The Ecology and Conservation Group
Joanne Peace

RESEARCH

Role of pine plantation invertebrates in native vertebrate diet

Three ecosystems pine (Pinus radiata) plantation, native forest, and the boundary of pine and native forest) are being compared to investigate the role pine plantation invertebrates play in the diet of native birds. The study site being used is the Hunua Ranges, Auckland Region, and the key species under investigation is the tomtit (Petroica macrocephala toitoi). Some tomtits will be captured and tagged to allow identification, and observations of foraging strategy and area covered while foraging made. Captured individuals will be held until scat is produced, and dietary analyses carried out. Due to the impact competitors and predators may have on tomtit diet and ecosystem nutrient flow they will also be investigated. Presence, density and diet of potential predators (e.g. morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae)) and competitors (e.g. mice (Mus musculus)) will be determined by observation and trapping. Invertebrate availability and presence is being investigated by taking leaf litter samples where tomtits are seen to forage. Through consideration and comparison of these food web characteristics within each study ecosystem this research aims to clarify the role that pine plantation invertebrates play in the diet of insectivorous native birds.

FUNDING BODIES

• Claude McCarthy Fellowship 2008
• Australasian Society of the Study of Animal Behaviour - Conference travel fund 2007
• Foundation for Research. Science and Technology
• Vice-Chancellor's Doctoral Scholarship
• Massey University
• New Zealand Federation for Graduate Women (North Shore Branch) 2006
• Coombs Memorial Bursary 2006
• International Ornithological Congress (2006 - conference travel fund)

PUBLICATIONS/ REPORTS

Peace J & Brunton D 2006. Diet and foraging behavior of native insectivorous birds in New Zealand native and exotic pine plantation forest (Abstract Only). Journal of Ornithology 147 (5): 226 Suppl 1.

Peace JE 2004. Distribution, habitat use, breeding and behavioural ecology of rainbow skinks (Lampropholis delicata) in New Zealand. Unpublished MSc Thesis. The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| Thesis (PDF, 2.8MB) | Appendices (ZIP & PDF, 4.8MB)|

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

2008 - New Zealand Ecological Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Peace JE & Brunton DH. Comparison of North Island tomtit (Petroica macrocephala toitoi) foraging behaviours, Hunua Ranges, New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 72 KB) | Oral presentation (PDF, 7.3 MB) |

2008 - 12th International Behavioral Ecology Congress, Ithaca, USA.
Peace JE & Brunton DH. Comparison of North Island tomtit (Petroica macrocephala toitoi) foraging behaviours in pine (Pinus radiata) and native forest habitat, Hunua Ranges, New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 73 KB) | Poster (PDF, 508 MB) |

2007 - Australasian Society of the Study of Animal Behaviour Conference, Canberra , Australia.
Peace JE & Brunton DH 2007. Comparison of North Island tomtit (Petroica macrocephala toitoi) foraging behaviours during the breeding and non-breeding season, Hunua Ranges, New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 71 KB) | Oral presentation (PDF, 7.1 MB) |

2006 - 24th International Ornithological Congress, Hamburg, Germany.
Peace J & Brunton D 2006. Diet and foraging behaviour of native insectivorous birds in New Zealand native and pine plantation (Pinus radiata) forest.
| Abstract (PDF, 44KB) | Poster (PDF, 552KB) |

2005 - Society for Conservation Biology Meeting, Brasilia, Brazil.
Peace J, Brunton D, Mitchel N, Ussher G 2005. Distribution, habitat use and reproductive biology of rainbow skinks (Lampropholis delicata) in New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 51KB) | Poster(PDF, 896KB) |

2005 - Australasian Society of the Study of Animal Behaviour Conference, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Peace JE & Brunton DH 2005. Comparison of Australian and New Zealand lizard behaviours; a case study of rainbow (Lampropholis delicata) and copper (Cyclodina aenea) skinks.
| Abstract (PDF, 76KB) | Oral presentation (PDF, 2.5 MB) |

2005 - ASH, SRARNZ & FiSH Conference, Springbrook, Australia (joint conference of Australian Society of Herpetologists, Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand & Fijian Society of Herpetologists.
Peace J 2005. Reproductive biology of rainbow skinks (Lampropholis delicata) in New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 75KB) | Oral presentation (PDF, 3.0 MB) |

2003 - New Zealand Ecological Society, Auckland, New Zealand.
Peace J 2003. Ecology of the rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata) in New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 74KB) | Oral presentation (PDF, 872KB) |

2003 - 10th Biennial Conference of the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand, Whakatane, New Zealand.
Peace J 2005. Ecology of the rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata) in New Zealand.
| Abstract (PDF, 73KB) | Poster (PDF, 397 KB) |

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