whether motivated by conservation or mitigation, should follow best practice guidelines and use evidence-based decision-making to maximise outcomes.

ABSTRACTABSTRACTThe tiger beetle Zecicindela tekapoensis was described in 2018 from three specimens collected on the river flats of the lower Tekapo River, Canterbury, New Zealand. An extensive 2019 survey of various habitat types around the lower Pukaki and Tekapo Rivers resulted in the collection of additional specimens. Zecicindela tekapoensis was absent from degraded tussock lands and areas dominated by exotic pasture grasses, preferring open uncultivated shrubby herb field dominated by Rosa rubiginosa, Pilosella officinarum/praealtum, Styphelia nesophila, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Carex breviculmis. Relative abundance was estimated at 0.042 beetles per pitfall trap night over the Tekapo river flats.KEYWORDS: Zecicindela tekapoensisNeocicindelaCarabidaeCicindelinaeMackenzie Basin | Te Manahunahabitatthreat classification AcknowledgementsNicole and Duncan Lang Pukaki Flats Farming provided support for the initial work at Simons Pass. Darren Ward and John Marris kindly provided access and identification of specimens in the NZAC and LUNZ collections, respectively.Disclosure statementThe authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

The threat status of New Zealand's reptiles was re-evaluated, using revised New Zealand Threat Classification System criteria. The resulting list included 109 known taxa and undescribed entities an increase of 11 since the 2005 listing. Two species were listed as Extinct; 17 taxa were listed as Threatened, including six as Nationally Critical, three as Nationally Endangered, and eight as Nationally Vulnerable; 51 taxa were listed as At Risk, including 10 Naturally Uncommon, 11 Relict, 3 Recovering, and 27 Declining; eight taxa were listed as Data Deficient; five visiting marine species were listed as Vagrant, and two as Migrant; 23 taxa were considered Not Threatened; and there was one Introduced and Naturalised species. The six taxa assessed as being at greatest risk of extinction (Nationally Critical) were all South Island skinks. Five taxa had improved in threat status since 2005 as a result of conservation management action. Two taxa had worsened in threat status due to potential threats from rabbit-driven predator irruptions plus the new threat of dairy conversion destroying habitat. The threat status of a further 24 taxa changed as a result of improved knowledge or a change in the criteria and/or categories since 2005.

A reappraisal of the conservation status of the New Zealand frog fauna is presented using the 2008 version of the New Zealand Threat Classification System. Of New Zealand's four extant endemic species, three are judged to be ‘Threatened’ (Leiopelma hamiltoni being ‘Nationally Critical’, and L. pakeka and L. archeyi being ‘Nationally Vulnerable’) and one ‘At Risk’ (L. hochstetteri ‘Declining’). Three Leiopelma species are listed as extinct—they are known from bone deposits in caves throughout the country until some time in the last 1000 years. Three introduced and naturalised Litoria species are abundant in New Zealand although two (L. aurea and L. raniformis) are threatened in their country of origin (Australia). An additional unidentified frog taxon from northern Great Barrier Island is listed as ‘Data Deficient’.

Mark-recapture methods were used to determine population abundance and life history of five grand (Oligosoma grande Scincidae) and two Otago (O. olagense) skink populations over 6 years at Macraes Flat, in southern New Zealand. The population ecology of declining and stable grand skink populations was contrasted and the life histories of grand and Otago skinks were compared. The life histories of both species were similar and characterised by slow maturity and longevity (3-5 and 4-6 years to produce first offspring and longevity Lip to 18 and 13.5 years in the wild; grand and Otago skinks respectively). With the exception of one grand skink population, all skink populations showed evidence of declines. Annual reproductive output (ARO) was estimated at 1.46 and 1.41 offspring per female per year (grand and Otago skinks respectively). These ARO values were markedly lower than those reported during a previous study at Macraes Flat during the same decade (2.17 and 2.34 respectively). The stable grand skink population excelled (relatively) in all life history traits measured: ARO of 1.66, 30% of newborns persisted 5+ years, adult survivorship averaged 0.84, and 36% of newborns were recruited to the adult population. In contrast, many of the declining populations were seriously deficient in one or more traits. This study raises concerns about the viability of small populations that have dropped below a critical size, beyond which one or multiple life history traits can act to further the decline. It is imperative that conservation managers of k-selected species move outside the 'improving adult survival' paradigm and begin to consider other potentially limiting population parameters.

