Poor Knights Research Articles

Comparative phylogeography reveals pre-decline population structure of New Zealand Cyclodina (Reptilia: Scincidae) species

We examined the comparative phylogeography of all species within the endemic New Zealand skink genus Cyclodina to gain insight into the influence of historical processes on the biogeography of the North Island fauna. Until 1‐2 kya, six Cyclodina species occurred sympatrically across the North Island of New Zealand. However, most species have undergone dramatic distributional declines subsequent to the introduction of mammals and the arrival of humans. We compare the phylogeographic patterns evident in Cyclodina species in three biogeographic categories: widespread species (Cyclodina aenea, Cyclodina ornata), North Island disjunct relics (Cyclodina macgregori, Cyclodina whitakeri), and northeastern island relics (Cyclodina alani, Cyclodina oliveri, Cyclodina townsi). Mitochondrial DNA (ND2) sequence data was obtained from across the entire range of each Cyclodina species. We used Neighbour-joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods to examine the phylogeographic patterns present in each species. Phylogeographic patterns varied among species in different biogeographic categories. Substantial phylogeographic structure was evident in the two widespread species (C. aenea, C. ornata), with Pliocene and Pleistocene divergences between clades evident. Divergences among island groups in the three northeastern island relic species (C. alani, C. oliveri, C. townsi) occurred during the late Pliocene‐Pleistocene. By contrast, relatively shallow structure, indicative of late Pleistocene divergences, was present in the two North Island disjunct species (C. macgregori, C. whitakeri). The results strongly suggest that the Poor Knights Islands population of C. ornata represents a new species. We suggest that the contrasting phylogeographic patterns exhibited by Cyclodina species in different biogeographic categories might be related to body size, ecology, and habitat preferences. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95, 388‐408. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: lizard ‐ mitochondrial DNA ‐ ND2 ‐ Pleistocene glacial cycle ‐ skink ‐ topology tests ‐ volcanic activity.

Taxonomic Revision of the New Zealand Copper Skink (Cyclodina aenea: Squamata: Scincidae) Species Complex, with Descriptions of Two New Species

We completed a taxonomic revision for the New Zealand Copper Skink (Cyclodina aenea) species complex using morphological and molecular data. Two new species are described on the basis of several morphological characteristics, with the specific status of each species supported by mitochondrial sequence data (ND2). We also redescribe C. aenea. One of the new species is restricted to the Poor Knights Islands, whereas the distribution of the other new species is limited to northernmost region of Northland. Both new species exhibit significant genetic divergence from C. aenea (∼13.5% sequence divergence), indicating that each species has evolved in isolation from C. aenea for a substantial period of time.

Observations of mesoscale movements in the short-tailed stingray, Dasyatis brevicaudata from New Zealand using a novel PSAT tag attachment method

Short-tailed stingrays ( Dasyatis brevicaudata) are the largest stingrays in the world. They are common in New Zealand waters and aggregate seasonally in large numbers at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve (PKMR), where they are a major attraction. Pop-up satellite archival tags (PSAT) were attached to two female short-tailed stingrays at two New Zealand offshore islands (within and nearby the PKMR) to investigate patterns of movement. These are the first PSAT data published for a stingray species. The rays were tagged for 62 and 151 days using a novel method of tag attachment developed specifically for ray species. Analyses of geolocation, depth and behavioural data indicate neither ray moved large distances (≤ 25 km) from the tagging locations. However, they showed a seasonal shift to deeper waters, progressively increasing time spent at greater depths and decreasing time spent at shallow depths towards winter. In addition, one ray displayed strong diel vertical movements. The method developed for PSAT attachment to stingrays proved successful and can be applied for long-term (> 6 months) movement and behavioural studies.

Taxonomic revision of the marbled skink (Cyclodina oliveri, Reptilia: Scincidae) species complex, with a description of a new species

We have completed a taxonomic revision of the New Zealand marbled skink (Cyclodina oliveri) species complex. Morphological analyses and mitochondrial sequence data (ND2, ND4, Cytochrome b; Total 1933 bp) are used to describe a new taxon (commonly known as the “Mokohinau” skink) and redefine C. oliveri. The morphological and molecular data indicate that C. oliveri is distributed on the Poor Knights Islands, Mercury Islands and Aldermen Islands. The new species is restricted to the Mokohinau Islands, Hen and Chickens group, Little Barrier Island and Great Barrier Island. Our data demonstrate that there is no support for the separation of the Poor Knights Islands population of C. oliveri from those on the Mercury Islands and Aldermen Islands. The genetic data indicate that C. whitakeri is part of the C. oliveri species group. Divergence time estimates indicate that the C. oliveri species complex diverged during the late‐Miocene, with further divergences among island groups in C. oliveri including the origin of the new taxon during the late‐Pliocene and mid‐Pleistocene. We present a diagnostic key for Cyclodina.

