Snares Islands Research Articles

Variation in the size of Buller's albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) eggs

The effect of minimum maternal experience, individual and year on egg size variation, breeding success and sex of the surviving chick were investigated in Buller's albatrosses (Thalassarche bulleri) breeding at the Snares Islands. Minimum maternal experience and individual effects were studied over the 9 years 1996–2004, while a second set of data allowed inter‐annual variation in egg size to be investigated over 4 additional years (1961, 1969, 1970, and 1993). Egg length, breadth, volume and eccentricity did not vary between years, but all four variables varied significantly between individuals. The size of eggs laid by one individual varied less than the variation across the population as a whole. Egg volume increased with minimum maternal breeding experience, mainly because eggs became broader but not longer, up to the fourth breeding attempt. There was a weak positive relationship between egg size and breeding success, but this correlation was confounded by maternal breeding experience. Breeding success decreased markedly among birds with >20 years breeding experience. There was no relationship between egg size and the sex of the resulting chick. The significant effects of minimum breeding experience and individual on egg size appear to be typical of seabirds. However, unlike other studies of egg size in albatrosses, we did not detect any between‐year effects, perhaps because the experience of the breeding population changed little during the study period.

New species and records of Laboulbeniales from the subantarctic islands of New Zealand

Until now Rhachomyces kenodactyli Balazuc & W. Rossi has been the only species of Laboulbeniales known to occur on Coleoptera in the Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Campbell and Snares Islands, which lie 48° to 35° S. Four new species (Diphymyces depressus, Diphymyces leschenii, Laboulbenia subantarctica and Laboulbenia loxomeri) and five new records for the subantarctic (Cucujomyces phycophilus, Diphymyces penicillifer, Laboulbenia sp. 1, Rhachomyces sp. 1 and Teratomyces sp. 1) are reported, increasing the known number of taxa tenfold. An expanded geographic range for Rhachomyces kenodactyli is reported. A relatively high percentage (12%) of known beetle species in the subantarctic serve as hosts for Laboulbeniales. This host utilization rate is higher than that in tropical and north temperate regions. The high proportion of intertidal coleopteran taxa in the subantarctic fauna probably accounts for the greater number of host species utilized. Fungi on intertidal beetles (Omaliinae [Staphylinidae], Oopterus [Carabidae] and Kenodactylus audouini [Carabidae]) are known from many host individuals and collections, while those on terrestrial species are known from few, and in some cases, a single collection or host. The sporadic occurrence of some species encountered increases the likelihood that a few species of Laboulbeniales on Coleoptera probably remain undiscovered in the region.

Review of unreported shore-fly genera of the tribe Scatellini from the New Zealand subregion (Diptera: Ephydridae) with description of three new species

Two unreported genera and their included species of the shore-fly tribe Scatellini Wirth and Stone that occur in the New Zealand subregion are reviewed. One genus, Haloscatella Mathis, is represented by three species in the subregion and Limnellia Malloch by two. Three of the species, all in the genus Haloscatella, are new (type locality in parenthesis): H. balioptera (New Zealand. Chatham Island: Tennants Lake (43 49.4'S, 176 34'W)), H. karekare (New Zealand. North Island. AK: Karekare (37 00.2'S, 174 28.8'E)), and H. harrisoni (New Zealand. Bounty Islands: Proclamation Island). The fourth and fifth species are in the genus Limnellia: L. abbreviata (Harrison), new combination (originally described in Scatella), was described from specimens collected on Snares Islands, and L. maculipennis Malloch was originally described from a female collected in Sydney, Australia, and is represented by two females from North Island (near Auckland and Hamilton) and a female from South Island (Christchurch). In addition to describing the new species and to facilitate their identification, the tribe and genera are diagnosed, and a key is provided to the known genera of Scatellini from the New Zealand subregion.