Suitable habitat between Kaipo River mouth and Awarua point was surveyed for skinks. Three populations were found at four sites. Results from genetic work show all Big Bay skinks collected belong to a new species within the Oligosoma nigriplantare polychroma complex (C. Miller pers. comm.). Skinks were common in suitable habitat, and all habitat that appeared suitable was occupied. The exotic weed Ulex europaeus (gorse) encroaching on to stable cobble fields is likely to be the most immediate threat to Big Bay skinks, and gorse control should continue in order to keep cobble habitat clear.

A stage-structured population model was developed to predict which of nine hypothetical translocation scenarios was likely to produce the best outcome for the rare Hamilton’s frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni McCulloch). Model outcome was measured in terms of population growth rate and probability of extinction. Only females were modelled. The model predicted that moving at least 20 female adult frogs was the best strategy, and moving subadult frogs alone, or no frogs at all was the worst in terms of mean growth rate of both populations combined. When the new population was considered separately, introducing subadults alone was the worst strategy in terms of mean growth rate and extinction probability. Extinction of the donor population was most likely when 40 adult females were removed, and the extinction risk was reduced when only 20 were removed. We consider the most reasonable management strategy confirmed by the modelling and supporting qualitative datais the translocation of 20 adult and 20 subadult female frogs (with the concurrent translocation of 40 males). This scenario provides a balance between risk of extinction in the donor population and probability of success in the translocated population.

Both grand (Oligosoma grande) and Otago skinks (Oligosoma otagense) are threatened with extinction. Predation by introduced mammalian predators, in particular feral cats, is thought to be the major cause of decline. Survival of 5 grand and 2 Otago skink populations was monitored for 3 years before and 3 years during intensive predator control, targeting feral cats but also culling ferrets. In addition, 1 Otago and 2 grand skink populations served as controls. For both species, capture-recapture modeling of skink survival failed to find evidence that survival was significantly influenced by the removal of predators, but retrospective power tests showed uncertainty in this result was high. It is possible the residual predator populations were sufficient to depress skink survival during the treatment interval. Seasonal modulation of apparent survival was evident for both species. Grand skink survival was higher over the winter months and summer survival was characterized by episodic lows, the cause of which remains a mystery. By contrast, Otago skink survival was higher in summer than in winter and did not exhibit the severe lows recorded for grand skinks. My study exemplifies the difficulty in conducting an experiment aimed at guiding management, in a complex predator- species-rich mainland environment.

Maintaining connectivity in fragmented landscapes is a key principle of biological conservation. Although corridors are a widely accepted approach to connecting populations, their merits are still debated, and they may be impractical in many situations. A focus on management of the vegetation matrix between populations has been advocated as an alternative way to deal with habitat fragmentation and has theoretical support. We combined microsatellite DNA and demographic data to provide an empirical account of how two forms of agricultural land use affect the connectivity of insular populations of an endangered skink in southern New Zealand. The grand skink (Oligosoma grande) lives in small populations (approximately 20 individuals) on rock outcrops separated from one another by 50-150 m of inhospitable matrix vegetation (either native tussock grassland or exotic pasture). Skinks typically dispersed short distances, and the nature of the matrix both quantitatively and qualitatively affected dispersal dynamics. Skink populations in pasture were significantly more genetically structured and had less genetic variation than similar populations in tussock, implying less dispersal between populations in pasture than tussock. Furthermore, although female-biased dispersal was a feature of populations in tussock, no sex bias was evident in pasture. In addition, Bayesian individual-based genetic assignment tests that incorporated prior mark-recapture information revealed that some populations produced many emigrants but received few immigrants, whereas other populations were relatively insular Patterns of dispersal and response to matrix vegetation were complex, and the causes of these patterns deserve attention in future studies of habitat fragmentation. Managing the vegetation matrix may be a practical way to connect animal populations in some situations.