Boulder transport by waterspouts: An example from Aorangi Island, New Zealand

In 1996 the vegetation on Aorangi Island within the Poor Knights Island Nature Reserve, New Zealand, was found to be severely damaged. The damaged zone consisted of a distinct trail of stripped soil and broken vegetation starting at sea level and travelling in an arc across the northeastern flank of the island. Cobbles encrusted with marine life, sea urchins and seaweeds, were deposited at elevations up to 45 m above sea level along and beside the damaged zone. Boulders up to 2 m in size were transported horizontally at elevations of 5–15 m above sea level, and larger boulders were destabilised at 25 m above sea level causing them to slide and roll downslope. Application of threshold entrainment relationships for tsunamis, storm waves and waterspouts indicates that a waterspout is the most probable mechanism for the observed damage and transport of large clasts. The addition of 2.5–5% of atomised water to the waterspout vortex significantly increases the flow competence. Hence, intensity T3–T5 (TORRO Tornado Intensity Scale) or F2 (Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale) waterspouts commonly observed around the New Zealand coast are capable of moving boulders up to 2 m in size.

Lobbying and Access: The Canons of Windsor and the Matter of the Poor Knights in the Parliament of 1485*

Lobbying and Access: The Canons of Windsor and the Matter of the Poor Knights in the Parliament of 1485*

A new location for the Poor Knights spleenwort (Asplenium pauperequitum, Aspleniaceae) on The Forty Fours, Chatham Islands, New Zealand

Documentation is made of the discovery of the Poor Knights spleenwort, (Asplenium pauperequitum) in a sample of vascular plant specimens collected from The Forty Fours. These islands are the easternmost outlier of the Chatham Islands archipelago. Hitherto this fern had been believed endemic to the Poor Knights Islands and Mokohinau Islands of the Hauraki Gulf, off eastern Northland, North Island, New Zealand. Frond and spore morphology together with chloroplast DNA sequences were used to confirm its identity. Whether this fern disjunction of some 1245 km is the result of vicariance or longdistance dispersal is discussed and long‐distance dispersal of fern spores or whole sporangia is considered most likely.

Survival, density and population composition of bellbirds (Anthornis melanura) on the Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand

Annual survival by age, sex and population size and structure were estimated for bellbirds (Anthornis melanura) from a banding study undertaken on 66 ha Aorangi Island, the Poor Knights Islands, during the period 1978–86. The most parsimonious model showed that survival varied little with age and between years, and survival of males was significantly greater than that of females. Recapture probabilities of males and females were similar, but did vary with age and among years. There was a greater proportion of adult males than adult females and sub‐adult males and females in the population, and among adults the male bias in the population was greater during the breeding season than at other times of the year. The high density of bellbirds on the Poor Knights and larger size of males may explain the reduced survival of females relative to that of males.

Lobbying and Access: The Canons of Windsor and the Matter of the Poor Knights in the Parliament of 1485

Lobbying and Access: The Canons of Windsor and the Matter of the Poor Knights in the Parliament of 1485

Revision of Zorion Pascoe (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endemic genus of New Zealand

The genus Zorion Pascoe (Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), commonly known as flower longhorn beetle, is endemic to New Zealand where it is widely distributed on the main and some offshore islands. A taxonomic revision of Zorion adults is given, including a description and illustrations of the genus. The previously known species Z. batesi Sharp, Z. guttigerum (Westwood), Z. minutum (Fabricius), and Z. opacum Sharp are redescribed; Z. castum Broun is synonymised with Z.guttigerum. Lectotypes are designated here for Z. guttigerum and Z. opacum. Six new species are described, Z. angustifasciatum sp. nov. from Three Kings Islands, Z. australe sp. nov. from South Island, Z. dugdalei sp. nov. from Poor Knights Island, Z. kaikouraiensis sp. nov. from the Kaikoura region, Z. nonmaculatum sp. nov. from D’Urville Islands, and Z. taranakiensis sp. nov. from the Taranaki region. The species Z. exiguum Gmelin has been excluded from the study because neither the original description nor the holotype could be located. A key to all ten species is included and diagnostic elytral spot patterns are illustrated. Biological information presented is based on publications, collecting records and our observations. A distribution map for all species is included and species distribution is discussed in relation to New Zealand’s biogeographical history.