Simulating the distribution of southern Buller's albatross using an individual‐based population model

Summary A spatially explicit, individual‐based population model (IBPM) for southern Buller's albatross Thalassarche bulleri bulleri was developed to simulate the species’ at‐sea distribution and interactions with fishing fleets. Satellite tracking data for birds from colonies on Snares Islands and Solander Island (south of South Island, New Zealand) suggest that the feeding grounds utilized by a bird, and the duration of its foraging trips, are dependent upon colony, sex, pairing status and developmental stage of egg/chick. These dependencies were incorporated into the IBPM. Simulated distributions were compared with independent shipboard observations by using the IBPM to make replicated ‘virtual counts’ corresponding to each shipboard count. Each shipboard count was assigned a score reflecting the likelihood that a count of this magnitude would have arisen if the true populations behave as described by the IBPM. Randomization tests indicated that, for the months in which we had adequate telemetry data (March–July), predicted and observed distributions were very similar at scales down to 1 degree2. There was some evidence that bird densities around the south‐west corner of New Zealand's South Island were underpredicted in July, and at the scale of individual shipboard counts the ship data showed greater fine‐scale aggregation than the virtual data. Comparison of observed and simulated distributions early in the breeding season (January and February, for which we had no telemetry data) suggested that the foraging behaviour of birds prior to egg laying differs from that exhibited by either breeding or pre‐breeding birds later in the season. Synthesis and applications. In combination with reported by‐catch rates, our IBPM may enable us to derive fishing gear‐specific per‐capita capture rates for Buller's albatross. Our results also emphasize that it may be necessary to represent responses of individual birds encountering vessels at a finer spatiotemporal scale before it will be possible to make robust demographic predictions of the consequences of changes in fishing practices.

Taxonomy of North and South Island snipe (Aves: Scolopacidae: Coenocorypha), with analysis of a remarkable collection of snipe bones from Greymouth, New Zealand

The taxonomy of the extinct New Zealand snipe (Coenocorypha spp.), formerly resident in both the North and South Islands, is addressed by morphometric analysis of fossil bones from widespread localities in both islands compared with a large sample of South Island snipe bones from a fossil site at Cobden Quarry, Greymouth. A single radiocarbon age of 3656 ± 80 yr BP and the presence of the Pacific rat Rattus exulans (Peale, 1848), introduced to New Zealand c. 650 yr BP or perhaps as early as 2000 yr BP, indicates a late Holocene age for the Cobden fauna. Comparisons of the North and South Island fossil bones with historically known or extant taxa from offshore islands support the specific distinction of North and South Island birds, and their referral to C. barrierensis Oliver, 1995 or North Island snipe and C. iredalei Rothschild, 1921 or South Island snipe, respectively. In addition, the mensural data support the elevation of the Snares Island snipe to species level as C. huegeli (Tristram, 1893). The data support the taxonomic status quo for Chatham Island snipe C. pusilla (Buller, 1869), Auckland Island snipe C. aucklandica aucklandica (G. R. Gray, 1845), and Antipodes Island snipe C. a. meinertzhagenae Rothschild, 1927. The status of the extinct Forbes’ snipe C. chathamica (Forbes, 1893) was not examined.

Diet of southern Buller's albatross (Diomedea bulleri bulleri) and the importance of fishery discards during chick rearing

