New Zealand ecosanctuaries: types, attributes and outcomes

Innes, John; Fitzgerald, Neil; Binny, Rachelle N.; Byrom, Andrea E.; Pech, Roger P.; Watts, Corinne; Gillies, Craig; Maitland, Matt; Campbell‐Hunt, Colin; Burns, Bruce R.

doi:10.1080/03036758.2019.1620297

Cited by 59 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Gains from exclusion fencing may be greater still at sites adjacent to highly urbanized habitats with large source populations of invasive mammals. Exclusion fencing projects may also capture the interest and support of the public, especially communities in close proximity to the refuge ( Innes et al, 2012 ; Innes et al, 2019 ). As complete island-wide eradication of mammalian predators is not feasible at this time, and endangered Hawaiian waterbirds are conservation-reliant due to impacts from invasive mammals and the necessity of habitat management for nesting success ( Reed et al, 2012 ; Underwood et al 2013 ), our study suggests that mammal-exclusion fencing is a highly effective option to increase nesting success in remaining habitat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammal-exclusion fencing improves the nesting success of an endangered native Hawaiian waterbird

Christensen

Harmon

Wehr

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Invasive predator control is often critical to improving the nesting success of endangered birds, but methods of control vary in cost and effectiveness. Poison-baiting or trapping and removal are relatively low-cost, but may have secondary impacts on non-target species, and may not completely exclude mammals from nesting areas. Mammal-exclusion fencing has a substantial up-front cost, but due to cost savings over the lifetime of the structure and the complete exclusion of mammalian predators, this option is increasingly being utilized to protect threatened species such as ground-nesting seabirds. However, non-mammalian predators are not excluded by these fences and may continue to impact nesting success, particularly in cases where the fence is designed for the protection of waterbirds, open to an estuary or wetland on one side. Thus, there remains a research gap regarding the potential gains in waterbird nesting success from the implementation of mammal-exclusion fencing in estuarine systems. In this study, we compared the nesting success of endangered Hawaiian Stilts (Ae‘o; Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) within a mammal-exclusion fence to that of breeding pairs in a nearby wetland where trapping was the sole means for removing invasive mammals. We predicted success would be greater for breeding pairs inside the exclusion fence and the hatchlings inside the enclosure would spend more time in the nesting area than hatchlings at the unfenced site. During a single breeding season following construction of a mammal-exclusion fence, we used motion-activated game cameras to monitor nests at two sites, one site with mammal-exclusion fencing and one site without. Clutch sizes and hatch rates were significantly greater at the fenced site than the unfenced site, but time spent by chicks in the nesting area did not differ between sites. These results add to the mounting body of evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of mammal-exclusion fencing in protecting endangered birds and suggests it can aid endangered Hawaiian waterbirds toward recovery. These results also suggest that the single greatest predatory threat to the Hawaiian Stilt may be invasive mammals, despite a host of known non-mammalian predators including birds, crabs, turtles, and bullfrogs, as the complete exclusion of mammals resulted in significant gains in nesting success. As additional fences are built, future studies are necessary to compare nesting success among multiple sites and across multiple seasons to determine potential gains in fledging success and recruitment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammal-exclusion fencing improves the nesting success of an endangered native Hawaiian waterbird

Christensen

Harmon

Wehr

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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“…To date, over 50 fences have been erected for the protection of nesting seabirds (Cooper, 2013). Predator exclusion fences in New Zealand alone protecting more than 30 bird species behind 28 fences (Burns, Innes, & Day, 2012), 15 fences >25 ha; Innes et al, 2019), with reports of widespread recovery of forest birds and restored ecosystem function as a result of predator exclusion fencing (Bombaci, Pejchar, & Innes, 2018;Miskelly, 2018). In Europe (Mayer & Ryan, 1991) and North America (Malpas et al, 2013), game birds and waders are regularly protected using both long term fencing such as peninsula fences, and short-term fencing to opportunistically protect individual nests.…”

Section: Australia Should Use More Predator Exclusion Fencing For Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Australian birds could benefit from predator exclusion fencing

Ringma

Barnes

Bode

2020

Conservat Sci and Prac

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The use of predator exclusion fencing is widely recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms for protecting threatened fauna from introduced or overabundant predators. It is now used throughout the world to protect avian fauna. In Australia, where predator exclusion fencing is used extensively to protect threatened mammals, such fences for threatened avifauna are surprisingly sparse. In this perspective we demonstrate that (a) the use of predator exclusion fences for avifauna is popular in other countries with similar conservation problems, (b) a large number of Australian avian species could benefit from dedicated predator exclusion fences, and (c) despite legitimate concerns, if well designed, predator exclusion fences can pose little risk to threatened birds or are outweighed by the potential benefits. We believe wider use of predator exclusion fencing to protect Australian threatened birds could be highly beneficial and should be more regularly considered as a management action by conservation practitioners.

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“…New Zealand also leads in another technology for managing non-native species: setting aside areas on the main islands, surrounding them with a more or less elaborate fence that excludes invaders (see above), clearing them of invaders, then maintaining and possibly enlarging the fence to produce reserves for native species that would otherwise be threatened (Burns et al 2012;Innes et al 2019). The technology builds on the previously initiated strategy of unfenced 'mainland islands' in which predator removal and other intensive operations would aim to control but not necessarily eradicate invasive species as part of full-scale ecological restoration (Saunders and Norton 2001).…”

Section: Terrestrial Invasion Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several species threatened by the excluded mammals, such as the takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri), have been introduced to the site. In addition to other New Zealand mainland islands and peninsula-fenced sanctuaries (Innes et al 2019), a similar project is now underway in the Hawaiian Islands to exclude feral pigs (T. Menard, pers. comm.…”

Section: Terrestrial Invasion Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Zealand as a leader in conservation practice and invasion management

Simberloff

2019

Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand

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New Zealand has played a prominent role in conservation and especially in invasion management. The plethora of 19 th century animal and plant invasions led to much research, beginning in the early 20 th century, on their impacts and how to counteract them. New Zealand particularly became a leader in control and eradication of mammals and in biological control of pestiferous insects and plants. By hosting international conferences on eradicating invasions, and by mounting ambitious, inspirational projects with innovative technologies, New Zealand further increased its influence in this area. The nation has also inspired the world with vigorous, innovative attempts to rescue endemic animal species on the brink of extinction. An impressive New Zealand programme of reserves for conservation of marine species and ecosystems is threatened by the fact that conservation goals and those of commerce and recreation can never fully align. As in other nations with globally important biodiversity, New Zealand has seen disputes between its native inhabitants and European colonists and their descendants over conservation and customary use of this resource. Recognition of a rightful Māori role in these matters, both in the Treaty of Waitangi and recently, greatly surpasses deference given elsewhere to native peoples on related issues, but implementing this role remains challenging.

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New Zealand ecosanctuaries: types, attributes and outcomes

Cited by 59 publications

References 60 publications

Mammal-exclusion fencing improves the nesting success of an endangered native Hawaiian waterbird

Mammal-exclusion fencing improves the nesting success of an endangered native Hawaiian waterbird

Australian birds could benefit from predator exclusion fencing

New Zealand as a leader in conservation practice and invasion management

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