Cyperus insularis (Cyperaceae), a new species of sedge from northern New Zealand

Cyperus insularis Heenan et de Lange is described as a new species for plants that have previously been considered to be a northern variant of C. ustulatus. This new species is distinguished from C. ustulatus by a suite of floral and vegetative characters. These include grey‐green leaves and involucral bracts, light pink or light purple‐pink leaf sheaths, a uniformly green culm, the inflorescence rays usually branched, glumes and ray bracts green at flowering and drying yellow brown to light brown at fruiting, and longer spikes, anthers, and filaments. The chromosome number of C. insularis is 2n = 112–114. C. insularis occurs mainly on northern offshore islands, and appears to be the only species of Cyperus present on the Kermadec, Three Kings, Poor Knights, and Mokohinau islands, while it is sympatric with C. ustulatus on the Hen and Chickens Islands, Great Barrier Island, and at several mainland locations. A lectotype for C. ustulatus f. grandispiculosus is selected from the Carse Herbarium.

Myrsine aquilonia and M. umbricola (Myrsinaceae), two new species from New Zealand

Myrsine aquilonia and M. umbricola are described as new species from New Zealand. M. aquilonia occurs on the Poor Knights Islands and at several places on the adjacent Northland Peninsula. It is distinguished from the other New Zealand species of Myrsine by an upright growth habit and being up to 12 m tall, spreading branches and branchlets, large‐diameter trunk, often producing suckers from exposed roots near the trunk, and large obovate green leaves with a prominent apical notch. M. aquilonia is considered to have a conservation status of “At Risk (Sparse)” using the New Zealand Threat Classification System, for while abundant on the Poor Knights Islands it is known from only a few plants at the other Northland locations of Tutukaka, Te Arai, and Unahi. Myrsine umbricola is known only from silver beech forest in the Tararua Range, lower North Island, where it is sympatric withM. divaricata. This species forms a small, bushy shrub up to 4 m tall with slender trunks, and has spreading branches and branchlets and shiny, obovate, dark green leaves. M. umbricola is assessed as having a conservation status of “Acutely Threatened (Nationally Endangered)” as it is known from few subpopulations, is restricted to a small geographic area, and appears to have recruitment failure. Myrsine divaricata A.Cunn. and M. ×montana Hook.f. are lectotypified and this hybrid is attributed to M. divaricata × M. salicina.

Rapid recolonisation of snapper Pagrus auratus: Sparidae within an offshore island marine reserve after implementation of no-take status

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 272:183-190 (2004) - doi:10.3354/meps272183 Rapid recolonisation of snapper Pagrus auratus: Sparidae within an offshore island marine reserve after implementation of no-take status Christopher M. Denny1,*, Trevor J. Willis2, Russell C. Babcock3 1Leigh Marine Laboratory, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand 2Laboratori Scienze Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Via Saint Alberto 163, 48100 Ravenna, Italy 3CSIRO Marine Research Floreat, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, Western Australia 6913, Australia *Email: c.denny@auckland.ac.nz ABSTRACT: This study reports the response of snapper Pagrus auratus to the establishment of no-take status in a marine reserve around the Poor Knights Islands in northeastern New Zealand. The Poor Knights and 2 reference locations, Cape Brett and the Mokohinau Islands, were sampled biannually for 4 yr using baited underwater video (BUV). Following the implementation of full marine reserve status at the Poor Knights in October 1998, snapper showed significant increases in abundance and biomass relative to fished control locations. This was particularly apparent for large snapper (>270 mm), whose numbers increased rapidly to levels 7.4 times higher in the final survey compared to the initial pre-reserve survey, and total snapper biomass increased by 818%. There was no significant increase in the abundance, biomass or size of snapper at the reference locations over this time. There was a strong seasonal trend in snapper abundance, with higher numbers in autumn (March/April) compared to spring (September/October). The daily batch fecundity was 11 to 18 times higher at the Poor Knights compared to the reference locations. Once fishing ceased in previously partially protected areas, a rapid recovery of snapper ensued, suggesting that partial fishing regulations are ineffective for protecting targeted species. The speed of increase in snapper density resulted from the immigration of adult fish into the reserve, rather than from within-reserve recruitment. KEY WORDS: Baited underwater video · Poor Knights · Fishing · Partial protection · Temperate reefs · Temporal variation Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 272. Online publication date: May 19, 2004 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2004 Inter-Research.