Southern Buller's albatrosses (Diomedea bulleri bulleri Rothschild) are frequently associated with fishing vessels off southern New Zealand, and may depend substantially on discards from fishing vessels, particularly trawlers, during chick rearing. To test this hypothesis, the diet was determined from 188 chick regurgitations collected at The Snares (May 1996, July 1996 and 1997) and Solander Island (May and July 1997). Fish (mostly discards but also some small species obtained naturally) was the dominant prey category, occurring in 92% of samples, and forming 65% by weight of solid food consumed. Salps (Pyrosoma sp. and lasis zonaria) were the most abundant prey items (44% of all items), and second most important by frequency of occurrence (78%) and weight (24%). Cephalopod remains (mostly arrow squid (Nototodarus spp.) and Histioteuthis atlantica) occurred in 53% of samples, but contributed only 17% by number and 7% by weight. Other dietary items included crustaceans (chiefly Munida gregaria, Nectocarcinus antarctica, and Lepas anatifera), bird feathers, and flotsam. Fishery discards were present in 70% of samples, constituted 60% of the diet by weight, and comprised 91% of the weight of all fish consumed. Discard composition was dominated by Gadiformes (mostly hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) and macrourids) in 1996, and by jack mackerel (Trachurus sp.) in 1997. Breeders at The Snares took more discards in July 1997 (68 g per sample) than May or July 1996 (31 and 28 g respectively), those at Solander Island took more in May (56 g) than July 1997 (29 g). In May 1996, the diet of birds at The Snares tended to be biased towards fish (both discards and natural prey) after long foraging trips, but towards cephalopods after short trips. Sexual differences in diet and discard consumption tended to be more pronounced amongst samples from The Snares. The high, and apparently increased proportion of fish in the diet, strongly suggest that discards from fishing operations have a beneficial effect on the population of southern Buller's albatrosses breeding on The Snares.

Area codes for recording specimen localities in the New Zealand subregion

For the New Zealand mainland, 29 previously published two‐letter codes defining collection areas are reviewed, with their boundary definitions. An additional eight area codes are here defined for the outer islands of the New Zealand subregion: Kermadec Islands (KE), Three Kings Islands (TH), Chatham Islands (CH), The Snares Islands (SN), Auckland Islands (AU), Campbell Island (CA), Antipodes Islands (AN), and Bounty Islands (BO). More general area codes are added for the North Island (NO), South Island (SO), New Zealand (NZ), and the Ross Dependency (RO) in Antarctica. The main purpose of the codes is to facilitate retrieval and documentation of specimens.

Basement geology of the Campbell Plateau: Implications for correlation of the Campbell Magnetic Anomaly System

Abstract Two classes of basement rock are recognised on the Campbell Plateau: silicic to intermediate plutonic rocks, and quartzose metasedimentary rocks. The plutonic rocks, from Auckland Island and petroleum exploration wells Pakaha-1, Tara-1, and Pukaki-1, are petrologically similar to granites from southern Stewart Island, Snares Islands, and western South Island and produce similar Cretaceous K-Ar ages. Granodiorite from Bounty Island (K-Ar age 189 Ma) is petrologically comparable with rocks in the Foveaux Strait area. Metasedimentary rocks from Campbell Island, the sea floor near Bounty Islands, and petroleum wells Kawau-1A, Hoiho-1C, and possibly Rakiura-1, are comparable with early Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks (e. g., Greenland Group) on the West Coast of the South Island, as well as Robertson Bay Group of northern Victoria Land and other Antarctic suites, and basement from DSDP hole 281 on the South Tasman Rise. They are distinct compositionally from late Paleozoic and Mesozoic metasedimentary rocks of eastern New Zealand (Caples and Torlesse terranes). Magnetic anomalies on the Campbell Plateau (Campbell Magnetic Anomaly System) have previously been correlated with the Stokes Magnetic Anomaly System. Since Caples and Torlesse rocks lie immediately north and east of the Stokes Magnetic Anomaly System throughout onshore New Zealand, but quartzose metasedimentary rocks occur both south and north of the Campbell Magnetic Anomaly System on the Campbell Plateau, these anomaly systems cannot follow the same tectonic terrane boundaries. Therefore the Campbell Magnetic Anomaly System should not be correlated with the Stokes Magnetic Anomaly System, weakening the basis for the Campbell Fault, which has been postulated to offset the two anomaly systems.

Breeding systems of New Zealand Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica and Chatham Island Snipe C. pusilla; are they food limited?

