introduction to new zealand natural history part 2
TRANSCRIPT
+
New Zealand Natural HistoryTourguiding.wordpress.com
New Zealand NaturalHistory
Part 2Flora and Fauna
IMPORTANT…IMPORTANT…
Images you are about to see are some of our special places and their inhabitants many of which are ENDEMIC to New Zealand
- Features forming New Zealand’s National Parks and the UNESCO World Heritage Status
- Features which contribute to a booming tourism industry
Before humans…Before humans…
• The New Zealand islands looked very different than today
• No mammals except a couple of bat species and the NZ Fur seal
• An abundance of birds, many flightless
• Large forested areas of prehistoric trees throughout the country
Let’s take a closer look at the climate zones and at some of the native plants and animals that live
there today
The Alpine Zone
Ice covered mountains
Glaciers
Wide open valleys
Braided rivers
Aoraki Mount Cook
Mountains & Alpine Valleys
Tussock grasses grow here
600 species of Alpine Plants 600 species of Alpine Plants 93 % found 93 % found onlyonly in New Zealand in New Zealand
Mount Cook Buttercup
the world’s largest buttercup
Daisies and SpaniardsDaisies and Spaniardsspecially adapted for survivalspecially adapted for survival
Miniature broomsMiniature brooms
More buttercups, daisies and More buttercups, daisies and bristly carrotsbristly carrots
Flightless Takahe lives in Alpine tussock
(One known population left in the wild)
Kea - Worlds only Alpine ParrotKea - Worlds only Alpine Parrot(only in the South Island of New (only in the South Island of New
Zealand)Zealand)
Invertebrates – food for birdsInvertebrates – food for birds
The Temperate Forests
Podocarp Forests
•Totara
•Kahikatea
•Matai
•Rimu
•Miro
A few precious remnants left
Beech ForestsBeech Forestshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/33495997@N00/402696291/sizes/m/
Sliver
Red
Mountain
Black
Kiwi!?Kiwi!?http://www.flickr.com/photos/76074333@N00/281832147/sizes/m/
Karearea - New Zealand Falcon Karearea - New Zealand Falcon
NZ Robin and giant native wormNZ Robin and giant native worm
Tieke - SaddlebackTieke - Saddleback
Kereru – New Zealand Wood Pigeon
Rare Flightless Parrot KakapoRare Flightless Parrot Kakapo86 (+ about 5 new babies this year) 86 (+ about 5 new babies this year)
left in the worldleft in the world
Harakeke – New Zealand Flax
an amazing resource
Piwakawaka (Fantail) and TuiPiwakawaka (Fantail) and Tuihttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8611584@N06/2067358292/sizes/s/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbinns/2036385629/sizes/m/
The Subtropical Forest
Dense lush warm forest full of Dense lush warm forest full of diversitydiversity
Ancient Ferns – from 100million Ancient Ferns – from 100million years agoyears ago
200 species, 40 endemic to New Zealand
More ferns, orchids & mossesMore ferns, orchids & mosses
Koru
Nikau Palm
New Zealand’s only true Palm species
Kauri - Tane Mahuta Kauri - Tane Mahuta our biggest tree our biggest tree
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sassygagliardi/440514174/sizes/m/
The Coastal Zone
Sand Dunes
Estuaries
Salt Marshes
Headlands
Cormorants on a West Coast Beach
Coastal Flowering Hebe
Penguins and NZ Fur SealsPenguins and NZ Fur Sealshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/flissphil/232405333/sizes/m/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebluepenguin/357091278/sizes/m/
Today…Today…• Threats from introduced predators such as
possum, rabbit, stoat, cat , dog & rats
• Threats from development and industry
• Tremendous work being done by DOC and community groups on habitat restoration, species protection & pest control
Further readingFurther reading
Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest
by John Dawson and Rob Lucas
New Zealand Alpine Plants
by J T Salmon
Field Guide to Birds of New Zealand
by Heather, B and Robertson, H
www.doc.govt.nz Native Plants
Photo’s by Nicky Snoyink (otherwise stated)