Do partial marine reserves protect reef fish assemblages?

Fish assemblages in the Mimiwhangata Marine Park, an area closed to commercial fishing but open to most forms of recreational fishing, were compared with adjacent fished areas. Two survey methodologies were used; baited underwater video and underwater visual census. Snapper ( Pagrus auratus), the most heavily targeted fish species in the region, showed no difference in abundance or size between the Marine Park and adjacent control areas. When compared to the fully no-take Poor Knights Island Marine Reserve and two other reference areas open to all kinds of fishing (Cape Brett and the Mokohinau Islands), the abundance and size of snapper at the Marine Park were most similar to fished reference areas. In fact, the Marine Park had the lowest mean numbers and sizes of snapper of all areas, no-take or open to fishing. Baited underwater video found that pigfish ( Bodianus unimaculatus), leatherjackets ( Parika scaber) and trevally ( Pseudocaranx dentex) were significantly more common in the Marine Park, than in the adjacent control areas. However, none of these species are heavily targeted by fishers. Underwater visual census found similar results with five species significantly more abundant in the Marine Park and five species more abundant outside the Marine Park. The lack of any recovery by snapper within the Marine Park, despite the exclusion of commercial fishers and restrictions on recreational fishing, indicates that partial closures are ineffective as conservation tools. The data suggest fishing pressure within the Marine Park is at least as high as at other ‘fished’ sites.

Geographic variation in morphology and flavonoid chemistry in Hebe pubescens and H. bollonsii (Scrophulariaceae), including a new infraspecific classification for H. pubescens

Geographic variation in morphology, leaf anatomy, and flavonoid chemistry is appraised in Hebe pubescens, H. bollonsii, and allied plants from islands of outer Hauraki Gulf, North Island, New Zealand. The circumscription of H. pubescens is modified to include plants from Great Barrier, Little Barrier, and the Mokohinau Islands, as well as the Coromandel Peninsula and immediately surrounding islands. A new infraspecific classification is proposed for H. pubescens, wherein three subspecies are recognised. Subspecies pubescens occurs on the Coromandel Peninsula and immediately surrounding islands, and also at Papanui Point on the western coast of the Firth of Thames. Subspecies rehuarum occurs on Great Barrier Island. Subspecies sejuncta occurs primarily on the Mokohinau Islands and Little Barrier Island, with a single plant also known on Great Barrier Island. Populations of H. pubescens probably form a cline of variation, and some forms of subsp. sejuncta share morphological features with H. bollonsii, which is here considered restricted to the Poor Knights Islands, the Hen and Chickens Islands, and nearby areas of the Northland coast. Possible relationships of H. pubescens and H. bollonsii are discussed. A key to the taxa of Hebe pubescens is provided.

Population structure, growth and longevity of Placostylus hongii (Pulmonata: Bulimulidae) on Tawhiti Rahi Island, Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand

Placostylus hongii, a threatened snail species, was studied on Tawhiti Rahi Island in the Poor Knights Islands group off the east coast of northern New Zealand between 1998 and 2000. Most live snails and empty shells were adults (83% and 85% respectively) and the low proportion of empty adult shells (36%) compared with live adult snails found in an area last burnt in the late 1950s suggests that the population there is still recovering. Growth was measured using snails recaptured with the aid of harmonic radar transponders attached to their shells. Increase in shell length varied from 6 to 25 mm per year in juveniles with shells >38 mm long, but it slowed when juveniles approached maturity (adult shell length 55-89 mm). The juvenile period is greater than three years and growth in shell length virtually stops when a thick aperture lip develops. This lip continues to thicken at 0.1-0.4 mm per year and can reach a maximum thickness of 15.5 mm, indicating that adults may live 10 years and possibly more than 30 years. A comparison of our data with two previous studies on the same population and on Aorangi Island, in the Poor Knights Islands group, confirms that these snails are slow developing, have low recruitment of adults, and that populations are probably maintained by a pool of long-lived adults. Our results indicate that following predator control on the mainland, the recovery of a snail population is likely to be slow. Once a population has recovered it could be maintained by intensively controlling rodents for periods of greater than three years (to allow recruitment of adults into the population) alternating with longer periods without control.