New Zealand Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica were studied over six breeding seasons on the Snares Islands. The study area (7.5 ha) held about 20 pairs at a density of 3.2 ± O.5 pairs/ha, plus 5 to 25 nonterritorial birds. Most matings were monogamous but simultaneous polygyny was recorded in one territory (by two different males) in four consecutive seasons. Males courtship fed females before egg‐laying. The typical clutch was two eggs, laid three days apart. Incubation was shared equally by the sexes in monogamous pairs and took 22 days. Some females with polygynous mates attempted to incubate unaided, which took about 38 days. Broods were split at hatching, with the male caring for the first chick to leave the nest. Chicks were fed by adults for at least 41 days, and did not become independent until about 65 days old. Growth rates were slow compared to Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and full plumage took about 54 days to attain. No pairs were double‐brooded but 43% of pairs that failed during incubation or early chick‐rearing renested together. Some breeders of both sexes who had lost their dependent chick bred a second time with a new mate while their first mate continued rearing the surviving chick (sequential polygyny and polyandry). Hatching success was 80%, and fledging success was 48%. Each pair produced, on average, O.6 fledglings per year.Chatham Island Snipe C. pusilla were studied on Rangatira Island during the 1983–84 breeding season. Breeding density was about 5.6 pairs/ha. The breeding system was very similar to that for C. aucklandica but chicks became independent at about 41 days old. Hatching success was 89%.Compared to Common Snipe, Coenocorypha snipes occurred at high densities, had courtship feeding, large eggs, a long interegy interval, a small clutch, shared incubation and a long incubation period. Nest desertion rates were high, but overall hatching success was also high, chick growth rates were slow, there was a long period of chick dependence and a long relaying interval following nest failure or chick loss. Survival rates of both adults and chicks were high. These differences are attributed to the absence of predation, and to intense intraspecific competition for food in a stable environment.

Effects of the 1982–83 El Niño Event on Two Endemic Landbirds on the Snares Islands, New Zealand

The major El Nino/Southem Oscillation event of 1982-83 disrupted weather patterns at the Snares Islands in the New Zealand subantarctic. There was an abnormal preponderance of westerly and south-westerly winds, rainfall was 3.6 times greater than the mean for the succeeding four summers and temperatures were significantly cooler than three of the four subsequent summers. Compared with four succeeding years, the few Snares Island Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica huegeli that bred in 1982-83 did so 24 days later on average, breeding was successful in significantly fewer temtories (20% c.f 46434%) and 3.1 times fewer young per temtory left nests (0.4 c.f. 0.91-1.90). Adult mortality measured by density in the winter following the El Nino was 2.5 times greater than the mean for the 1984 to 1987 winters. High adult mortality and low recruitment of juveniles following the 1982-83 season resulted in a low density of snipe in the study area in 1983-84. Only one Black Tit Pezroica macrocephala dannefaerdi nest was found in 1982-83. The first Black Tit fledglings seen in 1982-83 were a full month later than the mean date for three subsequent years. Widespread reproductive failure and delayed breeding by Snares Island Snipe and Black Tit in 1982-83 and high mortality of adult Snares Island Snipe during the 1983 winter were probably caused by a reduction in their invertebrate food supply.

Aerial Displaying and Flying Ability of Chatham Island SnipeCoenocorypha pusillaand New Zealand SnipeC. aucklandica

SummaryMiskelly, C.M. (1990). Aerial displaying and flying ability of Chatham Island Snipe Coenocorypha pusilla and New Zealand Snipe C. aucklandica Emu 90, 28–32.Chatham Island Snipe Coenocorypha pusilla and New Zealand Snipe C. aucklandica were studied intensively during one and six breeding seasons respectively, and observations of aerial displays and related behaviours recorded. Chatham Island Snipe gave three types of acoustic aerial displays. The displays were performed only at night. Type 1 was a strident monosyllabic call, also given in several contexts on the ground. Type 2 was a series of disyllabic calls identical to a common territorial display given on the ground. Type 3 began with a series of disyllabic calls and ended with a non-vocal ‘roar’ considered homologous to the ‘drumming’ displays of Gallinago snipes. Evidence for non-vocal acoustic displaying by three subspecies of New Zealand Snipe is discussed. The intensively studied Snares Island Snipe C. aucklandica huegeli was not seen to give aerial displays. Chatham Island Snipe were flushed significantly more frequently and flew further than Snares Island Snipe, and had significantly lower wing-loadings. The aerial displays of Chatham Island Snipe were similar to descriptions of aerial displays of the ‘Chubbia’ snipes of South America: Cordilleran Snipe Gallinago stricklandii, Andean Snipe G. jamesoni and Imperial Snipe G. imperialis.

