The Ecology and Conservation Group
Manuela Barry
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Postgraduate StudentPhD StudentJunior Research Officer (part-time) Email: Building 5, Gate 4, Oteha Rohe, Albany Campus, Massey University. Tel: +64 9 414 0800 ext 41197 Fax: +64 9 443 9790 Supervisors: Assoc Prof Dianne Brunton, Dr Weihong Ji & Dr Uri Shanas (University of Haifa, Israel) |
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RESEARCHThe social behaviour of New Zealand's largest gecko Hoplodactylus duvaucelii
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FUNDING BODIES
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PUBLICATIONS/ REPORTSBarry M, Ji W & Brunton DH 2007. The mating system of New Zealand's largest gecko: Hoplodactylus duvaucelii (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34(3): 260. Ji W, Baling M, Barry M, van Winkel D, Wedding C, Barr B & Brunton DH 2007. Translocation of Duvaucel's gecko and shore skinks to Tiritiri Matangi Island, Motuora Island and Massey University captive breeding facility (Abstract Only). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34 (3): 264-265. Barry M 2004. Wildlife tourism in Australia: Testing two wildlife-viewing strategies on free-living kangaroos in far western New South Wales and assessment of ecological effects. Unpublished Diploma Thesis. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. |Abstract (PDF, 46 KB)| |
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CONFERENCES ATTENDED2007 - Australian Society for Herpetologists Conference, Albany, Western Australia. 2007 - Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand Biennial Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand. 2004 - 17th Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, Kinscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. |
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EXPERIENCES
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Our current knowledge of the behavioural ecology of the Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) and most of New Zealand's other lizard species is still very limited.
A handful of studies have contributed important findings on population characteristics of the Duvaucel's gecko such as habitat use (Whitaker 1968), growth rate (Barwick 1982) and reproductive output (Cree 1994).
However, published research on Duvaucel's gecko social interactions and reproductive behaviours are rare and mainly anecdotal.
With this research project I aim to investigate some fundamental aspects of social behaviour in the Duvaucel's gecko, including the level of social organization, conspecific communication and the ability of individuals to recognise kin.
Further, I will investigate the interplay of stress and reproductive hormone concentrations over time and compare the reproductive and stress hormone patterns of captive and wild populations.
Due to the secretive nature and nocturnal habits of the Duvaucel's gecko, most of the behavioural observations will be carried out on a captive population housed at the Massey University in Auckland.
Additional data will be collected from two wild populations at Korapuki Island (Mercury Island group) and Fanal Island (Mokohinau Island group).
Endocrine assays will be conducted to describe seasonal hormone patterns and genetic analyses will be used to determine the degree of social organisation (relatedness).