A new species of Hoheria (Malvaceae) from the poor knights Islands and hen and chickens Islands, New Zealand

Hoheria equitum is newly described from the Poor Knights Islands and Hen and Chickens Islands off the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. It differs from H. populnea in its smaller, glabrescent flowers, and broadly elliptic leaves with recurved margins which are entire or only shallowly serrulate. The fruit is not known.

Xeronemataceae, a New Family of Asparagoid Lilies from New Caledonia and New Zealand

Summary. A new family of Asparagales, Xeronemataceae, is described. This small family of two species is native to New Zealand and was formerly included by several authors in Phormiaceae, to which they are grossly similar. However, they differ in a number of significant ways, and the results of DNA sequence analysis strongly support them as occupying an isolated position as sister to a clade composed of most of the higher Asparagales, thus making their description as a new family appropriate. Xeronema Brongn. & Gris is a poorly known genus of two species. It was initially thought to be monotypic with the only species being X. moorei Brongn. & Gris from New Caledonia. However, in 1924 another species, X. callistemon W. R. B. Oliv., was discovered on inaccessible inland cliff areas of the Poor Knights Islands, situated 15 miles off the northeastern coast of New Zealand (Oliver 1925, 1926). Xeronema callistemon was later found on the outlying New Zealand island Taranga (Cranwell 1933) but has never been recorded growing naturally in mainland New Zealand. The two species are rather similar in morphology, but in general X. callistemon is a larger plant than X. moorei, and there are differences in flower structure; for example, X. callistemon has a more persistent style and shorter, more tapering seeds (Moore 1957). Both species have leathery, unifacial equitant (ensiform) leaves and congested racemes bearing elongate, crimson flowers that all face upwards. The stamens are highly exserted and have persistent filaments. All parts of the flowers are red or orange, including the pollen; they could be bird or butterfly pollinated. The flowers have six free tepals, six free stamens with versatile anthers dehiscing by longitudinal introrse slits and a secretory tapetum. Pollen is monosulcate, with a finely reticulate exine, and normally boat-shaped with an elliptical sulcus (Fig. 1A), also reported by Cranwell (1953) and Schulze (1982). In material examined here (with standard SEM techniques), we found rare trichotomosulcate grains (Fig. iB), with a Y-shaped sulcus, among predominantly monosulcate grains (Fig. 1A). The ovary is superior, trilocular, with axile placentation and several crassinucellate ovules per locule. Prominent, branched, highly vascularised septal nectaries extend from the ovary base to openings around the style base (Rudall unpublished). Calcium oxalate raphides are present in idioblasts throughout all tissues, but styloid crystals are absent (Prychid & Rudall 1999). The fruit is purplish, with numerous black seeds with papillate surfaces (Oliver 1926).

The vascular flora of Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, northern New Zealand

An annotated vascular flora of 282 taxa for Aorangi Island, Poor Knights Islands, is presented. Additional records (20 taxa) from Tawhiti Rahi Island, the other major island in the archipelago, are listed separately, resulting in a combined Poor Knights vascular flora of 302 taxa. Two new combinations, Wahlenbergia littoricola subsp. vernicosa and Xeronema callistemon f bracteosa, are made for plants previously treated as W. vernicosa and X. callistemon var. bracteosa, respectively. Only one taxon, Xeronema callistemon f. bracteosa, is provisionally accepted as endemic to the Poor Knights Islands. The control of the more serious weed species on the island is discussed. A case is made for including the Mokohinau Islands within the Poor Knights Ecological Region.

Movement of hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios) determined from tagging studies

Hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios) were tagged in south‐east South Island (SESI), Cook Strait (CS), and Poor Knights Islands (PKI), New Zealand, to determine their movements. 1623 fish were tagged and the overall recapture rate was 16.3%. Some hapuku were recaptured from the tagging sites (SESI 13%, CS 39%, PKI 40%), often after long periods at liberty, whereas others travelled substantial distances. The greatest distance travelled was 1389 km (by two fish) and the maximum period at liberty was 10.2 years. SESI hapuku tended to migrate northwards towards CS. The median distance travelled increased with hapuku length at recapture, suggesting that maturation and spawning stimulate migration. However, some of the smaller, immature hapuku also travelled several hundred kilometres. CS hapuku appeared to travel much shorter distances than SESI hapuku, but this may have been an artifact of the lower hapuku fishing effort outside the CS‐Kaikoura region. PKI hapuku showed very limited movements, and no interaction with CS or SESI fish. The results are consistent with the presence of a single stock in the SESI‐CS region, and possibly a separate stock in northern New Zealand.