Fungi of New Zealand subantarctic Islands

Abstract A short historical account is given of fungal collections from the New Zealand subantarctic islands. Records of 28 fungus species from Auckland Islands, 27 from Campbell Island, and 9 from Snares Islands are based on collections made by botanists during a small number of brief visits over the period 1840–1985. There are no records from the two other subantarctic island groups, Bounty and Antipodes Islands. Substrates for the majority of fungi recorded are indigenous plant species.

Lessonia adamsiaesp. nov. (Phaeophyta: Laminariales) from the Snares Islands, New Zealand

Abstract A new species of Lessonia Bory, L. adamsiae C. H. Hay, with wide, conspicuously corrugated blades, a massive, woody, buttressed base, long, terete branches, and a lacunate cortex is described from Snares Island, New Zealand. This, the only species of Lessonia growing on the Snares, is compared in detail with the following species: — L. corrugala Lucas, which is endemic to Tasmania and hitherto the only Lessonia species previously described with corrugated blades; L. variegata J. Ag. from mainland New Zealand, L. brevifolia J. Ag., so far recorded from Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, and Bounty Islands; L. nigrescens Bory from Chile and southern Peru; L. flavicans from the Falkland Islands and the Fuegian region of South America; L. vadosa Searles from Fuegia and the Falklands, and L. trabeculata Villouta et Santelices from northern and central Chile. The occurrence of this very distinctive species on an island so close to the much larger and more widely dispersed population of L. variegata on the New Zealand mainland is discussed in terms of recent geology and ocean circulation patterns.

A Census of Buller's Albatross Diomedea Bulleri at the Snares Islands, New Zealand

A Census of Buller's Albatross <i>Diomedea Bulleri</i> at the Snares Islands, New Zealand

Littoral barnacles of The Snares islands, southern New Zealand (Cirripedia: Thoracica)

Abstract Ibla idiotica, Lepas australis, Calantica villosa, Chamaesipho columna, Tetraclitella purpurascens, Notobalanus vestitus, and Notomegabalanus campbelli are reported for the first time from The Snares. The occurrence of Calantica spinosa and Epopella plicata is confirmed. Habitat information and recorded distribution in New Zealand are given for each species. The Snares barnacle fauna is restricted both in diversity and in numbers of individuals. This may be due to high wave energies, strong winds which aid desiccation, and counter-flow of currents, which might disrupt larval dispersal from the north and north-west.

Botanical notes on some southern New Zealand islands

Abstract Little Solander Island (8 ha) has a flora of 10 vascular species and a single liverwort, compared with S3 vascular species, 33 liverworts, and 30 mosses on nearby Big Solander Island (100 ha). Scrub and grassland vegetation is greatly disturbed by the burrowing of southern diving petrels. The occurrence on Little Solander Island of Stilbocarpa identical to S. robusta of Snares Islands is confirmed, and discussed in the light of variation within the genus on other southern islands. Vegetation and flora are described for the following Muttonbird Islands, south-west of Stewart Island: Poutama, Putauhina, Big, Chimneys, Betsy, and Kundy. The growth and structure of low forests of the tree daisies Olearia Iyallii and O. angustifolia is discussed and related to bird populations.