Leiopelma hamiltoni from Maud Island, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand is confined to two populations totalling approximately 19,000 individuals. In May 1997, 300 L. hamiltoni from Maud Island were translocated to nearby Motuara Island in an effort to expand their distribution and lower the risk of extinction for the species. By August 2002, 155 of the translocated frogs had been recaptured and the population contained a range of young to old frogs. Population estimates indicated the population on Motuara Island had stabilised with losses of the translocated frogs offset by new recruits. The first juvenile frog was found in January 1998, only 10 months after the translocation and 42 recruits were captured by August 2002. Although initial survival was low for the translocated frogs, survival following the initial 2-month settling-in period was high (71-100%). New recruits produced on Motuara Island had survival rates of 29-88%. Capture-recapture analyses support the view that the survival estimates include a large dispersal component. The a priori criteria for a successful translocation were met; the appropriateness of the Motuara Island habitat for breeding and adult survival was demonstrated.

Individual-based assignment tests are now standard tools in molecular ecology and have several applications, including the study of dispersal. The measurement of natal dispersal is vital to understanding the ecology of many species, yet the accuracy of assignment tests in situations where natal dispersal is common remains untested in the field. We studied a metapopulation of the grand skink, Oligosoma grande, a large territorial lizard from southern New Zealand. Skink populations occur on isolated, regularly spaced rock outcrops and are characterized by frequent interpopulation dispersal. We examined the accuracy of assignment tests at four replicate sites by comparing long-term mark-and-recapture records of natal dispersal with the results of assignment tests based on microsatellite DNA data. Assignment tests correctly identified the natal population of most individuals (65-100%, depending on the method of assignment), even when interpopulation dispersal was common (5-20% dispersers). They also provided similar estimates of the proportions of skinks dispersing to those estimated by the long-term mark-and-recapture data. Fully and partially Bayesian assignment methods were equally accurate but their accuracy depended on the stringency applied, the degree of genetic differentiation between populations, and the number of loci used. In addition, when assignments required high confidence, the method of assignment (fully or partially Bayesian) had a large bearing on the number of individuals that could be assigned. Because assignment tests require significantly less fieldwork than traditional mark-and-recapture approaches (in this study < 3 months vs. > 7 years), they will provide useful dispersal data in many applied and theoretical situations.

The threatened grand skink (Oligosoma grande) and Otago skink (O. otagense) live sympatrically in seral tussock grassland habitat of Otago, New Zealand. The diets of juvenile, male, and female grand and Otago skinks were investigated at five sites (grand skinks) and two sites (Otago skinks) in the vicinity of Macraes Flat, Otago. No differences were found in the diet of Otago skinks in relation to site, age, and sex class. For grand skinks, there was some evidence that site influenced diet, but the data were not convincing. No sex or age-based diets were found in grand skinks. In general, grand skinks consumed large quantities of small-bodied dipterans, as well as substantial amounts of the fruit Leucopogon fraseri and Melicytus alpinus. In contrast, Otago skinks consumed large amounts of the fruit Coprosma taylorae and Leucopogon fraseri, small-bodied coleopterans, and large bodied dipterans (Calliphoridae). Diet overlap between grand skinks and Otago skinks was greatest in midsummer, and at this time 78% of food items detected were ingested by both species. Pronounced diet separation was evident only in late summer, when both species ate only a small range of food items, and some "specialisation" in fruit dietary items was evident. Although both species appear to consume substantial amounts of fruit, Otago skinks rely on fruit for most of summer. For grand skinks fruit is also important, especially in May. Neither species are likely to survive long-term any habitat modification that destroys fruiting plants. Habitat restoration initiatives should target plant species favoured by both species, in particular C. taylorae, L. fraseri, and Melicytus alpinus.