Echinodermata of The Snares islands, southern New Zealand

Habitat information, frequency of occurrence at depth ranges, collections and sight records, and live colours of Echinodermata from The Snares (48 ° 07′S, 166 ° 36′E) are recorded. Forty species are now known from the islands, 16 of which are new records. The Snares appear to be an ecotone between southern New Zealand (Forsterian Province) and the southern islands (Antipodean Province) having stronger affinities with southern New Zealand.

The Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands

Abstract A taxonomic study of midges collected in the subantarctic islands of New Zealand yielded 22 species of Chironomidae and 4 of Ceratopogonidae. Only four of the chironomids occur elsewhere, three on ‘mainland’ New Zealand and one on The Snares islands. Of the 15 species found on the Auckland Islands, 11 on Campbell Island, and 5 on the Antipodes Islands, respectively 9, 4, and 2 are endemic. Nine new species are proposed in existing genera: Parochlus rennelli, P. reductus, P. gressitti, P. brevis, Telmatogeton antipodensis, Eukiefferiella heveli, Cricotopus aucklandensis, Chironomus antipodensis, and C. subantarcticus. Gressittius n.gen. is proposed for Corethra antarctica Hudson (type-species). Semiocladius n.gen. is proposed for Camptocladius crassipennis Skuse, and S. kuscheli n.sp. is described. Eight further new genera are proposed, with the following new species as type-species: Kuschelius dentifer, Mecaorus elongatus, Pterosis wisei, Hevelius carinatus, Gynnidocladius pilulus, Nesiocladius gressitti, Nakataia cisdentifer, and Maryella reducta. Genera Halirytus Eaton and Psamathiomya Deby are synonymised with Telmatogeton Schiner. Gressittius antarcticus (Hudson), Ablabesmyia mala (Hutton), Telmatogeton magellanicus (Jacobs), T. amphibius (Eaton), T. macquariensis (Brundin), Semiocladius crassipennis (Skuse), S. endocladiae (Tokunaga), and Calopsectra funebris (Freeman) are new combinations. Of the ceratopogonids, only one species occurs elsewhere in New Zealand. Three species, only one of them endemic, were found on the Auckland Islands; two were found on Campbell, of which only one is endemic. Forcipomyia kuscheli and Dasyhelea aucklandensis are proposed as new species.

Plankton swarms and their predators at the Snares Islands (note)

Abstract At times two species of euphausiids (Nictyphanes australis and N. capensis) and three species of hyperiid amphipods (Hyperia luzoni, Parathemisto gandichaudii, and P. gracilipes) occur in swarms close to the shores of the Snares Islands. Four species of birds (Daption capense, Diomedea bulled, Lams novaehollandiae, and Puffinus griseus) and six species of fish, including four reef fish (Latris lineata, Mendosoma lineatum, Notothenia angustata, N. microlepidota, Pseudolabrus cinctus and P. fucicola), were observed feeding on these Crustacea. These swarms seem to be important to the Snares Islands ecosystem as food for the large populations of petrels breeding there.

Tardigrada of New Zealand

Abstract This paper treats the biosystematics of 55 species of Tardigrada found in New Zealand and its offshore islands. The genera Oreella, Echiniscus, Pseudechiniscus, Hypsibius, Macrobiotus, Limmenius n.gen., and Milnesium are represented. Areas sampled included Campbell Island, the Chatham Islands, D'Urville Island, the North Island, the Open Bay Islands, the South Island (and small islands in Fiordland), The Snares islands, Stewart Island, and the Three Kings Islands. There were 1354 collections comprising algae, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, and marine, freshwater, litter, and soil samples. Tardigrades were recovered from 577 terrestrial and semi-terrestrial habitats; no marine tardigrades were found. The systematics section includes keys to the taxa, illustrations, diagnoses, and descriptions of species. The following new species and subspecies are described - Echiniscus (Echiniscus) nigripustulus, E. (E.) porabrus, E. (E.) viniculus, E. (E.) zetrotrymus, Hypsibius (Hypsibius) allisoni, H. (Isohypsib...